Filling and packaging method

Abstract

To provide a filling package method which can omit pairs of seal bars installed along a circumferential transport path of a packing material and a cam for rotating a filling chute around a center of a lifting shaft and which is helpful for reduction of facility costs.SOLUTION: In a filling package method, a packing material (103) continuously transported is folded in a manner that a fold line (104) faces downward and then a vertical seal (107) is formed in the packing material to form a continuous bag body (116) before the packing material enters a circumferential transport path (101). After the bag body is carried into the circumferential transport path and then all bag parts (108) in the bag body are sequentially opened by adsorptive effect of a vacuum negative pressure. A filling chute (109) is inserted through an opened bag mouth (115) into the bag part to fill the bag part with a filler.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling and packaging method for filling a continuous packaging material with a filling material. Until the law It relates thereto.

[0002] For filling a conventional continuous packaging material with, for example, a powdery or granular filling material, a rotary filling and packaging machine as disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 is used.

[0003] In this filling and packaging machine, as shown in FIG. 1, as a conveyance path of the packaging material, a packaging material supply path (100) for continuously supplying a belt-like packaging material (103) in a state of being folded in half at the center so that its fold (104) faces downward (substantially V-shaped in cross section), a circumferential conveyance path (101) that bends in a substantially arc shape in plan view with its starting point (P1) connected to the packaging material supply path (100), and an extension conveyance path (102) connected to the end point (P2) of the circumferential conveyance path (101) are usually provided.

[0004] And, as shown in FIG. 2, in the circumferential conveyance path (101), the belt-like packaging material (103) is conveyed in the circumferential direction while being held by a plurality of longitudinal seal portions (105) arranged at predetermined intervals along the circumferential surface of the circumferential conveyance path (101).

[0005] Each of the longitudinal seal portions (105) includes a pair of seal bars (106) that sandwich the packaging material (103), and heat-seals the portion of the packaging material (103) sandwiched by the pair of seal bars (106). As a result, on the packaging material (103), from its upper end to its lower end A vertical seal (107) extending in the vertical direction will be formed.

[0006] As shown in Fig. 3, the above-mentioned packaging material (103) is formed with longitudinal seals (107) at predetermined intervals along its conveying direction. As a result, between adjacent longitudinal seals (107) in the packaging material (103), a bag portion (108) having an upward-opening bag mouth (115) is formed. In the above-mentioned circumferential conveying path (101), each bag portion (108) is filled with a filling material through a filling chute (109) from above.

[0007] In order to realize such a filling and packaging method, as a filling and packaging machine, it is necessary to have a longitudinal seal portion (105) that seals or adheres in the longitudinal direction to the continuously supplied packaging material (103), and a filling chute (109) that is inserted into the folded packaging material (103) to fill the filling material.

[0008] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, during the process of the filling chute (109) moving (circular arc motion) in the circumferential direction of the circumferential conveying path (101) together with the bag portion (108) of the above-mentioned packaging material (103), the filling chute (109) performs a lifting and lowering motion realized by a lifting and lowering shaft (110) that only lifts and lowers along the action locus of a lifting and lowering cam in the main frame (111) of the filling and packaging machine. At the same time, the filling chute (109) also performs a rotational motion realized by a rotary cam in the above-mentioned main frame (111) with the lifting and lowering shaft (110) as the center.

[0009] As is clear from Fig. 2, as the timing for inserting the filling chute (109) into the above-mentioned packaging material (103), the continuously conveyed strip-shaped packaging material (103) is inserted after being folded in half at its center. When the seal bar (106) of the above-mentioned longitudinal seal portion (105) performs the longitudinal seal (107) of the packaging material (103), the filling chute (109) is already in the bag portion (108).

[0010] The filling chute (109) moving up and down along with the lifting axis (110) is to facilitate the insertion of the filling chute (109) into the packaging material (103) that is folded in the center and in a state of being substantially V-shaped in cross section. Also, the filling chute (109) rotating along with the lifting axis (110) is to smoothly extract the filling chute (109) from the bag portion (108) of the packaging material (103), and at the same time, widen (increase) the mutual spacing distance between adjacent filling chutes (109) to facilitate the insertion of the previous (preceding) filling chute (109) into the folded packaging material (103), and to realize the continuous operation of the filling chute (109).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0011]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0012] However, in the filling and packaging method using the conventional filling and packaging machines disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there are still the following various problems to be solved.

