Mounting structure of a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine that simplifies the structure and offers advantages in efficiently cleaning the center seal. [Solution] A support mechanism 34 is provided to integrally support a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B. The support mechanism 34 has a plurality of assembly rods 38 that protrude in the rear direction B at intervals in the direction of transport of the packaging film. A frame-side support part 40 is provided on the frame 24 located on the rear side B of the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine, into which the assembly rods 38 are inserted and which cantilever-support the assembly rods 38. A detachment mechanism 42 is provided for fixing and releasing the assembly rods 38 inserted into the frame-side support part 40.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an attachment structure of a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making and filling packaging machine that packages supplied products with a packaging film.

Background Art

[0002] A horizontal bag-making and filling packaging machine (pillow packaging machine) that packages products while transporting a packaging film in the horizontal direction forms a tubular film from a packaging film unwound from a raw roll using a former, fills the tubular film with products, overlaps and welds both ends in the width direction of the tubular film in a clasped shape by a center seal portion to form a center seal, then forms an end seal on the tubular film located between products by an end seal portion, and forms a packaging bag enclosing the products by cutting or fusing a transverse seal portion by a cutting portion. The center seal portion includes a pair of heater blocks that heat both ends of the tubular film overlapped in a clasped shape, and a pair of pressure rollers that crimp while heating the tip portion after heating. Also, above the center seal portion, a pair of center seal plates are arranged that form a guide surface for guiding the packaging film and are provided with a gap into which both ends of the tubular film overlapped in a clasped shape are inserted. By the way, molten residue melted from the tip portion of the tubular film easily adheres to the opposing surfaces of the heater blocks and the outer peripheral surfaces of the pressure rollers of the center seal portion. If such molten residue remains attached, it becomes impossible to appropriately heat and seal the tip portion of the tubular film. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly perform cleaning to remove the molten residue from the heater blocks and the pressure rollers. Therefore, the horizontal pillow packaging machine in Reference 1 discloses a mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates, in which a pair of center seal plates are slid in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction to open the upper part of the center seal, and then the pair of center seal plates are swung downward by 90 degrees to suspend the pair of center seal plates to the side of the center seal, thereby securing enough space above and around the center seal for cleaning. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-21781 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] However, the above mounting structure requires guide members for sliding the pair of center seal plates. Since these guide members extend along the entire width of the pair of center seal plates and are positioned in front of and behind the center seal portion in the transport direction, they get in the way when the pair of center seal plates are moved away from the center seal portion, making it difficult to efficiently clean the center seal portion. Furthermore, it requires a structure to slide the center seal plate and a structure to pivot it 90 degrees, which results in a complex and large-scale device. These problems occur not only in horizontal pillow packaging machines but also in horizontal inverted pillow packaging machines. As a result of diligent research, the inventors have discovered that the vertical force acting on the pair of center seal plates is not large, and that a cantilever support structure is sufficient to support the pair of center seal plates. The present invention was devised in view of the above circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine that is advantageous in simplifying the structure and efficiently cleaning the center seal portion. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] To achieve the above-mentioned objectives, one embodiment of the present invention provides a mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine in which one side perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film is the front and the other side is the back, wherein the pair of center seal plates are provided with gaps into which both ends in the width direction of the packaging film are inserted when the cylindrical packaging film containing the product inside is conveyed, the support mechanism for integrally supporting the pair of center seal plates is provided, the support mechanism has a plurality of assembly rods that are spaced apart in the conveying direction of the packaging film and protrude toward the rear, the support mechanism is provided on a frame located on the rear side of the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine, the assembly rods are inserted into a frame-side support portion that cantilever-supports the assembly rods, and a detachment mechanism is provided for fixing and releasing the assembly rods inserted into the frame-side support portion. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the pair of center seal plates comprises a first center seal plate located on the rear side and a second center seal plate located on the front side, and is characterized in that a handle protruding to the front side is provided at the end of the second center seal plate located on the front side, on the surface of the second center seal plate facing in the opposite direction to the product being transported. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the pair of center seal plates comprises a first center seal plate located on the rear side and a second center seal plate located on the front side of the first center seal plate, the attachment and detachment mechanism comprises a steel plate provided at the rear end of the first center seal plate and a magnet provided at a location on the frame located on the rear side to attract the steel plate, the assembly rod inserted into the frame-side support portion is fixed to the frame-side support portion by the attractive force of the magnet that attracts the steel plate, and the fixing is released by pulling out the second center seal plate with a force greater than the attractive force. