JP2017081581A - Pillow packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry and wrap a pillow wrapping machine capable of changing the length of the entire group to be packaged and transporting and wrapping the individual items to be packaged without changing the positional relationship between the individual items to be packaged. I will provide a. SOLUTION: The pillow wrapping machine 1 of the present invention conveys a plurality of objects to be packaged, which are overlapped with each other in a sashimi shape, as a single lump while being sandwiched between a stopper 20 and a pushing finger 10 in a conveying direction. The overall length of the packaged object group 3 is adjusted by changing the pitch between the stopper 20 and the pushing finger 10. Further, the support device 6 moves the support surfaces 160a and 160b in the transport direction while abutting them against the packaged object group 3 from a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. The support device 6 allows the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 of the support surfaces 160a and 160b to move in the transport direction on the upstream side of the retracted position of the stopper 20 by the positioning mechanism 240. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a pillow packaging machine for continuously packaging articles.

  The pillow wrapping machine is a kind of wrapping machine used in a line for wrapping food and daily necessities, and mainly includes a transport device, a film supply device, a bag making device, a center seal device, and an end seal device.

  The article to be packaged is conveyed by a conveying device, and the belt-like film for packaging is supplied from an original fabric roll of the film supply device. The bag making machine forms a belt-like film supplied from a film supply device into a cylindrical shape as the objects to be packaged are sequentially conveyed. Next, the center seal device disposed on the downstream side of the bag making machine pressurizes and heats (heat-seals) the film polymerization end obtained by overlapping both side edge portions of the cylindrical film with the center sealer. And an end seal device completes individual packaging by sealing the cylindrical film of the part in which a to-be-packaged object does not exist according to the length of the to-be-packaged object, and cutting it.

  A finger conveyor, an overhead conveyor, etc. are used for a conveying apparatus. The finger conveyor has a conveyance surface, a plurality of sprockets, an annular chain that is hooked on the plurality of sprockets, a plurality of pushing members attached to the annular chain at a predetermined pitch, a servo motor that serves as a power source, etc. It has. According to the finger conveyor, since the plurality of pushing members push the articles to be packaged at a predetermined interval, the objects to be packaged are sequentially supplied at a predetermined interval toward the bag making machine arranged on the downstream side of the finger conveyor. . In order to transport an article to be packaged having a different length, in addition to a method for adjusting the length of the article to be packaged by attaching and detaching the pushing member attached to the annular chain, for example, a part as in Patent Document 1 A method of moving the pushing member away from the conveying surface has been proposed.

  In addition, for example, for a packaging machine that transports and packages a plurality of upright disk-shaped articles together, after forming a cylindrical film with a bag making machine, the packaged article is supported in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction together with the cylindrical film. Support devices for transport have been proposed. Specifically, in order to prevent the article to be packaged from tilting, support devices are arranged on both sides of the cylindrical film (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

JP2015-48217 Special table 11-511715

  However, when a plurality of objects to be packaged are conveyed and packaged by a finger conveyor so that some of the objects to be packaged overlap each other, a group of objects to be packaged can be obtained by changing the pitch of the feeding members (pushing fingers, stoppers). Although the overall length can be changed, there is a drawback that the degree of overlap between the objects to be packaged changes once the feeding member of the finger conveyor is retracted. This problem will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In FIG. 5, the connection part of the finger conveyor 2 and the center seal apparatus 9 which are a part of the conventional pillow conveyance machine is shown. In the finger conveyor 2, the push finger 10 and the stopper 20 attached to the annular chain 100 (not shown) travel in the direction of the arrow in the slit 120. And on the finger conveyor 2, the to-be-packaged goods group 3 is conveyed in the arrow direction in the state where the position was defined by the pushing finger 10 and the stopper 20. The pushing finger 10 and the stopper 20 are withdrawn from the conveying surface 110 at the retreat position A, and the group of articles to be packaged 3 is a cylindrical shape formed by a bag making device (not shown) arranged on the downstream side of the finger conveyor 2. It is wrapped in the film 50 and conveyed to the center seal device 9.

