Filling device, filling method, and bag-in-box manufacturing method

Abstract

To provide a filling device and a filling method that can improve work efficiency and a manufacturing method of bag-in-box.SOLUTION: A filling device according to one embodiment includes a bag supporting part that supports a row of bags having multiple bags one next to another and holds filling ports provided in the bags at filling positions, and a filling port having a filling head for injecting contents into the filling ports held at the filling positions. Below the filling positions, a box standby part is formed in which an exterior box for accommodating the bags can be placed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling device, a filling method, and a bag-in-box manufacturing method. [Background technology]

[0002] One type of container for holding contents such as liquid is a bag-in-box, which is an outer box made of cardboard and has a flexible bag placed inside as an inner bag. A known automatic method for manufacturing a bag-in-box includes a conveying process in which a row of empty flexible bags is sent along a predetermined conveying path, a filling process in which the flexible bags are filled with contents at a filling station on the conveying path, a cutting process in which the row of bags is cut and separated into individual bags at a cutting station provided downstream of the filling station, and a storing process in which the flexible bags are stored in the outer box (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Furthermore, when the series of operations is performed manually, for example, an empty flexible bag is set in the filling device, the filling port formed on the flexible bag is held by the filling nozzle of the filling device, and the filling process of filling the contents into the flexible bag is performed using the filling device, after which the flexible bag is removed from the filling device and stored in an outer box.

[0004] When the filling process is carried out manually in this manner, the number of steps increases, and the process of setting the bags and storing the filled bags in the outer box requires positioning and moving each bag, making the work complicated. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-52581 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a filling device, a filling method, and a bag-in-box manufacturing method that can improve work efficiency. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A filling device according to one embodiment includes a bag support section including a guide rail, a holder arm, and a stopper arm, and supports a row of bags each having a filling port, and feeds the row of bags along a first path leading to a filling position, and holds the filling port provided on the bag at the filling position; a filling section having a filling head that injects contents into the filling port held at the filling position; and a box supply mechanism having a support section directly below the filling position that supports an outer box capable of accommodating the bags, and that transports the outer box along a second path that is below the first path and perpendicular to the first path, and the guide rail is provided on an upstream side. The device is provided with a pair of rail members that form a slit passage between which the ends expand and that engage with annular ribs formed on the outer periphery of the filling port of the bag, the length in the feed direction being longer than the pitch of the bags in the feed direction, and holds and guides the filling port of the bag at a predetermined height in the slit passage, the holder arm is configured in a U-shape and is arranged opposite the downstream end of the rail member at the filling position and supports the downstream portion of the filling port, the stopper arm is arranged opposite at the end of the first path of the guide rail and regulates the position of the filling port, and a box waiting section in which the outer box can be placed is formed in the area of ​​the second path directly below the filling position. The bag support portion supports the filling port portion at a position where a portion of the bag is contained within the outer box or the bag is positioned directly above the opening of the outer box, and the bag expands downward during the filling process so that the bag is contained in the outer box waiting below after filling. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a filling device and a bag-in-box manufacturing method that can improve work efficiency. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1]FIG. 1 is a side view of a filling device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a partial configuration of the filling device. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a configuration of a part of the filling device. [Figure 6] 1A to 1C are explanatory diagrams showing a bag-in-box manufacturing method according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a manufacturing method of the bag-in-box. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a manufacturing method of the bag-in-box. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a manufacturing method of the bag-in-box. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a manufacturing method of the bag-in-box. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A filling device 1 and a method for manufacturing a bag-in-box 4 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 10. Figure 1 is a side view of the filling device 1 according to this embodiment. A portion of the outer box is shown in cross section in Figure 1. Figure 2 is a plan view of the filling device 1, and Figure 3 is a front view of the filling device 1. Figures 4 and 5 are plan and side views showing the configuration of the holding mechanism. Figures 6 to 10 are explanatory diagrams of a method for manufacturing a bag-in-box. In the figures, arrows X, Y, and Z indicate three mutually perpendicular directions. For the sake of explanation, the configuration in each figure is enlarged, reduced, or omitted as appropriate.

