Primary packaging machine

Abstract

Provided is a primary packaging machine for wrapping an object with a film. In place of a conventional primary packaging machine, this primary packaging machine is configured to: feed a pair of films in a state of being welded and integrated in a belt-like shape respectively from the left and right sides of the opening toward the central portion of the opening along the X-axis; maintain a state in which a horizontal plane on which an object is to be placed is stopped so as to coincide with a stop position lower than the opening by a predetermined vertical distance; after the object has fallen through the opening and is placed on the integrated pair of films, weld a pair of films having passed through the opening and hanging downward in a belt-like shape at a position above the object; and cut the pair of films into upper and lower parts.

Description

Primary packaging machine

[0001] The present invention relates to a primary packaging machine for wrapping and packaging objects in a film, and more particularly to a primary packaging machine for wrapping and packaging objects in a film as a preparatory process for vacuum packaging the objects in a downstream vacuum packaging machine.

[0002] A primary packaging machine is used to wrap and encase objects in film. The primary packaging machine may also be used to wrap and encase objects in film as a pre-processing step for vacuum-packaging the objects in a downstream vacuum packaging machine. For example, the primary packaging machine wraps and encases the objects in film, and then sends the wrapped objects to a downstream vacuum packaging machine, which draws a vacuum through the film to vacuum-package the objects.

[0003] Many cuts (cut meats) of livestock such as beef, pork, and chicken, as well as cut meats of large fish, are vacuum-packaged one by one at high speed using a small amount of film, and information about the history of the cut meat is printed on each individual package. Conventionally, beef carcasses are distributed as so-called chilled beef, in which a single carcass is divided into 26 cuts, such as loin, belly, and fillet, and vacuum-packed, and then stored and transported at around 0°C by heating to shrink the film or by cooling without shrinking the film. For example, the cut meats are placed in inflation-molded, bottom-sealed bags measuring 200 mm to 600 mm wide, degassed through the opening of the bag using a vacuum packaging machine, vacuum-sealed, shrunk the film with a hot water shower, cooled with cold water, and then stored and transported at around 0°C.

[0004] For example, the wrapped lower film is unwound, cuts of meat are placed on top of the lower film, the wrapped upper film is unwound, and each cut is placed over the lower film to seal it. The center of the sealed portion is cut to form a cylindrical sealed body with the cut meat sandwiched between the upper and lower films. This cylindrical sealed body is then suctioned from both openings, and the openings are sealed to vacuum seal the body, resulting in a four-sided sealed body. Various films are available as packaging films for these cuts of meat. Furthermore, users such as mass retailers who wish to simplify tray packaging operations sometimes request that a single animal be divided into 74 or 138 cuts and delivered individually vacuum-packaged.

[0005] When providing a packaging machine that meets these needs, even if the above packaging method is used, the upper and lower films are unwound at a fixed interval for each portion of meat, and the operations of suction and vacuum sealing are performed, so as the portion of meat becomes smaller, the amount of packaging material used increases by two or three times, and the packaging efficiency drops to one half or one third. With the above packaging method, the time required for the suction and vacuum sealing operations accounts for a large proportion of the packaging time.

[0006] The inventors have investigated a primary packaging machine that can meet the above needs and further improve the throughput of the work.

[0007] The inventors aim to provide a primary packaging machine that meets the above market needs and aims to improve the throughput of operations.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the primary packaging machine of the present invention for wrapping and wrapping an object in film comprises: a work set unit having a frame that forms an opening that penetrates in the vertical direction when an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction are imagined as directions in which film is fed that are orthogonal within a horizontal plane when viewed from above; an object support structure that is arranged below the opening and supports the object by aligning the bottom surface of the object with a main virtual horizontal plane that is a virtual horizontal plane; an elevator that controls the object support structure to be able to freely raise and lower; a film feed device that is able to feed a pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening along the X-axis toward the center of the opening when viewed along the Y-axis; a film welding and cutting device that is able to weld the pair of films that have passed through the opening and hung down downward into a strip along the Y-axis above an object placed on the films, and cut the welded strip-shaped portion along the Y-axis to separate the welded portion into top and bottom parts; and a control device. The control device realizes a film feeding function in which the film supply device, while viewing along the Y axis, feeds out the pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening along the X axis toward the center of the opening, with the pair of films welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis; a lifting device stop maintaining function in which the lifting device aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane with a stop position that is lowered a predetermined vertical distance from a specific opening portion, which is a specific portion of the opening, to stop the object support structure and maintain that state; and a film separation function in which, after the object passes through the opening and falls onto the integrated pair of films laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device passes through the opening and welds the pair of films hanging down in a strip shape along the Y axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip-shaped portion, the welded portion, along the Y axis to separate it into upper and lower parts.

[0009] In the above-described configuration of the present invention, when the X-axis and Y-axis directions, which are orthogonal film supply directions within a horizontal plane as viewed from above, are imagined, the work set unit has a frame that forms an opening penetrating in the vertical direction. The object support structure is disposed below the opening and supports the object by aligning the bottom surface of the object with a virtual main horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane. The lifting device freely controls the object support structure to be raised and lowered. The film supplying device can feed a pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening along the X-axis toward the center of the opening, respectively, when viewed along the Y-axis. The film welding and cutting device can weld the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging downward into a strip along the Y-axis above an object placed on the films, and cut the welded strip along the Y-axis to separate them into upper and lower parts. The control device realizes a film feeding function, a function to maintain the lifting device in a stopped state, and a film separating function. The film supply device, with its line of sight along the Y-axis, feeds out a pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening along the X-axis, with the pair of films welded together in a strip-like shape along the Y-axis. The lifting device aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane with a stop position that is a predetermined vertical distance below a specific opening portion, which is a specific portion of the opening, to stop the object support structure and maintain that state. After the object passes through the opening and falls onto the integrated pair of films laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down in a strip-like shape along the Y-axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip-like portion along the Y-axis to separate it into upper and lower parts. As a result, the object wrapped in film can be efficiently placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane of the lifting device.

[0010] The primary packaging machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below. The present invention includes any one of the embodiments described below, or a combination of two or more of them.

[0011] In the primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the lifting device stop maintaining function is implemented and the lifting device maintains the object support structure in a stopped state, the stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the dimensions of the object. In the configuration of the above embodiment, when the lifting device stop maintaining function is implemented and the lifting device maintains the object support structure in a stopped state, the stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the dimensions of the object. As a result, the main virtual horizontal plane can stop at a position that corresponds to the dimensions of the object.

[0012] In the primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the lifting device stop maintaining function is implemented and the lifting device maintains the object support structure in a stopped state, the stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the height dimension of the outline of the object when viewed with the line of sight along the Y axis. In the configuration of the above embodiment, when the lifting device stop maintaining function is implemented and the lifting device maintains the object support structure in a stopped state, the stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the height dimension of the outline of the object when viewed with the line of sight along the Y axis. As a result, the main virtual horizontal plane can stop at a position that corresponds to the height dimension of the outline of the object.

[0013] In a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the work set unit includes a frame that forms an opening penetrating vertically, and a gate with a door structure that can open and close the opening and an upper gate surface on which an object can be placed. The control device realizes an opening opening function by which the gate opens the opening when the gate closes the opening, and a pair of films fed by the film supply device along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening, as viewed along the Y axis, are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis and laid on the gate upper surface, and an object is placed on the combined pair of films laid on the gate upper surface. In the configuration of the above embodiment, the work set unit includes a frame that forms an opening penetrating vertically, and a gate with a door structure that can open and close the opening and an upper gate surface on which an object can be placed. The control device realizes the opening opening function, the film feeding function, the lifting device stop maintenance function, and the film separation function. When the gate closes the opening, and the pair of films fed by the film supply device along the X-axis from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening as viewed along the Y-axis are welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis and laid on the upper surface of the gate, the gate opens the opening when an object is placed on the pair of films laid on the upper surface of the gate. As a result, the object wrapped in film can be efficiently supported by the object support structure and placed on the main virtual horizontal plane.

[0014] In a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, a control device realizes a film feed size determination function that determines a film feed size, which is a size of the film that the film supply device feeds out to wrap and encase an object, and the film feed function is a function of the film supply device feeding out a pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening along the X axis toward the center of the opening so that a total feed size, which is the sum of a pair of feed sizes of the pair of films that are fed out along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening, when the film supply device is looking along the Y axis and the pair of films are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis, matches the film feed size. In the configuration of the above embodiment, the film supply device determines the film feed size, which is the size of the film that the film supply device feeds out to wrap and encase an object. The film supply device feeds the pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening along the X axis toward the center of the opening, respectively, in a state where the pair of films are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis and integrated together, so that the total feed dimension, which is the sum of the pair of feed dimensions, matches the film feed dimension. As a result, the object can be efficiently wrapped in film and placed on the main virtual horizontal plane of the object support structure.

[0015] A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first sensor having an optical sensor capable of detecting whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked by an object at at least one point on an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X axis near the opening when viewed along the Y axis. An example of the lifting device stop maintaining function is a function of, when the lifting device is stopped with the main virtual horizontal plane aligned with a first stop position, which is a stop position lowered a first vertical distance from the specific opening portion, and when an object passes through the opening and the optical axis of the first sensor is not blocked by the object, the lifting device does not raise or lower the object support structure, and keeps the main virtual horizontal plane aligned with the first stop position to maintain the stopped state of the object support structure. In the configuration of the above embodiment, the first sensor has an optical sensor capable of detecting whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked by an object at at least one point on the opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X axis near the opening when viewed along the Y axis. When the object support structure is stopped by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane with a first stop position that is a first vertical distance below the specific portion of the opening and the object passes through the opening and the optical axis of the first sensor is not blocked by the object, the lifting device does not raise or lower the object support structure but aligns the main virtual horizontal plane with the first stop position, thereby maintaining the stopped state of the object support structure, so that the object can be placed on the main virtual horizontal plane of the object support structure.

[0016] In a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the lifting device stop maintaining function is a function that, when the lifting device has stopped the object support structure by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane with the first stop position and an object passes through the opening and the optical axis of the first sensor is blocked by the object, the lifting device starts lowering the object support structure, and when the optical axis of the first sensor is no longer blocked by the object, stops the descent and maintains the stopped state of the object support structure. In the configuration of the above embodiment, when the lifting device has stopped the object support structure by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane with the first stop position and an object passes through the opening and the optical axis of the first sensor is blocked by the object, the lifting device starts lowering the object support structure, and when the optical axis of the first sensor is no longer blocked by the object, the lifting device stops the descent and maintains the stopped state of the object support structure. As a result, the object can be placed on the main virtual horizontal plane of the object support structure according to its size.

[0017] A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a second sensor having a plurality of optical sensors arranged at predetermined intervals along an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X-axis near the opening when viewed along the Y-axis, and capable of detecting whether each optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked by an object. The film feed size determination function is a function for determining the film feed size based on the number of optical sensors of the second sensor whose optical axis is blocked when the lifting device stop function is being implemented. In the configuration of the above embodiment, the second sensor has a plurality of optical sensors arranged at predetermined intervals along the opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X-axis near the opening when viewed along the Y-axis, and capable of detecting whether each optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked by an object when viewed along the Y-axis. When the lifting device stop function is being implemented, the film feed size is determined based on the number of optical sensors of the second sensor whose optical axis is blocked. As a result, the film feed size can be determined according to the size of the object.

[0018] In a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the film feed dimension determination function, when the elevator stop maintenance function is implemented, derives an object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the object's contour as viewed along the Y-axis, based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the plurality of optical sensors of the second sensor, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter. In the configuration of the above embodiment, when the elevator stop maintenance function is implemented, derives an object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the object's contour as viewed along the Y-axis, based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the plurality of optical sensors of the second sensor, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter. As a result, it is possible to easily determine the film feed dimension corresponding to the object contour perimeter.

[0019] In a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the film feed dimension determination function, when the lifting device stoppage maintenance function is implemented, records the maximum number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the plurality of optical sensors of the second sensor, and determines the film feed dimension based on a combination of the vertical distance between the specific opening location and the main virtual horizontal plane when the lifting device maintains the object support structure stopped and the maximum recorded number of blocked optical sensors. In the configuration of the above embodiment, when the lifting device stoppage maintenance function is implemented, records the maximum number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the plurality of optical sensors of the second sensor, and determines the film feed dimension based on a combination of the vertical distance between the specific opening location and the main virtual horizontal plane when the lifting device maintains the object support structure stopped and the maximum recorded number of blocked optical sensors. As a result, it is possible to easily determine the film feed dimension corresponding to the object contour circumference.

[0020] In a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the film rewinding dimension is the dimension by which the film supply device rewinds the film, and the control device, after realizing the film separation function, realizes a film rewinding function in which the film supply device rewinds the pair of films from the center of the opening to the left and right along the X axis from the center of the opening to the left and right of the opening so that a total rewinding dimension, which is the sum of a pair of rewinding dimensions when viewed along the Y axis, matches the film rewinding dimension. In the configuration of the above embodiment, the film rewinding dimension is the dimension by which the film supply device rewinds the film. After realizing the film separation function, the film supply device rewinds the pair of films from the center of the opening to the left and right along the X axis from the center of the opening to the left and right of the opening so that a total rewinding dimension, which is the sum of a pair of rewinding dimensions when viewed along the Y axis, matches the film rewinding dimension. As a result, the integrated pair of films can be pulled up through the opening.

[0021] In a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the object support structure has a main conveyor that is operated to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting device and can transversely feed an object wrapped in film placed on the main virtual horizontal plane along the X axis, and the primary packaging machine further comprises a transverse conveyor that can support the object wrapped in film and feed it transversely along the X axis by aligning the underside of the object wrapped in film with the transverse virtual horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, in a state that the object can be received from the main conveyor and in a state that the object can be received by a vacuum packaging machine, and a third sensor that is an optical sensor that is provided at the boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor and can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked or not by an object being transversely fed from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor, and the control device defines a maximum value of the overall length along the X axis of one or more film-wrapped objects that can be received by the vacuum packaging machine as a vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function for estimating an object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of an object when the line of sight is aligned along the Y-axis for the object passing through the opening when the lifting device stop maintaining function is realized; and the lifting device starts raising and lowering the main conveyor, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane with a third stop position which is the same vertical position as the traversal virtual horizontal plane, stops the main conveyor, and maintains that state. and a lateral feeding function in which, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour that the overall length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor and the transverse feed conveyor start transverse feeding of the film-wrapped object with the main virtual horizontal plane and the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane coinciding, and when the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor are arranged in series and placed on the transverse conveyor, the main conveyor and the transverse feed conveyor stop transverse feeding, wherein the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane is an imaginary horizontal plane that supports the objects to be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine.In the above embodiment, the object support structure includes a main conveyor that can be freely raised and lowered by an elevator device and that can laterally transport a film-wrapped object placed on a main virtual horizontal plane along the X-axis. The transverse conveyor supports the film-wrapped object by aligning its underside with the virtual horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, in a state that allows it to be received by the main conveyor and the vacuum packaging machine, and transports the object laterally along the X-axis. The third sensor has an optical sensor located at the boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is obstructed by an object being transported laterally from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor. The maximum overall length along the X-axis of one or more film-wrapped objects that can be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine is defined as the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M. When the elevator device stop maintenance function is realized, an object contour X-axis width dimension is estimated, which is the width dimension of the object contour in the X-axis direction when viewed along the Y-axis for the object passing through the opening. The elevator starts raising and lowering the main conveyor, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane with the third stop position, which is the same vertical position as the transverse virtual horizontal plane, and stops the main conveyor, maintaining that state. Based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, it is determined that the total length along the X-axis of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M. With the main virtual horizontal plane and the transverse virtual horizontal plane aligned, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor start transversely transporting the film-wrapped object, and when the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor are arranged in series and placed on the transverse conveyor, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor stop transversely transporting them. The vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane is an imaginary horizontal plane that supports the objects to be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine. As a result, one or more objects can be fed transversely into the vacuum packaging machine without waste or overflow.

