JP2016172569A - Packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a packaging machine which improves work efficiency by smoothly performing supply of a case in which a plurality of containers are accommodated, and collection of the empty case after the containers are taken out, and improves productivity of an individual packaged article by rationalizing and simplifying a series of operations for taking the containers out of the case and individually inserting the containers into packaging bags.SOLUTION: A packaging machine 10 is laid out in such a manner that a first case carry-in passage 20, a first case transfer passage 30 and first packaging means 16 are arranged at one side of a case carry-out passage 40, that a second case carry-in passage 24, a second case transfer passage 31 and second packaging means 17 are arranged at the other side and that a first case supply port 21, a second case supply port 25 and an empty case supply port 41 are arranged at the same side. The first packaging means and the second packaging means are then configured to directly insert containers that are taken out of the case disposed at a first predetermined position 22 or a second predetermined position 26, into packaging bags at a first packaging position 50 or a second packaging position 55.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging machine for individually packaging containers filled with articles to be packaged with packaging bags.

  Conventionally, a packaging machine and a packaging method have been proposed for packaging, for example, a one-bottle bottle or a four-goal bottle filled with alcoholic beverages with a cosmetic bag made of nonwoven fabric. A packaging method for a vertical container and a packaging machine for a vertical container disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-233898 are provided with a plurality of bottles at a corner of an L-shaped transport conveyor that transports bottles accommodated in a case. Is inserted into a cosmetic bag made of non-woven fabric at a time, and a conveyance path is provided in parallel with the conveyance conveyor for conveying bottles with cosmetic bags.

JP 2013-233898 A

  However, the packaging machine is different in the place for supplying the case and the place for collecting the empty case. The case or the empty case that can store a plurality of containers needs a large space for the place. In addition, when supplying or collecting a pallet in which a plurality of cases or empty cases are stacked, a large number of workers are required if the places are different, and the flow line for supplying the cases and collecting the empty cases is necessary. However, the work efficiency may be reduced.

  Further, the bottles in the case are taken out by the take-out unit and placed on the aligning conveyor. After the bottles are positioned, the bottles are gripped by the insertion unit and inserted into the packaging bags for individual packaging. When the take-out unit and the insertion unit are respectively provided with the alignment conveyor interposed therebetween, a certain amount of space is required for the apparatus responsible for each process, and the packaging process from taking out the bottle to inserting it into the packaging bag This may reduce the speed of work and reduce work efficiency.

  Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to increase the working efficiency by smoothly supplying the case containing a plurality of containers and collecting the empty case after the containers are taken out, and taking out the containers from the case. It is to provide a packaging machine that streamlines and simplifies a series of operations for individually inserting into a packaging bag and improves the productivity of individual packaged goods.

The packaging machine according to claim 1, a first case carry-in means for carrying a case containing a plurality of containers filled with articles to be packed to a first predetermined position along a first case carry-in path;
Second case carry-in means for carrying the case to a second predetermined position along a second case carry-in path;
First packaging means for taking out the container from the case disposed at the first predetermined position and individually packaging the container with a packaging bag in the vicinity of the first predetermined position to form an individually packaged product;
Second packaging means for taking out the container from the case disposed at the second predetermined position and individually packaging the container with a packaging bag in the vicinity of the second predetermined position to form an individually packaged product;
First case transfer means for transferring the empty case after the container has been taken out of the case at the first predetermined position from the first predetermined position along the first case transfer path to the case carry-out path;
Second case transfer means for transferring the empty case after the container has been taken out of the case at the second predetermined position from the second predetermined position along the second case transfer path to the case carry-out path;
A packaging machine having a case unloading means for unloading the empty case transferred through the first case transfer path and the second case transfer path along the case unload path, wherein one of the case unload paths On the side, the first case carry-in path, the first packaging means, and the first case transfer path are arranged,
The second case carry-in path, the second packaging means, and the second case transfer path are arranged on the other side of the case carry-out path.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging machine according to the first aspect, wherein the first bag supply means and the second bag supply means for supplying the packaging bag to the first packaging means and the second packaging means, respectively. It is provided.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a packaging machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the first packaged product unloading unit and the second package are used for unloading the individual packaged products to the first packaging unit and the second packaging unit, respectively. An item carrying means is provided.

The packaging machine according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the first packaging means and the second packaging means are an insertion means for inserting the container into the packaging bag, and an operation of the insertion means. Each has packaging control means for controlling
The packaging control means
When the case is disposed at the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position,
The insertion means comprises:
A plurality of the containers are taken out from the case disposed at the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position, and the container is brought to a predetermined height at which the bottom surface of the container is at least higher than the upper edge of the case. An ascending process to raise;
A transfer step of transferring each of the containers onto each of the plurality of packaging bags arranged near the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position;
Control is performed such that the lowering step of lowering each of the containers and inserting the container into the pre-opened packaging bag is continuously performed.