  A pair of annular conveyors 140a are provided on both sides of the transport surface 110 of the center seal device 9 in order to prevent the individual transported objects constituting the package group 3 from being displaced in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction during transport. , 140b is arranged. The annular conveyors 140a and 140b have support surfaces 160a and 160b, respectively, and support the package group 3 so as to be sandwiched in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

  In FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C, the pushing finger 10 and the stopper 20 are retracted from the transport surface 110 and are transported by the finger conveyor 2 in a state of being overlapped with each other in the transport direction. It will be explained how the package group 3 that has been affected is affected.

  In FIG. 6A, the package group 3 is fixed front and back by the push finger 10 and the stopper 20, so that the state where they are overlapped with each other in the transport direction does not collapse. Now, when the finger conveyor 2 moves and the stopper 20 reaches the position of the retreat position A and retreats from the transport surface, the top package 170 of the package group 3 that has lost its restraining to the downstream side in the transport direction is: As shown in FIG. 6B, it slides down to the downstream side in the transport direction. At this time, the group 3 to be packaged is not supported by the annular conveyors 140a and 140b because it does not reach the positions of the support surfaces 160a and 160b of the annular conveyors 140a and 140b.

  When the packaged product group 3 is packaged in this state, the intervals between the packaged products become non-uniform and the appearance is deteriorated. Further, at the time of heat sealing of the end seal device, the product may be bitten by a pair of sealers.

  In view of such a situation, the present invention can change the overall length of the group of packages to be transported and packaged without changing the positional relationship between the individual packages to be packaged. It is intended to provide a pillow packaging machine that can.

  (1) The present invention is a pillow wrapping machine that wraps a plurality of objects to be packaged as a group of objects to be packaged, the finger conveyor capable of continuously conveying the objects to be packaged, and the conveying direction; A support device having a support surface that contacts the package group from a right angle direction and moves in the transport direction together with the package group, and the finger conveyer is the leading package of the package group. A stopper for preventing the object from shifting to the downstream side, a pushing finger for suppressing the rearmost object to be packaged in the group of objects to be packed upstream, and the length of the object to be packaged or the group of objects to be packaged And a positioning mechanism capable of changing a position at which the support surface starts to come into contact with the group of objects to be packaged.

  (2) The present invention provides the pillow wrapping machine according to (1) above, further including an adjustment mechanism that makes the distance between the stopper and the pushing finger variable.

  (3) In the present invention, the positioning mechanism is configured such that the upstream end of the support surface is movable in the transport direction on the upstream side of the position where the stopper is retracted from the packaged object at the top of the transport direction. A pillow wrapping machine according to the above (1) or (2) is provided.

  (4) The present invention is characterized in that the plurality of objects to be packaged constituting the group of objects to be packaged are packaged in a state in which a part of each other is overlapped with each other in the transport direction. A pillow wrapping machine according to any of (3) to (3) is provided.

(5) The present invention is a packaging method for packaging a plurality of objects to be packaged as a group of objects to be packaged, and transports a group of objects to be packaged sandwiched between a stopper on the downstream side and a pushing finger on the upstream side, When the package group is entered into the tubular film, the package group is sequentially moved from the downstream side to the upstream side by the support surface from the outside of the cylindrical film before the stopper is retracted. Provide a packaging method of holding, then center sealing and finally end sealing.

  (6) The present invention provides the packaging method according to (5), wherein the support surface conveys the group of objects to be conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction.

  According to the pillow packaging machine and the like of the present invention, the length of the entire group of packages can be changed, and transported without changing the positional relationship between the individual packages that constitute the group of packages, The excellent effect that it can be packaged can be produced.

1 is an overall conceptual diagram of a pillow packaging machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. (A) is a top view of an example of a finger conveyor with an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the distance between the feeding finger and the stopper according to the length of the object to be conveyed according to the embodiment of the present invention. ) Is a front view (however, the conveyance surface is omitted). (A), (b) is a top view of the center seal apparatus provided with the finger conveyor and support apparatus in the pillow packaging machine. (A), (b), (c) is a top view explaining the example of the positioning mechanism of the support apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the center seal apparatus provided with the finger conveyor and the support apparatus in the conventional pillow packaging machine. (A), (b), (c) is a top view which shows the problem in the conventional pillow packaging machine.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 are examples of embodiments for carrying out the invention, and the portions denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings represent the same or similar devices, members, and the like.