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a folding plate for folding the backing is provided on the side facing the opposite direction to the product being conveyed at the downstream end of the gap between the pair of center seal plates in the conveying direction, and the folding plate for folding the backing is provided on one of the two sides perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film, and the folding plate for folding the backing is provided on the other side. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the pair of center seal plates comprises a first center seal plate located on the rear side and a second center seal plate located on the front side, and the support mechanism comprises a plurality of first support brackets attached to the first center seal plate and a plurality of second support brackets attached to the second center seal plate at a plurality of locations spaced apart in the transport direction of the packaging film, wherein the plurality of first support brackets and the plurality of second support brackets are provided at the same position in the transport direction of the packaging film, and the plurality of assembly rods connect the first support brackets and the second support brackets, respectively, which are located at the same position in the transport direction of the packaging film. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the first support bracket and the second support bracket each include a mounting portion for a center seal plate attached to the first center seal plate or the second center seal plate, and a mounting portion for an assembly rod projecting from the mounting portion for the center seal plate in a direction away from the first center seal plate or the second center seal plate in the vertical direction and attached to an assembly rod, wherein the mounting portion for the center seal plate and the mounting portion for the assembly rod extend in a direction connecting the rear and the front, the rear end of the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the first support bracket in the extending direction is located on the rear side of the first center seal plate than the rear end of the mounting portion for the assembly rod, and the front end of the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the second support bracket in the extending direction is located on the front side of the second center seal plate than the front end of the mounting portion for the assembly rod. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that mounting portions for the assembly rod are provided at the ends of the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the first support bracket and the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the second support bracket that face each other. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the support mechanism is configured to include a connecting member that extends in the direction of transport of the packaging film, is connected to the plurality of second support brackets and is also connected to the assembly rod, and the handle is provided on the connecting member. Furthermore, one embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a cylindrical portion is provided protruding from the frame located on the rear side, into which the end of the assembly rod protruding from the first support bracket to the rear side is inserted, and the frame-side support portion is composed of the cylindrical portion. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention, the attachment and detachment mechanism is composed of a steel plate provided at the rear end of the first support bracket and a magnet provided at a location on the frame located on the rear side for attracting the steel plate, the assembly rod inserted into the frame-side support portion is fixed to the frame-side support portion by the attractive force of the magnet that attracts the steel plate, and the fixing is released by pulling out the second center seal plate with a force greater than the attractive force. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the frame-side support portion is structured to cantilever support the assembly rod, which simplifies the mounting structure of the pair of center seal plates, which is advantageous in reducing costs, and also makes it easy to attach and detach the pair of center seal plates. Furthermore, the amount of protrusion of the frame-side support portion that protrudes from the frame located on the rear side to the front side can be minimized, and when the pair of center seal plates are removed from the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine, it is advantageous to secure a large space above the center seal portion in the horizontal standard pillow packaging machine, below the center seal portion in the horizontal inverted pillow packaging machine, and also on the upstream and downstream ends in the film transport direction of the multiple assembly rods in both the horizontal standard pillow packaging machine and the inverted pillow packaging machine, which is advantageous in efficiently performing periodic cleaning to remove molten residue from the center seal portion. Furthermore, by providing a handle using multiple second support brackets that integrate the first center seal plate and the second center seal plate, the handle, the first center seal plate, and the second center seal plate are integrated, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates. Furthermore, providing a handle on the second center seal plate is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates. Furthermore, by configuring the attachment / detachment mechanism using the magnetic attraction force, the attachment and detachment of a pair of center seal plates to a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine can be easily performed with a single touch by moving the pair of center seal plates in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, which is advantageous for efficiently cleaning the center seal area. Furthermore, if a pair of center seal plates is provided, each with a folding plate for folding the back flaps on one side perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film, and another pair of center seal plates with folding plates for folding the back flaps on the other side, then when the specifications for folding the back flaps of the packaging bags change, it is only necessary to replace the pair of center seal plates, which is advantageous in improving work efficiency and thus advantageous in improving the operating efficiency of the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine. Furthermore, since the support mechanism is configured to include multiple first support brackets and second support brackets that support the first and second center seal plates at multiple locations spaced apart in the direction of transport of the packaging film, the support mechanism can be made smaller and lighter, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates, and is more advantageous for efficiently performing