[0011] The filling device 1 shown in Figures 1 to 5 is used to manufacture a so-called bag-in-box 4, in which an outer box 2 contains a flexible bag 3, which is an inner bag, and is a device that fills contents C1 into the flexible bag 3, which has a filling opening 5.

[0012] The exterior box 2 is a rectangular enclosure made of, for example, cardboard, and integrally comprises a case portion 2a having a rectangular parallelepiped storage space with an open top, and a lid portion 2b provided contiguous with the edge of the upper opening of the case portion 2a. Before the filling process, the exterior box 2 is placed in a standby position P2 below the filling position P1, with the lid portion 2b open and the upper opening of the case portion 2a facing the filling position P1.

[0013] The flexible bag 3 is formed into a bag shape by welding and sealing all four sides of a rectangular film. A filling opening 5 called a spout, which is made of a cylindrical synthetic resin, is provided at a predetermined location on the flexible bag 3. As shown in Figure 6, a removable cap 6 made of synthetic resin is attached to the filling opening 5.

[0014] A male thread is formed on the outer periphery of the axial tip portion of the filling port 5, which screws onto the cap 6. As shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of annular ribs 5a protruding outward are provided on the outer periphery of the base end portion of the filling port 5 as uneven portions. The annular ribs 5a are formed so as to be engageable with the guide rail 24 and holder arm 27 of the bag support portion 20. The flexible bags 3 are conveyed along the first path A1 as a bag row 3A formed by connecting multiple flexible bags together, with each filling port 5 facing upward. Perforations 3a are formed on the cut lines at the boundaries between adjacent flexible bags 3 in the bag row 3A.

[0015] The filling device 1 includes a filling section 10 that injects contents C1 into empty flexible bags 3 in a bag row 3A, a bag support section 20 that holds the bag row 3A, a box supply mechanism 30 that supplies outer boxes 2, and a control section 40.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, the filling unit 10 includes a filling head 11 and an operating lever 14 for moving the filling head 11 up and down.

[0017] The filling head 11 includes a filling nozzle 11a, an opening / closing valve 11b, and a valve drive mechanism 11c. The filling head 11 is configured to be movable up and down between a lowered position where it is inserted into the filling mouth 5, and an elevated position where it is retracted from the filling mouth 5. The filling head 11 is disposed opposite the filling mouth 5 of the flexible bag 3 supported on the first path A1, and is lowered to be inserted into the filling mouth 5 after the opening process.

[0018] The filling nozzle 11a forms a flow path connected to a tank that stores the contents C1 via a connection flow path 11d, and is configured to be able to discharge the contents C1 in the tank.

[0019] The opening and closing valve 11b is connected to a valve driving mechanism 11c such as an air cylinder, and opens and closes the flow path of the filling nozzle 11a.

[0020] The valve drive mechanism 11c is, for example, an air cylinder mechanism. The valve drive mechanism 11c is connected to the control unit 40. The valve drive mechanism 11c expands and contracts a rod by operating a switch, thereby opening and closing the on-off valve 11b.

[0021] With the filling head 11 in the lowered position and inserted into the filling port 5, the filling unit 10 performs a filling process in which the opening and closing valve 11b is opened by the valve drive mechanism 11c, thereby injecting the contents C1 from the filling nozzle 11a into the flexible bag 3 through the filling port 5. The filling unit 10 also closes the flow path of the filling nozzle 11a by closing the opening and closing valve 11b by the valve drive mechanism 11c, thereby stopping the supply of the contents C1.

[0022] The operating lever 14 is provided on the filling head 11. The operating lever 14 is manually operated by an operator to move the filling head 11 between a raised position and a lowered position.

