Packaging device

Abstract

[Problem] To cope with various points to be improved in order to perform top sealing for a plurality of containers that are not of the same size. [Solution] A packaging device for sealing a container with a film includes: a heater means for heating a die; and a mounting means capable of mounting one die out of a plurality of dies. The packaging device is characterized in that the die mounted on the mounting means comes relatively closer to the heater means.

Description

packaging equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging device that covers a tray on which an item to be packaged is placed with a film and heat-seals the film to the edge of the tray.

[0002] A conventional packaging device performs top sealing on a large number of trays by placing the food to be packaged on a weighing scale, then transporting the food into trays supplied on a conveyor, and heat-sealing the food onto a film lid on the tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Special Publication No. 2013-515654

[0004] The packaging device described in Patent Document 1 performs top sealing on containers of the same size, and is not an apparatus that can accommodate a plurality of containers, and there are various points that need to be improved.

[0005] The packaging device of the present invention has at least the following configuration: A packaging device for sealing a film to a container, comprising heater means for heating a cutting die and mounting means for mounting one of a plurality of cutting dies, wherein the cutting die mounted on the mounting means is relatively close to the heater means.

[0006] According to the present invention, a packaging device capable of packaging a plurality of containers can be provided.

[0007] 7A is a right perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7B is a left perspective view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7C is a top view showing the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7D is a right side view of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7E is a right side view of a measuring means and a packaging means (with a portion of the machine frame removed); FIG. 7F is a perspective view of a measuring means and a packaging means (with a portion of the machine frame removed); FIG. 7G is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an upper cutter die and an upper cutter die folder, where FIG. 7A shows the upper cutter die folder when no upper cutter die is loaded, FIG. 7B shows the upper cutter die alone, and FIG. 7C shows the upper cutter die loaded in the upper cutter die folder; FIG. 8A is a top view, FIG. 8B is a front view, FIG. 8C is a bottom view, FIG. 8D is an upper perspective view, and FIG. 8E is a lower perspective view showing an upper cutter die. 9(a) is a top view, 9(b) is a front view, 9(c) is a bottom view, 9(d) is an upper oblique view, and 9(e) is a lower oblique view, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die, and with the metal plate and surrounding bottom plate omitted, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die, and the metal plate and surrounding bottom plate omitted, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die, and the metal plate and surrounding bottom plate omitted, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die, and the metal plate and surrounding bottom plate omitted, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the upper die with the grip portion for transportation removed from the upper die folder, showing the 12(a) is a top view, FIG. 12(b) is a front view, FIG. 12(c) is a bottom view, FIG. 12(d) is a top perspective view, FIG. 12(e) is a right side view, and FIG. 12(f) is an enlarged view of portion D in FIG. 12(d). 13(a) is a top view and FIG. 13(b) is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a lower die. 13(a) is a perspective view illustrating a state in which a lower die is attached to and detached from a lower die folder. 13(b) is a view illustrating an action mechanism for determining a loading state. 13(b) is a view illustrating an example of a display screen displaying a determination result. 13(c) is a view illustrating an example of a display screen layout. 13(d) is a view illustrating an example of a display screen layout. 13(c) is a view illustrating an example of a display screen layout. 13(d) is a partially enlarged side cross-sectional view of a lower die. 13(d) is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a change in state when a lower die is pushed up against an upper die.10 is a perspective view showing how the upper and lower die are housed in the die housing means, and FIG. 11 is a right side view showing how the upper and lower die are housed in the die housing means.

[0008] An example of an embodiment of a packaging device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. However, the drawings below have been created for explanatory purposes, and for the sake of clarity, components not necessary for the explanation may be intentionally omitted. Furthermore, components may be intentionally enlarged or reduced in size for the purpose of explanation, and the drawings are not drawn to an accurate scale. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different drawings indicate parts with the same function, and duplicate explanations in each drawing will be omitted as appropriate.

[0009] (Overall Configuration) Figures 1 to 4 show the appearance of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, with Figure 1 being a right perspective view, Figure 2 being a left perspective view, Figure 3 being a top view, and Figure 4 being a right side view. Figures 5 and 6 particularly show the weighing means and packaging means, with Figure 5 being a right side view (with part of the machine frame removed) and Figure 6 being a perspective view (with part of the machine frame removed).

[0010] 1 to 3, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention weighs the packaged items, carries the trays T carrying the packaged items into the device, and automatically performs a series of operations, including a top sealing process (processing the entire welded area at once) that involves a gas replacement process to extend the expiration date of the packaged items, labeling, and then carrying the package out. In other words, the device has a packaging process between the weighing process of the packaged items and the labeling process. More specifically, as shown by the arrow in FIG. 3, in the packaging device 100, when a tray T (see FIG. 5) carrying an article to be packaged is placed on the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 1), the weight of the article to be packaged is measured, and the tray T is carried forward by the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) into the machine frame having the packaging means 2. In the machine frame, the lower punching die 25 (see FIG. 1) pushes the tray T upward, and first, the air present in the space formed between the film, which is always stretched and held at both ends by the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 (see FIG. 1), and the tray T is purged with an inactivation gas. The tray T is then replaced with a new one, and while the edge of the tray T is abutted against the film, the film is clamped between the lower die 25 and the upper die 24 (see FIG. 1) and heat-sealed to form a sealed package. After the film is cut, the lower die 25 and the tray T are lowered to a predetermined height (home position), and the in-feed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6) again advances the tray T in the carry-in direction to transport it to the subsequent area 3, and while moving it in the carry-out direction perpendicular to the carry-in direction, a label is affixed by the label affixing means 7, and the tray T is then discharged onto the first discharge table 4, and further moved in the opposite direction to the carry-in direction to the second discharge table 5. In this embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die dies are provided and configured to be interchangeable to accommodate three different sizes of tray T: large, medium, and small. However, this is merely an example, and the types of sizes may be two, "large" and "small," or four or more sizes may be prepared, or even a configuration may be such that there is only one size of tray and it is not assumed that the trays are interchangeable. The weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and subsequent area 3 are aligned vertically from the front to the back of the device.As shown in FIG. 1 , above the weighing means 1 and upstream of the weighing means 1 in the conveying direction, a console 6 is disposed. The console 6 has an operation unit, such as a display unit, a numeric keypad, and a touch panel, on the front surface, and includes a control unit. To explain this arrangement in more detail, the lower end of the console 6 case is located upstream of the weighing means 1, and the center of the console 6 and the center of the display unit are located in the area of ​​the weighing means 1. Although the console 6 is disposed at an angle, the upper end of the console 6 case is also located upstream of the weighing means 1. The upper portion of the rear area 3 is provided with a labeling unit 7 that prints and affixes product labels bearing information such as the weighed weight, unit price, and price. Furthermore, the lower die 25 is provided with a gas replacement mechanism (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 ). In this specification, "gas replacement" refers to "gas replacement" used in a broad sense (regardless of the specific process) of a process in which the air inside a packaged item is replaced with an inert gas to extend the expiration date, and includes both "gas replacement" used in the narrow sense in which the air is completely removed before gas is introduced, and "gas flush" in which gas is sprayed to expel the air.

[0011] In an embodiment of the present invention having such a configuration, the top seal is performed while gas is replaced between the packaged item and the film, so that the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged item and the packaging process using the top seal can be performed approximately simultaneously, thereby making the work more efficient.

[0012] Furthermore, in the embodiment of the present invention, the tray T is inserted from the front, packaged, and then returned to the front, which significantly contributes to the efficiency of work in the backroom and realizes this configuration in a compact manner. However, from the viewpoint of performing the gas replacement process for extending the expiration date of the packaged items and the packaging process using a top seal substantially simultaneously, the configuration in which the tray is inserted from the front and then returned to the front is not essential. It is also possible to realize this by simply transporting the tray in one direction from the front to the rear, or by first performing the packaging process and then the weighing process. Furthermore, it is also possible to eliminate the weighing process and labeling process and create an apparatus assembly specialized for the packaging process. This will be described later as another embodiment.