[0022] In the primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, the lateral feeding function is a function in which, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, that the overall length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the lateral feeding conveyor, which are hypothetically lined up in series along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor does not feed lateral, and the lateral feeding conveyor lines up the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the lateral feeding conveyor in series and feeds them lateral to the vacuum packaging machine, with the lateral feeding virtual horizontal plane and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane coinciding. In the configuration of the above embodiment, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour that the total length along the X-axis of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor does not transport the film-wrapped object or objects placed on the transverse conveyor in series while the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane are aligned, and the transverse conveyor transports the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor in series to the vacuum packaging machine. As a result, the single or multiple objects can be transported in transverse to the vacuum packaging machine without waste or protrusion.

[0023] A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to wrap an object in film as a pre-processing step for vacuum packaging the object in a downstream vacuum packaging machine. The primary packaging machine includes a work set unit having a frame that forms an opening that penetrates in one direction when imagining X-axis and Y-axis directions, which are directions for feeding film that are orthogonal to each other in a horizontal plane as viewed from above; a film supplying device that can feed a pair of films along the X-axis from the left and right of the opening toward the center of the opening, respectively, when viewed along the Y-axis; a film welding and cutting device that can weld the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down downward into a strip along the Y-axis at a position above an object placed on the films, and cut the welded strip along the Y-axis to separate the welded strip into top and bottom; and a main virtual horizontal plane that is arranged below the opening and that is used to cut the bottom surface of the object. a main conveyor capable of supporting an object by aligning the bottom surface of the film-wrapped object with the main virtual horizontal plane, and feeding the film-wrapped object placed on the main virtual horizontal plane laterally along the X axis; a transverse conveyor capable of supporting the object by aligning the bottom surface of the film-wrapped object with the transverse virtual horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, and feeding the object laterally along the X axis, in a state in which the object can be received from the main conveyor and in which the vacuum packaging machine can receive the object; a second sensor capable of outputting information for estimating the X-axis width dimension of the object's contour, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object when the line of sight is aligned along the Y axis, for the object passing through the opening; a third sensor having an optical sensor provided at the boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor, which is capable of detecting whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked or not by the object being fed laterally from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor; and a control device, wherein the control device defines the maximum overall length along the X axis of one or more film-wrapped objects that can be received by the vacuum packaging machine as a vacuum packaging machine receiving length M,a film feeding function in which the film supply device feeds out the pair of films along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening, with the pair of films welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis as viewed with a line of sight along the Y axis; a film separation function in which, after an object passes through the opened opening and falls onto the pair of films laid on the main virtual horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films hanging down after passing through the opening into a strip shape along the Y axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip-shaped portion along the Y axis to separate it into upper and lower parts; and an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function in which, for an object passing through the opening, the object contour X-axis width dimension is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object as viewed with a line of sight along the Y axis. and a lateral feeding function in which, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour that the overall length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor start transverse feeding of the film-wrapped object with the main virtual horizontal plane and the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane coinciding, and when the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor are arranged in series and placed on the transverse conveyor, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor stop transverse feeding, wherein the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane is an imaginary horizontal plane that supports the objects to be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine.

[0024] In the configuration of the above embodiment, when the X-axis and Y-axis directions, which are orthogonal film supply directions in a horizontal plane as viewed from above, are imagined, the work set unit has a frame that penetrates in one direction and forms the opening. The film supply device can feed a pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening along the X-axis, as viewed along the Y-axis. The film welding and cutting device can weld the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down along the Y-axis into a strip-like shape above an object placed on the films, and cut the welded strip-like portion along the Y-axis to separate the welded portion into upper and lower parts. The main conveyor is disposed below the opening and supports the object by aligning its lower surface with a main virtual horizontal plane, which is an imaginary horizontal plane, and can transversely transport the film-wrapped object placed on the main virtual horizontal plane along the X-axis. The transverse conveyor can support the film-wrapped object by aligning its lower surface with a transverse feed virtual horizontal plane, which is an imaginary horizontal plane, and can transversely transport the object along the X-axis while the object is ready to be received by the main conveyor and the vacuum packaging machine. The second sensor is a sensor that can output information for estimating the X-axis width dimension of the object's contour, which is the width dimension of the object's contour in the X-axis direction when viewed along the Y-axis for an object passing through the opening. The third sensor is an optical sensor located at the boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is obstructed or not by an object being transported laterally from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor. The maximum overall length along the X-axis of an object wrapped in one or more films that can be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine is defined as the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M. The control device realizes a film feeding function, a film separation function, an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function, and a transverse feeding function. The film supply device feeds a pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening along the X-axis, respectively.After the object passes through the opened opening and falls onto the pair of integrated films laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down into a strip along the Y axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip along the Y axis to separate it into upper and lower parts. For the object passing through the opening, an object contour X-axis width dimension is estimated, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the object contour as seen by guiding a line of sight along the Y axis. Based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, if it is determined that the total length along the X-axis of the film-wrapped object on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor begin to transport the film-wrapped object in a state where the main virtual horizontal plane and the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane are aligned, and when the film-wrapped object on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects on the transverse conveyor are arranged in series and placed on the transverse conveyor, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor stop transporting them. The vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane is an imaginary horizontal plane that supports the object for acceptance by the vacuum packaging machine. As a result, the single or multiple objects can be transported in a transverse direction without waste or protrusion.

[0025] A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is used to wrap one or more objects in film as a pre-processing step for vacuum packaging the objects in a downstream vacuum packaging machine. The primary packaging machine includes a work set unit having a frame that forms an opening that penetrates in one direction when imagining X-axis and Y-axis directions, which are directions for feeding film that are orthogonal in a horizontal plane when viewed from above; a film supplying device that can feed a pair of films along the X-axis from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening, respectively, when viewed along the Y-axis; a film welding and cutting device that can weld the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down in a strip shape along the Y-axis at a position above an object placed on the films, and cut the welded strip-shaped portion along the Y-axis to separate it into top and bottom; and a film welding and cutting device that is arranged below the opening and can cut the bottom surface of the object in an imaginary horizontal plane. a main conveyor that supports an object by aligning it with a certain main virtual horizontal plane and can laterally feed an object wrapped in film placed on the main virtual horizontal plane along the X axis; a transverse conveyor that supports the object by aligning the underside of the film-wrapped object with the transverse virtual horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, in a state that the object can be received from the main conveyor and by a vacuum packaging machine, and can feed the object laterally along the X axis; a second sensor that is a sensor that can output information for estimating the X-axis width dimension of the object's contour, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object when the line of sight is aligned along the Y axis for the object passing through the opening; a third sensor that is provided at the boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor and has an optical sensor that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is obstructed or not by an object being transversely fed from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor; and a control device, wherein the control device defines the maximum value of the overall length along the X axis of one or more film-wrapped objects that can be received by the vacuum packaging machine as a vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M,a film feeding function in which the film supply device feeds out the pair of films along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening, with the pair of films welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis as viewed with a line of sight along the Y axis; a film separation function in which, after an object passes through the opened opening and falls onto the pair of films laid on the main virtual horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films hanging down after passing through the opening into a strip shape along the Y axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip-shaped portion along the Y axis to separate it into upper and lower parts; and an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function in which, for an object passing through the opening, the object contour X-axis width dimension is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object as viewed with a line of sight along the Y axis. When it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, that the total length along the X-axis of the film-wrapped objects placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor does not perform transverse feeding when the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane are aligned, and the transverse conveyor arranges the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor in series and transversely feeds them to the vacuum packaging machine. In the configuration of the above embodiment, when the X-axis and Y-axis directions, which are directions in which the film is fed orthogonally in a horizontal plane as viewed from above, are imagined, the work set unit has a frame that penetrates in one direction and forms the opening. When viewed along the Y-axis, the film supply device can feed a pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening along the X-axis, respectively. The film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down along the Y-axis into a strip above an object placed on the films, and cuts the welded strip along the Y-axis to separate the welded portion into upper and lower parts. The main conveyor is disposed below the opening and supports the object by aligning the bottom surface of the object with a main virtual horizontal plane, which is an imaginary horizontal plane, and can transport the object wrapped in film placed on the main virtual horizontal plane laterally along the X-axis.The transverse conveyor supports the film-wrapped object so that its underside coincides with a virtual horizontal plane, which is a transverse conveyor, and can transport the object transversely along the X-axis while allowing it to be received by the main conveyor and the vacuum packaging machine. The second sensor is a sensor that outputs information for estimating the X-axis width of the object's contour, which is the width of the object's contour in the X-axis direction when viewed along the Y-axis, for the object passing through the opening. The third sensor is an optical sensor located at the boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor and can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is obstructed or not by the object being transported transversely from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor. The maximum overall length along the X-axis of one or more film-wrapped objects that can be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine is defined as the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M. The control device realizes a film feeding function, a film separation function, an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function, and a transverse feeding function. The film supply device feeds a pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening along the X-axis. After the object passes through the open opening and falls onto the combined pair of films laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down into a strip along the Y-axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip along the Y-axis to separate it into upper and lower parts. For the object passing through the opening, the X-axis width dimension of the object contour is estimated, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object as seen by guiding a line of sight along the Y-axis. When it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour that the total length along the X-axis of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor does not transport the film-wrapped object, and the transverse conveyor arranges the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor in series and feeds them transversely to the vacuum packaging machine, with the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane coinciding. As a result, the single or multiple objects can be fed transversely to the vacuum packaging machine without waste or protrusion.

[0026] As described above, the primary packaging machine according to the present invention has the following advantages due to its configuration. After a pair of films welded together and integrated above the opening is fed, the lifting device descends a predetermined vertical distance below the opening to maintain the object support structure in a stationary state, and the object is supported by the object support structure in a stationary state and placed on a main imaginary horizontal plane, the pair of films are welded together in a strip shape above the object, and the welded portions are cut to separate the object into upper and lower halves. This allows the object to be efficiently wrapped and wrapped in film and placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane while supported by the object support structure. Since the stop position of the main imaginary horizontal plane when the object support structure is stopped when the lifting device stop maintenance function is realized is changed in the vertical direction in accordance with the dimensions of the object, the main imaginary horizontal plane can be positioned in accordance with the dimensions of the object. When the lifting device stop maintaining function is realized, the stop position of the main virtual horizontal plane when the object support structure stops changes in the vertical direction corresponding to the height dimension of the outline of the object when viewed along the Y-axis, so that the main virtual horizontal plane can be set to a position corresponding to the height dimension of the outline of the object. A gate closes the opening, a pair of films welded together above the opening are placed on the gate, and the object is placed on the films with the pair of films welded together above the opening placed on the gate. After the gate opens the opening, the pair of films are fed out, and the lifting device maintains the object support structure stopped at a position a predetermined vertical distance below the opening. After the object is placed on the main virtual horizontal plane of the object support structure where it is stopped, the pair of films are welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis above the object, and the welded portion is cut to separate the pair of films into upper and lower halves. This allows the object wrapped in film to be efficiently supported by the object support structure and placed on the main virtual horizontal plane.The gate closes the opening, and the pair of films that have been welded together are placed on the gate, and the object is placed on the films. After the gate opens the opening, the pair of films are fed out so that the sum of the feed dimensions of the pair of films matches the film feed dimension. The lifting device positions the main imaginary horizontal plane a predetermined vertical distance below the opening, maintaining the object support structure in a stopped state. After the object is supported by the object support structure that is maintained in a stopped state and placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane, the pair of films are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis above the object, and the welded portion is cut to separate the upper and lower halves. This allows the object to be efficiently wrapped in film and placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane of the object support structure. A first sensor is arranged at least at one location on the virtual line of the opening, and when an object passes through the opening while the object support structure is stationary and the optical axis of the first sensor is not blocked by the object, the lifting device does not raise or lower the object support structure but maintains the stationary state of the object support structure, so that the object can be supported by the object support structure and placed on the main virtual horizontal plane.A first sensor is arranged at least at one location on the virtual line of the opening, and when an object passes through the opening while the object support structure is stationary and the optical axis of the first sensor is blocked by the object, the lifting device starts lowering the object support structure, and when the optical axis of the first sensor is not blocked by the object, the lifting device stops lowering the object support structure and maintains that state, so that the object can be supported by the object support structure and placed on the main virtual horizontal plane according to the size of the object.

[0027] When the elevator device is maintaining a stopped state, the film feed dimension is determined based on the number of optical sensors of the second sensor whose optical axis is blocked, so that the film feed dimension can be determined according to the size of the object.When the object is falling, the object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the object's contour as viewed along the Y-axis, is derived based on the number of optical sensors of the second sensor whose optical axis is blocked, and the film feed dimension is determined from the derived object contour perimeter.This makes it possible to determine the film feed dimension according to the size of the object.When the object is falling, the film feed dimension is determined based on the vertical distance between the specific opening portion and the main virtual horizontal plane when the elevator device maintains the object support structure stopped and the maximum number of optical sensors of the second sensor whose optical axis is blocked, so that the film feed dimension can be easily determined according to the size of the object.

[0028] After the films are separated, the pair of films are rewound individually along the X-axis from the center of the opening toward the left and right of the opening so that the total rewinding dimension, which is the sum of the rewinding dimensions of the pair of films, matches the rewinding dimension of the films, so that the integrated pair of films can be pulled up from the opening.

[0029] The X-axis width dimension of the object contour is estimated, and when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour that the overall length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and one or more film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the object placed on the main conveyor is fed transversely to the transverse conveyor, so that one or more objects can be fed transversely to the vacuum packaging machine efficiently and without protrusion.

[0030] The X-axis width dimension of the object's contour is estimated, and when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object's contour that the total length along the X-axis of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor is not moved and the single or multiple objects placed on the transverse conveyor are fed transversely in their entirety to the vacuum packaging machine, so that the single or multiple objects can be fed transversely to the vacuum packaging machine without waste or protrusion. Thus, a primary packaging machine can be provided that meets market needs and aims to improve work throughput.

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a view illustrating the operation of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a view illustrating the operation of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] An embodiment of the present invention will now be described. A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a first explanatory diagram of the operation of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a second explanatory diagram of the operation of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a third explanatory diagram of the operation of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a fourth explanatory diagram of the operation of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 8 is a functional block diagram of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a fifth explanatory diagram of the operation of a primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device for wrapping and packaging an object 20 in a film 50. The primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may be a device for wrapping and packaging an object 20 in a film 50 as a preliminary process before the object 20 is vacuum-packaged in a vacuum packaging machine 900 located downstream. Here, the vacuum packaging machine 900 is a device that sucks from both openings a cylindrical sealed body made by wrapping and wrapping a cut of meat in film 50, and seals both openings to obtain a vacuum-sealed four-sided sealed body. For the sake of convenience, unless otherwise specified, the following description will be given assuming that the object 20 is a beef carcass, and the primary packaging machine will be described as a device that wraps and wraps the object 20 in film 50 as a pre-processing step before vacuum-packaging the object 20 in the vacuum packaging machine 900 located downstream.

[0033] A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a work set unit 100, an object support structure (not shown), a lifting device 200, a film supply 300, a film welding and cutting device 400, a control device (not shown), and a first sensor L1. A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may also include a work set unit 100, an object support structure (not shown), a lifting device 200, a film supply 300, a film welding and cutting device 400, a control device (not shown), a first sensor L1, and a second sensor L2. A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may also include a work set unit 100, an object support structure (not shown), a lifting device 200, a film supply 300, a film welding and cutting device 400, a control device (not shown), a cross-feed conveyor 600, a first sensor L1, a second sensor L2, and a third sensor L3. A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured with a work set unit 100, an object support structure (not shown), a lifting device 200, a film supply device 300, a film welding and cutting device 400, a control device (not shown), a transverse conveyor 600, a first sensor L1, a second sensor L2, a third sensor L3, and a fourth sensor L4. A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured with a work set unit 100, an object support structure (not shown), a film supply device 300, a film welding and cutting device 400, a control device (not shown), a transverse conveyor 600, a second sensor L2, and a third sensor L3. A primary packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention may be configured with a work set unit 100, an object support structure (not shown), a film supply device 300, a film welding and cutting device 400, a control device (not shown), a transverse conveyor 600, a second sensor L2, and a third sensor L3.

