Packaging equipment

Abstract

To provide a packaging device that can suppress a decrease in the work efficiency of the worker. [Solution] The packaging device 10 comprises a bagging section 20 and a discharge section 50. The bagging section 20 is located adjacent to a work area WA where an operator W supplies goods G, and fills the goods G supplied from the work area WA into a bag B. The discharge section 50 discharges the packaged body P, in which the goods G have been filled into the bag B by the bagging section 20, back to the work area WA.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a bag-packing device for packing an article into a bag having an opening. The bag-packing device includes a setting means for setting bags one by one, an opening expanding means for expanding the opening of the set bag, and an inserting means for inserting an article into the expanded opening. The opening of the bag packed with the article is sealed by a sealing device. The article packed in the bag is discharged to the next process by a belt conveyor. In the above bag-packing device, the insertion direction of the article into the bag by the inserting means and the discharge direction of the article by the belt conveyor are the same.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, at a work site where a packaging device for packaging an article with a bag body is used, one worker may perform both the work of supplying the article to the packaging device and the work of collecting the packaged article. In this case, if the supply direction of the article by the worker and the discharge direction of the packaged article are the same as those of the bag-packing device described in Patent Document 1, the worker needs to move to the discharge destination of the article in order to collect the packaged article after supplying the article to the packaging device. Therefore, the work efficiency of the worker using the packaging device may decrease.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] A packaging device for solving the above problems is a packaging device for packaging articles in a bag, and is arranged adjacent to a work area in which an operator supplies the articles, and comprises a bagging unit that fills the articles supplied from the work area into the bag, and a discharge unit that discharges the package containing the articles filled into the bag by the bagging unit back to the work area.

[0006] According to the above configuration, items supplied by the worker from the work area are packed into bags by the bagging unit. The packaged items are then discharged back into the work area by the discharge unit. Therefore, workers located in the work area can complete both the supply of items and the collection of packaged items within their work area. Consequently, a decrease in the worker's work efficiency can be suppressed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the schematic configuration of a packaging device according to one embodiment. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the packaging device shown in Figure 1. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the first transfer unit has pulled out the packaging material. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the packaging material after it has been welded by the first welding section. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the packaging material after it has been cut by the cutting section. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a plan view showing the items arranged on the display stand. [Figure 7] Figure 7 is a plan view showing the state in which the items are aligned by the alignment unit. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the bag body is adsorbed by the adsorption part. [Figure 9] Figure 9 is a plan view showing the alignment section in the interior of the bag. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the movable wall has moved inside the bag. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a plan view showing the contents packed inside the bag. [Figure 12] Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the state in which the adsorption part has been moved away from the second welding part. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the bag body after it has been welded by the second welding section. [Figure 14] Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the packaging supported by the support wall. [Figure 15] Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the packaged items standing upright on a conveyor belt. [Figure 16] Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the package lying down at the opening. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] An embodiment of the packaging apparatus will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 16. (Overall configuration of the packaging device 10) As shown in Figure 1, the packaging device 10 is a device that packages an article G in a bag B. Specifically, the packaging device 10 packages the article G by filling a bag B, which has an opening at one end and a welded end at the other end, with the article G, and then welding the end at the other end.

[0009] An example of item G is an air filter for an air conditioner installed in a vehicle. The air filter is generally a roughly rectangular parallelepiped, with a thickness dimension smaller than its length and width dimensions. In other words, the air filter is rectangular in plan view. An example of the material for bag B is a resin material such as polyethylene. Bag B is formed by welding and cutting a strip-shaped packaging material 100, which has an opening at one end, at a predetermined position.

[0010] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the packaging device 10 includes a support shaft 11, a first transfer unit 12, a first welding unit 14, a cutting unit 15, a second transfer unit 16, a suction unit 18, and a second welding unit 19. The support shaft 11 is inserted into a cylindrical roll 101 around which a packaging material 100 is wound. The first transfer unit 12 pulls out the packaging material 100 from the roll 101 and transfers it in the horizontal direction. The first welding unit 14 welds the packaging material 100 pulled out by the first transfer unit 12. The cutting unit 15 cuts the packaging material 100 pulled out by the first transfer unit 12. The second transfer unit 16 transfers the bag body B cut from the packaging material 100. The suction unit 18 sucks the bag body B transferred by the second transfer unit 16 and opens the opening of the bag body B. The second welding unit 19 welds the end portion on the opening side of the bag body B transferred by the second transfer unit 16.

[0011] The packaging device 10 further includes a bagging unit 20, a partition wall 40, a discharge unit 50, a supply unit 60, and a degassing unit 70. The bagging unit 20 is arranged adjacent to a work area WA where an operator W supplies an article G. The bagging unit 20 packs the article G supplied by the operator W located in the work area WA into the bag body B transferred by the second transfer unit 16. The partition wall 40 separates the area where the bagging unit 20 is located from the work area WA. The discharge unit 50 is arranged adjacent to the work area WA. The discharge unit 50 discharges the package P in which the article G is packed into the bag body B by the bagging unit 20 into the work area WA. The supply unit 60 supplies the package P to the discharge unit 50 in a standing state. The degassing unit 70 discharges the air inside the package P.

[0012] Next, each component of the packaging device 10 will be described in detail. Hereinafter, the bagging direction of the bagging unit 20 will be described as the front in the front-rear direction, and the direction opposite to the bagging direction will be described as the rear in the front-rear direction. Also, the direction orthogonal to both the front-rear direction and the up-down direction will be described as the left-right direction. Further, when the operator W faces forward, the right and left sides will be described as the right and left sides in the left-right direction.

