Film feeding device and bag making and packaging machine

Abstract

The present invention provides a film feeding device and a bag-making and packaging machine that can ensure reliable supply of films connected by a connecting part. [Solution] The film supply device 6 comprises two holding parts that rotatably hold a film roll, roll drive motors 61 and 62 that rotate the film rolls held in the holding parts, a film switching part 63 that connects a first film, which is the film used for bag making, and a second film, which is the film used after the first film, and a control unit 110 that controls the operation of the roll drive motors 61 and 62 and the film switching part 63. The control unit 110 controls the roll drive motor 61 or roll drive motor 62 of one of the holding parts that holds the film roll on which the second film is wound to rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the second film is fed out for a predetermined period of time after the film switching part 63 has performed the operation to connect the first film and the second film.

Description

Technical Field

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to a film supply device and a bag-making packaging machine.

Background Art

[0002] There is known a film supply device including two holding parts that rotatably hold a film roll around which a film is wound, and a connecting part that connects a first film, which is the film being used, and a second film, which is the film to be used next after the first film (for example, Patent Document 1). Also, an adhesive may be attached to the leading end of such a film in order to connect it to the film being used (for example, Patent Document 2).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the film supply device as described above, when connecting the film being used and the film to be used next after the film, there is a possibility that the connection portion between the films adheres to components of the film supply device around the connecting part. In this case, for example, with only an existing configuration that pulls the film downstream of the film supply device, such as a pull-down belt mechanism provided in the bag-making and packaging part of the bag-making packaging machine, it may not be possible to eliminate the adhesion of the film. Also, if the adhered film is forcibly pulled, an overload may occur, and there is a risk that components of the film supply device or the bag-making packaging machine may be damaged.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a film supply device and a bag-making and packaging machine that can ensure reliable supply of films connected by a connecting part. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] (1) A film supply device according to one aspect of the present invention is a film supply device for supplying film to the bag-making and packaging section of a bag-making and packaging machine, comprising: two holding sections that rotatably hold a film roll around which film is wound; drive sections that rotate the film rolls held in the holding sections, respectively; a connecting section that connects a first film, which is the film used for bag making, and a second film, which is the film used after the first film; and a control section that controls the operation of the drive section and the connecting section, wherein the control section controls the drive section of one of the holding sections that holds the film roll around which the second film is wound to rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the second film is fed out for a predetermined period of time after the operation of connecting the first film and the second film to the connecting section.

[0007] In a film supply device according to one aspect of the present invention, after the operation to connect the first film and the second film at the connection part is performed, the control unit controls the drive unit of one of the holding parts that holds the film roll on which the second film is wound to rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the second film is fed out for a predetermined period of time. As a result, even if the connection point between the films is stuck to the parts of the film supply device surrounding the connection part when the first film and the second film are connected by the connection part, the second film is pulled by the rotation in the opposite direction to the feeding direction, and the sticking can be resolved. Therefore, compared to the case in which such operation of the drive unit is not performed, the supply of the film connected by the connection part can be made more reliable. In addition, it is possible to prevent damage to parts of the film supply device or bag-making and packaging machine due to overload caused by, for example, forcibly pulling on a stuck film.

[0008] (2) The control unit may further include a dancer roller for adjusting the tension of the film used in bag making, and a detection unit for detecting the displacement of the dancer roller, and the control unit may stop the rotation of the drive unit in the opposite direction when the detection unit detects a displacement of the dancer roller in the opposite direction to the force applied by the dancer roller to the film. In this case, the elimination of film sticking can be indirectly detected by utilizing the displacement of the dancer roller in the opposite direction to the force applied by the dancer roller to the film.

[0009] (3) In (1) or (2) above, the connecting portion may include a heating element that heats the first film and the second film together. In this case, it is possible to eliminate the sticking that may occur when the first film and the second film are welded together.

[0010] (4) In (3) above, the film roll has a film wound around it with a sealant layer on one side, and the connection part may be formed by heat welding the first film and the second film together in a state where the sealant layers of the films pulled out from each of the film rolls held by the two holding parts are not facing each other. In this case, since a sealant layer is present on at least one of the back surfaces of the first film and the second film that are not facing each other, the above-mentioned adhesion is likely to occur. Therefore, the effect of ensuring the reliable supply of film becomes more pronounced.

