Packaging inspection equipment

Abstract

To provide a package inspection device capable of easily controlling box motion using one cylinder device that does not require speed synchronization with a belt conveyor, and capable of shortening the inspection tact time by fastening the return speed of a horizontal pressing plate. [Solution] A packaging inspection device 1 in which a horizontal pressing plate 2 descends and presses against a packaging material P, then moves a fixed distance and returns, detects the pressing force of the horizontal pressing plate 2 with a load cell 3 and determines whether the packaging material P has been torn based on a change in the amount of electricity. The device is equipped with an air cylinder device 4 which has a support plate 5 at the lower end of a piston rod 4a and is freely adjustable in height, a linear slider 7 which includes a straight guide rail 7a supported by the support plate 5 with the load cell 3 in between and a slider 7b on its lower surface, the horizontal pressing plate 2 supported on the lower surface of the slider 7b, and a tension coil spring 9 which returns the slider 7b from the position where it has slid downstream in the conveyor transport direction of the straight guide rail 7a.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an inspection device for packages that transports the packages on a conveyor and applies pressure to the top surface to determine whether the packages are torn, have poor sealing, or have any enclosed contents leaking. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, this type of packaging inspection device has a cyclic operation in which a horizontal pressing plate descends from an upper standby position to press against a packaging material transported on a conveyor belt, moves it a certain distance, and then returns to the standby position.

[0003] The horizontal pressing plate performs a box motion of descending (pressing the package) ⇒ moving in the direction of the conveyor ⇒ rising (releasing pressure) ⇒ returning in the opposite direction to the conveyor.

[0004] This box motion is realized by a mechanism in which a first air cylinder device is placed horizontally and a first horizontal support plate fixed to the tip of a piston rod is provided so as to reciprocate horizontally in the conveyor transport direction and be freely height-adjustable, a second air cylinder device is attached to the horizontal support plate and a second horizontal support plate is provided at the tip of the piston rod that protrudes downward, and a pressing horizontal plate that sandwiches a load cell and presses the package is further provided on the second horizontal support plate.In other words, this box motion is realized by combining the reciprocating motion of the first air cylinder device with the reciprocating motion of the second air cylinder device.

[0005] In order to determine whether the package has been torn, has a poor seal, or the contents have leaked, a load cell is used to detect the pressing force of the horizontal pressing plate as an electrical quantity, and this load cell is arranged to be clamped between the second horizontal support plate and the horizontal pressing plate. This determines the case where the electrical quantity output by the load cell when the horizontal pressing plate moves in the conveying direction and just before the pressure is released (just before it returns to the upward position) is smaller than the electrical quantity output when the horizontal pressing plate descends and pressure begins. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-120686 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] According to the above-mentioned conventional package inspection device, the extension speed of the first air cylinder device needs to be synchronized with the conveyor belt transport speed, making it difficult to control. Also, the retraction speed of the piston rod of the first air cylinder device is the same as the extension speed, so high-speed return is not possible, and there is a problem that the inspection tact time cannot be shortened. Furthermore, the first air cylinder device and the second air cylinder device need to be linked, which increases the cost of the device.

[0008] In order to solve the above problems, the inventor carried out extensive research into whether it was possible to achieve the box motion of the horizontal pressing plate using a single cylinder device rather than a combination of two cylinder devices, and he completed this invention.

[0009] The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and its object is to provide a package inspection device that can easily control box motion using a single cylinder device that does not require speed synchronization with the belt conveyor, and has a fast return speed for the horizontal pressing plate, thereby shortening the inspection tact time and reducing equipment costs. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the package inspection device according to the first aspect of the present application is a package inspection device which, during a cyclic operation in which a horizontal pressing plate descends from an upper waiting position against a package transported on a conveyor belt, moves a certain distance and then returns to the waiting position, determines whether the package has been torn, has a poor seal, or the contents have leaked when the amount of electricity output by a load cell which detects the pressing force of the horizontal pressing plate as an electrical quantity is smaller than the amount of electricity output when the horizontal pressing plate descends and begins to press than when the horizontal pressing plate moves in the conveying direction and just before the pressure is released (just before it returns to the upper position).