[0013] First, in the circumferential conveyance path (101), the belt-like packaging material (103) is clamped by a pair of seal bars (106) forming a plurality of longitudinal seal portions (105), thereby realizing a longitudinal seal (107) for the packaging material (103). Moreover, when the plurality of pairs of seal bars (106) move (arc motion) in the circumferential direction of the circumferential conveyance path (101), the packaging material (103) must be clamped at the starting point (P1) of the circumferential conveyance path (101), and the packaging material (103) must also be released at the ending point (P2) of the circumferential conveyance path (101). In order to realize the operation of clamping and releasing (releasing the clamped state) the packaging material (103) by the seal bar (106), it is necessary to install a cam mechanism, which only complicates the structure and increases the cost of the equipment.

[0014] Second, when the filling chute (109) of the filling material moves (arc motion) in the circumferential direction of the circumferential conveyance path (101) together with the bag portion (108) of the packaging material (103), in order to avoid interference with the folded packaging material (103), the filling chute (109) moves up and down along with the lifting shaft (110) before entering the bag portion (108), and at the same time, a rotational motion centered on the lifting shaft (110) must also be performed. In order to realize these two motions, at least two (two types) of a lifting cam and a rotational cam are required, which only complicates the structure and leads to a high cost of the equipment.

[0015] Third, during the movement (arc motion) of the seal bar (106) of the longitudinal seal portion (105) from the starting point (P1) to the ending point (P2) of the circumferential conveyance path (101), the packaging material (103) must be maintained in a clamped state. (Limited by the cam track of the seal bar, the seal bar cannot be opened / released in the section of the track.) When the continuous operation of the rotary filling and packaging machine is stopped, if the seal bar (106) of the longitudinal seal portion (105) in the circumferential conveyance path (101) remains in a state of still clamping the packaging material (103), there is a risk that the packaging material (103) may be deformed or melted by the residual heat of the seal bar (106).

Means for Solving the Problems

[0016] The present invention aims to solve the above problems. As a rotary filling and packaging method for achieving this purpose, after continuously conveying a packaging material and folding it in half at the center so that the crease faces downward, before the packaging material enters the circumferential conveying path, first perform a longitudinal seal to form a continuous bag body. After conveying the continuous bag body into the circumferential conveying path, all the bag portions in the continuous bag body are sequentially opened by the negative pressure adsorption action in a vacuum, and a filling chute is inserted into the bag portion from the opened bag mouth, and the filling material is filled by the filling chute.

[0017] That is, in the filling and packaging method of the present invention, as described in claim 1, a belt-shaped packaging material folded in half at the center so that the crease faces downward and forming a figure-eight shape Surface V is continuously conveyed from its packaging material supply path to an extended conveying path via a circumferential conveying path that is curved in an arc shape in a plan view The circle of In the process,

[0018] the above packaging material It is installed below the circle and has a translation unit that reciprocates along the packaging material conveyance direction of the packaging material supply path. The translation unit is provided with a plurality of sets of vertical seal knife units each having two relatively moving vertical seal knife holders, and is installed in parallel along the conveyance direction of the packaging material. The packaging material is passed between the opened spaces of adjacent vertical seal knife sets, and a vertical seal mechanism that can vertically seal the packaging material at predetermined intervals by the synchronous movement of the plurality of sets of vertical seal knives is used.

[0019] Before the packaging material enters from the packaging material supply path into the circumferential conveyance path, it is vertically sealed at predetermined intervals along the conveyance direction, and a bag portion with an upward-facing bag mouth is formed between adjacent vertical seals to form a continuous bag body in the first step.

[0020] An aspiration bag rotating disk mechanism installed inside the circumferential conveyance path and conveying along the circumferential conveyance path while holding the vertically sealed bag body in the first step, and a servo aspiration mechanism also installed outside the circumferential conveyance path, rotating relative to the aspiration bag rotating disk mechanism and having the same linear velocity of rotation, are used.

[0021] While the servo suction mechanism adsorbs the packaging material outside the bag portion in the above bag body, the suction bag rotating disk mechanism also adsorbs the packaging material inside the bag portion, and as the two mechanisms rotate relative to each other, the packaging materials on both sides that pass through between the two are separated, so as to sequentially open the bag mouths of the above bag portions and, while maintaining the opened state, convey them along the circumferential conveying path in the second step; (Outer and inner)

[0022] Insert a filling chute for the filling material into the bag portion with the bag mouth open, and while the filling chute moves in an arc in synchronization with the conveyance of the bag body along the circumferential conveyance path, after filling the bag portion with the filling material in the circumferential conveyance path, before the filled bag portion enters from the circumferential conveyance path into the extended conveyance path, the third step of extracting the filling chute from the bag portion is performed.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] According to the filling and packaging method described in claim 1, after folding a strip-shaped packaging material in half at the center, in the packaging material supply path upstream of entering the starting point of the circumferential conveyance path, after performing a vertical seal on the folded packaging material, the continuous bag body sealed or adhered in the vertical direction is carried into the circumferential conveyance path.