  A packaging machine according to a fifth aspect is characterized in that, in the invention according to the first or fourth aspect, the container is a bottle, a plastic bottle or a vertically long container similar thereto.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 5, wherein the packaging bag is a vertically long packaging bag capable of storing the vertically long container.

  A packaging machine according to a seventh aspect is characterized in that, in the invention according to the first aspect, the article to be packaged is water, tea, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, or similar beverages.

According to the packaging machine of the present invention, there is provided a case in which a case carrying means is provided between the first case carrying means and the first case transferring means, and the second case carrying means and the second case transferring means to store the container. The empty case that has been carried into the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position along the first case carry-in path or the second case carry-in path and has taken out the container passes through the first transfer path or the second transfer path. To the case carry-out path and carried along the case carry-out path. Accordingly, it is possible to increase the working efficiency by smoothly supplying the case storing a plurality of containers and collecting the empty case after the containers are taken out.
Moreover, according to the packaging machine which concerns on this invention, the insertion means which a 1st packaging means or a 2nd packaging means each has the raising process which lifts a container, the transfer process which transfers on a packaging bag, and inserts a container into a packaging bag The descending process is continuously performed. Thereby, a series of operation | movement which takes out a container from a case and inserts it individually in a packaging bag can be rationalized and simplified.
Furthermore, according to the packaging machine according to the present invention, the handling of the case is made smooth to increase the work efficiency, and the packaging work is streamlined by incorporating a so-called gate motion in which the packaging means is continuously raised, moved and lowered. . Thereby, the productivity of the individual packaged product and the workability of the packaging work related to the individual packaged product can be improved.

It is a top view which shows the outline of a structure of the packaging machine which concerns on 1st Example. It is a front view which shows the outline of a structure of the packaging machine which concerns on 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of a structure of the packaging means of the packaging machine which concerns on 1st Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline of a structure of the packaging means of the packaging machine which concerns on 1st Example.

  Embodiments of a packaging machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the outline of the configuration of the packaging machine according to the present embodiment.

  The packaging machine 10 includes a first case carry-in means 11 and a second case carry-in means 12, a first case transfer means 13 and a second case transfer means 14 relating to a case capable of storing a plurality of containers filled with packages. It has case unloading means 15, first packaging means 16 and second packaging means 17 relating to the container taken out from the case.

Here, the item to be packaged according to the present embodiment is preferably liquor, but may be water, tea, soft drinks, or similar beverages. Furthermore, if it is a product filled in a container and distributed, it is applied to a semi-solid product such as jelly or tofu, a baked confectionery such as a cookie, or a solid product such as a pet food or a granular material such as flour. It is also possible.
Further, the container according to the present embodiment is preferably a quadruple bottle or a single bottle, but may be another bottle, a PET bottle, or a vertically long container similar to these. Furthermore, a pouch-shaped packaging container may be used as long as it is a vertically long container, and it is also possible to apply to containers other than these vertically long containers.
And it is preferable that the packaging bag which concerns on a present Example is a vertically long packaging bag which can accommodate a 4 go bottle or a 1 bottle bottle, Furthermore, the said vertically long packaging bag is a cosmetic bag which consists of a nonwoven fabric or papers. It is preferable. Furthermore, the packaging bag is not limited to a vertically long packaging bag, and an optimal packaging bag can be selected in accordance with the purpose of the container or decoration.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the packaging machine according to the present embodiment takes out the four-combined bottle or one-jar bottle filled with liquor from the case, and individually stores the four-combined bottle or one-jar bottle in the decorative bag. It is configured to form a package.

The 1st case carrying-in means 11 has the 1st case carrying-in path 20 which consists of a conveyor. As shown in FIG. 1, the first case carry-in path 20 has a first case supply port 21 through which a case is supplied, and a first predetermined position 22 at which the case stops. The first predetermined position 22 has a stopper (not shown) for locking the case carried in from the first case supply port 21 and a clamp (not shown) for fixing the case. Thereby, the first case carry-in means 11 can stop the case supplied from the case supply port 21 at the first predetermined position 22 along the first case carry-in path 20.
Further, the first case carry-in path 20 has a first standby position 23 before the first predetermined position 22. The first standby position 23 includes a stopper (not shown) that locks the case arranged on the first standby position 23, a clamp (not shown) that fixes the case, and a sensor that can detect the arranged case. (Not shown). The sensor includes a sensor such as a weight sensor, a proximity sensor, and an infrared sensor that detects a load applied to the first standby position 23 and detects that the case has approached the first standby position 23. When the sensor detects that one case is placed at the first standby position 23, the stopper once stops the one case. Thereafter, the first case carry-in means 11 carries the case into the first predetermined position 22. Then, when the sensor next detects that another case is arranged at the first standby position 23, the other case is fixed by a clamp after being locked by the stopper at the first standby position 23. . Thereby, one case is always carried into the first predetermined position 22.
The case according to the present embodiment is a case that can store 15 1 bottles or 4 bottles in 3 columns × 5 rows, but is not limited to this, and can store any number of containers according to the application. Possible cases can be selected.
Similar to the first case carrying means 11, the second case carrying means 12 has a second case carrying path 24 made of a conveyor, and the case supplied from the second case supply port 25 is replaced with the second case carrying path 24. Then, after passing through the second standby position 27, it is formed so as to be carried into the second predetermined position 26.