[0034] For ease of explanation, the following description will be given assuming that an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction are orthogonal to each other in a horizontal plane as viewed from above. The X-axis is the direction in which the film is supplied. For example, the X-axis is an imaginary axis extending in the direction in which the object 20 is transported from the primary packaging machine to the vacuum packaging machine 900 as viewed from above. The following terms will be used to facilitate explanation: The main imaginary horizontal plane H is an imaginary horizontal plane that coincides with the underside of the object 20 wrapped in film and supported by the object support structure. When the lifting device 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to freely rise and fall, the main imaginary horizontal plane H is an imaginary horizontal plane that coincides with the underside of the object 20 supported by the main conveyor 500. The opening imaginary line G is an imaginary line that extends along the X-axis near the opening O when viewed along the Y-axis. For example, the opening imaginary line G is an imaginary line that extends along the X-axis along the upper surface T of the gate 120 that closes the opening O when viewed along the Y-axis. The transverse feed virtual horizontal plane J is an imaginary plane that coincides with the bottom surface of the object 20 wrapped in film 50 that is supported and transversely fed by the transverse feed conveyor 600. The vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K is an imaginary plane that coincides with the bottom surface of the object 20 wrapped in film 50 that is supported by the vacuum packaging machine 900. The vertical is the direction in which gravity acts.

[0035] The work set unit 100 is a basic structure of the primary packaging machine and is composed of a frame 110. The work set unit 100 is a basic structure of the primary packaging machine and may be composed of the frame 110 and a gate 120. The frame 110 is structured to form an opening O penetrating in one direction. The frame 110 may be structured to form an opening O penetrating in the vertical direction. The frame 110 may be structured to form an opening O penetrating in an oblique direction. The opening may have a contour formed of four sides approximately parallel to the X-axis and Y-axis when viewed from above. The frame 110 may be structured to support the elevator device 200, film supply device 300, film welding and cutting device 400, main conveyor 500, transverse feed conveyor 600, first sensor L1, second sensor L2, third sensor L3, and fourth sensor L4, which will be described later.

[0036] The gate 120 has a door structure that can open and close the opening O and has a gate upper surface T that is an upper surface on which the target object 20 can be placed.

[0037] The gate 120 may be composed of a pair of sliding gates 121 and 122. The pair of sliding gates 121 and 122 can open the opening O by moving left and right along the X axis from the center of the opening O when viewed along the Y axis, and can close the opening O by bringing their tips toward each other at the center of the opening O. In this case, the frame 110 has a structure that forms an opening O that penetrates vertically. The gate top surface T formed by the pair of sliding gates 121 and 122 may be a surface that slopes upward as it transitions from the tip to the base. In this way, when the pair of sliding gates 121 and 122 close the opening O by bringing their tips toward each other at the center of the opening O, the gate top surface T formed by the pair of sliding gates 121 and 122 has a shallow V-shape. For example, the pair of sliding gates 121 and 122 can open the opening O by moving their ends toward the left and right of the opening O along the X axis. For example, a pair of slide gates 121 and 122 can open the opening O by moving their ends to the left and right of the opening O along the Y axis, respectively.

[0038] The object support structure (not shown) is a structure disposed below the opening O and supports the object 20 by aligning the bottom surface of the object 20 with a main virtual horizontal plane H, which is an imaginary horizontal plane. The object support structure (not shown) may be configured as the main conveyor 500. For ease of explanation, the following description will be given assuming that the object support structure (not shown) is the main conveyor 500.

[0039] The lifting device 200 is a device that supports an object support structure and controls it so that it can be raised and lowered. For example, the lifting device 200 controls the main conveyor 500, which is the object support structure, so that it can be raised and lowered. The lifting device 200 can support the object 20 via the object support structure by aligning the underside of the object 20 with the main virtual horizontal plane H. The lifting device 200 may be disposed below the opening O and supported by the frame 110. For example, the lifting device 200 is disposed directly below the opening O and supported by the frame 110. The lifting device 200 can control the main conveyor 500 so that it can be raised and lowered. The surface of the main conveyor 500, which is controlled by the lifting device 200 and on which the object 20 is placed, coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane H. For example, the lifting device 200 can freely raise and lower the main conveyor 500, align the main virtual horizontal plane H with one of the first stop position Z1, the second stop position Z2, and the third stop position Z3, and then stop the main conveyor 500 and maintain that stopped state. Here, the second stop position Z2 changes depending on the size of the object. For example, the second stop position Z2 becomes lower when the vertical dimension of the object 20 is large, and becomes higher when the vertical dimension of the object 20 is small. When the lifting device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 and the main virtual horizontal plane H coincides with the first stop position Z1, the main virtual horizontal plane H coincides with a position that is a first vertical distance h1 below the specific opening portion. Here, the first vertical distance h1 corresponds to the height dimension of the outline of a predictably small object 20 among the objects 20 when viewed along the Y axis. For example, the first vertical distance h1 corresponds to the height dimension of the outline of a predictably small object 20 among the objects 20 when viewed along the Y axis, plus a margin. When the lifting equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 and the main imaginary horizontal plane H coincides with the second stop position Z2, the main imaginary horizontal plane H coincides with a position that is lower by a second vertical distance h2 from the specific opening portion. The second stop distance h2 is an arbitrary distance that changes depending on the dimensions of the object 20 that is lifted or lowered as a result of the lifting equipment 200 lifting or lowering the main conveyor 500. For example, the second stop distance h2 is an arbitrary distance that changes depending on the height dimension of the object 20 that is lifted or lowered as a result of the lifting equipment 200 lifting or lowering the main conveyor 500.When the lifting device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 and the main virtual horizontal plane H coincides with the third stop position Z3, the main virtual horizontal plane H coincides with a position that is a third vertical distance h3 below the opening specific portion. When the lifting device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 and the main virtual horizontal plane H coincides with the third stop position Z3, the main virtual horizontal plane H coincides with the same height as a lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J, which will be described later. The opening specific portion is a specific portion of the opening O. The opening specific portion may be a specific point on the V-shaped opening virtual line G. For example, the opening specific portion coincides with the bottom of the opening virtual line G. For example, the opening specific portion coincides with the optical axis of the optical sensor of the first sensor L1. In the following, a case where the opening specific portion coincides with the bottom of the opening virtual line G will be described as an example.

[0040] The film supply device 300 is a device that can feed the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O along the X axis, respectively, when viewed along the Y axis. The film supply device 300 may be a device that can feed the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O along the X axis, respectively, when viewed along the Y axis. The film supply device 300 may be a device that can feed the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O along the X axis, when viewed along the Y axis. The film supply device 300 may be a device that can feed the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O along the X axis, respectively, when viewed along the Y axis, and rewind the pair of films 50 in the opposite directions, when viewed along the Y axis. The film supply device 300 may be composed of a pair of film roll holders 310, a pair of film roll rotation mechanisms 320, and a pair of film roll diameter sensors 330. When viewed along the Y axis, a set of a film roll holder 310, a film roll rotation mechanism 320, and a film roll diameter sensor 330 are arranged on the left and right sides of the opening O. The film roll holder 310 is a device that rotatably holds the film roll 51 around which the film 50 is wound. The film roll rotation mechanism 320 is a mechanism that can rotate the film roll 51. The film roll diameter sensor 330 is a sensor that can detect the diameter of the film roll 51. The length of the unwound film 50 can be calculated based on the diameter of the film roll 51 detected by the film roll diameter sensor 330 and the angle of forward rotation of the film roll 51. For example, when the film roll rotation mechanism 320 rotates the film roll holder 310 forward, the film 50 is unwound. For example, when viewed along the Y axis, the film supply device 300 can feed a pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O along the X axis so that the total feed dimension, which is the sum of the pair of feed dimensions, matches the film feed dimension.For example, when viewed along the Y axis, the film supply device 300 feeds one film 50 along the X axis toward the center of the opening O by half the film feed dimension, and feeds the other film along the X axis toward the center of the opening O by half the film feed dimension. As a result, the total feed dimension matches the film feed dimension. Here, the film feed dimension is the dimension of the film 50 fed by the primary packaging machine that is necessary to wrap and wrap the object 20.

[0041] For example, when the film roll rotation mechanism 320 reverses the film roll holder 310, the film 50 is rewound. For example, the film supply device 300 can rewind the pair of films 50 from the center of the opening O to the left and right of the opening O along the X axis, respectively, so that the total rewind dimension, which is the sum of the pair of rewind dimensions of the pair of films 50 rewound along the X axis from the center of the opening O to the left and right of the opening O when viewed along the Y axis, matches the film rewind dimension. For example, the film supply device 300 rewinds one film 50 along the X axis toward one of the left and right of the opening O by half the film rewind dimension when viewed along the Y axis, and rewinds the other film 50 along the X axis toward the other of the left and right of the opening O by half the film rewind dimension. As a result, the total rewind dimension matches the film rewind dimension. Here, the film rewind dimension is the dimension by which the film supply device 300 rewinds the film. The length of the film 50 to be rewound can be calculated based on the diameter of the film roll 51 detected by the film roll diameter sensor 330 and the reverse rotation angle of the film roll 51.

[0042] The film welding and cutting device 400 is a device that can weld a pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging downward into a strip shape along the Y axis above the object 20, and cut the welded strip-shaped portion, or welded portion 60, along the Y axis to separate them into upper and lower parts. As a result, the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 can be separated from the pair of films 50. The film welding and cutting device 400 may be a device that can weld a pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging downward into a strip shape along the Y axis above the object 20, and cut the welded strip-shaped portion, or welded portion 60, along the Y axis to separate them into upper and lower parts. The film welding and cutting device 400 may be a device that can weld a pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging downward into a strip shape along the Y axis near the opening O and above the object, and cut the welded strip-shaped portion, or welded portion 60, along the Y axis to separate them into upper and lower parts. The film welding and cutting device 400 may be a device that can weld a pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging down along the Y-axis in a strip shape at a position below the opening O and above the object, and cut the welded strip-shaped portion 60 along the Y-axis to separate it into upper and lower parts. The film welding and cutting device 400 may be a device that can weld a pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging down along the Y-axis in a strip shape at a position above the opening O and above the object, and cut the welded strip-shaped portion 60 along the Y-axis to separate it into upper and lower parts. The film welding and cutting device 400 may be a device that can weld a pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging down along the X-axis from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, pass through the opening O and are hanging down, along the Y-axis in a strip shape at a position above the object 20, and cut the welded strip-shaped portion 60 along the Y-axis to separate it into upper and lower parts. The film welding and cutting device 400 is composed of a film welding device 410 and a film cutting device 420. The film welding device 410 is a device that welds a pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging downward into a strip shape along the Y axis at a position above the object 20.The film welding device 410 may be a device that welds a pair of films 50, which are fed from the left and right sides of the opening O along the X axis toward the center of the opening O and hang down after passing through the opening O, into a strip-like shape along the Y axis at a position above the object 20. For example, the film welding device 410 applies pressure along the Y axis to the pair of films 50 hanging down from the center of the opening O at a position above the object 20 to heat them. For example, the film welding device 410 vibrates along the Y axis to apply pressure to the pair of films 50 hanging down from the center of the opening O at a position above the object 20 to heat them. The film cutting device 420 is a device that cuts the welded strip-shaped portion, the welded portion 60, along the Y axis. For example, the film cutting device 420 cuts the film 50 with a cutter at the center of the width direction of the welded strip-shaped portion, the welded portion 60, along the Y axis. For example, the film cutting device 420 is a cutter, and cuts the film 50 along the Y axis at the center in the width direction of the welded band-shaped portion 60. As a result, the welded pair of films 50 are separated into upper and lower halves, and the pair of films 50 that have been welded together remain above the opening O, and the film 50 that has been welded to each other at the top and bottom and has become cylindrical, wraps around the object 20, and remains below the opening O.

[0043] The main conveyor 500 is a device that is disposed below the opening O, supports the object 20 by aligning the bottom surface of the object 20 with a main virtual horizontal plane H, which is an imaginary horizontal plane, and can laterally transport the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main virtual horizontal plane H along the X axis. The main conveyor 500 may also be a device that is disposed directly below the opening O, supports the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 by aligning the bottom surface of the object 20 with the main virtual horizontal plane H, which is an imaginary horizontal plane, and can laterally transport the object 20 placed on the main virtual horizontal plane H along the X axis. For example, the main conveyor 500 is a roller conveyor driven by a servo motor. The roller conveyor has multiple rollers arranged at equal intervals along the X axis. An imaginary horizontal line connecting the tops of the multiple rollers arranged at equal intervals along the X axis coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane H. For example, the main conveyor 500 is a belt conveyor driven by a servo motor. The main conveyor 500 is disposed below the opening O. For example, the main conveyor 500 is disposed directly below the opening O. The main virtual horizontal plane H may coincide with a transverse feed virtual horizontal plane J, which will be described later. Here, the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane J is a virtual horizontal plane that supports the bottom surface of the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 when a transverse feed conveyor 600, which will be described later, transports the object 20 transversely along the X axis.

[0044] The main conveyor 500 may be a device that can be raised and lowered by the lifting device 200 and can laterally transport the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H along the X-axis. For example, the main conveyor 500 is a roller conveyor driven by a servo motor. The main conveyor 500 can be raised and lowered by being freely controlled by the lifting device 200. When the lifting device 200 raises and lowers the main conveyor 500 and stops the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main imaginary horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, the main imaginary horizontal plane H is lowered by a first vertical distance h1 from the opening specific portion. When the lifting device 200 raises and lowers the main conveyor 500 and stops the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main imaginary horizontal plane H with the second stop position Z2, the main imaginary horizontal plane H is lowered by a second vertical distance h2 from the opening specific portion. When the lifting equipment 200 raises and lowers the main conveyor 500 and stops the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main imaginary horizontal plane H with the third stop position Z3, the main imaginary horizontal plane H is lowered by a third vertical distance h3 from the specific opening portion. When the lifting equipment 200 raises and lowers the main conveyor 500 and stops the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main imaginary horizontal plane H with the third stop position Z3, the main imaginary horizontal plane H is at the same height as a lateral feed imaginary horizontal plane J, which will be described later.

[0045] The transverse conveyor 600 is a device that can transversely feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50 in a state that allows it to be received by the main conveyor 500 and by the vacuum packaging machine 900. The transverse conveyor 600 is a device that can transversely feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50 along the X-axis in a state that allows it to be received by the main conveyor 500 and by the vacuum packaging machine 900. The transverse conveyor 600 is a device that can support and transversely feed the object 20 along the X-axis by aligning the underside of the object 20 wrapped in film 50 with a transverse virtual horizontal plane J, which is a virtual horizontal plane, in a state that allows it to be received by the main conveyor 500 and by the vacuum packaging machine 900. The transverse virtual horizontal plane J of the transverse conveyor 600 can be aligned with the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K of the vacuum packaging machine 900. The transverse conveyor 600 may be a device in which a plurality of transverse conveyors 600 are connected in series. For example, the transverse conveyor 600 is composed of a first transverse conveyor 610 and a second transverse conveyor 620 that are arranged in series along the X axis. The first transverse conveyor 610 can transversely convey the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 along the X axis in a state where it can be received from the main conveyor 500 and by the second transverse conveyor 620. The second transverse conveyor 610 can transversely convey the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 along the X axis in a state where it can be received from the first transverse conveyor 610 and by the vacuum packaging machine 900.