[0024] That is, in the filling and packaging method of the present invention, as the first step, before the packaging material enters the circumferential conveyance path, first, a longitudinal seal is performed. Then, as the second step, in the subsequent circumferential conveyance path, while holding a continuous bag body by the adsorption action of vacuum negative pressure, conveyance (movement / arc movement) along the circumferential conveyance path is carried out. The longitudinal seal part composed of a pair of seal bars that sandwich the packaging material as in the prior art is prevented from moving (arc movement) along the circumferential conveyance path together with the longitudinal seal on the continuous bag body, and as a result, the cam mechanism for realizing the arc movement of the seal bar and the operation of clamping and releasing the packaging material by the seal bar can be omitted. Not only does the necessary structure become simpler, reducing the equipment cost, but it also has the effect of solving the problem that the packaging material receiving the residual heat of the seal bar deforms or melts when the continuous operation stops.

[0025] Also, in the above filling and packaging method of the present invention, in the second step, based on the suction principle of vacuum negative pressure, the bag mouth of the bag part is opened. The filling chute for the filling material only needs to be inserted into the bag part from the opened bag mouth in the third step. Since the filling chute only needs to perform the lifting and lowering operation, there is no need to rotationally interlock the filling chute around the center of the lifting and lowering axis as in the prior art.

[0026] In the prior art, when the folded packaging material in the center enters the upstream side (before entering) of the starting point of the circumferential conveyance path, since the filling chute has already entered the circumferential conveyance path at that time, the filling chute must move to the tangential direction of the circumferential conveyance path and maintain the movement trajectory of entering the circumferential conveyance path from that tangential direction. For this purpose, it is necessary to rotate the filling chute by a required rotation angle around the center of the lifting and lowering axis.

[0027] In contrast, in the present invention, since it is a method of opening the bag mouth of the bag part in the circumferential conveyance path, it only needs to insert the filling chute into the bag part, and there is no need to maintain the same movement trajectory as the direction of the tangent at the starting point position in the circumferential conveyance path for the filling chute. The rotation cam for rotating the filling chute around the center of the lifting and lowering axis becomes unnecessary, and the structure is thus simplified, reducing the equipment cost.

[0028] In that case, since a bag-opening mechanism for a packaging material for filling and packaging, which consists of a suction bag turntable mechanism and a servo suction mechanism, is adopted, a part of the circumferential surface in the suction bag turntable mechanism forms (realizes) an arc shape of the circumferential conveying path. Along with this, while holding a continuous bag body by the action of negative pressure suction on the circumferential surface of the suction bag turntable mechanism, it can be conveyed along the circumferential conveying path. At the same time, both the inner and outer packaging materials forming the bag part of the bag body can be separated by the relative rotation of the suction bag turntable mechanism and the servo suction mechanism, and the bag mouth of the bag part can be smoothly opened sequentially, making it easier to insert the next filling chute, so high conveying efficiency and filling efficiency can be obtained.

[0029] The above-described method of relative rotation can be said to be an operation of opening the bag by applying negative pressure to the bag body passing through (going through) between the suction bag turntable mechanism and the servo suction mechanism. Since the operation is such that the bag mouth of one bag part is opened at a time, high bag-opening efficiency, accuracy, and continuity can be achieved.

[0030] Furthermore, in the third step of the above-described filling and packaging method, the lifting and lowering shaft serving as the driving source for the lifting and lowering of the filling chute moves in an arc (moves) along the circumferential conveying path in synchronization with the suction bag turntable mechanism forming the bag-opening mechanism. At the same time, in the circumferential conveying path, the filling chute also performs a lifting and lowering movement only along the action locus (stroke) defined by the lifting and lowering cam. When it descends, the filling chute is inserted into the bag part with the opened bag mouth. On the other hand, before the bag part enters from the end point of the circumferential conveying path into the extended conveying path, if a filling mechanism is used in which the filling chute is withdrawn from the inside of the above-mentioned bag part by the upward movement of the lifting and lowering shaft as well, it is only necessary to move the filling chute up and down by the lifting and lowering shaft, and there is no need to rotate the filling chute around the center of the lifting and lowering shaft. The rotating cam for performing the rotating movement can be omitted, and only the above-mentioned lifting and lowering cam is sufficient.

[0031] Also, since a longitudinal sealing mechanism consisting of a parallel movement unit in which a plurality of sets of longitudinal sealing knives provided with two relatively moving longitudinal seal knife holders as shown in FIG. 6 are installed in parallel is adopted, without having an adverse effect such as reducing the conveying efficiency of the packaging material, the longitudinal sealing at predetermined intervals for the packaging material in a two-folded state in the center can be smoothly and stably performed, and there is an effect of obtaining high longitudinal sealing efficiency.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0032]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Figure 15

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0033] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This embodiment is merely an example of the present invention and does not limit the content of the invention described in the claims.