When the case is carried to the first predetermined position 22 or the second predetermined position 26, the container is taken out by the first packaging means 16 or the second packaging means 17. The first packaging means 16 or the second packaging means 17 will be described later.
The empty case after the container is taken out from the case at the first predetermined position 22 is transferred by the first case transfer means 13, and the empty case after the container is taken out from the case at the second predetermined position 26 is the second case. It is transferred by the case transfer means 14.

The 1st case transfer means 13 has the 1st case transfer path 30 which consists of a conveyor. As shown in FIG. 1, one of the first case transfer paths 30 is connected to the first case transport path 20 and the other is connected to a case carry-out path 40 described later. Further, the first case transfer means 13 has a pusher (not shown) that pushes the empty case from the end of the first case transfer path 20 to the first case transfer path 30. Thus, the empty case that has moved to the end of the first case transport path 20 is transferred to the case carry-out path 40 along the first case transfer path 30 while changing the traveling direction.
Similarly to the first case transfer means 13, the second case transfer means 14 has a second case transfer path 31 made of a conveyor and a pusher (not shown) for pushing out an empty case, and along the second case transfer path 31. Thus, the empty case is formed so as to be transferred from the end of the second case transport path 24 to the case carry-out path 40.

  The case carry-out means 15 has a case carry-out path 40 made of a conveyor. As shown in FIG. 1, the case carry-out path 40 has one case connected to the first case transfer path 30 and the second case transfer path 31, and the other has an empty case collection port 41 for collecting an empty case. The case carry-out path 40 has a sensor (not shown) that can detect an empty case arranged on the case carry-out path 40. The sensor detects a load applied on the case carry-out path 40 such as a weight sensor, a proximity sensor, and an infrared sensor, or a leading empty case approaches a predetermined position on the case carry-out path 40, for example, near the empty case collection port 41. It consists of a sensor that detects what happened. The sensor has an alarm device that notifies by sound or light, and is configured to notify an operator when a predetermined number of empty cases have accumulated on the case carry-out path 40. Thus, the worker can perform the operation of supplying the case to the case supply port without worrying about the empty case until the empty case is accumulated to some extent, so that the work efficiency can be improved.

As described above, the case in which a plurality of containers are stored is carried in along the first case carry-in path 20 from the first case supply port 21 on the one hand, and arranged at the first predetermined position 22, and on the other hand, the second case. It is carried in from the case supply port 25 along the second case carry-in path 24 and arranged at the second predetermined position 26.
Then, the empty case from which the container is taken out at the first predetermined position 22 is pushed out from the first case transfer path 30 to the case carry-out path 40 by the pusher, and is carried out along the case carry-out path 40 to collect the empty case. It is recovered from the mouth 41. The empty case from which the container has been taken out at the second predetermined position 26 is pushed out from the second case transfer path 31 to the case carry-out path 40 by the pusher, and is carried out along the case carry-out path 40 to the empty case collection port 41. Recovered from.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, the packaging machine 10 according to the present embodiment includes a first case carry-in path 20 and a first case transfer path 30, a second case carry-in path 24 and a second case transfer path 31, and Regarding the layout of the case carry-out path 40, the case supplied from the first case supply port 21 or the second case supply port 25 is transferred to the empty case collection port 41 formed on the same side as the case supply ports 21 and 25. Can be configured to turn. Thus, for example, the same pallet in which the supplied cases are stacked and the empty pallet in which the collected empty cases are stacked, or the empty cases are stacked on the empty pallet after the cases are supplied to the packaging machine 10 are used. You can easily reuse the palette. In addition, the work flow line can be concentrated on one side, so that work efficiency can be improved.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the layout of the first case carry-in path 20 and the second case carry-in path 24, the first case transport path 30 and the second case transport path 31, and the case carry-out path 40 is set. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the second case carry-in path 24 and the case carry-out path are formed according to the factory space or the arrangement of workers. 40 may be extended to connect the first case transfer path 30 in the middle of the case carry-out path 40 to form a layout in which the positions of the first predetermined position 22 and the second predetermined position 26 do not face each other. Even in such a case, by arranging the first case supply port 21, the second case supply port 25, and the empty case carry-out port 41 on the same side, handling of the case is facilitated and work efficiency is improved. An effect can be obtained.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the first packaging means 16 is arranged in the vicinity of the first predetermined position 22, and the second packaging means 17 is arranged in the vicinity of the second predetermined position 26. The first packaging means 16 takes out the container from the case disposed at the first predetermined position 22 and individually wraps the container with the packaging bag at the first packaging position 50, and the second packaging means 17 The container is taken out from the case arranged at the position 22, and the container is individually packaged with a packaging bag at the second packaging position 55, and individually packaged products are formed.