[0011] The package inspection device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises an air cylinder device having a support plate at the lower end of a piston rod and supported by a height setting mechanism so as to be freely adjustable in height, a linear slider including a straight guide rail supported by the support plate and extending horizontally in the conveying direction and a slider capable of sliding on its lower surface, the horizontal pressing plate supported on the underside of the slider, a tension coil spring having one end hooked to the upstream end of the straight guide rail in the conveyor conveying direction and the other end hooked to the downstream end of the slider in the conveyor conveying direction so as to return the slider from the position where it has slid downstream in the conveyor conveying direction of the straight guide rail to the upstream end position in the conveyor conveying direction, and the load cell sandwiched between the straight guide rail and the support plate.

[0012] The packaging inspection device according to the second aspect of the present invention has, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the height setting mechanism has a bracket for supporting the air cylinder device fixed to the device frame and is engaged with the bracket so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the air cylinder device is moved in the vertical direction relative to the bracket by a vertical movement mechanism.

[0013] The inspection device for packaging material according to the third aspect of the present invention has, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, the vertical movement mechanism has a screw shaft fixed to the upper end surface of the cylinder of the air cylinder device and protruding upward through a hole for attaching a nut in the bracket, and a nut that is screwed onto the screw shaft and attached to the hole so as to be rotatable but immovable in the axial direction, and includes a handle or motor for rotating the nut, thereby enabling the screw shaft to be moved up and down, thereby enabling the bracket to be set to the required height.

[0014] The packaging inspection device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention has the same configuration as the first aspect of the present invention, but is also configured to convert the pressing force (Kg) applied to the packaging by the horizontal pressing plate into the electrical quantity output by the load cell and display it on a digital panel meter.

[0015] The packaging inspection device according to the fifth aspect of the present invention has, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention described above, an alarm output means for outputting an alarm to remove the packaging from the line when the pressing force (Kg) of the horizontal pressing plate is below a threshold value for determining whether the packaging has been torn, has a poor seal, or the enclosed contents have leaked.

[0016] The packaging inspection device according to the sixth aspect of the present invention has, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, a photoelectric sensor that detects the leading edge of the packaging in the conveying direction at a position that is a required distance downstream in the conveying direction of the conveyor from the position directly below the waiting position of the horizontal pressing plate, and a first timer with a variable time setting that inputs a signal detected by the photoelectric sensor, wherein the first timer counts time when the signal detected by the photoelectric sensor is input and outputs an electrical signal when the set time has elapsed, and the air cylinder device begins to lower a piston rod based on this electrical signal, thereby causing the horizontal pressing plate to press the middle of the packaging device as described in claim 1.

[0017] The package inspection device according to the seventh aspect of the present invention has, in addition to the configuration of the first aspect of the invention, a second timer with a variable time setting that inputs the electrical signal output by the first timer, and the second timer counts time when the electrical signal output by the first timer is input, and outputs the electrical signal output by the second timer when the set time has elapsed, and the air cylinder device begins to raise the piston rod based on the electrical signal output by the second timer. Effect of the Invention

[0018] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a package inspection device that can easily control box motion using a single cylinder device that does not require speed synchronization with the belt conveyor, and that has a fast return speed of the horizontal pressing plate, thereby shortening the inspection tact time and reducing equipment costs. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0019] [Figure 1] 1 is a front view showing one operation process of a package inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a horizontal pressing plate is in an upper standby position. FIG. [Diagram 2] 1 is a front view showing one operation step in which a horizontal pressing plate of a package inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention descends from a standby position above the horizontal pressing plate and starts pressing the package. FIG. [Diagram 3] 1 is a front view showing one operation process in which a horizontal pressing plate of a package inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention moves while pressing a package and is in a state immediately before the pressing ends (rises). [Figure 4] 1 is a front view showing one operation process in which a horizontal pressing plate of a package inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention has risen, finished pressing the package, and is in the middle of returning to a standby position; FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a package inspection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] [Embodiment Mode] The configuration of a package inspection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

[0022] The package inspection device 1 is an inspection device that applies a required pressure to the package P to determine whether the package P breaks, has a poor seal, or the enclosed contents leak out. The packages P to be inspected are, for example, packages in which cosmetic liquid, shampoo, viscous material, powdered or granular material, seasoning, liquid processed food, construction putty, or adhesive is packaged in a bag, or toothpaste, or other packages sealed in a tube.