[0013] The machine frame shown in FIG. 1 , particularly the upper portion, not only houses the packaging means 2 and other components but also plays a vital role in isolating the interior from the outside. The lower portion of the machine frame is equipped with a buffer tank BT for gas exchange (see FIG. 6 ). Specifically, after weighing by the weighing means 1, the tray T is transported, and the upper and lower cutters are closed to seal the top. To prevent an operator from accidentally inserting their hand and causing an accident, a shutter 11 is provided between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, slightly including the area of ​​the weighing means 1 (see FIG. 5 ). The shutter 11 isolates the inside and outside of the housing when the tray T is transported to the packaging means 2 by the infeed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6 ). Because the transport means in this embodiment of the present invention is the infeed bar IB (see FIGS. 5 and 6 ), rather than a belt conveyor, the shutter 11 is configured to close by lifting from the bottom up, avoiding the chain portion (see FIG. 5 ). However, the shutter may be configured to close by descending from top to bottom, or a shutter may not be provided and the device may be stopped when a sensor detects the intrusion of a hand, thereby ensuring safety.

[0014] To improve convenience during transportation, the first and second discharge trays 4 and 5 are detachable. After these trays are removed, the label application unit 7 is configured to slide fully to the left in FIG. 3 so that it fits within the machine frame's left-right range and does not get in the way during transportation. Conversely, in a "pricing mode" in which only pricing labels are issued without packaging, the label application unit 7 is slid fully to the right in FIG. 3 so that an operator manually applies pricing labels to products. To achieve this, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is equipped with a label application unit slide rail 71 and anti-tip legs 72. The anti-tip legs 72 support the entire device to prevent the packaging device 100 from losing balance and tipping over when the label application unit 7 is moved all the way to the right.

[0015] The weighing means 1 is configured to weigh the placed packaged items and trays T, and transmits information on the weighed weight to the control means of the console 6. As shown in Fig. 5, rod-shaped in-feed bars IB are stretched across two left and right chains that can travel the entire circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2, at four circumferential positions, so that the placed trays T can be carried into the machine frame that houses the packaging means 2 and then transported directly to the rear region 3. More specifically, as shown in Fig. 5, a total of eight in-feed bar support members IB1 for stretching the in-feed bars IB are provided on the two left and right chains at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains, and four antibacterial treated metal rod-shaped in-feed bars IB are connected to them (see also Fig. 6). The spacing between the in-feed bars IB in the circumferential arrangement is set so that when the in-feed bar IB makes a retreating movement (this will be described later), the in-feed bar IB will not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1. The height of the in-feed bar IB relative to the placement surface of the tray T is configured to be located at the center between the height of the bottom surface and the height of the top surface of the tray T, but the height may be changed as appropriate as long as the tray T can be transported stably.

[0016] As mentioned above, three types of trays T are available: large, medium, and small. Interchangeable upper and lower die dies 24 and 25 are provided for packaging the trays T to accommodate each size. Specifically, in this embodiment, an upper die 24A for large trays (150 mm wide and 150 mm deep), an upper die 24B for medium trays (150 mm wide and 120 mm deep), and an upper die 24C for small trays (120 mm wide and 120 mm deep) are provided. However, the outer shapes of the die dies are all the same regardless of tray size. To properly center the three types of trays T (large, medium, and small) relative to the in-feed bar IB, the platform of the weighing unit 1 is provided with recesses of slightly different depths corresponding to the large, medium, and small tray sizes. That is, a deeper recess for the medium size tray is located inside the recess for the large size tray, and an even deeper recess for the small size tray is located inside the recess for the medium size tray. The difference in level caused by this recess is kept to a minimum so as not to create resistance when the in-feed bar IB transports the tray T. Additionally, guides 12 tapering toward the center are provided on both the left and right sides as a means for centering (see FIG. 2). Furthermore, instead of recesses or guides, visually identifiable indicators may also be used as a means for centering. Even if slight misalignment occurs, the tray T is naturally guided to the correct position when pushed up by the lower die 25 because the sides of the tray T are inclined. In addition, a sliding member that narrows the width in unison on both sides, as commonly used in cutters, may be provided at the bottom of the opening defined by a shutter located between the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2, slightly including the area of ​​the weighing means 1, to provide a means for correcting misalignment at the beginning of transport.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 5 , the trays T that have been packaged by thermal welding are transferred from the packaging means 2 to the subsequent area 3. As shown in FIG. 6 , the subsequent area 3 is composed of a conveyor belt and functions as a discharge means for moving the trays T outside the machine frame. Above the subsequent area 3, a labeling means 7 for printing and affixing product labels is provided. Therefore, the subsequent area 3 can also be regarded as the labeling means 7. Thus, the trays T are transferred by the subsequent area 3 in a discharge direction perpendicular to the feed direction and discharged toward the first discharge table 4. The first discharge table 4 shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 is equipped with a drive roller that moves the trays T in a direction opposite to the feed direction to the second discharge table 5. The second discharge table 5 is inclined, and the trays T move under their own weight. Therefore, the rollers of the second discharge table 5 are simply rollers without any driving force.

[0018] The packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper die storage means 24H and a lower die storage means 25H as storage means capable of storing all types of unused die dies for the upper die 24 and the lower die 25. This eliminates the need to store unused die dies in a location separate from the packaging device body, thereby saving space. The upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located in the vicinity of the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212. More specifically, in the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H are located above the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2 in a manner corresponding to the placement of the weighing means 1 and the packaging means 2. The lower die storage means 25H is located above the weighing means 1, near the console 6 having a display unit, and downstream of the console 6. Of course, this is merely an example, and the positions of the upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H may be reversed, or the storage locations may be separated into a storage space for upper and lower die dies of one size and a storage space for upper and lower die dies of another size. Details of the upper die storage means 24H and the lower die storage means 25H will be described later.

[0019] To summarize the machine frame having the packaging means 2, in Figure 4, a film holding means 211 that holds the film used to package the containers and a surplus film winding means 212 that winds up the excess film when the containers are sealed are arranged at the top of the machine frame, corresponding to the front and rear arrangement of the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, respectively, shown in dashed line areas, and as a whole, these form a film hanging means 21.

[0020] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 , the film suspending means 21 is arranged to fit within the upper portion of the machine frame in which the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2 are located. The film is suspended in the same direction as the weighing means 1, packaging means 2, and rear-stage area 3, which are vertically aligned from the front to the rear of the machine. In other words, the film suspending direction is the same as the tray T transport direction. In conventional packaging machines, the film suspending means is typically arranged to extend significantly outside the machine frame in which the packaging means and other components are located. However, this embodiment significantly contributes to space savings. Note that while the film suspending means 21 is arranged to fit within the upper portion of the weighing means 1 and packaging means 2, it may be arranged such that the surplus film take-up means 212 extends into the rear-stage area 3, or the console 6 may be located in a different position so that the film holding means 211 extends further forward. Even with such a configuration, it can be said that this is a technical concept for space saving that is clearly distinguishable from the conventional technology in which a film hanging means is arranged to protrude significantly outside the device frame. Furthermore, even if the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212 are arranged in reverse front-to-back, this does not impair space saving, and the film holding means 211 may be arranged at the rear and the surplus film winding means 212 at the front. Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, this embodiment employs an arrangement in which the film unwound from the film holding means 211 is given a certain tension by the dancer roller DR to stabilize the tension, then looped around two film feed shafts so that it passes near the bottom of the mounting means, and then wound by the surplus film winding means 212. The dancer roller DR functions as an adjustment means for adjusting the tension of the film and is located above the weighing means 1 and below the film holding means 211. In Figure 1, the side panel SP is pivotally supported at the right long side and is configured to be able to rotate rearward. With this configuration, the film roll can be replaced from the right side, and as will be described later, the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 can also be replaced from the right side.In this way, the upper die 24, film holding means 211, and surplus film winding means 212 are detachable and attachable in the same direction along the winding shaft during replacement. The lower die 25 is replaced by inserting it from the right side and then dropping it slightly downward (see also Figure 12). The label application means 7 can be tilted (rotated) backward, facilitating the replacement of film rolls and the replacement of the upper die 24 and lower die 25. The rotatable configuration also facilitates label replacement. The rotatable side panel SP may be located on the left side instead of the right side. In other words, the rotatable side panel SP does not have to be located on the same side as the first discharge tray 4, etc. However, rotatably configuring the side panel SP on the same side as the first discharge tray 4, etc., is advantageous in terms of space saving.