  In the embodiment of the present invention, when a plurality of objects to be packaged overlapping in a scissors shape are packaged together as one lump, the overall length of the objects to be packaged is changed by changing the pitch between fingers of the finger conveyor. On the center seal device up to a position where the packaged object in the vicinity of the finger conveyor can be supported from both sides so that it can be adjusted and transported and packaged without losing the positional relationship between the packaged objects. Provided are a pillow packaging machine and a packaging method capable of moving the supporting device.

  FIG. 1 illustrates an overall configuration diagram of a pillow packaging machine 1 to which the present embodiment is applied. In this figure and other figures, the size, shape, thickness, etc. of the members are exaggerated as appropriate.

  A pillow wrapping machine 1 shown in FIG. 1 is used in a line for continuously wrapping a plurality of packages to be packaged as a group of packages among packages to be packaged such as food and daily necessities. At this time, a plurality of individual items to be packaged constituting the group 3 to be packaged may be arranged in the front and back, and may be erected. Further, as shown in FIG. good. The pillow packaging machine 1 includes a finger conveyor 2, a film supply device 4, a bag making device 5, a support device 6, a center seal device 9, an end seal device 7, a control unit (not shown), and the like. ing. FIG. 1 shows a so-called normal pillow packaging machine in which a belt-like film 30 is supplied from above and wraps the package group 3 from above and performs center sealing.

  Each part of the pillow wrapping machine 1 is comprehensively controlled by a control unit. The control unit includes a CPU, a RAM, a ROM, and the like, and executes various controls. The CPU is a so-called central processing unit, and executes various programs to realize various functions. The RAM is used as a work area and a storage area of the CPU, and the ROM stores an operating system and programs executed by the CPU.

  The finger conveyor 2 continuously conveys the group 3 to be packaged in the arrow direction to the bag making machine 5 disposed on the downstream side of the finger conveyor 2. Specifically, the finger conveyor 2 includes a push finger 10 that prevents the last package in the transport direction in the package group from shifting to the upstream side in the transport direction, and the first package in the transport direction in the package group. The stopper 20 which suppresses shifting | deviating to a conveyance direction downstream side, and the adjustment mechanism which makes variable the distance between the pushing finger 10 and the stopper 20 are provided. The distance is adjusted, for example, by detachably attaching the pushing finger 10 and the stopper 20 to the annular chain 100 and appropriately adjusting the interval.

  As an adjustment mechanism that makes the distance between the push finger 10 and the stopper 20 variable, a method of exchanging the annular chain 100 to which the push finger 10 and the stopper 20 are attached may be used. 1 and the second annular chain to which the stopper 20 is attached are prepared, and the relative positions of the first annular chain and the second annular chain are changed, so that the pushing finger 10 and the stopper are changed. The adjustment mechanism which makes the distance between 20 variable may be sufficient.

  The adjustment mechanism for changing the relative position of the annular chain according to the present embodiment in FIG. 2 will be described in detail. As shown in FIG. 2A, the finger conveyor 2 includes a conveyance surface 110, a plurality of push fingers 10, a plurality of stoppers 20, a plurality of annular chains 100 a and 100 b provided below the conveyance surface 110, and a plurality of finger conveyors 2. The sprocket 15 and a servo motor 25 as a power source. The rotational movement of the servo motor 25 is transmitted from the shaft 35 to the annular chain 100 through sprockets 15 a and 15 b fixed to the shaft 35. In addition, in FIG. 2A, illustration of the conveyance surface 110 of the finger conveyor 2 is omitted.

  In the example of the adjusting mechanism, the finger conveyor 2 includes two annular chains, an annular chain 100a and an annular chain 100b. As shown in FIG. 2B, the annular chain 100a is driven by a sprocket 15a, and a plurality of pushing fingers 10 are detachably attached at predetermined intervals. In this case, the distance between the pushing fingers 10 is a distance obtained by adding a margin gap distance T1 and a holding space distance T2 shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2C, the annular chain 100b is driven by a sprocket 15b, and a plurality of stoppers 20 are detachable at a predetermined interval (same pitch as the pushing fingers 10), like the pushing fingers 10. It is attached. A portion of the push finger 10 and the stopper 20 that comes into contact with an object to be packaged protrudes vertically upward from the conveyance surface 110 through a slit provided on the conveyance surface 110.