periodic cleaning to remove molten residue from the center seal area. Furthermore, by connecting the first support bracket and the second support bracket with an assembly rod and integrating the pair of center seal plates, the bending rigidity of the pair of center seal plates in the direction where the front and back faces each other can be ensured by the assembly rod, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates. Furthermore, if the mounting portions for the center seal plates of the first support bracket and the second support bracket extend in a direction connecting the rear and front, and the rear end of the center seal plate mounting portion of the first support bracket in the extending direction is located on the rear side of the first center seal plate than the rear end of the mounting portion for the assembly rod, and the front end of the center seal plate mounting portion of the second support bracket in the extending direction is located on the front side of the second center seal plate than the front end of the mounting portion for the assembly rod, then the bending rigidity of the pair of center seal plates in the direction in which the front and rear faces each other can be ensured, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates. Furthermore, by providing mounting portions for assembly rods at the opposing ends of the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the first support bracket and the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the second support bracket, the length of the rod end, which is the end of the assembly rod inserted into the cylindrical portion, can be easily secured, allowing for the construction of a detachable mechanism while achieving miniaturization and weight reduction, and providing advantages in easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates. Furthermore, providing a handle to a connecting member that extends in the direction of transport of the packaging film, is connected to multiple second support brackets, and is also connected to an assembly rod is advantageous for easily positioning the handle. Since the connecting member extends in the direction of transport of the packaging film and is integrated with multiple assembly rods, the bending rigidity of the pair of center seal plates along the direction of transport of the packaging film can be ensured, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates. Furthermore, constructing the frame-side support section as a cylindrical section allows for miniaturization and weight reduction of the frame-side support section. Additionally, commercially available slide bushings can be used, which simplifies the mounting structure of the pair of center seal plates and reduces costs. Furthermore, if the attachment and detachment mechanism for fixing and releasing the assembly rod inserted into the frame-side support is constructed using the magnetic attraction force, the attachment and detachment of a pair of center seal plates to a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine can be easily performed with a single touch by moving the pair of center seal plates in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, which is advantageous for efficiently cleaning the center seal area. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] This is a front view showing the main parts of a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine (horizontal pillow-type packaging machine) to which the mounting structure of a pair of center seal plates according to the first embodiment is applied. [Figure 2] This is a plan view of Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a plan view, showing the center seal portion through a pair of center seal plates. [Figure 4] This is a perspective view from above of the mounting structure of a pair of center seal plates according to the first embodiment, with the center seal portion shown through the pair of center seal plates. [Figure 5] This is a view from arrow A in Figure 1. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view from below of the mounting structure of a pair of center seal plates according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] This is a plan view showing the state in which a pair of center seal plates have been removed from the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine in the first embodiment. [Figure 8] This is a view from arrow A in Figure 7. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view from above of the first embodiment, showing the pair of center seal plates removed from the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine. [Figure 10] This is a perspective view from below of the first embodiment, showing the pair of center seal plates removed from the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine. [Figure 11]Perspective view seen from above of the main part of a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine (horizontal reverse pillow packaging machine) to which the mounting structure of a pair of center seal plates according to the second embodiment is applied. [Figure 12] Perspective view seen from above of the state in which a pair of center seal plates are removed from the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine in the second embodiment.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0008] (First Embodiment) Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The mounting structure of the pair of center seal plates of the present invention is applicable to both horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machines, namely, a horizontal pillow packaging machine and a horizontal reverse pillow packaging machine. In the first embodiment, the case where the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine is a horizontal pillow packaging machine that wraps and packages a product from above while conveying a packaging film in the horizontal direction will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A, which is a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine, has one direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film as the front F and the other as the back B. In other words, it has a front F where the operator is located and a back B away from the operator. The horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A includes a former (not shown) that forms a tubular film from a packaging film unwound from a packaging film roll, a product supply unit (not shown) that supplies a product into the tubular film, and as shown in FIG. 3, a center seal unit 12 that forms a center seal by welding both ends in the width direction of the tubular film, an end seal unit (not shown) that forms an end seal by welding portions of the tubular film located on both sides of the product in the longitudinal direction of the tubular film, and a cutting unit (not shown) that forms a packaging bag in which the product is enclosed by cutting the end seal unit.