[0021] The top panel UP, front panel FP, and side panels SP of the machine frame are made of a transparent material or have transparent plates fitted in them so that the state of the film suspended on the film suspension means 21 can be checked. In addition to visual check, the top panel UP is configured to be slidable rearward to a position where it does not come into contact with the label application means 7, so that any problems can be dealt with, and the front panel FP is also pivotally supported at its upper edge so that it can rotate. Note that it may also be pivotally supported at its lower edge or configured to be slidable.

[0022] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, an upper die holder 240, into which the upper die 24 is loaded, is provided between the film hanging means 21 and the transport space for the tray T (transported by the in-feed bar IB). The upper die holder 240 is provided with a locking mechanism that prevents the upper die 24 from being removed after it has been loaded. To remove the upper die 24, an unlocking lever 24L must be operated (see Figure 11). The unlocking lever 24L is configured to prevent unlocking under inappropriate circumstances in conjunction with various die processing steps described below. An automatic locking mechanism may also be used. In this case, the locking operation may be linked to the temperature of the upper die 24 during various die processing steps described below. A heater 241 (see Figure 7(a)) is provided within the upper die holder 240 to supply heat for film welding. The upper die 24 is provided with a metal plate 242 (see FIG. 7( b)) (as a top seal portion 242) that transmits heat supplied from the heater means 241, and a film cutting means 244 (see FIGS. 7( b), 8, 9, and 10) that cuts the film. The heater means 241 contacts the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 loaded in the upper die holder 240. The metal plate 242 has a protrusion 242a that corresponds in size to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. The heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transferred to the protrusion 242a, thereby heat-sealing the film that is in contact with the edge of the tray T. In the embodiment of the present invention, aluminum, which has high thermal conductivity, is used as the material for the metal plate 242. However, this does not preclude the use of silver, copper, gold, or other materials with higher thermal conductivity. Furthermore, materials with lower thermal conductivity than aluminum may also be used if they do not present practical problems. In an embodiment of the present invention, the structure of the metal plate 242 has a convex portion 242a corresponding to the edge of the tray T and has an uneven shape, but the convex portion 242a and the central portion 242b are basically a single-piece structure composed of a single member.However, the metal plate 242 may be configured by bonding two plates together and by running a heat pipe between the two plates, thereby conducting heat from the heater more quickly and more evenly over a wider area. Furthermore, since the film and the container are welded together at the protrusion 242a, which functions as a top seal, the central portion 242b, which is the other portion, does not need to be at a high temperature. Considering the risk of heat dissipation from the central portion 242b, it is preferable to configure the central portion 242b to have a heat-insulating material fixed thereto, and such a configuration may be used.

[0023] A lower die 25 is provided below the upper die folder 240, sandwiching the transport space for the tray T. The lower die 25 pushes up the tray T, and the film sequentially fed out from the roll film R loaded in the film hanging means 21 is sandwiched between the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the lower die 25, performing a packaging process (top sealing process). In this way, the film hanging means 21, the upper die 24, and the lower die 25 constitute the packaging means 2, which is disposed downstream of the weighing means 1 in the transport direction.

[0024] In this embodiment, the roll film R is supported by a shaft of the film holding means 211 passing through its center hole. The fed film is sealed with a metal plate 242 and cut to the size of the tray T by the film cutting means 244, leaving only the cut periphery, i.e., a hollowed-out film. This film waste is then sequentially wound up by the surplus film winding means 212.

[0025] A metal plate 242 (see FIGS. 7(b) and 8) that functions as a top seal is disposed so as to face the fed film. When the tray T is moved upward by the lower die 25, the film is heat-sealed along the edge of the tray T with the edge of the tray T and the film sandwiched between the lower die 25 and the metal plate 242 (see FIGS. 7(b) and 8) of the upper die 24. Before heat-sealing, an inert gas is injected into the space formed between the film and the tray T to extend the expiration date of the packaged goods, and a gas replacement process is performed to replace the air with the inert gas, which will be described later.

[0026] (Conveying Operation by In-feed Bar) As shown in Figure 5, the in-feed bar IB, which is a conveying mechanism for trays T, is suspended at four circumferential positions on two left and right chains that can rotate around the entire circumference from the front of the weighing means 1 to the rear of the packaging means 2. As the chains rotate, trays T can be transported from the weighing means 1 to the packaging means 2, and then from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3. Rollers 31 are placed in the space between the packaging means 2 and the rear area 3, allowing trays T to move smoothly from the packaging means 2 to the rear area 3. Since most of the items to be packaged are food, the metal in-feed bar IB is treated with antibacterial and anti-rust properties. The in-feed bar IB is connected to the chains via a total of eight in-feed bar support members IB1, which are provided at four circumferential positions on the two left and right chains.

[0027] The conveying operation of the in-feed bar IB, which is connected to the chain serving as the drive means and moves in a circular motion, and the opening and closing operation of the shutter 11 will now be described. During standby, the shutter 11 is closed. When weighing is performed by the weighing means 1, the shutter 11 descends, allowing communication between the inside and outside of the housing. The tray T placed on the weighing means 1 is pushed by the in-feed bar IB and transported to the packaging means 2, where the in-feed bar IB stops. If this continues, the in-feed bar IB will interfere with the in-feed bar IB when the lower punching die 25, described below, moves upward, so the in-feed bar IB temporarily retreats to the area where the weighing means 1 is located. As mentioned above, the spacing of the in-feed bars IB in the circumferential direction is set so that when the in-feed bar IB retreats, it will not interfere with the next packaged item placed on the weighing means 1. Once the in-feed bar IB retracts, a shutter 11 rises from below the front portion of the machine frame, isolating the inside from the outside, ensuring safety. This state of isolation by the shutter 11 continues until the next product is weighed. The structure of the in-feed bars IB, which are arranged intermittently around the circumference, allows the shutter to rise from below and close, avoiding the chain portions that are continuously arranged around the circumference. After the top of the tray T is sealed by the packaging means 2, the in-feed bar IB again moves forward and transports the tray T to the subsequent area 3. At this time, the rollers 31 ensure that the tray T is smoothly transported without falling between the packaging means 2 and the subsequent area 3. The height of the in-feed bar IB relative to the tray T placement surface is configured to be centered between the height of the bottom and top of the tray T, but the height may be adjusted as needed as long as the tray T can be transported stably. This embodiment, with such a configuration, can transport the packaged items from the weighing means through the packaging means to the downstream area using a single transport means, which contributes greatly to space and cost savings.

