JPH0223405B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a packaging device capable of wrapping an article in a packaging film (including aluminum foil). The present invention relates to a novel packaging device which is capable of receiving and wrapping an item placed therein while forming and holding a stretched film of a required size in a bag shape indoors by means of a film adsorption action.

(Problems to be Solved by the Prior Art and the Invention) There has been a demand for a packaging machine that can adequately handle items whose shapes are not specified and whose sizes are irregular and inconsistent.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a packaging device that can effectively package items such as fruits and vegetables that are irregular in shape and size and are not stable (constant) without using a tray. A second object of the present invention is to provide a packaging device that can adjust the suction force on the film, that is, the degree of film elongation, depending on the type of film, so that the film in the packaging chamber is not torn during suction. be.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention includes a container body with an open upper surface, and an adsorption holder connected to an air intake device installed at the bottom of the container body. forms a packaging chamber that can be lined with a packaging film in the form of a bag and that can receive goods, and the packaging chamber is driven from the peripheral surface of the packaging chamber to the center of the packaging chamber by means of a driving means provided outside the packaging chamber. A packaging space variable member is provided that can move forward and backward toward the packaging space, and the suction holder is provided with an appropriate number of intake holes that communicate with the intake device and open to the packaging chamber, so that the packaging space is supplied into the storage container. The film can be adsorbed through the suction hole so as to line the inner surface of the packaging chamber in a bag-like manner, and the suction force against the film can be adjusted in a branch flow path branched from the main flow path that communicates the suction holder and the suction device. The gist is that a control valve is provided to enable this.

(Function) With the bottom of the container body closed by the suction holder, when suction is applied by the suction holder, the packaging film is lined in a bag shape on the inner circumferential surface of the packaging chamber, and the packaging film is formed. Retained. Then, while this molding is being held, the article is thrown in.

Further, when the shape, size, quantity, etc. of the article is changed, the packaging space is set by appropriately moving the lower side member of the packaging space using the drive device.

Furthermore, the suction force on the film is achieved by adjusting the control valve, thereby reducing the stretching of the film in the packaging chamber and preventing it from tearing, thereby reducing breakage during the packaging process.

(Example) Hereinafter, a packaging machine that performs a fully automatic packaging operation using a packaging device according to the present invention will be described as an example. As illustrated, a feeding guide section A that holds and guides the starting ends of two types of rolled film bodies F set at the rear of the machine body 1 in a predetermined position; A drawer in which the film is pulled out to the packaging section C side, stretched and set as a packaging film of a predetermined size, and then folded.
A folding section B, a packaging section C that holds the inserted item while forming and holding the packaging film into a bag shape by suction and releases it as a packaged item to the side opposite to the input side, and transports the packaged item out of the machine. It is configured to be equipped with a conveyance section D, and each section will be explained in detail in the explanation.

Structure of Feeding Guide Section A First, in the feeding guide section A illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, two types of film are used in the switching mechanism 2 as a feeding device, as in the conventional case. A feeder 10 is provided. That is, regarding the switching mechanism 2, each large chain wheel 5 of the rotating shaft 4 supported between the base ends of a pair of support arms 3 installed on both sides of the fuselage 1, and each small chain wheel 5 pivotally supported at the tip of each arm 3. Two rows of chains 7 are hung between the wheel 6 and the chain wheel 8 at the end of the rotating shaft 4, and a chain 9 on the side of the double-acting switching means (not shown) is hung. As shown in Fig. 1, the switch can be operated clockwise or counterclockwise.

On the other hand, each group of feeders 10 has the same structure, and has a large-diameter upper roller 12 and a continuous uneven planar shape between the support plates 11 connected to the chain 7 on each side. A pin 14 and a spring 15 are connected to the support plate 11 on each side.
A small-diameter lower roller 17 and a guide plate 18 are respectively connected between a pair of movable arms 16 connected and supported by a pair of movable arms 16.
The film is fed and guided between the two guide plates 13 and 17 to prevent reverse removal, and the end of the film is bitten and held between the two guide plates 13 and 18. The feeders 10 have the same feed width and are aligned with each other at the same feed center, and the feeder 10 on the lower side of FIG. It is set in a standby position pointing toward the drawer 38.

Structure of drawer/folding section B Film drawer/folder illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 9
In the folding section B, a stretching device is provided above the body 1, and a folding device is provided below.