[0013] (Configuration of the support shaft 11) As shown in Fig. 1, the support shaft 11 extends in the left - right direction. The support shaft 11 is rotatably supported by a frame (not shown) of the packaging device 10. When the packaging material 100 is pulled out from the roll 101, the support shaft 11 rotates together with the roll 101.

[0014] (Configuration of the first transfer unit 12) The first transfer unit 12 includes a pair of first chucks 13 provided at intervals in the left - right direction. The pair of first chucks 13 are configured to be able to grip both left - right ends of the packaging material 100 from above and below. Each first chuck 13 is configured to be movable in the front - rear direction and the left - right direction. The first transfer unit 12 transfers the packaging material 100 toward the bag - filling unit 20 by moving the pair of first chucks 13 that grip the packaging material 100 backward.

[0015] (Configuration of the first welding unit 14) The first welding unit 14 is arranged behind the support shaft 11. The first welding unit 14 welds the packaging material 100 in the width direction, that is, the left - right direction, by sandwiching and heating the packaging material 100 pulled out from the roll 101 from above and below. The first welding unit 14 welds the packaging material 100 over the entire left - right direction.

[0016] (Configuration of the cutting unit 1)5) Z The cutting unit 15 is arranged behind the first welding unit 14. The cutting unit 15 cuts the packaging material 100 by pressing a blade portion, such as a Thomson blade, against the packaging material 100 arranged on the receiving table from above.

[0017] (Configuration of the second transfer unit 16) The second transfer unit 16 includes a pair of second chucks 17 provided at intervals in the left - right direction. The pair of second chucks 17 are configured to be able to grip both left - right ends of the bag body B cut from the packaging material 100 from above and below. Each second chuck 17 is configured to be movable in the front - rear direction and the left - right direction.

[0018] The second transfer unit 16 receives the bag B from the first transfer unit 12 and transfers it toward the bagging unit 20. The second transfer unit 16 receives the bag B by a pair of second zippers 17 gripping the portion of the bag B that is close to the portion that will be gripped by the pair of first zippers 13, and then releasing the grip of the pair of first zippers 13. The pair of second zippers 17 grip, for example, the portion of the bag B that is outside in the left-right direction to the portion that will be gripped by the pair of first zippers 13. The second transfer unit 16 transfers the bag B to a position facing the front of the bagging unit 20 by moving the pair of second zippers 17 that are gripping the bag B backward.

[0019] (Configuration of the adsorption section 18) As shown in Figure 2, the suction unit 18 is positioned behind the cutting unit 15 and in front of the bagging unit 20. The suction unit 18 opens the opening of the bag B upwards and downwards toward the bagging unit 20 by adsorbing the opening end of the bag B that has been transported by the second transport unit 16.

[0020] As shown in Figure 8, the suction unit 18 comprises a plurality of first suction pads 18a that adsorb to the upper surface of the bag B, and a plurality of second suction pads 18b that adsorb to the lower surface of the bag B. The suction unit 18 comprises, for example, three first suction pads 18a and three second suction pads 18b. A negative pressure generating device (not shown), such as a pump that generates negative pressure, is connected to the first suction pads 18a and the second suction pads 18b.

[0021] The three first suction pads 18a are arranged with spacing between them in the left-right direction, perpendicular to the bagging direction of the bagging section 20. The three second suction pads 18b are also arranged with spacing between them in the left-right direction. Each of the first suction pads 18a is positioned so as not to overlap with each of the second suction pads 18b in the vertical direction. That is, the first suction pads 18a and the second suction pads 18b are arranged alternately in the left-right direction.

[0022] As shown in Figure 12, each of the three first suction pads 18a and the three second suction pads 18b is configured to be movable in the front-rear direction between a position where at least a portion faces the second welding portion 19 in the vertical direction and a position where it is retracted from the second welding portion 19. Each first suction pad 18a and each second suction pad 18b adsorbs the opening end of the bag B when it is in the position facing the second welding portion 19 in the vertical direction.

[0023] (Configuration of the second welded section 19) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the second welding section 19 is positioned behind the second transfer section 16. The second welding section 19 heats the opening end of the bag B, which has been transferred by the second transfer section 16, by clamping it from above and below, thereby welding the bag B in the left-right direction. The second welding section 19 welds the bag B over its entire length in the left-right direction.

[0024] (Configuration of the bagging section 20) As shown in Figure 6, the bagging section 20 includes a placement table 21, a pusher 22, and an alignment section 30.

[0025] The items G supplied by the worker W are placed on the placement table 21. The placement table 21 is configured to be able to reciprocate in the front-to-back direction. The pusher 22 pushes the article G placed on the placement table 21 towards the inside of the bag B held by the second transfer unit 16. The pusher 22 includes an extrusion unit 23 for pushing out the article G, a drive unit 24 for moving the extrusion unit 23 back and forth, and a connecting unit 27 for connecting the extrusion unit 23 and the drive unit 24.

[0026] The extrusion section 23 is a flat plate that extends in the left-right direction and whose thickness direction coincides with the front-back direction. The front surface of the extrusion section 23 pushes the rear surface of the article G forward over its entire length in the left-right direction.

