Vertical form fill seal packaging machine

Abstract

To provide a vertical bag-making filling and packaging machine which suitably packages plural products fed from a product feeder in a laminated state.SOLUTION: A vertical bag-making filling and packaging machine executes: receiving treatment of receiving plural products having passed through a product filling cylinder in a laminated state with a pair of seal blocks at a receiving position; a conveyance treatment of moving the pair of seal blocks to an opening position and causing a conveyance device to convey belt-like packaging materials molded into a cylindrical shape by a prescribed distance; and sealing treatment of causing a vertical seal device to seal the overlapped both end parts of the belt-like packaging materials molded into a cylindrical shape and moving the pair of seal blocks to a seal position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a product supply device that supplies multiple products in a stacked state, a vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine that packages multiple products supplied from the product supply device in a stacked state, and a packaging system that combines these. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a vertical form-fill-fill-seal machine has been known that includes a product filling tube that extends in the vertical direction, a vertical sealing device that seals the overlapping ends of a strip of film that has been formed into a cylindrical shape along the product filling tube, and a horizontal sealing device that seals both ends of a bag containing a product that is supplied through the product filling tube.

[0003] Such vertical product filling and packaging machines are used, for example, to allow containers of instant noodles, instant rice, etc. to fall freely one after another into a product filling tube, and then package multiple containers together in a vertically stacked state (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 03-256805 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 06-032302 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, as the containers fall freely through the product filling tube, they may separate or their positions may change (e.g., rotate), resulting in the problem of multiple containers being packaged in an improperly stacked state.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine that properly packages multiple products supplied from a product supply device in a stacked state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine that fills bags formed from strip-shaped packaging material with multiple products supplied in a stacked state by a product supply device, the machine comprising: a cylindrical product filling tube having an upper opening and a lower opening; a tube former that forms the strip-shaped packaging material into a cylindrical shape; a conveying device that conveys the strip-shaped packaging material formed into a cylindrical shape by the tube former downward along the outer surface of the product filling tube; a vertical sealing device that seals both overlapping ends of the strip-shaped packaging material formed into a cylindrical shape by the tube former; a horizontal sealing device that seals portions of the cylindrical strip-shaped packaging material containing multiple products that are discharged from the lower opening in a stacked state, which correspond to the top and bottom of the bag; and a packaging machine controller that controls the conveying device, the vertical sealing device, and the horizontal sealing device, The sealing device moves a pair of sealing blocks arranged horizontally opposite each other to a sealing position where they sandwich and seal a cylindrically formed strip packaging material, a receiving position spaced apart by a distance closer than the width of the product, and an open position spaced apart by a distance farther than the width of the product, and the packaging machine controller performs a receiving process in which the pair of sealing blocks at the receiving position receive multiple products that have passed through the product filling tube in a stacked state, a conveying process in which the pair of sealing blocks are moved to the open position and the cylindrically formed strip packaging material is conveyed a predetermined distance to the conveying device, and a sealing process in which the overlapping ends of the cylindrically formed strip packaging material are sealed by the vertical sealing device and the pair of sealing blocks are moved to the sealing position. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, a vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine can be obtained that appropriately packages a plurality of products supplied in a stacked state from a product supply device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view of a packaging system. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a side view of a packaging system. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of the packaging system. [Figure 4] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the packaging system according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is a time chart showing the speed and position of the push plate, the position of the shutter device, and the position of the seal block of the horizontal sealing device. [Figure 6] 10 is a flowchart showing the operation of a packaging system according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A packaging system 1 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment of the present invention described below is an example of how the present invention can be realized, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the scope of the described embodiment. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented by adding various modifications to the embodiment.

[0011] Fig. 1 is an overall perspective view of a packaging system 1. Fig. 2 is a side view of the packaging system 1. The packaging system 1 according to this embodiment is a system that packages a plurality of products P in a stacked state. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the packaging system 1 is composed of, for example, a vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 2, a product supply device 3, and a belt conveyor 4.