[0023] The bag support section 20 supports the bag row 3A along a first path A1 that runs from a supply position P0 located at the back of the filling position P1 where the filling operation is performed to the filling position P1, and guides the movement direction of the bag row 3A along the first path A1.

[0024] The bag support section 20 includes a supply section 21, a spout holding section 22, and a bag support base 23.

[0025] The supply unit 21 holds the bag row 3A at a supply position P0, which is the starting point of the first path A1, so that the bag row 3A can be supplied. The supply unit 21 holds the upstream bags 3 in the bag row 3A at the supply position P0. For example, the supply unit 21 has a tray 21a that is open at the top and on which the bag row 3A is folded and placed. When an operator pulls a bag 3 located at the filling position P1 toward himself, the folded bag row 3A is pulled and supplied by the tray 21a. For example, the supply unit 21 may be configured to rotatably hold a roll core of the bag row 3A wound into a roll.

[0026] The spout holding portion 22 includes a guide rail 24 having a pair of rail members extending along the first path A1, and a holder mechanism 25 which is a receiving member.

[0027] The guide rail 24 includes a pair of rail members 24a extending along the first path A1. The guide rail 24 is disposed above the bag row 3A. A slit passage 24b having a width that allows the filling port 5 to pass through is formed between the pair of rail members 24a. The rail members 24a are disposed on both sides of the filling port 5 and are configured to be engageable with annular ribs 5a formed on the outer periphery of the filling port 5, which faces upward. The guide rail 24 holds the filling port 5 in the slit passage 24b formed between the rail members 24a. The pair of rail members 24a bend at their upstream ends and extend outward so that the slit passage 24b widens. The guide rail 24 is configured to be long enough so that when the filling port 5 of one flexible bag 3 is supplied to the filling position P1, the filling port 5 of the next flexible bag 3 adjacent to the supply side is positioned in the slit passage 24b. In other words, the guide rail 24 is configured to be longer than the length of the flexible bags 3 in the feeding direction and the pitch dimension of the series of flexible bags 3.

[0028] The guide rails 24 are arranged along a first path A1 extending from the supply position P0 to the filling position P1, and define a transport path for the bag row 3A. The guide rails 24 also define the position of the filling opening 5 of each flexible bag 3 at a constant height by holding the filling opening 5 in the slit passage 24b with a pair of rail members 24a.

[0029] The holder mechanism 25 includes a holder base 26 , a holder arm 27 , a stopper arm 28 , and an arm drive mechanism 29 .

[0030] The holder base 26 is a plate-shaped support member that is disposed at a position off to the side of the first path A1.

[0031] The holder arm 27 is rotatably supported by the holder base 26. At the filling position P1, the holder arm 27 is disposed opposite the downstream end of the rail member 24a and supports the downstream portion of the filling port 5. The holder arm 27 is configured in a U-shape that opens to the upstream side of the first path A1 and has an arc-shaped opening edge 27a that is configured to be engageable with the annular rib 5a. Like the slit passage 24b, the holder arm 27 has a width dimension that allows the filling port 5 to be inserted.

[0032] The holder arm 27 is connected to the arm drive mechanism 29 and is configured to be rotatable between a support position where it is disposed within the first path A1 and a retracted position where it is retracted outside the first path A1. At the support position, the holder arm 27 is disposed facing the front of the first path A1 of the guide rail 24. At the support position, the annular rib 5a engages with the opening edge 27a of the holder arm 27, thereby holding a portion of the filling port 5. After the filling process, the arm drive mechanism 29 moves the holder arm 27 to the retracted position where it does not interfere with the movement of the bag row 3A.

[0033] The stopper arm 28 is fixedly supported by the holder arm 27. The stopper arm 28 is disposed facing the front end of the first path A1 of the guide rail 24, and when the holder arm 27 rotates, the stopper arm 28 comes into contact with the filling port 5, thereby restricting the position of the filling port 5.