[0027] The drive unit 24 includes a first linear actuator 25 that moves the extrusion unit 23 back and forth in the front-rear direction, and a second linear actuator 26 that moves the first linear actuator 25 back and forth in the front-rear direction. The first linear actuator 25 and the second linear actuator 26 are arranged side by side in the left direction at the left end of the mounting base 21. The first linear actuator 25 and the second linear actuator 26 are located above the extrusion unit 23.

[0028] The first linear actuator 25 comprises a first base portion 25a extending in the front-rear direction and a first slider 25b configured to slide in the front-rear direction on the right end surface of the first base portion 25a. A connecting portion 27 is fixed to the first slider 25b. The second linear actuator 26 comprises a second base portion 26a extending in the front-rear direction and a second slider 26b configured to slide in the front-rear direction on the right end surface of the second base portion 26a. The second base portion 26a is fixed to the mounting base 21. The first base portion 25a is fixed to the second slider 26b. When the second slider 26b moves forward, the first linear actuator 25, the connecting portion 27, and the extrusion portion 23 move forward. Then, when the first slider 25b moves forward, the connecting portion 27 and the extrusion portion 23 move further forward.

[0029] The connecting section 27 includes a plate-shaped bracket 28 fixed to the first slider 25b, and a pair of connecting columns 29 that connect the bracket 28 to the extrusion section 23. The bracket 28 is formed in a crank shape, having a first portion extending rearward from the portion fixed to the first slider 25b, a second portion extending to the right from the first portion, a third portion extending downward from the second portion, and a fourth portion extending to the right from the third portion.

[0030] A pair of connecting columns 29 are fixed to the front surface of the fourth portion of the bracket 28, spaced apart in the left-right direction. The pair of connecting columns 29 extend forward from the fourth portion of the bracket 28 and are fixed to the rear surface of the extrusion portion 23.

[0031] The alignment unit 30 aligns the items G placed on the placement table 21 with respect to the pusher 22 by gripping them from the left and right directions, which are perpendicular to the direction in which the pusher 22 pushes out, within the planar direction of the placement table 21.

[0032] The alignment section 30 comprises a fixed wall 31 and a movable wall 32, which are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The fixed wall 31 and the movable wall 32 are elongated plate-like structures that extend parallel to each other in the front-rear direction. The shape and size of the fixed wall 31 are the same as those of the movable wall 32.

[0033] The fixed wall 31 is fixed to the placement table 21 so as not to move relative to it. The movable wall 32 is fixed to the placement table 21 to the right of the fixed wall 31 so as to be able to move back and forth in the left-right direction relative to the fixed wall 31. The space between the fixed wall 31 and the movable wall 32 is the space on the placement table 21 where the article G is placed. As the movable wall 32 moves toward the fixed wall 31, the article G placed on the placement table 21 is sandwiched between the movable wall 32 and the fixed wall 31 and aligned with the extrusion unit 23. As a result, the orientation of the article G is such that the outer surface of the article G is aligned with the front surface of the extrusion unit 23.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the tip of the movable wall 32, i.e., the front end, is tapered, with the vertical dimension gradually decreasing towards the front. When viewed from the left or right, the front end of the movable wall 32 has a triangular shape with rounded corners. The vertical dimension of the movable wall 32, excluding the front end, is greater than the vertical dimension of the item G when placed on the placement stand 21. The shape of the front end of the fixed wall 31 is the same as the shape of the front end of the movable wall 32.

[0035] (Configuration of partition wall 40) As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the partition wall 40 is, for example, the housing of the packaging device 10. The partition wall 40 has a supply port 41 that opens into the work area WA and into which goods G are supplied by the worker W. The supply port 41 opens facing the rear. The direction of the supply port 41 and the direction of discharge of the packaged goods P in the discharge section 50, which will be described later, are the same.

[0036] The partition wall 40 is equipped with a shutter 42 that opens and closes the supply port 41 by moving up and down in the vertical direction. The shutter 42 is controlled to open the supply port 41 at a predetermined timing and to close the supply port 41 based on the operation of an operation button (not shown) by the worker W.

[0037] (Configuration of the discharge section 50) The discharge section 50 is equipped with a belt conveyor 51 that transports the packaged body P toward the work area WA. The belt conveyor 51 extends in the front-rear direction to the left of the bagging section 20. The starting end of the belt conveyor 51 is located to the left of the supply section 60 in a plan view. The ending end of the belt conveyor 51 is located within the work area WA. The belt conveyor 51 transports the packaged body P from front to back. That is, the direction of discharge of the packaged body P by the discharge section 50 is towards the rear.

[0038] As shown in Figure 16, the discharge section 50 includes a first guide wall 52 and a second guide wall 53 positioned above the end of the belt conveyor 51, spaced apart from each other in the width direction, i.e., left-right direction, of the belt conveyor 51. The first guide wall 52 and the second guide wall 53 constitute the dispensing opening 50a for the packaged body P in the packaging device 10.

[0039] The first guide wall 52 is positioned above the belt conveyor 51, offset to the right of the center of the belt conveyor 51. The first guide wall 52 extends in the vertical and longitudinal directions. The plane direction of the first guide wall 52 is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The vertical dimension of the first guide wall 52 is smaller than the vertical dimension of the upright package P.

[0040] The second guide wall 53 is positioned above the belt conveyor 51, offset to the left of the center of the belt conveyor 51. The second guide wall 53 is inclined with respect to the first guide wall 52 such that its upper portion is further away from the first guide wall 52 in the left-right direction. In other words, the second guide wall 53 is inclined with respect to the first guide wall 52 such that its upper portion is further away from the work area WA in the left-right direction. The second guide wall 53 extends in the front-rear direction.