[0009] The ends of the tubular film formed by the former are inserted from above into the gap 1402 between the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B shown in Figures 1 and 2, and the tubular portion of the supplied product is transported downstream in the transport direction on the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B as the tubular film is transported. As shown in Figure 2, the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B consist of a first center seal plate 14A located on the rear side B and a second center seal plate 14B located on the front side F, both of which are made of metal. In this embodiment, steel plates coated with Teflon® or stainless steel surfaces treated with a highly slippery surface treatment are used. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, below the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B are a pair of feed rollers 16, 16 that grip and transport both ends of the tubular film in the width direction, a pair of heater blocks 18, 18 that heat both ends of the tubular film in the width direction, a pair of crimping rollers 20, 20 that weld the heated ends of the tubular film in the width direction to form a center seal, and a pair of shaping rollers 22, 22 that shape the center seal. In this embodiment, the center seal portion 12, which forms a center seal by welding both ends of the tubular film in the width direction, is composed of a pair of feed rollers 16, a pair of heater blocks 18, a pair of crimping rollers 20, and a pair of weight rollers 22.

[0010] A pair of feed rollers 16, a pair of heater blocks 18, a pair of crimping rollers 20, and a pair of weight rollers 22 are supported by a frame 24 located on the rear B side of the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A via brackets (not shown). The tubular film, once supplied and a center seal has been formed, is guided by a pair of guide members 26 and transported downstream in the transport direction by a belt conveyor 28. A folding plate 30 for lowering the back beam is detachably attached by screws to the gap 1402 between a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B downstream in the conveying direction. In other words, a folding plate 30 for folding the backing plate is detachably provided on the side facing away from the product being transported at the downstream end of the gap 1402 between the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B in the transport direction. The back seal folding plate 30 folds the center seal to one of the two sides perpendicular to the conveying direction, according to the specifications of the packaging bag. There are two types: a first back seal folding plate that folds the center seal to one side, and a second back seal folding plate that folds it to the other side.

[0011] Next, an embodiment of the mounting structure 32 for a pair of center seal plates will be described. As shown in Figure 3, the mounting structure 32 for the pair of center seal plates is composed of a support mechanism 34, a handle 36, a frame-side support part 40, and a detachment mechanism 42.

[0012] As shown in Figure 4, the support mechanism 34 is a mechanism that integrally supports a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B. The support mechanism 34 may be composed of a single component, but in this embodiment, in order to reduce weight, it is composed of multiple support brackets 44A, 44B, multiple assembly rods 38, and a single connecting member 46. The support brackets 44A, 44B, assembly rod 38, and connecting member 46 that constitute the support mechanism 34 are made of metal. In this embodiment, hollow iron pipes are used to reduce the weight of the support mechanism 34 and to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B. The multiple support brackets 44A and 44B consist of two first support brackets 44A attached to the lower surface of the first center seal plate 14A and two second support brackets 44B attached to the lower surface of the second center seal plate 14B at multiple locations spaced apart in the direction of transport of the packaging film. The two first support brackets 44A and the two second support brackets 44B are provided at the same position in the direction of transport of the packaging film.

[0013] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the first support bracket 44A and the second support bracket 44B each include a mounting portion 4402 for a center seal plate, which is attached to the first center seal plate 14A or the second center seal plate 14B by a screw N1, and a mounting portion 4404 for an assembly rod, to which the assembly rod 38 is attached. The mounting portion 4404 for the assembly rod protrudes downward from the mounting portion 4402 for the center seal plate. The mounting portion 4402 for the center seal plate extends in the direction connecting the rear surface B and the front surface F. As shown in Figure 5, in the direction connecting the rear surface B and the front surface F, the end of the mounting portion 4402 for the center seal plate of the first support bracket 44A on the rear surface B side and the end of the first center seal plate 14A on the rear surface B side are located at approximately the same position. Furthermore, in the direction connecting the rear surface B and the front surface F, the end of the mounting portion 4402 for the center seal plate of the second support bracket 44B on the front surface F side in the extending direction and the end of the second center seal plate 14B on the front surface F side are located at approximately the same position. Mounting portions 4404 for assembly rods are provided at the ends of the center seal plate mounting portion 4402 of the first support bracket 44A and the center seal plate mounting portion 4402 of the second support bracket 44B that face each other.

[0014] As shown in Figure 10, the assembly rod 38 extends in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film, and multiple rods are provided projecting from the first support bracket 44A toward the rear surface B at intervals in the conveying direction of the packaging film. In this embodiment, two assembly rods 38 are provided, connecting a first support bracket 44A and a second support bracket 44B, which are located at the same position in the direction of transporting the packaging film. More specifically, as shown in Figure 6, each assembly rod 38 is inserted through holes in the mounting portions 4404 for assembly rods of the first support bracket 44A and the second support bracket 44B, which are located at the same position in the direction of transport of the packaging film, and is fixed by screws N2. As shown in Figure 8, the end of each assembly rod 38 closest to the frame 24 on the rear B side is a rod end 3802 that protrudes from the mounting portion 4404 for the assembly rod of the first support bracket 44A toward the frame 24 on the rear B side. The tip of the rod end 3802 is located in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction (the direction connecting the back surface B and the front surface F), and is positioned approximately at the same location as the widthwise end of the back surface B side of the first center seal plate 14A.

[0015] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the handle 36 is connected to a plurality of second support brackets 44B, is located at a distance below the second center seal plate 14B, and protrudes toward the front F side. In other words, a handle 36 is provided at the end of the second center seal plate 14B, which is located on the front F side of the second center seal plate 14B, facing in the opposite direction to the goods being transported, and which protrudes toward the front F side. The handle 36, like the support mechanism 34, is made of aluminum alloy, and its lightweight design makes it easier to attach and detach the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B. In this embodiment, a connecting member 46 is provided that extends in the direction of transport of the packaging film, is connected to the front F-side end of the mounting portion 4404 for the assembly rod of a plurality of second support brackets 44B, and is also connected to the assembly rod 38. This connecting member 46 constitutes the support mechanism 34. As shown in Figure 6, the connecting member 46 is connected to the assembly rod 38 by a screw N3, thereby connecting the connecting member 46 to the mounting portion 4404 for the assembly rod of the second support bracket 44B. The handle 36 is located near the center of the connecting member 46 in the longitudinal direction.