(Expansion device) First, as shown in Figure 6, regarding the expansion device,
The reciprocating mechanism 19 is equipped with a drawer 38, and a rear gripper 47 is provided at the retreating end of the drawer 38, and side grippers 57 are provided on both sides of the movement. That is, the reciprocating mechanism 19 operates by moving chain wheels 22 at both ends of the rotating cylinder 21 on the main shaft 20 at the front of the fuselage 1.
Two rows of chains 25 are hung between the rotary chain wheels 24 on the slave shaft 23 at the rear of the body 1, and the rotary cylinder 21 is connected to a transmission mechanism 26. In the transmission mechanism 26, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, first, second, and 3 gears 29, 30, 31 are linked together, and a chain wheel 32 coaxial with the third gear 31
and a chain wheel 33 at the end of the rotary cylinder 21, and a chain 34 is hung thereon. In addition, the sector gear 28
The operating stroke can be changed by operating the handle 35 via a worm 36 and a worm wheel 37, thereby making it possible to adjust the operating amount of the reciprocating mechanism 19 and the length of the film drawer 38.

A drawer 38 connected to the reciprocating mechanism 19
is for clamping and pulling out the film starting end of the feeder 10, and is connected to the chains 2 on each side described above.
A fixed receiving plate 40 is connected between the connectors 39 connected to the connectors 5, and an opening/closing plate 41 having a continuous uneven planar shape is connected via a shaft 42, and this opening/closing plate 41 is connected to one connector. The actuation of the cylinder 43 mounted on the rod 44 and the link are made possible by the actuation of the cylinder 43 attached to the rod 39. The drawer 38 waits in an open state at the forward movement start end in response to the operation of the handle 35, and the slider 45 connected to the outside of each connector 39 is activated by the reciprocating mechanism 19.
can be horizontally moved toward the feeder 10 while slidingly contacting the guide rails 46 on each side. Note that the guide plate 18 of the feeder 10 is provided on the upper surface of the fixed receiving plate 40.
A recess is formed to fit the opening/closing plate 4.
A mat having appropriate elasticity is laid on the lower surface of the housing 1.

A rear gripper 47 facing the drawer 38
is for clamping the trailing edge of one package of film that has been pulled out, and is placed in front of a support plate 48 horizontally suspended between the bodies 1 in the front lower part of the feeder 10 via an arm 49. A fixed receiving plate 50 is attached, and a presser plate 51 with a mat connected to an operating rod 52 is provided above the receiving plate 50. Operation rod 52
is a rotating shaft 53 supported above the feeder 10.
is pivotally fitted in the center of the cylinder 5.
4, the holding plate 51 is tilted in the form of a lever via the rod 55 and the connecting plate 56 to open and close the holding plate 51 up and down.

On the other hand, the side grippers 57 of each group are for clamping the side edges of the pulled-out film, and are constructed in the same manner and are arranged opposite to each other. That is, fixed receiving plates 5 horizontally extending inside each of the fuselage 1
8 is installed appropriately below the movement line of the drawer 38, and above the receiving plate 58, an opening/closing plate 59 with a mat connected to an operating rod 60 is provided oppositely. As shown in FIG. 9, the operating rod 60 is supported by a receiving rod 61 inside the machine body 1, and is tilted up and down via a rod 63 by the operation of a cylinder 62 to move the opening/closing plate 59 to the rear gripper 47. presser plate 5
It operates in synchronization with 1. Furthermore, the opening/closing plate 5
9. The presser plate 51 may be set to operate in conjunction with a common operating mechanism.

As shown in Figure 9, 64 is an elevating knife;
It is replaceably mounted between support frames 65 supported at both ends of the rotation shaft 53.

(Folding device) In contrast to the above-mentioned stretching device, the folding device is
The sixth reciprocating mechanism 19 is arranged in parallel with the reciprocating mechanism 19 on a common axis.
The reciprocating mechanism 66 shown in FIGS. 7 and 7 is equipped with a front folding device 72 and a side folding device 78, and a rear folding device 82 that can independently move in opposition to the front folding device 72 is installed. That is, the reciprocating mechanism 66
, two rows of chains 69 are hung between the chain wheels 67 at both ends of the main shaft 20 and the chain wheels 68 at both ends of the slave shaft 23, and appropriate chains are connected to the chain wheels 70 at the ends of the main shaft 20 on the drive section side. Since the linked transmission mechanism 71 is hung, it is horizontally reciprocated from side to side in the figure.