[0041] As shown in Figure 1, the discharge section 50 is equipped with a restricting wall 54 at the dispensing opening 50a that restricts the rearward movement of the packaged body P. The restricting wall 54 is fixed to the first guide wall 52 and the second guide wall 53 so as to close the opening formed by the rear ends of the first guide wall 52 and the second guide wall 53.

[0042] (Configuration of the supply unit 60) As shown in Figure 14, the supply unit 60 includes a support base 61, a chute 63, a support wall 65, and a guide wall 66. The support base 61 supports the bags B, which are positioned opposite the bagging unit 20 by the second transfer unit 16, from below. The chute 63 slides the packaged bodies P down from one side in the width direction, i.e., the left-right direction, toward the starting end of the belt conveyor 51. The support wall 65 is positioned opposite the chute 63 in the left-right direction. The support wall 65 supports the packaged bodies P as they slide down from the chute 63, keeping them along the chute 63. The guide wall 66 is positioned opposite the support wall 65 in the left-right direction and below the chute 63. The guide wall 66 guides the packaged bodies P as they slide down from the chute 63 toward the belt conveyor 51.

[0043] The support base 61 is positioned in front of the bagging section 20 (see Figure 1). The support base 61 has a planar support surface 61a that supports the bag B or packaging P from below. A rotating shaft 62 extending in the front-rear direction is provided at the lower right end of the support base 61. The support base 61 is configured to rotate between a support position and a transfer position around the rotating shaft 62 by an actuator (not shown) that rotates the rotating shaft 62. As shown by the dashed line in Figure 14, the support position is the position that supports the bag B or packaging P from below. As shown by the solid line in Figure 14, the transfer position is the position where the packaging P is slid down and transferred toward the chute 63 located at the inclined position, which will be described later. By moving from the support position to the inclined position, the support base 61 slides the packaging P down in a direction perpendicular to the bagging direction of the bagging section 20. When the support base 61 is in the support position, the plane direction of the support surface 61a coincides with the horizontal direction. When the support base 61 is in an inclined position, the support surface 61a is inclined horizontally and vertically such that its left end is lower than its right end.

[0044] The chute 63 is positioned below the support base 61. The chute 63 is flat. The chute 63 has a sliding surface 63a on which the packaged body P slides. A rotating shaft 64 extending in the front-rear direction is provided at the left end of the chute 63. The chute 63 is configured to rotate between an inclined position and an upright position around the rotating shaft 64 by being pressed from below, for example, by an actuator (not shown). As shown by the dashed line in Figure 15, the inclined position is the position where the packaged body P slides down and is supported by the support wall 65 by being inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. As shown by the solid line in Figure 15, the upright position is the position where the packaged body P supported by the support wall 65 is lifted and placed upright on the belt conveyor 51. When the chute 63 is in the inclined position, the sliding surface 63a is inclined with respect to the horizontal and vertical directions such that the left end is positioned lower than the right end. When the chute 63 is in the upright position, the sliding surface 63a is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The chute 63 moves from an inclined position to an upright position, supplying the packaged body P onto the belt conveyor 51 in an upright position with the outer surface of the packaged body P, which is supported by the support base 61 located in the support position, as its bottom surface.

[0045] The support wall 65 is positioned above the belt conveyor 51, offset to the left of the center of the belt conveyor 51. The support wall 65 extends in the vertical and longitudinal directions. The plane direction of the support wall 65 is perpendicular to the left-right direction. The vertical dimension of the support wall 65 is smaller than the vertical dimension of the upright package P.

[0046] The guide wall 66 is positioned above the belt conveyor 51, offset to the right of the center of the belt conveyor 51. The guide wall 66 has a parallel section 67 and an inclined section 68. The parallel section 67 extends parallel to the support wall 65. The inclined section 68 is inclined with respect to the support wall 65 so that it moves away from the support wall 65 as it extends upward from the parallel section 67. The inclined section 68 is along the sliding surface 63a of the chute 63 located at the inclined position. As a result, the packaged goods P sliding down from the chute 63 are guided onto the belt conveyor 51 by the inclined section 68.

[0047] (Configuration of the degassing section 70) As shown in Figure 2, the degassing unit 70 is configured to move up and down relative to the support base 61 above the support base 61. The degassing unit 70 has a sponge that presses down on the packaged body P supported by the support base 61 from above. When the packaged body P is pressed by the degassing unit 70, the air inside the bag B is discharged.

[0048] (Operation of the packaging device 10) Next, the operating procedure of the packaging device 10 will be described. As shown in Figure 3, first, the first transfer unit 12 grips the rear end of the packaging material 100 extending from the roll 101.

[0049] As shown in Figure 4, the first transfer unit 12 pulls the packaging material 100 to a predetermined position and stops. The first welding section 14 welds the packaging material 100, which is being held by the first transfer section 12. As a result, a welding line WL is formed on the packaging material 100, extending across its entire length in the left-right direction.

[0050] As shown in Figure 5, the first transfer unit 12 pulls out the packaging material 100 and stops until the welding line WL is positioned behind the cutting unit 15. The cutting section 15 cuts the packaging material 100 while it is being held by the first transfer section 12. This forms a bag B with an opening at its rear end from the packaging material 100.