[0034] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a rotary filling and packaging machine used in a conventional filling and packaging method, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show a rotary filling and packaging machine used in the filling and packaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention. As is apparent from the common components of both, the conveyance path of the continuously supplied packaging machine includes a circumferential conveyance path (101) that extends horizontally in an arc shape in plan view, a packaging material supply path (100) connected to the starting point (entrance) (P1) of the circumferential conveyance path (101), and an extension conveyance path (102) connected to the end point (exit) (P2) of the circumferential conveyance path (101).

[0035] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 5, and 6, the folding portion (112) is installed in the packaging material supply path (100). In the process of continuously supplying the belt-shaped packaging material (103) made of a thin sheet material, the packaging material (103) is folded in half (in a substantially V-shaped cross-section) at the center (on the longitudinal center line) so that the fold line (104) faces downward. 。

[0036] Further, the V-shaped cross-section packaging material (103) in the folded state is longitudinally sealed (adhered or sealed) (107) at predetermined intervals along its longitudinal direction (conveyance direction), and a bag portion (108) with an upward-facing bag mouth (115) is formed between adjacent longitudinal seals (107), so that it can be conveyed as a continuous bag body (116).

[0037] Then, the filling material supplied from the filling material supply portion (113) is filled into the bag portion (108) of the continuous bag body (116) from above by the filling chute (109), and then the upward-opening bag mouth (115) of the filled bag portion (108) is top-sealed (thermally adhered) (117) along the upper edge of the opening, so as to be completed as a bag having a plurality of bag portions (108). The top-sealing portion (117) is installed in the extension conveyance path (102).

[0038] The finished bag will be cut, for example, at the position of the longitudinal seal (107) described above and supplied as an individual finished product. In addition, among the other components of the filling and packaging machine shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, specific descriptions of the same components as those of the conventional ones shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are omitted.

[0039] The filling and packaging method according to an embodiment of the present invention is such that, as shown above, a strip-shaped packaging material (103) having a V-shaped cross section formed by being folded in half from the longitudinal center line with the crease (104) facing downward is continuously conveyed from the packaging material supply path (100) via a circumferential conveyance path (101) that bends in an arc shape in plan view to an extended conveyance path (102). As is clear from the process flow diagram shown in FIG. 4,

[0040] First, as the first step (S1), before the packaging material (103) enters from the packaging material supply path (100) into the circumferential conveyance path (101), longitudinal seals (107) are made at predetermined intervals along the conveyance direction (longitudinal direction), and a bag portion (108) with the bag mouth (115) facing upward is formed between adjacent longitudinal seals (107) to form a continuous bag body (116) so that it can be fed into the subsequent circumferential conveyance path (101).

[0041] Next, as the second step (S2), the packaging materials (103) on both sides (the opposite inner and outer sides of the V-shaped cross section) forming the bag portion (108) of the continuous bag body (116) are separated in opposite directions based on the suction action of vacuum negative pressure in the circumferential conveyance path (101) continuously, and the bag mouths (115) of the bag portion (108) are sequentially opened and conveyed along the circumferential conveyance path (101) while maintaining the opened state. In that case, the point in time when the bag mouth (115) is opened may be the starting point (entrance) (P1) of the circumferential conveyance path (101), and as long as it is within the circumferential conveyance path (101), it can be appropriately adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0042] Further, as a third step (S3), the filling chute (109) is inserted into the bag portion (108) with the bag mouth (115) open, and while the filling chute (109) moves in an arc (moves) in synchronization with the conveyance of the bag body (116) along the circumferential conveyance path (101), after filling the bag portion (108) with the filling material in the circumferential conveyance path (101), before the bag portion (108) filled with the filling material enters into the extended conveyance path (102) from the end point (P2) of the circumferential conveyance path (101), the filling chute (109) is withdrawn from the bag portion (108). The specific height position for the withdrawal is determined by the action locus (stroke) of a lifting cam (not shown), but it can be appropriately set and adjusted according to the actual situation.

[0043] In short, in the filling and packaging method of the above-described embodiment, after the belt-like packaging material (103) is folded in half to form a V-shaped cross section, it enters the packaging material supply path (100) in front of (upstream side) the starting point (entrance) (P1) of the circumferential conveyance path (101). First, a longitudinal seal (107) is applied to the packaging material (103) there, and then the continuous bag body (116) is fed into the circumferential conveyance path (101). While the bag body (116) is held by the suction action of a vacuum negative pressure, it is conveyed in the circumferential direction of the circumferential conveyance path (101). Therefore, the installation of a seal bar that moves in an arc (moves) along the circumferential conveyance path of the prior art and a corresponding cam mechanism can be omitted, and the problem described at the beginning can be solved.