[0046] The vacuum packaging machine 900 supports the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 by aligning the bottom surface of the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 with the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K. The vacuum packaging machine 900 is a device that receives the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 from the transverse conveyor 600 and draws a vacuum at both openings of the cylindrical film 50 to seal it. The maximum overall length along the X axis of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 that can be received by the vacuum packaging machine 900 is defined as the vacuum packaging machine receiving length M.

[0047] The first sensor L1 has an optical sensor that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis at a point on an opening virtual line G is blocked or not blocked by the object 20 when viewed along the Y axis. The opening virtual line G is an imaginary line that extends along the X axis near the opening when viewed along the Y axis. The opening virtual line G may be an imaginary line that extends along the gate 120 when the gate 120 closes the opening O when viewed along the Y axis. The opening virtual line G may be an imaginary line that extends along the gate top surface T of the gate 120 when the gate 120 closes the opening O when viewed along the Y axis. The first sensor L1 has an optical sensor that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis at a point approximately in the center of the opening virtual line G when the gate 120 closes the opening O when viewed along the Y axis. The optical sensor of the first sensor L1 is composed of a light emitter arranged on one side along the Y axis with the opening O in between, a light receiver arranged on the other side along the Y axis, and a drive circuit that drives the light emitter and the light receiver. The first sensor L1 is composed of one or more optical sensors. The first sensor L1 may be composed of a single optical sensor. The first sensor L1 may also be composed of one optical sensor among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2 described below.

[0048] The second sensor L2 has a sensor capable of outputting information for estimating the X-axis width dimension of the object contour, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 passing through the opening O when viewed with a line of sight along the Y-axis. The second sensor L2 may have a camera system capable of outputting information for estimating the X-axis width dimension of the object contour, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 passing through the opening O when viewed with a line of sight along the Y-axis. The second sensor L2 may have a plurality of optical sensors arranged at predetermined intervals along an opening virtual line G when viewed with a line of sight along the Y-axis, and capable of detecting whether each optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked or not blocked by the object 20. The opening virtual line G is a virtual line extending along the X-axis near the opening when viewed with a line of sight along the Y-axis. The opening virtual line G may also be a virtual line along the gate top surface T of the gate 120 when the gate 120 closes the opening O when viewed with a line of sight along the Y-axis. The structure of the optical sensor of the second sensor L2 may be the same as the structure of the optical sensor of the first sensor L1. The optical sensors of the second sensor L2 may include the optical sensor of the first sensor L1.

[0049] The third sensor L3 is provided at the boundary between the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveyor 600 and has an optical sensor that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked or not by the object 20 being transported transversely from the main conveyor 500 to the transverse conveyor 600. The structure of the optical sensor may be the same as that of the optical sensor of the first sensor L1.

[0050] The fourth sensor L4 is provided at the boundary between the transverse conveyor 600 and the vacuum packaging machine 900 and has an optical sensor that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked or not by the object 20 being transported transversely from the transverse conveyor 600 to the vacuum packaging machine 900. The structure of the optical sensor may be the same as that of the optical sensor of the first sensor L1.

[0051] The control device (not shown) is a device that can control the primary packaging machine. For example, the control device (not shown) is configured with a computer. The computer is configured with a CPU, memory, and I / O. Software for realizing multiple functions is installed on the computer.

[0052] The control device (not shown) causes the primary packaging machine to realize multiple functions using installed software. The control device (not shown) may realize a film feeding function F30, a lifting device stop maintaining function F40, a film cutting function F50, and an opening closing function F80. The control device (not shown) may realize an opening opening function F20, a film feeding function F30, a lifting device stop maintaining function F40, a film cutting function F50, and an opening closing function F80. The control device (not shown) may realize a film feeding dimension determination function F10, an opening opening function F20, a film feeding function F30, a lifting device stop maintaining function F40, a film cutting function F50, and an opening closing function F80. The control device (not shown) may be configured to implement a film feed dimension determination function F10, an opening portion opening function F20, a film feed function F30, an elevator device stop maintenance function F40, a film separation function F50, an opening portion closing function F80, and a film rewind function F70. The control device (not shown) may be configured to implement a film feed dimension determination function F10, an opening portion opening function F20, a film feed function F30, an elevator device stop maintenance function F40, a film separation function F50, an opening portion closing function F80, a film rewind dimension determination function F60, and a film rewind function F70. The control device (not shown) may be configured to implement a film feed dimension determination function F10, an opening opening function F20, a film feed function F30, a lifting device stop maintenance function F40, a film separation function F50, an opening closing function F80, a film rewind dimension determination function F60, a film rewind function F70, an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90, and a lateral feed function F100.

[0053] The control device (not shown) may implement multiple functions in a specific order using installed software. The control device (not shown) may implement the opening function F20, film feeding function F30, elevator device stop maintenance function F40, film separation function F50, opening function closing function F80, film rewinding function F70, and lateral feed function F100, in that order. The control device (not shown) may implement the opening function F20, film feeding function F30, elevator device stop maintenance function F40, film separation function F50, film rewinding function F70, opening function closing function F80, and lateral feed function F100, in that order. The control device (not shown) may implement the film feed dimension determination function F10 while implementing the opening function F20 and elevator device stop maintenance function F40. The control device (not shown) may implement the object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 when implementing the film delivery function F30 and the elevator device stop maintenance function F40.

[0054] The film feed size determination function F10 is a function for determining the film feed size, which is the size of the film 50 that the film supply device 300 needs to feed in order to wrap the object 20 around.

[0055] The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be a function that determines the film feed dimension based on the number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axes are blocked by the object 20. The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be a function that records the number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axes are blocked by the object 20, and determines the film feed dimension based on the recorded number of blocked optical sensors. The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be implemented when the opening function F30 and the lifting equipment stoppage maintenance function F40 are implemented. For example, the film feed dimension determination function F10 is implemented when the opening function F30 and the lifting equipment stoppage maintenance function F40 are implemented and the object 20 is falling. For example, when the opening function F30 and the lifting equipment stop maintenance function F40 are realized, the film feed dimension determination function F10 records in chronological order the number of optical sensors among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axis is blocked by the object 20, and determines the film feed dimension based on the number of blocked optical sensors recorded in chronological order.

[0056] The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be a function that records the number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axes are blocked by the object 20, derives an object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the contour of the object 20 as seen along the Y axis, based on the recorded number of blocked optical sensors, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter. The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be implemented when the opening opening function F30 and the elevator device stop maintaining function F40 are implemented. For example, the film feed dimension determination function F10 realizes the opening opening function F30 and the lifting equipment stop maintenance function F40, and when the object 20 is falling, it records the number of optical sensors among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axis is blocked by the object 20 in accordance with the elevation position of the main virtual horizontal plane H, which changes over time, and derives the object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the contour of the object 20 as viewed along the Y axis, based on the number of blocked optical sensors recorded in accordance with the elevation position of the main virtual horizontal plane H, which changes over time, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter.

[0057] The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be a function that realizes the opening opening function F30 and the lifting equipment stop maintenance function F40, and when the object 20 is falling, records the maximum number of optical sensors among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axes are blocked by the object 20, and determines the film feed dimension from the object contour circumference based on a combination of the vertical separation distance between the specific opening location and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the lifting equipment 200 maintains the stopped state of the main conveyor 500 and the maximum recorded number of blocked optical sensors.

[0058] The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be a function that, when the opening opening function F30 and the elevator equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 are realized and the object 20 is falling, records the maximum number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axes are blocked by the object 20, derives an object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the contour of the object 20 as viewed along the Y axis, based on a combination of the vertical separation distance between the specific opening location and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the elevator equipment 200 maintains the stopped state of the main conveyor 500 and the recorded maximum number of blocked optical sensors, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter. The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be realized when the opening opening function F30 and the elevator equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 are realized. For example, the film feed dimension determination function F10 may be a function that, when the opening function F30 and the lifting equipment stop maintenance function F40 are implemented and the object 20 is falling, records the maximum number of optical sensors among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axis is blocked by the object 20, derives the object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the contour of the object 20 as viewed along the Y axis, based on a combination of the vertical separation distance between the specific opening location and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the main conveyor 500 is kept stopped while the lifting equipment 200 is implementing the lifting equipment stop maintenance function F40, and the maximum recorded number of blocked optical sensors, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter. For example, the film feed dimension determination function F10 may be a function that, when the opening opening function F30 and the lifting equipment stop maintenance function F40 are implemented and the object 20 is falling, records the maximum number of optical sensors among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axis is blocked by the object 20 in accordance with the elevation position of the main virtual horizontal plane H that changes over time, derives the object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the contour of the object 20 as viewed along the Y axis, based on a combination of the vertical separation distance between the specific opening location and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the main conveyor 500 is maintained in a stopped state while the lifting equipment 200 is implementing the lifting equipment stop maintenance function F40, and the maximum number of blocked optical sensors recorded in accordance with the elevation position of the main virtual horizontal plane H that changes over time, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter.6 is an example of a table for deriving the "film delivery dimension" from the "stroke" and the "maximum number of blocked optical sensors." The "stroke" in FIG. 6 corresponds to the "vertical distance between the main virtual horizontal plane H and the specific opening portion when the elevator device 200 maintains a stopped state while the elevator device stop maintaining function F40 is being implemented."

[0059] The film feed dimension determination function F10 may be a function that captures an image of the object 20 from the side with a camera, derives the object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the contour of the object 20, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter.

[0060] The opening opening function F20 is a function of the gate 120 to open the opening O when the gate 120 closes the opening O, and the pair of films that the film supply device 300 has sent out along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis and laid on the gate upper surface T, and the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 that have been laid on the gate upper surface T.

[0061] The opening opening function F20 may be such that, when the gate 120 closes the opening O, and a pair of films 50 that the film supply device 300 has sent out along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis and laid on the gate upper surface T, the gate 120 opens the opening O when a certain time has passed since the object 20 was placed on the pair of films 50 laid on the gate upper surface T and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 was blocked.

[0062] The film feeding function F30 is a function that feeds the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, respectively, in a state in which the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis when viewed from the film supply device 300 along the Y axis. The film feeding function F30 may also be a function that feeds the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, respectively, along the X axis, in a state in which the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis when viewed from the film supply device 300 along the Y axis.

[0063] The film feeding function F30 is a function that, when the gate 120 starts to open the opening O, feeds out the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, respectively, in a state in which the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip-like shape along the Y axis when viewed from the film supply device 300 along the Y axis. For example, the film feeding function F30 is a function that, when the gate 120 starts to open the opening O, feeds out the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, respectively, in a state in which the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip-like shape along the Y axis when viewed from the film supply device 300 along the Y axis. For example, the film feeding function F30 is a function that, as a result of realizing the opening-opening function F20, when the gate 120 starts to open, feeds out the pair of films 50 from the left and right of the opening O along the X-axis toward the center of the opening O, respectively, in a state in which the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip-like shape along the Y-axis when viewed from the film supply device 300 along the Y-axis. For example, the film feeding function F30 is a function that, as a result of realizing the opening-opening function F20, from the time the gate 120 starts to open and the opening O begins to open, feeds out the pair of films 50 from the left and right of the opening O along the X-axis toward the center of the opening O, respectively, in a state in which the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip-like shape along the Y-axis when viewed from the film supply device 300 along the Y-axis. For example, the film feeding function F30 is a function that, as a result of realizing the opening opening function F20, after the gate 120 starts opening and the opening O is opened, feeds out the pair of films 50 from the left and right of the opening O along the X axis toward the center of the opening O, respectively, in a state in which the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip-like shape along the Y axis when viewed with the film supply device 300 line of sight along the Y axis. For example, the film feeding function F30 is a function that, as a result of realizing the opening opening function F20, after the gate 120 starts opening and the opening O is opened, feeds out the pair of films 50 from the left and right of the opening O along the X axis toward the center of the opening O, respectively, in a state in which the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip-like shape along the Y axis when viewed with the film supply device 300 line of sight along the Y axis.

[0064] The film feeding function F30 may be a function that feeds the pair of films 50 from the left and right sides of the opening O along the X axis toward the center of the opening O, respectively, so that the total feeding dimension, which is the sum of the pair of feeding dimensions, matches the film feeding dimension, when the film supply device 300 is viewed along the Y axis and the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis and are integrated together.

[0065] The elevator device stop maintaining function F40 is a function in which the elevator device 200 aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with a stop position that is lowered a predetermined vertical distance from the specific opening portion, thereby stopping the main conveyor 500 and maintaining that state. When the elevator device 200 maintains the stopped state of the main conveyor 500 in the elevator device stop maintaining function F40, the stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane H changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the dimensions of the object 20. When the elevator device 200 maintains the stopped state of the main conveyor 500 in the elevator device stop maintaining function F40, the stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane H changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the height dimension of the outline of the object 20 when viewed with the line of sight along the Y axis. As a result, when the elevator device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 in the elevator device stop maintaining function F40, the vertical separation distance between the opening O and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the elevator device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 changes in accordance with the dimensions of the object 20. For example, if the dimensions of the object 20 are small, the vertical separation distance between the opening O and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the lifting equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 when the lifting equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 is realized will be small, and if the dimensions of the object 20 are large, the vertical separation distance between the opening O and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the lifting equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 when the lifting equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 is realized will be large. The vertical separation distance of the main virtual horizontal plane H from the specific opening portion when the lifting equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 when the lifting equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 is realized may change in the up and down direction in accordance with the height dimension of the outline of the object 20 when viewed along the Y axis. When the elevator equipment stop maintenance function F40 is realized, the vertical distance of the main virtual horizontal plane H from the specific opening portion when the elevator equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the height dimension of the contour of the object 20 when viewed along the Y axis.For example, if the height dimension of the contour of the object 20 when viewed along the Y axis is small, the vertical distance between the opening O and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the elevator equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 when the elevator equipment stop maintenance function F40 is realized will be small, and if the height dimension of the contour of the object 20 when viewed along the Y axis is large, the vertical distance between the opening O and the main virtual horizontal plane H when the elevator equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 when the elevator equipment stop maintenance function F40 is realized will be large.

[0066] The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with a first stop position Z1, which is a stop position that is lowered by a first vertical distance h1 from the specific opening portion, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is not blocked by the object 20 when the object 20 passes through the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 does not raise or lower the main conveyor 500, but aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains that state. The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with a first stop position Z1, which is a stop position that is lowered by a first vertical distance h1 from the specific opening portion, and when the object 20 passes through the opening O and falls and is supported on the main virtual horizontal plane H, the lifting equipment 200 does not raise or lower the main conveyor 500, but aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, and stops the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is not blocked by the object 20. The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, when the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with a first stop position Z1, which is a stop position that is lowered by a first vertical distance h1 from the specific opening portion, and the object 20 starts to fall and the optical axis of the first sensor S1 changes from a state in which it is blocked by the object 20 to a state in which it is not blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 does not raise or lower the main conveyor 500, but aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains that state. The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, when the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with a first stop position Z1, which is a stop position that is lowered by a first vertical distance h1 from the specific opening portion, and the object 20 starts to fall and while the object 20 is falling, the optical axis of the first sensor S1 changes from a state in which it is blocked by the object 20 to a state in which it is not blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 does not raise or lower the main conveyor 500, but aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, and stops the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state.

[0067] The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, which is a stop position that is lowered by a first vertical distance h1 from the specific opening portion, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is not blocked by the object 20 when the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 does not raise or lower the main conveyor 500, but maintains the state in which the main conveyor 500 is stopped by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, which is a stop position. For example, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, which is a stop position located a first vertical distance h1 below the specific opening portion, when the object 20 starts to fall and the optical axis of the first sensor S1 is blocked by the object 20, and when the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O and the optical axis of the first sensor S1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 does not raise or lower the main conveyor 500, but aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, which is a stop position, and stops the main conveyor 500, maintaining that state.