[0023] In more detail, the inspection device 1 for packaging materials is an inspection device in which the horizontal pressing plate 2, which is lowered by the air cylinder device 4, descends from a standby position at the top (height a) shown in FIG. 1 to the package P transported on the conveyor belt BC as shown in FIG. 2, so as to apply the required pressure (for example, a pressure adjusted in the range of 5-20 kg) to the package P, which is transported on the conveyor belt BC, as shown in FIG. 2, and then moves a certain distance from the pressing start position b1 to the pressing end position b2 as shown in FIG. 3, and then rises and returns to the standby position a as shown in FIG. 4. In this cyclic operation, the load cell 3 detects the pressing force of the horizontal pressing plate 2 as an electrical quantity, and determines whether the amount of electricity output when the horizontal pressing plate 2 moves in the transport direction and the pressure is released (just before returning upward) is smaller than the amount of electricity output when the horizontal pressing plate 2 descends and starts pressing. The distance traveled by the pressing horizontal plate 2 from the pressing start position b1 to the pressing end position b2 is controlled by time management using a second timer 20.

[0024] The belt conveyor BC has an endless conveyor belt 21, a roll 22 at the upstream end, a roll 23 at the downstream end, a motor 24 for driving and rotating the roll 23, and an anvil plate 25 for supporting the conveyor belt 21 in its transport area to prevent it from sagging.

[0025] A photoelectric sensor 15 is attached to the belt conveyor BC at a required upstream position c. The photoelectric sensor 15 is adapted to receive a signal from a first timer 19 to start counting a set time, and the second timer 20 is adapted to receive an output signal from the first timer 19 as a signal to start counting the set time. Details will be described later.

[0026] The essential components of the package inspection device 1 are an air cylinder device 4 that is provided so as to be freely adjustable in height, a linear slider 7 that is supported by a support plate 5 at the tip of a piston rod 4a of the air cylinder device 4 and is raised and lowered, a horizontal pressing plate 2 that is supported by a slider 7b of the linear slider 7 and that presses the package P, a tension coil spring 9 that pulls the horizontal pressing plate 2, which has been moved in the conveying direction on the belt conveyor BC, back to its original position at high speed as soon as it starts to rise, and a load cell 3 that is provided so as to be sandwiched between the linear guide rail 7a of the linear slider 7 and the air cylinder device 4 and obtains the pressing force of the horizontal pressing plate 2 against the package P as an electrical quantity. The electrical quantity output by the load cell 3 is converted into a pressing force (Kg) and displayed on a digital panel meter 18. A more detailed description will be given below.

[0027] The air cylinder device 4 is supported by a height setting mechanism 6 so that a piston rod 4a projects downward and the height of the air cylinder device 4 is freely adjustable.

[0028] The height setting mechanism 6 has an inverted L-shaped bracket 6a for supporting the air cylinder device 4, which is fixed to the device frame 8. A guide 6c attached to a cylinder bracket 6b of the air cylinder device 4 is engaged with the vertical side of the inverted L-shaped bracket 6a so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the air cylinder device 4 is moved in the vertical direction relative to the bracket 6a by a vertical movement mechanism 6d.

[0029] The vertical movement mechanism 6d has a screw shaft 6d1 that is fixed to the upper end surface of the cylinder of the air cylinder device 4 and protrudes upward through a hole for attaching a nut in the bracket 6a, a nut 6d2 that screws onto the screw shaft 6d1 and is attached to the hole for attaching a nut in the bracket 6a so as to be rotatable but immovable in the axial direction, and a handle 6d3 that is integral with the nut 6d2 with the screw shaft 6d1 inserted through its center. By turning the handle 6d3, the screw shaft 6d1 can be moved up and down, thereby allowing the bracket 6a to be set to the required height.

[0030] The vertical movement mechanism 6d may include a motor, instead of the handle 6d3, whose output shaft is connected to rotate the nut 6d2, and which rotates at a low speed and switches between forward and reverse rotation only when the push button switch is pressed.