[0044] As the planar shape of the circumferential conveyance path (101) in the above packaging material conveyance path, as long as it forms an arc shape from the starting point (P1) to the end point (P2), it can be set to any arc shape from a semi-circular shape (half-circular shape) as shown in FIG. 5 to a three-quarter circular shape as shown in FIG. 6. In particular, it is preferably extended horizontally in a semi-circular shape as shown in FIG. 5. Depending on the actual production situation, it may also be set to a quarter-circular shape.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 5, the longitudinal sealing mechanism of the packaging material (103) used in the first step (S1) of the filling and packaging method according to the above embodiment includes a pair of left and right rotatable longitudinal sealing rollers (26) installed on the rear side (downstream side) of the folding portion (112) in the packaging material supply path (100). A plurality of longitudinal sealing knife holders (27) are evenly fitted in the circumferential direction of the longitudinal sealing rollers (26). The packaging material (103) in a double-folded state (substantially V-shaped in cross section) at the center is passed between the opposing longitudinal sealing rollers (26), and longitudinal seals (107) are made at predetermined intervals by the longitudinal sealing rollers (26) located on both sides thereof.

[0046] FIG. 6 shows another preferable longitudinal sealing mechanism that can be adopted in place of the longitudinal sealing mechanism of FIG. 5. This is installed below the packaging material (103) in a double-folded state at the center, and includes a parallel movement unit (28) that reciprocates along the conveyance direction (longitudinal direction) of the packaging material (103) in the packaging material supply path (100). A plurality of sets of longitudinal sealing knife units arranged in parallel along the conveyance direction (longitudinal direction) of the packaging material (103) are installed in the parallel movement unit (28).

[0047] Moreover, each set of longitudinal sealing knife units includes two relatively moving longitudinal sealing knife holders (27), and a predetermined interval is provided between adjacent longitudinal sealing knife sets. The packaging material (103) is passed between the two relatively moving longitudinal sealing knife holders (27), and the packaging material (103) is longitudinally sealed (107) at predetermined intervals by the synchronous movement of the plurality of sets of longitudinal sealing knives.

[0048] Next, the filling mechanism of the filling material used in the third step (S3) of the above filling and packaging method includes a filling chute (109), a lifting shaft (110), and a lifting cam (not shown). These are present in a uniform distribution state in plural numbers. A funnel-shaped filling chute (109) is attached and integrated to the tip of a horizontal connecting arm (not shown) protruding from the upper part of the lifting shaft (110), while the lower part of the lifting shaft (110) is supported by the lifting cam.

[0049] The filling chute (109) and its lifting shaft (110) are synchronized with the suction bag turntable mechanism (1) of the bag opening mechanism described in detail later, and while performing an arc movement (movement) along the circumferential conveying path (101), they perform a lifting movement by the action locus (stroke) defined by the lifting cam. This lifting movement is to smoothly insert and remove the filling chute (109) from above with respect to the bag mouth (115) in the opened state of the bag portion (108) of the continuous bag body (116).

[0050] In addition, a part of the circumferential surface of the suction bag turntable (3) in the suction bag turntable mechanism (1) forms the arc shape (arc movement locus) of the circumferential conveying path (101). A plurality of shaft holes (25) for receiving the above-mentioned lifting shaft (110) are formed through the turntable body (6) of the suction bag turntable (3) in a uniform distribution state, and the lifting shaft (110) is inserted into the shaft holes (25) parallel to the rotation axis of the turntable body (6) and stands vertically. Along with the rotation of the turntable body (6), the filling chute (109) accompanying the lifting shaft (110) also performs the above-mentioned arc movement (movement) along the circumferential conveying path (101).

[0051] Therefore, by utilizing the driving force of the turntable body (6), the filling chute (109) can be made to perform an arc movement via the lifting shaft (110), and a lifting cam can be attached to the hollow interior of the turntable body (6) to control the lifting movement of the filling chute (109). Thus, the cost of the equipment is reduced by sharing the power source.

[0052] Moreover, a plurality of suction bag areas (7) provided with suction holes (8) for opening the bag mouth (115) of the bag portion (108) are provided on the circumferential surface of the turntable body (6). On the other hand, a plurality of the same filling chutes (109) corresponding to the suction bag areas (7) hang down from the protruding tip portions of the horizontal connecting arms aiming at the bag mouth (115) of the bag portion (108). Therefore, the filling chute (109) can reliably and stably fill the filling material supplied from the filling material supply section (113) into the bag portion (108) of the continuous bag body (116).