[0051] The second transfer unit 16 receives the bag B from the first transfer unit 12. The first transfer unit 12 then moves forward of the cutting unit 15 and then grasps the next packaging material 100. The cutting unit 15 moves away from the packaging material 100 after the first transfer unit 12 has grasped the next packaging material 100.

[0052] As shown in Figure 6, after receiving the bag B from the first transfer unit 12, the second transfer unit 16 transfers the bag B to the area above the support base 61 and stops. On the other hand, worker W places the items G on the placement table 21 of the bagging unit 20 through the supply port 41 (see Figure 1) before the second transfer unit 16 transfers the bag B to the support table 61.

[0053] As shown in Figure 7, when an item G is placed on the placement table 21, the movable wall 32 moves toward the fixed wall 31, aligning the item G with respect to the pusher 22. The alignment of the item G by the alignment unit 30 may be performed either before or after the second transfer unit 16 transfers the bag B to the top of the support table 61.

[0054] As shown in Figure 8, the adsorption part 18 opens the opening of the bag body B by adsorbing the opening end of the bag body B. At this time, the first adsorption pad 18a and the second adsorption pad 18b adsorb the opening end of the bag body B at a position that overlaps with the second welding part 19 in the vertical direction.

[0055] As shown in Figure 9, the entire bagging section 20 moves forward as the placement platform 21 moves forward. The placement platform 21 stops when the tips of the fixed wall 31 and the movable wall 32 enter the inside of the opened bag B.

[0056] As shown in Figure 10, after the fixed wall 31 and the movable wall 32 enter the interior of the bag B, the suction part 18 releases its suction to the bag B. Then, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 10, the movable wall 32 moves away from the fixed wall 31 inside the bag B. As a result, the opening of the bag B is widened with the end on the opening side stretched in the left-right direction by the fixed wall 31 and the movable wall 32. As described above, the vertical dimensions of the fixed wall 31 and the movable wall 32 are larger than the vertical dimensions of the item G when it is placed on the placement stand 21. Therefore, the opening of the bag B widened by the fixed wall 31 and the movable wall 32 is larger than the external dimensions of the item G.

[0057] As shown in Figure 11, the extrusion unit 23 is moved forward by the drive unit 24, filling the bag body B with the article G. At this time, the extrusion unit 23 and a part of the pair of connecting columns 29 enter the bag body B. After entering the bag body B, the extrusion unit 23 moves backward to retract from the bag body B. The packaged body P, with the article G filled into the bag body B, is supported from below by the support base 61 located in the support position.

[0058] As shown in Figure 12, after the extrusion section 23 moves away from the bag body B, the first suction pad 18a and the second suction pad 18b move forward to a position where they do not overlap with the second welding section 19 in the vertical direction.

[0059] Next, the degassing unit 70 presses the packaged body P from above, causing air to be expelled from inside the bag body B. After that, the second transfer unit 16 releases its grip on the bag body B and then moves forward to receive the next bag body B from the first transfer unit 12.

[0060] As shown in Figure 13, the second welding section 19 welds the opening end of the bag B, which is pressed against the degassing section 70. This seals the bag B of the packaging P. As shown in Figure 14, the support base 61, which is supporting the package P, moves to the transfer position. As a result, the package P slides down toward the chute 63 located at the inclined position. The lower end of the package P passes through the chute 63 and comes into contact with the support wall 65, causing the package P to stop along the sliding surface 63a of the chute 63.

[0061] As shown in Figure 15, when the chute 63 moves to the upright position, the upper end of the packaged body P is lifted so that it rotates around its lower end. This causes the packaged body P to stand upright on the belt conveyor 51.

[0062] As shown in Figure 1, the package P is transported in an upright position toward the dispensing opening 50a by the belt conveyor 51. When the package P reaches the dispensing opening 50a, the belt conveyor 51 stops transporting the package P.

[0063] As shown in Figure 16, the packaged items P transported to the dispensing opening 50a are tilted towards the second guide wall 53, for example, by vibrations of the belt conveyor 51. The packaged items P transported to the dispensing opening 50a are collected by the worker W.

[0064] As described above, the packaging device 10 packages the articles G supplied sequentially by the worker W one by one using bags B cut from the roll 101. Within the work area WA, the worker W repeatedly supplies articles G to the packaging device 10 and then collects the packaged articles G in bags P.

[0065] <Operation of this embodiment> The goods G supplied by worker W from the work area WA are packed into bags B by the bagging unit 20. The packaged goods P, containing the goods G in bags B, are then discharged back to the work area WA by the discharge unit 50. Therefore, worker W, located in the work area WA, can complete both the supply of goods G and the collection of packaged goods P within the work area WA.

[0066] <Effects of this embodiment> (1) The packaging device 10 comprises a bagging section 20 and a discharge section 50. The bagging section 20 is located adjacent to a work area WA where an operator W supplies goods G, and fills the goods G supplied from the work area WA into bags B. The discharge section 50 discharges the packaged goods P, in which the goods G have been filled into bags B by the bagging section 20, back to the work area WA.

[0067] According to the above configuration, worker W can complete the supply of goods G and the collection of packaging P within the work area WA, thereby preventing a decrease in worker W's work efficiency.

[0068] (2) The packaging device 10 is equipped with a partition wall 40 that separates the area where the bagging section 20 is located from the work area WA. The partition wall 40 has an opening facing the work area WA and a supply port 41 into which the articles G are supplied. The direction in which the supply port 41 faces and the direction in which the packaged bodies P are discharged from the discharge section 50 are the same.