[0016] As shown in Fig. 6, the frame-side support portion 40 is a location that supports the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B via the mounting rod 38 of the support mechanism 34. As a result of intensive research by the present inventor, only the self-weights of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B and the weight of the passing products act as vertical forces on the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B, and the forces acting in the vertical direction are not large. It was found that a structure that supports the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B on the back surface B side with a cantilever support structure is sufficient. As a result, the frame-side support portion 40 is constituted by a cylindrical portion 40A protruding from the frame 24 on the back surface B side of the horizontal bag-making and filling packaging machine 10A. The cylindrical portion 40A is a location where the rod end portion 3802 of the mounting rod 38 protruding from the first support bracket 44A to the back surface B side is insertable and removable. In the present embodiment, in order for the mounting rod 38 to be smoothly attached to and detached from the cylindrical portion 40A, a commercially available linear slide bush is used as the cylindrical portion 40A, and the flange of the linear slide bush is fixed to the frame 24 on the back surface B side with a screw N4. And when the present inventor configures the frame-side support portion 40 with the cylindrical portion 40A, as shown in Fig. 3, the distance between the frame 24 located on the back surface B side and the end portions in the width direction of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B separated from the frame 24 is set as L1, and the distance between the frame 24 located on the back surface B side and the tip of the cylindrical portion 40A is set as L2. It was found that it is sufficient if L2 satisfies L1 / 6 < L2 < L1 / 5, and L2 is formed with dimensions that satisfy this relational expression.

[0017] As shown in Figs. 5 and 8, the attaching / detaching mechanism 42 performs fixing and fixing release of the mounting rod 38 inserted into the frame-side support portion 40 to the frame-side support portion 40. As a result of diligent research, the inventors have discovered that the force acting on the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film is extremely small, and that a small force is sufficient to support the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B so that they cannot move horizontally in the direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film. For these reasons, the attachment / detachment mechanism 42 is composed of a steel plate 4202 provided at the end of the rear B side of the first center seal plate 14A, and a magnet 4204 provided at the frame 24 located on the rear B side to attract the steel plate 4202. More specifically, the detachable mechanism 42 consists of a steel plate 4202 provided at the rear B end of the mounting portion 4402 for the center seal plate of the first support bracket 44A, as shown in Figure 8, and a magnet 4204 provided at the frame 24 located on the rear B side, as shown in Figure 9, which attracts the steel plate 4202. The magnet 4204 is a neodymium magnet in the shape of a flat plate and is attached to the holder 4210. The holder 4210 is attached to the frame 24 with screws N5, so the magnet 4204 is positioned on the frame 24. The assembly rod 38 inserted into the frame-side support portion 40 is fixed to the frame-side support portion 40 by the attractive force of the magnet 4204 that attracts the steel plate 4202, and the fixing is released by pulling out the second center seal plate 14B with a force greater than the attractive force. In this embodiment, since there are two first support brackets 44A, there are also two steel plates 4202, and correspondingly, there are also two magnets 4204.

[0018] Next, we will explain how to attach and detach a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B to the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A. First, we will explain how to attach a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B to a horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A. When attaching a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B to a horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A, grasp the handle 36 with one hand and support the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B with the other hand, move the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B horizontally towards the back side B above the center seal portion 12, and insert the rod end 3802 of the assembly rod 38 into the cylindrical portion 40A. With the rod end 3802 of the assembly rod 38 positioned at the back of the cylindrical portion 40A, the steel plate 4202 provided at the rear end B of the mounting portion 4402 for the center seal plate of the first support bracket 44A is attracted by the magnet 4204 provided on the frame 24, and the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B are assembled to the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A by the attractive force of this magnet 4204. Next, we will describe how to remove the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B from the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A. Grasp the handle 36 and pull the handle 36 out towards the front F side. When the force applied to the handle 36 becomes greater than the attractive force of the two magnets 4204 that attract the two steel plates 4202, the steel plates 4202 separate from the magnets 4204, moving the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B horizontally to the front F side and removing them from the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A.