The first packaging means 16 carries out the insertion means 51 for inserting the container into the packaging bag, the first bag supply means 52 for supplying the packaging bag to the insertion means 51, and the individual packaged product after individually packaging the container. The first packaged goods carrying means 53, the inserting means 51, the first bag supplying means 52, and the packaging control means 54 for controlling the operation of each means of the first packaged goods carrying means 53 are provided.
Similarly, the second packaging means 17 includes an insertion means 56, a second bag supply means 57, and a second packaged product carrying means 58. Each of these means is controlled by the packaging control means 54 similarly to the first packaging means 16.
Since the 1st packaging means 16 and the 2nd packaging means 17 have the same structure, the 1st packaging means 16 is demonstrated hereafter.

As shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, the insertion means 51 has a gripper 60 capable of gripping the vicinity of the mouth edge or the trunk of the container, and a guide 61 for guiding the container to the packaging bag.
The gripper 60 is attached to the tip of an arm 62 formed so as to be movable in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction. The arm 62 is configured to be driven by a servo motor (not shown) via a slide mechanism (not shown). That is, the gripper 60 can be operated in three dimensions by controlling the forward and reverse rotation of the servo motor. In this embodiment, the insertion means 51 has three grippers as shown in FIG. 1 and can individually wrap three containers at the same time in one packaging step. The gripper 60 has a sensor (not shown) that detects whether or not the container is gripped. As a result, it is possible to prevent the container from being missed or the container from falling during the transfer.
The movement of the gripper 60 is controlled by the packaging control means 54. The packaging control means 54 includes an ascending step 63 in which the gripper 60 grips and raises the container from the case where the gripper 60 is locked at the first predetermined position 22, and a transfer step 64 in which the container is transferred from the first predetermined position onto the packaging bag. The lowering step 65 for lowering the container and inserting it into the packaging bag is controlled to be performed continuously.
The guide 61 is formed in a funnel shape whose bottom can be expanded radially. When the lower end of the guide 61 is inserted into the bag mouth of the packaging bag and the container is inserted from the upper surface side of the guide 61, the bottom surface of the guide 61 is pushed down by the container to expand, and the bag mouth of the packaging bag is opened. In this way, the gripper 60 and the guide 61 can smoothly guide the container into the packaging bag.

  As shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, the first bag supply means 52 includes a bag stocker 70 in which a plurality of packaging bags are set, a bag take-out unit 71 that takes out a single bag from the bag stocker 70, and a take-out unit The packaging bag is transferred to the first packaging position 51, the mouth is opened, and the bag opening unit 72 is provided for inserting the container.

  The bag stocker 70 includes a plurality of magazines 73 and a magazine support unit 74 that supports the magazines so as to be movable up and down. The magazine 73 stores a predetermined number of packaging bags folded in two along the longitudinal direction. The packaging bags in the magazine 73 are aligned so that the openings are on the same side. The magazine support unit 74 is formed such that one magazine 73 among the plurality of magazines 73 is set. From the magazine 73 set in the magazine support unit 74, the bag removal unit 71 takes out the packaging bags one by one. When the packaging bag is taken out and the magazine 73 becomes empty, the magazine support unit 74 descends with the empty magazine 73 placed thereon so that the next magazine 73 is set on the empty magazine 73. Is formed. Thereby, a plurality of packaging bags can be continuously taken out by the bag taking-out unit 71.

  The bag take-out unit 71 has a flat plate turning plate 75 for taking out a bag from the magazine 73 and a flat plate holding plate (not shown) for holding the taken out bag. The turning plate 75 includes a main plate and a sub plate which are connected by a hinge (not shown) and can be folded. The main plate has a packaging bag adsorbing mechanism 75a formed so as to adsorb the uppermost package of the magazine 73. When the main plate adsorbing the packaging bag is reversed and the sub-plate is deployed in conjunction with each other, the half-folded packaging bag is deployed on the turning plate 75. The holding plate is formed so as to press the packaging bag on the turning plate 75 against the turning plate 75. By the turning plate 75 and the holding plate, the vicinity of the opening of the packaging bag can be flattened and the wrinkles of the packaging bag can be stretched.

