Packaging equipment and waste containment equipment

Abstract

To increase the pull-in force of a film while enhancing the reliability of the rotational action of two film pull-out rollers.SOLUTION: Drive transmission rollers 53, 63 formed of elastic material are provided on each end of each of film pull-out rollers 50, 60. Thereby, the rotational force of a motor 70 transmits the rotational force onto the film pull-out roller 50, thereby allowing the other film pull-out roller 60 to reliably rotate in comparison with the conventional structure without such drive transmission rollers provided thereon. In addition, the drive transmission rollers 50, 60 are formed of elastic material, so that when encapsulating films 31, 41 are caught between the facing drive transmission rollers 50, 60, damage such as tear is not caused to the encapsulating films 31, 41.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a technology for packaging objects to be packaged, and particularly relates to a packaging apparatus suitable for packaging and discarding wastes such as used disposable diapers, sanitary products, or other garbage, and a waste storage apparatus including the packaging apparatus. Background Art

[0002] Patent Documents 1 and 2 disclose an apparatus that seals odor-generating wastes, which easily emit odors such as used disposable diapers and sanitary products, with a film and then stores the sealed wastes.

[0003] Specifically, a packaging apparatus is provided above a garbage storage part that stores wastes, which are objects to be packaged. This packaging apparatus includes two film supply rollers that are rotatably arranged in parallel at a predetermined interval and each supply a film, and two film drawing rollers that are arranged in parallel such that their peripheral surfaces are in contact with each other via the respective films drawn out from the film supply rollers. Furthermore, at least one of the two film drawing rollers has a peripheral surface that elastically deforms along the shape of the waste, and each film drawing roller is configured to be rotated by a drive unit.

[0004] At least one of the films supplied from the two film supply rollers has an adhesive layer formed on a surface facing the other film. When waste is thrown between the two film supply rollers, and the two film drawing rollers are rotated by the drive unit, at least one of the film drawing rollers is elastically deformed by the waste. Further, when the waste passes between the film drawing rollers, the films are brought into close contact with each other around the waste, and a plurality of individually sealed wastes are continuously stored in the garbage storage part.

[0005] Furthermore, Patent Document 3 discloses a configuration in which gears are provided at both ends of two film pull-out rollers, ensuring that the rotation of the two film pull-out rollers is reliably synchronized, and increasing the film pulling force by passing the film between the opposing gears. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] WO2005 / 037684 publication [Patent Document 2] WO2010 / 150763 publication [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2021-1044 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] Patent Document 1 proposes a basic structure for a waste containment device that seals waste as a packaged object between two films. Regarding the rotation of the two film pull-out rollers, it only discloses that a drive belt is stretched between the rotation axis of one film pull-out roller and the rotation axis of a motor to cause rotation. It is explained that the other film pull-out roller rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the other film pull-out roller via the film. Patent Document 2 further arranges a roller below the film pull-out roller to increase the film pulling force, but the configuration in which the two film pull-out rollers rotate one clockwise and the other counterclockwise via the film is the same as in Patent Document 1.

[0008] However, the film pull-out rollers are made of elastic material that deforms as the waste being packaged passes through them, and the force exerted by these components pressing against each other through the film may not be sufficient to smoothly guide the waste into the waste collection section.

[0009] In this regard, the configuration of Patent Document 3 involves meshing gears positioned at both ends of each film pull-out roller, thus ensuring that they rotate almost synchronously. However, when attempting to achieve synchronous rotation with such gear meshing, depending on the size and shape of the waste, the film may not be pulled out straight and may become jammed between the gears. The technology of Patent Document 3 increases the film pulling force of the film pull-out roller (the force with which the film is pulled out from the film supply roller) by actively engaging the film between the gears, but in order to prevent film tearing, it is necessary to round the tips of the gears or finely adjust the spacing between opposing gears according to the thickness of the film being used. Therefore, in order to ensure synchronous rotation of the two film pull-out rollers and increase the film pulling force of the film pull-out roller, it is necessary to use gears with rounded tooth tips or finely adjust the spacing between gears according to the film, resulting in a complex structure and a troublesome initial setup process.

[0010] Furthermore, in the waste collection and sealing devices shown in Patent Documents 1 to 3, in a plan view, the outer edge of the film pull-out roller is located further outward than the outer edge of the film supply roller. As a result, the frame member supporting them is larger than the diametrical length of the two parallel-arranged film pull-out rollers, which presents the challenge of increasing the overall size.

[0011] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and aims to provide a packaging device and a waste collection device that can increase the reliability of the rotational operation of the two film pulling rollers, increase the film pulling force, and further suppress film damage even if there is a bias in the film pulling direction. In addition, the present invention aims to provide a packaging device and a waste collection device that can be made more compact. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] To solve the above problems, the present invention provides: A packaging device that packages an object to be packaged by positioning it between two sealing films with their adhesive layers facing each other, Each sealing film is wound so that the adhesive layers face each other when pulled out, and two film supply rollers are arranged within the frame member at a predetermined distance apart, Two film pull-out rollers are provided within the frame member and, by rotating, rewind and pull out the sealing film from each of the film supply rollers, and a cylindrical elastic member is disposed on the rotating shaft that contacts each pulled-out sealing film and deforms along the outer diameter of the object to be packaged as it passes through. A drive unit for rotating each of the aforementioned sealing film pull-out rollers It is equipped with, At each end of the rotating shaft of one of the film pull-out rollers and at each end of the rotating shaft of the other film pull-out roller, drive transmission rollers are provided, which are made of an elastic member with a harder hardness than the cylindrical elastic member, and which can come into close contact with each other via the respective sealing films. When one of the film pull-out rollers rotates due to the rotational force of the drive unit, the other film pull-out roller rotates via the opposing drive transmission rollers. The present invention provides a packaging device characterized by its configuration.