[0031] The linear slider 7 includes a linear guide rail 7a extending horizontally in the conveying direction and a slider 7b that can slide on the lower surface of the linear guide rail. Linear sliders with various structures are commercially available, but any linear slider that has a linear guide rail and a slider that can slide on the lower surface of the linear guide rail can be used as the linear slider according to the present invention. The linear guide rail 7a has guide rods 12 erected at both ends of the upper surface, and the guide rods 12 are inserted into tube guides 13 provided on the device frame 8 and guided in the vertical direction, and the middle of the upper surface is supported by a support plate 5 fixed to the lower end of the piston rod 4a, so that the slider 7b can be moved up and down while maintaining a horizontal state by the extension and contraction of the piston rod 4a. The slider 7b can slide on the lower surface of the linear guide rail 7a that is moved up and down.

[0032] The pressing horizontal plate 2 is fixed to the lower surface of the slider 7b and can move within the same horizontal movement range as the slider 7b. A stopper 14 is attached to the pressing horizontal plate 2 on the upstream side of the linear guide rail 7a in the conveying direction to restrict the return position of the slider 7b to the upstream side in the conveying direction.

[0033] The tension coil spring 9 has one end hooked to a spring mounting bracket (eye fitting) 10 attached to the end of the linear guide rail 7a on the upstream side in the conveyor transport direction, and the other end hooked to a spring mounting bracket (eye fitting) 11 attached to the end of the slider 7b on the downstream side in the conveyor transport direction, and functions to return the slider 7b from the position where it has slid downstream in the conveyor transport direction of the linear guide rail 7a to the end position on the upstream side in the conveyor transport direction. The position of the stopper 14 of the slider 7b is determined so that the tension coil spring 9 abuts against the stopper 14 just before it expands and contracts to its free length (at the stage when the biasing force in the expansion and contraction direction is effective).

[0034] The load cell 3 is fixed to the upper surface of the linear guide rail 7a, and is clamped so that an initial pressure is applied to the upper support plate 5. Two guide rods 5a erected on the upper surface of the linear guide rail 7a are inserted into holes provided at both ends of the support plate 5, and compression coil springs 5b, 5c are attached to surround the two guide rods 5a across the support plate 5, and a lock nut (double nut) 5c is provided on the male threaded portion at the upper end of the guide rod 5a, so that the support plate 5 is pressed against the load cell 3 so that an initial pressure, for example, 1 kg, is applied.

[0035] The pressing force when the pressing horizontal plate 2 descends and starts pressing the package P increases when the handle 6d3 is turned to lower the height a of the standby position, which reduces the downward stroke of the piston rod 4a and strongly presses the load cell 3, and decreases when the height a of the standby position is raised, which increases the downward stroke of the piston rod 4a and weakly presses the load cell 3. The pressing force when pressing starts to press the package P is set according to the packaging strength required for the package P.

[0036] The pressing force of the horizontal pressing plate 2 can be set to, for example, 5-20 kg depending on the type of package P by adjusting the downward stroke of the piston rod 4a.

[0037] The load cell 3 outputs two electrical quantities corresponding to the time difference between when the horizontal plate 2 starts pressing and when the pressing is about to finish. The two electrical quantities are amplified and displayed in parallel or in a switchable manner on the digital panel meter 10.

[0038] The two electrical quantities output by the load cell 3 with a time lag are amplified, and when a deviation occurs, the numerical value of at least one of the two electrical quantities and the deviation are displayed on the digital panel meter 10, an alarm is sounded, and / or the numerical display flashes.

[0039] A memory installation bracket 17 is provided on the upper end surface of the device frame 8, and a digital panel meter 18, a first timer 19, and a second timer 20 are mounted and fixed on this memory installation bracket 17.

[0040] The digital panel meter 18 is configured to convert the amount of electricity output by the load cell 3 into the pressing force (Kg) of the horizontal pressing plate 2 against the package P and display it in real time.

[0041] Furthermore, the device is equipped with an alarm output means (e.g., a buzzer, a flashing lamp) that outputs an alarm to remove the packaging material P from the line when the pressing force (Kg) of the pressing horizontal plate 2 is below a threshold value at which it is determined that the packaging material P is torn, has a poor seal, or the enclosed contents are leaking.

[0042] A photoelectric sensor 15 and a first timer 19 are provided so that the pressing horizontal plate 2 descends to press the middle of the package P being transported on the conveyor. The photoelectric sensor 15 detects the leading edge of the package P in the transport direction at a position a required distance downstream in the transport direction of the conveyor from a position directly below the standby position of the pressing horizontal plate 2. The first timer 19 can display the time manually and has an adjustable time setting, and is adapted to input a signal detected by the photoelectric sensor 15.

