Packaging equipment

Abstract

The aim is to address various issues that need improvement in order to perform top sealing on multiple containers, rather than just containers of the same size. [Solution] A packaging device for sealing a film onto a container, comprising a heater means for heating a die and a mounting means for mounting one die from a plurality of dies, wherein the die mounted on the mounting means is relatively close to the heater means.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] As a conventional packaging device, there is a packaging device that places food, which is an object to be packaged, on a weighing scale, then conveys it into a tray supplied on a conveyor, and performs a top seal on the film lid on the tray for a large number of trays (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The packaging device described in Patent Document 1 performs a top seal on containers of the same size and is not a device corresponding to a plurality of containers, and there are various points that need to be improved.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The packaging device of the present invention comprises at least the following configuration. A packaging device for sealing a film to a container, comprising heater means for heating a die and mounting means for enabling mounting of one die among a plurality of dies, wherein the die mounted on the mounting means approaches the heater means relatively.

Effects of the Invention

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a packaging device capable of performing packaging corresponding to a plurality of containers. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a right-hand perspective view showing the external appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a left perspective view showing the external appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a top view showing the external appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a right side view of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a right side view of the weighing and packaging means (with part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 6] This is a perspective view of the weighing and packaging means (with part of the machine frame removed). [Figure 7] These are cross-sectional views illustrating the top-opening type and top-opening type folder, with Figure 7(a) showing the top-opening type folder when the top-opening type is not loaded, Figure 7(b) showing the top-opening type alone, and Figure 7(c) showing the top-opening type loaded into the top-opening type folder. [Figure 8] This diagram shows an upper cutting die, with Figure 8(a) being a top view, Figure 8(b) a front view, Figure 8(c) a bottom view, Figure 8(d) an upward perspective view, and Figure 8(e) a downward perspective view. [Figure 9] This diagram shows the top-cutting die with the handling portion removed, where Figure 9(a) is a top view, Figure 9(b) is a front view, Figure 9(c) is a bottom view, Figure 9(d) is an upward perspective view, and Figure 9(e) is a downward perspective view. [Figure 10] This diagram shows the top-cutting die with the handling portion removed for transport, and the metal plate and surrounding bottom plate omitted. Figure 10(a) is a top view, Figure 10(b) is a front view, Figure 10(c) is a bottom view, Figure 10(d) is an upward perspective view, and Figure 10(e) is a downward perspective view. [Figure 11] This diagram shows how an upper-cutting die is loaded into an upper-cutting die folder. Figure 11(a) is a top view, Figure 11(b) is a front view, Figure 11(c) is a bottom view, Figure 11(d) is an upward perspective view, Figure 11(e) is a right side view, and Figure 11(f) is a conceptual diagram showing a heat transfer member. [Figure 12]A diagram showing a state where the upper punching type is not loaded in the upper punching type folder. Fig. 12(a) is a top view, Fig. 12(b) is a front view, Fig. 12(c) is a bottom view, Fig. 12(d) is an upper perspective view, Fig. 12(e) is a right side view, and Fig. 12(f) is an enlarged view of part D in Fig. 12(d). [Figure 13] A diagram for explaining the lower punching type. Fig. 13(a) shows a top view and Fig. 13(b) shows a side sectional view, respectively. [Figure 14] A perspective view showing a state where the lower punching type is attached to and removed from the lower punching type folder. [Figure 15] A diagram for explaining the operating mechanism of the loading state determination. [Figure 16] A diagram showing an example of the display of the determination result on the measurement screen. [Figure 17] A diagram showing an example of the layout of the display screen. [Figure 18] A diagram showing an example of the layout of the display screen. [Figure 19] A diagram showing an example of the layout of the display screen. [Figure 20] A partially enlarged view of a side sectional view of the lower punching type. [Figure 21] A side sectional view showing the change in state when the lower punching type is pushed up with respect to the upper punching type. [Figure 22] A perspective view showing a state where the upper punching type and the lower punching type are accommodated in the punching type accommodating means. [Figure 23] A right side view showing a state where the upper punching type and the lower punching type are accommodated in the punching type accommodating means.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, an example of an embodiment of the packaging device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. However, the following drawings are created for the purpose of explanation, and in some cases, members unnecessary for explanation may not be intentionally illustrated. Also, for the purpose of explanation, members may be intentionally illustrated larger or smaller, and the drawings do not show the exact scale. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts having the same function, and duplicate explanations in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] (Overall Structure) Figs. 1 to 4 show the external appearance of the packaging apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 1 is a right perspective view, Fig. 2 is a left perspective view, Fig. 3 is a top view, and Fig. 4 is a right side view. Figs. 5 and 6 particularly show the metering means and the packaging means. Fig. 5 is a right side view (with a part of the machine frame removed), and Fig. 6 is a perspective view (with a part of the machine frame removed).

[0010] The packaging apparatus 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 to 3 automatically performs a series of operations, from weighing the packaged items, loading the tray T on which the packaged items are placed into the machine, to performing a top sealing process (processing the entire welded area at once) accompanied by a gas replacement process to extend the shelf life of the packaged items, and then discharging the packaged items after labeling. In other words, it can be said that this apparatus has a packaging process between the weighing process and the labeling process. More specifically, as shown by the arrows in Figure 3, the packaging device 100 weighs the contents of the packaged items when the tray T (see Figure 5) on which the contents are placed is placed on the weighing means 1 (see Figure 1), and the tray T is carried into the machine frame having the packaging means 2 by the infeed bar IB (see Figures 5 and 6). Inside the machine frame, the bottom cutter 25 (see Figure 1) pushes the tray T upward, and first, the air present in the space formed between the film, which is held at both ends by the film holding means 211 and the excess film winding means 212 (see Figure 1) and is always taut, is deactivated by gas. The film is replaced with a film die, then the edge of the tray T is brought into contact with the film, and the film is heat-sealed and sealed while being held between the lower die 25 and the upper die 24 (see Figure 1). After the film is cut, the lower die 25 and the tray T descend and return to a predetermined height (fixed position). The infeed bar IB (see Figures 5 and 6) moves the tray T again in the loading direction to transport it to the downstream area 3. While moving it in the discharge direction perpendicular to the loading direction, a label is applied by the label application means 7, and then it is discharged to the first discharge platform 4. Furthermore, the tray T is moved in the opposite direction to the loading direction and sent to the second discharge platform 5. In this embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die dies are provided and are interchangeable to accommodate three types of trays T of different sizes: "large," "medium," and "small." However, this configuration is merely an example, and there may be only two sizes, "large" and "small," or four or more sizes may be available, or even just one tray size, without the intention of replacement. The weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and downstream area 3 are arranged vertically from the front to the back of the device. As shown in Figure 1, a console 6 is positioned above the weighing means 1 and upstream of the weighing means 1 in the transport direction, having an operating section such as a display unit, keypad, and touch panel on its front, and a control unit inside. 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 unit are located within the area of ​​the weighing means 1. Although the console 6 is positioned at an angle, the upper end of the console 6 case is also located upstream of the weighing means 1. Furthermore, the upper part of the downstream area 3 is a label application means 7 for printing and applying product labels containing information such as the weighed weight, unit price, and price. In addition, a gas replacement mechanism, not shown in Figures 1 and 3, is provided in the bottom-opening type 25. In this specification, "gas replacement" refers to a broad term (regardless of the specific process) of replacing the air inside a packaged product with an inert gas for extending its shelf life. This term includes both the narrower definition of "gas replacement," which involves completely removing the air before introducing the gas, and the "gas flush," which involves blowing gas to expel the air.

[0011] In this embodiment of the present invention, gas is replaced between the packaged item and the film while a top seal is performed. This allows for increased work efficiency by performing the gas replacement treatment to extend the shelf life of the packaged item and the packaging treatment by top sealing almost simultaneously.