[0011] (5) A bag-making and packaging machine according to another aspect of the present invention may include any one of the film supply devices described in (1) to (4) above, and the bag-making and packaging section. In this case, it is possible to ensure that the film connected by the connecting section is supplied to the bag-making and packaging section of the bag-making and packaging machine. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to one aspect of the present invention, the supply of films connected by the connecting portion can be made more reliable. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] It is an external perspective view showing a metering bag-making packaging system including a bag-making packaging machine. [Figure 2] It is a diagram showing a part of the control block of the metering bag-making packaging system. [Figure 3] It is a schematic perspective view showing the main components of the bag-making packaging section. [Figure 4] It is a schematic perspective view of the film supply device seen from the rear. [Figure 5] It is a side schematic view of the film supply device. [Figure 6] It is a diagram showing an example of a connection part when the operation of connecting the first film and the second film is performed. [Figure 7] It is a diagram for explaining an example of the elimination of sticking after connecting the first film and the second film. [Figure 8] It is a diagram for explaining the operation after the elimination of sticking in FIG. 8. [Figure 9] It is a diagram showing another example of a connection part when the operation of connecting the first film and the second film is performed. [Figure 10] It is a diagram for explaining another example of the elimination of sticking after connecting the first film and the second film. [Figure 11] It is a diagram for explaining the operation after the elimination of sticking in FIG. 10.

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions are omitted. In the following description, in order to represent directions, "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc. may be used. In this embodiment, "front", "rear", "upper", "lower", "left", "right" are defined by the directions of the arrows attached to the drawings. Also, "A or B" in this specification means that either one of A and B may be included, and it does not exclude the case of including both A and B.

[0015] Figure 1 is an external perspective view showing a weighing and packaging system including a bag-making and packaging machine. Figure 2 is a diagram showing a part of the control block of the weighing and packaging system. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the weighing and packaging system 100 manufactures individually packaged bags by placing weighed items C into a molded body of film F and forming the molded body into a bag. The weighing and packaging system 100 includes a weighing device 101 and a bag-making and packaging machine 102. The bag-making and packaging machine 102 is positioned below the weighing device 101. In one example, a touch panel 111 and operating switches 112 that allow integrated operation of the bag-making and packaging machine 102 and the weighing device 101 are installed on the bag-making and packaging machine 102. As shown in Figure 2, in the weighing and packaging system 100, the operation of the weighing device 101 and the operation of the bag-making and packaging machine 102 are controlled by a control unit 110 included in the bag-making and packaging machine 102, but are not limited to this.

[0016] The weighing device 101 is, for example, a well-known combination weighing machine and has a plurality of pool hoppers 24, a plurality of weighing hoppers 25 located below the plurality of pool hoppers 24, and a collection chute 26 located below the plurality of weighing hoppers 25. The article C that is the object of weighing and packaging (packaged item) of the weighing and packaging system 100 is, for example, food such as snack foods, as shown in Figure 3. For weighing and packaging article C, first, article C is supplied to the central upper part of the weighing device 101. Next, article C is distributed along a plurality of radial paths and then supplied to the corresponding weighing hoppers 25 via a plurality of pool hoppers 24 located at the end of each path. Some weighing hoppers 25 are selected so that the weight of article C weighed in each weighing hopper 25 is within a predetermined range. Article C contained in the selected weighing hoppers 25 is discharged to the collection chute 26 based on a discharge request signal from the control unit 110. The articles C discharged from the collection chute 26 are supplied to the bag-making and packaging machine 102.