[0068] The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, when the object 20 passes through the opening O and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20. In this case, a stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane H when the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintained that state is referred to as a second stop position Z2. The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, when the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1 and the object 20 has passed through the opening O but the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state when the main conveyor 500 has descended a certain Z-axis distance z from the time when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20. For example, when the lifting device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, and the object 20 starts to fall and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20, the lifting device 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and the lifting device 200 stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state when the main conveyor 500 has descended a certain Z-axis distance z from the time when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, and maintains that state. Here, the certain Z-axis distance z is a constant distance in the vertical direction. In this way, a necessary gap can be secured between the top of the object 20 and the first sensor L1 when the descent is stopped.

[0069] The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, when the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20 when the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state. The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, when the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20 when the object 20 falls and the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state. The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, when the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, and the object 20 falls so that the underside of the object 20 aligns with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state. The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, when the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20 when the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state when the main conveyor 500 has descended a certain Z-axis distance z from the time when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20.For example, the lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 is a function that stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state when, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, the object 20 starts to fall and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20, and when the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 remains blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and the main conveyor 500 has descended a certain Z-axis distance z from the time when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20.

[0070] The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with a first stop position Z1, which is a stop position located a first vertical distance h1 below the specific opening portion, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is not blocked by the object 20 when the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 maintains a stopped state in which the main conveyor 500 does not move up or down; and, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20 when the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state.

[0071] The lifting equipment stop maintaining function F40 may be a function that, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with a first stop position Z1, which is a stop position located a first vertical distance h1 below the specific opening portion, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is not blocked by the object 20 when the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 maintains the stopped state without raising or lowering the main conveyor 500, and if, in a state in which the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500, the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20 when the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 starts descending the main conveyor 500 from the first stop position Z1, and stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20. The second stop position Z2 is a stop position where the main virtual horizontal plane H is lowered by a second vertical distance h2 from the specific opening portion. The second vertical distance h2 corresponds to the dimension of the object 20. The second vertical distance h2 may correspond to the height dimension of the object 20. For example, the lifting device stop maintaining function F40 is configured to perform a state in which, in a state in which the lifting device 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, which is a stop position where the main virtual horizontal plane H is lowered by a first vertical distance h1 from the specific opening portion, the object 20 starts to fall and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20, and when the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, the optical axis of the first sensor L1 becomes unblocked by the object 20 and maintains this state, the lifting device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 without raising or lowering it. When the object 20 starts to fall and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20 while the lifting equipment 200 is stopping the main conveyor 500, and when the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is still blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and when the main conveyor 500 has descended a certain Z-axis distance z from the time when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, the function of stopping the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintaining the stopped state is as follows. The certain Z-axis distance z may be set in advance.

[0072] The film separation function F50 is a function in which, after the object 20 passes through the open opening O and falls onto the integrated pair of films 50 laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane H, the film welding and cutting device 400 welds the pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging downward into a strip shape along the Y axis at a position above the object 20, and cuts the welded strip-shaped portion, the welded portion 60, along the Y axis to separate them into upper and lower parts. As a result, the object wrapped in the film can be separated from the pair of films 50. The film separation function F50 may also be a function in which, after the object 20 passes through the open opening O and falls onto the integrated pair of films 50 laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane H, the film welding and cutting device 400 welds the pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging downward into a strip shape along the Y axis at a position above the object 20, and cuts the welded strip-shaped portion, the welded portion 60, along the Y axis to separate them into upper and lower parts. The film separation function F50 may be a function in which, after the object 20 passes through the open opening O and falls onto the pair of films 50 that have been integrated and laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane H, the film welding and cutting device 400 sends out the pair of films 50 along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, and welds the pair of films 50 that have passed through the opening O and are hanging down into a strip along the Y axis at a position above the object 20, and cuts the welded strip-shaped portion, the welded portion 60, along the Y axis to separate it into upper and lower parts.

[0073] For example, the film separation function F50 is a function in which, after the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20 and a certain time has passed since the optical axis is no longer blocked, the film welding and cutting device 400 welds a pair of films 50 that have been sent out along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, passed through the opening O and hung down, into a strip-like shape along the Y axis at a position above the object 20, and cuts the welded strip-like portion, the welded portion 60, along the Y axis to separate it into upper and lower parts. The certain time is a time sufficient for the object 20 to pass through the opening O and reach the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500. For example, the film separation function F50 is a function in which, when the optical axis of the fifth sensor L5 is blocked by the object 20, the film welding and cutting device 400 sends out a pair of films 50 along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O and hangs down, welds them into a strip along the Y axis above the object 20, and cuts the welded strip-shaped welded portion 60 along the Y axis to separate them into upper and lower parts. The fifth sensor L5 has an optical sensor that emits an optical axis along the main imaginary horizontal plane H. The optical axis of the optical sensor of the fifth sensor L5 is blocked by the object 20 placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H. The optical axis of the optical sensor of the fifth sensor L5 is not blocked when the object 20 is not placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H.

[0074] The film rewinding dimension determination function F60 is a function that determines the film rewinding dimension, which is the dimension by which the film supply device 300 rewinds the film 50. The film rewinding dimension may be a dimension of a preset value.

[0075] The film rewinding function F70 is a function that rewinds the pair of films 50 from the center of the opening O to the left and right along the X axis, respectively, so that a total rewind dimension, which is the sum of a pair of rewind dimensions when the film supply device 300 is viewed along the Y axis and rewinds the pair of films 50 from the center of the opening O to the left and right along the X axis, matches the film rewind dimension. For example, the film rewinding function F70 is a function that rewinds the pair of films 50 from the center of the opening O to the left and right along the X axis, respectively, so that a total rewind dimension, which is the sum of a pair of rewind dimensions when the film supply device 300 is viewed along the Y axis and rewinds the pair of films 50 from the center of the opening O to the left and right along the X axis, matches the film rewind dimension. After the film separation function F50 is realized, the film rewinding function F70 is realized.

[0076] The opening closing function F80 is a function by which the gate 120 closes the opening O. The film rewinding function F70 may be realized after the opening closing function F80 is realized. The opening closing function F80 may be realized after the film rewinding function F70 is realized.

[0077] The object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 is a function that estimates an object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 when the lifting equipment stoppage maintenance function F40 is being implemented, by aligning the line of sight along the Y-axis of the object 20. The estimated object contour X-axis width dimension is stored in association with the object 20 when the lifting equipment stoppage maintenance function F40 is being implemented. One object contour X-axis width dimension is associated with one object 20. The object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that estimates an object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 when the lifting equipment stoppage maintenance function F40 is being implemented, based on information from the second sensor L2. The object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that, when the elevator equipment stoppage maintenance function F40 is implemented, estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 as viewed with the line of sight along the Y-axis, based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2. The object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that, when the elevator equipment stoppage maintenance function F40 is implemented and the object 20 is passing through the opening O, estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 as viewed with the line of sight along the Y-axis, based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2. The film feeding function F30 may be implemented when the elevator equipment stoppage maintenance function F40 is implemented. The object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that, when the opening function F20, the film feeding function F30, and the lifting equipment stop maintenance function F40 are realized, estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 when the line of sight is aligned along the Y-axis of the object 20, based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2.The object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that, when the opening opening function F20, the film feeding function F30, and the elevator equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 are realized and the object 20 is passing through the opening O, estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 as viewed with the line of sight along the Y-axis, based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2. The object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that, when the opening opening function F20, the film feeding function F30, and the elevator equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 are realized, estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 as viewed with the line of sight along the Y-axis, based on the maximum number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2. The object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that, when the opening opening function F20, the film feeding function F30, and the elevator equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 are realized and the object 20 passes through the opening, estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 when the line of sight of the object 20 is aligned along the Y-axis, based on the maximum number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2. For example, when the opening opening function F20, the film feeding function F30, and the elevator equipment stoppage maintaining function F40 are realized, the object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that records the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2, and estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 when the line of sight of the object 20 is aligned along the Y-axis, based on the recorded number of blocked optical sensors. For example, the object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F90 may be a function that, when the object 20 passes through the opening by realizing the opening opening function F20, the film feeding function F30, and the elevator device stop maintaining function F40, records the number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axes are blocked, and estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object 20 when the line of sight is aligned along the Y-axis of the object 20, based on the recorded number of blocked optical sensors. Figure 7 shows an example of the flowing product length for each type of beef carcass.The flowing product length corresponds to the X-axis width dimension of the object contour.

[0078] The lateral feed function F100 is performed by the elevator device 200 starting the elevation of the main conveyor 500, aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the third stop position Z3, which is the same vertical position as the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J, and stopping the main conveyor 500 and maintaining that state. When it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour that the overall length along the X-axis direction of the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveyor 600 start to transport the object 20 wrapped in film 50 transversely with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane J coinciding, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 are arranged in series and placed on the transverse conveyor 600, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveyor 600 stop transporting. The lateral feed function F100 is a function in which the lifting device 200 starts raising and lowering the main conveyor 500, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with the third stop position Z3, which is the same vertical position as the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J, stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains that state; and when it is determined that the overall length along the X-axis direction of the objects 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the objects 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600, which are hypothetically lined up in series along the X-axis based on the estimated object contour X-axis width dimension, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, with the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K aligned, the main conveyor 500 does not perform lateral feed, and the lateral feed conveyor 600 lines up the objects 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600 in series and feeds them lateral to the vacuum packaging machine 900. Thereafter, with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the transverse virtual horizontal plane J coinciding with each other, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 start to transversely feed the object 20 wrapped in the film 50, and when the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 is placed on the transverse feed conveyor 600, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 stop transverse feeding.For example, it is determined whether the total length along the X-axis direction of the objects 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the objects 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600, which are arranged in series so as not to overlap each other along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M. For example, it is determined whether the total length along the X-axis direction of the objects 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the objects 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600, which are arranged in series so as not to overlap each other along the X-axis with a gap between them, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M.

[0079] The lateral feed function F100 determines a lateral feed conveyance distance, which is the distance to lateral feed the object, based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, and stores the determined lateral feed conveyance distance in association with the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500; the lifting device 200 starts raising and lowering the main conveyor 300, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with a third stop position Z3, which is the same vertical position as the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J, and stops the main conveyor 300, maintaining that state; When it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour that the total length along the X-axis direction of the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main virtual horizontal plane H and the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane J coincide with each other and the transverse feed conveyor 600 is stopped, and the main conveyor 500 transversely transports the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, When the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveyor 600 start to transport the object 20 wrapped in film 50 transversely, and the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 has been transported transversely a transverse transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 from the point at which the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 intercepts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveyor 600 may have a function to stop the transverse transport when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and one or more objects 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 are lined up in series and placed on the transverse conveyor 600.The lateral feeding function F100 may also be a function in which the lifting device 200 starts raising or lowering the main conveyor 500, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with a third stop position Z3 which is the same vertical position as the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J, stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains that state, and when it is determined that the total length along the X-axis direction of the objects 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the objects 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600, which are hypothetically lined up in series along the X-axis based on the estimated object contour X-axis width dimension, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, with the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K aligned, the main conveyor 500 does not feed laterally, and the lateral feed conveyor 600 lines up the objects 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600 in series and feeds them laterally to the vacuum packaging machine 900. Thereafter, when the main virtual horizontal plane H and the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J coincide and the lateral feed conveyor 600 is stopped, the main conveyor 500 lateral feeds the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, and when the object wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed conveyor 600 start lateral feeding of the object 20 wrapped in film 50, and from the point when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed conveyor 600 stop lateral feeding when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 is placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600.

[0080] The lateral feed function F100 determines a lateral feed conveyance distance, which is the distance for lateral feed of the object 20 wrapped in the film 50, based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, and stores the determined lateral feed conveyance distance in association with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500; the lifting device 200 starts raising and lowering the main conveyor 500, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane G with a third stop position Z3, which is the same vertical position as the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J, and stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains that state; When the sum of the transverse transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the transverse transport distance associated with each of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 is smaller than the vacuum packaging machine receiving length M, the main virtual horizontal plane H and the transverse transport virtual horizontal plane J coincide with each other and the transverse conveyor 600 is stopped, and the main conveyor 500 transversely transports the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, and the object 20 is placed on the main conveyor 500. The function may be such that when the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed conveyor 600 start to feed the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 laterally, and when the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 has been fed lateral by a lateral feed conveyance distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 from the time when the object 20 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed conveyor 600 stop feeding the object 20 laterally.The lateral feed function F100 determines a lateral feed distance, which is the distance for lateral feed of the object 20, based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, and stores the determined lateral feed distance in association with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500; the lifting device 200 starts raising and lowering the main conveyor 500, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with a third stop position Z3, which is the same vertical position as the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J, and stops the main conveyor 500, maintaining that state; When the sum of the transverse conveying distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveying distance associated with each of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 is greater than the vacuum packaging machine receiving length M, the main conveyor 500 does not perform transverse conveyance, and the transverse conveyor 600 transversely conveys the entire object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 to the vacuum packaging machine 900, with the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane J and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K coinciding, Thereafter, when the main virtual horizontal plane H and the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane J coincide and the lateral feed conveyor 600 is stopped, the main conveyor 500 lateral feeds the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed conveyor 600 start lateral feeding of the object 20 wrapped in film 50, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed conveyor 600 stop lateral feeding when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 has been lateral fed a lateral feed transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 from the point at which the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3.

[0081] When implementing the lateral feed mechanism F100, the main conveyor 500 may feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50 laterally on the main conveyor 500 without waiting for the main conveyor 500 to stop at the third stop position Z3. For example, a sixth sensor L6, which is a separate optical sensor, may be provided before the third sensor L3. When the elevating device 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500 from the second stop position Z2 to the third stop position Z3, the main conveyor 500 feeds the object 20 wrapped in film 50 laterally on the main conveyor 500, and when the optical axis of the sixth sensor L6 is interrupted, the lateral feed of the main conveyor 500 is stopped. The third sensor L3 may also serve as the sixth sensor L6.

[0082] One lateral conveyance distance is associated with an object 50 wrapped in one film 50. The lateral conveyance distance associated with the object has a value greater than the X-axis width dimension of the object contour associated with the object. For example, the lateral conveyance distance has a value obtained by adding a predetermined constant X-axis distance λ to the X-axis length of the object 20 wrapped in the film 50. For example, the X-axis length of the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 is estimated based on the perimeter of the film 50 wrapping the object 20. For example, the X-axis length of the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 is determined based on the perimeter of the film 50 wrapping the object 20, which is estimated from the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour and the second perpendicular distance h2. For example, the X-axis length of the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 is calculated by adding the constant X-axis distance λ to half the perimeter of the film 50 wrapping the object 20, which is estimated from the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour and the second perpendicular distance h2. The constant X-axis distance λ is the distance expected as a gap between objects 20 wrapped in a plurality of films 50 arranged adjacent to each other in series.

[0083] The lateral feeding function F100 may be a function in which, when the sum of the overall length in the X-axis direction of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the lateral feeding conveyor 600, the X-axis width dimension of the object contour of the object 20 placed on the main conveyor 500, and the fixed X-axis distance λ is smaller than the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the lateral feeding function F100 initially stops the lateral feeding conveyor 600 and only the main conveyor 500 moves to lateral feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feeding conveyor 600 move simultaneously to lateral feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50, and after the object 20 wrapped in film 50 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3 and no longer interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the object 20 is lateral fed by the fixed X-axis distance λ, and then the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feeding conveyor 600 are stopped. Thereafter, the main conveyor 500 does not move, and the transverse conveyor 600 transversely feeds the entire object 20 wrapped in the plurality of films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 to the vacuum packaging machine 900. Furthermore, when the sum of the overall length in the X-axis direction of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600, the X-axis width dimension of the object contour of the object 20 placed on the main conveyor 500, and the fixed X-axis distance λ is greater than the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the transverse feed function F100 may not move, and the transverse conveyor 600 may transversely feed the entire object 20 wrapped in the plurality of films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 to the vacuum packaging machine 900.

