Packaging system including plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines, and horizontal pillow packaging machine provided in same

Abstract

In this packaging system that includes a plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines, each of the plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines comprises a packaging machine main body, an input device, a control device, and a communication device, wherein: the packaging machine main body packages sequentially supplied objects to be packaged; operating information including a plurality of parameters is input to the input device; the control device includes a storage unit that stores the operating information, and an operation control unit that controls the operation of the packaging machine main body on the basis of each parameter of the operating information stored in the storage unit; the communication device transmits and receives the operating information; and the control device further includes a communication control unit that, when the operating information is input to the input device, transmits the input operating information to another horizontal pillow packaging machine via the communication device and causes the operating information to be stored in the storage unit of the other horizontal pillow packaging machine.

Description

A packaging system including a plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines, and the horizontal pillow packaging machines included therein , ,

[0004] ,

[0006] ,

[0005] ,

[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging system including a plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines for sequentially packaging a plurality of articles to be packaged, and the horizontal pillow packaging machines included therein.

[0002] As a horizontal pillow packaging machine, for example, a packaging device such as that disclosed in Patent Document 1 is known. The packaging device disclosed in Patent Document 1 can sequentially package articles to be packaged, such as food, with a film. The packaging device includes, for example, a conveyor, a film supply device, a sealing device, and a control device. The packaging device packages the articles to be packaged by the control device controlling the operations of the conveyor, the film supply device, and the sealing device.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-298384

[0004] In the packaging device disclosed in Patent Document 1, operation information is set for each type of article to be packaged, and the control device controls the operations of the conveyor, the film supply device, and the sealing device based on the selected operation information. The operation information includes various parameters. In the packaging machine, each parameter of the operation information is set in detail in order to package a desired article to be packaged in a desired state.

[0005] A packaging machine configured in this way is used, for example, by arranging a plurality of units side by side in a manufacturing factory or the like. That is, a packaging system is constituted by a plurality of packaging machines and installed in a manufacturing factory or the like. In the packaging system, a plurality of operation information is set for each packaging machine. As described above, the operation information includes various parameters, which need to be set individually for each packaging machine. On the other hand, in the packaging system, when packaging the same type of article to be packaged, the same operation information may be used in each packaging machine. Therefore, when setting the parameters, the same settings may be made for each of the packaging machines. It is necessary to repeatedly input the same parameters in a plurality of packaging machines, and the setting work is complicated.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a packaging system comprising multiple horizontal pillow packaging machines, in which operating information can be set and then shared with other packaging machines, and a horizontal pillow packaging machine provided therewith.

[0007] The present invention relates to a packaging system comprising a plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines, each of which comprises a packaging machine body, an input device, a control device, and a communication device, wherein the packaging machine body packages the items to be packaged that are supplied sequentially, the input device receives operation information including a plurality of parameters, the control device includes a storage unit for storing the operation information and an operation control unit for controlling the operation of the packaging machine body based on each parameter of the operation information stored in the storage unit, the communication device transmits and receives operation information, and the control device further includes a communication control unit that, when operation information is input to the input device, transmits the input operation information to the other horizontal pillow packaging machines via the communication device and stores it in the storage unit of the other horizontal pillow packaging machines.

[0008] According to the present invention, the control device includes a communication control unit. When operation information is input to the input device, the communication control unit transmits the input operation information to another horizontal pillow packaging machine via the communication device and stores it in the memory unit of the other horizontal pillow packaging machine. Therefore, when operation information is input to one horizontal pillow packaging machine, the operation information is transmitted to other horizontal pillow packaging machines. This allows the packaging system to share operation information with other horizontal pillow packaging machines. Consequently, setting work that would otherwise be performed on other horizontal pillow packaging machines can be omitted.

[0009] The horizontal pillow packaging machine of the present invention is a horizontal pillow packaging machine comprising a plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines in a packaging system, comprising: a packaging machine body for sequentially packaging a plurality of items to be packaged; an input device for which operation information including a plurality of parameters for controlling the operation of the packaging machine body is input; a storage unit for storing the operation information; a control device including an operation control unit for controlling the operation of the packaging machine body based on each parameter of the operation information stored in the storage unit; and a communication device for sending and receiving operation information, wherein the control device further includes a communication control unit that, when operation information is input to the input device, transmits the input operation information to another horizontal pillow packaging machine via the communication device and stores it in the storage unit of the other horizontal pillow packaging machine.

[0010] According to the present invention, the control device includes a communication control unit. When operating information is input to the input device, the communication control unit transmits the input operating information to another horizontal pillow packaging machine via the communication device and stores it in the memory unit of the other horizontal pillow packaging machine. Therefore, the horizontal pillow packaging machine can share the input operating information with other horizontal pillow packaging machines. Consequently, setting work in other horizontal pillow packaging machines can be omitted.

[0011] According to the packaging system of the present invention, after setting the operating information, the set operating information can be shared with other packaging machines.

[0012] According to the horizontal pillow packaging machine of the present invention, after setting the operating information, the set operating information can be shared with other packaging machines.

[0013] The above-mentioned objectives, other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014] This is a plan view showing a packaging system according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a plan view showing an enlarged view of one packaging line in the packaging system of Figure 1. This is a schematic diagram showing the general shape of the packaging machine body of a horizontal pillow packaging machine provided in the packaging line of Figure 2. This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of each horizontal pillow packaging machine provided in the packaging system of Figure 1. This is a schematic diagram showing the general shape of the packaging machine body of a horizontal pillow packaging machine provided in a packaging line different from the packaging line of Figure 2.

[0015] Hereinafter, the packaging system 1 and horizontal pillow packaging machines (hereinafter simply referred to as "packaging machines") 2, 2A to 2E according to embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the aforementioned drawings. The concept of direction used in the following description is for convenience in explanation and does not limit the orientation of the invention's configuration to that direction. Furthermore, the packaging system 1 and packaging machines 2, 2A, 2B described below are merely embodiments of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to embodiments, and additions, deletions, and modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0016] [Packaging System] The packaging system 1 shown in Figure 1 is a system for packaging items 5 to be packaged. Items 5 to be packaged include wet wipes, linear guides, bearings, thermal paper, masking tape, resin piping, steel pipes, insulation materials such as glass wool, and food products. The packaging system 1 is equipped with multiple packaging lines 4, 4A to 4E, and various items 5 to be packaged are packaged in each of the packaging lines 4, 4A to 4E. In the packaging system 1, the items 5 packaged in each of the packaging lines 4, 4A to 4E are packed into containers 9. In this embodiment, the packaging system 1 is equipped with six packaging lines 4, 4A to 4E. In this embodiment, the items 5 to be packaged are food products, such as sliced ​​bread, savory bread, sweet bread, bento boxes, prepared foods, tray-packed sweets, and processed fish products such as kamaboko. The packaging system 1 is equipped with multiple packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E. To explain in more detail, in packaging system 1, each packaging line 4, 4A to 4D is equipped with packaging machines 2, 2A to 2D and a box-filling machine 3. For example, as shown in Figure 2, packaging line 4 is equipped with packaging machine 2 and box-filling machine 3. Also, packaging line 4E is equipped only with packaging machine 2E.

[0017] [Packaging Machines] Packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E are devices for packaging the items to be packaged 5. Packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E sequentially move a plurality of items to be packaged 5 in one of the horizontal directions, which is the conveying direction, and package them sequentially. Packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E include horizontal pillow packaging machines of different models. In this embodiment, the first to sixth packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E include three different models of horizontal pillow packaging machines. For example, the first and second packaging machines 2, 2A are horizontal pillow packaging machines of the first model, for example, medium-sized standard pillow packaging machines. The second, third, and sixth packaging machines 2B, 2C, and 2E are horizontal pillow packaging machines of the second model, for example, medium-sized inverted pillow packaging machines. The fifth packaging machine 2D is a horizontal pillow packaging machine of the third model, for example, a large standard pillow packaging machine. However, the aforementioned models are merely examples, and packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E may be small standard pillow packaging machines, small inverted pillow packaging machines, or large inverted pillow packaging machines.

[0018] Each model of horizontal pillow packaging machine has differences in the addition, modification, and omission of its constituent parts, the presence or absence of certain functions, and performance, but the basic configuration and functions are the same. For example, the small, medium, and large sizes are due to the size of the items that can be packaged by the horizontal pillow packaging machine. For example, a large horizontal pillow packaging machine can package larger items than small and medium horizontal pillow packaging machines. Also, horizontal pillow packaging machines can be configured to have more functions (e.g., number of parts and optional devices) according to their size. In the following, the configuration of packaging machine 2, which is the first model of horizontal pillow packaging machine, will be mainly described. Regarding packaging machine 2A of the same model, it is configured in the same way as packaging machine 2, and the same reference numerals are used for each component, and its explanation is omitted. For packaging machines 2B to 2E of the other models, the same reference numerals are used for components that are the same as those of packaging machine 2, and their explanation is omitted, while mainly different configurations are described. The packaging machine 2 comprises a packaging machine body 11, a foreign object detection device 12, an input display device 13, a communication device 14, and a control device 15.

[0019] [Packaging Machine Body] As shown in Figure 3, the packaging machine body 11 sequentially conveys a plurality of items to be packaged 5 in the conveying direction and sequentially packages the plurality of items to be packaged 5 being conveyed. As a result, the packaging machine body 11 produces packaged goods 7 in which the items to be packaged 5 are individually packaged in pillow bags 6. Note that in the packaging machine 2, the items to be packaged 5 in the pillow bags 6 are not limited to one, but may be multiple. The packaging machine body 11 configured in this way includes a film supply device 21, a bag maker 22, an item to be packaged supply device 23, a center sealing device 24, and a top sealing device 25. The packaging machine body 11 also further includes a center conveyor 26, a transport conveyor 27, a printing device 28, and a sensor group 29.