[0017] As described above, the bag-making packaging machine 102 includes a packaging unit 5 (bag-making packaging section) that packs the article C into a bag to manufacture a product, a film supply device 6 that supplies the film F to the packaging unit 5, and a control unit 110 that controls the operations of the packaging unit 5 and the film supply device 6. The article C discharged from the weighing device 101 falls into the internal space of a tube 12 included in the packaging unit 5 through a funnel member 11 attached to the packaging unit 5. Then, the article C falls through the internal space of the tube 12. After accommodating the article C in the tubular film TF through the tube 12, the bag-making packaging machine 102 simultaneously performs a horizontal seal on the lower end portion of the tubular film TF and the upper end portion of the preceding bag B (individual packaging bag). Thereby, the bag-making of the bag B that accommodates the article C is carried out. The film supply device 6 is a unit that supplies the sheet-like film F to the forming mechanism 13 of the packaging unit 5 and is located behind the packaging unit 5. The film supply device 6 is located upstream of the packaging unit 5 in the conveyance direction MD (film conveyance direction) of the film F.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the packaging unit 5 is a unit that forms a tubular film TF, which is a bag-shaped molded body that accommodates the article C, by molding the film F, and then makes a bag B that accommodates the article C by cutting the film F. The packaging unit 5 includes a forming mechanism 13 that forms the sheet-like film F into the tubular film TF, a pull-down belt mechanism 14 that conveys the film formed into a tube shape (tubular film TF) downward, a longitudinal seal mechanism 15 that longitudinally seals the overlapping portions TF-1 at both ends of the tubular film TF, and a horizontal seal mechanism 17.

[0019] The forming mechanism 13 includes a tube 12 that guides the article C into the tubular film TF and a former 13a that is arranged so as to surround the lower part of the tube 12. When the film F supplied from the film supply device 6 passes through the gap between the former 13a and the tube 12, it is formed into a tubular shape along the outer peripheral surface of the tube 12. At this time, the upper surface of the film F becomes the inner peripheral surface of the tubular film TF, and the lower surface of the film F becomes the outer peripheral surface of the tubular film TF.

[0020] The pull-down belt mechanism 14, which has a pair of belts 14c positioned on both the left and right sides of the tube 12, is a mechanism that attracts the tubular film TF wrapped around the tube 12 and transports it downwards. The pull-down belt mechanism 14 functions as a transport unit that transports the film F together with the film supply device 6.

[0021] The vertical sealing mechanism 15 is a component that heat-seals the overlapping portions TF-1 at both ends of the tubular film TF by pressing them against the tube 12 with a constant pressure. The vertical sealing mechanism 15 includes, for example, a heater block (not shown) and a metal belt (not shown) that can move synchronously with the tubular film TF around the heater block.

[0022] The lateral sealing mechanism 17 laterally seals the bag B formed by the tubular film TF, simultaneously heat-sealing the upper end of bag B and the lower end of the subsequent bag (tubular film TF). The lateral sealing mechanism 17 laterally seals the tubular film TF, for example, when an article C has fallen into the tubular film TF through the tube 12. This forms a bag B that contains the article C. The lateral sealing mechanism 17 has a cutter (not shown) for separating bag B from the subsequent tubular film TF.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 to 5, the film supply device 6 includes a first holding section 81 and a second holding section 82. The first holding section 81 and the second holding section 82 are two holding sections that rotatably hold a film roll FR on which the film F is wound. The first holding section 81 and the second holding section 82 are composed of, for example, air chucks that hold the film roll FR. The film roll FR may have a film F wound on one side, with a sealant layer provided on one side. The sealant layer is, for example, the silver side of the film F, and is provided on the inside of the film F wound on the film roll FR.

[0024] The film supply device 6 includes roll drive motors 61 and 62. The roll drive motors 61 and 62 are drive units that rotate the film rolls FR held in the first holding section 81 and the second holding section 82, respectively. The roll drive motors 61 and 62, together with the pull-down belt mechanism 14, transport the film F.

[0025] The film supply device 6 is equipped with a plurality of rollers 91a, 91b, 91c, 92a, 92b, 92c, 93a to 93o that guide the film F. The plurality of rollers 91a, 91b, 91c, 92a, 92b, 92c, 93a to 93o are rollers that guide the film F. When the film F of the film roll FR held in the first holding section 81 is used for bag making, the film F fed out from the first holding section 81 is guided by rollers 91a, 91b, 91c, and further guided by rollers 93a and later. When the film F of the film roll FR held in the second holding section 82 is used for bag making, the film F fed out from the second holding section 82 is guided by rollers 92a, 92b, 92c, and further guided by rollers 93a and later. Roller 93f is a dancer roller that adjusts the tension of the film F used for bag making. When the film F is guided by rollers 93a to 93o, roller 93f applies a predetermined tension to the film F, for example, by its own weight.