[0069] According to the above configuration, the direction of the supply port 41 and the direction of discharge of the packaged body P by the discharge unit 50 are the same. Therefore, the worker W can complete the supply of goods G through the supply port 41 and the collection of packaged body P from the discharge unit 50 without significantly changing their orientation within the work area WA. Thus, a decrease in the worker W's work efficiency can be further suppressed.

[0070] (3) The discharge section 50 is equipped with a belt conveyor 51 that transports the packaged body P toward the work area WA. The packaging device 10 is equipped with a supply section 60 that supplies the packaged body P to the belt conveyor 51 in an upright position.

[0071] According to the above configuration, the supply unit 60 supplies the packaged body P to the belt conveyor in an upright position. As a result, the packaged body P is discharged into the work area WA in an upright position. This makes it easier for the worker W to grasp the packaged body P discharged into the work area WA. Therefore, the packaged body P can be easily recovered.

[0072] (4) The supply unit 60 includes a chute 63 and a support wall 65. The chute 63 slides the packaged body P down toward the belt conveyor 51 from one side in the left-right direction of the belt conveyor 51. The support wall 65 supports the packaged body P as it slides down from the chute 63, keeping it along the chute 63. The chute 63 is configured to be movable between an inclined position in which it tilts with respect to the horizontal direction, causing the packaged body P to slide down and be supported by the support wall 65, and an upright position in which it lifts the packaged body P supported by the support wall 65 and makes it stand upright on the belt conveyor 51.

[0073] According to the above configuration, when the chute 63 is positioned at an inclined position, the packaged body P slides down from the chute 63 and is supported by the support wall 65. Subsequently, when the chute 63 moves to an upright position, the packaged body P supported by the support wall 65 is lifted onto the chute 63 and stands upright on the belt conveyor 51. This makes it easy to implement a supply unit 60 that supplies the packaged body P to the belt conveyor 51 in an upright state.

[0074] (5) The supply unit 60 is equipped with a support base 61 that supports the bag body B, which is positioned opposite the bagging unit 20. The support base 61 is configured to be movable between a support position that supports the bag body B from below and a transfer position that slides the package body P down toward the chute 63 located at an inclined position.

[0075] According to the above configuration, when the goods G are packed into the bag B supported by the support base 61, the packaged body P is supported from below by the support base 61. Subsequently, when the support base 61 moves to the transfer position, the packaged body P slides off the support base 61 and is transferred to the chute 63 located at an inclined position. As a result, the packaged body P is supplied to the belt conveyor 51 via the support base 61 and the chute 63. Therefore, the packaged body P can be smoothly discharged into the work area WA.

[0076] (6) The discharge section 50 is equipped with a first guide wall 52 and a second guide wall 53 that constitute the opening 50a of the package P. The second guide wall 53 is inclined with respect to the first guide wall 52 such that the upper part is further away from the first guide wall 52 in the left-right direction.

[0077] According to the above configuration, the opening area of ​​the dispensing opening 50a is larger in the upper part of the dispensing opening 50a. Therefore, it is easier for the worker W to remove the packaged body P from the dispensing opening 50a.

[0078] (7) The packaging device 10 comprises a first transfer unit 12, a cutting unit 15, and a second transfer unit 16. The first transfer unit 12 pulls out the packaging material 100 from a roll 101 around which a strip-shaped packaging material 100 having an opening at its end is wound, and transfers it. The cutting unit 15 cuts the packaging material 100 pulled out from the roll 101 in the left-right direction. The second transfer unit 16 receives the bags B cut from the packaging material 100 from the first transfer unit 12 and transfers them toward the bagging unit 20.

[0079] According to the above configuration, the packaging material 100 drawn from the roll 101 by the first transfer unit 12 is cut by the cutting unit 15. The second transfer unit 16 receives the cut bags B from the packaging material 100 from the first transfer unit 12 and transfers them toward the bagging unit 20. Therefore, the first transfer unit 12 can draw the next packaging material 100 from the roll 101 while the second transfer unit 16 is transferring the bags B. Thus, it is possible to suppress an increase in the cycle time of the packaging device 10.

[0080] (8) The bagging unit 20 comprises a placement table 21, a pusher 22, and an alignment unit 30. The pusher 22 pushes the items G placed on the placement table 21 toward the inside of the bag B. The alignment unit 30 aligns the items G placed on the placement table 21 with respect to the pusher 22 by gripping them from the left and right directions.

[0081] According to the above configuration, the items G placed on the placement table 21 are aligned with the pusher 22 by the alignment unit 30 and then pushed into the bag body B by the pusher 22. Therefore, the worker W does not need to precisely position the items G when placing them on the placement table 21. Consequently, the supply operation of items G becomes easier.

[0082] (9) The packaging device 10 is equipped with an adsorption unit 18 that adsorbs the bag body B and opens the opening of the bag body B toward the bagging unit 20. The adsorption unit 18 is equipped with a plurality of first adsorption pads 18a and a plurality of second adsorption pads 18b. The plurality of first adsorption pads 18a are arranged with space between them in the left-right direction. The plurality of second adsorption pads 18b are arranged with space between them in the left-right direction. The plurality of second adsorption pads 18b adsorb the bag body B from the opposite side from the plurality of first adsorption pads 18a. Each of the first adsorption pads 18a is positioned so as not to overlap with each of the second adsorption pads 18b in the vertical direction.