  The pair of sprockets 15a and 15b can change the relative phase. Specifically, at least one of the sprockets 15 a and 15 b can change the fixed phase with respect to the shaft 35. Thereby, the distance T2 between the push finger 10 and the stopper 20 is adjusted in accordance with the length of the group 3 to be packaged.

  As shown in FIG. 2C, it is assumed that the distance between the pushing finger 10 (illustrated by a dotted line) and the stopper 20 is T2. When the distance between the push finger 10 and the stopper 20 necessary for fixing the package group 3 is changed to a distance T3 shorter than the original distance T2, the shaft 35 and the sprocket 15b are fixed. remove. Then, the annular chain 100b can be freely moved. Next, the stopper 20 is moved in a direction approaching the pair of push fingers 10 and positioned so that the mutual distance becomes T3. At this time, the operator may move the stopper 20, or the annular chain 100b may be moved. Thereafter, by fixing the shaft 35 and the sprocket 15b, the distance T3 of the clamping space between the stopper 20 and the pushing finger 10 is fixed.

  On the other hand, when it is desired to make the distance between the pushing finger 10 and the stopper 20 necessary for fixing the package group 3 longer than T2, which is the original distance, to T4, the same procedure as described above is used. Adjustment is performed by separating the distance between the finger 10 and the stopper 20. If the adjustment mechanism described above is used, the distance between the push finger 10 and the stopper 20 can be easily adjusted according to the length of the group 3 to be packaged without the troublesome work of removing the annular chain 100. . In the case of this example, the length of the package group 3 can be adjusted to a length obtained by adding T1 and T2 unless the distance between the package groups necessary for the end seal is considered.

  Here, the case where the fixed state of the sprockets 15a and 15b is released and the rotational phase of the pair of annular chains 100a and 100b is changed is illustrated here, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, each annular chain 100a , 100b may be driven by a separate drive mechanism (for example, a motor), and the drive phase may be changed. It is also preferable that a phase change mechanism that freely changes the relative phase of the annular chains 100a and 100b (or sprockets 15a and 15b) with a gear or the like is incorporated so that the adjustment can be performed more easily.

  Returning to the description of FIG. A bag making machine 5 is disposed in the vicinity of the downstream side of the finger conveyor 2. The band-shaped film 30 is supplied to the bag making machine 5 from the raw roll 40 of the film supply device 4, and the band-shaped film 30 is formed into the cylindrical film 50 by the bag forming apparatus 5. The group 3 to be packaged is fed into the tubular film 50 by the finger conveyor 2. The upstream ends of the support devices 6 provided on the center seal device 9 are positioned on both sides of the conveyance surface 110 of the finger conveyor 2 in a manner that is perpendicular to the conveyance direction and sandwiches the conveyance surface 110. ing.

  FIG. 3 is a top view of a center seal device including a finger conveyor and a support device in the pillow packaging machine of the present embodiment. The support device 6 is a so-called side belt conveyor and includes annular belts 220a and 220b. The annular belts 220 a and 220 b have support surfaces 160 a and 160 b that come into contact with the package group 3. The support device 6 includes a positioning mechanism 240 (details are not shown), and the positioning mechanism 240 enables upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 of support surfaces 160a and 160b described later to move in the transport direction. The upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 can be positioned at arbitrary positions on the upstream side of the retreat position A where the stopper 20 retreats from the article to be packaged at the top in the transport direction.

  That is, a part of the range where the support surfaces 160 a and 160 b face the package group 3 includes a retreat position A where the stopper 20 retreats from the transport surface 110. The support device 6 moves the support surfaces 160a and 160b in the transport direction together with the package group 3 while bringing the support surfaces 160a and 160b into contact with the package group 3 from a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. With this structure, it is possible to prevent individual packages to be packaged 3 constituting the package group 3 from being shifted downstream in the transport direction during transport.

  Here, the positioning mechanism 240 of the support device 6 according to the present embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 4A and 4B show a first example of the positioning mechanism. In FIGS. 4A and 4B, the illustration of the pair of support devices 6 and the one annular belt 220b is omitted.