[0026] The film supply device 6 includes a film switching section 63. The film switching section 63 is a connecting section that connects a first film F1, which is the film F used in bag making, and a second film F2, which is the film F used after the first film F1. When the film F of the film roll FR held in the first holding section 81 is used in bag making, the film F fed out from the first holding section 81 corresponds to the first film F1, and the film F of the film roll FR held in the second holding section 82 corresponds to the second film F2. When the film F of the film roll FR held in the second holding section 82 is used in bag making, the film F fed out from the second holding section 82 corresponds to the first film F1, and the film F of the film roll FR held in the first holding section 81 corresponds to the second film F2. The film switching unit 63 connects the first film F1 and the second film F2, which switches whether the film roll FR used for bag making corresponds to the film roll FR held in the first holding unit 81 or the second holding unit 82. When the film F is switched by the film switching unit 63, the bag making and packaging operation of the packaging unit 5 may be temporarily stopped or continued.

[0027] The film switching section 63 includes impulse sealers 64a and 64b, sealing tables 65a and 65b, a cutter 68, and an air cylinder 66. The impulse sealers 64a and 64b are heating elements that heat-seal the first film F1 and the second film F2 together.

[0028] The impulse sealers 64a and 64b extend in a direction intersecting the transport direction MD and are spaced apart from each other in the transport direction MD. The cutter 68 is located between the impulse sealers 64a and 64b in the transport direction MD. The impulse sealers 64a and 64b and the cutter 68 are moved integrally by an air cylinder 66. The film switching unit 63 is supported by a pair of support bases 63a and 63b. The film switching unit 63 is moved along the transport direction MD by an air cylinder 69 separate from the air cylinder 66. In Figure 4, the film switching unit 63 is positioned at the rearmost position in the transport direction MD. As in the example in Figure 7, the film switching unit 63 can be moved to the frontmost position in the transport direction MD by the operation of the air cylinder 69.

[0029] The sealing base 65a is a component that faces the impulse sealers 64a and 64b of the film switching section 63 located at the front end, with the film F in between. The sealing base 65b is a component that faces the impulse sealers 64a and 64b of the film switching section 63 located at the rear end, with the film F in between. The sealing base 65a is located between the rollers 91a and 91b. The sealing base 65b is located between the rollers 92b and 92c. The sealing bases 65a and 65b have, for example, the same configuration. In the following, the sealing base 65a will be used as an example to represent the sealing bases 65a and 65b. The sealing base 65a is divided into a first part 65a1 that can face the impulse sealer 64a and a second part 65a2 that can face the impulse sealer 64b. A space is defined between the first part 65a1 and the second part 65a2 through which the cutter 68 can enter and exit.

[0030] In such a film switching section 63, the second film F2, which is drawn from the film roll FR of the first holding section 81 and the second holding section 82 that is not used for bag making, is stretched toward the impulse sealer 64a, 64b side than the first film F1, and is then gripped by the first gripping section 71 or the second gripping section 72, which will be described later, thereby positioning the second film F2. This positioning of the second film F2 may be done, for example, manually, or it may be done automatically using a positioning device.

[0031] With the second film F2 positioned in this manner, the air cylinder 66 moves the cutter 68 and impulse sealers 64a, 64b toward the sealing table 65a in response to connection and cutting instructions from the control unit 110. For example, the impulse sealers 64a, 64b and the sealing table 65a or sealing table 65b clamp the overlapping first film F1 and second film F2. The first film F1 and second film F2 are then heat-sealed, and the first film F1 and second film F2 are cut by the cutter 68. As a result, in the film switching section 63, connection points for connecting the overlapping first film F1 and second film F2 are formed on both sides of the cutting points made by the cutter 68.

[0032] In the film switching section 63, a portion of the first film F1 and a portion of the second film F2 are connected by the impulse sealer 64a and the first section 65a1 or the first section 65b1, and another portion of the first film F1 and another portion of the second film F2 are connected by the impulse sealer 64b and the second section 65a2 or the second section 65b2. As a result, the starting end and surrounding portion of the newly used film F (the second film F2 used after the first film F1) are connected to the film F being replaced (the first film F1 used in bag making).