[0053] Furthermore, the vacuum bag opening mechanism of the packaging material (103) used in the second step (S2) of the above filling and packaging method includes a suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) and a servo suction mechanism (2). A part of the circumferential surface of the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) forms the circular arc (circular arc motion locus) of the above circumferential conveying path (101). While the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) holds the continuous bag body (116) longitudinally sealed in the first step (S1), it is conveyed in the circumferential direction of the circumferential conveying path (101) as it rotates.

[0054] The servo suction mechanism (2) is installed corresponding to the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) and is located outside the circumferential conveying path (101). The servo suction mechanism (2) and the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) rotate relative to each other, and the linear velocity of their rotation is the same. While the servo suction mechanism (2) adsorbs the outer packaging material (103) forming the bag portion (108) of the bag body (116), the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) also adsorbs the inner packaging material (103) forming the bag portion (108). As the two mechanisms (1) and (2) rotate relative to each other, the packaging materials (103) on both sides that pass through (pass through) between the two are separated, so that the bag openings (115) of the above bag portions (108) are sequentially opened.

[0055] A preferable alternative configuration of the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) in the above bag opening mechanism will be described with reference to FIG. 7. This suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) includes a suction bag rotating disk (3) and a suction bag driving unit for its rotation drive. On the circumferential surface of the rotating disk body (6) of the suction bag rotating disk (3), a plurality of suction bag areas (7) are provided in a uniform distribution state as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. Moreover, in each suction bag area (7), a large number of suction holes (8) for adsorbing the packaging material on one side (outer or inner side) of the bag body (116) are distributed in an open state.

[0056] As suggested from FIGS. 9 to 11, a shaft hole (25) for receiving the above lifting shaft (110) is formed through the rotating disk body (6) of the suction bag rotating disk (3). The lifting shaft (110) inserted along the axial direction of the rotating disk body (6) into the shaft hole (25) and in a uniform distribution state performs an arc motion (movement) in the circumferential direction as the rotating disk body (6) rotates.

[0057] Similarly, the servo suction mechanism (2) of the vacuum bag opening mechanism includes a suction column (4) and a bag opening drive unit (5) for rotationally driving the suction column (4). As is clear from FIGS. 7 to 10, a bag opening area (9) corresponding to a plurality of suction bag areas (7) on the circumferential surface of the suction bag rotating disk (3) is provided on the circumferential surface of the suction column (4). As shown in FIGS. 10 and 15, a plurality of bag opening negative pressure holes (10) are distributed and opened in the bag opening area (9). The suction bag area (7) on the rotating disk body (6) of the suction bag rotating disk (3) and the bag opening area (9) of the suction column (4) are in a corresponding position relationship.

[0058] As an example, the rotating disk body (6) of the suction bag rotating disk (3) has a solid disk shape as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, and a rotating shaft (not shown) connected to its center is driven by the suction bag drive unit. At that time, as the suction bag drive unit, a combination of a servo motor and a speed reducer can be adopted.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a negative pressure gas path (24) for connecting to the suction holes (8) distributed in the suction bag area (7) is arranged inside the rotating disk body (6). The negative pressure gas path (24) is connected to a negative pressure source through a negative pressure rotary joint and a piping structure not shown.

[0060] In that case, as is clear from FIGS. 7 to 9 and FIG. 14, the suction bag area (7) is a concave curved surface formed on the circumferential surface of the rotating disk body (6). After the bag portion (108) of the packaging material (103) is opened, the concave curved surface is beneficial for storing the packaging material on one side (outer or inner side) of the bag portion (108) and maintaining the open state of the bag mouth (113).

[0061] As another example, the rotating disk body (6) of the suction bag rotating disk (3) is a hollow disk shape as shown in FIGS. 7, 9, 10, and 11. The bag portions (108) of the packaging material are respectively stored in the concave curved surfaces of the suction bag areas (7) formed on the circumferential surface of the rotating disk body (6). All of the bag portions (108) in the continuous bag body (116) are sequentially adsorbed to the suction bag areas (7). After the suction bag area (7) of the rotating disk body (6) and the bag opening area (9) of the suction column (4) correspond to each other, the bag mouth (115) of the bag portion (108) is opened.

[0062] As a more preferable example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the bottom of the rotating disk body (6) is connected to the rotating part (12) of the hollow turntable (11), and a connection upper flange structure (not shown) can be adopted. A plurality of suction bag modules (19) are installed on the circumferential side of the rotating disk body (6), and mounting holes (not shown) for mounting the plurality of suction bag modules (19) are provided on the circumferential side of the rotating disk body (6).

[0063] Above Instead of the suction bag area (7) on the rotating shaft side of the rotating disk body (6), the suction bag area (7) is formed on the circumferential surface of the rotating disk body (6). By installing the suction bag module (19), each individual of the suction bag area (7) is made independent of each other. Even if one suction bag module (19) fails, it can be replaced with a new one alone, which helps to reduce the maintenance cost.