[0012] Furthermore, the embodiment of the present invention has a configuration in which a tray T inserted from the front is packaged and then returned to the front, which greatly contributes to improving the efficiency of work in the backyard, and this configuration is realized in a compact form. However, from the perspective of performing gas displacement treatment to extend the shelf life of the packaged product and packaging treatment by top sealing almost simultaneously, the configuration in which the tray is inserted at the front and then returned to the front is not essential. It is also possible to implement this in a form in which the tray is simply transported in one direction from front to back, or in a form in which the packaging treatment is performed first and then the weighing treatment is performed. Moreover, it is possible to eliminate the weighing treatment and labeling treatment and create a device assembly that is specialized for packaging treatment. This will be described later as a different embodiment.

[0013] The machine frame shown in Figure 1, particularly the upper part of the machine frame, is significant not only for housing the packaging means 2 and other components inside, but also for sealing the interior from the outside. A buffer tank BT for gas replacement is provided in the lower part of the machine frame (see Figure 6). That is, after weighing by the weighing means 1, the tray T is transported and the upper and lower dies are closed to perform a top seal. To prevent an accident caused by an operator accidentally inserting their hand, a shutter 11 is provided in the area between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, including the area of ​​the weighing means 1 (see Figure 5). When the tray T is transported to the packaging means 2 by the infeed bar IB (see Figures 5 and 6), the shutter 11 seals the inside and outside of the housing. In this embodiment of the present invention, the transport means is an infeed bar IB (see Figures 5 and 6) rather than a belt conveyor, so the shutter 11 is configured to be raised from bottom to top to close, avoiding the chain portion (see Figure 5). However, the shutter may be configured to close by descending from top to bottom, or safety may be ensured by having a sensor detect the intrusion of a hand and then stopping the device.

[0014] To enhance convenience during transportation, the first discharge platform 4 and the second discharge platform 5 are detachable. Furthermore, after these discharge platforms are removed, the label application means 7 is configured to slide all the way to the left in Figure 3 so that it fits within the range of the left and right sides of the machine frame, so as not to interfere with transportation. Conversely, in "pricing mode," where only price labels are issued without packaging, the label application means 7 is slid all the way to the right in Figure 3 so that an operator manually applies the price labels to the products. To achieve this, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a label application means slide rail 71 and anti-tipping legs 72. The anti-tipping legs 72 support the entire device so that the packaging device 100 does not lose balance and tip over when the label application means 7 is moved to the far right.

[0015] The weighing means 1 is configured to weigh the placed packaged item and tray T, and transmits the weighed weight information to the control means of console 6. Also, as shown in Figure 5, rod-shaped infeed bars IB are stretched across two left and right chains that can circle around the entire front and rear circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2 at four positions in the circumferential direction, allowing the placed tray T to be carried into the machine frame containing the packaging means 2 and transported to the downstream area 3. More specifically, as shown in Figure 5, a total of eight infeed bar support members IB1 are provided on the two left and right chains at four positions in the circumferential direction of the two chains, and four antibacterial metal rod-shaped infeed bars IB are connected to them (see also Figure 6). The spacing of the infeed bars IB in the circumferential direction is such that when the infeed bars IB perform a retraction motion (this will be described later), they do not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1. The height of the infeed bars IB relative to the tray T's mounting surface is configured to be at the midpoint between the height of the tray T's bottom surface and the height of its top surface, but the height may be changed as appropriate as long as the tray T can be transported stably.

[0016] As mentioned earlier, there are three types of trays T: "large," "medium," and "small." An upper die 24 and a lower die 25 are provided for packaging each size, and they are interchangeable. Specifically, in this embodiment, an upper die 24A is provided for the large tray with a width of 150 mm and a depth of 150 mm, an upper die 24B for the medium tray with a width of 150 mm and a depth of 120 mm, and an upper die 24C for the small tray with a width of 120 mm and a depth of 120 mm. However, the outer dimensions of the die are all the same regardless of the tray size. To ensure that the three types of trays T are properly centered on the infeed bar IB, the mounting platform of the weighing means 1 is provided with recesses of slightly different depths corresponding to the "large," "medium," and "small" tray sizes. That is, a deeper recess for the medium size is located inside the recess for the large size, and an even deeper recess for the small size is located inside the recess for the medium size. The step created by this recess is kept to a minimum so as not to create resistance when the tray T is transported by the infeed bar IB. In addition, guides 12 that narrow towards the center are provided on both the left and right sides as a means of centering (see Figure 2). Furthermore, the means of centering does not have to be a recess or guides; a visually verifiable mark may also be used. Even if there is some misalignment between the left and right sides, the sides of the tray T are sloped, so it is naturally guided to the correct position when pushed up by the bottom cut-out die 25. In addition to this, a sliding member that works in conjunction with the left and right sides to narrow the width, as is commonly used in cutting machines, may be provided at the lower end of the opening portion demarcated by a shutter positioned between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, in a portion that includes the area of ​​the weighing means 1, in order to correct the centering if it is misaligned at the start of transport.

[0017] As shown in Figure 5, the heat-sealed packaging tray T is transferred from the packaging means 2 to the downstream area 3. As shown in Figure 6, the downstream area 3 is composed of a conveyor belt and functions as a discharge means to move the tray T outside the machine frame, but a label application means 7 for printing and attaching product labels is provided above it. For this reason, the downstream area 3 can also be considered as the label application means 7. In this way, the tray T is transferred by the downstream area 3 in an outbound direction perpendicular to the inbound direction and discharged toward the first discharge platform 4. The first discharge platform 4 shown in Figures 1 and 3 is equipped with drive rollers and moves the tray T in the opposite direction to the inbound direction to send it to the second discharge platform 5. The second discharge platform 5 is inclined, and the tray T moves by its own weight, so the rollers on the second discharge platform 5 are simply rollers without driving force.

[0018] With respect to the upper die 24 and lower die 25, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with an upper die storage means 24H and a lower die storage means 25H, which are storage means capable of accommodating all types of dies that are not loaded. This eliminates the need to store dies that are not in use due to replacement in a separate location from the packaging device body, thus saving space. The upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located in the vicinity of the area where the film holding means 211 and the excess film winding means 212 are installed. 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 in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2. The lower die storage means 25H is located above the weighing means 1 and in the vicinity of the console 6 having a display unit, and is located downstream of the console 6. Of course, this embodiment is merely an example, and the arrangement of the upper-cut type storage means 24H and the lower-cut type storage means 25H may be reversed, or the storage area for one size of upper and lower cutters may be divided into storage areas for other sizes. Details of the upper-cut type storage means 24H and the lower-cut type storage means 25H will be described later.

[0019] To give a general overview of the machine frame having the packaging means 2, in Figure 4, corresponding to the front-to-back arrangement of the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2 shown by the dashed lines, a film holding means 211 for holding the film used to package the container and an excess film winding means 212 for winding up excess film when the container is sealed are arranged at the top of the machine frame, and together they constitute the film suspension means 21.