[0013] It is preferable that each of the aforementioned drive transmission rollers has a circular or irregularly shaped cross-section along the direction of rotation.

[0014] When one of the two film pull-out rollers, which are rotated by the rotational force transmitted from the drive unit, is designated as the driving side, and the other is designated as the driven side, which rotates as a result of the rotation of the driving side film pull-out roller, It is preferable that an elastic member is provided to press the film pull-out roller, which functions as the driven side, against the opposing film pull-out roller, which functions as the driving side.

[0015] A bearing member, on which the rotating shaft of the film pull-out roller functioning as the driven side is pivotally supported, is provided movably with respect to the frame member, Preferably, the elastic member is disposed between the bearing member and the frame member, and is constituted of a spring member that presses the bearing member toward the film pull-out roller functioning as the driving side.

[0016] Preferably, an arrangement range along the diameter direction of the two film supply rollers falls within an arrangement range combining the two film pull-out rollers in a plan view. Preferably, for the frame member, the distance between opposing support members can be adjusted in accordance with the axial lengths of the two film supply rollers and the two film pull-out rollers. Preferably, a baffle plate that suppresses each said sealing film from being caught in the direction of the two film pull-out rollers is provided near a lower portion of the two film pull-out rollers. Further, preferably, each of the cylindrical elastic members constituting the two film pull-out rollers is formed with slits in the rotation direction at intervals in the axial direction. Further, preferably, each of the cylindrical elastic members constituting the two film pull-out rollers has a plurality of separated cylindrical portions separated at intervals in the axial direction, and each of the separated cylindrical portions is configured to be supported by the rotating shaft.

[0017] Further, the present invention provides A packaging apparatus for packaging an object to be packaged by positioning the object between two sealing films having adhesive layers facing each other, wherein each of the sealing films is wound such that the adhesive layers face each other when pulled out, and two film supply rollers are disposed in the frame member spaced apart by a predetermined distance, two film drawing rollers provided in the frame member, wherein a cylindrical elastic member is disposed on a rotating shaft of each of the two film drawing rollers, the cylindrical elastic member, by rotating, rewinds and draws out a sealing film from each of the film supply rollers, contacts via each drawn-out sealing film, and deforms along an outer diameter of the packaging object when the packaging object passes through, a drive unit for rotating each of said sealing film drawing rollers, comprising: there is provided a packaging apparatus characterized in that an arrangement range of the two film supply rollers along the diameter direction falls within an arrangement range combining the two film drawing rollers in a plan view.

[0018] it is preferable that an overload prevention device for preventing overload to the drive unit is provided. as the sealing film, a self-adhesion force of 1.5 N / 10mm it is preferable that a film in which the adhesive layer is formed by the above pressure-sensitive adhesive is used.

[0019] further, the present invention provides: a waste storage apparatus comprising the packaging apparatus described above, wherein the object to be packaged is waste, there is provided a waste storage apparatus characterized in that a waste storage portion for storing the waste is provided at a lower part of the packaging apparatus. Effects of the Invention

[0020] according to the present invention, a drive transmission roller made of an elastic member is provided at each end of each film drawing roller. Therefore, the rotational force of the drive unit is transmitted to one of the film drawing rollers, so that the other film drawing roller rotates more reliably compared to a conventional structure not provided with such a drive transmission roller. Further, since the drive transmission roller is made of an elastic member, when a sealing film is sandwiched between opposing drive transmission rollers, damage such as tearing does not occur to the sealing film. Furthermore, by limiting the arrangement range of the two film supply rollers along their diameter to the combined range of the two film pull-out rollers in a plan view, the frame members can be miniaturized, contributing to the overall miniaturization of the packaging device or waste handling device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0021] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the overall configuration of a waste containment device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a packaging apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] Figure 3(a) is a plan view of the packaging device shown in Figure 2, and Figure 3(b) is a diagram showing the internal structure of the frame member as seen from the side panel direction. [Figure 4] Figure 4(a) shows the state in which the bearing member of the film supply roller is fixed to the frame member and the film supply roller is mounted thereon, and Figure 4(b) is a perspective view of the bearing member of the film supply roller. [Figure 5] Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a film pull-out roller using a drive transmission roller formed in the shape of a gear. [Figure 6] Figure 6 is a schematic diagram showing the surface shape of a drive transmission roller with an irregular cross-section. [Figure 7] Figures 7(a) to 7(h) show variations in the drive transmission rollers. [Figure 8] Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a configuration in which the driven film pull-out roller is pressed against the driven film pull-out roller. [Figure 9] Figure 9 shows a portion of the cross-section of the sealing film. [Figure 10] Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating a method for examining the self-adhesion strength of a sealing film. [Figure 11] Figure 11 is a diagram illustrating a method for examining the self-adhesion strength of a sealing film. [Figure 12]Figure 12 is a graph showing the relationship between the self-adhesion force and the pressure applied to the sample when bubbles are released. [Figure 13] Figure 13 is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the film extraction rotor. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0022] The present invention will be described in further detail below based on embodiments of the present invention shown in the drawings. Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram showing the overall configuration of a waste containment device 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this figure, the waste containment device 100 includes a packaging device 10 and a box-shaped waste containment section 110 located below it.

[0023] The packaging device 10 is composed of a frame member 20, film supply rollers 30, 40, film pull-out rollers 50, 60, and a motor (drive unit) 70, etc.

[0024] The frame member 20 only needs to be capable of rotatably supporting the film supply rollers 30, 40 and the film pull-out rollers 50, 60, and its structure and shape are not limited. The frame member 20 is supported on top of the box-shaped waste storage section 110. In this embodiment, the frame member 20, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, is equipped with a front plate portion 21, a back plate portion 22, and two opposing side plate portions 23, 23. Rollers 30 to 60 are stretched between the opposing side plate portions 23, 23 and are rotatably supported.