[0012] The vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 2 is a device that forms a strip-shaped film Fw (strip-shaped packaging material) into bags Bp and fills the bags Bp with a plurality of products P that are supplied in a stacked state from a product supply device 3. The vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 2 mainly comprises a film supply device 10, a product filling cylinder 21, a former 22 (cylinder former), a conveying device 30, a vertical sealing device 40, a horizontal sealing device 50, and a packaging machine controller 60 (see FIG. 3).

[0013] The strip film Fw is a strip-shaped packaging material that will be used to make bags for packaging the product P. The strip film Fw is a film-like member that can be welded by applying heat, and examples thereof include polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), biaxially oriented polypropylene (OPP), aluminum-lined paper, and aluminum-metalized paper. The product P is, for example, a container that contains food (e.g., instant noodles, instant rice). More specifically, the product P is a flat container whose vertical dimension is shorter than its front-to-back and left-to-right dimensions. However, specific examples of the product P are not limited to these and include any item that is packaged in a bag Bp and shipped.

[0014] Film supply device 10 is a device that transports strip film Fw wound around winding roll 11 to former 22. Film supply device 10 mainly includes winding roll 11, multiple fixed guide rolls 12a to 12h, and tension mechanism 13.

[0015] The driving force of a motor (not shown) is transmitted to the winding roll 11, causing it to rotate in the direction in which the strip film Fw is unwound. Fixed guide rolls 12a-12h are arranged in the feed path of the strip film Fw from the winding roll 11 to the former 22, and guide the strip film Fw transported along the feed path. A tension mechanism 13 applies an appropriate tension to the strip film Fw transported along the feed path.

[0016] A date printing device 15 and a date inspection device 16 are arranged opposite the feed path of the strip film Fw from the winding roll 11 to the former 22. The date printing device 15 prints dates (e.g., manufacturing date, expiration date, best-before date, etc.) at predetermined positions on the strip film Fw transported by the film supply device 10. The date inspection device 16 inspects whether the date has been properly printed by the date printing device 15.

[0017] The product filling tube 21 is a cylindrical member with an upper end opening and a lower end opening. The product filling tube 21 extends in the vertical direction. The upper end opening of the product filling tube 21 is located directly below the product supply device 3. The product filling tube 21 fills the multiple products P supplied from the product supply device 3 into bags Bp formed by the vertical sealing device 40 and the horizontal sealing device 50.

[0018] The former 22 is attached to the outer surface of the product filling tube 21. The former 22 overlaps both widthwise ends of the strip film Fw supplied from the film supply device 10, thereby forming the strip film Fw into a cylindrical shape along the outer surface of the product filling tube 21.

[0019] The conveying device 30 is disposed below the former 22 and above the lower end opening of the product filling tube 21, facing the outer surface of the product filling tube 21. The conveying device 30 conveys the strip of film Fw formed into a cylindrical shape by the former 22 downward along the outer surface of the product filling tube 21. More specifically, the conveying device 30 includes a pair of conveying belts 31, 32 disposed on both sides of the product filling tube 21 in the left-right direction (width direction). The driving force of a motor (not shown) is transmitted to the pair of conveying belts 31, 32, which feed the strip of film Fw covering the outer peripheral surface of the product filling tube 21 downward toward the horizontal sealing device 50.

[0020] The vertical sealing device 40 is disposed in a position facing the product filling tube 21 in the front-to-rear direction. In addition, the vertical sealing device 40 is disposed downstream of the former 22 and upstream of the horizontal sealing device 50 in the conveying direction of the strip film Fw by the conveying device 30.

[0021] The vertical sealing device 40 includes a pair of sealing blocks 41, 42 arranged to sandwich the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw. The pair of sealing blocks 41, 42 move toward and away from each other as rotation of a motor (not shown) is transmitted. Each of the pair of sealing blocks 41, 42 has a built-in heater. The vertical sealing device 40 moves the pair of sealing blocks 41, 42 between a sealing position and an open position.

[0022] The sealing position is where the pair of seal blocks 41, 42 abut against each other, sandwiching the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw. This causes the overlapped ends of the strip film Fw to be continuously sealed (welded) in the longitudinal direction. As a result, the strip film Fw is formed into a cylindrical shape. The opening position is where the pair of seal blocks 41, 42 are spaced apart.