[0083] Bag B may be adsorbed onto either the first suction pad 18a or the second suction pad 18b with its front and back sides stuck together. In this case, the opening of bag B may not be opened sufficiently, which may make it difficult to bag item G.

[0084] In this regard, according to the above configuration, each of the first suction pads 18a is positioned so as not to overlap with each of the second suction pads 18b in the vertical direction. Therefore, even when the front and back parts of the bag B are stuck together, the front and back parts of the bag B are more easily attracted to the first suction pads 18a and the second suction pads 18b, respectively. This makes it easier to open the opening of the bag B.

[0085] <Example of changes> This embodiment can be implemented with the following modifications. This embodiment and the following modifications can be combined with each other to the extent that they do not contradict each other technically.

[0086] Each of the first suction pads 18a may partially overlap each of the second suction pads 18b in the vertical direction, as long as each is positioned offset from each of the second suction pads 18b in the left-right direction. Even in this case, the above effect (9) can be achieved.

[0087] Each of the first suction pads 18a may be positioned in the same location as each of the second suction pads 18b in the left-right direction. The bagging section 20 does not necessarily have to include the alignment section 30.

[0088] The bagging section 20 may be equipped with a robot or other device that grips the items G and places them into the bag B, instead of the pusher 22. The packaging device 10 does not necessarily have to include a second transfer unit 16. In this case, the first transfer unit 12 may transfer the bag B cut from the packaging material 100 to the area above the support base 61.

[0089] The cutting section 15 may have a rotating blade instead of a Thomson blade, configured to move left and right while rotating around an axis extending in the front-rear direction. The second guide wall 53 may extend parallel to the first guide wall 52.

[0090] The discharge section 50 does not necessarily have to be equipped with a first guide wall 52 and a second guide wall 53. The support base 61 may always be in a support position. In this case, for example, the supply unit 60 may include a mechanism for pushing the packaged body P supported on the support base 61 toward the chute 63. Alternatively, the supply unit 60 may be a conveying device such as a robot that grips the packaged body P supported on the support base 61 and supplies it to the belt conveyor 51.

[0091] The packaging device 10 does not necessarily have a support base 61. In this case, for example, the packaged products P that have been bagged by the bagging unit 20 may be supplied directly to the chute 63. The supply unit 60 does not necessarily have a support wall 65. In this case, the chute 63 may slide the packaged body P onto the belt conveyor 51 without raising it.

[0092] The discharge section 50 may be equipped with a conveying device such as a robot that transports the packaged body P toward the work area WA, instead of a belt conveyor 51. The suction unit 18 may also suction the bag body B from both sides in the left-right direction to open the opening of the bag body B. In this case, the packaged body P may be supported on the support base 61 in an upright position. In this case, the supply unit 60 is preferably a conveying device such as a robot that grips the upright packaged body P and supplies it to the belt conveyor 51.

[0093] The direction of the supply port 41 and the direction of discharge of the packaged body P at the discharge section 50 may be opposite to each other, or they may be perpendicular to each other. The packaging device 10 does not necessarily have a partition wall 40. Even in this case, it is preferable that the direction in which the worker W supplies the articles G to the bagging section 20 and the direction in which the packaged items P are discharged from the discharge section 50 are the same.

[0094] The material of bag body B may be a resin material other than polyethylene, or it may be a material other than a resin material such as cloth. The packaging device 10 is not limited to packaging the article G with a bag B cut from the packaging material 100, but may also package the article G in a pre-prepared bag B.

[0095] The packaging device 10 is not limited to packaging air filters, but can also be applied as a device for packaging various articles. <Note> The above embodiment includes the configuration described in the following appendix.

[0096] [Note 1] A packaging device for packaging articles in a bag, comprising: a bagging unit located adjacent to a work area where an operator supplies the articles, which fills the articles supplied from the work area into the bag; and a discharge unit which discharges the package containing the articles filled into the bag by the bagging unit back to the work area.

[0097] [Note 2] The packaging apparatus according to [Note 1], comprising a partition wall separating the area where the bagging section is located from the work area, wherein the partition wall has an opening facing the work area and a supply port for supplying the articles, and the direction of the supply port and the direction of discharge of the packaged body in the discharge section are the same.

[0098] [Note 3] The packaging apparatus according to [Note 1] or [Note 2], wherein the discharge unit comprises a belt conveyor for transporting the packaged body toward the work area, and the packaging apparatus comprises a supply unit for supplying the packaged body to the belt conveyor in an upright state.

[0099] [Note 4] The packaging device according to [Note 3], wherein the supply unit comprises a chute that slides the packaged body down from one side in the width direction of the belt conveyor toward the belt conveyor, and a support wall that is positioned opposite the chute in the width direction and supports the packaged body sliding down the chute in a state along the chute, and the chute is configured to be movable between an inclined position in which it tilts with respect to the horizontal direction to slide the packaged body down and support it against the support wall, and an upright position in which it lifts the packaged body supported by the support wall and makes it stand upright on the belt conveyor.

[0100] [Note 5] The packaging apparatus according to [Note 4], wherein the supply unit is provided with a support stand for supporting the bag body which is positioned opposite the bagging unit, and the support stand is configured to be movable between a support position which supports the bag body from below and a transfer position which slides the package body down toward the chute located at the inclined position for transfer.