[0025] An input opening 24 is formed at any position on the frame member 20, for example, on the top surface. When waste to be packaged is introduced through this input opening 24, it passes between the film supply rollers 30 and 40 and the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60, and is then contained in the waste storage section 110 located at the bottom of the frame member 20 (see Figure 1).

[0026] As described above, the film supply rollers 30 and 40 are stretched between the side plate portions 23 and 23 of the frame member 20 and are arranged in parallel opposite to each other with a predetermined distance between them, so that the waste to be packaged can be fed between the opposing film supply rollers 30 and 40. The film supply rollers 30 and 40 supply sealing film 31 and 41 to seal the waste fed between them, and sealing film 31 and 41 of a predetermined length and width is wound around them. Furthermore, as shown in Figures 4(a) and (b), for example, bearing members 231 and 231 are fixed to each side plate portion 23 and 23, respectively, and are substantially rectangular parallelepipeds with open portions 231a and 231a on their upper surfaces and guide wall portions 231b and 231b on their inner walls that are hollowed out in a substantially U shape. As a result, when positioning the film supply rollers 30 and 40, inserting each end of the rotating shafts 30a and 40a into the bearing members 231 and 231 through the openings 231a and 231a allows them to be easily inserted into the gap between the guide walls 231b and 231b and the outer surfaces 231c and 231c, thus enabling easy support. Therefore, when replacing the film supply rollers 30 and 40 after consuming the sealing film 31 and 41, the user who installed the waste collection device 100 can easily replace them without the need for specialized maintenance personnel.

[0027] Here, the sealing films 31 and 41 are not limited in type or material, as long as they can tightly adhere to the waste being packaged and seal it so that odors do not leak out as much as possible. However, each sealing film 31 or 41 is used if it has an adhesive layer on its inner surface (the surface that adheres to the waste when pulled out). In particular, the adhesive strength of the adhesive constituting the adhesive layer is 1.5. N / 10mm It is preferable to use the above.

[0028] Specifically, as shown in Figure 9, each sealing film 31, 41 has an adhesive layer 31b, 41b on one side of the base layer 31a, 41a and a release layer 31c, 41c on the other side. For example, the adhesive layers 31b, 41b are wound so that they face outward in the radial direction, forming the film supply rollers 30, 40. It is also possible to configure the film so that the adhesive layers 31b, 41b face inward in the radial direction by using a direction-changing roller (not shown) between the film supply rollers 30, 40 and the film pull-out rollers 50, 60 described later. The thickness of the sealing film 31, 41 is preferably 5 to 40 μm, and more preferably 8 to 16 μm.

[0029] The base layers 31a and 41a are not particularly limited, and for example, porous materials formed from fibrous materials such as kraft paper, crepe paper, and Japanese paper, or plastic films formed from polyolefin resins, polyester resins, vinyl chloride resins, polystyrene resins, polyamide resins, polyimide resins, cellulose resins, polyurethane resins, etc., can be used. The thickness of the base layers 31a and 41a is preferably 6 μm to 25 μm, and more preferably 8 μm to 16 μm. The adhesive layers 31b and 41b are formed by applying an adhesive to one surface of the base layers 31a and 41a. The thickness of the adhesive layers 31b and 41b is preferably 3 μm to 10 μm, and more preferably 3 μm to 7 μm.

[0030] The adhesive constituting the adhesive layer having the above-mentioned self-adhesion strength and thickness comprises an elastomer and a tackifier (tackifying resin). The mixing ratio (weight ratio) of the elastomer and tackifier is preferably 100:50 to 100, and more preferably 100:70 to 80. The elastomer preferably uses a combination of styrene-isoprene-styrene synthetic rubber, such as SIS (styrene-isoprene block copolymer), and natural rubber. Preferably, the blending ratio (weight ratio) of natural rubber in the elastomer is 0 to 30%, and more preferably 5 to 20%. The elastomer may also include SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene), SEBS (styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene), SEPS (styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene), SBR (styrene-butadiene rubber), etc.

[0031] The diblock ratio of the elastomer synthetic rubber is preferably 26-78%, and it is even more preferable to blend two or more types of synthetic rubber with different diblock ratios. As the tackifier, it is preferable to use at least one or several types of C5-type petroleum resin, C5-C9-type petroleum resin, Delpen resin, and rosin resin. Preferably, the tackifier contains 30-40 parts of C5-C9-type petroleum resin and 35-45 parts of C5-type petroleum resin per 100 parts by weight, and even more preferably, two or more types of C5-C9-type petroleum resin or C5-type petroleum resin are blended.

[0032] The release layers 31c and 41c consist of a silicone-based release agent or a non-silicone-based release agent such as an alkyl pendant-based or condensation wax-based release agent. The presence of the release layers 31c and 41c allows the sealing film 31 and 41 wound in a roll to be pulled out smoothly, preventing excessive load on the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 and the motor 70. Furthermore, when the radially outer portions of the release layers 31c and 41c are pulled out, the generation of noise when they separate from the radially inner adhesive layers 31b and 41b that overlap with the release layers 31c and 41c is suppressed.

[0033] Here, we examine the self-adhesion strength required for sealing diapers or the like between the sealing films 31 and 41 to prevent odor leakage. In this embodiment, the self-adhesion force is the value obtained by the following test method. First, under conditions of 23°C and 50% RH, a tape (10 mm wide) was used as the test specimen. With the adhesive side of the test specimen facing inward, it was overlapped so that the combined length was 100 mm or more. A 2 kg roller with a width of 50 mm was used to press the two pieces back and forth once at a speed of 30 mm / min, and it was left for 30 minutes. After that, the test specimen was fixed to an Instron-type tensile testing machine, and a T-shaped peel was performed at a peeling speed of 20 mm / min. The peeling force (N / 10 mm) obtained at that time was measured.