[0020] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, the film suspension means 21 is positioned to fit in the upper part of the machine frame where 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 downstream area 3, which are aligned vertically from the front to the back of the device. In other words, the direction of film suspension is the same as the direction of transport of tray T. In conventional packaging devices, the film suspension means is usually positioned to protrude significantly into the area outside the machine frame where the packaging means and other components are located, but this embodiment contributes greatly to space saving. Although the film suspension means 21 is positioned to fit in the upper area of ​​the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, the range setting may be adjusted so that the excess film winding means 212 extends to the downstream area 3, or the console 6 may be positioned in a different location so that the film holding means 211 protrudes further forward. Even with such a configuration, it can be said that this is a space-saving technical concept that can be clearly distinguished from conventional technology in which the film suspension means is positioned to protrude significantly into the area outside the machine frame. Furthermore, even if the film holding means 211 and the excess film winding means 212 are positioned in opposite directions, it does not impair space saving, and the film holding means 211 may be positioned at the rear and the excess film winding means 212 at the front. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, this embodiment employs a configuration in which the film unwound from the film holding means 211 is given a constant tension by the dancer roller DR to stabilize the tension, and then is wound around by two film feed shafts so as to pass near the lower part of the mounting means, and is wound up by the excess 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 metering means 1 and below the film holding means 211. In Figure 1, the side panel SP is pivotally supported on its right long edge and is configured to rotate backward. This configuration allows the film roll to be replaced from the right side, and as described later, the upper die 24 and lower die 25 can also be replaced from the right side. Thus, the upper die 24, film holding means 211, and excess film winding means 212 can be attached and detached from the same direction along the winding shaft when replaced. For the lower die 25, the replacement operation involves inserting it from the right side and then dropping it slightly downward (see also Figure 12). The label application means 7 can be tilted backward (rotated), making it easy to replace the film roll and the upper die 24 and lower die 25. The rotatable configuration also makes label replacement easier. Note that 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 need to be provided on the same side as the first discharge platform 4, etc. However, making the side panel SP on the same side as the first discharge platform 4, etc. rotatable is advantageous in terms of saving space.

[0021] The top panel UP, front panel FP, and side panel SP of the machine frame are made of transparent material, or transparent plates are fitted into them, allowing the condition of the film suspended by the film suspension means 21 to be checked. In addition to visual inspection, the top panel UP is configured to slide towards the rear to a position where it does not come into contact with the label application means 7, and the front panel FP is also configured to rotate, supported by a pivot at its upper edge, in order to deal with any problems that may arise. Alternatively, it may be configured to rotate by pivoting at its lower edge, or to slide.

[0022] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, a die-cutting folder 240 into which the die-cutting die 24 is loaded is provided between the film suspension means 21 and the transport space of the tray T (by the infeed bar IB). The die-cutting folder 240 is equipped with a locking mechanism to prevent the die-cutting die 24 from being removed after it has been loaded. To remove it, it is necessary to operate the release lever 24L (see Figure 11). The release lever 24L is configured to prevent the release operation from being performed in inappropriate situations, in conjunction with various processes for the die-cutting die described later. Alternatively, it may be configured as an automatic locking mechanism, in which case the locking operation should be linked to the temperature of the die-cutting die 24 in the various processes for the die-cutting die described later. The top die folder 240 is equipped with a heater means 241 (see Figure 7(a)) for supplying heat for film welding. The top die 24 is equipped with a metal plate 242 (see Figure 7(b)) that transmits the heat supplied from the heater means 241 (as a top seal portion 242), and a film cutting means 244 (see Figures 7(b), 8, 9, and 10) for cutting the film. The heater means 241 is in contact with the metal plate 242 of the top die 24 loaded in the top die folder 240. The metal plate 242 has a protrusion 242a corresponding to the size of the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. The heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transferred to the protrusion 242a, heat welding the film in contact with the edge of the tray T. In the embodiments of the present invention, aluminum, which has high thermal conductivity, is used as the material for the metal plate 242. However, this does not prevent the use of silver, copper, gold, or other materials with even higher thermal conductivity, and even materials with lower thermal conductivity than aluminum can be used if there are no practical problems. In embodiments of the present invention, the structure of the metal plate 242 has a convex portion 242a corresponding to the edge of the tray T and has an uneven shape, but the convex portion 242a and the central portion 242b are basically a single-piece structure made from one material. However, the metal plate may be constructed by bonding two plates together and arranging heat pipes between the two plates to conduct heat from the heater more quickly and evenly over a wider area. Furthermore, since the metal plate 242 welds the film to the container at the convex portion 242a which functions as a top seal portion, the central portion 242b does not need to be at a high temperature. 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-insulating material fixed to it, and such a configuration may be used.

[0023] Below the upper die-cut folder 240, a lower die-cut 25 is provided, flanking the transport space for the tray T. The lower die-cut 25 pushes up the tray T, and the film sequentially fed from the roll film R loaded in the film suspension means 21 is sandwiched between the metal plate 242 of the upper die-cut 24 and the lower die-cut 25 to perform packaging (top sealing). In this way, the film suspension means 21, the upper die-cut 24 and the lower die-cut 25 constitute the packaging means 2, and this packaging means 2 is positioned 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 central hole. The fed-out film is sealed by the metal plate 242 and cut to the size of the tray T by the film cutting means 244, leaving only the cut outer portion, which is a scrap state, i.e., a film with the inside hollowed out. This scrap state of film is then sequentially wound up by the excess film winding means 212.

[0025] A metal plate 242 (see Figures 7(b) and 8) that serves as a top seal is positioned opposite the ejected 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, sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the metal plate 242 (see Figures 7(b) and 8) of the upper die 24. Before heat sealing, a gas replacement process is performed in which an inert gas is injected into the space formed between the film and the tray T to extend the shelf life of the packaged goods, replacing the air with the inert gas. This will be described later.

[0026] (Transportation operation using an infeed bar) The infeed bar IB, which is the tray T transport mechanism, is connected at four circumferential positions to two left and right chains that can circulate around the entire front-to-rear circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2, as shown in Figure 5. The chains circulate, allowing the tray T to be transported from the weighing means 1 to the packaging means 2, and then from the packaging means 2 to the downstream area 3. A roller 31 is placed in the space between the packaging means 2 and the downstream area 3 to allow the tray T to move smoothly from the packaging means 2 to the downstream area 3. Since the items to be packaged are almost all food, the metal infeed bar IB is treated with antibacterial and rust-preventive coatings. The infeed bar IB is connected to the chains via eight infeed bar support members IB1, which are provided at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains.

[0027] The transport operation of the infeed bar IB, which is connected to a chain that serves as the drive mechanism and moves in a circumferential direction, and the opening and closing operation of the shutter 11 will be described below. When in standby mode, 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 IB and transported to the packaging means 2, at which point the infeed bar IB stops. If left as is, the infeed bar IB would interfere with the downward cutting die 25, which will be described later, when it rises. Therefore, the infeed bar IB temporarily retracts to the area where the weighing means 1 is located. As mentioned above, the circumferential spacing of the infeed bars IB is such that when the infeed bar IB temporarily retracts, it does not interfere with the next item to be packaged placed on the weighing means 1. Once the infeed bar IB has temporarily retracted, the shutter 11 rises from below the front part of the machine frame, separating the outside from the inside and ensuring safety. This shutter 11 maintains its closed state until after the next product has been weighed. Due to the structure of the infeed bars IB, which are intermittently arranged in the circumferential direction, a shutter configuration is realized that moves upward from below to close, avoiding the chain section which is continuously arranged in the circumferential direction. After the tray T is top-sealed by the packaging means 2, the infeed bars IB move forward again, transporting the tray T to the downstream area 3. At this time, the presence of the rollers 31 ensures that the tray T is transported smoothly without falling between the packaging means 2 and the downstream area 3. The height of the infeed bars IB relative to the tray T's mounting surface is configured to be at the midpoint 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. This embodiment, with such a configuration, allows the transport of packaged goods from the weighing means through the packaging means to the downstream area using a single transport means, greatly contributing to space saving and cost saving.