[0020] <Film Feeding Device> The film feeding device 21 supplies film 8 for packaging the items to be packaged 5 to the bag maker 22, which will be described in detail later. The film feeding device 21 comprises, for example, a film roll 21a, a feed roller 21b, and a drive motor 21c. The film roll 21a is constructed by winding a strip of film 8 around a core material. The feed roller 21b supplies the film 8 unwound from the film roll 21a to the bag maker 22. More specifically, the feed roller 21b is rotationally driven by, for example, the drive motor 21c. In this way, the feed roller 21b supplies the film 8 to the bag maker 22.

[0021] <Bag Maker> The bag maker 22 forms the film 8 supplied from the film supply device 21 into a cylindrical bag. More specifically, after the film 8 is fed out from the film supply device 21, it passes through the bag maker 22 and is sent to the center sealing device 24 located downstream of the bag maker 22 in the transport direction. The bag maker 22 forms the film 8 into a cylindrical bag as it passes through the bag maker 22. In this embodiment, the bag maker 22 bends both widthwise edges 8a downwards to roll up the film 8. Furthermore, the bag maker 22 inserts the rolled widthwise edges 8a of the film 8 into the slit 22a below it and butts them together. As a result, the film 8 is formed into a cylindrical bag with both widthwise edges 8a hanging downwards. In this way, the bag maker 22 rolls up the film 8 to form a cylindrical bag.

[0022] <Packaging Material Supply Device> The packaging material supply device 23 sequentially supplies the packaging material 5 to the bag maker 22. More specifically, the packaging material 5 is placed on the packaging material supply device 23 sequentially by manual means or by a robot. The packaging material supply device 23 then transports the placed packaging material 5 in the transport direction and supplies it to the bag maker 22. More specifically, the packaging material supply device 23 transports the packaging material 5 into the tubular film 8 formed by the bag maker 22. The packaging material supply device 23 is, for example, a flat belt conveyor and is driven by a drive motor 23a.

[0023] <Center sealing device> The center sealing device 24 seals the widthwise edges 8a that are butted against each other in the bag-making machine 22. More specifically, the center sealing device 24 heats and presses the hanging widthwise edges 8a of the film 8 rolled up by the bag-making machine 22. More specifically, the center sealing device 24 clamps and heats the widthwise edges 8a from both sides in the widthwise direction perpendicular to the conveying direction. As a result, the widthwise edges 8a are heat-sealed to each other. Note that each of the widthwise edges 8a may be configured to be pressed together with an adhesive or the like, as long as they are sealed to each other.

[0024] Furthermore, a center sealing device 24, which is an example of a tension adjustment device, adjusts the tension of the film 8. More specifically, the center sealing device 24 pulls in the film 8 and sends it downstream in the transport direction. The center sealing device 24 adjusts the tension on the film 8 by the difference between its pulling speed and the supply speed of the film supply device 21. In this embodiment, the center sealing device 24 pulls in both widthwise edge portions 8a to perform a center seal, and adjusts the tension on the film 8 by the difference between its pulling speed and the supply speed of the film supply device 21.

[0025] The center sealing device 24 having such a function is configured as follows. Specifically, the center sealing device 24 includes a receiving plate 31 and a plurality of press roller mechanisms 32, 33. The receiving plate 31 allows the packaged object 5, which is wrapped in a tubular film 8, to flow downstream in the conveying direction. The receiving plate 31 also has a slit 31a. The slit 31a extends in the conveying direction on the receiving plate 31 and is positioned to correspond to the slit 22a of the bag maker 22. In this embodiment, the slit 31a is made such that both widthwise edge portions 8a are passed from the slit 22a. As the tubular film 8 flows on the receiving plate 31 together with the packaged object 5, the widthwise edge portions 8a flow downstream in the conveying direction such that their hanging portions 8b protrude from the slit 31a.

[0026] The press roller mechanisms 32 and 33 seal the widthwise edge portions 8a by heating and pressing them together so that the widthwise edge portions 8a abut each other. In this embodiment, the center sealing device 24 includes two press roller mechanisms 32 and 33. The two press roller mechanisms 32 and 33 are spaced apart from each other in the transport direction of the receiving plate 31 and are located below the receiving plate 31. More specifically, the press roller mechanisms 32 and 33 each have a pair of roller portions 32a and 33a. Each of the pair of roller portions 32a and 33a is spaced apart in the widthwise direction so as to sandwich the slit 31a in a plan view, and presses and grips the hanging portion 8b. The pair of roller portions 32a and 33a are heated by a heater (not shown), and when gripping, they heat and press the hanging portion 8b. As a result, the hanging portion 8b is sealed and a center sealing portion 8c is formed on the cylindrical film 8.

[0027] Furthermore, each of the pair of roller sections 32a and 33a is provided with a drive motor 32b and 33b, respectively. Each of the pair of roller sections 32a and 33a is rotationally driven by the drive motors 32b and 33b around an axis extending in the height direction. In this embodiment, the height direction is perpendicular to the conveying direction and the width direction. The upstream pair of roller sections 32a rotate around their axis to pull the hanging portion 8b into the center seal device 24. At this time, the tension of the film 8 is adjusted by making the film pulling speed different from the supply speed of the film supply device 21. The downstream pair of roller sections 33a send the center seal portion 8c from the center seal device 24 to the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0028] <Center Conveyor> The center conveyor 26 is located downstream of the center sealing device 24 in the transport direction. More specifically, the center conveyor 26 is located between the center sealing device 24 and the top sealing device 25, which will be described in detail later. The center conveyor 26 is, for example, a belt conveyor, and the belt 26b is rotated by a drive motor 26a. As a result, the center conveyor 26 places the film 8 sent from the center sealing device 24, along with the packaged goods 5 wrapped in it, onto the belt 26b and sends it downstream in the transport direction, i.e., to the top sealing device 25. The center conveyor 26 may also be equipped with a foreign object detection device 12 and a metal detector, as described later.

[0029] <Top sealing device> The top sealing device 25 is located downstream of the center sealing device 24 in the conveying direction. More specifically, the top sealing device 25 is located downstream of the center conveyor 26 in the conveying direction. Packaged items 5 wrapped in a cylindrical film 8 are sent to the top sealing device 25 by the center conveyor 26. The top sealing device 25 has the following functions: The top sealing device 25 seals the space between adjacent packaged items 5 (i.e., the sealed portion 8e) on the cylindrical film 8. In addition to sealing, the top sealing device 25 cuts the sealed portion, the top sealed portion 8d, so as to divide it into an upstream and downstream side in the conveying direction. This forms pillow bags 6 that individually package the packaged items 5. In other words, packaged items 7 in which the packaged items 5 are individually packaged in pillow bags 6 are produced.

[0030] More specifically, the top sealing device 25 is, for example, a box-motion type sealing mechanism and comprises an upper sealer 36, a lower sealer 37, and a drive mechanism 38. The top sealing device 25 may also be a rotary sealing mechanism or other types of sealing mechanisms. The upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 are located downstream of the center sealing device 24 in the conveying direction. More specifically, the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 are located downstream of the center conveyor 26 and are positioned vertically separated from the center conveyor 26. Even more specifically, the upper sealer 36 is located above the center conveyor 26, and the lower sealer 37 is located below the center conveyor 26. Furthermore, the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 are configured to move vertically up and down so as to move closer to and further away from each other.

[0031] More specifically, the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 revolve counterclockwise and clockwise in synchronous motion with each other (i.e., they perform box motion). As they revolve, the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 repeatedly separate and come into contact with each other. Each of the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 also has a built-in heater (not shown) and is heated by the heater. Therefore, the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 are positioned close to each other, sandwiching the film 8 between them to seal the film 8 and form a top seal portion 8d. The state of the top seal portion 8d (e.g., length, adhesion, etc.) can be adjusted by controlling the revolving speed of the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 and the heater temperature. After sealing, the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 separate, and the tubular film 8, together with the packaged item 5, passes between the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 and is delivered to the conveyor belt 27, which will be described in detail later.

[0032] Furthermore, the upper sealer 36 is provided with a cutting blade (not shown). The cutting blade cuts the top seal portion 8d of the film 8. In the tubular film 8, the upstream and downstream portions of the packaged item 5 are sealed to form the top seal portion 8d. Then, the top seal portions 8d on both sides in the transport direction are cut by the cutting blade to form a pillow bag 6 containing the packaged item 5, that is, a packaged item 7 is produced. The cutting blade may also be provided on the lower sealer 37, or it may be provided separately from the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37.

[0033] The drive mechanism 38 drives the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 up and down. In this embodiment, the drive mechanism 38 includes, for example, a drive motor 38a and a cam (not shown). The drive mechanism 38 uses the drive motor 38a and the cam to drive the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 to revolve in sync with each other. As a result, the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 move up and down in sync with each other, and move closer together and further apart as a result. By bringing them closer together, the cylindrical film 8 is sealed as described above, and then by separating them, the packaged object 5 is passed between the two sealers 36 and 37.

[0034] <Conveyor Belt> The conveyor belt 27 transports the packaged product 7, which consists of a film 8 sealed by the top sealing device 25 and the packaged product 5 wrapped in it, to the container packing machine 3 located downstream in the transport direction. More specifically, the conveyor belt 27 is positioned downstream of the center conveyor belt 26 in the transport direction, with a gap between them. The gap is smaller than the outer dimensions of the packaged product 5, but larger than the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37. Therefore, the conveyor belt 27 can receive the packaged product 5 wrapped in the film 8 from the center conveyor belt 26 and allow the top sealing device 25 to seal the sealed portion 8e. The conveyor belt 27 can also receive the packaged product 5 and the cylindrical film 8 from the center conveyor belt 26, place them on the conveyor belt 27, and send them downstream in the transport direction.