[0034] Figures 10 and 11 illustrate a method for examining the self-adhesion force required to prevent odor leakage. In order to determine the self-adhesion strength required for adhesive layers 31b and 41b, first, a 110mm wide sealing film whose self-adhesion strength was measured is set in a laminating device (manufactured by Nippon Calmic Co., Ltd., product name "Sanikko").

[0035] Next, a 30mm x 30mm x 30mm sponge 2100 is laminated using the above-mentioned device. As a result, the adhesive layers of the sealing films 31 and 41 adhere to each other, and the sponge 2100 is squeezed between the sealing films 31 and 41. Next, the bonded sealing films 31 and 41, each 110 mm wide, were cut to a length of 110 mm so that the sponge 2100 was in the center. This formed sample 2000. Multiple such samples 2000 were created using sealing films with different adhesive strengths.

[0036] Next, as shown in Figure 10, each sample 2000 is placed in water 2500 filled in container 2400, and a load W is slowly applied from above the sample 2000 using a flat plate 2300. Then, the value of the platform scale 2600 is measured when bubbles, or odor, are released from the seam of the sealing film in the water. Assuming that the contact surface between the laminated sealing films 31, 41 and the flat plate 2300 is a region of one side B which is half the film width A, the pressure applied to sample 2000 when the odor was emitted (Pa = N / m 2 Calculate ).

[0037] The relationship between the self-adhesion force of the sealing films 31 and 41 and the pressure applied to the sample when bubbles appear is shown in Figure 12. The regression line showing the relationship between pressure Y (Pa) and self-adhesion force X (N / 10mm) in the graph shown in Figure 12 is obtained as Y = 3424.2X - 4055.7.

[0038] Here, the weight of a used adult diaper is approximately 210g, and that of an infant diaper is 180g. (See, for example, page 5 of the Fukuoka Metropolitan Area Diaper Recycling System Study Committee Report - February 2016 - https: / / www.recycle-kea.or.jp / activite / document / 01_honbun_all.pdf (Accessed August 17, 2021)).

[0039] When used adult diapers are laminated with a sealing film that is 330 mm wide and infant diapers with a sealing film that is 220 mm wide, and one used diaper is placed on top of it, the pressure applied to the sample below is as follows. Adult size 210g x 0.0098N / (330mm / 2 / 1000) 2 = 75.6 Pa (N / m 2 ) Infant formula 180g x 0.0098N / (220mm / 2 / 1000) 2 = 105.3 Pa (N / m 2 )

[0040] Assuming that 10 samples are stacked vertically on a laminated sheet of used infant diapers with high pressure, the lowest-pressure sample will experience a pressure of 105.3 Pa × 10 sheets = 1053 Pa. This pressure value is then plotted on the regression line showing the relationship between the pressure Y (Pa) and the self-adhesion force X (N / 10mm) as pressure Y = 1053. Pa Substituting this into the equation, we find that the self-attaching force (X) is X = 1.5 N / 10mm Therefore, if we set the safety factor to 10% and 20%, the self-adhesion force required for the tape will be 1.65, respectively. N / 10mm , 1.8 N / 10mm This is the result.

[0041] Based on the above considerations, the self-adhesion strength of the adhesive constituting the adhesive layers 31b and 41b of the sealing films 31 and 41 in this embodiment is 1.5 N / 10mm The above applies. More preferably, the self-adhering force is 1.65 with a safety factor of 10. N / 10mm The above is preferable, and more preferably, the self-adhering force is 1.8 with a safety factor of 20%. N / 10mm That concludes the explanation. Due to this self-adhering ability, it is possible to prevent odor leakage when diapers or the like are sealed between the sealing films 31 and 41.

[0042] The film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 are located between the side plate portions 23 and 23 of the frame member 20, and are spaced apart from the film supply rollers 30 and 40 in the direction of pulling out the sealing film 31 and 41, and are stretched over the film supply rollers 30 and 40, that is, in this embodiment, spaced apart from and stretched over the film supply rollers 30 and 40.

[0043] However, the relative positions of the film supply rollers 30, 40 and the film pull-out rollers 50, 60 are such that, as shown in Figure 1, in a plan view within the frame member 20, the arrangement range (X1) of the two film supply rollers 30, 40 along the diametrical direction is contained within the arrangement range X2 of the two film pull-out rollers 50, 60 along the diametrical direction. This makes it possible to minimize the dimensions in the direction perpendicular to the axis of each roller 30, 40, 50, 60 within the frame member 20, contributing to the miniaturization of the packaging device 10 and the waste collection device 100.

[0044] The film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 sandwich the sealing films 31 and 41 between them and rotate inward relative to each other, that is, in the side view of Figure 1, one film pull-out roller 50 rotates clockwise and the other film pull-out roller 60 rotates counterclockwise, thereby pulling the films 31 and 41 from the film supply rollers 30 and 40 and bringing the sealing films 31 and 41 into close contact with each other.

[0045] The film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 sandwich the waste material to be packaged between the sealing films 31 and 41, but the two are in direct contact around the waste material. Therefore, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, the two film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 are arranged with their circumferential surfaces close together. On the other hand, it is necessary to absorb the thickness of the waste material passing between them. For this reason, the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 in this embodiment are fitted with cylindrical elastic members 52 and 62 on their rotating shafts 51 and 61. The tubular elastic members 52 and 62 are formed from, for example, reaction-curing foamed resins such as urethane, polyester, cellulose-based resins, and melamine; general-purpose resins such as polyolefins; engineering plastics such as polyacetal; various vinyl resins; elastomer resins; and rubber-based foams such as nitrile rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), chloropropylene rubber (CR), and natural rubber. They are designed to deform to conform to the shape of the waste as it passes between the opposing tubular elastic members 52 and 62 via the sealing films 31 and 41.