[0084] The lateral feeding function F100 is a state in which the lifting device 200 starts raising and lowering the main conveyor 500, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane H with a third stop position Z3, which is a stop position at the same height as the lateral feeding virtual horizontal plane J, and stops the main conveyor 500, maintaining that state. When the total value of the overall length in the X-axis direction of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the lateral feeding conveyor 600, the object contour X-axis width dimension of the object 20 placed on the main conveyor 500, and the fixed X-axis distance λ is smaller than the vacuum packaging machine receiving length M, the lateral feeding function F100 is first Alternatively, the conveyor 600 may not move, and the main conveyor 500 may feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50 laterally, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 blocks the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed conveyor 600 may move simultaneously to feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50 laterally, and after the object 20 wrapped in film 50 blocks the optical axis of the third sensor L3 and no longer blocks the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the object 20 may be fed laterally a certain X-axis distance λ, and then the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed conveyor 600 may be stopped. Furthermore, when the sum of the overall length in the X-axis direction of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 and the X-axis width dimension of the object contour of the object 20 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the fixed X-axis distance λ is greater than the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor 500 may not move, and the transverse conveyor 600 may transversely feed the entire object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 to the vacuum packaging machine 900.

[0085] The overall length in the X-axis direction of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 when implementing the transverse function F100 may be calculated based on a recorded object contour X-axis width dimension of the object 20 placed on the main conveyor 500 before the object 20 is sent from the main conveyor 500 to the transverse conveyor 600. The overall length in the X-axis direction of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 when implementing the transverse function F100 may be calculated and recorded from the time the object 20 blocks the optical axis of the third sensor L3 when moving from the main conveyor 500 to the transverse conveyor 600 and the transverse speed of the transverse conveyor.

[0086] The lateral feeding function F100 is a function in which the lateral feeding conveyor 600 transfers the entire object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 onto the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K of the vacuum packaging machine 900. The lateral feeding conveyor 600 lateral feeds the entire object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 a distance equivalent to the entire length of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 along the X-axis direction, and stops the lateral feeding when the optical axis of the fourth sensor L4 is no longer obstructed. As a result, the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 can be lateral fed to the vacuum packaging machine 900 without the entire length of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 along the X-axis direction exceeding the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, thereby preventing the object 20 from protruding.

[0087] The operation of the primary packaging machine according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 4A shows how an object 20a is prepared.

[0088] The gate 120 closes the opening O. The film supply device 300 feeds a pair of films 50, which have been welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis, from the left and right sides of the opening O along the X axis toward the center of the opening O. The fed pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape along the Y axis and laid on the gate upper surface T. An object 20a is placed on the pair of films 50 laid on the gate upper surface T. For example, a worker places the object 20a on the pair of films 50 laid on the gate upper surface T. Figure 4B shows the gate 120 closing the opening O, and the object 20a placed on the gate upper surface T with the pair of films 50 sandwiched underneath.

[0089] When a certain time (e.g., 2 to 10 seconds) has elapsed since the optical axis of first sensor L1 was blocked, gate 120 opens opening O, and film supply device 300 feeds the pair of films 50 along the X axis from the left and right sides of opening O toward the center of opening O. Figure 4C shows how the pair of films 50 are fed along the X axis from the left and right sides of opening O toward the center of opening O.

[0090] When the object 20a falls and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 changes from being blocked by the object to being unblocked, the lifting equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state. If the state in which the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object does not change even after a certain time (e.g., 10 seconds) has elapsed, the lifting equipment 200 lowers the main conveyor 500, and when the optical axis of the first sensor is no longer blocked by the object 20a, the lifting equipment 200 stops the descent of the main conveyor 500 and maintains the stopped state. Figure 4 (D) shows the lifting equipment 200 lowering the main conveyor 500.

[0091] A film feed dimension, which is the dimension of the film feed required to roll and wrap the object 20a, is determined, and the film supply device 300 feeds the pair of films 50 along the X axis from the left and right of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, so that the total feed dimension, which is the sum of the pair of feed dimensions, matches the film feed dimension. Figure 4(E) shows how the pair of films are fed along the X axis from the left and right of the opening O toward the center of the opening O to roll and wrap the object 20a.

[0092] The gate 120 closes the opening O. After the object 20a passes through the open opening O and falls onto the pair of integrated films laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane H, the film welding and cutting device 400 feeds the pair of films 50 along the X axis from the left and right sides of the opening O toward the center of the opening O, respectively, and welds the pair of films 50 hanging downward into a strip along the Y axis at a position above the object 20a. The welded strip-shaped portion, a welded portion 60, is then cut along the Y axis to separate the welded portion into an upper and lower portion. Alternatively, the gate 120 may close the opening O after cutting the welded portion 60 along the Y axis to separate the upper and lower portions. Figure 4F shows the gate 120 closing the opening O after cutting the welded strip-shaped portion 60, a welded portion of the film 50, along the Y axis, resulting in the film 50 being separated into an upper and lower portion.

[0093] 5A shows the state in which the lifting device 200 raises and lowers the main conveyor 500, aligning the main imaginary horizontal plane H with the second stop position Z2 and stopping the main conveyor 500, and the object 20a wrapped in the film 50 is placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H. The lifting device 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to be able to raise and lower freely, and lowers the main conveyor 500 so that the main imaginary horizontal plane H descends from the second stop position Z2, and aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane H with the third stop position Z3 and stops the main conveyor 500. FIG. 5B shows the state in which the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 and the lateral feed imaginary horizontal plane J of the lateral feed conveyor 600 are aligned.

[0094] The main conveyor 500 feeds the object 20a wound in the film 50 laterally to the transverse conveyor 600. Figure 5C shows how the objects 20a and 20b wound in two films 50 are supported by the transverse conveyor 600.

[0095] The lifting equipment 200 raises and lowers the main conveyor 500, and stops the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1. Fig. 5D shows how the lifting equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1.

[0096] As described above, use of the primary packaging machine according to the embodiment of the present invention has the following effects. The pair of films 50 that have been welded together are sent out onto the main imaginary horizontal plane H, and the lifting device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 at a position where the main imaginary horizontal plane H is lowered a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, and maintains this state. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 that is maintained in a stationary state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut to separate the object 20 into upper and lower parts. This makes it possible to efficiently wrap the object 20 in films and place it on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500. The lifting device stop maintaining function F40 causes the lifting device 200 to stop the main conveyor 500 so that the stop position of the main imaginary horizontal plane H corresponds to the dimensions of the object 20, so that the stop position of the main imaginary horizontal plane H is at a height that corresponds to the dimensions of the object 20. The elevator device stop maintaining function F40 causes the elevator device 200 to stop the main conveyor 500, and the stop position of the main virtual horizontal plane H corresponds to the height dimension of the outline of the object 20 when viewed along the Y axis, so that the stop position of the main virtual horizontal plane H becomes a height corresponding to the dimension of the object 20. When the elevator device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 or when the elevator device stops the main conveyor 500 in realizing the elevator device stop maintaining function F40, the position of the main virtual horizontal plane H is made to change in the vertical direction corresponding to the dimension of the object 20, so that the position of the main virtual horizontal plane H can be made to correspond to the dimension of the object 20. When realizing the elevator equipment stop maintenance function F40, the position of the main virtual horizontal plane H when the elevator equipment 200 stops the main conveyor 500 or when the elevator equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the height dimension of the contour of the object 20 when viewed with the line of sight along the Y axis, so that the position of the main virtual horizontal plane H can be set to a position corresponding to the height dimension of the contour of the object.When the elevator device 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to move up and down freely, the position of the main virtual horizontal plane H when the elevator device 200 stops the main conveyor 500 changes in the vertical direction in accordance with the height dimension of the contour of the object 20 when viewed with the line of sight along the Y axis, so that the position of the main virtual horizontal plane H can be set to a position corresponding to the height dimension of the contour of the object. The opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50, which have been welded together at the center of the opening O and are placed on the gate 120, are then placed on the films 50. After the gate 120 opens the opening O, the pair of films 50 are sent out, and the elevating device 200 aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane H with a stop position that is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains that state. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 that is maintaining its stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut to separate the object 20 into upper and lower halves. This makes it possible to efficiently place the object 20 wrapped in film on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500. When the lifting device 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to be able to move up and down freely, the opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50, which have been welded together at the center of the opening O and are placed on the gate 120, with the object 20 being placed on the films 50, and after the gate 120 opens the opening O, the pair of films 50 are sent out, and the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be able to move up and down freely by the lifting device 200, is aligned with a stop position a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O to stop the main conveyor 500 and maintain that state, and after the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 that is maintained in a stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut to separate them into upper and lower halves, so that the object 20 wrapped in film can be efficiently placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500.The opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50 are welded together at the center of the opening O and placed on the gate 120. Then, the object 20 is placed on the films 50, and after the gate 120 opens the opening O, the pair of films 50 are fed out so that the sum of the feed dimensions of the pair of films 50 matches the film feed dimension. The elevator device 200 aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane H with a stop position that is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O and stops the main conveyor 500, maintaining this state. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 that is maintaining the stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut and separated into upper and lower halves. This allows the object 20 to be efficiently wrapped in the films 50 and placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500. The opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50 are welded together at the center of the opening O and placed on the gate 120. Then, the object 20 is placed on the films 50, and when the gate 120 begins to open the opening O, the pair of films 50 are fed out so that the sum of the feed dimensions of the pair of films 50 matches the film feed dimension. The elevator 200 aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane H with a stop position that is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains this state. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 that is maintaining its stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut and separated into upper and lower halves. This allows the object 20 that is wrapped in the film 50 to be placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 efficiently.The opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50, which have been welded together at the center of the opening O and formed into a single unit, are placed on the gate 120. The object 20 is then placed on the films 50, and while the gate 120 is opening the opening O, the pair of films 50 are fed out so that the sum of the feed dimensions of the pair of films 50 matches the film feed dimension. The lifting device 200 aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane H with a stop position that is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains this state. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500, which is maintaining the stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut and separated into upper and lower halves. This allows the object 20, which has been wrapped in the films 50, to be placed efficiently on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500. The opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50 are welded together at the center of the opening O and placed on the gate 120, with the pair of films 50 being one unit. Then, the object 20 is placed on the films 50, and when the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, the pair of films 50 are fed out so that the sum of the feed dimensions of the pair of films 50 matches the film feed dimension. The elevating device 200 aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane H with a stop position that is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, stops the main conveyor 500, and maintains this state. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 that is maintaining its stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut and separated into upper and lower halves. This allows the object 20 that is wrapped in the films 50 to be efficiently placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500.When the elevator device 200 operates the main conveyor 500 so as to be freely raised and lowered, the opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50, which are welded together at the center of the opening O and are placed on the gate 120, the target 20 is placed on the films 50, and after the gate 120 opens the opening O, the pair of films 50 are fed out so that the sum of the feeding dimensions of the pair of films 50 matches the film feeding dimension, and the main virtual horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500, which is operated by the elevator device so as to be freely raised and lowered, is The main conveyor 500 is stopped at a stop position that is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, and is maintained in that state. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 that is maintained in a stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut and separated into upper and lower halves, so that the object 20 that has been wrapped in the films 50 can be efficiently placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500. When the elevator device 200 operates the main conveyor 500 so as to be freely raised and lowered, the opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50, which are welded together at the center of the opening O and are placed on the gate 120, the target 20 is placed on the films 50, and when the gate 120 begins to open the opening O, the pair of films 50 are fed out so that the sum of the feed dimensions of the pair of films 50 matches the film feed dimension, and the main virtual horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500, which is operated by the elevator device so as to be freely raised and lowered, is The main conveyor 500 is stopped by aligning the opening O with the stop position which is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, and this state is maintained. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 which maintains the stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut and separated into upper and lower parts. This makes it possible to efficiently wrap the object 20 in the films 50 and place it on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500.When the elevator device 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to be freely raised and lowered, the opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50, which are welded together at the center of the opening O and are placed on the gate 120, the target 20 is placed on the films 50, and while the gate 120 is opening the opening O, the pair of films 50 are fed out so that the sum of the feed dimensions of the pair of films 50 matches the film feed dimension, and the main virtual horizontal plane of the main conveyor 500, which is freely raised and lowered by the elevator device 200, is The main conveyor 500 is stopped by aligning H with a stopping position that is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, and this state is maintained. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 that is maintaining the stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut and separated into upper and lower halves, so that the object 20 that has been wrapped in the films 50 can be efficiently placed on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500. When the elevator device 200 operates the main conveyor 500 so as to be freely raised and lowered, the opening O is closed by the gate 120, and the pair of films 50, which are welded together at the center of the opening O and are placed on the gate 120, the object 20 is placed on the films 50, and when the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, the pair of films 50 are fed out so that the sum of the feed dimensions of the pair of films 50 matches the film feed dimension, and the main virtual horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500, which is operated by the elevator device so as to be freely raised and lowered, is The main conveyor 500 is stopped by aligning the opening O with the stop position which is a predetermined vertical distance below the opening O, and this state is maintained. After the object 20 is placed on the pair of films 50 on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500 which maintains the stopped state, the pair of films 50 are welded together in a strip shape below the center of the opening O, and the welded portion 60 is cut and separated into upper and lower parts. This makes it possible to efficiently wrap the object 20 in the films 50 and place it on the main imaginary horizontal plane H of the main conveyor 500.

[0097] A first sensor L1 is arranged at least at one location on the opening virtual line G, and while the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, when the object 20 passes through the opening O and the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 maintains the stopped state without raising or lowering the main conveyor 500, so that the object 20 can be supported on the main conveyor 500 according to the size of the object 20. A first sensor L1 is arranged at least at one location on the opening virtual line G, and while the lifting equipment 200 is stopping the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, when the object 20 passes through the opening O and the underside of the object 20 aligns with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is not blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 maintains the stopped state without raising or lowering the main conveyor 500, so that the object 20 can be supported on the main conveyor 500 according to the size of the object 20. When the lifting equipment 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to be freely raised and lowered, a first sensor L1 is arranged at least at one location on the opening virtual line G, and while the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting equipment 200, is stopped with the main virtual horizontal plane H coinciding with the first stop position Z1, when the object 20 passes through the opening O and the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting equipment 200, maintains a stopped state without being raised or lowered, so that the object 20 can be supported by the main conveyor 500 in accordance with the size of the object 20.When the lifting equipment 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to be freely raised and lowered, a first sensor L1 is arranged at least at one location on the opening virtual line G, and while the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting equipment 200, is stopped with the main virtual horizontal plane H coinciding with the first stop position Z1, when the object 20 passes through the opening O and the underside of the object 20 coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting equipment 200, maintains a stopped state without being raised or lowered, so that the object 20 can be supported by the main conveyor 500 in accordance with the size of the object 20. The first sensor L1 is arranged at least at one location on the opening virtual line G, and while the lifting equipment 200 has stopped the main conveyor 500 by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1, when the object 20 passes through the opening O and the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 stops and maintains that state, so that the object 20 can be supported on the main conveyor 500 in accordance with the size of the object 20. The first sensor L1 is arranged at least at one location on the opening virtual line G, and while the lifting equipment 200 has aligned the main virtual horizontal plane H with the first stop position Z1 to stop the main conveyor 500, the object 20 passes through the opening O so that the underside of the object 20 is aligned with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the gate 120 has finished opening the opening O, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 starts to lower the main conveyor 500, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, the lifting equipment 200 stops and maintains that state, so that the object 20 can be supported on the main conveyor 500 in accordance with the size of the object 20.When the lifting equipment 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to be freely raised and lowered, a first sensor L1 is arranged at least at one location on the opening virtual line G, and while the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting equipment 200, is stopped with the main virtual horizontal plane H coinciding with the first stop position Z1, when the object 20 passes through the opening O and the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting equipment 200, starts to descend and stops when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, and maintains that state. Therefore, the object 20 can be supported by the main conveyor 500 in accordance with the size of the object 20. When the lifting equipment 200 controls the main conveyor 500 to be freely raised and lowered, a first sensor L1 is arranged at least at one location on the opening virtual line G, and when the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting equipment 200, is stopped with the main virtual horizontal plane H coinciding with the first stop position Z1, the object 20 passes through the opening O so that the underside of the object 20 coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the gate 120 finishes opening the opening O, and the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is blocked by the object 20, the main conveyor 500, which is controlled to be freely raised and lowered by the lifting equipment 200, starts to descend, and when the optical axis of the first sensor L1 is no longer blocked by the object 20, the main conveyor 500 stops and maintains that state, so that the object 20 can be supported by the main conveyor 500 in accordance with the size of the object 20.