The bag opening unit 72 includes a plurality of delivery claws 76 for gripping the vicinity of the lip of the packaging bag, a transfer claw 77 for transferring the packaging bag to the first packaging position 50 for inserting the container into the packaging bag, A plurality of opening claws 78 and opening auxiliary claws 79 are provided to expand the opening. The bag opening unit 72 according to the present embodiment has three sets of delivery claws 76, a transfer claw 77, an opening claw 78 and an opening auxiliary claw 79 so as to form a pair with the gripper 60.
The delivery claw 76 is formed so as to deliver the packaging bag to the opening claw 78 at the first packaging position 50, and is detachably attached to the tip of the rotatable bracket 80. When the delivery claw 76 grips the vicinity of the mouth portion of the packaging bag on the turning plate 75, the bracket 80 rotates approximately 90 degrees. As a result, the packaging bag is raised from the turning plate 75 and suspended from the bracket 80.
The transfer claw 77 is formed so as to grip the delivery claw 76 from which the packaging bag is suspended, and is attached to a slider 82 that can reciprocate in the left-right direction along the rail 81 at a predetermined interval. When the transfer claw 77 transfers the packaging bag to the first packaging position 50, the transfer claw 77 is formed so as to release the delivery claw 76. After the delivery claw 76 delivers the packaging bag to the opening claw 78, the transfer claw 77 is formed so as to grip the delivery claw 76 again and return to the raising position of the packaging bag. Thereby, the delivery claw 76 returned to the raising position is attached to the tip of the bracket 80, and the packaging bag can be caused again.
The opening claw 78 is arranged so as to substantially intersect the delivery claw 76, and pulls a predetermined position near the opening of the packaging bag in the front-rear direction with respect to the delivery claw 76 that moves in the left-right direction along the rail 81. Thus, the opening of the packaging bag is opened. The opening auxiliary claw 79 is arranged in the same direction as the delivery claw 76, that is, substantially intersecting with the opening claw 78. When the opening claw 78 opens the opening of the packaging bag, the opening auxiliary claw 79 is The packaging bag is formed so as to support the packaging bag so that the packaging bag does not become flat when pulled by the opening claws 78 in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the opening part vicinity of a packaging bag is open | released and the guide 61 can be inserted easily.

The first packaged product unloading means 53 includes a first packaged product delivery path 85 for delivering individual packaged products in which containers are individually packaged in packaging bags from the first packaging position 50, and a first package for storing the individual packaged products. A product stocker 86 is provided.
The first package delivery path 85 is a conveyor, one of which forms the first packaging position 50 and the other of which is connected to the first package stocker 86. The first packaged product carry-out path 85 has a sensor (not shown) that can detect an individual packaged product that passes through a predetermined position on the first packaged product carry-out path 85. The sensor includes a sensor such as a weight sensor, a proximity sensor, an infrared sensor, or the like that detects a load applied to a predetermined position of the first package delivery path 85 or detects that an individual package has passed through the predetermined position. . When the sensor detects the passage of the individually packaged product, the first packaged product unloading path 85 is formed to stop. During this stop, the gripper 60 is formed to insert the container into the packaging bag at the first packaging position 50. Thereby, while the gripper 60 inserts the container into the packaging bag to form the individual packaged product, the first packaged product unloading path 85 is stopped, and after the packaging is finished, the first packaged product unloading path 85 is activated. Then, the individual packaged product is carried out from the first packaging position 50 to the first packaged product stocker 86.

  The first packaged stocker 86 is composed of a turn conveyor 88 having a table 87, and is formed on the table 87 so that individual packages can be stocked. As a result, the individual packaged products are pushed in one after another from the supply port 86 a connected to the first packaged product unloading path 85, and stocked on the table 87.

The packaging control means 54 is provided on the control panel. The packaging control means 54 is formed so as to control the respective means of the insertion means 51, the first bag supply means 52, and the first packaged goods carry-out means 53 to operate in cooperation with each other.
When the case is locked at the first predetermined position 22, the packaging control means 54 operates the insertion means 51 to prepare for taking out the container from the case, and operates the first bag supply means 52 to operate the first packaging. It is formed so that three packaging bags are arranged at the position 50.
When the packaging control means 54 operates the insertion means 51 to take out the container from the case, the packaging control means 54 operates the first bag supply means 52 to open the opening of the packaging bag, and the opening The insertion means 51 is operated so as to insert the guide 61 into the first package, the first package delivery means 53 is stopped by the first package delivery means 53, and the insertion means 51 is inserted into the packaging bag. Yes. The packaging control means 54 rationalizes the individual packaging of the containers by controlling each operation of the insertion means 51, the first bag supply means 52, and the first packaged goods carrying means 53 as described above. be able to.

  The packaging machine 10 having the above-described configuration forms individual packaged products by individually packaging containers with a packaging bag through each process described below.

  The container handled by the packaging machine according to the present embodiment is a single bottle or a quadruple bottle, and the bottle is individually stored in a vertically long decorative bag made of non-woven fabric. The bottles are housed in a case of 15 bottles, and the cases are stacked on a pallet.