[0034] The arm driving mechanism 29 is, for example, an air cylinder mechanism, and has a rod 29a connected to the holder arm 27. The arm driving mechanism 29 is connected to the control unit 40 and is driven under the control of the control unit 40. The arm driving mechanism 29 is controlled by the control unit 40 through switch operation, and rotates the holder arm 27 by extending and retracting the rod 29a.

[0035] The bag support base 23 is provided below the bag row 3A and supports the underside of the bag row 3A. For example, the bag support base 23 includes a bag tray 23a that is positioned slightly upstream of the filling position P1, i.e., at the rear. The bag tray 23a supports the underside of the flexible bags 3 upstream of the filling position P1. The bag tray 23a has a support surface that slopes downward from a position upstream and below the filling position P1 toward the box standby area R1. The bag tray 23a is set in a position that does not interfere with the falling of the flexible bags 3.

[0036] The box supply mechanism 30 includes a plurality of rotary rollers 31 whose rotation axes extend along the width direction, and a support member 32 that supports the plurality of rotary rollers 31.

[0037] The plurality of rotating rollers 31 are arranged horizontally in parallel. The plurality of rotating rollers 31 form a horizontal box support base 33, and a horizontal second path A2 is formed on the upper surface of the horizontal box support base 33. The box support base 33 is installed at a position lower than the filling position P1 and adjacent to the front side of the end of the guide rail 24. One of the rotating rollers 31 is a drive roller that is connected to a drive unit and driven to rotate. One of the rotating rollers 31 may also be a driven roller that is rotatably supported.

[0038] The box support base 33 is arranged along a second path A2 that passes through a standby position P2 below the filling position P1. A gap equal to or greater than the height of the outer box 2 is formed between the box support base 33 and the end of the guide rail 24, which is the filling position P1, and a standby region R1 in which the outer box 2 can be placed is formed between the box support base 33 and a holding mechanism such as the guide rail 24.

[0039] A weight sensor 34 (load sensor) such as a load cell mechanism is provided as a weighing unit on the box support base 33. For example, the weight sensor 34 detects the weight of a box placed on the box support base 33. For example, the weight information may be used to set the filling amount in a filling device. For example, the box supply mechanism 30 may be partially constituted by a weight checker having a plurality of rotating rollers 31 at standby position P2, a plurality of support members 32, a weight sensor 34, and a height-adjustable table that supports these.

[0040] An area on the box support base 33 of the box supply mechanism 30 directly below the filling position P1 is configured so that an outer box 2 can be placed therein. That is, a box standby area R1 is formed directly below the filling position P1 as a box standby section. The box supply mechanism 30 transports outer boxes 2, for example, with their tops open and placed on the support base, along the second path A2 by rotating the rotary rollers 31. For example, the box supply mechanism 30 sequentially sets the outer boxes 2 at the standby position P2 by rotating and stopping the rotary rollers 31, and after the filling process is completed, transports the outer boxes 2 containing the flexible bags 3 downstream along the second path A2.

[0041] For example, in this embodiment, the second path A2 extends in a different direction from the first path A1. As an example, the second path A2 is set in a direction perpendicular to the first path A1. That is, in a plan view, the first path A1 and the second path A2 extend in directions perpendicular to each other with the filling position P1 as their intersection. Furthermore, the second path A2 is set below the first path A1.

[0042] A filling method using the filling device 1 and a manufacturing method of the bag-in-box 4 will be described below with reference to Figures 6 to 10. Figures 6 and 7 are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration and operation of the filling section 10, and Figures 8 to 10 are explanatory diagrams showing the configuration and operation of the bag support section 20, omitting the configuration of the filling section 10.