[0028] (Gas replacement and packaging operation using top-opening and bottom-opening types) Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the top-cutting die and top-cutting die folder, where Figure 7(a) shows the top-cutting die folder when the top-cutting die is not loaded, Figure 7(b) shows the top-cutting die alone, and Figure 7(c) shows the top-cutting die loaded into the top-cutting die folder. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the top-cutting die, where Figure 8(a) is a top view, Figure 8(b) is an upward perspective view, and Figure 8(c) is a downward perspective view. Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the bottom-cutting die, where Figure 13(a) is a top view and Figure 13(b) is a side cross-sectional view. Figure 20 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 13(b), rotated 90 degrees to show the bottom-cutting die positioned horizontally. Figure 21 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the bottom-cutting die is pushed up relative to the top-cutting die.

[0029] As can be seen from the comparison of the cross-sectional views in Figures 7(a) and 7(c), the top die 24 is loaded into the top die folder 240 by entering from the right side. That is, as previously mentioned, the top die 24, like the film holding means 211 and the excess film winding means 212, is detachable from the right side of Figure 1, in the same orientation along the winding shaft. Also, as shown in Figure 7(b), the top die has a metal plate 242 that performs the function of a top seal by receiving heat supplied from the heater means 241, and a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film. As shown in Figure 8, the metal plate 242 is a beveled rectangle to correspond to the edge of the tray T, and the film cutting means 244 is arranged on its outer circumference. The metal plate 242 is composed of a protrusion 242a sized to correspond to the edge of the tray T and a central part 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, this does not eliminate the possibility of heat being transferred to other metal parts.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7(a), when the upper die 24 is not loaded, the heater means 241 for supplying heat for film welding is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown) (see also Figures 12(b) and 12(d)). When the upper die 24 shown in Figure 7(b) is inserted from the right direction shown, the contact portion of the tip of the upper die 24 comes into contact with the roller 2431 at the tip of the heater link 243, and the heater link 243 pushes the heater means 241 downward, as shown in Figure 7(c) (see also Figures 11(b) and 11(d)). As a result, the heater means 241 comes into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, and is able to transfer heat for welding to the metal plate 242. In embodiments of the present invention, the heater means 241 is provided by drilling a hole in an aluminum material and inserting a cartridge heater therein (see also Figure 12(d)). However, it is also possible to use a silicone rubber heater, a plate heater, a plug-in heater, a sheathed heater, etc. Furthermore, in addition to heat conduction type heaters, the heater type may also be convection type or radiant type, and is not limited to heat conduction type. Furthermore, the heater means may be configured to directly contact the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, or it may be configured to indirectly contact the heater means and the metal plate 242 by adding a heat transfer member with good thermal conductivity, such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum, to the metal plate 242. For example, if the extent of the heater means is small compared to the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242, the area to which heat is transferred will be limited to the central area, resulting in poor efficiency. Therefore, by interposing a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity, whose size is 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)).

[0031] For example, when packaging trays T in three different sizes, such as "large," "medium," and "small," by selecting and attaching one die from several different sizes, it is common to think of providing a heater for each die. However, in this case, the process of plugging and unplugging the heat source connector is required each time the die is changed, which is cumbersome. However, in the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, there is no need to reconnect the heater wires, and no additional work is required to establish an electrical connection when changing the upper die, thus offering the advantage of simple and efficient replacement work.

[0032] As shown in Figure 8, the top-cutting die 24 is equipped with a chamfered rectangular metal plate 242 that is the size and shape corresponding to the edge of the tray T. The metal plate 242 consists of a protrusion 242a that is the size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central part 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. In this embodiment, a top-cutting die 24A is provided for a large tray with a tray size of 150 mm in width and 150 mm in depth, a top-cutting die 24B is provided for a medium-sized tray with a tray size of 150 mm in width and 120 mm in depth, and a top-cutting die 24C is provided for a small tray with a tray size of 120 mm in width and 120 mm in depth (Figure 8 shows the top-cutting die 24B corresponding to the "medium" size tray). The metal plate 242 transfers heat supplied from the heater means 241 located inside the top-cutting folder 240 (see Figure 7) to the film, thereby performing a top seal. A cutting blade, which serves as a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film after the top seal is applied, is provided around the outer circumference of the chamfered rectangular metal plate 242. As shown in Figures 8-9, the film cutting means 244 is fixed to the top-cutting die 24 body (see Figure 10 in particular). Furthermore, the metal plate 242 and the surrounding bottom plate 247 are connected to the top-cutting die 24 body via biasing means, and the biasing force of the former is set to be stronger than that of the latter. Therefore, when the lower die 25 is pushed upward while the edge of the tray T is in contact with the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25 (see Figures 13 and 20), the lower die 25 first comes into contact with the surrounding 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 size of the die, and one of these holes is filled in according to the size. The unfilled holes become light-transmitting parts, and the filled holes function as light-blocking or reflective parts. When attaching the top-cut type 24 to the top-cut type folder 240, the notches 248 provided on the left and right lower ends of the top-cut type 24 are first placed on the rails 2401 on the left and right inner surfaces of the top-cut type folder 240, and then it can be easily loaded by sliding it (see also Figures 12(d) and 12(f)). Furthermore, when removing the top-cut type 24 from the top-cut type folder 240, the lock release lever 24L shown in Figure 11 is pressed downwards to release the lock, and then the drawer grip 24G is grasped and slid out, allowing for easy removal. Furthermore, if the upper die 24 is removed from the upper die folder 240 and the side of the upper die 24 is grasped, the film cutting means 244 will pop out from the bottom surface of the upper die 24, as shown in Figure 9(b), which is dangerous. Therefore, the upper die 24 is provided with a carrying grip portion 246, as shown in Figure 8. The carrying grip portion 246 is fixed to the surrounding bottom edge 247 and is pushed up together with the surrounding bottom edge 247 as the lower die 25 is pushed up. Figure 9 is a diagram drawn without the carrying grip portion 246 as shown in Figure 8 for illustrative purposes. The presence of the carrying grip portion 246 ensures that when pressing for heat sealing, that is, when the lower die 25 is pushed up, the film cutting means 244 will pop out relatively downwards, but when the upper die 24 is removed and held in the hand, the film cutting means 244 will not pop out relatively. Furthermore, the gripping portion 246 during transport helps prevent burns when handling the upper die 24 before it has fully cooled down.

[0033] Figures 11 and 12 show the top-cut folder with a top-cut die loaded and the top-cut folder without a top-cut die loaded. Figure 11 shows the top-cut folder with a top-cut die loaded, where Figure 11(a) is a top view, Figure 11(b) is a front view, Figure 11(c) is a bottom view, Figure 11(d) is an upward perspective view, Figure 11(e) is a right side view, and Figure 11(f) is a conceptual diagram showing a heat transfer member. Figure 12 shows the top-cut folder without a top-cut die loaded, where Figure 12(a) is a top view, Figure 12(b) is a front view, Figure 12(c) is a bottom view, Figure 12(d) is an upward perspective view, Figure 12(e) is a right side view, and Figure 12(f) is an enlarged view of part D in Figure 12(d). Unlike Figures 8-10, Figure 11 shows a top-opening 24A unit, which corresponds to the "large" size tray, loaded. As can be seen by comparing Figure 11(b) and Figure 12(b), or by comparing Figure 11(d) and Figure 12(d), when the top-cutting die 24 is loaded, as shown in Figures 11(b) and 11(d), the heater link 243 pushes the heater means 241 downward, whereas when the top-cutting 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 springs upward along with it. Figure 11(c) shows that the metal plate 242 is composed of a protrusion 242a 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 the cartridge heater can be seen. As can be seen by comparing Figure 11(c) and Figure 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 Figure 11(f), a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity, which is comparable in size 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.