[0035] Furthermore, the conveyor 27 works in cooperation with the center conveyor 26 to transport the tubular film 8 together with the packaged item 5, thereby positioning the portion to be sealed 8e of the film 8 between the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37. The portion to be sealed 8e can then be sealed and cut by the top sealing device 25. This produces the packaged item 7. The conveyor 27 also transports the packaged item 7 downstream in the transport direction (more specifically, to the foreign object detection device 12, which will be described in detail later). In this embodiment, the conveyor 27 is, for example, a belt conveyor. The conveyor 27 rotates the belt 27b with a drive motor 27a. This allows the conveyor 27 to transport the packaged item 5 and the packaged item 7, which are wrapped in the film 8 placed on the belt 27b, to the downstream side in the transport direction of the top sealing device 25. Note that the conveyor 27 is not limited to a belt conveyor and may be a roller conveyor.

[0036] The printing device 28 prints on the film 8 supplied from the film supply device 21. The printing device 28 is located, for example, in the film supply path through which the film 8 is supplied from the film supply device 21 to the bag maker 22. More specifically, the printing device 28 is located downstream of the feed roller 21b in the film supply path. The printing device 28 prints, for example, the date and time of manufacture, the expiration date or best-before date, the lot number, and a barcode on the film 8.

[0037] <Foreign Object Detection Device> The foreign object detection device 12 detects the presence or absence of foreign objects (metal, stone, glass, etc.) contained within the film 8 (in this embodiment, the packaged product 7). The foreign object detection device 12 also detects the presence or absence of foreign objects and the packaged product 5 in the top seal portion 8d of the packaged product 7. The foreign object detection device 12 is located on the downstream side of the packaging machine body 11 in the conveying direction. More specifically, the foreign object detection device 12 is located on the downstream side of the conveying direction of the conveying conveyor 27. The foreign object detection device 12 detects foreign objects contained within the packaged product 7 sent from the conveying conveyor 27 and the jamming of the packaged product 5 in the top seal portion 8d. The foreign object detection device 12 then outputs these detection results to the control device 15. Furthermore, the foreign object detection device 12 discards the packaged product 7 in which foreign objects and jamming have been detected. The foreign object detection device 12 configured in this way includes a soft X-ray inspector 12a, an X-ray inspector 12b, and a discarding device 12c. Furthermore, the foreign object detection device 12 further includes a transfer conveyor 12d. The transfer conveyor 12d receives the packaged goods 7 sent from the transport conveyor 27 and further transports the packaged goods 7 downstream in the transport direction.

[0038] <X-ray Inspection Devices> The soft X-ray inspection device 12a and the X-ray inspection device 12b detect foreign objects and jams in the packaged goods 7 flowing on the transfer conveyor 12d. The soft X-ray inspection device 12a is positioned, for example, on the upstream side in the transport direction of the transfer conveyor 12d, and the X-ray inspection device 12b is positioned, for example, on the downstream side in the transport direction of the transfer conveyor 12d. That is, the soft X-ray inspection device 12a is positioned on the upstream side in the transport direction of the foreign object detection device 12, and the X-ray inspection device 12b is positioned on the downstream side in the transport direction of the foreign object detection device 12. However, the arrangement of the soft X-ray inspection device 12a and the X-ray inspection device 12b is not limited to the arrangement described above. The soft X-ray inspection device 12a and the X-ray inspection device 12b are configured to allow the packaged goods 7 transported by the transfer conveyor 12d to pass through them, respectively. The soft X-ray inspector 12a uses soft X-rays to detect whether there are any foreign objects in the top seal portion 8d and whether the packaged item 5 is caught in the packaging 7 as it passes through it. The X-ray inspector 12b uses hard X-rays to detect whether there are any foreign objects contained within the packaging 7 as it passes through it. The soft X-ray inspector 12a and the X-ray inspector 12b then output their respective detection results to the control device 15.

[0039] <Removal Device> The removal device 12c removes defective packages 7. More specifically, the removal device 12c removes defective packages 7 from the transport conveyor 12d, such as packages 5 that are jammed in the top seal portion 8d or packages 6 that contain foreign matter. The removal device 12c also removes defective packages 7 that are caused by packaging defects in the packaging machine body 11 from the transport conveyor 12d. Packaging defects include, for example, cases where the packaged item 5 is misaligned with the tubular film 8 and cannot be sealed, or where sufficient sealing performance is not obtained in the center seal and top seal. The removal device 12c is located on the transport conveyor 12d and is positioned downstream in the transport direction from the soft X-ray inspector 12a and the X-ray inspector 12b. The removal device 12c removes defective packages 7 detected by the soft X-ray inspector 12a and the X-ray inspector 12b from the transport conveyor 12d. The rejection device 12c is, for example, a flipper-type rejection device 12c, which removes defective packaging 7 from the transfer conveyor 12d using a pair of arms 12e. Note that the rejection device 12c is not limited to a flipper type, but may also be a drop type.

[0040] <Sensor Group> The sensor group 29 detects various states of each component of the packaging machine body 11. More specifically, the sensor group 29 includes multiple sensors (not shown). Each sensor detects various states of each component of the packaging machine body 11. More specifically, the multiple sensors include a rotation speed sensor, a packaged object detection sensor, a temperature sensor, and a power measurement sensor. The rotation speed sensor is, for example, an encoder, and is provided in the packaging machine body 11 as follows: That is, a rotation sensor is provided for each of the seven motors 21c, 23a, 26a, 27a, 32b, 33b, and 38a, and detects the rotation speed of each. The packaged object detection sensor is, for example, a photoelectric sensor, and detects the presence or absence of a packaged object 5 being fed from the packaged object supply device 23. Furthermore, temperature sensors are provided on the heaters of each of the pair of roller sections 32a, 33a, the upper sealer 36, and the lower sealer 37, respectively, to detect the temperature of the roller sections 32a, 33a and the sealers 36, 37. In addition, power measurement sensors detect the power consumed (i.e., power consumption) of each component of the packaging machine body 11. Each sensor then outputs a signal corresponding to the detection result to the control device 15, which will be described in detail later. The sensor group 29 is also equipped with various other sensors besides those described above (for example, a photoelectric sensor for detecting the position of the packaged object 5 within the film 8, and a photoelectric sensor for detecting the presence or absence of the film 8).

[0041] <Input Display Device> An example of an input device is the input display device 13, which can input operating information. The operating information includes multiple parameters for controlling the operation of the packaging machine body 11. These multiple parameters will be described in detail later, but include, for example, bag length, indentation amount, register mark position, packaging setting capacity, and printing position. The input display device 13 is, for example, a touch panel monitor, and multiple parameters displayed on the monitor screen can be input via the screen. However, the input display device 13 may be configured with a display unit and an input unit as separate components. The input display device 13 can also receive various instructions and display various information based on those instructions. Furthermore, the input display device 13 can display various states of each component of the packaging machine body 11 detected by each sensor in the sensor group 29.

[0042] <Communication Device> The communication device 14 transmits and receives operating information, which will be described in detail later. The communication device 14 is a communication device such as a wireless router and a wired router. The communication device 14 may also be a device that communicates using Bluetooth®. In this embodiment, the communication device 14 is a wireless router and communicates wirelessly with other packaging machines 2A to 2E (more specifically, the communication devices 14 of the other packaging machines 2A to 2E) via Wi-Fi. More specifically, the communication device 14 transmits operating information to the other packaging machines 2A to 2E based on instructions from the main control unit 42 of the control device 15, which will be described in detail later. The communication device 14 also receives operating information from the other packaging machines 2A to 2E. The communication device 14 then stores the received operating information in the storage unit 41.

[0043] <Control Device> The control device 15 stores operating information and controls the operation of the packaging machine body 11 based on the parameters of the stored operating information. When operating information is input to the control device 15 by the input display device 13, it transmits that operating information to the other packaging machines 2A to 2E (i.e., the packaging machines 2A to 2E on other lines 4A to 4E) for storage. Furthermore, the control device 15 stores various states of the packaging machine 2 detected by the sensor group 29 and can display these states on the input display device 13. In this embodiment, the control device 15D in the packaging machine 2D, which will be described in detail later, has a server function. The control device 15 transmits various states detected by the sensor group 29 to the control device 15D of the packaging machine 2D via the communication device 14. Furthermore, the control device 15 causes the packaging machine 2D to transmit the various states of each of the other packaging machines 2A to 2E and displays them on the input display device 13. The control device 15 configured in this way includes a storage unit 41 and a main unit control unit 42, as shown in Figure 4. Furthermore, the control device 15 also includes an inspection control unit 43. For the sake of clarity, only the control devices 15 and 15D of the packaging machines 2, 2B, and 2D are shown in Figure 4.

[0044] The storage unit 41 stores the above-described operation information. The storage unit 41 is a storage medium such as a ROM, a RAM, a HD, and a SSD, for example. More specifically, the storage unit 41 stores the operation information corresponding to each type of the packaged object 5, for example. The storage unit 41 stores the operation information input by the input display device 13 and also stores the operation information transmitted from the other packaging machines 2A to 2E. More specifically, the storage unit 41 stores the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E to which the various operation information should be transmitted in association with each other. And the operation information can include the product name and includes various parameters as shown below.

[0045] That is, the operation information includes parameters of the bag length [mm], the pushing position [mm], the registration mark position [mm], the packaging setting ability [pieces / minute], the printing position [mm], the film tension [mm / package], and the top tension [mm]. Further, the operation information further includes a correction limit value [mm], the product length [mm], the supply conveyor speed [%], the production style [cmd], the center conveyor tension [mm], the center seal tension [mm], the top seal pressure [11 steps], the delay timer, four temperature settings [°C], and the top seal timer value [sec].