[0033] The connection and disconnection of the first film F1 and the second film F2 by the film switching unit 63 are performed, for example, when switching from bag making and packaging using the first film F1 to bag making and packaging using the second film F2, and when switching from bag making and packaging using the second film F2 to bag making and packaging using the first film F1.

[0034] The film switching section 63 further includes a first gripping section 71 and a second gripping section 72. The first gripping section 71 is a jig that holds down the starting end of the film F, which has been pulled out from the second holding section 82 as the second film F2, for example, by hand. The second gripping section 72 is a jig that holds down the starting end of the film F, which has been pulled out from the first holding section 81 as the second film F2, for example, by hand. Since the first gripping section 71 and the second gripping section 72 have similar structures, the first gripping section 71 will be described here. The first gripping section 71 includes a pressing member 71a, which includes an L-shaped member extending in the left-right direction, and a base 71b extending in the left-right direction. The pressing member 71a can be switched manually or automatically between a state detached from the base 71b and a state pressed against the base 71b by gravity.

[0035] The operation of connecting the first film F1 and the second film F2 using the film switching unit 63 and switching the film roll FR will be explained.

[0036] When the film F of the film roll FR held in the first holding section 81 is used for bag making, as shown in Figure 6, the portion F1b of the first film F1 fed out from the first holding section 81 on the first holding section 81 side and the portion F2a of the second film F2 pulled out from the second holding section 82, for example by hand, are heat-sealed and connected between the impulse sealer 64a and the first section 65a1. The connected portions F1b and F2a are integrated as a used film F3, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, and, with the seal section SP in between, become the used film portion F3b on the first holding section 81 side and the used film portion F3a on the tip side.

[0037] Furthermore, when the film F of the film roll FR held in the first holding section 81 is used for bag making, as shown in Figure 6, the portion F2b of the second film F2 pulled out from the second holding section 82, for example by hand, and the leading edge portion F1a (packaging unit 5 side) of the first film F1 fed out from the first holding section 81 are heat-sealed and connected between the impulse sealer 64b and the second section 65a2. The connected portions F1a and F2b are integrated as the first film F1 used for bag making, as shown in Figures 7 and 8. As a result, the film roll FR used for bag making switches from the film roll FR held in the first holding section 81 to the film roll FR held in the second holding section 82.

[0038] On the other hand, when the film F of the film roll FR held in the second holding section 82 is used for bag making, as shown in Figure 9, the portion F1b of the first film F1 fed out from the second holding section 82 on the second holding section 82 side and the portion F2a of the second film F2 pulled out from the first holding section 81, for example by hand, are heat-sealed and connected between the impulse sealer 64b and the second section 65a2. The connected portions F1b and F2a are integrated as a used film F3, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, and, with the seal section SP in between, become the used film portion F3b on the second holding section 82 side and the used film portion F3a on the tip side.

[0039] Furthermore, when the film F of the film roll FR held in the second holding section 82 is used for bag making, as shown in Figure 9, the portion F2b of the second film F2 pulled out from the first holding section 81, for example by hand, and the leading edge portion F1a of the first film F1 fed out from the second holding section 82 are heat-sealed and connected between the impulse sealer 64a and the first portion 65a1. The connected portions F1a and F2b are integrated as the first film F1 used for bag making, as shown in Figures 10 and 11. As a result, the film roll FR used for bag making switches from the film roll FR held in the second holding section 82 to the film roll FR held in the first holding section 81.

[0040] The film supply device 6 includes a control unit 110 that controls the operation of the roll drive motors 61 and 62 and the film switching unit 63. The control unit 110 controls the weighing device 101 and the bag-making and packaging machine 102 individually or integrally. The control unit 110 is configured, for example, by a computer. The control unit 110 includes a control arithmetic unit and a memory device. The control arithmetic unit includes a processor such as a CPU or GPU. The control arithmetic unit reads a program stored in the memory device and performs predetermined image processing, calculation processing, etc., according to the program. Furthermore, the control arithmetic unit can write calculation results to the memory device or read information stored in the memory device according to the program.