[0046] In this embodiment, in addition to the cylindrical elastic members 52 and 62, drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 are supported on the rotating shafts 51 and 61 adjacent to both ends of the cylindrical elastic members 52 and 62. These rollers are made of elastic members with a higher hardness than the cylindrical elastic members 52 and 62 and are sized to allow opposing rollers to come into close contact with each other. The hardness is harder than that of the cylindrical elastic members 52 and 62, preferably 30 to 70 on the Shore A hardness scale, and more preferably 40 to 60. The material can be, for example, the same material as the cylindrical elastic members 52 and 62, and unfoamed resins or low-foamed resins can be used. Furthermore, even if the material itself has low elasticity, for example, a hard synthetic resin, it is possible to give it spring force by applying a mesh or the like to the surface, thereby creating a structure that can transmit rotational force between opposing rollers.

[0047] In the film pull-out rollers 50, 60, it is preferable that the distance between the pair of drive transmission rollers 53, 53 (and 63, 63) that are provided with the tubular elastic members 52, 62 sandwiched in the axial direction be set such that a portion of the widthwise edge of the sealing film 31, 41 overlaps. That is, the length of the tubular elastic members 52, 62 along the axial direction is slightly shorter than the width of the sealing film 31, 41, and as a result, the widthwise edge of the sealing film 31, 41 overlaps with the drive transmission rollers 53, 53 or 63, 63.

[0048] Therefore, the adhesive layers 31b, 41b of the sealing films 31, 41 are directly joined together by the opposing drive transmission rollers 53, 63. In particular, the sealing films 31, 41 used in this embodiment are 1.5 N / 10mm Because it possesses such high self-adhesion force, the widthwise edges of the sealing films 31 and 41 are firmly joined together. In addition, the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 press against each other via the sealing films 31 and 41, ensuring synchronous rotation and smooth feeding of the sealing films 31 and 41. To further enhance the close contact (mutual pressing force) between the opposing drive transmission rollers 53 and 63, it is preferable to movably support the rotation axis 61 of the driven film pull-out roller 60, but this point will be discussed later.

[0049] Furthermore, since the transmission from the driving side to the driven side is not through the meshing of conventional metal gears, even if a part of the sealing film 31, 41 is caught between the drive transmission rollers 53, 63, the sealing film 31, 41 will not be damaged such as torn.

[0050] As drive transmission rollers 53 and 63, a circular cross-sectional shape, as shown in Figures 1 to 4, is typically used in the direction of rotation. In the case of a circular shape, as described above, opposing drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 press against each other via the sealing films 31 and 41 and rotate synchronously. Drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 are not limited to circular shapes; irregular shapes can also be used. In the case of an irregular shape, in addition to the same effect, one protrusion presses against the other protrusion in the direction of rotation, allowing for more reliable synchronous rotation. Furthermore, an irregular cross-section is also effective when the surface of the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 is made of a slippery material. Moreover, in the case of an irregular shape, even if waste is located between the two, the protrusions crush the waste while rotating, improving the adhesion of the adhesive layers 31b and 41b of the sealing films 31 and 41 to the waste. As an irregular cross-section drive transmission roller 53 and 63, a gear shape can also be used, as shown in Figure 5. In this case, the teeth 53a and 63a of both mesh together, allowing for more reliable synchronous rotation. Even though the structure has teeth 53a and 63a, the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 are formed from an elastic material, so even if the sealing film 31 and 41 gets caught between the teeth 53a and 63a, it will not tear or anything like that.

[0051] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the dimensions of the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 with irregular cross-sections that form surface irregularities (height D of the protrusions, radius R1 of the protrusions, radius R2 of the recesses, distance P between adjacent protrusions, etc.) can be arbitrarily set and are not particularly limited. For example, they can be made into various shapes as shown in Figure 7.

[0052] Figure 7(a) shows a configuration in which there are four circumferentially long protrusions (corresponding to the teeth 53a and 63a in Figure 5) 53a1, 63a1 along the circumference, with shorter circumferentially long recesses 53a2, 63a2 formed between each protrusion 53a1, 63a1. Figure 7(b) shows a configuration in which the radii R1 and R2 shown in Figure 6 are approximately the same length, and the protrusions 53a1, 63a1 and recesses 53a2, 63a2 are approximately the same length in the circumferential direction. Figure 7(c) shows a configuration in which the radius R1 shown in Figure 6 is smaller than the radius R2, and the protrusions 53a1, 63a1 have a steeper rise than in Figure 7(b). Figure 7(d) shows a gear shape similar to that shown in Figure 5.

[0053] Figures 7(e) to 7(h) show that the outer circumferential shape of the cross-section along the circumference is the same as that of Figures 7(a) to 7(d), but the thickness is thinner than that of Figures 7(a) to 7(d), and the inner circumferential shape is hollowed out into a tube shape, the same as the outer circumferential shape. In Figures 7(e) to 7(h), larger diameter rotating shafts 51 and 61 are inserted, and drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 are closely arranged on the circumferential surfaces of these rotating shafts 51 and 61, and the two rotate as a single unit.

[0054] Therefore, when the rotating shafts 51 and 61 are inserted, the protrusions 53a1 and 63a1 are solid in the cases of Figures 7(a) to (d), whereas they are hollow in the cases of Figures 7(e) to (h). For this reason, assuming the same material and shape, the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 in Figures 7(a) to (d) are superior to their corresponding counterparts in Figures 7(e) to (h) in terms of rotational force transmission. However, if any foreign object gets caught, the protrusions 53a1 and 63a1 in Figures 7(e) to (h) are more easily deformed and less likely to be damaged than those in Figures 7(a) to (d). The choice of which to adopt can be made by considering various factors such as the material and size of the film used, the rotation speed of the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63, or the installation location of the waste collection device 100 equipped with the packaging device 10 of this embodiment.