[0023] The horizontal sealing device 50 is disposed below the bottom opening of the product filling tube 21. The horizontal sealing device 50 includes a pair of sealing blocks 51, 52 arranged horizontally facing each other so as to sandwich the cylindrically formed strip film Fw. The pair of sealing blocks 51, 52 move toward and away from each other by the rotation of a motor (not shown). Each of the pair of sealing blocks 51, 52 includes a built-in heater. The sealing block 51 also includes a cutter that cuts the boundaries of the continuous bags Bp. The horizontal sealing device 50 may also include a gusset mechanism. The horizontal sealing device 50 moves the pair of sealing blocks 51, 52 to a sealing position, a receiving position, and an open position.

[0024] The sealing position is a position where a pair of sealing blocks 51, 52 are brought into contact with the cylindrically formed strip film Fw, sealing (welding) the contacting portion of the strip film Fw. That is, by moving the pair of sealing blocks 51, 52 to the sealing position at predetermined intervals, the horizontal sealing device 50 seals the portion corresponding to the bottom of the bag Bp and the portion corresponding to the top of the bag Bp, and also cuts the boundary between the two consecutive bags. This produces the bag Bp.

[0025] The receiving position is a position where the pair of sealing blocks 51, 52 are spaced apart at a distance closer than the width of the product P. In other words, the product P falling inside the cylindrically formed strip film Fw cannot pass between the sealing blocks 51, 52 at the receiving position. In other words, the sealing blocks 51, 52 at the receiving position support the product P falling inside the cylindrically formed strip film Fw.

[0026] The open position is a position where the pair of sealing blocks 51, 52 are spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of the product P. In other words, the product P inside the cylindrically formed strip film Fw can pass between the sealing blocks 51, 52 in the open position. In other words, the sealing blocks 51, 52 in the open position allow the product P to pass through together with the strip film Fw transported by the transport device 30.

[0027] The product supply device 3 is a device that vertically stacks products P conveyed in order on the belt conveyor 4 and supplies the stacked products P to the vertical form-fill-seal-seal machine 2 (more specifically, the product filling tube 21). As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the product supply device 3 mainly includes a shutter device 70 (product holding device), a pusher device 80 (product pushing device), and a supply device controller 90 (see Figure 3).

[0028] The shutter device 70 is disposed above the product filling tube 21. More specifically, the shutter device 70 is disposed in a position facing the upper opening of the product filling tube 21 in the vertical direction. The shutter device 70 stacks and holds the products P supplied in order via the belt conveyor 4 in the vertical direction, and drops the stacked products P toward the product filling tube 21. The shutter device 70 mainly comprises a pair of locking pieces 71a, 71b and a pair of air cylinders 72a, 72b. However, the specific configuration of the shutter device 70 is not limited thereto.

[0029] The pair of locking pieces 71a, 71b are arranged facing each other in the horizontal direction. More specifically, the pair of locking pieces 71a, 71b are arranged facing each other in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the products P by the belt conveyor 4. The pair of locking pieces 71a, 71b move toward and away from each other by the driving forces of the corresponding air cylinders 72a, 72b. The shutter device 70 moves the pair of locking pieces 71a, 71b between a holding position and a release position.

[0030] The holding position is a position where the pair of locking pieces 71a, 71b are close to each other at a distance closer than the width of the product P. In other words, the product P supplied from the belt conveyor 4 cannot pass between the locking pieces 71a, 71b at the holding position. Therefore, the locking pieces 71a, 71b at the holding position can hold the products P supplied via the belt conveyor 4 in a stacked state. More specifically, the locking pieces 71a, 71b at the holding position hold the products P by locking the outer edges of the products P. Then, multiple products P are stacked on top of the products P locked by the locking pieces 71a, 71b as the products P are supplied in order by the belt conveyor 4.

[0031] The release position is a position where the pair of locking pieces 71a, 71b are separated by a distance greater than the width of the products P. That is, the locking pieces 71a, 71b in the release position release the stacked products P. The products P that have been released from the hold of the locking pieces 71a, 71b pass between the locking pieces 71a, 71b in the release position and fall toward the product filling tube 21.