For the mechanism 66, the front folding device 72 has a bracket 75 at the center of a support plate 74 connected between sliding connectors 73 connected to the chains 69 of each row and slidingly in contact with each guide rail 77 inside the fuselage 1. Between,
It is constructed by arranging a large number of folding rods 76 in parallel. On the other hand, the side folding device 78 rods a pair of folding plates 80, which are attached to the connecting rod 79 between the fuselage bodies 1 in a horizontal cantilever state so that they can be opened and closed in a pivoting manner, to the corresponding sliding connector 73. It is configured to be articulated and supported via 81. By the operation of the reciprocating mechanism 66, the two devices 72 and 78 synchronize forward and backward movement and opening/closing movement, and cooperate to fold the three edges of the film.

On the other hand, the rear folding device 82 is located below the rear gripping device 47, and the bracket 8 at the center of the support plate 84 between both sliding connectors 83 is similar to the aforementioned front folding device 72.
It is constructed by arranging folding rods 86 in parallel between the
A rod 88 of a cylinder 87 installed at the rear of the machine body 1 is connected to the center of the support plate 84 via a connecting tool 89, so that it can reciprocate at the same horizontal height as the front folding device 72 and move in the three directions mentioned above. The folding action is followed by a trailing edge fold.

Configuration of packaging section C In the packaging section C illustrated in FIGS. 10 to 14,
A packaging device installed in the center of the machine body 1 is connected and supported by a control device.

(Packaging device and its control device) First, in the packaging device, a container body 90, also called a packaging pot, shown in FIG. 13 and 14), and a cylindrical portion 92 protruding from both sides of the outer periphery is fitted into a pair of guide rods 95 attached to a support frame 94 on both sides of a support plate 93 between the fuselage 1. It is supported to be movable up and down by a spring 96, and is always held at the lower end by a spring 96, and a retaining ring 97 for preventing the film from slipping is attached replaceably to the upper surface of the opening. ring 97
is made of, for example, a rubber material or a soft synthetic resin material having appropriate frictional resistance with the film, and the entire inner edge thereof is appropriately protruded from the inner circumferential surface of the container body 90 as a holding edge 98. This holding edge 98 effectively exerts the frictional force, that is, the holding force, when the stretched film is formed into a bag shape, so that the film is held well and neatly formed into a bag shape. It is becoming possible to do so.

A dish lid-shaped suction holder 99 (see FIG. 12), which is openably and closably equipped on the lower surface of the opening of the container body 90, is
Both bearing arms 1 are connected to a support shaft 101 fixedly supported between both arms 100 on the front surface of the outer circumference of the container body 90.
02 is pivotally fitted and supported so that it can be tilted up and down and opened on one side. This holding body 99 has a ventilation chamber 103 inside it, which is connected to the lower plate 1 shown in FIG.
04 The upper plate 1 communicates with the air intake device (blower) of the machine base through the central opening 105 and the flexible pipe (main flow path), and forms the bottom plate for the above-mentioned packaging chamber 91.
Air can be taken into the chamber 91 through a large number of air intake holes 107 arranged in each part of the chamber 91.

As shown in FIGS. 14 and 19, the branch pipe (branch flow path) branched from this flexible pipe has
A control valve is provided that adjusts the suction force of the suction device against the film f by sucking in outside air. As this control valve, a manual control valve was used in this example, but the point is that it does not matter whether it is manual or automatic, as long as the suction force can be adjusted. A diaphragm valve that opens and closes automatically may also be used.

The above-mentioned packaging device has a rod 109 of the cylinder 108 installed outside the container body 90 as a packaging variable mechanism to enable appropriate packaging according to the shape, size, quantity (number of items), etc. of the product. A stacking plate 110 located inside the packaging chamber 91 is connected. A panel 110 as this packaging space variable member
is a gently curved oblong plate that fits the inner surface of the container body 90 and is made of, for example, a soft synthetic resin material that can easily and flexibly abut against the product through the enveloping film. By moving forward (width-aligning) toward , the effective packaging width of the same chamber 91 can be variably adjusted. However, in this example, for convenience, the constant stroke operation of the cylinder 108 allows
It is assumed that the abutment plate 110 is set so as to be brought to a certain position in the center of the chamber 91. Of course, a variable multi-stage width shifting type may also be used.

The control device for the packaging device described above opens and closes the suction holder 99 and lifts and lowers the container 90 simultaneously in a series of operating processes based on the link type, and as shown in FIG. Moving axis 1
A pair of operating levers 112 connected to
The connecting arm 115 at the outer end of the rotating shaft 111 and the cam shaft 116 on the drive unit side
A rod 12 whose length is adjustable is connected to the other end of the operating lever 119 of the lever shaft 118 which is interlocked with the cam 117 of the lever shaft 118.
Connected with 0. As a result, the operating lever 112
In the process of tilting upward in the counterclockwise direction in the figure, after sealing the suction holder 99 to the container body 90, both are pushed up to a predetermined upper end position, and then, in the process of tilting downward in the clockwise direction, the packaging The entire device is returned to its lower position and held stationary at a predetermined position, and then the holder 99 is tilted downward and released in synchronization with the completion of packaging.