[0055] As shown in Figure 1, the motor 70, which acts as the drive unit, is preferably positioned below one of the film pull-out rollers 50, 60 so as not to protrude too far outward from the arrangement range X2 of the two film pull-out rollers 50, 60 in a plan view. The rotational force of the motor 70 is transmitted to one of the film pull-out rollers 50 via the first gear 71, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The film pull-out roller 50 is provided with a second gear 54 that meshes with the first gear 71, and the second gear 54 is made as thin as possible. This makes it possible to reduce the axial length of one of the film pull-out rollers 50, including this second gear 54, and thus avoids increasing the size of the frame member 20.

[0056] Furthermore, as described above, since one drive transmission roller 53 is the driving side and transmits rotational force to the other drive transmission roller 63 which is the driven side, there is no need to provide a transmission gear on the other film pull-out roller 60 side that meshes with the second gear 54 provided on the one film pull-out roller 50. In other words, the second gear 54 of the film pull-out roller 50 meshes with the first gear 71 which transmits the rotational force of the motor 70, and therefore needs to be made of metal or a hard synthetic resin, and in particular it needs to be made of metal if it is to be thin. However, if the second gear 54 is made of metal or a hard synthetic resin, and furthermore, a gear made of metal or a hard synthetic resin that meshes with it must be provided on the other film pull-out roller 60 side, there is a high risk of damage such as tearing if the sealing films 31 and 41 get caught between them. In contrast, in this embodiment, there is no need to provide such a metal or the like gear on the other film pull-out roller 60 side, and in this respect, the possibility of damage to the sealing films 31 and 41 can be suppressed.

[0057] The drive transmission from the motor 70 to one of the film pull-out rollers 50 can also be done using a drive belt (not shown) instead of the first gear 71 and the second gear 54. However, if the drive belt is wrapped around the rotating shaft 51 of one of the film pull-out rollers 50, the length equivalent to the width of the drive belt will be the area on the rotating shaft 51 where the sealing films 31 and 41 cannot be placed. In contrast, if the second gear 54 made of metal or the like is used, it can be made from a single thin plate, so the area where the sealing films 31 and 41 cannot be placed becomes narrower, and as a result, wider sealing films 31 and 41 can be used.

[0058] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide an overload prevention device (not shown) to prevent overloading of the motor 70 in the event that a large piece of debris or other object accidentally gets caught between the film pullers 50 and 60 or between the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63.

[0059] The overload prevention device may be mechanical or electrical. In the case of a mechanical device, for example, a torque limiter that rotates via friction transmission set to a predetermined torque limit value considering safety can be installed between a first gear 71 directly connected to the motor 70 and a second gear 54 provided on one of the film pull-out rollers 50. This ensures that when large debris such as the above gets caught, the torque limiter will act to cut off the rotation and prevent overloading the motor 70.

[0060] In the case of an electric system, for example, a detection unit is provided that detects the load on the motor 70 transmitted from the film pull-out roller 50 side via the second gear 54 and the first gear 71 as a current value. Then, a program is incorporated into the control board that controls the drive of the motor 70 that shuts off the power supply if the detected current value exceeds a preset current value. This prevents overload on the motor 70 when a condition occurs that prevents the rotation of the film pull-out rollers 50, 60, etc., as described above. In the case of an electric system, since the power supply can be shut off when an overload is detected, wasted power consumption can be suppressed.

[0061] It is preferable to provide baffles 80 and 90 below the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 (see Figures 2 and 3(b)). The baffles 80 and 90 are positioned such that their upper edges 81 and 91 are located near the direct line of rotation axis 51 and 61 of each film pull-out roller 50 and 60, and their lower edges 82 and 92 extend outward from the upper edges 81 and 91, with the lower edges 82 and 92 fixed to the front plate portion 21 and back plate portion 22 of the frame member 20 (see Figure 3(b)). This prevents the sealing film 31 and 41 that has passed between the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 from being wound back onto the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 instead of continuing on to the waste collection portion 110 below.

[0062] Here, the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 are rotatably supported on the side plates 23 and 23 as described above. However, it is preferable that the film pull-out roller 60, which functions as the driven side, has bearing members 233 and 233 that support the rotating shaft 61, which are movably provided with respect to the side plates 23 and 23 of the frame member 20, and are pressed against the film pull-out roller 50, which functions as the driving side, by a spring member 234. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 8, guide frames 232 and 232, which are substantially rectangular frames, are fixed to the inner surfaces of the side plates 23 and 23, and bearing members 233 and 233 are arranged within these guide frames 232 and 232 so as to be movable in the direction of the driving side film pull-out roller 50, that is, so as to be movable along the longitudinal direction of the guide frames 232 and 232. A spring member 234, which is a coil spring, is arranged between the bearing members 233 and 233 and the short side of the guide frames 232 and 232. As a result, the bearing members 233, 233 are always biased in the direction of the main-moving film pull-out roller 50. Although Figure 8 only shows the guide frame 232, bearing member 233, and spring member 234 on one axial side, the other axial side has a similar structure.

[0063] As described above, the rotation axis 61 of the driven film pull-out roller 60 is constantly biased to press against the driven film pull-out roller 50, the driven drive transmission rollers 63, 63 are biased to press against the driven drive transmission rollers 53, 53. As a result, the contact between the opposing drive transmission rollers 53, 63 on the driven and driven sides is increased, and the rotational force of the driven drive transmission rollers 53, 53 is reliably transmitted by the driven drive transmission rollers 63, 63.