  In the first example, the positioning mechanism 240 includes sprockets (or pulleys) 250 and 251 that can move simultaneously without changing the positional relationship in the transport direction. Note that an annular belt 220a is wound around one sprocket 250 in a state where the outer peripheral surface is convex. An annular belt 220a is wound around the other sprocket 251 with the outer peripheral surface thereof being concave. The positioning mechanism 240 moves these sprockets 250 and 251 in the transport direction. As a result, the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 of the support surfaces 160a and 160b can move within the adjustment width T5 in the transport direction.

  FIG. 4A shows a state where the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 are positioned on the most downstream side. Here, the support surface 160a1 does not reach the position for supporting the package group 3 on the finger conveyor 2.

  When the sprockets 250 and 251 are moved by the distance T5 upstream in the conveying direction by the positioning mechanism 240, the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 can be positioned on the most upstream side as shown in FIG. 4B.

  If the sprocket 250 is moved to the upstream side in the transport direction while the sprocket 251 is fixed, the belt constituting the support device 6 needs an extra length twice as long as T5. However, in actuality, in conjunction with the movement of the sprocket 250, the sprocket 251 moves upstream in the conveyance direction, and the movement of the sprocket 251 causes the annular belt 220a to have a margin twice as long as T5. As a result, without changing the overall length of the annular belt 220a, only the upstream end 160a1 reaches the position where the package group 3 on the finger conveyor 2 can be supported while the position of the downstream end of the support surface 160a is fixed. (That is, the distance of the support surface 160a can be expanded and contracted).

  With the above configuration, the upstream end 160a1 of the support surface 160a is the same as or upstream of the retracted position A where the stopper 20 is retracted from the transport surface 110 and the shift of the packaged product to the downstream side in the transport direction cannot be suppressed. Is aligned. Accordingly, the position at which the support surface 160a starts to contact the packaged object group 3 can be changed according to the length of the packaged object or the packaged object group 3. The annular belt 220a of the support device 6, together with a pair of annular belts (not shown), causes the support surface 160a to abut on the package group 3 from the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, while the support surface 160a is placed on the package group 3 At the same time, it can be moved in the transport direction.

  Next, a second example of the positioning mechanism 240 is shown in FIG. In the second example, when the annular belts 220a and 220b of the support device 6 are at the most downstream position (see the two-dot chain line), the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 of the support surfaces 160a and 160b are on the finger conveyor 2. The group 3 to be packaged cannot be supported. On the other hand, when the entire support device 6 is moved to the most upstream position (that is, by a distance T5) by the positioning mechanism 240 (see the solid line), the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 of the support surfaces 160a and 160b are moved on the finger conveyor 2. It can be made to reach to a position where the group 3 to be packaged can be supported. This structure is a simple method when the position adjustment of the support surface 160 may be a short distance.

  The details of the positioning mechanism 240 have been described above with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4 </ b> B, and 4 </ b> C. The adjustable distance T <b> 5 is a retracted position A where the stopper 20 is retracted from the transport surface 110. Is preferably included on the upstream side in the transport direction. Specifically, it is desirable to include a position that goes back upstream by an adjustable maximum distance Tmax between the pushing finger 10 and the stopper 20 with the retracted position A as a reference. If it does in this way, if the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 are positioned in the most upstream of the distance T5, the whole to-be-packaged goods group 3 can be supported on the finger conveyor 2. FIG. On the other hand, depending on the shape of the article to be packaged, there may be a case where a part of each other can be stably maintained by itself in the transport direction. In this case, it is preferable that the adjustable distance T5 includes at least a range retroactive to the position of ½ × Tmax on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the retreat position A.

  In addition, it is preferable that the conveyance speed of the finger conveyor 2 and the conveyance speed of the support apparatus 6 are the same. The support device 6 is preferably a side belt conveyor, but other configurations may be adopted. The side belt conveyor may be a flat belt or a round belt, and may be provided in a plurality of stages. Further, the support surfaces 160a and 160b may be provided with an elastic body, for example, a resin sponge or the like, and the objects to be transported constituting the package group 3 may be urged in a direction perpendicular to the transport direction.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the description of the entire structure of the pillow packaging machine according to this embodiment will be continued. The center seal device 9 includes a support device 6 on the conveyance surface 110 and a center sealer 90 below the conveyance surface 110. The center sealer 90 is a so-called pinch roller heated by a heater, and rotates while sandwiching the film polymerization end of the cylindrical film 50 to convey the film polymerization end while heat-sealing. During this time, the group 3 to be packaged is transported to the downstream side in the transport direction while being supported by the support device 6 in the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, so that the positional relationship between the individual packages to be packaged is changed. Can be transported and packaged