[0046] The bag length is a parameter that sets the length of the pillow bag 6 in the longitudinal direction, and in this embodiment, the length in the transport direction. The indentation position is a parameter that sets the transport direction position of the packaged item 5 in the pillow bag 6. The registration mark position is a parameter for setting the cutting position on the film 8 where it is cut by the cutting blade, and is a parameter that indicates the distance from the registration mark to the cutting position. The packaging setting capacity is a parameter that sets the number of packages per unit (in this embodiment, per minute). The printing position is a parameter that sets the position on the film 8 where the date and time of manufacture, expiration date or best-before date, lot number, barcode, etc., are printed, and is a parameter that indicates, for example, the distance from the registration mark position. The top tension is a parameter that sets the tension that the top sealing device 25 applies to the film 8, and is indicated by the speed at which the top sealing device 25 seals and feeds out the film 8. In this embodiment, the top tension is indicated by the distance the film 8 is transported to one pillow bag 6 produced. The film tension is a parameter that sets the tension of the film 8 supplied to the bag-making machine 22, and is indicated by the speed at which the pair of roller sections 32a of the center sealing device 24 (i.e., the upstream pair of roller sections 32a) feed out the film 8. In this embodiment, the film tension is indicated by the distance the film 8 is transported per pillow bag 6 produced (corresponding to one cycle, which will be described in detail later).

[0047] The correction limit value is a parameter for setting the maximum value (i.e., the maximum length) of correction when correcting the cutting position to produce the same pillow bag 6 with respect to the cutting position set at the registration mark position. The product length is a parameter for inputting the length of the packaged object 5. The supply conveyor speed is a parameter for setting the speed of the packaged object supply device 23 and is a parameter indicating the increase or decrease ratio with respect to the reference speed. The production style [cmd] is a parameter for setting the production style of the packaging machine main body 11, and more specifically, the packaging method of the packaged object 5. For example, it is set with any number from 0 to 3. In "0", the packaging operation of the packaged object 5 is continuously performed. In "1", the packaging operation of the packaged object 5 is performed according to an operation on an operating device (not shown) such as an operator. In "2", the packaging operation of the packaged object 5 is intermittently performed at the set time interval. In "3", the supply state of the packaged object 5 is detected, and the packaging operation of the packaged object 5 is performed according to the detected supply state.

[0048] The center conveyor tension is a parameter for setting the tension of the film 8 conveyed by the center conveyor 26 and is a parameter indicating the speed at which the center conveyor 26 conveys the film 8 together with the packaged object 5. In the present embodiment, the center conveyor tension is a parameter indicated by the conveyance distance of the film 8 per one pillow bag 6 produced (corresponding to one cycle described in detail later). The center seal tension is a parameter for setting the tension applied to the film 8 in the center seal device 24. More specifically, the center seal tension is the tension applied to the film 8 between the pair of roller portions 32a and 33a of the center seal device 24. More specifically, the center seal tension is indicated by the speed at which the pair of roller portions 33a (i.e., the pair of downstream roller portions 33a) send out the film 8. In the present embodiment, the film tension is indicated by the distance that the film 8 is conveyed per one pillow bag 6 produced.

[0049] The top seal pressure is a parameter that sets the pressure applied when the film 8 is sandwiched between the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 in order to seal the film 8 with the top seal device 25. In this embodiment, the top seal pressure can be set in 11 steps, with different pressures set according to each step. The delay timer is a parameter that sets the time interval for starting the packaging operation in order to perform the packaging operation of the packaged item 5 intermittently, as will be described in detail later. The first to fourth temperature settings are parameters that set the temperature of the pair of roller sections 32a, 33a, and the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37, respectively. Furthermore, the top seal timer value is the sealing time in the top seal device 25, that is, the time for the film 8 to be sandwiched between the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37.

[0050] Furthermore, the storage unit 41 stores information related to the packaging machine body 11, i.e., packaging machine information. The packaging machine information includes sensor information and production information. The sensor information is information about various states in the packaging machine body 11 detected by the sensor group 29. The sensor information includes, for example, the rotation speed, temperature, and power consumption described above. The production information is information related to the production of packaged goods 7 by the packaging machine body 11 (i.e., packaging of the items to be packaged 5). The production information includes, for example, the operating time of the packaging machine body 11, the error history of the packaging machine body 11, the number of packaged goods 7 produced, the number of good packaged goods 7, the number of defective packaged goods 7, the amount of film 8 used, the stop time of the packaging machine body 11, the error time of the packaging machine body 11, etc. The production information is counted by the main unit control unit 42 during control, which will be described in detail later, or calculated by the main unit control unit 42 based on the various control information and sensor information obtained.

[0051] The main unit control unit 42, which is an example of an operation control unit, controls the operation of the packaging machine body 11 based on each parameter of the operation information stored in the memory unit 41. More specifically, the main unit control unit 42 is, for example, a CPU, and controls the operation of each component of the packaging machine body 11, namely the film supply device 21, the packaged material supply device 23, the center sealing device 24, the top sealing device 25, the center conveyor 26, the transport conveyor 27, and the printing device 28. More specifically, the main unit control unit 42 controls the rotational operation of the motors 21c, 23a, 26a, 27a, 32b, 33b, and 38a. In this embodiment, the motors 21c, 32b, 33b, and 38a are servo motors, and the main unit control unit 42 controls the rotational operation of the motors 21c, 32b, 33b, and 38a with higher precision based on each parameter of the operation information and signals detected by the sensor group 29. However, the motors 21c, 32b, 33b, and 38a do not necessarily have to be servo motors. The main unit control unit 42 controls the heating operation of the heaters of the pair of roller sections 32a and 33a and the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37.

[0052] Furthermore, the main unit control 42, which is an example of a communication control unit, transmits various information to other packaging machines 2A to 2E via the communication device 14. More specifically, when operation information is input to the input display device 13, the main unit control 42 transmits the operation information to the other packaging machines 2A to 2E via the communication device 14. More specifically, each piece of operation information is stored in association with at least one destination packaging machine 2A to 2E, and when operation information is input to the input display device 13, the main unit control 42 transmits the operation information to the associated destination packaging machine 2A to 2E. The main unit control 42 then stores the input operation information in the destination packaging machine 2A to 2E. More specifically, if the parameters of the operation information already stored in the storage unit 41 are changed by the input display device 13, i.e., overwritten, the main unit control 42 transmits the changed operation information to the associated destination packaging machine 2A to 2E. The main unit control unit 42 then causes the receiving packaging machines 2A to 2E (in this embodiment, the storage units 41 and 41D of the packaging machines 2A to 2E) to overwrite the parameters before the change with the parameters after the change.

[0053] Furthermore, the main control unit 42 acquires sensor information and creates production information based on the count during control, various production information, and the acquired sensor information. The main control unit 42 then outputs packaging machine information, including the sensor information and production information, to the packaging machine 2D. The packaging machine 2D has a server function, as will be described in detail later, and the main control unit 42 stores the packaging machine information in the packaging machine 2D (more specifically, the control device 15D of the packaging machine 2D). Furthermore, based on instructions input to the input display device 13, the main control unit 42 acquires packaging machine information for each packaging machine 2A to 2E from the packaging machine 2D (more specifically, the control device 15D of the packaging machine 2D) and displays the acquired packaging machine information on the input display device 13. In addition, the main control unit 42 detects packaging defects in the packaging machine body 11 based on the detection results of various sensors included in the sensor group 29.

[0054] The inspection control unit 43 acquires detection results from the foreign object detection device 12 and controls the operation of the rejection device 12c according to the inspection results. More specifically, the inspection control unit 43 acquires inspection results from the soft X-ray inspector 12a and the X-ray inspector 12b. When the main unit control unit 42 detects a defective package 7 in the soft X-ray inspector 12a or the X-ray inspector 12b, it activates the rejection device 12c based on the detection results to remove the defective package 7 from the transfer conveyor 12d. The inspection control unit 43 is also configured to communicate with the main unit control unit 42. When the main unit control unit 42 detects a packaging defect in the packaging machine body 11, it outputs a rejection command to the inspection control unit 43. Based on the rejection command, the inspection control unit 43 activates the rejection device 12c to remove the defective package 7, i.e., the defective package 7, from the transfer conveyor 12d.

[0055] [Packaging Machine Operation] The operation of packaging machine 2 will be explained below. Note that packaging machine 2A, of the same model, operates in the same way as packaging machine 2, so the operation of packaging machine 2A will be described by referring to the operation of packaging machine 2 and will not be explained further. In packaging machine 2, multiple operating information tailored to the type of packaged item 5 and production status is input to the input display device 13. Then, in packaging machine 2, the multiple operating information input to the input display device 13 is displayed, and during operation, the operator selects one of the multiple operating information according to the type of packaged item 5 and production status to be packaged. Then, the main control unit 42 of the control device 15 controls the movement of each component of the packaging machine body 11 based on the selected operating information. More specifically, the main control unit 42 controls the movement of each component of the packaging machine body 11 in order to perform packaged item supply, film supply, center seal, and top seal operations. In addition, the main control unit 42 controls the movement of the foreign object detection device 12 in order to further perform foreign object detection and removal operations. In the following sections, the operation of the packaging machine 2 will be explained in accordance with the flow of the packaged items 5, with reference to Figure 3.

[0056] <Packaging Supply Operation> In the packaging supply operation, the main control unit 42 sequentially supplies the packaging items 5 to the bag maker 22 via the packaging supply device 23. More specifically, the main control unit 42 drives the drive motor 23a of the packaging supply device 23 to supply the packaging items 5 to the bag maker 22. At this time, the main control unit 42 controls the amount of rotation of the drive motor 23a according to, for example, the bag length, pressing position, product length, and packaging setting capacity in the operation information. As a result, the packaging items 5 are supplied to the bag maker 22.