[0019] According to this embodiment, the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B can be removed from the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A by a simple operation of pulling them horizontally to the front F side of the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A. Furthermore, the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B can be assembled to the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A by a simple operation of moving the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B horizontally to the rear side B of the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A. Furthermore, the frame-side support portion 40 that supports the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B via the assembly rod 38 and support mechanism 38 is structured to support the assembly rod 38 in a cantilever manner. This reduces the amount of protrusion of the cylindrical portion 40A from the frame 24 located on the rear side B, which is advantageous in securing a large space above the center seal portion 12 when the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B are removed from the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A. Therefore, this is advantageous for efficiently performing periodic cleaning to remove molten residue from the center seal portion 12. In particular, in the case of the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A, due to the layout in which the center seal section 12 is located below the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B, when a sealing defect occurs in the center seal of the packaging bag, small pieces or powder from the product, such as snack foods, fall from the center seal into the center seal section 12. According to the present invention, a large space can be secured above the center seal portion 12, which is advantageous for efficiently cleaning to remove small pieces and powder that have fallen into the center seal portion 12 due to a center seal failure. Furthermore, since space is secured on both the upstream and downstream ends of the multiple assembly rods 38 in the film transport direction, it becomes possible to add options such as gas-filled pipes to that space.

[0020] Furthermore, if the product is sensitive to heat, such as chocolate, a water channel may be provided in the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B, and a water circulation hose may be connected to the water channel to cool each center seal plate 14A and 14B by circulating water through the hose. In this case, if, as in the conventional technology, a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B are slid in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction to open the upper part of the center seal portion 12, and then the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B are swung downward by 90 degrees to suspend the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B to the side of the center seal portion 12, there is a concern that the hose connected to the waterway will be bent in a complex manner, making the handling of the hose complicated. In contrast, in the present invention, by moving the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B horizontally to the front F side of the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A, the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B can be removed from the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A. This is advantageous because the water circulation hose connected to the water channel does not bend in a complex manner, and the hose can be easily routed.

[0021] Furthermore, the support mechanism 34 that supports the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B may be made of a single component. However, in this embodiment, the support mechanism 34 is made up of multiple first support brackets 44A and second support brackets 44B that support the first center seal plate 14A and the second center seal plate 14B at multiple locations spaced apart in the direction of transport of the packaging film. This makes the support mechanism 34 smaller and lighter, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B, and for efficiently performing periodic cleaning to remove molten residue from the center seal portion 12. Furthermore, the assembly rod 38 connects the first support bracket 44A and the second support bracket 44B, which are facing each other in the direction where the front F and rear B face each other, and the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B are integrated in the direction where the front F and rear B face each other. As a result, the assembly rod 38 ensures the bending rigidity of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B in the direction where the front F and rear B face each other, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B.

[0022] Furthermore, the mounting portions 4402 for the center seal plate and 4404 for the assembly rod of the first support bracket 44A and the second support bracket 44B extend in the direction connecting the rear surface B and the front surface F. The end of the mounting portion 4402 of the first support bracket 44A on the rear surface B side in the direction of extension is located on the rear surface B side of the first center seal plate 14A than the end of the assembly rod mounting portion 4404 on the rear surface B side. The end of the mounting portion 4402 of the second support bracket 44B on the front surface F side in the direction of extension is located on the front surface F side of the second center seal plate 14B than the end of the assembly rod mounting portion 4404 on the front surface F side. As a result, the bending rigidity of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B in the direction where the front surface F and the rear surface B face each other can be ensured, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B.

[0023] Furthermore, since mounting portions 4404 for assembly rods are provided at the opposing ends of the mounting portions 4402 for the center seal plate of the first support bracket 44A and the second support bracket 44B, the length of the rod end 3802, which is the end of the assembly rod 38 inserted into the cylindrical portion 40A, can be easily secured, allowing for the construction of a detachable mechanism 42 while achieving miniaturization and weight reduction, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B.

[0024] Furthermore, the handle 36 may be attached to the lower surface of the second center seal plate 14B, but in this embodiment, the handle 36 is provided using a plurality of second support brackets 44B that integrate the first center seal plate 14A and the second center seal plate 14B. As a result, the handle 36, the first center seal plate 14A, and the second center seal plate 14B are integrated, which is advantageous for easily attaching and detaching the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B. In addition, a connecting member 46 is provided which extends along the conveyance direction of the packaging film and is connected to a plurality of second support brackets 44B and also connected to the assembly rod 38. As a result, the structure of the support mechanism 34 is strengthened, and the bending rigidity of a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B along the conveyance direction of the packaging film can be ensured, which is advantageous for easily performing the attachment and detachment operations of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a handle 36 is provided on the connecting member 46, which is advantageous for easily arranging the handle 36. Since the bending rigidity of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B along the conveyance direction of the packaging film is ensured, it is advantageous for easily performing the attachment and detachment operations of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B.

[0025] Also, since the frame-side support portion 40 is constituted by a cylindrical portion 40A, the frame-side support portion 40 can be reduced in size and weight. Furthermore, commercially available slide bushes and the like can be used, which is advantageous for simplifying the attachment structure 32 of the pair of center seal plates, reducing costs, and achieving smooth attachment and detachment. Also, when the frame-side support portion 40 is constituted by the cylindrical portion 40A, if the distance between the frame located on the back surface B side and the widthwise end portions 24 of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B that are separated from the frame 24 located on the back surface B side is L1, and the distance between the frame 24 located on the back surface B side and the tip of the cylindrical portion 40A is L2, the protruding length L2 of the cylindrical portion 40A from the frame 24 can be formed with a dimension that satisfies L1 / 6 < L2 < L1 / 5. This is advantageous for securing a large space above the center seal portion 12 when the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B are removed from the horizontal type bag-making and filling packaging machine, and is advantageous for efficiently cleaning the center seal portion 12.