Furthermore, in the packaging apparatus operated by this control device, at the above-mentioned rising end position, the container body 90 passes through the side folding device 78 and pushes up the film f which has been stretched and set by the stretching device. The retaining ring 97 is placed tightly along the upper circumferential surface of the film so that it can effectively exert a suction action on the film, and at the lower end position, the retaining ring 97 is placed under the above-mentioned side folding device 78. Furthermore, it is positioned appropriately lower than the moving surface of each of the front and rear folding devices 72, 82, and is set to perform wrapping while stationary at this position.

(Restriction and Holding Device) In order to perform better packaging in the above-mentioned packaging device, a restraint and holding device for preventing the product from slipping off is installed above the packaging device. In the device, as shown in FIG.
1, the first lever 123 at the inner end of the rotating cylinder 122 which is pivotally fitted to the rotating shaft 53 of the operating rod 52 in the rear gripper 47, and the support shaft 1 above the rotating shaft 53.
A link 126 is articulated between a pair of second levers 125 which are pivotally supported by a pair of second levers 125 to form a four-bar parallel link type. 116 cams 128
The operating lever 129 of the lever shaft 118 is linked to the
Since it is connected via a length-adjustable rod 130, it can be moved up and down at the appropriate timing during packaging.

Regarding the holder 131 that is replaceably equipped with respect to the above-mentioned operating mechanism 121 and faces above the container body 90, in this example, each part of the lower surface of a rectangular base plate 132 connected to the lower ends of both links 126, This example shows a type in which a soft synthetic resin restraining piece 133 is provided against the article. An appropriate number of these restraining pieces 133 are attached in parallel to each support tube 134 which is rotatably supported by the base plate 132 and biased by a spring 135, and are normally held in a hanging state. ,
When the rod 76 of the front folding device 72 and the plate 80 of the side folding device 78 are pushed into contact with each other, the folding device is set to quickly collapse inward.

This restraining and holding device is placed on standby above outside the film draw-out line before operation, and is lowered before the start of the folding operation to bring the holding body 131 into a position where it stops the product, that is, to appropriately bring it above the top surface of the opening of the container 90. It is set to the position you set it to.

Configuration of the conveyance section D In the conveyance section D illustrated in FIGS. 15 to 17,
As a conveying device installed below the machine body 1, two conveyors 141 and 164, a long conveyor and a short conveyor, which are operated in synchronization using a single operating mechanism 136, are installed vertically in parallel (see FIG. 1). As shown in FIG. 16, first, regarding the operating mechanism 136, the cam shaft 116
cam 137 (however, a crank arm may also be used), and a rotating shaft 138 horizontally suspended below the rear of the fuselage 1.
A chain 140 is hung in a V-shape between a chain wheel 139 with a one-way clutch at the end and an elastic body (not shown) such as a spring, so that each rotation of the cam 137 is made by 180 degrees. The rotating shaft 138 is rotated.

The first conveyor 141 directly receives and carries out the packaged products discharged from the packaging device, and the roller 143 of the main shaft 142 between the machines 1 and the roller 14 of the slave shaft 144 supported by the biasing device 181
A belt 175, which will be described later, is hung between the
For the operating mechanism 136, the main shaft 14
Chain wheel 146 at the two ends and chain wheel 147 at the end of the rotating shaft 138
A chain 148 is hung between the two and connected to each other, and the motor is operated in the direction of the arrow intermittently at appropriate times.

On the other hand, the second conveyor 164 carries out packages while gently pushing them in from above and holding them therein, and is supported by a pair of suspension mechanisms 149 installed on both insides of the machine body 1 so that it can move up and down. . First, to explain both mechanisms 149 in detail, a pair of first suspension arms 15 are tiltably supported at the inner end of a support shaft 150 of the aircraft body 1 via a bearing sleeve 152.
1 is because the bearing part 153 at the other end is sandwiched from above and below by the free ends of two first receiving plates 155 made of leaf springs that are cantilevered on the inner end of the support rod 154 of the fuselage 1. , is held so that it can elastically move in the vertical direction. On the other hand, a pair of second suspension arms 156 that are tiltably supported with respect to the main shaft 165 of the second conveyor 164 shown in FIG.
The receiving piece 162 on the free end side is sandwiched from above and below by the free ends of two second receiving plates 163 made of leaf springs that are cantilevered from the center inside each of the first arms 151. It is held so that it can move elastically in the vertical direction. However, for the second arm 156 on each side, the support plate 15 on the main shaft side
7, move the movable plate 158 on the slave shaft side to the guide rod 15.
9 and a guide tube 160, and is always biased rearward (to the right in the figure) by a spring 161.