[0057] <Film Supply Operation> In the film supply operation, the main control unit 42 controls the movement of the film supply device 21 as follows. That is, the main control unit 42 causes the film supply device 21 to supply film 8 to the bag maker 22. In this embodiment, the main control unit 42 operates the film supply device 21 in a manner that corresponds to the production style selected, which will be described in detail later. For example, the main control unit 42 may continuously supply film 8 to the bag maker 22, or supply film 8 to the bag maker 22 in response to triggers such as operation on an operating device (not shown), a set time interval, or the supply of packaged goods 5 from the packaged goods supply device 23 to the bag maker 22. When the main control unit 42 supplies film 8 to the bag maker 22, it rotates the feed roller 21b with the drive motor 21c to feed the film 8 from the film roll 21a and send it to the bag maker 22. When dispensing, the main control unit 42 controls the operation of the feed roller 21b and the drive motor 21c according to various parameters included in the operation information (for example, bag length, indentation position, and packaging setting capacity). This allows the main control unit 42 to position the items to be packaged 5 at predetermined intervals relative to the supplied film 8. Furthermore, when the film 8 is dispensed from the film roll 21a to the bag maker 22, the main control unit 42 controls the printing device 28 based on the printing position of the operation information to print the expiration date and other information on the film 8.

[0058] Furthermore, the film 8 supplied from the film supply device 21 is formed into a cylindrical bag by passing through the bag maker 22. More specifically, the film 8 is formed into a cylindrical bag by the bag maker 22, with both widthwise edges 8a hanging downwards. During the bag-making process, the packaged object 5 is fed into the cylindrical film 8 from the packaged object supply device 23, and the bag maker 22 rolls the film 8 to enclose the packaged object 5, forming it into a cylindrical bag.

[0059] Furthermore, the main control unit 42 works in cooperation with the film supply device 21 to unwind the film 8 from the film roll 21a and feed it to the bag maker 22. More specifically, in the center sealing device 24, both widthwise edges 8a of the film 8 are held between a pair of rollers 32a and 33a (mainly the upstream pair of rollers 32a). The main control unit 42 rotates the pair of rollers 32a using the drive motor 32b of the center sealing device 24, thereby drawing both widthwise edges 8a of the film 8 into the center sealing device 24.

[0060] In this way, the center sealing device 24 can apply tension to the film 8 by pulling it in. Therefore, the center sealing device 24 can feed the film 8 to the bag maker 22 while it is under tension. As a result, the film 8 can be formed into a cylindrical bag by the bag maker 22. The main control unit 42 controls the drive of the drive motor 32b according to various parameters of the operation information (for example, film tension) in order to pull in the film 8 while it is under tension. In addition, by pulling in the cylindrical film 8, the center sealing device 24 also pulls the packaged item 5 wrapped in the cylindrical film 8 towards the center sealing device 24 along with the film 8.

[0061] <Center sealing operation> In the center sealing operation, the main unit control 42 controls the movement of the center sealing device 24 as follows. That is, the main unit control 42 causes the center sealing device 24 to seal both edges 8a in the width direction to form the center sealing portion 8c. More specifically, the main unit control 42 causes a pair of rollers 32a and 33a to seal both edges 8a in the width direction to form the center sealing portion 8c. In this embodiment, the main unit control 42 rotates the drive motor 32b to pull both edges 8a in the width direction into the pair of rollers 32a on the upstream side, and then sends them downstream in the conveying direction through the pair of rollers 32a and 33a. Both edges 8a in the width direction are sealed by passing through the pair of rollers 32a and 33a.

[0062] More specifically, a pair of roller sections 32a and 33a have built-in heaters (not shown), and as the film passes between each of the roller sections 32a and 33a, both edges 8a in the width direction are pressurized and heated by the heaters. The main control unit 42 controls the operation of the drive motor 33b according to various parameters of the operating information (e.g., center seal tension), and controls the operation of each heater of the pair of roller sections 32a and 33a according to various parameters of the operating information (e.g., temperature setting). As a result, both edges 8a in the width direction are welded together, forming a center seal portion 8c on the film 8. The tubular film 8 with the center seal portion 8c is then folded in one direction in the width direction, and placed on the center conveyor 26 together with the packaged item 5. The main control unit 42 controls the operation of the drive motor 26a of the center conveyor 26 according to various parameters of the operating information (e.g., center conveyor tension), and the center conveyor 26 sends the packaged item 5 together with the tubular film 8 to the top sealing device 25.

[0063] <Top sealing operation> In the top sealing operation, the main control unit 42 controls the movement of the top sealing device 25 as follows. That is, the main control unit 42 causes the top sealing device 25 to seal the portion 8e of the cylindrical film 8. More specifically, with respect to the cylindrical film 8 being sent by the center conveyor 26, the main control unit 42 brings the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 close together to sandwich the film 8 and apply pressure. That is, the main control unit 42 lowers and raises the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 respectively using the drive motor 38a of the drive mechanism 38. As a result, the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 come close to each other and apply pressure to the portion 8e of the film 8. Specifically, the main control unit 42 adjusts the tension applied to the tubular film 8 in the top sealing device 25 by controlling the orbital speed of the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37. The upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 also have built-in heaters (not shown), and when pressurized, the portion to be sealed 8e is heated by the heaters. At this time, the main control unit 42 controls the operation of each heater of the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 based on various parameters of the operating information (e.g., temperature setting). As a result, the portion to be sealed 8e is welded, and a top seal portion 8d is formed on the tubular film 8. Furthermore, by bringing the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 closer together, the formed top seal portion 8d is cut by a cutting blade on the upstream and downstream sides in the conveying direction. The main control unit 42 controls the operation of the drive motor 38a of the drive mechanism 38 according to parameters of the operating information (e.g., registration mark position and correction limit value) in order to form and cut the top seal portion 8d at the desired position.

[0064] Furthermore, after cutting, the main control unit 42 uses the drive mechanism 38 to raise and lower the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37, respectively, separating them from each other. This creates a gap between the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37. After the gap opens, the packaged object 5, along with the tubular film 8 that encloses it, is sent downstream in the transport direction by the center conveyor 26 and passed between the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37. Subsequently, the packaged object 5, along with the tubular film 8, is transferred to the transport conveyor 27 and sent downstream in the transport direction by the transport conveyor 27. After being sent, the portion to be sealed 8e eventually reaches the top sealing device 25. In conjunction with the timing when the portion to be sealed 8e reaches the top sealing device 25, the main control unit 42 uses the drive mechanism 38 to bring the separated upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 closer together again. As a result, the portion to be sealed 8e is sealed in the same manner as described above to form the top seal portion 8d, and the top seal portion 8d is cut on the upstream and downstream sides in the conveying direction. As a result, a pillow bag 6 containing the packaged item 5, i.e., the packaged item 7, is produced on the conveying conveyor 27. Subsequently, the main control unit 42 drives the conveying conveyor 27 (more specifically, its drive motor 27a) to transport the packaged item 7 downstream in the conveying direction (more specifically, to the foreign object detection device 12).

[0065] <Foreign Object Removal Operation> In the foreign object removal operation, the foreign object detection device 12 detects the presence or absence of foreign objects inside the film 8 of the packaged item 7, i.e., inside the pillow bag 6. In addition, the foreign object removal operation also detects the presence or absence of foreign objects and the packaged item 5 caught in the top seal portion 8d. Furthermore, in the foreign object removal operation, the inspection control unit 43 removes the packaged item 7 using the removal device 12c according to the detection results of the foreign object detection device 12. To explain in more detail, the packaged item 7 is transported by the transport conveyor 27, then placed on the transport conveyor 12d, and passed through the foreign object detection device 12. By passing through the foreign object detection device 12, the presence or absence of foreign objects and the presence or absence of caught objects in the packaged item 7 is detected. Specifically, by passing through the soft X-ray inspection device 12a, the presence or absence of foreign objects and the packaged item 5 caught in the top seal portion 8d is detected, and by passing through the X-ray inspection device 12b, the presence or absence of foreign objects contained inside the packaged item 7 is detected. When the soft X-ray inspection device 12a detects the presence of foreign matter and the packaged item 5 being jammed, or when the X-ray inspection device 12b detects the presence of foreign matter contained within the packaged item 7, a detection result indicating the detection of jamming or foreign matter is output from each device to the control device 15. Based on the detection result of the foreign matter detection device 12, the inspection control unit 43 removes the defective packaged item 7 using the removal device 12c. That is, the main control unit 42 removes the defective packaged item 7 using a pair of arms 12e. The inspection control unit 43 also removes the packaged item 7 using the removal device 12c in response to a removal command from the main control unit 42. On the other hand, packaged items 7 that were not detected are transported by the transfer conveyor 12d to the box-filling machine 3, which will be described in detail later.

[0066] In this manner, the packaging machine 2 sequentially supplies the items to be packaged 5 to the bag maker 22 and packages them with film 8. The main control unit 42 synchronously controls each component of the packaging machine body 11 based on the parameters included in the operation information as described above, in order to produce a desired number of packages 7 packaged in the desired state. In this embodiment, the main control unit 42 outputs commands to each drive motor 21c, 26a, 27a, 32b, 33b, 38a corresponding to the bag length, indentation position, register mark position, correction limit value, product length, production style, packaging setting capacity, printing position, film tension, top tension, center seal tension, and delay timer included in the operation information, and synchronously controls their operation. Furthermore, the main control unit 42 outputs commands corresponding to each temperature set in the temperature setting of the operation information to the heaters built into the roller sections 32a, 33a and sealers 36, 37, respectively, and controls their temperatures.

[0067] Furthermore, as mentioned above, the operating information includes the production style, and the main control unit 42 controls the movement of each component of the packaging machine body 11 according to the selected production style as follows. For example, when the production style is set to 0, the main control unit 42 causes the film 8 to be continuously (i.e., without interruption) supplied from the film supply device 21 to the bag maker 22, and the packaging of the items to be packaged 5 is carried out continuously. When the production style is set to 0, the items to be packaged supply device 23 is basically not used, and the items to be packaged 5 are supplied to the bag maker 22 manually or by a robot, or supplied to the bag maker 22 at regular intervals by a finger-type conveyor, etc., which will be described in detail later. The same applies to production styles "1" and "2" which will be described later.