[0028] (Gas replacement and packaging operation by upper and lower die) Figure 7 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating the upper die and the upper die folder, where Figure 7(a) shows the upper die folder when the upper die is not loaded, Figure 7(b) shows the upper die alone, and Figure 7(c) shows the state in which the upper die is loaded into the upper die folder. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the upper die, where Figure 8(a) shows a top view, Figure 8(b) shows an upper oblique view, and Figure 8(c) shows a bottom oblique view. Figure 13 is a diagram illustrating the lower die, where Figure 13(a) shows a top view and Figure 13(b) shows a side cross-sectional view. Figure 20 is an enlarged view of part A in Figure 13(b), rotated 90 degrees to show the state in which the lower die is horizontally positioned. Figure 21 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die is pushed up relative to the upper die.

[0029] As can be seen from comparing the front cross-sectional views of Figures 7(a) and 7(c), the upper cutting die 24 is loaded into the upper cutting die holder 240 by entering from the right side. That is, as described above, the upper cutting die 24, like the film holding means 211 and the surplus film winding means 212, is detachable from the right side of Figure 1, which is the same direction along the winding shaft. Also, as shown in Figure 7(b), the upper cutting die has a metal plate 242 that functions as a top seal when heat supplied from the heater means 241 is transferred, and a film cutting means 244 for cutting the film. As shown in Figure 8, the metal plate 242 has a chamfered rectangular shape to correspond to the edge of the tray T, and the film cutting means 244 is disposed on its outer periphery. The metal plate 242 also has a protrusion 242a sized to correspond to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. The film cutting means 244 can cut the welded film to the size of the tray T. Although the heat from the heater means 241 is transferred only to the metal plate 242, a structure in which the heat is transferred to other metal parts is not excluded.

[0030] As shown in Figure 7(a), when the upper die 24 is not installed, the heater means 241 for supplying heat for film welding is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown) (see also Figures 12(b) and 12(d)). When the upper die 24 shown in Figure 7(b) is inserted from the right side in the figure, the abutment portion at the tip of the upper die 24 abuts against the roller 2431 at the tip of the heater link 243, and the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward as shown in Figure 7(c) (see also Figures 11(b) and 11(d)). This brings the heater means 241 into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, enabling it to transmit heat for welding to the metal plate 242. In this embodiment of the present invention, the heater means 241 is formed by drilling holes in aluminum material and inserting cartridge heaters into the holes (see also Figure 12(d)). However, it is also possible to use a silicone rubber heater, plate heater, plug-type heater, sheath heater, etc. Furthermore, in addition to a heat conduction heater, the heater type may be a convection type or a radiation type (radiation type), and is not limited to a heat conduction type. The heater means may be configured to directly contact the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24, or a heat transfer member with good thermal conductivity, such as gold, silver, copper, or aluminum, may be added to the metal plate 242, thereby allowing indirect contact between the heater means and the metal plate 242. For example, if the heater means has a small area relative to the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242, the heat transfer area will be limited to the center, resulting in inefficient heat transfer. Therefore, the area of ​​heat transfer can be effectively expanded by interposing a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity comparable in size to the area of ​​the metal plate 242 between the heater means and the metal plate 242 (see also Figure 11(f)).

[0031] To accommodate packaging processes for three different sizes of trays T (for example, large, medium, and small), by selecting and installing one die from among multiple die sizes, it is common to imagine providing a heater for each die. However, this requires the user to disconnect and reconnect the heat source connector each time the die is replaced, which is time-consuming. However, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention eliminates the need to reconnect the heater wires, and does not require additional work to establish an electrical connection when replacing the upper die, making the replacement process simple and efficient.

[0032] As shown in Figure 8, the upper die 24 is provided with a chamfered rectangular metal plate 242 whose size and shape correspond to the edge of the tray T. The metal plate 242 is composed of a protrusion 242a whose size corresponds to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. In this embodiment, an upper die 24A for a large tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 150 mm in depth, an upper die 24B for a medium tray having a tray size of 150 mm in width and 120 mm in depth, and an upper die 24C for a small tray having a tray size of 120 mm in width and 120 mm in depth are prepared (Figure 8 shows the upper die 24B corresponding to the "medium" size tray). The metal plate 242 transfers heat supplied from a heater means 241 disposed in an upper die holder 240 (see Figure 7) to the film to perform top sealing. A cutting blade serving as film cutting means 244 for cutting the film after top sealing is provided around the outer periphery of the chamfered rectangular metal plate 242. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the film cutting means 244 is fixed to the main body of the upper die 24 (see Figure 10 in particular). The metal plate 242 and the peripheral bottom plate 247 are connected to the main body of the upper die 24 via a biasing means, with the biasing force of the former being stronger than that of the latter. Therefore, when the lower die 25 is pushed upward while the edge of the tray T is in contact with the tray edge support portion 254 (see Figures 13 and 20) of the lower die 25, the lower die 25 first contacts the peripheral bottom plate 247 of the upper die 24, then the edge of the tray T contacts the metal plate 242a, and finally the film pushed up by the tray T contacts the film cutting means 244. The upper die 24 has three upper die holes 245 for detecting the die size, one of which is filled depending on the size. The unfilled holes serve as light-transmitting sections, while the filled holes function as light-blocking or reflective sections. When attaching the upper die 24 to the upper die folder 240, the cutout sections 248 on the left and right lower ends of the upper die 24 are first placed on rails 2401 on the left and right inner surfaces of the upper die folder 240, and then the upper die 24 can be easily loaded by sliding it (see also Figures 12(d) and 12(f)).Furthermore, when removing the upper die 24 from the upper die folder 240, the lock release lever 24L shown in FIG. 11 is pressed downward to release the lock, and then the drawer grip 24G is grasped and slid to remove the upper die 24. Furthermore, if the side of the upper die 24 is grasped while the upper die 24 is removed from the upper die folder 240, the film cutting means 244 may pop out from the bottom surface of the upper die 24, which is dangerous, as shown in FIG. 9(b). Therefore, the upper die 24 is provided with a transport grip portion 246 as shown in FIG. 8. The transport grip portion 246 is fixed to the peripheral bottom edge 247 and is pushed up together with the peripheral bottom edge 247 as the lower die 25 is pushed up. For ease of explanation, FIG. 9 is a diagram in which the transport grip portion 246 from FIG. 8 is omitted. The presence of the grip portion 246 during transportation causes the film cutting means 244 to relatively protrude downward when pressing to perform heat sealing, i.e., when the lower die 25 is pushed up, but when the upper die 24 is removed and held in the hand, the film cutting means 244 does not relatively protrude. The grip portion 246 during transportation also contributes to preventing burns when holding the upper die 24 before cooling is fully completed.

[0033] 11 and 12 show the state in which an upper die is loaded into the upper die folder and the state in which an upper die is not loaded into the upper die folder. Fig. 11 shows the state in which an upper die is loaded into the upper die folder, where Fig. 11(a) is a top view, Fig. 11(b) is a front view, Fig. 11(c) is a bottom view, Fig. 11(d) is an upper perspective view, Fig. 11(e) is a right side view, and Fig. 11(f) is a conceptual diagram of a heat transfer member. Fig. 12 shows the state in which an upper die is not loaded into the upper die folder, where Fig. 12(a) is a top view, Fig. 12(b) is a front view, Fig. 12(c) is a bottom view, Fig. 12(d) is an upper perspective view, Fig. 12(e) is a right side view, and Fig. 12(f) is an enlarged view of part D in Fig. 12(d). Unlike Figures 8 to 10, Figure 11 shows a state in which an upper die 24A corresponding to a "large" size tray is loaded. As can be seen by comparing Figures 11(b) and 12(b), or by comparing Figures 11(d) and 12(d), when the upper die 24 is loaded, the heater link 243 presses the heater means 241 downward, as shown in Figures 11(b) and 11(d). However, when the upper die 24 is not loaded, the heater means 241 is positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown), causing the heater link 243 to jump upward, as shown in Figures 12(b) and 12(d). Figure 11(c) shows that the metal plate 242 is composed of a protrusion 242a having a size corresponding to the edge of the tray T and a central portion 242b surrounded by the protrusion 242a. 12(d) shows the heater means 241 positioned upward by a biasing means (not shown), and the hole for inserting the cartridge heater can be seen. Comparing FIG. 11(c) with FIG. 12(c) reveals that the extent of the heater means 241 is smaller than the size of the rectangular portion of the metal plate 242. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 11(f), a heat transfer member HTM with good thermal conductivity and a size comparable to the extent of the metal plate 242 is interposed between the heater means 241 and the metal plate 242, thereby effectively expanding the area over which heat is transferred.