Regarding the second conveyor 164 supported by the above-mentioned suspension mechanism 149, both the first suspension arms 1
51 bearing portion 153 and both second suspension arms 156
The main shaft 16 is horizontally supported between the support plates 157 of
5 roller 166 and the roller 16 of the slave shaft 167 supported between the movable plate 158 of both the second arms 156
A belt 175, which will be described later, is hung between the
For the first conveyor 141, the pulleys 16 at both ends of the main shaft 142 of the conveyor 141
9 and a first pulley 170 (see FIG. 16) that is pivotally fitted on the support shafts 150 of both suspension mechanisms 149, and a round belt 171 that is hung between the second pulley 172 on both support shafts 150 and the second Main shaft 1 of conveyor 164
65 and pulleys 173 at both ends thereof, and are connected to each other by respective transmission means using round belts 174 hung between them.

As a result, the second conveyor 164 can operate in synchronization with the first conveyor 141, and is normally held stationary horizontally above the first conveyor 141 at a predetermined interval.
While elastic expansion and contraction of
3 can be used to move up and down independently, allowing the goods to be carried out appropriately despite changes in size.

The respective belts 175 in both the conveyors 141 and 164 described above are constructed in the same manner regardless of the difference in length. Thin synthetic rubber on the outer surface,
The upper belt portion 177 is made of a material such as vinyl that has low water absorption and dust absorption, and is flexible and stretchable.
It is bent and attached in a continuous convex shape over the conveyance direction. Then, between each bag portion 178 formed in the lower belt portion 176 and the upper belt portion 177, a relaxation material 179 such as a sponge that is flexible and can be elastically deformed is loaded, and the belt element portion 180 is
is formed. The individual element portions 180 are arranged in parallel on the same plane in the conveying direction as unique and deformable block-like units, and each of the rollers 143, 14
5, 166, and 168, even if they are temporarily separated from each other, at the horizontal transition portion between the tight side and the slack side, they remain in close contact with each other and are flexibly deformed against the packaged product. The material can be conveyed smoothly and stably without causing any biting or jamming.

Note that the cylinder 43 in each of the above-mentioned devices,
54, 62, 87, and 108 are all of the air double-acting type and are incorporated into a common air system, and are operated based on the operation of a switch installed opposite each cam on the camshaft 116. It is assumed that the settings are as follows.

Packaging operation The packaging method of this example performs packaging and conveyance according to the respective operations based on the set order of each part A, B, C, and D for one rotation of the drive part in the packaging machine configured as described above. The film that has been unwound from the film body F and set in the feeding device is pulled out and set on the upper surface of the packaging device by the spreading device, and then the film is pulled out by the suction action associated with the lifting and lowering of the packaging device by the control device. Packaging room 9
1, while the film is being held in a bag shape, the product is thrown in, and while the stop and hold device is preventing the product from slipping out, the folding device is used to fold the four peripheral edges of the film to enclose the product. When the packaging device is opened, the packaged items are discharged downward and sent out of the machine by a conveying device.

Therefore, one packaging mode in this example will be explained in detail based on FIG. 18. First, in the expansion device, the reciprocating mechanism 19 moves forward, causing the drawer 38 to move forward toward the delivery device in an open state and reach a position where it bites into the delivery device 10. At this position, the drawer 38 clamps the starting end of the film between the plates 40 and 41 by the actuation of the cylinder 43, and then moves backward by the reciprocating movement of the reciprocating mechanism 19, pulling out the film f from the feeder 10 and returning to the original position. to wait. At the end of the film drawing, the rear gripper 47 and both side grippers 50 are operated at appropriate timing, and the cylinders 54 and 62 and the operating rod 5 are operated at appropriate timing.
The trailing edge and side edges of the film f are clamped between the plates 50, 51, 58, and 59 via the plates 2 and 60, respectively, and the film f is spread and set as one sheet. (See Figures F and A.) After that, the control device in the packaging section C is moved forward, and the upward tilting of the operating lever 112 according to the rotation of the cam 117 causes the suction holder 99 to first move toward the container body 9.
0, and then pushed up together with the container body 90 along the guide rod 95 to the rising end position. On the other hand, in the packaging device, the film suction action is started immediately after the suction holding body 99 is closed. As a result, when the container body 90 reaches the rising end while pushing up the film, the holding ring 97 is used to hold the film on the inner peripheral surface of the packaging chamber 91 while continuing to effectively suction the center of the film. Stretch it neatly and hold it by suction while forming it into a bag shape. (See Figure A)
In addition, in the above-mentioned film suction process, the drawer 38 and each gripper 47, 57 in the stretching device
In this case, each edge of the film is allowed to be pulled out appropriately to avoid "tearing".