[0098] When the opening opening function F20 and the elevator equipment stop maintaining function F40 are implemented, the film feed dimension is determined based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2, so that the film feed dimension can be determined corresponding to the size of the object 20. When the opening opening function F20 and the elevator equipment stop maintaining function F40 are implemented and the object 20 is passing through the opening O, the film feed dimension is determined based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2, so that the film feed dimension can be determined corresponding to the size of the object 20. When the object 20 is falling, the object outline perimeter, which is the perimeter of the outline of the object 20 as viewed with the line of sight along the Y axis, is derived based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2, and the film feed dimension is determined from the derived object outline perimeter, so that the film feed dimension corresponding to the object outline perimeter can be easily determined. When the object 20 falls and passes through the opening O, the object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the contour of the object 20 as seen with the line of sight along the Y axis, is derived based on the number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axes are blocked, and the film feed dimension is determined from the derived object contour perimeter, so that the film feed dimension corresponding to the object contour perimeter can be easily determined.When the object 20 falls, the object contour perimeter is derived based on the vertical distance between the specific opening portion and the main virtual horizontal plane H of the stopped main conveyor 500 and the maximum number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 whose optical axes are blocked, and the film feed dimension is determined from the derived object contour perimeter, so that the film feed dimension corresponding to the object contour perimeter can be easily determined. When the object 20 falls and passes through the opening O, the object contour perimeter is derived based on the vertical distance between the specific opening portion and the main virtual horizontal plane H of the stopped main conveyor 500 and the maximum number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor L2, and the film feed dimension is determined from the derived object contour perimeter, so that the film feed dimension corresponding to the object contour perimeter can be easily determined.After the films 50 are cut off, the pair of films 50 are rewound individually from the center of the opening O toward the left and right of the opening O along the X axis so that the total rewinding dimension, which is the sum of the pair of rewinding dimensions, coincides with the film rewinding dimension, and therefore the integrated pair of films 50 can be pulled up from the opening O.

[0099] In one embodiment of the primary packaging machine of the present invention, there are provided a main conveyor 500 that can be raised and lowered by an elevator device 200, a transverse conveyor 600 that can transversely feed objects 20 from the main conveyor 500 in a state where the objects can be received by a vacuum packaging machine 900, and a third sensor L3 that is provided at the boundary between the two conveyors and whose optical axis is blocked by the objects 20 being fed transversely, the machine estimates the X-axis width dimension of the outline of the object 20 based on the number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 that are blocked by the falling objects 20, determines a transverse conveying distance that is the distance for transversely feeding the object 20 wrapped in film 50 based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the outline, and stores the determined transverse conveying distance in association with the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, the elevator device 200 starts raising and lowering the main conveyor 500, aligns a main virtual horizontal plane H with a third stop position Z3 that is the same vertical position as the transverse virtual horizontal plane J, and stops the main conveyor 500 and maintains that state, When the sum of the transverse transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the transverse transport distance associated with each of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 is smaller than the vacuum packaging machine receiving length M, the main virtual horizontal plane H and the transverse transport virtual horizontal plane J coincide with each other and the transverse conveyor 600 is stopped, and the main conveyor 500 transversely transports the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, When the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 start to feed the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 transversely, and when the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 has been fed transversely by a transverse feed transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 from the time when the object 20 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 stop feeding the object 20 transversely.When the sum of the transverse conveyance distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveyance distance associated with each of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 is greater than the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor 500 does not perform transverse conveyance, and the transverse conveyor 600 transversely conveys the entire object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 to the vacuum packaging machine 900, with the transverse conveyance virtual horizontal plane J and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K coinciding, Thereafter, with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane J coinciding and the transverse feed conveyor 600 stopped, the main conveyor 500 transversely feeds the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 intercepts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 start to transversely feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 intercepts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 stop transverse feeding when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 has been transversely fed a transverse transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 from the time when the object 20 intercepts the optical axis of the third sensor L3. Therefore, one or more objects 20 can be transversely fed to the vacuum packaging machine 900 without waste or protrusion.

[0100] In one embodiment of the primary packaging machine of the present invention, a main conveyor 500 that can be raised and lowered by an elevator device 200, a transverse conveyor 600 that can transversely feed objects 20 from the main conveyor 500 in a state where the objects 20 can be received by a vacuum packaging machine 900, and a third sensor L3 that is provided at the boundary between the two conveyors and whose optical axis is blocked by the objects 20 being transversely fed are provided, and the X-axis width dimension of the outline of the objects 20 is estimated based on the number of optical sensors of the second sensor L2 that are blocked by the falling objects 20, and the overall length in the X-axis direction of one or more objects 20b, ... placed on the transverse conveyor 600 and the main When the sum of the X-axis width dimension of the outline of the object 20a placed on the conveyor 500 and the fixed X-axis distance λ is smaller than the length M of acceptance by the vacuum packaging machine, the third sensor L3 is used to feed the object 20a placed on the main conveyor 500 and the object 20b placed on the transverse conveyor 600, ..., each wrapped in film, laterally to the transverse conveyor 600 so that the distance between the object 20a and the last object 20b placed on the transverse conveyor 600 is the fixed X-axis distance λ, so that a plurality of objects 20 can be fed laterally to the vacuum packaging machine 900 without waste or protrusion. When the sum of the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the overall length in the X-axis direction of the single or multiple objects 20b, ... placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600 and the length in the X-axis direction of the object 20a placed on the main conveyor, and the fixed X-axis distance λ is greater than the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor does not move and the single or multiple objects 20b, ... placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600 are all fed transversely to the vacuum packaging machine 900, so that the single or multiple objects 20 can be fed transversely to the vacuum packaging machine 900 without waste or protrusion.

[0101] In one embodiment of the primary packaging machine of the present invention, a main conveyor 500, a transverse feed conveyor 600 that can receive the object 20 from the main conveyor 500 and transversely feed the object 20 in a state that allows it to be received by the vacuum packaging machine 900, and a third sensor L3 that is provided at the boundary between the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 and whose optical axis is blocked by the object 20 being transversely fed, are arranged, the device estimates the object contour X-axis width dimension of the contour of the object 20 based on information output by the second sensor L2, determines a transverse feed conveying distance that is the distance for transversely feeding the object 20 wrapped in film 50 based on the estimated contour X-axis width dimension, and stores the determined transverse feed conveying distance in association with the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, When the sum of the transverse transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the transverse transport distance associated with each of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 is smaller than the vacuum packaging machine receiving length M, the main virtual horizontal plane H and the transverse transport virtual horizontal plane J coincide with each other and the transverse conveyor 600 is stopped, and the main conveyor 500 transversely transports the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, When the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 start to feed the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 transversely, and when the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 has been fed transversely by a transverse feed transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 from the time when the object 20 interrupts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 stop feeding the object 20 transversely.When the sum of the transverse conveyance distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in the film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveyance distance associated with each of the object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 is greater than the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor 500 does not perform transverse conveyance, and the transverse conveyor 600 transversely conveys the entire object 20 wrapped in one or more films 50 placed on the transverse conveyor 600 to the vacuum packaging machine 900, with the transverse conveyance virtual horizontal plane J and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane K coinciding, Thereafter, with the main virtual horizontal plane H and the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane J coinciding and the transverse feed conveyor 600 stopped, the main conveyor 500 transversely feeds the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 intercepts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 start to transversely feed the object 20 wrapped in film 50, and when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 intercepts the optical axis of the third sensor L3, the main conveyor 500 and the transverse feed conveyor 600 stop transverse feeding when the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 has been transversely fed a transverse transport distance associated with the object 20 wrapped in film 50 placed on the main conveyor 500 from the time when the object 20 intercepts the optical axis of the third sensor L3. Therefore, one or more objects 20 can be transversely fed to the vacuum packaging machine 900 without waste or protrusion.

[0102] In one embodiment of the primary packaging machine of the present invention, a main conveyor 500, a transverse conveyor 600 that can receive the object 20 from the main conveyor 500 and transversely feed the object 20 in a state that the object 20 can be received by the vacuum packaging machine 900, and a third sensor L3 that is provided at the boundary between the main conveyor 500 and the transverse conveyor 600 and whose optical axis is blocked by the object 20 being transversely fed are provided, and the X-axis width dimension of the object profile of the object 20 is estimated based on information output by the second sensor L2, and the overall length in the X-axis direction of one or more objects 20b placed on the transverse conveyor 600 and the width of the object 20b on the main conveyor 500 are calculated. When the sum of the X-axis width dimension of the outline of the object 20a to be placed and the fixed X-axis distance λ is smaller than the length M accepted by the vacuum packaging machine, the third sensor L3 is used to feed the object 20a placed on the main conveyor 500 and the objects 20b placed on the transverse conveyor 600, each wrapped in film, transversely onto the transverse conveyor 600 so that the object 20a is separated from the last object 20b placed on the transverse conveyor 600 by the fixed X-axis distance λ. This allows multiple objects 20 to be fed transversely to the vacuum packaging machine 900 efficiently and without protrusion. The total length in the X-axis direction of the multiple objects 20b placed on the transverse conveyor 600 includes the distance in the X-axis direction of the gaps between the multiple objects 20b. When the sum of the object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the overall length in the X-axis direction of the single or multiple objects 20b placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600 and the length in the X-axis direction of the object 20a placed on the main conveyor, and the fixed X-axis distance λ is greater than the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor does not move and the single or multiple objects 20b, ... placed on the lateral feed conveyor 600 are all fed transversely to the vacuum packaging machine 900, so that the single or multiple objects 20b can be fed transversely to the vacuum packaging machine 900 without waste or protrusion.

[0103] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. When packaging the object, i.e., beef carcass, using the primary packaging machine of the present application, it is recommended to place the beef carcass in the opening with its longitudinal direction aligned with the Y-axis. This reduces the amount of film consumed. Although the object support structure has been described as being composed of a conveyor, this is not limiting. For example, the object support structure may be composed of a plate structure having a surface on which the object is placed. In this case, a separate mechanism for feeding the object laterally may be provided instead of a conveyor.

[0104] O Opening H Main virtual horizontal plane G Opening virtual line J Cross-feed virtual horizontal plane K Vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane M Vacuum packaging machine receiving length T Gate upper surface Z1 First stop position Z2 Second stop position Z3 Third stop position h1 First vertical distance h2 Second vertical distance h3 Third vertical distance z Constant Z-axis distance λ Constant X-axis distance X X-axis Y Y-axis 20 Object 20a Object placed on main conveyor 20b Object placed on cross-feed conveyor 50 Film 51 Film roll 60 Welded portion L1 First sensor L2 Second sensor L3 Third sensor L4 Fourth sensor L5 Fifth sensor L6 Sixth sensor 100 Work set unit 110 Frame 120 Gate 121 Slide gate 122 Slide gate 200 Lifting equipment 300 Film supply device 310 Film roll holder 320 Film roll rotation mechanism 330 Film roll diameter sensor 400 Film welding and cutting device 500 Main conveyor 600 Transverse feed conveyor 610 First transverse feed conveyor 620 Second transverse feed conveyor 900 Vacuum packaging machine F10 Film feed size determination function F20 Opening opening function F30 Film feed function F40 Elevating device stop maintenance function F50 Film separation function F60 Film rewinding size determination function F70 Film rewinding function F80 Opening closing function F90 Object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function F100 Transverse feed function

[0105] JP 2005-170390 JP 2022-137419 JP 2015-202881 JP 11-24327 JP 2002-370282 WO2019 / 069986 JP 2016-113191 JP 2004-161291 JP 2015-202881 JP 2008-30758 JP 2004- 161291 JP 2006-76601 JP 2006-69548 JP 2008-127035 JP 2020-144122 JP 2006-137468 Utility Model Application Publication No. Hei 5-82886 JP 8-72813 JP 6-206287 JP 10-52889 JP 10-248482 JP 2008-30758

Claims

1. A primary packaging machine for wrapping an object in film, comprising: a work set unit having a frame which forms an opening penetrating in the vertical direction when an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction are imaginary directions in which film is fed, the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction being orthogonal to each other within a horizontal plane as viewed from above; an object support structure which is disposed below the opening and supports the object by aligning the bottom surface of the object with a main virtual horizontal plane which is an imaginary horizontal plane; a lifting device which operates to freely raise and lower the object support structure; a film supplying device which is capable of sending out a pair of films from the left and right of the opening along the X-axis toward the center of the opening, respectively, when viewed along the Y-axis; a film welding and cutting device which is capable of welding the pair of films which have passed through the opening and hung down downward into a strip along the Y-axis above an object placed on the films, and cutting the welded strip-shaped portion along the Y-axis to separate the welded portion into an upper and lower part; and a control device, wherein the control device: a film feeding function in which the film supplying device feeds out the pair of films along the X-axis from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening in a state in which the pair of films are welded together in a strip-like shape along the Y-axis when viewed along the Y-axis; a lifting device stop maintaining function in which the lifting device aligns the main imaginary horizontal plane with a stop position that is lowered a predetermined vertical distance from a specific opening portion that is a specific portion of the opening, thereby stopping the object support structure and maintaining that state; and a film separating function in which, after the object passes through the opening and falls onto the integrated pair of films laid on the main imaginary horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down in a strip-like shape along the Y-axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip-like portion, that is the welded portion, along the Y-axis to separate it into upper and lower parts.

2. The primary packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that when the lifting device stop maintaining function is realized and the lifting device maintains the object support structure in a stopped state, the stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane changes in the vertical direction in response to the dimensions of the object.

3. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 2, characterized in that when the lifting device stop maintaining function is realized and the lifting device maintains the object support structure in a stopped state, the stop position that coincides with the main virtual horizontal plane changes in the vertical direction corresponding to the height dimension of the object's contour when viewed along the Y axis.

4. The primary packaging machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the work set unit has a frame which forms an opening penetrating in the vertical direction, and a gate which has a door structure which can open and close the opening and has a gate upper surface on which an object can be placed, and the control device realizes an opening opening function whereby the gate opens the opening when the gate closes the opening and a pair of films which the film supply device feeds out along the X-axis from the left and right of the opening toward the center of the opening as viewed along the Y-axis are welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis and laid together on the gate upper surface, and an object is placed on the pair of films which have been laid together on the gate upper surface.

5. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 4, characterized in that the control device realizes a film feed dimension determination function that determines a film feed dimension, which is the dimension of the film that the film supplying device needs to feed out to wrap and encase the object, and the film feed function is a function that feeds out the pair of films from the left and right of the opening along the X-axis toward the center of the opening so that a total feed dimension, which is the sum of the feed dimensions of a pair of films that are fed out along the X-axis from the left and right of the opening toward the center of the opening, while the pair of films are welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis when viewed by the film supplying device along the Y-axis, matches the film feed dimension.

6. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 5, further comprising a first sensor having an optical sensor capable of detecting whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked or not blocked by an object at at least one point on an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X axis near the opening when viewed along the Y axis, and wherein the lifting device stop maintaining function is a function for maintaining a state in which the lifting device stops the object support structure by matching the main virtual horizontal plane to a first stop position, which is a stop position lowered by a first vertical distance from the specific opening portion, when an object passes through the opening and the optical axis of the first sensor is not blocked by the object.

7. The primary packaging machine according to claim 6, characterized in that the lifting device stop maintaining function is a function that, when the lifting device has stopped the object support structure by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane with the first stop position and an object passes through the opening and the optical axis of the first sensor is blocked by the object, the lifting device lowers the object support structure, and when the optical axis of the first sensor is no longer blocked by the object, stops the descent and maintains the stopped state of the object support structure at the second stop position, which is the stopped position.

8. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 7, characterized in that it is equipped with a second sensor having a plurality of optical sensors that are arranged at predetermined intervals along an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line that extends along the X-axis near the opening when viewed along the Y-axis, and that can detect whether each optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked or not blocked by an object, and the film feed dimension determination function is a function that determines the film feed dimension based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the plurality of optical sensors of the second sensor when the lifting equipment stop maintenance function is realized.

9. The primary packaging machine described in claim 8, characterized in that the film feed dimension determination function is a function that, when the lifting equipment stop maintenance function is realized, derives an object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the object's contour as seen along the Y axis, based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter.

10. The primary packaging machine described in claim 9, characterized in that the film feed dimension determination function is a function that records the maximum number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the multiple optical sensors of the second sensor when the lifting equipment stop maintenance function is realized, and determines the film feed dimension from the object contour circumference based on a combination of the vertical separation distance between the specific opening portion and the main virtual horizontal plane when the lifting equipment maintains a state in which the object support structure is stopped and the maximum number of blocked optical sensors recorded.

11. The primary packaging machine described in claim 10, characterized in that the control device, after realizing the film separating function, realizes a film rewinding function of rewinding the pair of films along the X-axis from the center of the opening to the left and right of the opening, respectively, so that a total rewinding dimension, which is the sum of the rewinding dimensions of the pair of films rewinded along the X-axis from the center of the opening to the left and right of the opening, matches the film rewinding dimension, with the pair of films being welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis when viewed with the line of sight along the Y-axis, and wherein the film rewinding dimension is the dimension by which the film supplying device rewinds the film.

12. A primary packaging machine is a device for wrapping an object in a film as a pretreatment for vacuum packaging the object in a vacuum packaging machine located downstream, and the object support structure has a main conveyor that can be freely raised and lowered by the lifting device and can feed an object wrapped in film placed on the main virtual horizontal plane laterally along the X-axis, and the primary packaging machine further comprises a transverse conveyor that can support the object and feed it laterally along the X-axis by aligning the underside of the object wrapped in film with a virtual horizontal plane, which is a transverse virtual horizontal plane, in a state that can be accepted by the main conveyor and by the vacuum packaging machine, and a third sensor that is provided at the boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor and has an optical sensor that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked / not blocked by an object being transversely fed from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor, and the control device defines the maximum value of the overall length along the X-axis of one or more objects wrapped in film that can be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine as the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, an object contour X-axis width dimension estimating function for estimating an object contour X-axis width dimension, which is a width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of an object when the object passes through the opening and is viewed along the Y-axis with a line of sight, when the lifting device stop maintaining function is realized; and the lifting device starts raising and lowering the main conveyor, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane with a third stop position which is the same vertical position as the lateral feed virtual horizontal plane, stops the main conveyor, and maintains that state. and a transverse feeding function in which, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, that the total length along the X-axis direction of the object wrapped in film placed on the main conveyor and the object wrapped in one or more films placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor start transverse feeding of the object wrapped in film with the main virtual horizontal plane and the transverse virtual horizontal plane coinciding, and when the object wrapped in film placed on the main conveyor and the object wrapped in one or more films placed on the transverse conveyor are arranged in series and placed on the transverse conveyor, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor stop transverse feeding, wherein the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane is a virtual horizontal plane that supports the object so that the vacuum packaging machine can accept the object.A primary packaging machine according to claim 11.

13. The primary packaging machine according to claim 12, characterized in that, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, that the total length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are provisionally arranged in series along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor does not perform transverse transport, and the transverse conveyor arranges the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor in series and transports them transversely to the vacuum packaging machine, with the transverse virtual horizontal plane coinciding with the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane.

14. The primary packaging machine described in claim 1, characterized in that the control device realizes a film feed dimension determination function that determines a film feed dimension, which is the dimension of the film that the film supplying device needs to feed out to wrap and encase the object, and the film feed function is a function that feeds out the pair of films from the left and right of the opening along the X-axis toward the center of the opening so that a total feed dimension, which is the sum of the feed dimensions of a pair of films fed out along the X-axis from the left and right of the opening toward the center of the opening, while the pair of films are welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis and integrated, matches the film feed dimension when viewed by the film supplying device along the Y-axis.

15. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 1, further comprising: a first sensor having an optical sensor capable of detecting whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked / not blocked by an object at at least one point on an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X axis near the opening when viewed along the Y axis; and wherein the lifting device stop maintaining function is a function for maintaining the stopped state of the object support structure by causing the lifting device to match the main virtual horizontal plane with a first stop position, which is a stop position lowered by a first vertical distance from the specific opening portion, when an object passes through the opening and the optical axis of the first sensor is not blocked by the object.

16. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 1, further comprising a first sensor having an optical sensor capable of detecting whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked or not blocked by an object at least at one point on an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X axis near the opening when viewed along the Y axis, and wherein the lifting device stop maintaining function is a function of, when the lifting device has stopped the object support structure by aligning the main virtual horizontal plane with the first stop position, and when an object passes through the opening and the optical axis of the first sensor is blocked by the object, the lifting device lowers the object support structure, and when the optical axis of the first sensor is no longer blocked by the object, stopping the descent and maintaining the stopped state of the object support structure.

17. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 1, further comprising a second sensor having a plurality of optical sensors that are arranged at predetermined intervals along an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line that extends along the X-axis near the opening when viewed along the Y-axis, and that can detect whether each optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked or not blocked by an object, wherein the control device realizes a film feed dimension determination function that determines a film feed dimension that is the dimension of the film fed by the film supply device to wrap and wrap the object, and wherein the film feed dimension determination function is a function that determines the film feed dimension based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the plurality of optical sensors of the second sensor when the lifting device stop maintenance function is realized.

18. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 1, further comprising a second sensor having a plurality of optical sensors that are arranged at predetermined intervals along an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X-axis near the opening when viewed along the Y-axis, and that can detect whether each optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked or not blocked by the object, wherein the control device realizes a film feed dimension determination function that determines a film feed dimension, which is the dimension at which the film supply device feeds out the film necessary to wrap and wrap the object, and the film feed dimension determination function is a function that, when the lifting device stop maintenance function is realized, derives an object contour perimeter, which is the perimeter of the contour of the object when viewed along the Y-axis, based on the number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the plurality of optical sensors of the second sensor, and determines the film feed dimension from the derived object contour perimeter.

19. A primary packaging machine as described in claim 1, further comprising a second sensor having a plurality of optical sensors that are arranged at predetermined intervals along an opening virtual line, which is a virtual line that extends along the X-axis in the vicinity of the opening when viewed along the Y-axis, and that can detect whether each optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked or not blocked by the object, wherein the control device realizes a film feed dimension determination function that determines a film feed dimension, which is the dimension at which the film supply device feeds out the film necessary for wrapping and wrapping the object, and the film feed dimension determination function is a function that records the maximum number of optical sensors whose optical axes are blocked among the plurality of optical sensors of the second sensor when the lifting device maintains a stopped state, and determines the film feed dimension from the object contour circumference based on a combination of the vertical distance between the specific opening portion and the main virtual horizontal plane when the lifting device maintains a state in which the object support structure is stopped, and the maximum number of recorded blocked optical sensors.

20. The primary packaging machine described in claim 1, characterized in that the control device realizes a film rewinding function in which, after realizing the film separating function, the film supply device rewinds the pair of films from the center of the opening along the X-axis to the left and right of the opening, respectively, so that a total rewinding dimension, which is the sum of the rewinding dimensions of the pair of films rewinded along the X-axis from the center of the opening to the left and right, matches the film rewinding dimension, when viewed along the Y-axis with the line of sight being along the Y-axis and the pair of films being welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis, wherein the film rewinding dimension is the dimension by which the film supply device rewinds the film, 21. A primary packaging machine is a device for wrapping an object in a film as a pretreatment for vacuum packaging the object in a vacuum packaging machine downstream, and the object support structure has a main conveyor that can be freely raised and lowered by the lifting device and can transport the object wrapped in film placed on the main virtual horizontal plane laterally along the X-axis, and the primary packaging machine further has a transverse conveyor that can support the object wrapped in film and transport it laterally along the X-axis by aligning the bottom surface of the object wrapped in film with a virtual horizontal transverse plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, in a state where it can be received by the main conveyor and by the vacuum packaging machine, and a second sensor having a plurality of optical sensors that can detect whether each optical axis that is arranged at a predetermined interval along the opening virtual line, which is a virtual line extending along the X-axis in the vicinity of the opening when viewed along the Y-axis, is blocked or not blocked by the object, and a third sensor having an optical sensor that is disposed at a boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor and that can detect whether an optical axis emitted along the Y axis is blocked / not blocked by an object being transversely fed from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor, wherein the control device defines a maximum value of an overall length along the X axis of an object wrapped in one or more films that can be accepted by a vacuum packaging machine as a vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, and has an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function that estimates an object contour X-axis width dimension that is a width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of an object as seen by guiding a line of sight along the Y axis for an object passing through the opening when the lifting device stop maintenance function is realized, and the lifting device starts lifting and lowering the main conveyor, aligns the main virtual horizontal plane with a third stop position that is the same vertical position as the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane, and stops the main conveyor and maintains that state,and a lateral feeding function in which, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour that the overall length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are provisionally arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor start lateral feeding of the film-wrapped object with the main virtual horizontal plane and the transverse conveyor coinciding, and when the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor are arranged in series and placed on the transverse conveyor, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor stop lateral feeding, wherein the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane is a virtual horizontal plane that supports the object so that the vacuum packaging machine can accept the object.

22. The primary packaging machine according to claim 21, characterized in that when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, that the total length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are provisionally arranged in series along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor does not perform transverse transport, and the transverse conveyor arranges the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor in series and transports them transversely to the vacuum packaging machine, with the transverse virtual horizontal plane coinciding with the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane.

23. A primary packaging machine for wrapping and wrapping one or more objects in film as a preparatory process for vacuum packaging the objects in a vacuum packaging machine downstream, comprising: a work set unit having a frame that forms an opening penetrating in one direction when the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction are assumed to be orthogonal directions for feeding the film in a horizontal plane as viewed from above; a film supplying device that can send out a pair of films along the X-axis from the left and right of the opening toward the center of the opening, respectively, when viewed along the Y-axis; a film welding and cutting device that can weld the pair of films that have passed through the opening and hung down downward into a strip along the Y-axis at a position above an object placed on the films, and cut the welded strip-like portion along the Y-axis to separate it into upper and lower parts; and a main conveyor that is arranged below the opening and supports the object by aligning the bottom surface of the object with a main virtual horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, and can transport the object wrapped in film placed on the main virtual horizontal plane laterally along the X-axis. a transverse conveyor capable of supporting an object wrapped in film and feeding it transversely along the X-axis while aligning the bottom surface of the object wrapped in film with a transverse virtual horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, in a state in which the object can be received from the main conveyor and in a state in which the object can be received by a vacuum packaging machine; a second sensor capable of outputting information for estimating an object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object as viewed along the Y-axis with a line of sight for the object passing through the opening; a third sensor having an optical sensor disposed at a boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor and capable of detecting whether an optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked / not blocked by the object being fed transversely from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor; and a control device, wherein the control device defines a maximum value of an overall length along the X-axis of one or more objects wrapped in film that can be received by the vacuum packaging machine as a vacuum packaging machine receiving length M, a film feeding function for feeding the pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening along the X-axis while the pair of films is welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis when the film supply device is viewed along the Y-axis;a film separation function in which, after an object passes through the opened opening and falls onto the pair of integrated films laid on the main virtual horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down into a strip along the Y axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip along the Y axis to separate it into upper and lower parts; and an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function in which an object contour X-axis width dimension is estimated, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object when the object passes through the opening and is seen with a line of sight along the Y axis. and a lateral feeding function in which, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, that the overall length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor, which are arranged in series along the X-axis, does not exceed the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor start lateral feeding of the film-wrapped object with the main virtual horizontal plane and the transverse conveyor coinciding with each other, and when the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor are arranged in series and placed on the transverse conveyor, the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor stop lateral feeding, wherein the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane is a virtual horizontal plane that supports the objects to be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine.

24. A primary packaging machine for wrapping one or more objects in film as a pretreatment for vacuum packaging the objects in a vacuum packaging machine downstream, comprising: a work set unit having a frame that forms an opening penetrating in one direction when imagining X-axis and Y-axis directions, which are directions in which the film is fed that are orthogonal in a horizontal plane when viewed from above; a film supplying device that can send out a pair of films along the X-axis from the left and right of the opening toward the center of the opening, respectively, when viewed along the Y-axis; a film welding and cutting device that can weld the pair of films that have passed through the opening and hung down downward into a strip along the Y-axis at a position above an object placed on the films, and cut the welded strip-like portion along the Y-axis to separate it into upper and lower parts; and a main conveyor that is arranged below the opening and supports the object by aligning the bottom surface of the object with a main virtual horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, and can transport the object wrapped in film placed on the main virtual horizontal plane laterally along the X-axis. a transverse conveyor capable of supporting an object wrapped in film and feeding it transversely along the X-axis while aligning the bottom surface of the object wrapped in film with a transverse virtual horizontal plane, which is a virtual horizontal plane, in a state in which the object can be received from the main conveyor and in a state in which the object can be received by a vacuum packaging machine; a second sensor capable of outputting information for estimating an object contour X-axis width dimension, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object as viewed along the Y-axis with a line of sight for the object passing through the opening; a third sensor having an optical sensor disposed at a boundary between the main conveyor and the transverse conveyor and capable of detecting whether an optical axis emitted along the Y-axis is blocked / not blocked by the object being fed transversely from the main conveyor to the transverse conveyor; and a control device, wherein the control device defines a maximum value of an overall length along the X-axis of one or more objects wrapped in film that can be received by the vacuum packaging machine as a vacuum packaging machine receiving length M, a film feeding function for feeding the pair of films from the left and right sides of the opening toward the center of the opening along the X-axis while the pair of films is welded together in a strip shape along the Y-axis when the film supply device is viewed along the Y-axis;a film separation function in which, after an object passes through the opened opening and falls onto the pair of integrated films laid on the main virtual horizontal plane, the film welding and cutting device welds the pair of films that have passed through the opening and are hanging down into a strip along the Y axis at a position above the object, and cuts the welded strip along the Y axis to separate it into upper and lower parts; and an object contour X-axis width dimension estimation function in which an object contour X-axis width dimension is estimated, which is the width dimension in the X-axis direction of the contour of the object when the object passes through the opening and is seen with a line of sight along the Y axis. a lateral feeding function in which, when it is determined based on the estimated X-axis width dimension of the object contour, that the total length along the X-axis direction of the film-wrapped object placed on the main conveyor and the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor are arranged in series along the X-axis, exceeds the vacuum packaging machine acceptance length M, with the transverse feed virtual horizontal plane and the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane coinciding, the main conveyor does not perform lateral feeding, and the transverse conveyor arranges the single or multiple film-wrapped objects placed on the transverse conveyor in series and feeds them transversely to the vacuum packaging machine, wherein the vacuum packaging machine virtual horizontal plane is a virtual horizontal plane that supports the objects to be accepted by the vacuum packaging machine.

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