[0034] As shown in FIGS. 13( a) and 13(b), the lower die 25 includes a gas inlet 251 for gas replacement (gas flushing), a gas diffusion step 2510 connected to the gas inlet 251, and an air outlet 252. Because the area including the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 is covered with a cover, the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 are depicted by dashed lines in FIG. 13(a). The gas diffusion step 2510 has a triangular shape in top view, which provides gas with diffusibility that easily spreads laterally across the tray, as indicated by the hollow arrows in the figure. In FIG. 20, the dashed line F represents a film and also indicates the film support surface. However, because a cover covering the gas diffusion step 2510 and other components is located at the left end of the dashed line, only that area is depicted by a solid line. 20 , the gas is diffused by the gas diffusion step 2510, enters the tray T, and is sent rearward, after which it finally turns downward and is discharged through the multiple air outlets 252. Note that the gas inlet 251 is located at the front (corresponding to the long side of the tray), while the air outlet 252 is located at the rear (corresponding to the opposing long side of the tray), but they may also be configured to be located on either side (either on both sides or on one side) corresponding to the short sides of the tray. Also, although the air outlet 252 is configured to communicate downward, it may also be configured to communicate rearward.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 13( a), the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 for detecting the die size, one of which is filled depending on the size. The unfilled holes function as light-transmitting portions, while the filled holes function as light-shielding or reflective portions. The tray T is raised by its edges being supported by tray edge supports 254 provided inside the lower die 25. The center of the lower die 25 is perforated vertically, and at this position, a container bottom support 26 is fixedly provided to the housing (see FIG. 21 ).

[0036] A method for attaching and detaching the lower die will be described using Figure 14. Figure 14 is a perspective view showing how the lower die is attached to and detached from the lower die folder. As shown in the figure, with the lower die 25 loaded in the lower die folder 250, the lower die 25 can be easily attached and detached to and from the lower die folder 250 by gripping the hole into which the tray falls inside the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25, that is, by gripping the surrounding areas, i.e., the upper, lower, and inner surfaces.

[0037] The upper die 24, the upper die folder 240, and the lower die 25 cooperate to push up the tray T, perform a gas replacement process to extend the shelf life of the packaged items, and then perform the packaging process. This operation will be described. Figure 21 is a side cross-sectional view showing the change in state when the lower die 25 is pushed up relative to the upper die. Figure 21(a) shows a state in which the lower die 25 has risen slightly from the lowest position, Figure 21(b) shows a state in which the lower die 25 has risen significantly and is in contact with the film F to form a closed space, and Figure 21(c) shows a state in which the lower die 25 continues to rise, contacts the metal plate 242, and then rises further, and the film F has been cut (cut out) by the film cutting means 244. Note that for Figures 21(b) and 21(c), partial enlarged views of parts B and C are also shown below, respectively.

[0038] The tray T transported by the infeed bar IB from the weighing means 1 is initially supported at its bottom by the container bottom support portion 26. Thereafter, when the lower die 25 rises, support of the bottom of the tray T by the container bottom support portion 26 is taken over by support of the edge of the tray T by the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25, as shown in FIG. 21( a). Thereafter, when the lower die 25 rises to the position shown in FIG. 21( b), a closed space is formed by the lower die 25 and the film F, and an inert gas is injected through the gas inlet 251 and the gas diffusion step 2510 to replace the air present in the space formed between the film F and the tray T. Instead, the air is discharged from the air outlet 252. This performs a gas replacement process (gas flush) to extend the shelf life of the packaged products. The lower die 25 continues to rise thereafter, and the edge of the tray T comes into contact with the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 (this state is not shown, and the lower die 25 is positioned at a height between Figures 21(b) and 21(c)). In this state, while or after the top is sealed, the lower die 25 continues to rise, and the excess film around the top-sealed film is cut off by the film cutting means 244. Figure 21(c) shows that the edges of the film F and tray T are sandwiched between the metal plate 242 of the upper die 24 and the tray edge support portion 254 of the lower die 25, with the cutting edge of the film cutting means 244 positioned below them. The mechanism by which the edge of the tray T first comes into contact with the metal plate 242 and then with the film cutting means 244 is achieved by setting the downward biasing force of the metal plate 242 to be weaker than the biasing force of the film cutting means 244, and by configuring the metal plate 242 to retreat upward relative to the film cutting means 244. Although not shown, when the lower die 25 descends, support of the edge of the tray T by the tray edge support parts 254 of the lower die 25 is taken over by support of the bottom surface of the tray T by the container bottom support parts 26, and the tray T is then transported to the subsequent region 3 by the in-feed bar IB.

[0039] (Regarding Detection of Compatibility of Upper and Lower Die) As described above, in this embodiment of the present invention, three types of upper and lower die dies are provided to accommodate three different sizes of trays T: large, medium, and small. The upper die 24 can be replaced by simply inserting it from the right side of the side panel SP, and the lower die 25 can be replaced by inserting it from the right side of the side panel SP and then dropping it down. Here, whether or not the correct size die has been loaded is an issue. Therefore, in this embodiment of the present invention, a device is provided to detect whether the correct upper die 24 and the correct lower die 25 have been loaded. That is, the upper die 24 has three upper die holes 245 as shown in FIG. 8, and the lower die 25 has three lower die holes 253 as shown in FIG. 13. One of these holes is filled in for each size. In the portions corresponding to both ends of the three holes, a light-emitting element is provided below the lower die 25, and a light-receiving element is provided above the upper die 24. In the portion corresponding to the center, a light-emitting element is provided above the upper die 24, and a light-receiving element is provided below the lower die 25. Normally, two lights should be received, but if the upper die 24 and the lower die 25 do not correspond, the light will be blocked by one of them, meaning that the upper and lower die do not match, and this can be detected. Based on this premise, the sizes of the die dies that are loaded together above and below can also be detected and determined according to the position of the holes, and if necessary, a notification is made by a display means, audio guidance, or notification means such as communication with another external device.

[0040] In this embodiment, the light travels in opposite directions at the ends and the center to reduce interference between adjacent beams. However, if there is no risk of light interference, the three beams may be aligned. Although only one of three holes is filled depending on the size, two may be filled. Filling one hole and detecting two holes is preferable because it increases the possibility of determining various situations. Furthermore, a reflective sensor may be used instead of a combination of a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. In this case, the filled hole would be a reflective portion rather than a light-blocking portion. Instead of an optical sensor, other optical means, such as an image sensor, may be used to capture the characteristics of the upper and lower die sets and perform image analysis to determine the fit. In this case, even if the upper and lower die sets are not aligned, the upper and lower die sets can be separately determined. This embodiment, configured as described above, provides a highly effective packaging device without stopping the line due to mismatched upper and lower die sets.

[0041] Problems can also occur due to errors other than misalignment of the upper and lower die dies. During busy periods, other tasks besides packaging may interrupt the work, forcing workers to perform other tasks. Or, due to inexperienced workers operating the machine, they may forget to load the die itself. Even when they have forgotten to load the die, they may mistakenly assume that the die has been replaced and attempt to resume work. However, in embodiments of the present invention, if both the upper and lower die dies are not loaded, the light is not blocked from all three holes, and the light emitted from the three light-emitting elements is detected by all three light-receiving elements. By determining that the upper and lower die dies are loaded when all three sensors are on and providing a warning, further operational errors due to forgetting to load the upper and lower die dies can be prevented.