[0041] The control unit 110 controls the drive units of the packaging unit 5 and the film supply device 6 according to parameters and operating conditions set on the touch panel 111, etc. The control unit 110 controls the feeder, pool hopper 24, weighing hopper 25, etc. of the weighing device 101. Specifically, the control unit 110 takes in necessary information from the weighing device 101 and various sensors equipped on the bag-making and packaging machine 102, and performs various controls based on that information.

[0042] The film supply device 6 does not need to have a mechanism to change the orientation of the front and back of the first film F1 and the second film F2 so that the sealant layers (silver sides) of the film F adhere to each other when switching from the film roll FR of the first holding unit 81 to the film roll FR of the second holding unit 82, or when switching from the film roll FR of the second holding unit 82 to the film roll FR of the first holding unit 81. In other words, the film switching unit 63 may heat-weld the first film F1 and the second film F2 together in a state where the sealant layers of the film F drawn from each of the film rolls FR held in the two first holding units 81 and the second holding unit 82 are not facing each other. When "the sealant layers of the film F are not facing each other," this includes the case where the non-sealant layer sides (back sides) of both films F are facing each other, and the case where the sealant layer of one film F is facing the non-sealant layer side (back side) of the other film F.

[0043] In such a film supply device 6, if the sealant layers of the films F are not facing each other, the likelihood of the connection points between the films F sticking to the parts of the film supply device 6 around the film switching section 63 increases compared to when the sealant layers of the films F are facing each other. Furthermore, the conveying force of the conveying section that pulls the film F downstream of the film supply device 6, such as the pull-down belt mechanism 14 provided in the packaging unit 5 of the bag-making and packaging machine 102, may not be sufficient to prevent the films F from sticking.

[0044] Therefore, the control unit 110, after causing the film switching unit 63 to connect the first film F1 and the second film F2, controls either the roll drive motor 61 of the first holding unit 81 or the roll drive motor 62 of the second holding unit 82 (the drive unit of one of the holding units) to rotate in the opposite direction to the transport direction MD, which is the direction in which the second film F2 is fed out, for a predetermined period of time.

[0045] The predetermined period is the time during which a peeling force is applied to the film F to release its adhesion. The predetermined period may be a predetermined parameter stored in the memory of the control unit 110 beforehand, or it may be a predetermined parameter input via the touch panel 111 or operation switches 112, etc.

[0046] The predetermined period may be the period until the film F is no longer stuck to the roller 93f, which is a dancer roller, is released in accordance with its displacement. In this case, the film supply device 6 is equipped with a detection unit 121 that detects the displacement of the roller 93f. The detection unit 121 is a sensor that detects displacement in the opposite direction to the force applied by the roller 93f to the film F. The detection unit 121 is positioned, for example, to detect the vertical movement of the roller 93f downstream of the film switching unit 63 (on the packaging unit 5 side) in the transport direction MD. The detection unit 121 transmits the result of detecting the displacement of the roller 93f to the control unit 110.

[0047] The control unit 110 may control the operation of the roll drive motors 61 and 62 based on the displacement of the roller 93f detected by the detection unit 121. For example, if the detection unit 121 detects a displacement of the roller 93f in the opposite direction to the force applied by the roller 93f to the film F, the control unit 110 stops the rotation of the roll drive motors 61 and 62 in the opposite direction. The memory device of the control unit 110 may store in advance a displacement threshold for detecting the displacement of the roller 93f in the opposite direction to the force applied by the roller 93f to the film F. If the displacement of the roller 93f detected by the detection unit 121 is less than a predetermined displacement threshold, the control unit 110 continues the rotation of the roll drive motors 61 and 62 in the opposite direction. If the displacement of the roller 93f detected by the detection unit 121 is greater than or equal to a predetermined displacement threshold, the control unit 110 stops the rotation of the roll drive motors 61 and 62 in the opposite direction.