[0064] In this embodiment, the rotational force of the motor 70 is transmitted to the driving film pull-out roller 50 via the first gear 71 and the second gear 54, but the force is transmitted from the driving film pull-out roller 50 to the driven film pull-out roller 60 by drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 made of elastic material. That is, unlike the case where the driving force is transmitted by the meshing of metal gear teeth, in order to rotate synchronously, the opposing drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 must always be pushing against each other. It is of course possible to configure the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 to be pushing against each other even when the rotating shaft 61 is in a fixed position by adjusting the diameter of the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63, but by configuring them to always press against each other using the spring member 234 as described above, the contact between them is increased, and more reliable synchronous rotation can be achieved. In particular, in order to more reliably bond the adhesive layers 31b and 41b of the sealing films 31 and 41 together and prevent odor leakage from the edges in the width direction, it is preferable to bias the rotation axis 61 of the driven film pull-out roller 60 in this manner and increase the close contact between the opposing drive transmission rollers 53 and 63.

[0065] Because the rotating shaft 61 of the driven film pull-out roller 60 is constantly biased against the driving film pull-out roller 50 as described above, if an item larger than the intended waste to be packaged is inserted (for example, if used sanitary products are intended as waste, but an adult diaper is inserted), the bearing member 233 of the rotating shaft 61 of the driven film pull-out roller 60 moves away from the driving film pull-out roller 50 against the elastic force of the spring member 234. As a result, the drive transmission roller 63 and cylindrical elastic member 62 that constitute the driven film pull-out roller 60 move away from the drive transmission roller 53 and cylindrical elastic member 52 that constitute the driving film pull-out roller 50, preventing overloading of the motor 70. On the other hand, even in such cases, the sealing films 31 and 41 have high self-adhesion as described above, and the tubular elastic members 52 and 62 that deform due to the waste press against the waste. Therefore, the rotation of the active film pull-out roller 50 rotates the driven film pull-out roller 60 through these members, and the sealing films 31 and 41 adhere to the surface of the waste while continuously moving the waste towards the waste storage section 110. After the waste passes between the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60, the sealing films 31 and 41 quickly adhere to each other due to their high self-adhesion. Therefore, according to this embodiment, even in such cases, the area where the widthwise edges of the sealing films 31 and 41 do not adhere to each other can be minimized.

[0066] In this embodiment, the waste collection device 100 receives waste to be packaged (used sanitary products, disposable diapers, etc.) from the input port 24 provided in the packaging device 10. When it is detected that the waste has passed through the input port 24, or if an automatic detection mechanism is not provided, the motor 70 starts to operate when a person turns on the drive switch.

[0067] When the sealing films 31 and 41 are first used, their leading edges are inserted and set between the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60. If they have already been used, the sealed waste from the previous use is contained within the waste storage section 110, and the sealing films 31 and 41 located above it are positioned between the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60. The sealing films 31 and 41 have high self-adhesion. Therefore, the area located between the film pull-out rollers 50 and 60 is in close contact not only with the widthwise edges where the drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 face each other, but also with the areas where the tubular elastic members 52 and 62 face each other. The tubular elastic members 52 and 62 are made of urethane foam or the like, as described above, and have low hardness. Therefore, if the self-adhesion is low, there may be concerns about adhesion in that area, but since the sealing films 31 and 41 used in this embodiment have high self-adhesion as described above, the areas where the tubular elastic members 52 and 62 face each other are also firmly in contact.

[0068] When the motor 70 is driven, the driving side film pull-out roller 50 rotates via the first gear 71 and the second gear 54, and rotational force is transmitted from the driving transmission rollers 53, 53 to the opposing driven side driving transmission rollers 63, 63 via the sealing films 31, 41, causing the driven side film pull-out roller 60 to rotate as well.

[0069] The introduced waste is positioned between the sealing films 31 and 41 in the film supply rollers 30 and 40, and then passes between the tubular elastic members 52 and 62 of the film withdrawal rollers 50 and 60. At this time, the tubular elastic members 52 and 62 deform to conform to the shape of the waste, and the sealing films 31 and 41 adhere tightly to the surface of the waste. Simultaneously, the widthwise edges of the sealing films 31 and 41 positioned between the opposing drive transmission rollers 53 and 63 adhere firmly due to their high self-adhesion force. The sealing films 31 and 41 above the waste, positioned after the waste has passed between the tubular elastic members 52 and 62, not only at their widthwise edges but also in the areas between them, are in close contact with the tubular elastic members 52 and 62, and high adhesion is achieved due to their high self-adhesion force. Therefore, leakage of waste odor is suppressed.

[0070] In this embodiment, similar to Patent Documents 1 and 2, the sealing films 31 and 41 are not configured to be cut after sealing the waste. Therefore, the waste sealed by the packaging device 10 is guided directly into the waste storage section 110 and stored therein.

[0071] The axial lengths of the two film supply rollers 30, 40 and the two film pull-out rollers 50, 60 vary depending on the size of the waste to be processed, and the frame member 20 is typically sized to match these lengths. However, preparing frame members 20 of various sizes in advance is costly, so it is preferable to have a structure that allows for adjustment of the distance between the support members (between the side plates 23, 23) in the frame member 20. For example, the frame member 20 can be divided between one side plate 23 and the other, and a slide member and a rail member (neither shown) can be provided on these sides. The distance between the side plates 23, 23 can then be adjusted by the amount the slide member slides onto the rail member. This allows for the preparation of frame members 20 that match the axial lengths of the film supply rollers 30, 40 and the film pull-out rollers 50, 60 at a low cost.