[0042] As described above, the three holes can detect misalignment of the upper and lower die dies and failure to load the upper and lower die dies, but there are cases where other types of mistakes can occur. If an interruption occurs during the replacement work, it is possible that the upper die dies have been replaced but the lower die dies have not been replaced and are not loaded, or vice versa. Another example of detecting compatibility of the upper and lower die dies that takes into account such cases of mistakes will be described below.

[0043] 15 shows an example in which holes are provided at five different positions for the upper die hole 245 and the lower die hole 253. The need for three upper die holes and three lower die holes for matching determination and the mechanism by which a match is determined when two sensors are turned on are the same as those in the example described above. In addition, in another example, the upper die is provided with a hole for determining whether a lower die is not loaded, and the lower die is provided with a hole for determining whether an upper die is not loaded. This allows the control means of the packaging device to determine whether the lower die is not loaded or whether the upper die is not loaded. Of course, it is also possible to determine whether both the upper and lower die are loaded.

[0044] The mechanism of action of the determination will be explained. Here, the numbers 2 to 4 with circles (hereinafter referred to as 02 to 04, etc.) are upper die holes for determining coincidence or lower die holes for determining coincidence. Also, 01 is a hole for determining whether a lower die is not loaded, and 05 is a hole for determining whether an upper die is not loaded. Note that the hole in the lower die opposite the hole for determining whether a lower die is not loaded in the upper die 24 is filled, but it may be configured so that no hole is drilled originally. The same applies to the hole in the upper die opposite the hole for determining whether an upper die is not loaded in the lower die 25.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 15( a), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O2 and O3 is on, it is determined that a large-size die is loaded. Also, as shown in FIG. 15( b), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O2 and O4 is on, it is determined that a medium-size die is loaded. Also, as shown in FIG. 15( c), if the sensor output at the corresponding positions of O3 and O4 is on, it is determined that a small-size die is loaded. Although not shown, if only one sensor output is on, it means that the sizes of the upper and lower die dies do not match. In contrast, if three sensor outputs are on, it means that neither the upper nor lower die dies are loaded. The determination method of the other example described above has the same mechanism of action even in the example described above where only three holes are provided.

[0046] If only one of the upper and lower die dies is left unloaded, three sensors alone cannot detect this. However, five sensors can properly detect this. That is, as can be seen from FIG. 15(d), when the sensor output of O1 is on, this means that the upper die is loaded but the lower die is not. On the other hand, as can be seen from FIG. 15(e), when the sensor output of O5 is on, this means that the lower die is loaded but the upper die is not. When neither the upper nor lower die dies are loaded, as explained above, the sensor outputs of O2 to O4 are on. In addition, the sensor outputs of O1 and O5 are also on, meaning that all five sensor outputs are on.

[0047] In both the example with three holes and the example with five holes, the size information of the container linked to the product information is stored in an appropriate storage means, and it is possible to detect a difference between the determined sizes of the upper and lower cutters and the size of the container linked to the called-up product information, and to issue a notification using the notification means as necessary.In contrast to this, it is also possible to control the system so that a product that does not correspond to the set cutter is not called up, and to make the user aware that the cutter is not compatible by not being able to call up the product.

[0048] The means for determining the suitability of the die does not have to be an optical determination means; it may utilize another physical quantity, or it may combine a means utilizing the hole with another detection means. For example, if a sensor (a contact switch, an electromagnetic sensor, or the like, can be provided) that detects the loading of the upper die itself, the sensor indicated by O5 in FIG. 15 can be omitted. Other than this, more intelligent means using an imaging element, or conversely, primitive means, may be employed. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the weight of the die is measured for determination, or a mark or number is written on the die so that the die number can be visually confirmed, or the confirmation mark may be a strong adhesive sticker. Furthermore, even if an imaging element is used, determination may be made by reading a barcode displayed on the die rather than the physical characteristics of the die itself. However, in a device that uses optical means or another physical quantity, if a sensor that can identify which upper and lower cutters are loaded is provided, it becomes possible to determine which sizes of cutters are loaded in the upper and lower cutter folders, and guidance on the display screen described below becomes advantageous.Specific examples of sensors that can be used include physical sensors that correspond to the sizes of each cutter, transmission sensors, camera means, etc.

[0049] (Regarding Timing for Determining the Loading Status of the Upper and Lower Cutting Dies) In this embodiment, consideration is given to the characteristics of the packaging device, and the timing for determining the loading status of the upper and lower cutting dies is effectively implemented. When changing the upper and lower cutting dies, the packaging machine is stopped by pressing the emergency stop button. The "emergency stop" button 8 is a mechanical button (see FIGS. 1 and 6 ) located on the machine frame, but it does not necessarily have to be a mechanical button. When the die or film is subsequently replaced, the type of die is determined when the emergency stop button is released after the die replacement, and if the upper and lower cutting dies are different, an error notification is issued. Furthermore, when the power is turned on, the type of die currently set is determined and displayed, allowing the user to check the set die at all times. Furthermore, when the die is replaced, a cleaning notification is issued. If a cleaning command is issued upon receiving the notification, a purging process is performed to keep the die's gas inlet clean. In addition, a gas detection sensor may be provided to check whether the gas is being injected properly, or a trial run may be performed to ensure that the air in the entire path up to the injection port is completely gas.

[0050] While showing an example of the display screen layout, the timing for determining the loading status of the cutter dies (including determining whether the upper and lower cutter dies are loaded and whether the upper and lower cutter dies are consistent or not) will be specifically described. First, the display (notification) of the cutter dies when the power is turned on will be described. When the device is not in operation, turning on the power first displays an initial screen such as a date and time confirmation screen, followed by the main menu shown in FIG. 17(a). From this screen, it is possible to select a "packaging pricing mode" that performs packaging and pricing, a "packaging mode" that performs packaging only, or a "pricing mode" that does not package and only issues pricing labels. Here, an example of the screen immediately after "pricing mode" is selected is shown. When the packaging operation and the pricing mode button for pricing are pressed, the device transitions to a reset mode (not shown) and a reset operation is performed. During this reset operation, a determination is made as to whether the upper and lower cutter dies are loaded or whether the upper and lower cutter dies are consistent or not, and the determination results are displayed or notified. The determination timing can be changed at any time, even without the reset operation, such as during initial operation or while the main menu is displayed. In particular, since the packaging device includes a storage unit for storing size information for containers linked to product information, it would be convenient to provide a notification when the size of the loaded die differs from the size of the container linked to the retrieved product information. However, since product information is retrieved by checking the screen and repeatedly displaying the next and subsequent candidates to confirm the product, a configuration in which a judgment and notification are made each time a candidate is displayed before confirmation may be considered excessive. Therefore, it is preferable to provide a configuration in which a judgment and notification are made when the product is placed on the weighing unit. Alternatively, a configuration in which a judgment and notification are made when the product is placed and its weight is detected may also be possible. However, a configuration in which a notification is made each time product information is retrieved is not excluded. Figure 16 shows an example of the display of the judgment results on the weighing screen, the details of which will be described later.

[0051] On the other hand, when replacing a die during normal packaging operations (hereinafter referred to as "normal operation"), it is necessary to wait for the die to cool down. Furthermore, the timing of the determination is naturally limited, since the determination is meaningless unless it is made after an instruction for replacement is given. As mentioned above, during normal operation, pressing the emergency stop button displays the screen shown in FIG. 17(b), stops heating of the upper die, and starts natural cooling. Note that a cooling means may be provided to perform forced cooling. As shown in FIG. 17(b), the guidance screen displays the current die's temperature, the appropriate replacement temperature, and the estimated time until the temperature reaches the appropriate replacement temperature, along with the fact that the current die is a large size. Furthermore, the display mode of the current die temperature may be changed to make it more noticeable unless the temperature reaches the appropriate temperature. For example, while the die still needs to be heated, a message such as "Temperature is 90°C. Please wait until it reaches 35°C" may be displayed in red, and once the appropriate temperature is reached, a message such as "Cooling is complete" may be displayed in green.