[0064] A more preferable and different configuration of the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) in the vacuum bag opening mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 12. The suction bag driving unit that drives the suction bag rotating disk (3) of the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) is the hollow turntable (11), which includes a rotating part (12) and a fixed part (14), and the rotating part (12) rotates relative to the fixed part (14).

[0065] That is, the lower end of the suction bag rotating disk (3) is attached to the rotating part (12) of the hollow turntable (11) and rotates together with the rotating part (12) of the hollow turntable (11). By using the hollow turntable (11) as the driving device of the suction bag rotating disk (3), the stable operation of the suction bag rotating disk (3) is ensured. At the same time, the lifting shaft (110) and the lifting cam, which are the lifting driving sources of the filling chute (109), can be installed inside the hollow of the hollow turntable (11), and there is also an advantage that the overall structure becomes compact by saving the mounting space.

[0066] Compared with the above-described configuration shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the rotating disk body (6) of the suction bag rotating disk (3) shown in FIGS. 10 and 12 has a hollow disk structure. The air distribution disk (13) is attached and fixed to the fixed part (14) of the hollow turntable (11). A negative pressure chamber (15) is installed inside the air distribution disk (13), and a groove (16) communicating with the suction holes (8) of the suction bag area (7) is provided on the surface of the air distribution disk (13).

[0067] Through the air distribution board (13), a negative pressure suction force is provided to the suction bag area (7) on the turntable body (6) of the above-mentioned suction bag turntable (3), ensuring the stability of the negative pressure suction force. Compared with the above structure shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the internal space can be saved, and it is also possible to avoid the failure of a partial suction bag area (7) due to the clogging phenomenon of the negative pressure gas path (24) inside the structure.

[0068] Also, a groove (16) is provided in the above-mentioned air distribution board (13). The groove (16) is communicated and connected with the suction holes (8) of the suction bag area (7) only at the circumferential part of the set angle of the suction bag turntable (3). When the groove (16) and the suction hole (8) are connected, adsorption occurs, and when they are not connected, adsorption does not occur. Therefore, it is not necessary to repeatedly switch the negative pressure, and the negative pressure adsorption force can be provided stably.

[0069] As a more beneficial configuration, the above-mentioned air distribution board (13) includes a base (17) and a lid (18) as shown in FIG. 13. The base (17) of the air distribution board (13) is fixedly attached to the fixed part (14) of the above-mentioned hollow turntable (11). On the other hand, the lid (18) of the air distribution board (13) is mounted on the base (17) in a sealed state, and the above-mentioned groove (16) is provided in the lid (18).

[0070] Since relative rotation occurs between the air distribution board (13) fixedly attached to the hollow turntable (11) and the suction bag turntable (3), in order to avoid wear of the air distribution board (13), it is separated into two parts, the base (17) and the lid (18). If wear occurs on the air distribution board (13), instead of replacing the whole with a new one, only the lid (18) needs to be replaced with a new one, so that the maintenance cost can be reduced.

[0071] The lid (18) of the above-mentioned air distribution board (13) is made of an alloy of tin and copper. A plurality of holes are drilled on the upper side of the lid (18), and graphite is injected into the holes. Since the lid (18) is made of an alloy of tin and copper, its wear resistance is improved, and its service life can be extended.

[0072] In addition, since graphite is injected into the lid (18) of the air distribution board (13), the frictional force generated between the lid (18) of the air distribution board (13) and the suction bag rotating disk (3) is reduced, and the wear is reduced, so that the service life can be extended. Furthermore, since the hole is a blind hole, unlike a through hole, there is no risk of the injected graphite falling out.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 14 to describe another preferred configuration of the suction bag module (19) illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11, this suction bag module (19) includes a module main body (20). The module main body (20) has a hollow structure, and its outer surface forms a concave curved surface (21), and suction holes (8) distributed in openings here communicate with a hollow chamber in the module main body (20). A communication hole (22) communicating with the groove (16) in the air distribution board (13) is formed and opened at the bottom of the module main body (20), and the communication hole (22) is connected to the suction hole (8). The combination of the communication hole (22) and the air distribution board (13) in the hollow turntable (11) supplies negative pressure for the suction hole (8).

[0074] Referring to FIG. 15 to describe another preferred configuration of the servo suction mechanism (2) illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 10, this servo suction mechanism (2) also includes a mounting base (23) for the suction column (4). Both the suction column (4) and the bag-opening drive unit (5) are mounted on the mounting base (23), and an air distribution board (13) is inserted between the lower end surface of the suction column (4) and the upper end surface of the mounting base (23). The structure of the air distribution board (13) is the same as that of the air distribution board (13) described as the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13.