[0048] The operation of connecting the first film F1 and the second film F2 to the film switching unit 63 may be either the operation of switching from the film roll FR held in the first holding unit 81 to the film roll FR held in the second holding unit 82, as described above with reference to Figures 6 to 8, or the operation of switching from the film roll FR held in the second holding unit 82 to the film roll FR held in the first holding unit 81, as described with reference to Figures 9 to 11.

[0049] For example, as shown in the examples in Figures 6 to 8 above, in the case of an operation to switch from a film roll FR held in the first holding unit 81 to a film roll FR held in the second holding unit 82, the parts F1a and F2b connected to each other by the operation shown in Figure 6 may become a stuck film Fad that adheres to the parts of the film supply device 6 around the film switching unit 63 (e.g., the sealing unit 65a or roller 91b, etc.), even if the air cylinder 66 extends and the cutter 68 and impulse sealers 64a, 64b move away from the sealing table 65a, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 7. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, the roll drive motor 62 of the second holding unit 82, which holds the film roll FR with the second film F2 wound on it for a predetermined period of time, is rotated in the opposite direction to the transport direction MD, which is the direction in which the second film F2 is fed out (the direction of the arrow in Figure 7). As a result, a peeling force is applied to the attached film Fad, peeling it away from the parts of the film supply device 6 surrounding the film switching section 63 and bringing it to a position along the roller 92c. If the roll drive motor 62 of the second holding section 82 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figure 7, tension is generated in the first film F1, and the roller 93f is lifted upward (in the opposite direction to the force that the roller 93f applies to the film F). This causes a displacement in the roller 93f, and when the displacement of the roller 93f exceeds a predetermined displacement threshold, the rotation of the roll drive motor 62 in the opposite direction is stopped.

[0050] On the other hand, as in the example shown in Figures 9 to 11 above, in the case of an operation to switch from the film roll FR held in the second holding unit 82 to the film roll FR held in the first holding unit 81, the parts F1a and F2b connected to each other by the operation shown in Figure 9 may become a stuck film Fad, even if the air cylinder 66 extends and the cutter 68 and impulse sealers 64a and 64b move away from the sealing table 65b, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 10. Therefore, as shown in Figure 10, the roll drive motor 61 of the first holding unit 81, which holds the film roll FR with the second film F2 wound on it for a predetermined period of time, is rotated in the opposite direction to the transport direction MD, which is the direction in which the second film F2 is fed out (the direction of the arrow in Figure 10). As a result, a peeling force is applied to the attached film Fad, peeling it away from the parts of the film supply device 6 surrounding the film switching section 63 and bringing it to a position along the roller 91b. If the roll drive motor 61 of the first holding section 81 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in Figure 10, tension is generated in the first film F1, and the roller 93f is lifted upward (in the opposite direction to the force that the roller 93f applies to the film F). This causes a displacement in the roller 93f, and when the displacement of the roller 93f exceeds a predetermined displacement threshold, the rotation of the roll drive motor 61 in the opposite direction is stopped.

[0051] As explained above, in the film supply device 6, after the film switching unit 63 is set to connect the first film F1 and the second film F2, for a predetermined period of time, either the roll drive motor 61 of the first holding unit 81 or the roll drive motor 62 of the second holding unit 82 (the drive unit of one of the holding units) that holds the film roll FR on which the second film F2 is wound is controlled to rotate in the opposite direction to the transport direction MD, which is the direction in which the second film F2 is fed out. As a result, even if the connection point between the films is stuck to parts of the film supply device 6 around the film switching unit 63 when the first film F1 and the second film F2 are connected by the film switching unit 63, the stuck film Fad (second film F2) is pulled by the rotation in the opposite direction to the transport direction MD, which is the direction in which it is fed out, and the sticking is resolved. Therefore, compared to the case in which the roll drive motor 61 or roll drive motor 62 is not operated in this manner, the supply of the connected film F by the film switching unit 63 can be made more reliable. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent damage to parts of the film supply device 6 or the bag-making and packaging machine 102 due to overload caused by, for example, forcibly pulling on the attached film F.