[0072] Furthermore, as the cylindrical elastic members 52,62 attached to the respective rotating shafts 51,61 of the film pull-out rollers 50,60, it is preferable to use a configuration in which multiple separating cylindrical parts 52A~52C, 62A~62C separated at axial intervals are supported by each rotating shaft 51,61, as shown in Figure 13. If the cylindrical elastic members 52,62 are composed of a single cylindrical member that is not separated, when debris is introduced between them, deformation occurs over a wide area in the axial direction of the cylindrical elastic members 52,62, centered on the location of the debris. As a result, gaps are likely to form between the sealing films 31,41 around the area directly facing the debris. Such gaps can also be a cause of peeling between the tightly adhering sealing films 31,41. In this embodiment, since the self-adhesion force of the sealing films 31,41 is above a predetermined level as described above, peeling is unlikely to occur, but regardless of the self-adhesion force, it is desirable to suppress such gaps as much as possible.

[0073] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 13, since it is composed of multiple separation cylindrical parts 52A to 52C and 62A to 62C, if the area through which the debris directly passes is, for example, between separation cylindrical parts 52B and 62B, then the remaining separation cylindrical parts 52A, 62A or 52C and 62C will not undergo significant deformation. As a result, the gap that forms around the debris is smaller than when it is composed of a single cylindrical member. Consequently, the area of ​​the sealing film 31 and 41 that is not in close contact with either the surface of the debris or the opposing film surface becomes smaller, and the effect of suppressing peeling between sealing films 31 and 41 that have already adhered to each other is enhanced.

[0074] Furthermore, the cylindrical elastic members 52 and 62 may not be composed of mutually independent separating cylindrical parts 52A to 52C and 62A to 62C, as shown in Figure 13, but rather may be composed of a single cylindrical member with a slit formed in the rotational direction from the surface to a predetermined depth. In this case as well, the slit acts as a boundary, making it less susceptible to deformation caused by debris, and the same effect as when the separating cylindrical parts 52A to 52C and 62A to 62C are mounted on each rotating shaft 51 and 61 can be obtained. However, the configuration in which multiple separating cylindrical parts 52A to 52C and 62A to 62C are mounted on each rotating shaft 51 and 61 is easier to process and manufacture than forming a slit in the rotational direction of a single cylindrical member. Although Figure 11 shows three separation cylindrical sections 52A-52C and 62A-62C, the number of sections is not limited to this; there may be two, four or more, or any number of sections. The number of slits to be formed is also arbitrary. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0075] 10 Packaging equipment 20 Frame members 21 Front plate section 22 Back plate part 23 Side plate part 30, 40 Film supply rollers 31,41 Sealing film 50, 60 Film pull-out rollers 51, 61 Rotation axis 52,62 Cylindrical elastic member 52A~52C, 62A~62C Separation cylindrical section 53,63 Drive transmission rollers 70 Motor (drive unit) 80,90 Obstacle board 100 Waste containment device 110 Waste containment section

Claims

1. A packaging device that packages an object to be packaged by positioning it between two sealing films with their adhesive layers facing each other, Each sealing film is wound so that the adhesive layers face each other when pulled out, and two film supply rollers are arranged within the frame member at a predetermined distance apart, Two film pull-out rollers are provided within the frame member and, by rotating, rewind and pull out each of the sealing films from each of the film supply rollers, and a cylindrical elastic member is disposed on the rotating shaft that contacts each of the pulled-out sealing films and deforms along the outer diameter of the object to be packaged as it passes through. A drive unit for rotating each of the aforementioned film pull-out rollers It is equipped with, At each end of the rotating shaft of one of the film pull-out rollers and at each end of the rotating shaft of the other film pull-out roller, drive transmission rollers are provided, which are made of an elastic member having a higher hardness than the cylindrical elastic member and a Shore A hardness of 30 to 70, and which can come into close contact with each other via the respective sealing films. The rotational force of the drive unit causes one of the film pull-out rollers to rotate, which in turn causes the other film pull-out roller to rotate via the opposing drive transmission rollers, and When one of the two film pull-out rollers, which rotate by the rotational force transmitted from the drive unit, is designated as the driving side, and the other as the driven side, which rotates as a result of the rotation of the driving side film pull-out roller, an elastic member is provided to press the film pull-out roller that functions as the driven side toward the opposing film pull-out roller that functions as the driving side. A bearing member, on which the rotation axis of the film pull-out roller, which functions as the driven side, is pivotally supported, is provided movably with respect to the frame member, The elastic member is disposed between the bearing member and the frame member and consists of a spring member that presses the bearing member toward the film pull-out roller, which functions as the driving side. A packaging device characterized by the following features.

2. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each of the drive transmission rollers has a circular cross-sectional shape along the direction of rotation.

3. The packaging apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the arrangement range of the two film supply rollers along the diametrical direction is, in a plan view, within the combined arrangement range of the two film pull-out rollers.

4. The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame member is adjustable in distance between opposing support members to match the axial length of the two film supply rollers and the two film pull-out rollers.

5. The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a baffle plate is provided near the lower part of the two film pull-out rollers to prevent each of the sealing films from being wound in the direction of the two film pull-out rollers.

6. The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein each of the cylindrical elastic members constituting the two film pull-out rollers has slits formed in the rotational direction at intervals in the axial direction.

7. The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each of the two cylindrical elastic members constituting the two film pull-out rollers has a plurality of separating cylindrical portions separated at intervals in the axial direction, and each of the separating cylindrical portions is supported by the rotating shaft.

8. The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein an overload prevention device is provided to prevent overloading of the drive unit.

9. The packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the sealing film is a film in which the adhesive layer is formed with an adhesive having a self-adhesion strength of 1.5 N / 10 mm or more.

10. The packaging device is provided according to any one of claims 1 to 9, and the object to be packaged is waste, A waste containment device characterized by having a waste containment section for containing the waste located at the lower part of the packaging device.

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