[0068] When the production style is set to 1, the main control unit 42 operates each component of the packaging machine body 11 for one cycle in response to operations on an operating device (not shown). One cycle is as follows: The main control unit 42 causes the film supply device 21 to feed out a film 8 of a length corresponding to the bag length included in the operation information, and one cycle is, for example, the period from when the film supply device 21 starts feeding out the film 8 until it has fed out a film 8 of a length corresponding to the bag length. During one cycle, in the center seal operation, a center seal portion 8c is formed on the film 8 for a length corresponding to the bag length. In the top seal operation, the two sealers 36 and 37 are brought close together and the portion to be sealed 8e is welded and cut, and then the two sealers 36 and 37 are separated. Furthermore, the packaged goods 7 are transported by the transport conveyor 27 to the downstream side in the transport direction, i.e., to the foreign object detection device 12, for a length corresponding to the bag length.

[0069] The main control unit 42 operates for one cycle, stopping the movement of each component of the packaging machine body 11. When the operating device is operated again, it operates the components of the packaging machine body 11 again for one cycle. In this way, the main control unit 42 performs the packaging operation of the packaged goods 5 in accordance with the operation of the operating device, that is, it performs the packaging operation of the packaged goods 5 intermittently. The foreign object removal operation may be performed intermittently in response to the operation of an operating device (not shown), or it may be performed continuously regardless of the operation of an operating device (not shown). The same applies to other production styles.

[0070] Furthermore, when the production style is set to 2, the main control unit 42 operates each component of the packaging machine body 11 for one cycle at the set time intervals. More specifically, the operation information includes a delay timer. The main control unit 42 operates each component of the packaging machine body 11 for one cycle at the time intervals set in the delay timer. That is, after operating each component of the packaging machine body 11 for one cycle, the main control unit 42 stops the movement of each component of the packaging machine body 11. After the time set in the delay timer has elapsed since stopping, the main control unit 42 operates each component of the packaging machine body 11 again for one cycle, and then stops the movement of each component of the packaging machine body 11. In this way, when the production style is set to 2, the main control unit 42 performs the packaging operation of the packaged items 5 at the time intervals set in the delay timer, that is, it performs the packaging operation of the packaged items 5 intermittently.

[0071] Furthermore, when the production style is set to 3, the main control unit 42 operates each component of the packaging machine body 11 for one cycle in accordance with the detection result of the packaged item detection sensor. More specifically, the packaged item detection sensor is located, for example, at the furthest downstream position of the packaged item supply device 23, and the main control unit 42 detects the start of supply of the packaged item 5 from the packaged item supply device 23 when the packaged item detection sensor detects the packaged item 5. The main control unit 42 operates each component of the packaging machine body 11 for one cycle in accordance with the start of supply of the packaged item 5. After that, the main control unit 42 stops the operation of each component of the packaging machine body 11. Then, when the main control unit 42 detects the start of supply of the packaged item 5 from the packaged item supply device 23 again, it operates each component of the packaging machine body 11 for one cycle in accordance with the start of supply of the packaged item 5.

[0072] Furthermore, when the production style is set to 3, the main control unit 42 controls the supply operation of the packaged goods 5 by the packaged goods supply device 23 as follows. Specifically, the packaged goods detection sensor detects the packaged goods 5 as they pass a predetermined position on the packaged goods supply device 23 (in this embodiment, the downstream position of the packaged goods supply device 23), and continues to detect the packaged goods 5 while they are passing the downstream position. The main control unit 42 then operates the packaged goods supply device 23 until the detection of the packaged goods 5 is completed and the next packaged goods 5 is detected. When the next packaged goods 5 is detected, if one cycle of operation has been completed in the packaging machine body 11, the main control unit 42 continues to supply the packaged goods 5 without stopping the movement of the packaged goods supply device 23. On the other hand, if one cycle of operation has not been completed, the main control unit 42 stops the operation of the packaged goods supply device 23 and restarts the operation of the packaged goods supply device 23 after one cycle of operation has been completed. Thus, when the production style is set to 3, the main unit control 42 intermittently performs the packaging operation of the items to be packaged 5 and automatically supplies the items to be packaged 5 in accordance with the packaging operation of the items to be packaged 5, that is, the packaging operation of the items to be packaged 5 can be performed intermittently and automatically.

[0073] <Second type of horizontal pillow packaging machine> The third, fourth, and sixth packaging machines 2B, 2C, and 2E, which are examples of the second type of horizontal pillow packaging machine (i.e., the second horizontal pillow packaging machine), are medium-sized inverted pillow packaging machines, as described above, and are configured as shown in Figure 5, for example. Specifically, the packaging machine body 11B of the third, fourth, and sixth packaging machines 2B, 2C, and 2E is similar in configuration to that of packaging machine 2, and the packaging machine body 11B is equipped with a bag maker 22B, a center sealing device 24B, a center conveyor 26B, and a foreign object detection device 12B.

[0074] The bag maker 22B, like the bag maker 22, forms a cylindrical bag from the film 8 supplied by the film supply device 21. On the other hand, the bag maker 22B bends and rolls the film 8 so that both widthwise edges 8a of the passing film 8 rise upward. As a result, the film 8 is formed into a U-shape, and as will be described in detail later, the widthwise edges 8a are sealed together by the center sealing device 24B to form a cylindrical bag.

[0075] In other words, the center sealing device 24B pulls in and butts the widthwise edges 8a of the cylindrical U-shaped film 8, and then seals the widthwise edges 8a. More specifically, in the center sealing device 24B, two press roller mechanisms 32 and 33 are positioned above the cylindrical film 8. The pair of rollers 32a and 33a butt the widthwise edges 8a, which are positioned above, and then heat and press the widthwise edges 8a to seal them. The center conveyor 26B is provided below the center sealing device 24B in place of the receiving plate 31, and extends from the bag maker 22B to the top sealing device 25. The center conveyor 26B receives the packaged item 5 and the cylindrical film 8 that wraps it from the bag maker 22B, forms the center sealing portion 8c in the center sealing device 24B, and sends it to the top sealing device 25. Furthermore, the foreign object detection device 12B includes only the soft X-ray inspection device 12a, which detects whether or not foreign objects and the packaged item 5 are caught in the top seal portion 8d.

[0076] The following describes the operation of packaging machines 2B, 2C, and 2E. Since the operation of packaging machines 2B, 2C, and 2E is similar to that of packaging machine 2, we will mainly explain the differences from the operation of packaging machine 2, and omit explanations of operations that are the same. Furthermore, the following describes the operation of packaging machine 2B, and for the operation of packaging machines 2C and 2E, refer to the operation of packaging machine 2B and omit their explanations.

[0077] Packaging machine 2B differs from packaging machine 2, which is a standard pillow packaging machine, in that it is an inverted pillow packaging machine. Therefore, in packaging machine 2B, during the film supply operation, the supplied film 8 is rolled up by the bag maker 22B as follows: That is, the film 8 is rolled into a cylindrical shape by the bag maker 22B so that both widthwise edges 8a stand upwards. Also, in packaging machine 2B, similar to a standard pillow packaging machine, the object to be packaged 5 is fed into the rolled cylindrical film 8 by the object to be packaged supply device 23, and the object to be packaged 5, wrapped in the cylindrical film 8, is then pulled out from the bag maker 22B by the center conveyor 26. The object to be packaged 5 and the cylindrical film 8 are both sent downstream in the transport direction on the center conveyor 26, and as they are being sent, both widthwise edges 8a of the cylindrical film 8 are heated and pressed together by the center sealing device 24B to seal them. As a result, a center seal portion 8c is formed on the upper part of the cylindrical film 8. Furthermore, in the packaging machine 2B, the foreign object detection device 12B includes only a soft X-ray inspection device 12a, which inspects for jamming or other defects in the packaged product 7.

[0078] <Third Model Horizontal Pillow Packaging Machine> The fifth packaging machine 2D, which is the third model horizontal pillow packaging machine, is, as mentioned above, a large-scale pillow packaging machine and is a higher-end model than the first packaging machine 2 and the second packaging machine 2A. Here, a higher-end model is a model that has more functions than a lower-end model, for example, a model that can set more parameters regarding operating information. The fifth packaging machine 2D is configured as follows, for example. The packaging machine body 11D of the fifth packaging machine 2D is equipped with a packaged material supply device 23D, a center sealing device 24, a top sealing device 25D, and a control device 15D. In the packaged material supply device 23D, the drive motor 23a is a servo motor and has a servo function. Therefore, in the fifth packaging machine 2D, the main unit control unit 42D, which will be described in detail later, can perform complex operations on the operation of the packaged material supply device 23D. More specifically, it is possible to perform more complex control (for example, detailed control of acceleration and deceleration) on the drive motor 23a, or to control it over a wider speed range. In the top sealing device 25D, the drive mechanism 38D has two drive motors 38b and 38c (see the dashed line in Figure 3). The two drive motors 38b and 38c drive the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37 in two different axial directions (for example, vertical and conveying directions). Therefore, more complex movements can be made for the upper sealer 36 and the lower sealer 37.

[0079] The control device 15D includes a main control unit 42D with higher processing capacity than the main control unit 42 of other control devices 15. Furthermore, the main control unit 42D controls each component based on more complex control, i.e., more parameters. This makes it possible to control the packaging machine 2D using more drive motors and sensors, and to have each component perform more complex and high-precision movements. In addition, the control device 15D, which is an example of a storage device, has a server function, and the main control unit 42D acquires packaging machine information from each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2C, 2E and stores it in the storage unit 41D. The main control unit 42D then outputs the packaging machine information of each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2C, 2E based on instructions from the main control units 42 and 42D of each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2C, 2E.

[0080] The operation of the packaging machine 2D is similar to that of the packaging machine 2. We will mainly explain the differences from the operation of the packaging machine 2, and omit explanations for operations that are the same. In the packaging machine 2D, the drive motor 23a of the packaged material supply device 23D has a servo function, and the main control unit 42D can perform more precise and complex movements on the packaged material supply device 23D.