The packaging process of the packaging machine 10 includes the following processes.
(1) Case carrying-in process (2) Case positioning process (3) Container removal / insertion process (4) Bag supply process (5) Individual packaged goods carrying-out process (6) Empty case carrying-out process

(1) Case carrying-in process The case carrying-in process is a process in which a plurality of cases stacked on a pallet are carried in by the first case carrying-in means 11 or the second case carrying-in means 12. The worker supplies the case taken out from the pallet from the first case supply port 21 or the second case supply port 25 to the first case carry-in path 20 or the second case carry-in path 24.
The first case first supplied to the first case carry-in path 20 is locked by the stopper at the first standby position 23 and then carried to the first predetermined position 22. Next, the other case supplied is stopped by a stopper at the first standby position 23 and then fixed by a clamp. As a result, the second and subsequent cases carried in can be made to stand by on the first case carry-in path 20 and only one case can be always arranged at the first predetermined position 22. The same applies to the second case carry-in path 24 side.

(2) Case positioning step The case positioning step is a step of fixing the carried case at the first predetermined position 50 or the second predetermined position 55. The carried case is locked to the stopper at the first predetermined position 50 or the second predetermined position 55 and fixed by a clamp. Accordingly, the case can be prevented from moving when the first packaging means 16 or the second packaging means 17 takes out the container.

(3) Container extraction / insertion process The container extraction / insertion process is performed by the gripper 60 of the insertion means 51, 56 to simultaneously extract a plurality of containers from the case fixed at the first predetermined position 50 or the second predetermined position 55. It consists of a process and an insertion process for individually inserting the taken out container into the packaging bag. In this embodiment, three bottles or four bottles are taken out and inserted and stored individually in a packaging bag. Since the container removal / insertion process performed by the first packaging means 16 and the second packaging means 17 is the same process, the first packaging means 16 will be described below.
The gripper 60 is controlled so as to repeat the ascending step 63, the transferring step 64, and the descending step 65 in succession.
The ascending step 63 confirms that the container is gripped by the sensor when the gripper 60 grips the upper edge of the container, that is, in the case of this embodiment, when gripping the vicinity of the mouth of the first bottle or four-combined bottle. Thereafter, the gripper 60 is raised to lift the container.
The servo motor that raises the gripper 60 detects a change in pitch accompanying a change in load applied when lifting, discriminates the type of container, and determines the height to be lifted. Accordingly, in this embodiment, it is determined that the bottle is either one bottle or four-combined bottle, and the bottle can be lifted up to a height where at least the bottom surface of the bottle exceeds the upper edge of the case.
The transfer process 64 is a process of transferring the container lifted by the gripper 60 from the first predetermined position 22 to the first packaging position 50. During the transfer process 64, the spacing between the three grippers 60 is also increased according to the spacing between the packaging bags arranged in the first packaging position 50 by the bag opening unit 72. Accordingly, when the container is transferred from the first predetermined position 22 to the first packaging position 50, the container is arranged immediately above the packaging bag.
The descending step 65 is a step in which the gripper 60 descends and the container is inserted into the packaging bag. In the present embodiment, a single bottle or a four bottle is inserted into a vertically long cosmetic bag. When the servo motor lowers the gripper 60, it lowers the container by the raised height. As a result, the containers individually packaged in the packaging bags are self-supporting on the first package delivery path 85 forming the first packaging position 50, and the gripper 60 releases the containers at this time. Further, in the lowering step 65, in conjunction with the lowering of the gripper 60, the guide 61 is lowered prior to the lowering of the gripper 60, and the lower end portion of the funnel-shaped guide 61 is inserted into the opening of the packaging bag. As a result, the container can be smoothly guided to the packaging bag.
The gripper that has finished the lowering process 65 moves up and moves to the first predetermined position 22 to take out the next container. The above process is repeated until the case is empty. When the case is emptied, the empty case is unloaded in (6) empty case unloading step.

(4) Bag supply process When the insertion means 51, 56 are operating in the first packaging means 16 or the second packaging means 17, the first bag supply means 52 or the second bag in conjunction with the insertion means 51, 56. Supply means 57 operates. Since the bag supply process performed by the first bag supply means 52 and the second bag supply means 57 is the same process, the first bag supply means 52 will be described below.
The bag supply process is a process of supplying the packaging bag accommodated in the magazine 73 set in the bag stocker 70 to the first packaging position 50.
A bundle of packaging bags made up of a plurality of packaging bags is accommodated in the magazine 73 with the opening directed in a predetermined direction. The magazine 73 is set on the magazine support unit 74 of the bag stocker 70. The magazine support unit 74 formed so as to be movable up and down pushes up the remaining packaging bags each time the packaging bags are taken out by the bag taking-out unit 71. As a result, the bag removing unit 71 can always take out the packaging bag from the same height. The packaging bag adsorbed by the bag adsorbing mechanism 75a of the bag take-out unit 71 is unfolded and placed on the turning plate 75, and is pressed by the holding plate. As a result, the crease is stretched and the packaging bag can be prevented from being lifted by the crease. The packaging bag on the turning plate 75 is gripped by the delivery claw 76 in the vicinity of the mouth and is caused by the rotation of the bracket 80. When the packaging bag is raised, the delivery claw 76 is gripped by the transfer claw 77. The slider 82 provided with the transfer claw 77 causes the packaging bag to move from the position to the first packaging position 50 along the rail 81 in the lateral direction. As the slider 82 moves, three packaging bags are suspended from the first packaging position 50 at a predetermined interval. When each packaging bag is arranged at a predetermined position in the first packaging position 50, an opening claw 78 provided so as to intersect the delivery claw 76 grips the vicinity of the mouth of the packaging bag. Then, the delivery claw 76 releases the packaging bag, and the opening auxiliary claw 79 holds the packaging bag in place of the delivery claw 76. The opening auxiliary claw 79 fixes the packaging bag along the lateral direction, and the opening claw 78 moves in the front-rear direction to open the mouth portion of the packaging bag. The lower end of the funnel-shaped guide 61 is inserted into the opened gap, and the container insertion process described above is performed. Then, the opening claw 78 and the opening auxiliary claw 79 release the packaging bag in conjunction with the end of the container insertion process. As a result, the individual packaging of the container is completed, and an individual packaged product is formed. The formed individual package product is carried out by the individual package product carrying out step.