[0043] The manufacturing method of the bag-in-box 4 in this embodiment includes a box setting process in which the outer box 2 is placed at a waiting position P2, a bag setting process in which the bag row 3A is manually sent downstream and the target flexible bag 3 is placed on the outer box 2, a filling process in which the target bag 3 is filled with contents C1 at a filling position P1 on the outer box 2, and a cutting process in which the bag row 3A is cut into individual flexible bags 3.

[0044] First, an operator automatically or manually places an outer box 2 with its top open at standby position P2 on the box support base 33 of the box supply mechanism 30. For example, the outer boxes 2 may be transported sequentially from the upstream side of the second path A2 by the box supply mechanism 30, or an outer box 2 located on the upstream side of the second path A2 on the box support base 33 may be manually slid and placed at standby position P2.

[0045] Next, at filling position P1, the worker holds the front flexible bag 3 with his or her hand and pulls it toward him or her, thereby sending the row of bags 3A downstream in front of the worker and setting the filling opening 5 of the flexible bag 3 to be the next target of the filling process at filling position P1. This feeding force, i.e., the force pulling downstream, sequentially supplies the multiple flexible bags 3 that were folded at supply position P0.

[0046] The flexible bags 3 supplied downstream from the supply unit 21 are sent along the first path A1 to the filling position P1. At this time, the filling openings 5 ​​of the bag row 3A are held at a predetermined height by the guide rails 24 supported at a predetermined height, and the movement direction of the filling openings 5 ​​is guided along the first path A1.

[0047] Here, the holder arm 27 is positioned at the support position before the filling port 5 of the target bag 3 reaches the filling position P1. That is, the holder arm 27 is positioned opposite the tip of the guide rail 24, and therefore, by manually pulling out the bag row 3A, the filling port 5 is held at the filling position P1 by the holder arm 27 at the support position and the guide rail 24, as shown in Figure 9. When the filling port 5 is positioned so as to be at the filling position P1, the tip of the target bag 3 is partially contained within the outer box 2 waiting at the waiting position P2, or is positioned directly above the opening of the outer box 2.

[0048] At this time, the target flexible bag 3 is supported from below by the bag tray 23a arranged below.

[0049] When the filling port 5 of the target flexible bag 3 reaches the filling position P1, the worker manually removes the cap 6 to open the bag and begin the filling process. Specifically, as shown in Figure 6, the worker operates the operating lever 14 to lower the filling head 11 and insert it into the filling port 5. Then, when the worker presses a switch that operates the valve drive mechanism 11c for opening and closing the valve, the opening and closing valve 11b arranged on the filling head 11 opens, and the liquid injection process begins from the filling nozzle 11a.

[0050] When the predetermined amount of liquid has been poured, the liquid pouring process is terminated. At this time, the amount of liquid is set based on a preset amount or the weight detected by the weight sensor of the box support base 33.

[0051] At this time, when the contents C1 are poured into the flexible bag 3 by the filling process, the flexible bag 3 swells downward, and simultaneously with the filling process, the flexible bag 3 is stored in the waiting exterior box 2. At this time, the stopper arm 28 and the holder arm 27 hold the filling opening 5 facing upward in a predetermined position, so the position of the flexible bag 3 is stabilized and the bag 3 is guided smoothly into the exterior box 2. The bag tray 23a supports the bag 3 from below, stabilizing the position of the flexible bag 3, and the inclined surface of the bag tray 23a guides the bag 3 into the exterior box 2.

[0052] After the liquid injection process is completed, the operator operates the operating lever 14 to raise the filling head 11 , thereby retracting the filling head 11 from the filling port portion 5 .

[0053] After the filling process is completed, the capping process is performed. In the capping process, for example, the worker manually attaches the cap 6 to the filling port 5, and then activates the capping mechanism provided in the filling head 11, for example, by operating a switch, thereby driving the capping mechanism and attaching the cap 6 to the filling port 5.

[0054] After the capping process, the worker can, for example, manually pull both sides of the bag row 3A away from each other across the perforation 3a, thereby cutting the perforation 3a and separating the flexible bag 3 that has completed the filling process from the bag row 3A.