[0081] In the packaging machine 2D, during the top sealing operation, the main control unit 42D, like the main control unit 42, controls the operation of the two drive motors 38b and 38c of the drive mechanism 38D according to the parameters of the operation information (e.g., registration mark position and correction limit value) in order to form and cut the top sealed portion 8d at the desired position. Furthermore, the main control unit 42D drives each of the drive motors 38b and 38c of the drive mechanism 38D according to the top sealing pressure of the selected operation information, causing the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 to revolve in the same way as the drive mechanism 38. On the other hand, the main control unit 42D can pressurize the portion to be sealed 8e on the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 with a pressure corresponding to the selected top sealing pressure by controlling the operation of the lifting drive motor 38b. On the other hand, the main control unit 42D can adjust the sealing time by controlling the operation of the forward and backward drive motor 38b according to the top sealing timer value.

[0082] In the packaging machine 2D operating in this manner, the main control unit 42D, like the main control unit 42, synchronizes the control of each component of the packaging machine body 11 based on the parameters included in the operating information. On the other hand, as mentioned above, the main control unit 42D uses the top seal pressure and top seal timer value in addition to the parameters of the operating information used by the main control unit 42. The main control unit 42D then outputs commands corresponding to these parameters to each drive motor 21c, 23a, 26a, 27a, 32b, 33b, 38b, 38c to synchronize their operation. Furthermore, the main control unit 42D outputs commands corresponding to each temperature set in the operating information to the heaters built into the roller sections 32a, 33a and the sealers 36, 37, respectively, to control their temperatures.

[0083] [Container Packing Machine] The container packing machine 3 is installed in correspondence with each of the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2D, and packs the packaged goods 7 sent from the conveyor belt 27 of the corresponding packaging machine 2, 2A to 2D into containers 9. More specifically, the container packing machine 3 is equipped with a packaged goods conveyor belt 17, a container packing conveyor belt 18, and a container packing robot 19. The packaged goods conveyor belt 17 receives the packaged goods 7 sent from the conveyor belt 27 of the corresponding packaging machine 2, 2A to 2D and sends them downstream in the conveying direction. The container packing conveyor belt 18 carries, i.e., transports, the containers 9 on it. The container packing robot 19 is, for example, a 6-axis robot, which grasps the packaged goods 7 sent by the packaged goods conveyor belt 17 and packs them into the containers 9 on the container packing conveyor belt 18.

[0084] [Operation of the Container Packing Machine] Packaged goods 7 are transported to each container packing machine 3 from the corresponding packaging machines 2, 2A to 2D, and the packaging conveyor 17 receives the packaged goods 7. The packaging conveyor 17 then transports the packaged goods to the container packing robot 19, which grasps the transported packaged goods 7 and packs them into containers 9. When a specified number of packaged goods 7 are packed into a container 9, the container conveyor 18 moves the container 9 and places the next container 9 in the designated position. Then, the container packing robot 19 again packs a specified number of packaged goods 7 into the container 9. By repeating this process, packaged goods 7 packaged by packaging machines 2, 2A to 2D are packed into each of the containers 9 and transported.

[0085] [Intercommunication function for operating information] In the packaging system 1, when operating information is input to any of the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E, the input operating information is stored in the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E themselves, and the input operating information is also transmitted to the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E for storage. For example, taking packaging machine 2 as an example, when operating information is input to packaging machine 2, the operating information is transmitted to the other packaging machines 2A and 2D for storage. To explain in more detail, as described above, the input display device 13 inputs operating information (more specifically, various parameters) to packaging machine 2. In this embodiment, as described above, the operating information includes the product name, which is the name of the packaged item, and operating information can be stored in packaging machine 2 for each product (i.e., for each type of packaged item 5). For example, for the operating information related to the first product, the product name is set as the first product, and then each parameter of the operating information is set. Then, as operating information related to packaging machine 2, at least the following parameters are input by the input display device 13. Specifically, the following parameters are input as operating information: bag length, indentation position, register mark position, correction limit value, product length, production style, packaging setting capacity, printing position, film tension, center seal tension, and top tension. In this embodiment, the top seal pressure and top seal timer value parameters are further input as operating information.

[0086] Furthermore, when inputting operating information via the input display device 13, the packaging machine 2 can associate the operating information with at least one of the packaging machines 2A to 2E as a destination. For example, when inputting operating information for the first product, the destinations can be the same model packaging machine 2A and the higher-end model packaging machine 2D. In this case, the packaging machine 2 associates the input operating information with the two packaging machines 2A and 2D as destinations. The main control unit 42 then stores the input operating information in the storage unit 41 and transmits it to the destination packaging machines 2A and 2D via the communication device 14. In the packaging machine 2A, the main control unit 42 stores the operating information received via the communication device 14 in the storage unit 41. In the packaging machine 2D, the main control unit 42D stores the operating information received via the communication device 14 in the storage unit 41 as follows. That is, in the packaging machine 2D, in addition to the parameters of the operating information used in the packaging machine 2, the top seal pressure and top seal timer value can be set. Therefore, the main control unit 42D sets parameters that are not set in the received operating information to their initial values ​​or sets them based on other parameters. In the packaging machine 2, although not used in the packaging operation, the top seal pressure and top seal timer value may be set in the operating information.

[0087] In this way, the main control unit 42 of the packaging machine 2 transmits the input operating information to the other packaging machines 2A and 2D via the communication device 14, and stores it in the other packaging machines 2A and 2D (more specifically, in the storage unit 41). This eliminates the need to input the same operating information again to the packaging machines 2A and 2D. Therefore, the convenience of the packaging system 1 can be improved. In addition, the parameters included in the operating information are common parameters (i.e., common parameter items) regardless of the model. Furthermore, the other packaging machines 2A to 2E also mutually store the operating information in their corresponding receiving packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E, similar to the packaging machine 2.

[0088] Furthermore, in the packaging machine 2, the input display device 13 allows the user to change any of the parameters included in the already stored operating information. When a parameter is changed, the main control unit 42 transmits the operating information, including the changed parameter, to the corresponding destination packaging machines 2A and 2D via the communication device 14. The main control unit 42 then stores the changed parameter in the corresponding operating information of the packaging machines 2A and 2D, i.e., overwrites it. As a result, when the parameters of the operating information are changed in one packaging machine 2, the corresponding parameters of the corresponding operating information in the other packaging machines 2A and 2D are also changed. Therefore, there is no need to change the parameters of the operating information for each packaging machine, which helps to reduce the complexity of the setup process. Similarly, for the other packaging machines 2A to 2E, the parameters of the operating information are changed in the corresponding destination packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E.

[0089] [Operating Status Display Function] In addition, in packaging machines 2, 2A to 2C, and 2E, the main control unit 42 transmits packaging machine information to packaging machine 2D via the communication device 14. The main control unit 42D stores the received packaging machine information for each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2C, and 2E in the storage unit 41D. In addition, packaging machines 2, 2A to 2C, and 2E can input display instructions via the input display device 13 to check the packaging machine information of other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E. When the main control unit 42 receives the packaging machine information for the desired packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E, it displays the packaging machine information for the desired packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E on the input display device 13. In packaging machine 2D, when a display instruction is input, the main unit control unit 42 retrieves the various states of the desired packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E from the storage unit 41 and displays them on the input display device 13.

[0090] In the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, the control device 15 includes main control units 42 and 42D. When operating information is input to the input display device 13, the main control units 42 and 42D transmit the input operating information to the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E via the communication device 14, and store it in the storage units 41 and 41D of the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E. Therefore, for example, when operating information is input to packaging machine 2, the operating information is transmitted to the other packaging machines 2A and 2D. This allows the packaging system 1 to share operating information with the other packaging machines 2A and 2D. Consequently, setting work that would otherwise be performed on the other packaging machines 2A and 2D can be omitted. The other packaging machines 2B, 2C, and 2E can also share operating information in the same way as packaging machines 2, 2A, and 2D.

[0091] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, each of the main control units 42 and 42D transmits operating information to the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E to overwrite the parameters before the change with the parameters after the change. Therefore, for example, if the operating information is adjusted in packaging machine 2, the operating information of the other packaging machines 2A and 2D can be adjusted simultaneously. The same applies to packaging machines 2B, 2C, and 2E.

[0092] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, each of the main control units 42 and 42D transmits the modified operating information to the destination packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E, which are associated with the operating information. Therefore, the modified operating information can be transmitted to and stored in the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E that require it. This reduces the storage capacity required in the storage units 41 and 41D, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.

[0093] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, the main unit control units 42 and 42D in each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E, which are of different models, control the operation of each packaging machine body 11, 11B, and 11D based on operating information consisting of a plurality of common parameters. Therefore, the input operating information can be transmitted to and overwritten by packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E, including packaging machine bodies 11, 11B, and 11D of different models. This allows packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E, including packaging machine bodies 11, 11B, and 11D of different models, to share operating information with each other.

[0094] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E includes, respectively, at least one of the following: a packaged material supply device 23, 23D, a film supply device 21, a center sealing device 24, 24B, and a top sealing device 25, 25D, each containing a different packaging machine body 11, 11B, 11D for each model. In such packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E, input operating information can be shared with each other.

[0095] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, the operating information includes parameters such as bag length, indentation amount, film tension, and packaging setting capacity. Therefore, once the bag length, indentation amount, film tension, and packaging setting capacity are input, they can be shared among the storage units 41 and 41D of each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E. Consequently, the setting work required to set the bag length, indentation amount, film tension, and packaging setting capacity for each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E can be reduced.

[0096] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, the operating information includes the printing position as a parameter. Therefore, once the printing position is input, it can be shared with the storage units 41 and 41D of each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E. Consequently, the setting work required to set the printing position for each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E can be reduced.

[0097] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, the control device 15D stores packaging machine information transmitted via the communication device 14, corresponding to each of the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E. The input display device 13 acquires and displays the packaging machine information for each of the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E via the communication device 14. The packaging machine information includes the operating status detected by the sensor group 29, i.e., sensor information. Therefore, the operating status of the other horizontal pillow packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E can be checked from each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E. This eliminates the need to go to the input display device 13 of each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E to check its operating status, thereby improving the convenience of the packaging system 1.