[0043] The first timer 19 counts time when a signal detected by the photoelectric sensor is input, and outputs an electric signal when a set time has elapsed, and based on this electric signal, the air cylinder device 4 starts to lower the piston rod 4a. Thus, the pressing horizontal plate 2 presses the middle of the package P depending on the time setting of the first timer 19.

[0044] The second timer 20 can display the time by manual input, has a variable time setting, and is adapted to input the electric signal output by the first timer 19. The second timer 20 counts the time when the electric signal output by the first timer 19 is input, and outputs an electric signal when the set time has elapsed. The air cylinder device 4 starts to raise the piston rod 4a based on the electric signal output by the second timer 20.

[0045] The control unit 16 controls the conveyor transport device BC, and controls the cooperation between the air cylinder device 4, the load cell 3, the digital panel meter 18, the first timer 19, and the second timer 20, and the like.

[0046] In the above configuration, the piston rod 4a of the air cylinder device 4 is extended with a delay of the time set by the first timer 19 from the detection of the leading end of the package P by the photoelectric sensor 15, which is fixed in position. However, by providing the photoelectric sensor 15 in an adjustable position and adjusting the position c of the photoelectric sensor 15, the distance from the position c to the pressing start position b1 can be changed. This makes it possible to align the center of the length of the package P with the center of the length of the pressing horizontal plate 2 without providing the first timer 19.

[0047] Next, the operation of the package inspection device 1 will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, when the piston rod 4a of the air cylinder device 4 is contracted and the pressing horizontal plate 2 is raised and stopped at the standby position at height a, a package P is placed on the upstream end of the belt conveyor BC, conveyed, and detected by the photoelectric sensor 15. The first timer 19 turns on based on the detection signal of the photoelectric sensor 15 and starts counting. When the set time is reached, an electric signal is output, and this electric signal causes the piston rod 4a of the air cylinder device 4 to start extending with a delay, and the pressing horizontal plate 2 descends so that the center of the length of the package P coincides with the center of the length of the pressing horizontal plate 2, pressing the package P. At this time, the electric quantity output by the load cell 3 is converted into the pressing force (Kg) of the pressing horizontal plate 2 against the package P, and is displayed in real time on the digital panel meter 18.

[0048] Next, when the package P is transported to the belt conveyor BC, the pressing horizontal plate 2 and the package P are in close contact with each other in a pressed state, and frictional force acts between them, so that the pressing horizontal plate 2 and the package P are transported together. During this transport process, the slider 7b moves integrally with the pressing horizontal plate 2 along the lower surface of the linear guide rail 7a, and the tension coil spring 9 expands, building up a return force.

[0049] Next, when the first timer 19 turns on and starts counting, it outputs an electric signal to the second timer 20, and the second timer 20 starts counting and outputs an electric signal when the set time (for example, 7 to 9 seconds) is reached, whereby the piston rod 4a of the air cylinder device 4 starts to contract, the linear slider 7 rises and returns, and the pressing horizontal plate 2 rises and moves away from the package P. At that moment, the tension coil spring 9 returns to the standby position at high speed due to the stored return force.

[0050] In addition, instead of the set time of the second timer 20, a second photoelectric sensor may be provided in an adjustable position, and the piston rod 4a of the air cylinder device 4 may acquire an electrical signal output from the second photoelectric sensor as a contraction start signal.