[0034] As shown in Figures 13(a) and 13(b), the bottom-cutting mold 25 is equipped with a gas inlet 251 for gas flushing, a gas diffusion step 2510 extending from the gas inlet 251, and an air outlet 252. The area including the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 is covered by a cover, so the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 are depicted with dashed lines in Figure 13(a). The gas diffusion step 2510 has a triangular shape when viewed from above, so the gas is given a diffusive property that allows it to spread easily in the lateral direction of the tray, as shown by the white arrow in the figure. In Figure 20, F, shown by a dashed line, is the film and also indicates the film supporting surface. However, since the cover that covers the gas diffusion step 2510 etc. is located at the left end of the dashed line, that part is depicted with a solid line. Furthermore, as shown by the white arrows in Figure 20, the gas is diffused by the gas diffusion step 2510, enters the tray T, is sent to the rear, and then ultimately changes direction downwards and is discharged from the multiple air outlets 252. The gas inlet 251 is located at the front (corresponding to the long side of the tray), while the air outlets 252 are located at the rear (corresponding to the opposite long side of the tray). However, they may also be configured to be located on the sides corresponding to the short side of the tray (either both left and right sides or just one side). In addition, the air outlets 252 are configured to communicate downwards, but they may also be configured to communicate to the rear.

[0035] As shown in Figure 13(a), the bottom punching die 25 is provided with three bottom punching die holes 253 for detecting the die size, and one of these holes is filled in according to the size. The unfilled holes become light-transmitting parts, and the filled holes function as light-shielding or reflective parts. The tray T is raised by supporting its edges with tray edge support parts 254 provided inside the bottom punching die 25. The center of the bottom punching die 25 is vertically penetrated, and a container bottom support part 26 is fixedly provided in the housing at this position (see Figure 21).

[0036] The method for attaching and detaching the bottom-cut type will be explained using Figure 14. Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the attachment and detachment of the bottom-cut type to the bottom-cut type folder. As shown in the figure, with the bottom-cut type 25 loaded in the bottom-cut type folder 250, the bottom-cut type 25 can be easily attached to and detached from the bottom-cut type folder 250 by grasping the hole in the tray edge support portion 254 of the bottom-cut type 25 into which the tray falls, that is, by using the upper surface, lower surface, and inner surface surrounding this area as gripping parts and grasping the gripping parts.

[0037] The upper die 24, upper die folder 240, and lower die 25 work together to push up the tray T, perform a gas replacement treatment to extend the shelf life of the packaged product, and then perform the packaging process. This operation will be explained. Figure 21 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die. Figure 21(a) shows the state where the lower die 25 has risen slightly from its lowest position, Figure 21(b) shows the state where the lower die 25 has risen significantly and is in contact with the film F, forming a closed space, and Figure 21(c) shows the state where the lower die 25 continues to rise, comes into contact with the metal plate 242, and then rises further, and the film F is cut (cut out) by the film cutting means 244. For Figures 21(b) and 21(c), enlarged views of parts B and C, respectively, are shown below.

[0038] The tray T, conveyed from the weighing means 1 by the infeed bar IB, is initially supported at its bottom by the container bottom support portion 26. Subsequently, as the bottom cutter 25 rises, the support of the tray T's bottom by the container bottom support portion 26 is taken over by the support of the tray T's edges by the tray edge support portion 254 of the bottom cutter 25, as shown in Figure 21(a). Subsequently, as the bottom cutter 25 rises to the position shown in Figure 21(b), a closed space is formed between the bottom cutter 25 and the film F. 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, and the air is discharged from the air outlet 252. This performs a gas flush to extend the shelf life of the packaged product. Subsequently, the lower die 25 continues to rise until the edge of the tray T comes into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 (this state is not shown in the figure, and the lower die 25 will be positioned at a height between Figure 21(b) and Figure 21(c)). In this state, while or after the top seal is being formed, the lower die 25 continues to rise further, and the excess portion around the top-sealed film is cut by the film cutting means 244. From Figure 21(c), it can be seen that the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25 are sandwiching the edges of the film F and tray T, with the cutting edge of the film cutting means 244 positioned below them. The mechanism by which the edge of tray T first contacts the metal plate 242 and then the film cutting means 244 is achieved because the downward biasing force of the metal plate 242 is set to be weaker than the biasing force of the film cutting means 244, and the metal plate 242 is configured to retract upward relative to the film cutting means 244. Although not shown in the figures, when the lower cutting die 25 descends, the support of the edge of tray T by the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower cutting die 25 is taken over by the support of the bottom surface of tray T by the container bottom surface support portion 26, and then the tray T is transported to the downstream area 3 by the infeed bar IB.

[0039] (Regarding compatibility detection for top and bottom cutouts) As explained above, in the embodiments of the present invention, three types of top-cutting and bottom-cutting dies are provided to accommodate three types of trays T of different sizes: "large," "medium," and "small." The top-cutting die 24 can be replaced by inserting it directly from the right side of the side panel SP, and the bottom-cutting die 25 can be replaced by inserting it from the right side of the side panel SP and then dropping it down. Here, the question arises as to whether the correct size die is loaded or not. Therefore, in the embodiments of the present invention, a mechanism is in place to detect whether the correct top-cutting die 24 and the correct bottom-cutting die 25 are loaded or not. Specifically, the top-cutting die 24 is provided with three top-cutting holes 245 as shown in Figure 8, and the bottom-cutting die 25 is provided with three bottom-cutting holes 253 as shown in Figure 13. In each case, one of these holes is filled according to the size. Light-emitting elements are provided below the bottom-cutting die 25 and above the top-cutting die 24 at the ends corresponding to the three holes. In the central section, a light-emitting element is provided above the upper cut-out die 24, and a light-receiving element is provided below the lower cut-out die 25. Ideally, both lights should be received, but if the upper cut-out die 24 and the lower cut-out die 25 do not correspond, the light will be blocked by one of them, indicating that the upper and lower cut-out dies are not compatible, and this can be detected. Based on this premise, the size of the upper and lower cut-out dies loaded together can also be detected and determined according to the position of the holes, and notification is provided as needed through notification means such as a display, voice guidance, or communication to an external device.

[0040] In this embodiment, the direction of light propagation is reversed in the parts corresponding to both ends and the part corresponding to the middle in order to suppress interference between adjacent lights. However, if there is no risk of light interference, the directions of the three lights may be aligned. Also, although one of the three holes is filled according to the size, two may be filled. However, filling one and detecting with two is preferable because it increases the possibility of determining various different situations. Furthermore, instead of a combination of light-emitting and light-receiving elements, a reflective sensor may also be used. In this case, the filled hole would be a reflective part, not a light-shielding part. In addition, instead of an optical sensor, other optical means, such as an image sensor, may be used to capture the characteristics of the upper and lower dies and perform a determination by image analysis. In this case, even if the upper and lower dies are not aligned and are in a mismatched state, it is possible to determine the upper and lower dies separately. According to this embodiment with such a configuration, a highly effective packaging device can be provided without stopping the line due to mismatch between the upper and lower dies.

[0041] In addition to misalignment of the upper and lower dies, other errors may occur. During busy periods, other tasks may interrupt the packaging process, forcing workers to perform other tasks, or inexperienced workers may operate the equipment, potentially leading to the mistake of forgetting to load the dies. Despite forgetting to load them, workers may mistakenly believe that the replacement is complete and attempt to resume work. However, in the embodiment of this invention, if both the upper and lower dies are not loaded, light is not blocked for all three holes, so the light emitted from the three light-emitting elements is detected by all three light-receiving elements. By determining that the state in which these three sensors are turned on indicates that the dies have not been loaded and issuing a notification, further work errors due to forgetting to load the upper and lower dies can be prevented.