[0055] 10, the holder arm 27 is rotated to move to the retracted position, thereby releasing the holding of the filling port 5. For example, an operator moves the holder arm 27 by operating a switch that drives the holder's drive unit. Here, when the holder arm 27 is released, the stopper arm 28 is set to the restricting position, thereby restricting the position of the filling port 5 in the feed direction. When the holder arm 27 is retracted, the filling port 5 is released from the filling position P1, and the individual flexible bags 3 that have been filled and cut at the filling position P1 fall one after another and are stored in the waiting outer box 2. At this time, the stopper arm 28 restricts the position of the filling port 5, stabilizing the behavior of the flexible bags 3 and restricting the position from which they fall.

[0056] As described above, the flexible bags 3 sent sequentially from upstream are subjected to the following processes in sequence: box placement, bag positioning, uncapping, filling, recapping, cutting, and opening, thereby carrying out the sequential filling and storage processes.

[0057] The filling device 1 and the manufacturing method of the bag-in-box 4 according to this embodiment provide the following advantages. Specifically, because there is a waiting area below the filling position P1 for placing the outer box 2, the flexible bags 3 are stored in the outer box 2 as the filling process is performed while the flexible bags 3 are placed on or within the opening of the outer box 2, thereby reducing the number of boxing steps and improving processing capacity. Furthermore, because the flexible bags 3 support the continuous bag row 3A, the flexible bags 3 can be easily set in the filling head 11 simply by pulling them toward you, improving work efficiency. Furthermore, the guide rails 24 accurately guide the bag row 3A toward the filling head 11, reducing errors in the setting process. Furthermore, because most of the work is done manually and complex machine control is not required, modifications can be made at low cost.

[0058] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, the specific configurations and materials of each part are not limited to those exemplified in the above-described embodiment, and can be modified as appropriate. The following is a description equivalent to the invention described in the claims of the original application. (1) a bag support portion that supports a row of bags arranged in a line and holds a filling opening portion provided on the bag at a filling position; a filling unit having a filling head that injects contents into the filling opening portion held at the filling position; Equipped with A box standby section is formed below the filling position, in which an outer box for accommodating the bag can be placed. filling equipment. (2) The filling device according to (1), comprising a box supply mechanism that supplies the outer box along a path that passes through the box waiting section. (3) The bag support portion is a guide rail that engages with the filling port and extends toward the filling position; a receiving member for supporting a downstream portion of the filling port at the filling position; a bag tray having a support surface that slopes downward from a lower position toward the box standby section on the upstream side of the filling position, and that supports the lower side of the bag; The filling device according to (1) or (2), comprising: (4) The filling device according to (2), wherein the box supply mechanism comprises: a box support stand arranged below the box standby section; and a load sensor provided on the box support stand. (5) feeding a row of bags, each having a filling opening, along a predetermined path to a filling position; In a standby state, an outer box having an opening and accommodating the bag is disposed below the filling position with the opening facing upward, a filling process for filling the bag with contents through the filling opening while the filling opening is held at the filling position; Filling method. (6) The filling method described in (5), wherein, before the filling process, when the outer box is placed in a box waiting section below the filling position, at least a portion of the bag is placed within the opening of the outer box or directly above the opening of the outer box. (7) The filling method according to (5) or (6), a cutting process for separating the bag filled with the contents on the outer box from the row of bags after the filling process. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 1...filling device, 2...outer box, 2a...case portion, 2b...lid portion, 3...flexible bag, 3A...bag row, 3a...perforation, 4...bag-in-box, 5...filling port portion, 5a...annular rib, 6...cap, 10...filling portion, 11...filling head, 11a...filling nozzle, 11b...opening / closing valve, 11c...valve drive mechanism, 11d...connecting flow path, 14...operating lever, 20...bag support portion, 21...supply portion, 21a...tray, 22...spout holding portion, 23...bag support base, 23a ...Bag tray, 24...guide rail, 24a...rail member, 24b...slit passage, 25...holder mechanism, 26...holder base, 27...holder arm, 27a...opening edge, 28...stopper arm, 29...arm drive mechanism, 29a...rod, 30...box supply mechanism, 31...rotating roller, 32...support member, 33...box support base, 34...weight sensor, A1...first path, A2...second path, P0...supply position, P1...filling position, P2...waiting position, R1...box waiting area.