[0032] The pusher device 80 is disposed above the shutter device 70. The pusher device 80 is a device that pushes multiple products P, which have been released from the hold by the shutter device 70, into the product filling tube 21 (more specifically, the strip-shaped film Fw formed into a cylindrical shape) while still in a stacked state. The pusher device 80 mainly comprises a push plate 81, a push rod 82, and a drive mechanism 83. However, the specific configuration of the pusher device 80 is not limited to this.

[0033] The push plate 81 is a plate-shaped member that abuts (preferably makes surface contact with) the upper surface of the topmost product P held by the locking pieces 71a, 71b in the holding position. The push rod 82 protrudes upward from the upper surface of the push plate 81. The drive mechanism 83 is connected to the push rod 82 and generates a drive force for moving the push plate 81 and the push rod 82 in the up and down direction. The drive mechanism 83 is formed, for example, by a circular belt stretched around a drive roller and a driven roller.

[0034] As shown in Figure 2, the push plate 81 moves vertically between a standby position and a stop position by the driving force of the drive mechanism 83. The standby position is a position above the top product P held by the shutter device 70. The stop position is a position below the upper end opening of the product filling tube 21. In addition, the stop position may be above the lower end opening of the product filling tube 21 or below the lower end opening of the product filling tube 21, as long as it is above the horizontal sealing device 50. In addition, a deceleration start position is set below the standby position and above the stop position.

[0035] The push plate 81 moves downward from the standby position to the deceleration start position at an acceleration higher than the acceleration of gravity (for example, uniformly accelerated linear motion). The push plate 81 also starts to decelerate at the deceleration start position and stops at the stop position. The push plate 81 also moves upward from the deceleration start position to the standby position at a predetermined speed pattern.

[0036] 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of the packaging system 1. The packaging system 1 packages multiple products P in a stacked state by interlocking the packaging machine controller 60 of the vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 2 and the supply device controller 90 of the product supply device 3.

[0037] The packaging machine controller 60 and the supply device controller 90 include, for example, CPUs (Central Processing Units) 61 and 91, which are calculation means, and memories 62 and 92, which are storage means. The memories 62 and 92 are configured, for example, with ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), HDD (Hard Disk Drive), or a combination of these. The CPUs 61 and 91 read and execute programs stored in the memories 62 and 92, thereby performing the various processes described below.

[0038] However, the specific configurations of the packaging machine controller 60 and the supply device controller 90 are not limited to this, and may be realized by hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array).

[0039] Furthermore, the packaging machine controller 60 and the supply device controller 90 are connected to communication I / Fs 63 and 93. The communication I / Fs 63 and 93 are configured to be able to communicate with each other via a communication line (for example, a LAN, the Internet, etc.). That is, the packaging machine controller 60 and the supply device controller 90 can send and receive information via the communication I / Fs 63 and 93.

[0040] The packaging machine controller 60 also controls the operation of each of the devices 10, 30, 40, and 50 by driving actuators (e.g., motors, air cylinders, etc.) provided in the film supply device 10, the conveying device 30, the vertical sealing device 40, and the horizontal sealing device 50. The supply device controller 90 controls the operation of each of the devices 70 and 80 by driving actuators (e.g., motors, air cylinders, etc.) provided in the shutter device 70 and the pusher device 80.

[0041] Furthermore, the supply device controller 90 is connected to a product detection sensor 94. The product detection sensor 94 detects that the shutter device 70 is holding a predetermined number of products P, and outputs a detection signal indicating the detection result to the supply device controller 90. As one example, the product detection sensor 94 may be installed at a predetermined height from the locking pieces 71a, 71b, and detect that the products P have reached the installation position (i.e., the products P have been piled up). As another example, the product detection sensor 94 may detect the weight applied to the locking pieces 71a, 71b.

[0042] Next, the operation of the packaging system 1 will be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the packaging system 1. Figure 5 is a time chart showing the speed and position of the push plate 81, the position of the shutter device 70, and the positions of the seal blocks 51 and 52 of the horizontal sealing device 50. At the start of the process shown in Figure 4 (time t0 in Figure 5), the seal blocks 41 and 42 of the vertical sealing device 40 are in the open position, the seal blocks 51 and 52 of the horizontal sealing device 50 are in the receiving position, the shutter device 70 is in the holding position, and the push plate 81 of the pusher device 80 is in the standby position.