[0042] As mentioned above, the three holes can detect mismatches between the upper and lower dies and failure to load the upper and lower dies. However, other types of errors may occur. If an interruption occurs during the replacement process, it is possible that the upper die may be replaced, but the lower die may not be replaced and therefore not loaded, or vice versa. We will now explain another example of upper and lower die compatibility detection that takes such errors into account.

[0043] Figure 15 shows an example where holes are provided at five different positions for the upper die hole 245 and the lower die hole 253. The requirement for three upper and lower die holes for matching determination, and the mechanism by which matching is determined when two sensors are turned on, are the same as in the example described earlier. In addition to this, in another example, the upper die is provided with a hole for determining whether the lower die is not loaded, and the lower die is provided with a hole for determining whether the upper die is not loaded. This allows the control means of the packaging device to determine whether the lower die is not loaded or whether the upper die is not loaded. Of course, it is also possible to determine when both the upper and lower dies are not loaded.

[0044] The mechanism of operation for the determination will now be explained. Here, the circled numbers 2 to 4 (hereafter referred to as ○2 to ○4, etc.) are upper cutout holes or lower cutout holes for determining matching. Also, ○1 is a lower cutout hole for determining if it is unloaded, and ○5 is an upper cutout hole for determining if it is unloaded. Note that the lower cutout hole in the upper cutout 24 that is opposite the lower cutout hole for determining if it is unloaded is filled in, but it may have been originally configured so that no hole is drilled. The same applies to the upper cutout hole in the lower cutout 25 that is opposite the upper cutout hole for determining if it is unloaded.

[0045] As shown in Figure 15(a), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of ○2 and ○3 is ON, it is determined that a large-sized die is loaded. Also, as shown in Figure 15(b), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of ○2 and ○4 is ON, it is determined that a medium-sized die is loaded. Also, as shown in Figure 15(c), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of ○3 and ○4 is ON, it is determined that a small-sized die is loaded. Although not shown in the illustration, if only one sensor output is ON, it means that the sizes of the upper and lower dies do not match. Conversely, if three sensor outputs are ON, it means that neither the upper nor lower dies are loaded. Note that the determination method for the other example described above operates on the same mechanism even in the example where only three holes are provided, as described earlier.

[0046] If only one of the upper or lower dies is left unloaded, the three sensors alone cannot detect this. However, with five sensors, it can be detected correctly. That is, as can be understood from Figure 15(d), when the sensor output of ○1 is on, it means that the upper die is loaded but the lower die is not. On the other hand, as can be understood from Figure 15(e), when the sensor output of ○5 is on, it means that the lower die is loaded but the upper die is not. If both the upper and lower dies are not loaded, as explained earlier, the sensor outputs of ○2 to ○4 will turn on, but in addition to this, the sensor outputs of ○1 and ○5 will also turn on, meaning all five sensor outputs will be on.

[0047] Furthermore, in both the example with three holes and the other example with five holes, the container size information linked to the product information is stored in an appropriate storage means, and it is possible to detect if the size of the determined upper and lower die differs from the size of the container linked to the called product information, and if necessary, a notification means is configured to provide notification. Conversely, as a control measure, products that do not correspond to the set die could not be called, so that the user would be aware that the die is not suitable by being unable to call up the product.

[0048] The means for determining the suitability of the die-cutting mold do not have to be an optical determination method; it may also utilize other physical quantities, or it may be a combination of a method using holes and another detection method. For example, if a sensor (such as a contact switch or electromagnetic sensor, regardless of the method) is provided to detect that the upper die-cutting mold has been loaded, the sensor marked ○5 in Figure 15 can be omitted. In addition to this, more intelligent methods using an image sensor or, conversely, primitive methods may be adopted. For example, the weight of the die-cutting mold can be measured for determination, or a mark or number can be written on the die-cutting mold so that the die-cutting mold number can be confirmed by visual inspection, and the mark for confirmation may be made of a strong adhesive sticker. Furthermore, even if an image sensor is used, the determination may be made by reading a barcode displayed on the die-cutting mold, rather than by the physical characteristics of the die-cutting mold itself. However, if a sensor capable of identifying which die is loaded in the upper or lower die folder is provided in a system that utilizes optical means or other physical quantities, it becomes possible to determine which size die is loaded in each of the upper and lower die folders, which would be advantageous for the guidance displayed on the screen described later. Specific examples of sensors include physical sensors corresponding to the size of each die, through-beam sensors, and cameras, which can be used as appropriate.

[0049] (Regarding the timing of determining the loading status of the top and bottom-release type) In this embodiment, while considering the device characteristics of the packaging device, measures have been taken to make the timing of determining the loading status of the upper and lower dies effective. When changing the upper and lower dies, the packaging machine is stopped by pressing the emergency stop button. The "emergency stop" button 8 is a mechanical button located on the machine frame (see Figures 1 and 6), but it does not necessarily have to be a mechanical button. After changing the dies or film, when the emergency stop button is released after changing the dies, the type of die is determined, and if the upper and lower dies are different, an error notification is issued. In addition, when the power is turned on, the type of die currently set is determined and the type of die set is displayed, so the set die can be checked at all times. Furthermore, when changing dies, a cleaning notification is issued, and upon receiving the notification and issuing a cleaning command, a purging process is performed to keep the gas inlet of the die clean. In addition, a gas detection sensor may be installed to allow inspection of whether gas is being injected properly, or a trial run may be conducted to ensure that the air throughout the entire path to the inlet is completely converted into gas.

[0050] This section will explain in detail the timing of determining the loading status of the die cutters (including the determination of whether the upper and lower die cutters are loaded and whether they match or not), while also showing an example of the display screen layout. First, we will explain the display (notification) of the die cutters when the power is turned on. When the device is not in operation, when the power is turned on, an initial screen such as a date and time confirmation is displayed, and the main menu shown in Figure 17(a) is displayed, allowing you to select "Packaging and Pricing Mode" which includes packaging and pricing, "Packaging Mode" which only includes packaging, and "Pricing Mode" which issues only labels for pricing without packaging. Here, an example of the screen immediately after "Pricing Mode" is selected is shown. When the buttons for packaging operation and pricing mode are pressed, the device transitions to a reset mode (not shown) and a reset operation is performed. During this reset operation, the determination of whether the upper and lower die cutters are loaded and whether they match or not is performed, and the determination result is displayed or notified. Note that the timing of the determination can be changed to any timing, such as during the initial operation or while the main menu is displayed, not just during the reset operation. In particular, since the packaging device is equipped with a storage means for storing container size information linked to product information, it would be convenient to provide notification if the size of the loaded die differs from the size of the container linked to the retrieved product information. However, since retrieving product information involves checking the screen and displaying the next and subsequent candidates several times before confirming the product, if the system is configured to make a judgment or provide notification each time a candidate is displayed before confirmation, the warnings may be excessive. Therefore, it is preferable to configure the system to make a judgment or provide notification when the product is placed on the weighing means. Alternatively, the system may be configured to make a judgment or provide notification when the product is placed and its weight is detected. However, this does not mean that the system is excluded from providing notification each time product information is retrieved. Figure 16 shows an example of the display of the judgment result on the weighing screen, the details of which will be described later.

[0051] On the other hand, when changing a die during normal packaging operations (hereinafter referred to as "normal operation"), it is necessary to wait for the die to cool down, and the decision must be made after the operation instruction for replacement has been given, otherwise it will be meaningless, so the timing of the decision is naturally limited. As mentioned earlier, during normal operation, pressing the emergency stop button displays the screen shown in Figure 17(b), stopping the heating of the upper die and initiating natural cooling. Alternatively, a cooling means may be provided to force cooling. As shown in Figure 17(b), the guidance screen displays that the current die is large, as well as the current die temperature, the appropriate temperature for replacement, and the estimated time until the appropriate temperature is reached. Furthermore, the current die temperature display may be made more noticeable by changing the display format until the temperature reaches the appropriate temperature. For example, while it is still necessary to wait for heating, a message such as "The temperature is 90℃. Please wait until it reaches 35℃" could be displayed in red, and once the appropriate temperature is reached, a message such as "Cooling complete" could be displayed in green.