[0052] When the temperature reaches the optimum temperature for replacement and cooling is complete, the screen shown in FIG. 18( a) is displayed. The guidance screen displays a message indicating that the current die is a large size and urging the user to press the "Replace Die" button to replace the die. When the "Replace Die" button is pressed, the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention executes control to loosen the film by rotating the film support shaft or the winding side in a loosening direction, thereby making die replacement easier. This is because the film and the upper die 24 are very close to each other, and there is a risk that the film may get caught when inserting or removing the upper die 24 (see FIG. 5 ). The operator then performs die replacement and, upon completion of the operation, presses the "Replacement Complete" button (not shown). At this time, the loading status of the upper and lower die dies is determined.

[0053] If the determination result shows that the sizes of the upper and lower cutting dies are consistent, for example, as shown in FIG. 18( b), the guidance screen displays that both the upper and lower cutting dies are medium size, and the "Start Heating" button is activated and displayed as being pressable. Alternatively, the control may be such that heating is started along with a display indicating that heating should start, without requiring a press operation. Furthermore, the control may be such that heating is started only if the upper and lower cutting dies are consistent, and not if they are not consistent, without even a display indicating that heating should start.

[0054] On the other hand, if the result of the judgment indicates a problem with the loading status of the cutting dies, a prominent error message is displayed, along with the details of the error. For example, as shown in FIG. 19( a), a message indicating that the upper cutting die is large size and the lower cutting die is medium size, indicating a size mismatch, is displayed, along with a highlighted "Cutting Die Matching Error." The "Start Heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. As another example, as shown in FIG. 19( b), a message indicating that the upper cutting die is not loaded is displayed, along with a highlighted "Cutting Die Matching Error." The "Start Heating" button is not activated and cannot be pressed. Note that this display example corresponds to a configuration equipped with a sensor that can identify which upper and lower cutting dies are loaded. While a detection method using three or five holes can determine whether the upper and lower cutting dies are inconsistent, it cannot identify which dies are loaded on each side. Nevertheless, the "Cutting Die Matching Error" message is still meaningful because it prompts the operator to check the actual loading status. Furthermore, if the result of judging the loading status of the upper and lower die is that the upper and lower die are incompatible or have been forgotten to be loaded, the device is configured so that it cannot transition to the weighing mode until the die is replaced to bring it into an appropriate state, or until the heating temperature reaches the appropriate temperature.

[0055] (Display Example of Determination Results on the Weighing Screen) Figure 16 is a diagram showing an example of the display of determination results on the weighing screen. For the product name "Gauda Cheese," "Large (1)" is displayed in the "Tray Type Selection" field and "150mm W x 150mm D" is displayed in the "Tray Dimensions" field. A skilled worker would recognize this as a size error. Incidentally, "Medium (2)" is "150mm W x 120mm D" and "Small (3)" is "120mm W x 120mm D." To help inexperienced workers easily recognize a size error, the display format may be changed from the usual format to make it more conspicuous, or a more straightforward message such as "Size Error" may be displayed. Furthermore, the error may be announced by audio. Additionally, the current "Packaging Mode" is displayed as "Packaging Pricing Mode" and the "Heat Seal Temperature" is displayed as "160°C." The temperature display may be made more conspicuous by changing the display format unless the temperature is at the appropriate temperature. For example, while it is still necessary to wait for heating, the display may be red, and when the appropriate temperature is reached, the display may change to green. Note that when the "pricing mode" is selected as the "packaging mode," no packaging work is performed, so the system is configured not to determine whether the die size associated with the called product matches the loaded die size and notify the user of the match. Of course, the system may be configured to perform the determination and notification for packaging work to be performed later.

[0056] (Regarding Gas Replacement Processing) Gas replacement processing, which extends the shelf life of packaged products, is performed by replacing air with an inert gas. Inert gas is used to extend the shelf life of food products by adjusting the ratio of three gases: nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen. While oxygen may seem unnecessary, it is actually necessary to maintain the redness of meat. As mentioned above, gas can be efficiently delivered by injecting gas between the film and the container while the upper and lower die-cutting dies are closed. That is, gas injection time can be shortened by injecting gas through the gas inlet 251 while evacuating the air inside the die-cutting dies through the air outlet 252. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 is located on the side of the weighing means 1, gas can be injected from the same position even with die-cutting dies of different sizes. Furthermore, since the gas inlet 251 and air outlet 252 are located in the film conveyance direction, the film can be reliably covered without shifting left or right. Here, only one type of film is used to eliminate the need to change film for each tray size. The same applies to the trays T, which all have the same width and only differ in depth (although multiple heights may be prepared), allowing for efficient use of film. Conventionally, gas replacement packaging has mostly involved injecting gas into the bag during bag production. This embodiment is highly significant in that it achieves efficient gas replacement processing at the top seal by injecting gas while the film is sandwiched between the bags. Furthermore, vacuum packaging may be selected by evacuating the air from the die through the air outlet 252 rather than injecting gas through the gas inlet 251. Furthermore, standard packaging, in other words, without gas injection or air evacuation, may also be selected.

[0057] The gas replacement time can be changed automatically or manually depending on the size of the tray T (large, medium, and small). Alternatively, the gas replacement time can be changed depending on the expiration date. The expiration date can be selected directly on the console 6, or a recommended expiration date can be linked to product information, and the gas replacement time can be automatically changed depending on the product selection. Furthermore, multiple gas inlets can be provided, for example, three dedicated inlets for nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, allowing the optimal gas ratio to be adjusted by setting or automatic control.

[0058] (Regarding the Cutting Die Storage Means) As described above, the packaging device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes an upper cutting die storage means 24H and a lower cutting die storage means 25H as storage means capable of storing all types of cutting dies that are not loaded, eliminating the need to store unused cutting dies in a location separate from the packaging device itself. In this embodiment, the storage means is configured to store two unused cutting dies out of the three types of cutting dies. However, if the device can be made larger so that all three types of cutting dies can be stored without being loaded when the packaging device is not in use, this configuration is more efficient when it is likely that the device will start with any size cutting die.

[0059] Fig. 22 is a perspective view showing the state in which the upper and lower cutting dies are accommodated in the die accommodating means, and Fig. 23 is a right side view showing the state in which the upper and lower cutting dies are accommodated in the die accommodating means. Figs. 22(a) and 23(a) show the state in which the upper and lower cutting dies are accommodated, and Figs. 22(b) and 23(b) show the state in which the upper and lower cutting dies are not accommodated. Fig. 23(c) is an enlarged view of the lower right corner of the upper die accommodating means 24H in Fig. 23(a).

[0060] In Figures 22 and 23, upper die 24B for medium-sized trays and lower die 25B for medium-sized trays are loaded in a folder and are in use (not shown), upper die 24A for large trays and upper die 24C for small trays that are not loaded in a folder are stored in upper die storage means 24H, and lower die 25A for large trays and lower die 25C for small trays that are not loaded in a folder are stored in lower die storage means 25H.

[0061] Because the upper die housing means 24H and the lower die housing means 25H are disposed near the film, they are covered with protective members to prevent the heat from affecting the film. That is, they are covered with covers to prevent inadvertent heat transfer to the film. For these protective members, heat insulating or cooling materials can be appropriately used to reduce the heat effect. Alternatively, more proactively, a heater for residual heat and a cooling fan may be provided in addition to the protective members. In particular, if a heater for residual heat is provided, it is expected that the device will become usable more quickly after the die replacement.