[0043] First, the supply device controller 90 waits to execute the processes from step S12 onwards until N products P are stacked on the shutter device 70 at the holding position (S11: No), based on the detection signal output from the product detection sensor 94. N is an integer equal to or greater than 2, and is 5 in the example of FIG. 2.

[0044] 5, in response to the product detection sensor 94 detecting that N products P have been stacked (S11: Yes), the supply device controller 90 sends a supply start signal to the vertical form-fill-seal-seal packaging machine 2 via the communications I / F 93 (S12). The supply start signal is a signal that indicates the start of supplying products P to the product filling tube 21.

[0045] Furthermore, the supply device controller 90 moves the shutter device 70 from the holding position to the release position (S13). Furthermore, the supply device controller 90 lowers the push plate 81 at an acceleration faster than the gravitational acceleration (S14). More specifically, the supply device controller 90 starts lowering the push plate 81 after the shutter device 70 has moved to the release position. The processing of steps S13 and S14 is an example of a pushing process. Furthermore, step S12 and steps S13-S14 may be executed in reverse order or may be executed in parallel.

[0046] As a result, the push plate 81 enters the product filling tube 21 together with the stacked N products P while abutting against the top surface of the uppermost product P of the N products P. As a result, the N products P move downward within the product filling tube 21 (in other words, the cylindrically formed strip film Fw) while remaining stacked by the push plate 81.

[0047] Next, at time t2 in Fig. 5, the feeder controller 90 starts decelerating the push plate 81 in response to the push plate 81 reaching the deceleration start position. Furthermore, at time t4 in Fig. 5, the feeder controller 90 stops the push plate 81 at the stop position. In other words, the feeder controller 90 starts decelerating the push plate 81 at the deceleration start position so that the push plate 81 stops at the stop position (S15). As a result, below the deceleration start position, the push plate 81 is separated from the top surface of the uppermost product P.

[0048] Next, at time t4 in FIG. 5, the supply device controller 90 starts raising the push plate 81 in response to the push plate 81 reaching the stop position (S16). Then, at time t7 in FIG. 5, the supply device controller 90 stops the push plate 81 at the standby position. Furthermore, the supply device controller 90 moves the shutter device 70 from the release position to the hold position (S17). More specifically, the supply device controller 90 moves the shutter device 70 to the hold position after the rising push plate 81 passes the locking pieces 71a and 71b. The processing of steps S16 and S17 is an example of a return process.

[0049] The fact that the push plate 81 has reached the deceleration start position, stop position, or standby position may be detected by a sensor (not shown), by the elapsed time since the push plate 81 began to descend or ascend, or by the encoded value of a rotary encoder attached to the motor of the drive mechanism 83.

[0050] Next, the supply device controller 90 executes the processes from step S11 onwards again. In other words, the supply device controller 90 repeatedly executes the processes of steps S11-S17. That is, the product supply device 3 repeatedly supplies the stacked N products P to the vertical form-fill-fill-seal packaging machine 2 at predetermined time intervals.

[0051] Meanwhile, the packaging machine controller 60 waits to execute the processes from step S21 onwards until it receives a supply start signal from the product supply device 3 via the communication I / F 63. Then, in response to receiving the supply start signal from the product supply device 3 via the communication I / F 63, the packaging machine controller 60 starts measuring a predetermined arrival time. The arrival time is the time required for the stacked N products P to reach the positions of the sealing blocks 51 and 52 after the shutter device 70 reaches the release position. The arrival time is determined in advance by a combination of the length of the product filling tube 21 and the descent speed (acceleration) of the push plate 81.

[0052] Then, when the arrival time has elapsed since receiving the supply start signal (S21: Yes), the packaging machine controller 60 determines that N products P have arrived at the sealing blocks 51, 52 at the receiving position. In other words, the processing of step S21 is an example of a receiving process in which multiple products P that have passed through the product filling tube 21 in a stacked state are received by the sealing blocks 51, 52 at the receiving position.