[0101] [Note 6] The packaging apparatus according to any one of [Notes 3] to [Note 5], wherein the discharge section is positioned above the end of the belt conveyor adjacent to the work area, spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the belt conveyor, and comprises a first guide wall and a second guide wall that constitute the opening for dispensing the packaged body, the second guide wall being inclined with respect to the first guide wall such that the upper part is further away from the first guide wall in the width direction.

[0102] [Note 7] A packaging apparatus according to any one of [Note 1] to [Note 6], comprising: a first transfer unit that pulls out and transfers a strip-shaped packaging material having an opening at its end from a roll around which the packaging material is wound; a cutting unit that cuts the packaging material pulled out from the roll in the width direction of the packaging material; and a second transfer unit that receives the bags cut from the packaging material from the first transfer unit and transfers them toward the bagging unit.

[0103] [Note 8] The packaging apparatus according to any one of [Note 1] to [Note 7], wherein the bagging section comprises a placement table on which the articles are placed, a pusher that pushes the articles placed on the placement table toward the inside of the bag, and an alignment section that aligns the articles placed on the placement table with respect to the pusher by clamping them from a direction perpendicular to the pushing direction of the pusher in the surface direction of the placement table.

[0104] [Note 9] A packaging device according to any one of [Note 1] to [Note 8], comprising an adsorption part that adsorbs the bag and opens the opening of the bag toward the bagging part, wherein the adsorption part comprises a plurality of first adsorption pads arranged at intervals from each other in a width direction perpendicular to the bagging direction of the bagging part, and a plurality of second adsorption pads arranged at intervals from each other in the width direction and adsorbing the bag from the opposite side of the plurality of first adsorption pads, wherein when the direction perpendicular to both the bagging direction and the width direction is defined as the orthogonal direction, each of the first adsorption pads is positioned so as not to overlap with each of the second adsorption pads in the orthogonal direction. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0105] B...Bag body G…Goods P...Packaging W...Worker WA...Work Area 10...Packaging equipment 12...1st transfer section 15...Cut section 16…Second transfer section 18...Adsorption part 18a...First suction pad 18b...Second suction pad 20...Bagging Department 21...Placement stand 22... Pusher 30…Alignment section 40... Partition wall 41… Supply port 50...Discharge section 50a... Dispensing opening 51... Belt conveyor 52…First guide wall 53...Second Guide Wall 60…Supply section 61...Support stand 63... Shoot 65…Supporting wall 100...Packaging material 101... Roll

Claims

1. A packaging device for packaging articles with a bag, A bagging section is located adjacent to a work area where workers perform the task of supplying the aforementioned items, and the bagging section is located for packing the aforementioned items supplied from the work area into the bag. The system includes a discharge unit that discharges the package containing the articles packed into the bag into the work area. packaging equipment.

2. The area where the bagging section is located and the work area are separated by a partition wall, The partition wall has an opening that faces the work area and has a supply port through which the articles are supplied. The direction of the supply port and the direction of the discharge of the packaged body at the discharge section are the same. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The discharge section includes a belt conveyor that transports the packaged body toward the work area. The packaging apparatus includes a supply unit that supplies the packaged body to the belt conveyor in an upright position. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned supply unit is A chute that slides the packaged body down from one side in the width direction of the belt conveyor toward the belt conveyor, The system comprises a support wall positioned opposite the chute in the width direction, which supports the packaged body sliding down the chute in a state along the chute, The chute is configured to be movable between an inclined position in which the package slides down and is supported by the support wall by tilting with respect to the horizontal direction, and an upright position in which the package supported by the support wall is lifted and placed upright on the belt conveyor. The packaging apparatus according to claim 3.

5. The supply unit includes a support base for supporting the bag body, which is positioned opposite the bagging unit. The support stand is configured to be movable between a support position for supporting the bag from below and a transfer position for sliding the packaged body down towards the chute located at the inclined position. The packaging apparatus according to claim 4.

6. The discharge section is positioned above the end of the belt conveyor adjacent to the work area, spaced apart from each other in the width direction of the belt conveyor, and comprises a first guide wall and a second guide wall that constitute the opening for removing the packaged items. The second guide wall is inclined with respect to the first guide wall such that the upper portion moves further away from the first guide wall in the width direction. The packaging apparatus according to claim 3.

7. A first transfer unit that pulls out and transfers a strip-shaped packaging material having an opening at its end from a roll around which the packaging material is wound, A cutting section for cutting the packaging material pulled out from the roll in the width direction of the packaging material, The system includes a second transfer unit that receives the bags cut from the packaging material from the first transfer unit and transfers them toward the bagging unit. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1.

8. The aforementioned bagging section is A display stand on which the aforementioned articles are placed, A pusher that pushes the article placed on the placement platform toward the inside of the bag, The system includes an alignment unit that aligns the items placed on the placement platform with respect to the pusher by clamping them from a direction perpendicular to the pushing direction of the pusher within the surface direction of the placement platform. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1.

9. The system includes an adsorption part that adsorbs the bag and opens the opening of the bag toward the bagging part, The adsorption portion comprises a plurality of first adsorption pads arranged at intervals from each other in the width direction perpendicular to the bagging direction of the bagging portion, and a plurality of second adsorption pads arranged at intervals from each other in the width direction and adsorbing the bag from the opposite side of the plurality of first adsorption pads. When the direction perpendicular to both the bagging direction and the width direction is defined as the orthogonal direction, Each of the first suction pads is positioned so as not to overlap with each of the second suction pads in the orthogonal direction. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1.

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