[0075] Incidentally, the bag-opening drive unit (5) of the servo suction mechanism (2) is, for example, a gear device. By appropriately controlling the transmission and gear ratio of the gear device, the servo suction mechanism (2) and the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) can be relatively rotated at the same linear velocity by sharing the same power source. Also, as another example, the bag-opening drive unit (5) may have a combined structure of a servo motor and a speed reducer, and the suction column (4) may be rotated by connecting it to the suction column (4) via a crankshaft.

[0076] Although specific embodiments of the present invention have been described, these do not limit the scope of the claims of the present invention, and various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the claims.

Explanation of Symbols

[0077] (1) ······ Suction Bag Turntable Mechanism (2) ······ Servo Suction Mechanism (3) ······ Suction Bag Turntable (4) ······ Adsorption Column (5) ······ Bag Opening Drive Unit (6) ······ Turntable Body (7) ······ Suction Bag Area (8) ······ Adsorption Hole (9) ······ Bag Opening Area (10) ····· Bag Opening Negative Pressure Hole (11) ······ Hollow Turntable (12) ···· Rotating part (13) ···· Valve plate (14) ···· Fixed part (15) ···· Negative pressure chamber (16) ···· Connection groove (17) ···· Base of the valve plate (18) ···· Cover of the valve plate (19) ···· Suction bag module (20) ···· Module body (21) ···· Concave curved surface (22) ···· Communication hole (23) ···· Mounting base of the suction column (24) ···· Gas path of negative pressure (25) ···· Axial hole (26) ···· Vertical seal roller (27) ···· Vertical seal knife holder (28) ···· Parallel movement unit (100) ··· Packaging material conveying path (packaging material supply path) (101) ··· Circumferential conveying path (102) ··· Extension conveying path (103) ··· Packaging material (104) ··· Fold (105) ··· Vertical seal part (106) ··· Seal bar (107) ··· Vertical seal (108) ··· Bag part (109) ··· Filling chute (110) ··· Lifting shaft (111) ··· Main frame (112) ··· Foldable part (113) ··· Filling material supply part (115) ··· Bag mouth (116) ··· Bag body (117) ··· Top seal part

Claims

【Claim 1】 In the process of continuously conveying a strip-shaped packaging material (103) that forms a V-shaped cross-section folded in half at the center with the crease (104) facing downward from its packaging material supply path (100) through a circumferential conveyance path (101) that bends in an arc shape in plan view to an extended conveyance path (102), A parallel movement unit (28) is installed below the packaging material (103) and reciprocates along the conveyance direction of the packaging material in the packaging material supply path (101). A plurality of sets of vertical seal knife units each having two relatively moving vertical seal knife holders (27) are installed in parallel along the conveyance direction of the packaging material (103). The packaging material (103) is inserted between the opened spaces of adjacent vertical seal knife sets, and a vertical seal mechanism that can vertically seal the packaging material (103) at predetermined intervals by the synchronous movement of the plurality of sets of vertical seal knives is used, Before the packaging material (103) enters from its packaging material supply path (100) into the circumferential conveyance path (101), vertical seals (107) are made at predetermined intervals along the conveyance direction, and a bag portion (108) with its bag mouth (115) facing upward is formed between adjacent vertical seals (107) to form a continuous bag body (116) in the first step (S1), Using a bag-opening mechanism composed of a suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) installed inside the circumferential conveyance path (101) and holding the bag body (116) vertically sealed in the first step (S1) and conveying it along the circumferential conveyance path (101), and a servo suction mechanism (2) also installed outside the circumferential conveyance path (101) and rotating relative to the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) and having the same linear velocity of rotation, While the servo suction mechanism (2) adsorbs the packaging material (103) outside the bag portion (108) of the bag body (116), the suction bag rotating disk mechanism (1) also adsorbs the packaging material (103) inside the bag portion (108). By separating the outer and inner packaging materials (103) that pass through between the two mechanisms (1) and (2) as they rotate relative to each other, the bag mouth (115) of the bag portion (108) is sequentially opened, and in the second step (S2), it is conveyed along the circumferential conveyance path (101) while maintaining the opened state, A third step (S3) of inserting a filling chute (109) for a filling material into the bag portion (108) in a state where the bag opening (115) is open, and while the filling chute (109) moves in an arc in synchronization with the conveyance of the bag body (116) along the circumferential conveyance path (101), filling the filling material into the bag portion (108) in the circumferential conveyance path (101), and then extracting the filling chute (109) from the bag portion (108) before the filled bag portion (108) enters from the circumferential conveyance path (101) into the extended conveyance path (102). A filling and packaging method characterized by performing this.

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