[0026] Also, in this embodiment, the detachment mechanism 42 is constituted by a steel plate 4202 provided on the first support bracket 44A and a magnet 4204 provided at a location on the frame 24 located on the back surface B side for adsorbing the steel plate 4202. Therefore, with an inexpensive component configuration, the attachment and removal of a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B to the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A can be easily performed with a single touch by moving the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, which is advantageous for efficiently cleaning the center seal section 12. The attachment / detachment mechanism 42 only needs to be able to fix and release the assembly rod 38 inserted into the frame-side support portion 40 to the frame-side support portion 40. For example, it may be fixed with a screw, or various conventionally known attachment / detachment mechanisms 42 can be used, such as using a commercially available thumbturn clamp as the attachment / detachment mechanism 42. However, as in the embodiment, if the attachment / detachment mechanism 42 is configured using the attractive force of the magnet 4204, the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B can be easily attached and detached with a single touch, which is more advantageous for efficiently cleaning the center seal portion 12.

[0027] Furthermore, there are two types of back-belt folding plates 30: a first back-belt folding plate 30 that folds by folding the center seal to one of the two sides perpendicular to the conveying direction, and a second back-belt folding plate that folds by folding the center seal to the other of the two sides perpendicular to the conveying direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B for first back beam folding, each provided with a first back beam folding plate, and a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B for second back beam folding, each provided with a second back beam folding plate, are prepared. Furthermore, when the specifications for folding the back fascia of the packaging bag change, in this embodiment, a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B can be easily attached to and detached from the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A, so it is only necessary to replace the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B. This method offers a significant advantage in improving work efficiency compared to the conventional method of replacing and installing the back-belt folding plates 30 attached to a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B by operating screws, and is advantageous in improving the operating efficiency of the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine 10A. Of course, the folding plate 30 for lowering the back beam can be fitted with either the first center seal plate 14A or the second center seal plate 14B.

[0028] (Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, the present invention was described in the case where it is applied to a horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A that wraps the product from above while conveying the packaging film laterally. In the second embodiment, the present invention will be described in the case where it is applied to a horizontal inverted pillow packaging machine 10B that wraps the product from below while conveying the packaging film laterally. In the first embodiment, the horizontal pillow packaging machine 10A has a support mechanism 34 on the lower surface of a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B, whereas in the second embodiment, the horizontal inverted pillow packaging machine 10B has a support mechanism 34 on the upper surface of a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B. In the second embodiment, parts and components similar to those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted, while the differences are described in detail.

[0029] As shown in Figures 11 and 12, in the horizontal inverted pillow packaging machine 10B, the packaging film unwound from the raw packaging film roll is formed by a former, and the tubular film containing the product is transported by a belt conveyor 48 from the upstream side in the transport direction to the downstream side in the transport direction. Above the belt conveyor 48, a pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B are arranged by a mounting structure 32 for a pair of center seal plates similar to that of the first embodiment. Both ends in the width direction of a tubular film formed by a former (not shown) are inserted from below into the gap 1402 between the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B from below. The tubular portion of the tubular film into which the product has been supplied is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction along the lower surfaces of the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B as the tubular film is conveyed by the belt conveyor 48. Above the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B, a center seal section 12 is positioned to weld both ends of the tubular film in the width direction to form a center seal. The center seal section 12 is configured similarly to the first embodiment, except that its orientation is reversed vertically, and includes a pair of feed rollers 16, a pair of heater blocks 18, a pair of crimping rollers 20, and a pair of weight rollers 22.

[0030] According to this second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, the frame-side support portion 40 is structured to cantilever support the assembly rod 38, which simplifies the mounting structure 32 for the pair of center seal plates. This is advantageous in terms of reducing costs, and the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B can be removed from and attached to the horizontal inverted pillow packaging machine 10B by simply moving the pair of center seal plates 14A and 14B to the front F side or the rear B side of the horizontal inverted pillow packaging machine 10B in the horizontal direction. Therefore, similar to the first embodiment, it is advantageous for efficiently performing periodic cleaning to remove molten residue from the center seal portion 12. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] 10A Horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine (horizontal pillow-type packaging machine) 10B Horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine (horizontal reverse pillow packaging machine) 12 Center seal section 14A First Center Seal Plate 14B Second Center Seal Plate 1402 Gap 16 pairs of feed rollers 18 pairs of heater blocks 20 pairs of crimping rollers 22 Pair of rollers with a specific mesh size 24 frames 26 Pair of guide members 28 Belt conveyor 30 Folding plate for lowering the back beam 32 Mounting structure of a pair of center seal plates 34 Support mechanism 36 Handle 38 Assembly Rod 3802 Rod end 40 Frame-side support section 40A cylinder part 42 Detachable mechanism 4202 Steel plate 4204 Magnet 4210 Holder 44A First support bracket 44B Second support bracket 4402 Mounting part for center seal plate 4404 Mounting part for assembly rod 46 Connecting member 48 Belt conveyor F front B Back