[0053] Next, at time t3 in Figure 5, in response to the N products P reaching the positions of the sealing blocks 51, 52, the packaging machine controller 60 moves the sealing blocks 51, 52 from the receiving position to the open position (S22). As a result, the N products P supported by the sealing blocks 51, 52 are supported in the portions corresponding to the bottoms of the bags Bp sealed in the immediately preceding step S24.

[0054] Next, the packaging machine controller 60 drives the conveying device 30 to convey the cylindrically formed strip film Fw downward by a predetermined conveying distance (S23). As a result, the N products P move downward together with the strip film Fw. The conveying distance in step S23 is the distance required for the stacked N products P to move downward below the sealing blocks 51 and 52. The conveying distance of the strip film Fw is detected, for example, by the encoded value of a rotary encoder attached to the motor of the conveying device 30. The processing of steps S22 and S23 is an example of a conveying process.

[0055] Next, at time t5 in FIG. 5, the packaging machine controller 60 moves the sealing blocks 41 and 42 of the vertical sealing device 40 to their sealing positions and also moves the sealing blocks 51 and 52 of the horizontal sealing device 50 to their sealing positions in response to the strip film Fw being conveyed a predetermined distance (S24). That is, the packaging machine controller 60 causes the vertical sealing device 40 to seal the overlapped ends of the tubularly formed strip film Fw. The packaging machine controller 60 also causes the horizontal sealing device 50 to seal a portion corresponding to the top of the bag Bp containing N products P and a portion corresponding to the bottom of the next bag Bp. The processing of step S24 is an example of a sealing process. Furthermore, in step S24, the horizontal sealing device 50 may form gussets (folds) on both side surfaces of the bag Bp.

[0056] 5, the packaging machine controller 60 moves the sealing blocks 41, 42 of the vertical sealing device 40 to the open position and moves the sealing blocks 51, 52 of the horizontal sealing device 50 to the receiving position (S25). Then, the packaging machine controller 60 executes the processes from step S21 onwards again. In other words, the packaging machine controller 60 repeatedly executes the processes of steps S21 to S25. That is, the vertical form-fill-seal-seal machine 2 packages the N products P supplied at predetermined time intervals in a stacked state.

[0057] The timing shown in Figure 5 is an example and is not limiting. For example, time t3 may be before or after time t4 as long as it is after time t2. Time t5 may be before time t4 or after time t7. Furthermore, time t6 may be before time t4 or after time t7.

[0058] According to the above embodiment, for example, the following advantageous effects are achieved.

[0059] According to the above embodiment, by lowering the push plate 81, N products P can be pushed in a stacked state into the product stuffing tube 21. This prevents the products P from separating from one another or changing their posture inside the product stuffing tube 21. As a result, the N products P can be properly stacked and packaged.

[0060] Note that, when pushed by the push plate 81, the N products P move downward at a speed faster than if they were free-falling. Therefore, if the N products P that have passed through the product filling tube 21 directly hit the bottom of the bags Bp, the bags Bp may be damaged. Therefore, as in the above embodiment, by receiving the N products P supplied through the product filling tube 21 at the seal blocks 51 and 52 at the receiving position, it is possible to prevent packaging defects due to damage to the bags Bp.

[0061] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the product P can be released by moving the pair of locking pieces 71a, 71b closer to and farther from each other. This reduces the stroke amount compared to when a single plate supporting the lower surface of the product P is moved horizontally. As a result, the time lag between detecting that N products P have been stacked and the N products P actually starting to fall can be reduced.

[0062] Furthermore, according to the above embodiment, the packaging machine controller 60 transitions from the receiving process to the conveying process when a predetermined arrival time has elapsed, starting from the supply start signal output from the product supply device 3. This allows the next process to be carried out after N products P have been received by the sealing blocks 51, 52. As a result, the vertical form-fill-seal-seal machine 2 and the product supply device 3 can be appropriately linked.

[0063] [Variations] However, the method of interlocking the vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 2 and the product supply device 3 is not limited to the above example. Figure 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the packaging system 1 according to a modified example. Note that a detailed description of the commonalities with the above embodiment will be omitted, and the description will focus on the differences.