[0098] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, the packaging machine information includes production information, which is information regarding the packaging of the packaged items 5 by the packaging machine body 11. Therefore, the input display device 13 acquires and displays the production information of each of the horizontal pillow packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E via the communication device 14. Thus, each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E can check the production information of the other horizontal pillow packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E. This eliminates the need to go to the input display device 13 of each packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E to check the production information of each horizontal pillow packaging machine 2, 2A to 2E, thereby improving the convenience of the packaging system 1.

[0099] Furthermore, in the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E of this embodiment, the control device 15 includes a main unit control unit 42. When operating information is input to the input display device 13, the main unit control unit 42 transmits the input operating information to the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E via the communication device 14, and stores it in the storage units 41 and 41D of the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E. Therefore, the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E can share the input operating information with the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E. Consequently, setting work in the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E can be omitted.

[0100] Furthermore, in the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E of this embodiment, the main unit control 42 transmits operating information to the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E to store the parameters before the change in place of the parameters after the change, i.e., to overwrite them. Therefore, when the operating information is adjusted, the operating information of the other packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E can also be adjusted simultaneously.

[0101] [Other Embodiments] In the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, each of the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E is configured as described above, but may be equipped with various optional devices. That is, the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E may be equipped with optional devices such as a gusset device, a header device, an auto-pricer, an anti-jamming device, and a pinch hole device. In this case, the operating information further includes optional device information and optional device setting information. Optional device information is a parameter that indicates whether or not various optional devices are installed. For example, the optional device information is divided into items for each type of optional device, and each item indicates whether or not various optional devices are installed. Various optional devices include control information for the various optional devices to be installed.

[0102] Furthermore, regarding the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E, there are higher-end models in which servo motors are used for the drive motors 26a and 27a of the center conveyors 26 and 26B and the transport conveyor 27, and such higher-end packaging machines may be used in the packaging system 1. On the other hand, lower-end packaging machines that do not have drive motors 26a and 27a, and in which the center conveyors 26 and 26 and the transport conveyor 27 are driven by a drive motor 21c via a transmission mechanism such as gears and belts, may also be used in the packaging system 1. In this case, the main unit control unit 42 controls the operation of the drive motors 26a and 27a according to the center conveyor tension information. Note that in the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E of this embodiment, the packaging machine bodies 11, 11B and 11D are equipped with center conveyors 26 and 26B, but the packaging machine bodies 11, 11B and 11D do not necessarily need to be equipped with center conveyors 26 and 26B.

[0103] Furthermore, in the packaging system 1 of this embodiment, the heater temperature is set to a temperature setting, but it may also be set to a follow-up temperature setting. The follow-up temperature setting is a parameter that changes the heater temperature in accordance with the speed of the pair of roller sections 32a, 33a, and the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37, and is set using a graph or mathematical formula. Also, the number of heaters provided in the pair of roller sections 32a, 33a, and the upper sealer 36 and lower sealer 37 is not necessarily limited to one, but may be two or more. And, separate temperature settings may be set for each heater.

[0104] Furthermore, in the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E of this embodiment, each of the pair of roller sections 32a and 33a is driven to rotate independently, but it is not necessarily required that the pair of roller sections 32a and 33a be provided with drive motors 32b and 33b. For example, the pair of roller sections 32a and 33a may be configured to be driven by the drive motor 21c of the feed roller 21b via a transmission mechanism or the like. In this case, the tension of the film 8 is adjusted by the speed increase ratio of the transmission mechanism that transmits power from the feed roller 21b to the pair of roller sections 32a and 33a. Also, the conveying conveyor 27 does not necessarily need to have a drive motor 27a, and may be configured to be driven by the drive motor 21c of the feed roller 21b. Furthermore, although the packaged material supply device 23 is configured as a flat belt conveyor, it may also be configured as a finger-type conveyor with multiple fingers provided on the flat belt. In this case, the operating information may include the supply conveyor speed as a parameter.

[0105] In the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E of this embodiment, the sensor information includes, for example, the rotational speed, temperature, and power consumption described above, but may also include the load factor of each motor and photoelectric sensor information. Furthermore, the packaging machine information does not necessarily have to include both sensor information and production information; it may include only one of them. Also, in the packaging machines 2, 2A to 2E of this embodiment, the main unit control unit 42 acts as the communication control unit, but the inspection control unit 43 may also act as the communication control unit, or another control unit may also act as the communication control unit.

[0106] From the above description, many improvements and other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the above description should be interpreted as illustrative only and is provided for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art the best mode of carrying out the disclosure. The details of its structure and / or function can be substantially modified without departing from the spirit of the disclosure.

[0107] 1 Packaging system 2, 2A-2E Packaging machine 5 Packaged item 6 Pillow bag 7 Packaged item 8 Film 11, 11B, 11D Packaging machine body 13 Input display device (input device, display device) 14 Communication device 15, 15D Control device 21 Film supply device 22, 22B Bag maker 23, 23D Packaged item supply device 24 Center sealing device (tension adjustment device) 25, 25D Top sealing device 28 Printing device 41, 41D Storage unit 42, 42D Main unit control

Claims

1. A packaging system comprising a plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines, each of the plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines comprising a packaging machine body, an input device, a control device, and a communication device, wherein the packaging machine body packages sequentially supplied items to be packaged, the input device receives input information including a plurality of parameters, the control device includes a storage unit for storing the operation information and an operation control unit for controlling the operation of the packaging machine body based on each parameter of the operation information stored in the storage unit, the communication device transmits and receives operation information, and the control device further includes a communication control unit that, when operation information is input to the input device, transmits the input operation information to the other horizontal pillow packaging machine via the communication device and stores it in the storage unit of the other horizontal pillow packaging machine.

2. The packaging system according to claim 1, wherein each of the communication control units transmits the operation information to the other horizontal pillow packaging machine when any parameter included in the operation information is changed by the input device, and stores the parameter before the change in the parameter after the change.

3. The packaging system according to claim 2, wherein each of the storage units stores the destination horizontal pillow packaging machine in association with each of the operating information, and each of the communication control units transmits the modified operating information to the destination horizontal pillow packaging machine associated with the operating information when any parameter of the operating information is changed by the input device.

4. The packaging system according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines include a plurality of horizontal pillow packaging machines each having a packaging machine body of a different model, each of the operating information includes a plurality of parameters common to each of the different models, each of the storage units stores a plurality of operating information in which each parameter is set for each type of packaged material, each of the input devices is configured to select one of the plurality of operating information stored in the storage unit, and each of the operation control units controls the operation of the packaging machine body based on the parameters included in the selected operating information.

5. The packaging machine body includes a packaged material supply device, a film supply device, a bag maker, a tension adjustment device, and a sealing device, wherein the film supply device supplies film, the tension adjustment device adjusts the tension of the film supplied from the film supply device, the bag maker forms the film supplied from the film supply device into a tubular bag, the packaged material supply device sequentially supplies the packaged material into the tubular film formed by the bag maker, the sealing device seals the tubular film formed by the bag maker, the packaging machine body is configured such that at least one of the packaged material supply device, the film supply device, the tension adjustment device, and the sealing device differs for each model, and each of the operation control units controls the operation of the packaged material supply device, the film supply device, and the sealing device based on parameters included in the selected operation information, as described in claim 4.

6. The packaging system according to claim 5, wherein the operating information includes, as parameters, the bag length, which is the length of the pillow bag that has been made; the indentation amount, which is the position of the packaged item in the pillow bag; the film tension, which is the tension of the supplied film; and the packaging setting capacity, which is the number of packages per unit.

7. The packaging system according to claim 5, wherein the packaging machine body further comprises a printing device for printing characters on the film, and the operating information further includes, as a parameter, a printing position which is the position of the characters to be printed on the film.

8. The packaging system according to claim 1, further comprising a storage device, wherein the packaging machine body includes a packaged material supply device, a film supply device, a sealing device, a sensor, and a display device, the packaged material supply device sequentially supplies the packaged materials, the film supply device supplies film for packaging the packaged materials supplied from the packaged material supply device, the sealing device seals the film supplied from the film supply device, which is formed to wrap each of the packaged materials supplied sequentially by the packaged material supply device, the sensor detects the operating state of at least one of the packaged material supply device, the film supply device, and the sealing device, the display device displays packaging machine information including sensor information which is the operating state detected by the sensor, the communication control unit transmits the packaging machine information to the storage device via the communication device, the storage device stores the packaging machine information transmitted via the communication device in correspondence with each of the horizontal pillow packaging machines, and the display device acquires and displays the packaging machine information for each of the horizontal pillow packaging machines via the communication device.

9. The packaging system according to claim 8, wherein the packaging machine information includes production information which is information relating to the packaging of the object to be packaged by the packaging machine body, and the operation control unit acquires the production information based on various control information and sensor information obtained when controlling the operation of the packaging machine body.

10. A horizontal pillow packaging machine comprising multiple horizontal pillow packaging machines in a packaging system, the horizontal pillow packaging machine comprising: a packaging machine body for sequentially packaging multiple items to be packaged; an input device for which operation information including multiple parameters for controlling the operation of the packaging machine body is input; a storage unit for storing the operation information; a control device including an operation control unit for controlling the operation of the packaging machine body based on each parameter of the operation information stored in the storage unit; and a communication device for sending and receiving operation information, wherein the control device further includes a communication control unit that, when operation information is input to the input device, transmits the input operation information to another horizontal pillow packaging machine via the communication device and stores it in the storage unit of the other horizontal pillow packaging machine.

11. The horizontal pillow packaging machine according to claim 10, wherein the storage unit stores the operation information in association with the other horizontal pillow packaging machine to which it is transmitted, and when any parameter of the operation information is changed in the input device, the communication control unit transmits the changed operation information to the other horizontal pillow packaging machine to which it is transmitted, which is associated with the changed operation information.

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