(5) Individual packaged product unloading process The individual packaged product unloading process is a process of unloading the individually packaged product in which the containers are individually packaged in the packaging bag from the first packaging position 50 to the packaged product stocker 86.
The first packaging position 50 is formed at one end of the first packaged product delivery path 85 of the first packaged product delivery means 53. A first package product stocker 86 is connected to the other end of the first package product delivery path 85. Similarly, the second packaged product unloading means 58 has a second packaged product unloading path 89 having a second packaging position 55 at one end, and the second packaged product unloading path 89 has a second packaged product stocker 90 at the other end. Are connected. Hereinafter, the 1st packaged goods carrying means 53 side is demonstrated.
The first package delivery path 85 stops the conveyor while the insertion means 51 performs the container removal / insertion process in which the container 51 is inserted into the packaging bag at the first packaging position 50. Thus, the container can be inserted into the packaging bag while being stabilized. When the container is inserted into the packaging bag and the opening claw 78 and the opening auxiliary claw 79 release the packaging bag, the conveyor of the first packaged goods carry-out path 85 operates to carry out the individually packaged goods. When the sensor provided on the first package delivery path 85 detects the passage of the individual package and it is confirmed that the individual package is delivered from the first packaging position 50, the conveyor stops and the next A container removal / insertion process is performed. The individual packaged products that have been packaged one after another move through the first packaged product unloading path 85 and are sent to the first packaged product stocker 86. The first packaged goods stocker 86 includes a turn conveyor 88 having a table 87, and the turn conveyor 88 rotates in synchronization with the conveyor of the first packaged goods carry-out path 85. As a result, the individual package product is delivered from the first package product delivery path 85 to the table 87. The individual packaged goods stored on the table 87 are taken out by an operator, and a shipping operation is performed in which the bag mouth is bundled or a booklet is placed.

(6) Empty case unloading step The empty case unloading step is a step of unloading the empty case by the case unloading means 15 after all the containers are taken out from the case in the container unloading / inserting step.
The empty case from which all containers have been taken out at the first predetermined position 22 is transferred from the first predetermined position 22 to the case carry-out path 40 via the first case transfer path 30 by the first case transfer means 13. The same applies to the second case transfer means 14 that carries the empty case from the second predetermined position 26 to the case carry-out path 40 via the second case transfer path 31. Hereinafter, the process of carrying out the empty case from the first predetermined position 22 will be described.
The case locked by the stopper at the first predetermined position 22 and fixed by the clamp is pushed out to the first case transfer path 30 by the pusher of the first case transfer means 13 after all the containers are taken out. The empty case is transferred on the first case transfer path 30 toward the case carry-out path 40. When the empty case is transferred to the case carry-out path 40, the case carry-out path 40 carries the empty case toward the empty case collection port 41. When the number of empty cases transferred from the first case transfer path 30 or the second case transfer path 31 reaches a predetermined number on the case carry-out path 40, this is detected by a sensor and notified by voice or light. Thus, the worker collects the empty case from the empty case collection port 41 and stacks the empty case on the empty case pallet. Since a predetermined number of empty cases can be detained on the case carry-out path 40 in this manner, the worker can remove the case from the case supply ports 21 and 25 during the first case carry-in path 20 or the second case carry-in path 24. Can be supplied to.