[0052] When the appropriate temperature for replacement is reached and cooling is complete, the screen shown in Figure 18(a) is displayed. The guidance screen displays a message indicating that the current die is large and prompting the user to press the "Replace Die" button to replace it. When the "Replace Die" button is pressed, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention performs control to loosen the film by rotating the film support shaft in a loosening direction or the winding side in a loosening direction, thereby slackening the film and making it easier to replace the die. This is because the film and the upper die 24 are very close together, and there is a risk of the upper die 24 getting caught on the film when inserting or removing it (see Figure 5). After that, the operator performs the die replacement work and, after the work is completed, press the "Replacement Complete" button (not shown). At this time, the loading status of the upper and lower dies is determined.

[0053] If the determination shows that the sizes of the upper and lower cutters match, for example, as shown in Figure 18(b), the guidance screen will display that both the upper and lower cutters are medium size, and the "Start Heating" button will be activated and ready to press. Alternatively, the control may start heating automatically with the "Start Heating" message without requiring a button press. Furthermore, the control may not even display a "Start Heating" message; heating may start only if the upper and lower cutters match, and not start heating if they do not match.

[0054] On the other hand, if the judgment reveals a problem with the die-cutting process, a prominent error message will be displayed along with the details of the error. For example, as shown in Figure 19(a), the message "Die-cutting mismatch error" is highlighted, and it indicates that the upper die-cutting die is large, while the lower die-cutting die is medium, resulting in a size mismatch. The "Start heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. As another example, as shown in Figure 19(b), the message "Die-cutting mismatch error" is highlighted, and it indicates that the upper die-cutting die is not loaded. The "Start heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. Note that the display example shown here corresponds to a configuration equipped with a sensor that can identify which die is loaded in the upper or lower slot. With detection methods using three or five holes, while a mismatch between upper and lower dies can be detected, it is not possible to identify which die is loaded in each slot. Nevertheless, the "die matching error" display is still meaningful because it prompts the operator to check the actual loading status. Furthermore, if the system determines that the top and bottom removable parts are unsuitable or have not been loaded, it is configured so that the system cannot switch to metering mode until the parts are replaced or the heating temperature reaches the appropriate level.

[0055] (Example of display of judgment results on the weighing screen) Figure 16 shows an example of how the judgment result is displayed on the weighing screen. For the product name "Gauda Cheese," "Large (1)" is displayed in the "Tray Type Selection" field, and "Width 150 x Depth 150" is displayed in the "Tray Dimensions" field. An experienced worker would recognize this as a size error. For reference, "Medium (2)" is "Width 150 x Depth 120," and "Small (3)" is "Width 120 x Depth 120." Furthermore, to make it easier for inexperienced workers to recognize the size error, the display format may be changed from the usual one to make it more noticeable, or a more direct message such as "Size error" may be displayed along with it. In addition, the error may be announced by voice. In addition, the current "packaging mode" is displayed as "packaging and marking mode," and the "heat seal temperature" is displayed as "160°C." This temperature display could be made more noticeable by changing the display format until the temperature reaches the appropriate level. For example, the display could be shown in red while heating is still required, and then changed to green once the appropriate temperature is reached. Furthermore, if "Pricing Mode" is selected as the "Packaging Mode," no packaging work will be performed. Therefore, the system is configured not to perform a check or notification regarding the match or mismatch between the die size associated with the called product and the die size loaded. Of course, it is also possible to configure the system to perform this check and notification for packaging work that will be performed later.

[0056] (Regarding gas replacement treatment) The gas replacement process to extend the shelf life of packaged goods is performed by replacing the air with an inert gas. The inert gas is used to extend the shelf life of food by adjusting the ratio of three types of gases: nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. Although oxygen may seem unnecessary, it is actually necessary to keep meat red. As mentioned earlier, the structure allows for efficient gas delivery by injecting gas from between the film and the container with the upper and lower dies closed. In other words, the gas injection time can be shortened by injecting gas from the gas inlet 251 while simultaneously removing air from inside the die through the air outlet 252. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 is located on the metering means 1 side, gas can be injected from the same position even with dies of different sizes. In addition, since the gas inlet 251 and air outlet 252 are provided in the direction of film transport, the film does not shift from side to side, ensuring that the product is reliably covered with film. Here, only one type of film is provided so that there is no need to change the film for each tray size. The same applies to tray T; all trays have the same width, with only the depth varying (however, multiple height options may be available), allowing for efficient use of film. Traditionally, gas-purged packaging has mostly involved injecting gas into the bag during the bag-making process. This embodiment, however, is highly significant because it achieves efficient gas-purged processing during top sealing by injecting gas while the film is sandwiched inside. Furthermore, the system may be configured to allow for vacuum packaging by not injecting gas from the gas inlet 251 and instead removing air from inside the die through the air outlet 252. In addition, the system may be configured to allow for standard packaging, in which neither gas is injected nor air is removed.

[0057] The gas replacement time is configured to be automatically or manually changed according to the size of the three trays T: "large," "medium," and "small." In addition, the gas replacement time may be configured to be changed according to the expiration date. The expiration date can be selected directly on the console 6, or a recommended expiration date can be linked to the product information, and the gas replacement time can be automatically changed depending on the product selected. Furthermore, multiple gas inlets may be provided, for example, three dedicated inlets for nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, allowing the optimal gas ratio to be adjusted by settings or automatic control.

[0058] (Regarding the die-cutting storage mechanism) As mentioned above, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with an upper die-cutting storage means 24H and a lower die-cutting storage means 25H as storage means capable of accommodating all types of dies that are not loaded, eliminating the need to store unused dies separately from the packaging device body. In this embodiment, the device is configured to accommodate two unused types of dies out of three types, but if the device can be made larger, the storage means can be made larger to accommodate all dies, so that all three types of dies can be stored without being loaded when the packaging device is not in use. This configuration is more efficient when it is likely that work will start with any size die when the device is first put into use.

[0059] Figure 22 is a perspective view showing how the upper and lower die-cuts are housed in the die-cutting housing means, and Figure 23 is a right side view showing how the upper and lower die-cuts are housed in the die-cutting housing means. Figures 22(a) and 23(a) show the upper and lower die-cuts housed, while Figures 22(b) and 23(b) show the upper and lower die-cuts not housed. Figure 23(c) is an enlarged view of the lower right corner of the upper die-cutting housing means 24H in Figure 23(a).

[0060] In Figures 22 and 23, the top-cutting type 24B for medium-sized trays and the bottom-cutting type 25B for medium-sized trays are loaded into a folder and in use (not shown), the top-cutting type 24A for large trays and the top-cutting type 24C for small trays, which are not loaded into a folder, are housed in the top-cutting type housing means 24H, and the bottom-cutting type 25A for large trays and the bottom-cutting type 25C for small trays, which are not loaded into a folder, are housed in the bottom-cutting type housing means 25H.

[0061] The upper die housing means 24H and the lower die housing means 25H are positioned near the film, and are therefore covered with protective members to prevent heat from affecting the film. In other words, they are covered to prevent unintended heat transfer to the film. For these protective members, insulating or cooling materials can be appropriately used to minimize the effects of heat. In addition, more proactively, a preheating heater or cooling fan may be provided in addition to the protective members. In particular, if a preheating heater is provided, it can be expected that the device will be usable more quickly after die replacement.