[0052] The film supply device 6 further includes a roller 93f for adjusting the tension of the first film F1 used in bag making, and a detection unit for detecting the displacement of the roller 93f. When the detection unit 121 detects a displacement of the roller 93f in the opposite direction to the force applied by the roller 93f, the control unit 110 stops the rotation of the roll drive motor 61 or roll drive motor 62 in the opposite direction. This allows for indirect detection of the elimination of film sticking by utilizing the displacement of the roller 93f in the opposite direction to the force applied by the roller 93f.

[0053] In the film supply device 6, the film switching section 63 includes a heating element that heat-welds the first film F1 and the second film F2 together. This eliminates the possibility of the first film F1 and the second film F2 sticking together when they are welded to each other.

[0054] In the film supply device 6, a film F with a sealant layer on one side is wound around a film roll FR. The film switching unit 63 heat-welds the first film F1 and the second film F2 together, with the sealant layers of the films F pulled out from the film roll FR held by the two first holding units 81 and the second holding unit 82 not facing each other. As a result, since a sealant layer is present on at least one of the back surfaces of the non-facing sides of the first film F1 and the second film F2, the above-mentioned sticking is more likely to occur, and the effect of ensuring reliable supply of film F becomes more pronounced.

[0055] The bag-making and packaging machine 102 includes a film supply device 6 and a packaging unit 5. This ensures reliable supply of the film F connected by the film switching unit 63 to the packaging unit 5 of the bag-making and packaging machine 102.

[0056] Conventionally, in order to prevent the adhesive film Fad from sticking, it was necessary to carefully adjust the time for heating the film F with the impulse sealers 64a and 64b and the time for cooling, which was difficult to adjust. However, with the film supply device 6 and the bag-making and packaging machine 102, the need to adjust difficult settings is eliminated, and the adhesive film Fad can be peeled off without human intervention, allowing the bag-making operation to continue.

[0057] While embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the film switching section 63 was configured to include sealing-type impulse sealers 64a and 64b that can weld the film F by melting the film F at a high temperature, regardless of whether or not the film F has a sealant layer, but the invention is not limited to this example. It may also be a sealing-type connection section that connects the first film F1 and the second film F2 using the sealant layer of the film F. It may also be a sealing-type connection section that connects the first film F1 and the second film F2 with adhesive or tape. In this case, the connection section does not need to include a heating element that heat-welds the first film F1 and the second film F2 together.

[0059] In the above embodiment, roller 93f was exemplified as the dancer roller whose displacement is detected, but other rollers that adjust the tension of the film F (roller 93h, roller 93j, or roller 93l in the example of Figure 5) may also be dancer rollers whose displacement is detected. The detection unit 121 only needs to be provided for at least one of the dancer rollers whose displacement is detected. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0060] 5...Packaging unit (bag-making and packaging section), 6...Film supply device, 102...Bag-making and packaging machine, 110...Control unit, 121...Detection unit, F...Film, F1...First film, F2...Second film, FR...Film roll.

Claims

1. A film supply device that supplies film to the bag-making and packaging section of a bag-making and packaging machine, Two holding parts that rotatably hold the film roll on which the film is wound, A drive unit that rotates each of the film rolls held in the holding unit, A connecting portion that connects the first film, which is the film used in bag making, and the second film, which is the film used after the first film, The system comprises a control unit that controls the operation of the drive unit and the connection unit, The control unit controls the drive unit of one of the holding units that holds the film roll on which the second film is wound, to rotate in the opposite direction to the direction in which the second film is fed, for a predetermined period of time after the connecting unit has performed an operation to connect the first film and the second film.

2. A dancer roller that adjusts the tension of the film used in bag making, The system further includes a detection unit for detecting the displacement of the aforementioned dancer roller, The film supply device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stops the rotation of the drive unit in the opposite direction when the detection unit detects the displacement in the opposite direction to the force applied by the dancer roller to the film.

3. The film supply device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the connecting portion includes a heating element that heats the first film and the second film together.

4. The aforementioned film roll has the aforementioned film wound around it, with a sealant layer provided on one side. The film supply device according to claim 3, wherein the connecting portion heat-welds the first film and the second film together in a state where the sealant layers of the films drawn from each of the film rolls held by the two holding portions are not facing each other.

5. A bag-making and packaging machine comprising a film supply device according to claim 1 or 2, and the bag-making and packaging unit.

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