According to the packaging machine 10 according to the present embodiment, the first case carry-in path 20 and the second case carry-in path 24 are arranged on the left and right sides of the case carry-out path 40, and the case supply ports 21 and 25 and the empty case collection port 41 are provided. The layout was arranged on the same side. Thereby, the installation space can be saved rather than installing two packaging machines 10 side by side. Next, since it has the 1st packaging means 16 and the 2nd packaging means 17 which have the same performance, it can obtain packaging capacity of twice as much as the conventional packaging machine. Therefore, it is not necessary to take a large installation space for the packaging machine 10, and furthermore, the supply and recovery of the case that occupies a lot of space can be performed on the same side, so that the work flow of the worker is shortened. At the same time, it is possible to increase the work efficiency and improve the productivity of individually packaged products without imposing a burden on the workers.
Moreover, the production line of the individual packaged goods related to the first packaging means 16 or the production line of the individual packaged goods related to the second packaging means 17 may be operated at the same time, and either one of the two production lines may be operated. good. This makes it possible to easily adjust production according to the season accompanying the season.

  Moreover, according to the packaging machine 10 which concerns on a present Example, the insertion means 51 and 56 which the 1st packaging means 16 or the 2nd packaging means 17 takes out a container from a case, and inserts it directly in a packaging bag as it is. did. Thereby, the work process can be shortened, and the packaging process can be speeded up. Therefore, the productivity of the individual packaged product can be improved.

10 ... Packing machine,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... 1st case carrying-in means, 12 ... 2nd case carrying-in means, 13 ... 1st case transfer means, 14 ... 2nd case transfer means, 15 ... Case carrying-out means, 16 ... 1st packaging means, 17 ... 2nd packaging means,
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 20 ... 1st case carrying-in path, 21 ... 1st case supply port, 22 ... 1st predetermined position, 23 ... 1st standby position,
24 ... second case carry-in path, 25 ... second case supply port, 26 ... second predetermined position, 27 ... second standby position,
30 ... 1st case transfer path,
31 ... Second case transfer path,
40: Case carry-out path, 41 ... Empty case collection port,
50 ... 1st packaging position, 51, 56 ... Insertion means, 52 ... 1st bag supply means, 53 ... 1st package goods unloading means,
55 ... second packaging position, 57 ... second bag supply means, 58 ... second package delivery means,
60 ... gripper, 61 ... guide, 62 ... arm, 63 ... ascending step, 64 ... transfer step, 65 ... descending step,
70 ... Bag stocker, 71 ... Bag take-out unit, 72 ... Bag opening unit, 73 ... Magazine, 74 ... Magazine support unit, 75 ... Turning plate, 76 ... Delivery claw, 77 ... Transfer claw, 78 ... Open claw, 79 ... Open Auxiliary claw, 80 ... bracket, 81 ... rail, 82 ... slider,
85 ... First package delivery path, 86 ... First package stocker, 87 ... Table, 88 ... Turn conveyor,
89 ... Second package delivery path, 90 ... Second package stocker.

Claims (7)

First case carry-in means for carrying a case containing a plurality of containers filled with an article to be packed to a first predetermined position along the first case carry-in path;
Second case carry-in means for carrying the case to a second predetermined position along a second case carry-in path;
First packaging means for taking out the container from the case disposed at the first predetermined position and individually packaging the container with a packaging bag in the vicinity of the first predetermined position to form an individually packaged product;
Second packaging means for taking out the container from the case disposed at the second predetermined position and individually packaging the container with a packaging bag in the vicinity of the second predetermined position to form an individually packaged product;
First case transfer means for transferring the empty case after the container has been taken out of the case at the first predetermined position from the first predetermined position along the first case transfer path to the case carry-out path;
Second case transfer means for transferring the empty case after the container has been taken out of the case at the second predetermined position from the second predetermined position along the second case transfer path to the case carry-out path;
A packaging machine having a case unloading means for unloading the empty case transferred through the first case transfer path and the second case transfer path along the case unload path, wherein one of the case unload paths On the side, the first case carry-in path, the first packaging means, and the first case transfer path are arranged,
A packaging machine, wherein the second case carry-in path, the second packaging means, and the second case transfer path are arranged on the other side of the case carry-out path.   The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein a first bag supply means and a second bag supply means for supplying the packaging bags are provided on the first packaging means and the second packaging means, respectively.   2. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the first packaging unit and the second packaging unit are provided with a first packaged product unloading unit and a second packaged product unloading unit for unloading the individual packaged product, respectively. . The first packaging means and the second packaging means each have insertion means for inserting the container into the packaging bag, and packaging control means for controlling the operation of the insertion means,
The packaging control means
When the case is disposed at the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position,
The insertion means comprises:
A plurality of the containers are taken out from the case disposed at the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position, and the container is brought to a predetermined height at which the bottom surface of the container is at least higher than the upper edge of the case. An ascending process to raise;
A transfer step of transferring each of the containers onto each of the plurality of packaging bags arranged near the first predetermined position or the second predetermined position;
2. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the lowering process of lowering each of the containers and continuously inserting the container into the pre-opened packaging bag is controlled.   The packaging machine according to claim 1 or 4, wherein the container is a bottle, a plastic bottle, or a vertically long container similar to these.   The packaging machine according to claim 5, wherein the packaging bag is a vertically long packaging bag capable of storing the vertically long container. The packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the packaged item is water, tea, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, or similar beverages.

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