  An end seal device 7 is disposed on the downstream side of the center seal device 9, and an air bleeding sponge 60 is provided above the conveying surface 110 in order to remove air in the packaging adjacent to the downstream side of the end seal device 7. It has been. The air release sponge 60 pushes the air in the package to the upstream side in the conveyance direction by suppressing the group 3 to be packaged wrapped in the conveyed cylindrical film 50 vertically downward from above, and thereby air in the package. Unplug.

  In accordance with the length of the package group 3, the end seal device 7 heat seals the cylindrical film 50 in the region where the package group 3 does not exist in the film width direction, and seals and cuts the package group. Complete 3 individual packaging. Then, the completed individual package 8 is carried out by the conveying means 70 provided on the downstream side of the end seal device 7. The end seal device 7 moves at the same speed as the line downstream in the conveying direction while heat-sealing with the seal portion sandwiched so as not to stop the movement of the line, and when the heat seal is completed, the upper sealer moves upward. The lower sealer performs a so-called box motion in which the lower sealer moves up and down and then moves to the upstream side in the transport direction and repeats preparation for the next seal.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment configured as described above will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 3A shows a moment when the stopper 20 holding the top of the group of objects to be package 3 is retracted from the transport surface 110. The positions of the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 of the support device 6 in the transport direction are set to a position B slightly upstream of the retracted position A of the stopper 20. When the stopper 20 is retracted from the transport surface 110, the support device 6 touches the support surfaces 160a and 160b from the direction perpendicular to the transport direction with respect to the front package (the most downstream side) of the package group 3. The support surfaces 160a and 160b are moved in the transport direction together with the group of objects to be packaged. As a result, even if the stopper 20 is retracted from the conveying surface 110, the leading (most downstream) packaged object is sandwiched in advance by the support device 6 from both sides, so that the packaged object is placed downstream in the conveying direction. It can be prevented from shifting.

  FIG. 3B shows a state in which the push finger 10 holding the tail of the package group 3 is retracted from the transport surface 110. In this state, the support device 6 makes the support surfaces 160a and 160b (not shown) abut on the entire package group 3 from the direction perpendicular to the transport direction, and the support surfaces 160a and 160b are covered. The package group 3 is moved in the conveyance direction. As a result, even if the pushing finger 10 is retracted from the conveying surface 110, the entire group of objects to be packaged 3 is held in advance by the support device 6 from both side surfaces. Can be prevented from shifting to the upstream side in the transport direction.

  As described above, according to the pillow packaging machine of the present embodiment, since the support device 6 can support the package group 3 on the finger conveyor 2, individual packages that constitute the package group 3. Objects are transported and packaged without changing their positional relationship. Moreover, when the length of the group 3 to be packaged is changed, the distance between the stopper 20 and the push finger 10 and the positions of the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 of the support device 6 can be freely adjusted. In addition, the optimum conveyance state can be established.

  In addition, the pillow packaging machine of this invention is not limited to above-described embodiment, Of course, various changes can be added within the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, in the above-described embodiment, the retracted position A is assumed as the position where the stopper 20 and the pushing finger 10 are retracted from the transport surface 110. However, there may be a case where the first position where the pushing finger 10 is retracted from the transport surface 110 is different from the second position where the stopper 20 is retracted from the transport surface 110. In this case, it is preferable that the upstream ends 160a1 and 160b1 of the support device 6 be positioned at the same position as the position on the upstream side in the transport direction or the upstream side of the first position and the second position. When the first position is on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the second position, the packaged object at the tail end of the packaged group 3 is moved in the transport direction even when retracted from the transport surface 110 of the push finger 10. This is because the support surface is moved together with the package group in the transport direction while the support surface is brought into contact with the package group 3 from the direction perpendicular to the line. If it carries out like this, it can prevent that the last packaged thing of the to-be-conveyed object group 3 shifts | deviates to the conveyance direction upstream.