[0062] The upper die storage means 24H is configured to allow the upper die to be slidably attached and detached so that two upper die dies can be stored vertically and spaced apart. As shown in Figure 23 (c), the right and left ends of the lower part of the upper die 24 are L-shaped or inverted L-shaped, and the upper die storage means 24H is shaped like a rail that rises up in an inverted L-shaped or inverted L-shaped configuration, and the lower part of the upper die 24 fits into the rail shape to allow it to slide. Note that this rail shape relationship is the same for the upper die 24 and the upper die folder 240, so that loading into the folder and storing into the die storage means can be performed by a similar sliding operation.

[0063] The lower die storage means 25H is configured to allow the lower die to be slidably attached and detached so that two lower die sets can be stored upright and spaced apart. The relationship between the ends of the die sets and the rail shape of the storage means is substantially the same as that for the upper die sets. In addition, to make it easier to remove the two lower die sets lined up side by side, one of the left and right sides of the housing of the storage means is shorter than the other.

[0064] (Regarding Alternative Embodiments) While the embodiments described so far have been directed to weighing, packaging, and labeling processes, a dedicated packaging mode may be provided for packaging only. The dedicated packaging mode is suitable for fixed-price products that do not require weighing. Because there is no need to transport the products to a downstream area for labeling, in the dedicated packaging mode, the in-feed bar IB may be configured to reverse rotation after packaging and eject a tray to the front. Alternatively, the device may be configured as a dedicated device for packaging only. Even in this case, the technical concept of substantially simultaneously performing a gas replacement process to extend the expiration date of the packaged products and a packaging process using a top seal is still included. Furthermore, the present invention also includes a device configuration that is specialized for packaging, rather than a mode switch to a dedicated packaging mode. In other words, the device may be configured as a dedicated device for packaging only, without having components such as a weighing unit, a console for that purpose, or a labeling unit, and the like, and communicates with these components as separate devices.

[0065] In the embodiment described above, the weighing means is provided in the upstream stage of the packaging means 2, but the weighing function may also be provided at the position of the container bottom support portion 26 (see FIG. 21) or in the downstream region 3 (see FIG. 5). If the weighing function is provided in the downstream region 3, weighing and labeling will be performed after packaging. Furthermore, since the weight to be measured at this time includes the tray weight, film weight, and gas weight, it is preferable to tare and print the weight including these. Note that if the weighing function is provided in the container bottom support portion 26 or the downstream region 3, the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in FIG. 4 will simply be a loading area for transporting the packaged items into the device.

[0066] It is also possible to provide the packaging means at the front stage. That is, upper and lower die sets may be arranged in the area indicated by the dashed line "1" in Fig. 4, and the tray may be placed directly on the lower die set, after which weighing and labeling may be performed. In this case, the weighing function is provided in the container bottom support portion 26 or the rear stage area 3 described above. When this configuration is adopted, it is preferable to provide a shutter at the front of the front stage, which closes as soon as the tray is placed thereon, to ensure safety.

[0067] In the described embodiment, the inert gas is filled by a gas flush, which sprays gas to expel air. However, a gas replacement (in the narrow sense) approach may be used, in which the air is removed and then the gas is introduced. While this takes longer than a gas flush, it is advantageous in terms of gas diffusibility and the ability of the gas to reach every corner. In this case, the air outlet is initially configured as a suction port for removing air. In addition, in the described embodiment, the film is suspended in the same direction as the weighing unit 1, packaging unit 2, and downstream area 3 are vertically aligned from the front to the back of the device, and the tray width is set to a single size. However, the film may be suspended in a direction perpendicular to the weighing unit 1 and packaging unit 2, allowing the tray width to be changed for each tray size.

[0068] <Summary of the Embodiments> [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a packaging device that covers a tray containing packaged items with a film and heat-seals the film to the edges of the tray. [Background Art] A conventional packaging device is one that top-seals a large number of trays by placing food items on a weighing scale, transporting the food items onto a tray fed on a conveyor, and heat-sealing a film lid on the tray (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-515654 A [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention] The packaging device described in Patent Document 1 top-seals containers of the same size, but is not compatible with multiple containers, and has various areas that need improvement. [Means for Solving the Problems] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a packaging device (100) that seals a film on a container, the packaging device (100) including heater means (241) that heats a cutting die and mounting means (240) that can mount one of a plurality of cutting dies, the cutting die mounted on the mounting means being relatively close to the heater means. According to the above configuration, a packaging device that can package a plurality of containers can be provided.

[0069] (2) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (1), in which the one die (24) can be attached by horizontally moving it to the attachment means (240), and the positions of the one die (24) and the heater means (241) are displaced according to the insertion position of the one die (24). With this configuration, it is only necessary to perform an attachment operation of the die, and there is no need to perform an operation to connect or disconnect the heater means and the die, making the operation simple.

[0070] (3) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (1), wherein the heater means (241) is biased upward, and the heater means (241) has link means (243), and when the tip of the one die (24) is brought into contact with the tip of the link means (243), the heater means (241) descends against the biasing force and approaches the one die (24). With this configuration, the structure for connecting and disconnecting the heater means and the die can be simplified.

[0071] (4) One aspect of this embodiment is the packaging device (100) described in (1), wherein the plurality of cutting dies (24) are composed of a peripheral bottom plate (247), a film cutting means (244), and a top seal portion (242), and the heater means (241) is located close to the top seal portion (242) of one of the cutting dies (24). With this configuration, heat can be efficiently transferred to the top seal portion that requires heat generation.

[0072] Although the packaging device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes within the scope of the present invention are also included. For example, in the embodiment, a storage means is provided around the film consisting of the film holding means and the excess film winding means. However, since the technical concept of the present invention is to provide a storage space for unused cutting dies, if other appropriate space can be provided depending on the size of the device, the provision of a storage means in that space is not excluded. Furthermore, although the embodiment is configured to accommodate both upper and lower cutting dies, a configuration that accommodates only at least one of the upper and lower cutting dies is also within the scope of the present invention. Since the lower cutting dies are smaller than the upper cutting dies, even an arrangement that accommodates only the upper cutting dies can sufficiently contribute to space savings.

[0073] 100 Packaging device 1 Weighing means 11 Shutter 2 Packaging means 21 Film hanging means 211 Film holding means 212 Surplus film winding means 24 Upper cutting die 24H Upper cutting die storage means 240 Upper cutting die folder 241 Heater means 242 Metal plate (top seal portion) 243 Heater link 244 Film cutting means 245 Upper cutting die hole 246 Gripping portion during transportation 247 Peripheral bottom plate 25 Lower cutting die (gas replacement means) 25H Lower cutting die storage means 251 Gas inlet 2510 Gas diffusion step portion 252 Air outlet 253 Lower cutting die hole 26 Container bottom support portion 3 Rear area 4 First discharge table 5 Second discharge table 6 Console (display unit) 7 Labeling means 71 Labeling means slide rail 72 Anti-tipping leg 8 "Emergency stop" button HTM Heat transfer member BT Buffer tank T Tray R Roll film DR Dancer roller

Claims

1. A packaging device for sealing a film onto a container, comprising: heater means for heating a die; and mounting means for enabling one die to be mounted among a plurality of die sets, wherein the die mounted on the mounting means is brought relatively close to the heater means.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first die can be attached to the attachment means by moving it horizontally, and the positions of the first die and the heater means change depending on the insertion position of the first die.

3. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that the heater means is biased upward, the heater means has a link means, and when a tip of one of the die molds and a tip of the link means are brought into contact with each other, the heater means descends against the biasing force and approaches the one of the die molds.

4. The packaging device according to claim 1, characterized in that the multiple die sets are composed of a peripheral bottom plate, a film cutting means and a top seal section, and the heater means is located close to the top seal section of one of the die sets.

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