Claims

1. a bag support unit including a guide rail, a holder arm, and a stopper arm, which supports a row of bags including a plurality of bags each having a filling opening, feeds the row of bags along a first path leading to a filling position, and holds the filling openings of the bags at the filling position; a filling unit having a filling head that injects contents into the filling opening portion held at the filling position; a box supply mechanism having a support portion for supporting an outer box capable of accommodating the bag directly below the filling position, and conveying the outer box along a second path that is below the first path and perpendicular to the first path; Equipped with the guide rail includes a pair of rail members that form a slit passage therebetween, the upstream end of which widens, and that engage with an annular rib formed on the outer periphery of the filling opening of the bag, the length of which in the feeding direction is longer than the pitch of the bags in the feeding direction, and the filling opening of the bag is guided while being held at a predetermined height in the slit passage; the holder arm is configured in a U-shape, and is disposed opposite a downstream end of the rail member at the filling position to support a downstream portion of the filling port; the stopper arm is disposed facing the first path of the guide rail and regulates the position of the filling port; A box standby section in which the outer box can be placed is formed in an area of ​​the second path directly below the filling position, The bag support portion supports the filling opening portion at a position where a part of the bag is accommodated in the outer box or the bag is positioned directly above the opening of the outer box, and the bag expands downward during the filling process so that the bag is accommodated in the outer box waiting below after filling. filling equipment.

2. The bag support portion is the guide rail engaging with the filling port and extending toward the filling position; the holder arm supporting a downstream portion of the filling port at the filling position; a bag tray having a support surface that slopes downward from a lower position toward the box standby section on the upstream side of the filling position, and that supports the lower side of the bag; The filling device of claim 1 , comprising:

3. The box supply mechanism includes a box support table disposed below the box standby section; The filling device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a load sensor provided on the box support base.

4. a bag supply process in which a guide rail having a pair of rail members that form a slit passage and engage with an annular rib formed on the outer periphery of a filling opening provided on a bag is used to hold and guide the filling opening at a predetermined height, and a row of the bags is sent along a predetermined first path to a filling position; a box supply process including a support portion for supporting an outer box capable of accommodating the bag directly below the filling position, and transporting the outer box along a second path that is below the first path and perpendicular to the first path; In a box standby section formed directly below the filling position, an outer box having an opening and accommodating the bag is placed with the opening facing upward, a filling process in which the filling opening is supported at a position where a part of the bag is contained in the exterior box or the bag is placed directly above an opening of the exterior box and the bag expands downward by a filling process so that the bag is contained in the exterior box waiting below after filling, and the contents are filled through the filling opening into the bag that is held at the filling position, During the filling process, a U-shaped holder arm is disposed opposite the downstream end of the rail member and supports a downstream portion of the filling port at the filling position, and a stopper arm is disposed opposite the end of the first path of the guide rail and regulates the position of the filling port, holding the filling port facing upward, the guide rail forms the slit passage with an upstream end widening, and the length in the feeding direction is longer than the pitch of the bags in the feeding direction; Filling method.

5. 5. The filling method according to claim 4, wherein, before the filling process, when the outer box is placed in a box waiting section below the filling position, at least a portion of the bag is placed within the opening of the outer box or directly above the opening of the outer box.

6. The filling method according to claim 4 or claim 5; a cutting process for separating the bag filled with the contents on the outer box from the row of bags after the filling process.

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