[0062] The upper-cut mold storage means 24H is configured to allow the upper-cut molds to be attached and detached in a sliding manner in order to store two upper-cut molds lying flat and spaced apart. As shown in Figure 23(c), the right and left ends of the lower part of the upper-cut mold 24 are L-shaped or inverted L-shaped, and the upper-cut mold storage means 24H is a rail shape that rises up in an L-shaped or inverted L-shaped shape, and the lower part of the upper-cut mold 24 fits into this rail shape, allowing it to slide. This rail shape relationship is the same for the upper-cut mold 24 and the upper-cut mold folder 240, so that loading into the folder and storing into the mold storage means can be done with the same sliding operation.

[0063] The bottom-cutting die housing mechanism 25H is configured to allow the bottom-cutting dies to be attached and detached in a sliding manner, so that two bottom-cutting dies can be stored upright and spaced apart on the left and right sides. The relationship between the ends of the dies and the rail shape of the housing mechanism is substantially the same as that for the top-cutting dies. In addition, to make it easier to remove the two bottom-cutting dies that are lined up on the left and right sides, one side of the housing of the housing mechanism is shorter than the other side.

[0064] (Regarding alternative embodiments) The embodiments described so far perform weighing, packaging, and labeling processes, but the system may also be configured to include a dedicated packaging mode that performs only the packaging process. The dedicated packaging mode is suitable for fixed-price products that do not require weighing. Since there is no need to transfer to a subsequent area for labeling, in the dedicated packaging mode, the infeed bar IB may be configured to rotate in reverse after the packaging process to discharge the tray to the front. Alternatively, it may be configured as a dedicated device that performs only packaging. Even in that case, it will still fall within the realm of the technical concept of performing gas replacement processing to extend the shelf life of the packaged product and packaging processing by top sealing almost simultaneously. Furthermore, this invention also includes not only switching to a dedicated packaging mode, but also configuring the device itself to be specialized for packaging. In other words, without having weighing means, a console for that purpose, labeling means, etc., these components may be configured as separate devices, communicating with other devices to create a dedicated device that performs only the packaging process.

[0065] In the embodiment described, the weighing means was provided in front of the packaging means 2, but the weighing function may also be configured to be provided at the position of the container bottom support part 26 (see Figure 21) or in the downstream area 3 (see Figure 5). If the weighing function is provided in the downstream area 3, weighing and labeling will be performed after packaging, and the weight to be weighed at this time will include the weight of the tray, the weight of the film, and the weight of the gas, so it is preferable to tare the weight including these and print it. When the weighing function is provided in the container bottom support part 26 or the downstream area 3, the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in Figure 4 will simply be a placement area for loading the packaged items into the device.

[0066] It is also possible to place the packaging mechanism at the very front. That is, the upper and lower dies can be placed in the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in Figure 4, and the tray can be placed directly on the lower die, after which weighing and labeling can be performed. In this case, the weighing function would be located in the container bottom support section 26 or the subsequent area 3 described above. When adopting this configuration, it is preferable to provide a shutter on the front part of the frontmost section and close the shutter as soon as the tray is placed to ensure safety.

[0067] The embodiment described involved filling with inert gas by gas flushing, which blows gas to expel air. However, a gas replacement method (in the narrow sense) where air is removed before gas is added may also be used. Although this method takes longer than gas flushing, it is advantageous in terms of gas diffusivity and ensuring the gas reaches 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 suspended in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and downstream area 3, which are arranged vertically from the front to the back of the device, and the width of the tray is set to a single size. However, the film may be suspended in a direction perpendicular to the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, so that the width of the tray can be changed for each tray size.

[0068] <Summary of Embodiments> [Technical field] The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus 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] Conventional packaging devices include those that place the food to be packaged on a weighing scale, then transport it into trays supplied on a conveyor belt, and then heat-seal the film lid on the tray to perform top sealing on a large number of trays (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art document] [Patent] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-515654 [Overview of the prefecture] [Problems the invention aims to solve] The packaging device described in Patent Document 1 is designed to perform top sealing on containers of the same size, and is not designed to accommodate multiple containers, thus having several areas that need improvement. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device (100) for sealing a film onto a container, comprising a heater means (241) for heating a die and a mounting means (240) for mounting one die from a plurality of dies, wherein the die mounted on the mounting means is relatively close to the heater means. According to the above configuration, a packaging device capable of packaging multiple containers can be provided.

[0069] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging apparatus (100) described in (1), wherein the first die (24) can be attached to the mounting means (240) by horizontal movement, and the positions of the first die (24) and the heater means (241) are displaced according to the insertion position of the first die (24). With the above configuration, only the operation of attaching the die is required, and there is no need to perform an operation to move the heater means and the die apart, thus simplifying the operation.

[0070] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging apparatus (100) described in (1), wherein the heater means (241) is biased upward, and the heater means (241) has a link means (243), and the tip of the first die (24) and the tip of the link means (243) come into contact, causing the heater means (241) to descend against the biasing force and approach the first die (24). According to the above configuration, the structure for separating the heater and the die can be simplified.

[0071] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging apparatus (100) described in (1), wherein the plurality of dies (24) consist of a perimeter bottom plate (247), a film cutting means (244), and a top sealing portion (242), and the heater means (241) approaches the top sealing portion (242) of one of the dies (24). With the above configuration, heat can be efficiently transferred to the top seal section that requires heat generation.

[0072] Although the packaging apparatus 100 according to embodiments of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the gist of the present invention are also included. For example, in the embodiments, a storage means is provided around the film, consisting of a film holding means and an excess film winding means, but the technical idea of ​​the present invention lies in securing a storage place for unused dies, so if it is possible to secure other appropriate space depending on the size of the apparatus, it is not excluded to provide a storage means in that space. Also, in the embodiments, the apparatus is configured to accommodate both upper and lower dies, but even if the apparatus accommodates only at least one of the upper or lower dies, it is still included in the scope of the present invention. Since the lower die is smaller than the upper die, even if only the upper die is accommodated, it is still possible to contribute to space saving. [Explanation of symbols]

[0073] 100 Packaging equipment 1 Measuring means 11 Shutter 2 Packaging means 21 Film suspension means 211 Film holding means 212 Excess film winding means 24 Upper cutting die 24H Top-opening storage means 240 Top-removable folder 241 Heater means 242 Metal plate (top seal part) 243 Heater Link 244 Film cutting means 245 Upper punch hole 246 Gripping part during transportation 247 Perimeter bottom plate 25. Bottom-extraction type (gas replacement means) 25H Bottom-opening storage means 251 Gas inlet 2510 Gas diffusion step 252 Air outlet 253 Bottom punching hole 26 Container bottom support part 3 Later area 4 1st discharge stand 5 Second discharge platform 6. Console (Display Unit) 7. Labeling method 71 Labeling means slide rail 72 Anti-tip legs 8. "Emergency Stop" button HTM Heat Transfer Member BT Buffer Tank T Tray R Roll Film DR Dancer Laura

Claims

1. A packaging device that seals a film onto a container, A heater means for heating the die, It comprises a mounting means that allows one of several die-cutting molds to be attached, The die attached to the mounting means is relatively close to the heater means. A packaging device characterized by the following features.

2. The first die can be attached to the mounting means by horizontal movement, and the positions of the first die and the heater means are displaced according to the insertion position of the first die. The packaging apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The heater means is biased upward, The heater means includes a link means, When the tip of the first die and the tip of the link means come into contact, the heater means descends against the biasing force and approaches the first die. The packaging apparatus according to feature 1.

4. The aforementioned multiple dies consist of a peripheral bottom plate, a film cutting means, and a top sealing portion. The heater means approaches the top seal portion of the first die. The packaging apparatus according to feature 1.

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