As described above, while the bag-like film part f' is being held by suction, a predetermined amount of items W are thrown into the opening top surface of the container body 90 and the upper plate 106 of the suction holding body 99
While the film is being held in place, the downward tilting of the operating lever 112 accompanying the return movement of the control device causes the suction holder 99 to descend together with the container body 90 while pulling the film. The stop holding device is operated at the same timing, and the holding body 131 is set to the stop position by the downward tilting of the operating mechanism 121 according to the rotation of the cam 128, and all the stop pieces 13 are set to the stop position.
3 is held stationary in a state facing the opening top surface of the container body 90 at the lower end position. (Refer to Figure B) In addition, the knife 6 should be
4 is lowered to cut the portion of the film that is continuous with the feeder 10 and the rear gripper 47.

The folding device is operated and the film is folded while the article is restrained and held as described above. First, as the reciprocating mechanism 66 moves forward, the front folding device 72 advances and folds the front edge of the film with the folding rod 76, and in synchronization with this, the side folding device 78 narrows and closes the front edge of the film with both folding plates 80. Fold the side edges of the film into each item W.
It forms a three-sided envelope for . (See Figure C) In such a three-way folding operation, each folding device 72, 78
The edge of the film clamped by the aforementioned puller 38 and side gripper 57 is pulled out and folded in the stretched state, and the holding body 1 of the restraining and holding device is folded.
Since each of the restraining pieces 133 in 31 can be stretched over the upper surface of the article while being lowered in the respective directions, the article can be neatly wrapped. Also, in this film folding, although the article in the packaging chamber 91 tends to float when subjected to the tension of the film, the holding body 131 of the aforementioned restraining and holding device
However, the floating item W is pushed back at the set position to prevent it from shifting or protruding, thereby preventing it from coming out of the container body 90, so that the item can be wrapped properly.

After the above-mentioned three-way folding is completed, the final folding is then performed. That is, in synchronization with the return of each folding device 72 and 78 due to the backward motion of the reciprocating mechanism 66, the rear folding device 82 moves to the cylinder 8.
7 moves forward toward the container body 90, and the folding rod 86 pulls out the trailing edge of the film from the rear gripper 47 while folding it in the stretched state to finish the upper surface of the previously folded edge of the film. Stick to the target. This completes the full coverage of the item. (See Figure 2) During such final folding, the restraining and holding device continues to hold the article as described above, and the post-folding device 82
Immediately before it interferes with the holding body 131, it is moved back, and the holding body 131 is returned to its original position by the upward tilting movement of the operating mechanism 121. Further, at appropriate timing, the presser plate 51 of the rear gripper 47 is raised and returned to its original position by the return movement of the cylinder 54, while the knife 64 is raised and returned to its original position.

After the wrapping of the article is completed as described above, the control device is moved back in time with the backward return of the rear folding device 82, and the suction holder of the packaging device in the lowered position is moved by the downward tilting of the operating lever 112. 99 is opened downwardly, the packaged goods in the chamber 91 are
W' is discharged downward toward the conveying section D while being guided by the holding body 99 as a chute member.
(See Figure E) At this point, the next film drawing operation is started in the spreading device, and the drawer 38 is advanced toward the feeder 10.

In the conveying device, the packaged product W' is transferred to the first conveyor 1 while both conveyors 141 and 164 are activated in synchronization by the actuating mechanism 136 that is activated in time with the end of packaging.
41 and sends it out as it is to the second conveyor 16
In cooperation with the push-in by 4, each belt 17
The device can be easily and flexibly held between the element portions 180 in No. 5 and quickly carried out of the machine in a stable posture. This completes one wrapping operation in this example.
(Refer to the figure) At this point, in the packaging device, due to the next operation of the control device, the packaging device moves upward toward the next film f held in the above-mentioned spreading device and starts suctioning it. The product can be packaged in the same manner based on the operating order of each part and each device described above.