[0051] According to the present invention, box motion can be easily controlled using a single cylinder device that does not require speed synchronization with the belt conveyor.In other words, the pressing horizontal plate 2 can be made to box motion using a single air cylinder device 4 that expands and contracts the piston rod in the vertical direction, a linear slider 7, and a tension coil spring 9.This allows easy control without the need to control the movement of the pressing horizontal plate 2 in synchronization with the conveyor transport direction, and the return speed of the pressing horizontal plate is fast, shortening the inspection takt time, thereby providing an inspection device that reduces equipment costs. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1...Package inspection device, 2...Horizontal pressing plate, 3…Load cell, 4...Air cylinder device, 4a…Piston rod, 5...Support plate, 5a…Guide rod, 5b, 5c…Compression coil spring, 5d…Lock nut (double nut), 6...Height setting mechanism, 6a…Bracket, 6b…Motor bracket, 6c…guide, 6d...Vertical direction movement mechanism, 6d1...Screw shaft, 6d2…Nat, 6d3…Handle, 7...Linear slider, 7a...Straight guide rail, 7b…slider, 8...Device frame, 9...Tension coil spring, 10, 11...Spring mounting bracket, 12...Guide rod, 13...Tube guide, 14…Stopper, 15...Photoelectric sensor, 16...Control device, 17…Memory installation bracket, 18...Digital panel meter, 19…First timer, 20…second timer, a...Standby position, b1: Press start position, b2: End position of pressing c...Descent start position, d…ascent start position, BC: belt conveyor, 21...Conveyor belt, 22, 23…Roll, 24…anvil plate, P...Packaging body.

Claims

1. A package inspection device, in which a horizontal pressing plate descends from an upper standby position to press against a package transported on a belt conveyor, moves a certain distance, and then returns to the standby position, detects the pressing force of the horizontal pressing plate as an electrical quantity, and judges whether the package is broken, has a poor seal, or has a leak of enclosed contents when the electrical quantity output by a load cell when the horizontal pressing plate moves in the transport direction and immediately before the pressure is released (immediately before returning upward) becomes smaller than the electrical quantity output when the horizontal pressing plate descends and starts to press, comprising: an air cylinder device having a support plate at the lower end of a piston rod and supported by a height setting mechanism so as to be freely height adjustable; a linear slider including a linear guide rail supported by the support plate and extending horizontally in the conveying direction and a slider slidable on a lower surface of the linear guide rail; the pressing horizontal plate supported on the lower surface of the slider; a tension coil spring, one end of which is hooked to an upstream end of the linear guide rail in the conveyor transport direction and the other end of which is hooked to a downstream end of the slider in the conveyor transport direction, for returning the slider from a position where it has slid downstream of the linear guide rail in the conveyor transport direction to an end position on the upstream side in the conveyor transport direction; A package inspection device comprising the load cell sandwiched between the linear guide rail and the support plate.

2. 2. The packaging inspection device of claim 1, wherein the height setting mechanism has a bracket for supporting the air cylinder device fixed to an apparatus frame, is engaged with the bracket so as to be movable in the vertical direction, and the air cylinder device is moved in the vertical direction relative to the bracket by a vertical movement mechanism.

3. The vertical movement mechanism has a screw shaft fixed to the upper end surface of the cylinder of the air cylinder device and protruding upward through a hole for attaching a nut in the bracket, and a nut screwed onto the screw shaft and attached to the hole so as to be rotatable but immovable in the axial direction, and includes a handle or motor for rotating the nut, thereby enabling the screw shaft to be moved up and down, thereby allowing the bracket to be set to the required height.The inspection device for packaging material as described in claim 1.

4. 2. The package inspection device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing force (Kg) applied to the package by the horizontal pressing plate is converted into the electrical quantity output by the load cell and displayed on a digital panel meter.

5. The packaging inspection device of claim 1, further comprising an alarm output means for outputting an alarm to remove the packaging from the line when the pressing force (Kg) of the horizontal pressing plate is below a threshold value for determining whether the packaging has been torn, has a poor seal, or the enclosed contents have leaked.

6. 2. The inspection device for packaging material as described in claim 1, further comprising: a photoelectric sensor that detects the leading edge of the packaging material in the conveying direction at a position that is a required distance downstream in the conveying direction of the conveyor from a position directly below the waiting position of the horizontal pressing plate; and a first timer with a variable time setting that inputs a signal detected by the photoelectric sensor, wherein the first timer counts time when the signal detected by the photoelectric sensor is input and outputs an electrical signal when a set time has elapsed, and the air cylinder device begins to lower a piston rod based on this electrical signal, thereby causing the horizontal pressing plate to press the middle of the packaging material.

7. 2. The packaging inspection device of claim 1, further comprising a second timer with variable time setting that is adapted to input the electrical signal output by the first timer, the second timer counts time when the electrical signal output by the first timer is input, and outputs the electrical signal output by the second timer when a set time has elapsed, and the air cylinder device is adapted to start lifting a piston rod based on the electrical signal output by the second timer.

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