  In addition, it is desirable that the individual packages to be packaged 3 are transported and packaged without changing the positional relationship between the finger conveyor 2 and immediately before the end seal device 7. Therefore, the support device 6 is sufficient to move the support surfaces 160a and 160b in the transport direction together with the package group 3 while bringing the support surfaces 160a and 160b into contact with the package group 3 from a direction perpendicular to the transport direction. It is preferable to have a long length. Specifically, the positioning mechanism of the support device 6 is such that the support surfaces 160a and 160b exist from the position where the stopper 20 and the pushing finger 10 of the finger conveyor 2 are retracted from the transport surface 110 to immediately before the end seal device 7. It is desirable to be configured.

  As another modification, the objects to be packaged that constitute the group of objects to be packaged 3 may be conveyed upright in the vertical direction with respect to the conveying surface 110. In this case, it can be considered that the support device 6 is a side finger conveyor. Side fingers are arranged before and after the group of objects to be packaged so that the group of objects to be erected does not fall down. And according to product length, a side finger can be made to contact the side surface of a cylindrical film, and the position which starts pushing the side surface inward can be changed. The finger conveyor 2 may be an upper finger conveyor. In this case, the packaging machine may be a reverse pillow packaging machine.

  As another modification, the center seal device 9 may be a double bar type seal device. The end seal device 7 may be a rotary end seal device. The downstream end of the support device 6 may be moved along the transport direction in accordance with the sealer of the end seal device 7. Further, when the packaged items are erected, in the end seal (top seal) device, the packaged items on the downstream side of the group of packaged items on the upstream side of the end sealer and the upstream of the group of packaged items on the downstream side of the end sealer. It is good to provide the product fall prevention means which contact | abuts to the side to-be-packaged object and controls the movement of a mutual conveyance direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pillow packaging machine 2 Finger conveyor 3 Package group 4 Film supply apparatus 5 Bag making machine 6 Support apparatus 7 End seal apparatus 8 Individual package 9 Center seal apparatus 10 Feeding finger 15a, 15b Sprocket 20 Stopper 25 Servo motor 30 Band-shaped film 35 Shaft 40 Original fabric roll 50 Cylindrical film 60 Air bleeding sponge 70 Conveying means 80 Center seal part 90 Center sealer 100 Annular chain 100a Annular chain for push finger 100b Annular chain for stopper 110 Conveying surface 120 Slit 140a Annular conveyor 140b Annular conveyor 150 Clearance 160 Support surface 160a Support surface 160b Support surface 160a1 Support surface upstream end 160b1 Support surface upstream end 170 Leading object 180 Last package Sobutsu 220a annular belt 220b circular belt 230b circular belt 240 adjustment mechanism 250 sprocket 251 sprockets

Claims (6)

A pillow packaging machine that wraps a plurality of packages as a group of packages.
A finger conveyor capable of continuously conveying the group of objects to be packaged,
A support device having a support surface that contacts the package group from a direction perpendicular to the transport direction and moves in the transport direction together with the package group;
The finger conveyor is
A stopper that prevents the packaged object at the top of the packaged group from shifting to the downstream side;
A pushing finger that suppresses shifting of the last packaged object in the packaged group to the upstream side;
A positioning mechanism capable of changing a position at which the support surface starts to contact the packaged object group according to the length of the packaged object or the packaged object group;
A pillow packaging machine comprising:   The pillow wrapping machine according to claim 1, further comprising an adjustment mechanism that makes the distance between the stopper and the push finger variable. The positioning mechanism is
The upstream end of the support surface is movable in the transport direction on the upstream side of the position where the stopper retracts from the article to be packaged at the top in the transport direction. The pillow packaging machine according to 2. The plurality of objects to be packaged constituting the group of objects to be packaged are:
Being wrapped in a state where a part of each other is overlapped with each other in the transport direction,
The pillow wrapping machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by: A packaging method for packaging a plurality of packages as a group of packages,
Transport the group of packages sandwiched between the stopper on the downstream side and the pushing finger on the upstream side,
When the group of objects to be packaged is advanced into the tubular film, the group of objects to be packaged is sequentially moved from the downstream side to the upstream side by the support surface from the outside of the cylindrical film before the stopper retracts. A packaging method in which the product is held, then center sealed, and finally end sealed.   The packaging method according to claim 5, wherein the support surface conveys the group of objects to be conveyed downstream in the conveyance direction.

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