In this packaging machine, if the shape, size, quantity, etc. of the product is to be changed, the film is replaced in advance by changing the position of each feeder 10 of the feeder as a preparation set for the machine. On the other hand, the effective wrapping width of the chamber 91 can be changed and set by changing the position of the drawer 38 of the spreading device, that is, the amount of film drawn out, as necessary, and operating the cylinder 108 of the packaging variable mechanism in the packaging device. This allows for efficient packaging of various items. However, in any packaging mode, as mentioned above, while the packaged items are being released and carried out, the pre-operation for the next packaging, that is, the operation timing to start the film drawer expansion and the lifting and lowering of the packaging device. It is desirable to continue packaging based on this, and at the same time, it is possible to improve efficiency.

In particular, in the packaging machine of the illustrated example, in the conveying device, both conveyors 141 and 164 can be operated accurately in synchronization with each other using one operating mechanism 136,
In addition, by holding one of the conveyors by the suspension mechanism 149, even if the sizes of the packaged items vary, the film can be conveyed out in a good manner while keeping the film in close contact with the surface of the item.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 19, when using a material that is easily torn as the film f, if the adjustment valve is opened by an appropriate amount to reduce the suction force by the suction device and to reduce the expansion of the film f,
The film f will not be damaged during the packaging process.

Furthermore, if an automatic control valve is used, even during the same packaging process, for example, the suction can be performed strongly at the beginning of suction, and when the film f approaches the inner surface of the packaging chamber 91 to a certain extent, the suction can be performed weakly.
The strength of the suction force can be controlled automatically.

-Other Examples- Furthermore, regarding the packaging machine targeted by the present invention,
The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment described above, and may be modified as appropriate. For example, the film may be pulled out to an appropriate extent to loosen it, and then air may be sucked in from above the film, or the entire film may be lowered as appropriate to be adsorbed onto the packaging chamber 91 side for packaging.
Further, the film feeder may be of a type in which a suitable number of feeders 10 are disposed on a single lifting or tilting type switching body, for example. In the folding device,
A type in which flat plate type or round bar type side folding devices are arranged facing each other on both sides, and the front and rear folding devices 72 and 82 are moved mutually across the plane at appropriate timing,
The film may be folded one edge at a time or at both opposing edges in an appropriate order. In the control device,
It is also possible to adopt a model in which the lifting and lowering of the container 90 and the opening and closing of the suction holder 99 are performed by separate mechanisms and configurations, and for example, a cylinder, rack and pinion, link, crank, etc. may be appropriately adopted as the technical means. Bye. In addition, in the restraining and holding device, the holding body 131 may be of a diaphragm type using a holding bag made of rubber, for example, which can be expanded and contracted by air. Any configuration may be sufficient as long as it can be easily retracted from time to time. The conveying device may be of a type including a single conveyor, such as a belt type or roller type, which has appropriate flexibility and flexibility.

When the packaging device is an open/close type as in the above embodiment, the suction holder 9 is attached to the container body 90.
9 may be a horizontally moving type or a rotating type. When the packaging device according to the present invention is used in a manual packaging machine that manually pulls out and folds the film f, it is sufficient to manually take out the item W from the top of the opening of the container body 90. Since it is not necessary to allow the suction holder 99 to fall naturally from the lower surface of the opening of the container, the suction holder 99 may be integrally assembled to the bottom of the container body 90. In this case, the suction holder 99 may be box-shaped in cross section, and the bottom plate of the packaging chamber 91 may be constructed from the upper plate portion of the holder 99, and the intake hole 107 may be provided in the upper plate portion.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 20 and 21,
The bottom of the container body 90 may be equipped with a soft material such as a sponge. That is, the 20th
In the case of Figure a, a doughnut-shaped flexible material is attached to the entire inner circumferential surface of the container body 90, and the film f supplied into the container body 90 through the central space is adsorbed. be. In the case of FIG. 21a, a flexible material is attached to the inner surface of the suction holder 99, and a space is provided inside the flexible material to be able to adsorb the film f supplied into the container body 90. It is something that

In this way, if a soft material such as a sponge is attached to the inner bottom of the container body 90,
As shown in FIG. 1a, when the expansion of the bag-like film part f' is stopped midway in the packaging chamber 91 by operating the control valve when the amount of goods W is small, the bag-like film part f' The lower surface hits the flexible material, making it appear as if it were lined inside the packaging chamber 91, and when packaging the item W, no space is created below the bag-like film portion f', making the packaging more secure. You can get it.

In addition, when the control valve is not used, the bag-like film part f' is attracted by strong suction force, and as shown in FIGS. Bag-shaped film part for compression
f' is greatly expanded in the packaging chamber 91 and can have a size similar to that without the flexible material. Therefore, there is no need to change the size of the storage container 90 depending on the amount of items W.