[0064] The packaging machine controller 60 according to the modified example transmits a supply request signal to the product supply device 3 via the communication I / F 63 with the sealing blocks 51, 52 of the horizontal sealing device 50 positioned at the receiving position (S20). The supply request signal is a signal requesting the start of supply of N products P. Then, the packaging machine controller 60 according to the modified example performs the processing from step S22 onwards when the arrival time has elapsed since transmitting the supply request signal (S21: Yes).

[0065] Furthermore, the supply device controller 90 according to the modified example executes the processes from step S13 onward in response to receiving a supply request signal from the vertical form-fill-fill-seal machine 2 via the communication I / F 93 (S20). It is assumed that, at the time the supply request signal is received, N products P are already held by the shutter device 70 at the holding position.

[0066] Even with the above-described modified example, the vertical bag making, filling and packaging machine 2 and the product supply device 3 can be operated in an appropriate manner in conjunction with each other.

[0067] Furthermore, in the above embodiment and modified examples, an example has been described in which the packaging machine controller 60 provided in the vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 2 and the supply device controller 90 provided in the product supply device 3 proceed with processing while sending and receiving information between them, but the packaging system 1 may also be provided with a common controller that commonly controls both the vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 2 and the product supply device 3. The common controller may then grasp the respective states of the vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine 2 and the product supply device 3, and execute each of the processes S11, S13-S17, and S21-S25. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1...Packaging system, 2...Vertical form-fill-seal machine, 3...Product supply device, 4...Belt conveyor, 10...Film supply device, 11...Winding roll, 12a to 12h...Fixed guide rolls, 13...Tension mechanism, 15...Date printing device, 16...Date inspection device, 21...Product filling tube, 22...Former, 30...Conveyor device, 31, 32...Conveyor belt, 40...Vertical sealing device, 41, 42, 51, 52...Seal block, 50...Horizontal sealing device, 60...Packaging machine controller, 61, 91...CPU, 62, 92...Memory, 63, 93...Communication I / F, 70...Shutter device, 71a, 71b...Latching piece, 72a, 72b...Air cylinder, 80...Pusher device, 81...Push plate, 82...Push rod, 83...Drive mechanism, 90...Supplier controller, 94...Product detection sensor

Claims

1. A vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine that fills bags formed from a strip-shaped packaging material with a plurality of products supplied in a stacked state by a product supply device, a cylindrical product filling tube having an upper end opening and a lower end opening; a cylinder former for forming the strip-shaped packaging material into a cylindrical shape; a conveying device that conveys the strip-shaped packaging material formed into a cylindrical shape by the cylinder former downward along the outer surface of the product filling cylinder; a vertical sealing device that seals both overlapping ends of the strip-shaped packaging material formed into a cylindrical shape by the cylinder former; a horizontal sealing device that seals portions of the tubular strip packaging material containing a plurality of products that are discharged from the bottom opening in a stacked state, the portions corresponding to the top and bottom of the bag; a packaging machine controller that controls the conveying device, the vertical sealing device, and the horizontal sealing device, The horizontal sealing device moves a pair of seal blocks arranged opposite to each other in the horizontal direction to a sealing position where the tubularly formed strip-shaped packaging material is sandwiched and sealed, a receiving position where the seal blocks are spaced apart by a distance closer than the width of the product, and an open position where the seal blocks are spaced apart by a distance farther than the width of the product, The packaging machine controller a receiving process in which the plurality of products that have passed through the product filling tube in a stacked state are received by the pair of seal blocks at the receiving position; a conveying process in which the pair of seal blocks are moved to the open position and the cylindrically formed strip packaging material is conveyed by the conveying device by a predetermined distance; A vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine characterized by performing a sealing process in which the overlapping ends of a cylindrically formed strip-shaped packaging material are sealed by the vertical sealing device and the pair of sealing blocks are moved to the sealing position.

2. 2. The vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine according to claim 1, a packaging machine controller that transitions from the receiving process to the conveying process when a predetermined time has elapsed since the packaging machine controller received a supply start signal from the product supply device, the supply start signal indicating the start of product supply.

3. 2. The vertical form-fill-seal packaging machine according to claim 1, a packaging machine controller that transitions from the receiving process to the conveying process when a predetermined time has elapsed since the packaging machine controller sent a supply request signal to the product supply device requesting the start of product supply.

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