Claims

1. In a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine in which one side perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film is the front and the other side is the back, the mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates is provided with gaps into which both ends in the width direction of the packaging film are inserted when the cylindrical packaging film containing the product inside is conveyed, A support mechanism is provided to integrally support the pair of center seal plates. The support mechanism has a plurality of assembly rods that protrude in the rear direction at intervals in the conveying direction of the packaging film, A frame-side support portion is provided on the frame located on the rear side of the horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine, into which the assembly rod is inserted and which cantilever-supports the assembly rod. A detachment mechanism is provided for fixing and releasing the assembly rod, which is inserted into the frame-side support portion, to the frame-side support portion. A mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine, characterized by the following features.

2. The pair of center seal plates consists of a first center seal plate located on the rear side and a second center seal plate located on the front side. A handle is provided at the end of the second center seal plate, which is located on the front side of the surface of the second center seal plate facing the opposite direction to the product being transported, and which protrudes toward the front side. A mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 1.

3. The pair of center seal plates comprises a first center seal plate located on the rear side and a second center seal plate located on the front side of the first center seal plate. The attachment / detachment mechanism consists of a steel plate provided at the rear end of the first center seal plate and a magnet provided at the frame located on the rear side to attract the steel plate. The assembly rod inserted into the frame-side support portion is fixed to the frame-side support portion by the attractive force of the magnet that attracts the steel plate, and the fixing is released by pulling out the second center seal plate with a force greater than the attractive force. A mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 1.

4. A folding plate for folding the back fascia is provided on the side facing the opposite direction from the product being transported at the downstream end of the gap between the pair of center seal plates in the transport direction. A pair of center seal plates are provided, each having a folding plate for folding the back fascia on one side perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film, and the other pair of center seal plates having a folding plate for folding the back fascia on the other side. A mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 1.

5. The pair of center seal plates consists of a first center seal plate located on the rear side and a second center seal plate located on the front side. The support mechanism comprises a plurality of first support brackets attached to the first center seal plate at multiple locations spaced apart in the direction of transport of the packaging film, and a second support bracket attached to the second center seal plate. The plurality of first support brackets and the plurality of second support brackets are provided at the same position in the transport direction of the packaging film. The plurality of assembly rods connect the first support bracket and the second support bracket, respectively, which are located at the same position in the conveying direction of the packaging film. A mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 1.

6. The first support bracket and the second support bracket each include a mounting portion for a center seal plate that is attached to the first center seal plate or the second center seal plate, and a mounting portion for an assembly rod that protrudes from the mounting portion for the center seal plate in the vertical direction away from the first center seal plate or the second center seal plate and is attached to the assembly rod. The mounting portion for the center seal plate and the mounting portion for the assembly rod extend in the direction connecting the rear and the front. The end of the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the first support bracket on the rear side in the extending direction is located on the rear side of the first center seal plate, more so than the end of the mounting portion for the assembly rod on the rear side. The front end of the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the second support bracket, in the extending direction, is located on the front side of the second center seal plate, more so than the front end of the mounting portion for the assembly rod. The mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 5.

7. Mounting portions for the assembly rod are provided at the ends of the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the first support bracket and the mounting portion for the center seal plate of the second support bracket that face each other. The mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 6.

8. The support mechanism is configured to include a connecting member that extends in the direction of transport of the packaging film, is connected to the plurality of second support brackets, and is connected to the assembly rod. The handle is provided on the connecting member. The mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 5.

9. A cylindrical portion is provided protruding from the frame located on the rear side, into which the end of the assembly rod that protrudes from the first support bracket to the rear side is inserted. The frame-side support portion is composed of the cylindrical portion. The mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 5.

10. The attachment / detachment mechanism consists of a steel plate provided at the rear end of the first support bracket and a magnet provided at a location on the frame on the rear side to attract the steel plate. The assembly rod inserted into the frame-side support portion is fixed to the frame-side support portion by the attractive force of the magnet that attracts the steel plate, and the fixing is released by pulling out the second center seal plate with a force greater than the attractive force. The mounting structure for a pair of center seal plates in a horizontal bag-making, filling, and packaging machine according to feature 5.

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