(Effects) As detailed above, the present invention has the following effects.

(a) The packaging device according to the present invention allows a packaging film of a required size to be set in an expanded manner on the upper surface of the opening of the packaging chamber through the cooperation of a storage container having a packaging chamber and an adsorption holder capable of exerting an air suction action. is formed and held in a bag shape by being stretched along the inside of the packaging chamber while suctioning, and while the bag is being held, an item is thrown in, the four peripheral edges of the bag are folded inward, and the bag is stretched over the top of the item. The bag-like part of the packaging film can be wrapped stably by suction inside the packaging chamber, and the items placed in the bag-like part can be reversed, lifted, gathered together, etc. Since it is possible to package fruits and vegetables while receiving them statically in the packaging room without feeding them all at once, even if there are multiple fruits and vegetables of irregular shapes and sizes, it can be packaged well without using a saucer. can do.

(b) Since the packaging device according to the present invention allows the suction force on the film to be adjusted using a control valve, the degree of stretching of the film can be adjusted depending on the type of film to prevent the film from tearing during suction. At the same time, as an additional effect, the inner volume of the bag-like film section can be selected appropriately by stopping the expansion of the bag-like film halfway inside the packaging chamber, rather than lining the entire inside of the packaging chamber with the bag-like film. Therefore, it is possible to obtain a reliable packaging condition according to the amount of items to be packaged.

(C) The device according to the present invention can move the packaging space variable member inside the packaging chamber forward and backward from the inner circumferential side of the packaging chamber toward the center of the packaging chamber using another drive device outside the packaging chamber. Since the effective packaging area of the packaging room can be variably adjusted, it is possible to perform optimal packaging according to the shape, size, quantity, etc. of the product.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the packaging machine of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view, Fig. 3 is a front view, and Fig. 4 is a feeding machine. FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view showing the device as it is unfolded; FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line - in FIG. 4; FIG. The partially broken plan view, FIGS. 8 and 9 are sectional views based on the - line and - line in FIG. 6, respectively.
Figure 0 is a side view mainly showing the packaging section, Figure 11 is a front view, Figure 12 is a partially cutaway front view mainly showing the packaging device, Figure 13 is a plan view, and Figure 14 is a partially cutaway front view mainly showing the packaging device.
The figure is a side view, FIG. 15 is a partially broken plan view showing the conveyance device developed, FIGS. 16 and 17 are cross-sectional views taken along lines - and - in FIG. 15, and FIG. 18 A, B, H, D, H, F are explanatory diagrams showing the packaging process step by step, Fig. 19 is an explanatory diagram showing the suction force adjustment effect by the control valve, and Figs. 20 and 21 are illustrations of other implementations. It is an explanatory diagram showing an example. Feeder...10, Reciprocating mechanism...19, Puller...38, Rear gripper...47, Side gripper...5
7, Reciprocating mechanism...66, Front folding device...72,
Side folder...78, Rear folder...82, Container...90, Packaging chamber...91, Adsorption holder...9
9. Ventilation chamber...103, Intake hole...107, Cylinder...108 (driving means), Rod...109
(driving means), latch plate...110 (packaging space variable member), operating lever...112, operating mechanism...12
1. Holding body...131, First conveyor...14
1. Second conveyor...164, Belt...17
5. Feeding guide section... A. Drawer/folding section...
B. Packaging section...C. Film...f. Bag-like film section...f'. Item...W. Packaging item...W'.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A container body 90 having an open upper surface and an adsorption holder 99 connected to an air intake device installed at the bottom of the container body 90. A packaging chamber 91 is formed in which the packaging film f can be lined in a bag shape and can receive the article W, and the inner periphery of the packaging chamber 91 is controlled by driving means 108 and 109 provided outside of the packaging chamber 91. A packaging space variable member 110 that can move forward and backward toward the center of the packaging chamber 91 from the surface side is provided, and the suction holder 99 is connected to the suction device and is connected to the packaging chamber 91.
An appropriate number of intake holes 107 are arranged to open to the
The film f supplied into the container body 90 can be adsorbed through the suction hole 107 so as to line the inner surface of the packaging chamber 91 in a bag-like manner, and the suction holder 99
A packaging device characterized in that a control valve is provided in a branch flow path branched from a main flow path that communicates between the film f and the suction device. 2 At the bottom of the container body 90,
A sponge or the like is provided on at least one of the inner circumferential surface of the container 0 and the inner surface of the suction holder 99 so that the film f supplied into the container body 90 can be adsorbed through the suction hole 107 of the suction holder 99. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein a flexible material is attached.