JP6498948B2 - Vertical sealing device for vertical bag making filling and packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vertical seal device for a vertical bag making filling and packaging machine, and more particularly to a vertical seal device for forming a vertical seal in the form of a fin seal.

  The vertical seal device of the vertical bag making filling and packaging machine heats the both sides of the packaging material surrounding the filling tube by sandwiching it between the fixed heater block and the movable heater block, thereby providing a vertical seal in the form of a fin seal. Form. Thereafter, the vertical seal is folded into either the left or right that matches the direction of the fallen wrinkle via a folding guide and overlapped with the outer surface of the bag making (see, for example, FIGS. 5 and 7 of Patent Document 1). Note that the direction of the vertical seal collapse is determined by the arrangement of the movable heater block, and the heating temperature of the movable heater block is higher than that of the fixed heater block.

JP 2004-196350 A

In the case of the vertical seal device of Patent Document 1, in order to enable selection of the folding direction of the vertical seal, the fixed and movable heater block is a single heater unit, and the heater unit is fixed by reversing the vertical direction. And the arrangement of the left and right of the movable heater block can be changed.
However, if the vertical sealing device is in operation and the temperature of the fixed and operating heater blocks is high, the heater blocks must be cooled and the vertical direction of the heater unit must be reversed. It takes a long time to change the folding direction.

  Also, if the heater unit is turned upside down, the power supply line to the fixed and movable heater block, or the actuator of the movable heater block is, for example, an air cylinder. Changes are also required for routing, complicating the work involved in the switching, which also increases the time required for the switching.

  The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and the purpose of the present invention is to easily change the folding direction of the vertical seal, and to shorten the operation stop time of the vertical bag making filling packaging machine accompanying this change. An object of the present invention is to provide a vertical sealing device that can be used.

The above-described object is achieved by a vertical sealing device of a vertical bag making filling and packaging machine according to the present invention, which extends along the axial direction of the filling tube and sandwiches both side edges of the cylindrical packaging material and heats it. A pair of heater blocks to be sealed, and a pair of actuators that are assigned to each of the heater blocks and enable a contact / separation movement to make one heater block on the corresponding side contact and separate from the other heater block;
By making one actuator active, the heater block on the side corresponding to the actuator becomes a movable heater block, and on the other actuator, the heater block on the side corresponding to the actuator becomes a fixed heater block. Switching means, and the heating temperature of the movable heater block is higher than that of the fixed heater block .

  According to the above-described vertical seal device, since it includes a pair of actuators and switching means, one of the pair of heater blocks is fixed heater block and the other is a movable heater block according to the folding direction of the vertical seal Can be selected. In this case, the moving movement of the movable heater block with respect to the fixed heater block is performed by an actuator assigned to the movable heater block.

  Preferably, each of the pair of actuators is a double-acting air cylinder, and the switching means is provided detachably on the fixed heater block side, and includes a stopper that disables the contact and separation of the fixed heater block. 2). In this case, the stopper fixes the fixed heater block at the reference position, and the reference position of the fixed heater block is achieved with high reproducibility even if the inactive actuator is an air cylinder.

Further, such a stopper disables the contraction operation of the air cylinder in the resting state at an intermediate position of the telescopic stroke when viewed from the telescopic stroke of the air cylinder in the resting state. Is preferably resting during the contraction operation (claim 3). In this case, since the air cylinder in the resting state holds the fixed heater block at the reference position via the stopper, the seal position of the vertical seal is stabilized.
Furthermore, the switching means may further include a sensor that is assigned to each of the air cylinders and detects the presence of the stopper (Claim 4), and such a sensor is prior to the operation of the vertical bag making filling and packaging machine. Helps to check the stopper placement.

  The vertical seal device of the present invention according to claims 1 to 4 can easily change the folding direction of the vertical seal, and can shorten the operation stop time of the vertical bag filling and packaging machine accompanying this change.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows a vertical bag making filling packaging machine. It is a schematic plan view of the vertical seal device concerning one embodiment of the present invention applied to the right folding of the vertical seal. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view showing the longitudinal seal device shown in FIG. It is a schematic plan view of the vertical seal device concerning one embodiment of the present invention applied to the left folding of the vertical seal. FIG. 5 is a schematic front view showing the vertical sealing device shown in FIG. It is a schematic block diagram which can switch the folding direction of a vertical seal semi-automatically.

  Referring to FIG. 1, the vertical bag making filling and packaging machine includes a filling tube 10, which extends in the vertical direction and can receive the filled article from its upper end. A former 12 is attached to the upper portion of the filling tube 10, and the former 12 has a shape surrounding the filling tube 10 from behind.

  A feeding path 14 for the packaging material F extends behind the former 12, and the feeding path 14 is defined by a number of guide rollers and connected to the packaging material roll R. The packaging material roll R is obtained by winding a packaging material F around a reel 16, and the packaging material F is made of a heat-shrinkable film. The packaging material F fed out from the packaging material roll R is guided to the former 12 and formed into a cylindrical shape surrounding the filling tube 10 when passing through the former 12, and both side edges of the cylindrical packaging material F are formed. Are superimposed on each other in the form of fins. Such a cylindrical packaging material TF extends downward along the filling tube 10 and is drawn from the lower end of the filling tube 10.

  For example, a pair of suction-type feed belts 18 are disposed outside the filling tube 10, and these feed belts 18 are arranged at the lower end of the filling tube 10 in the diameter direction of the filling tube 10 (the left-right direction of the filling tube 10). Are separated from each other. In FIG. 1, only one feed belt 18 is shown. The pair of feed belts 18 can adsorb the cylindrical packaging material TF and run intermittently in conjunction with each other in this adsorbed state. Therefore, the cylindrical packaging material TF is intermittently fed out along the filling tube 10 every certain length.

  A vertical sealing device 20 is disposed outside the filling tube 10, and the vertical sealing device 20 is positioned at the center between the pair of feed belts 18 when viewed in the circumferential direction of the filling tube 10. The vertical sealing device 20 includes a pair of heater blocks 22 that can be opened and closed, and these heater blocks 22 extend from directly below the former 12 along the axis of the filling tube 10.

  When the pair of heater blocks 22 are in an open position where a predetermined gap is secured between the heater blocks 22, both side edges of the cylindrical packaging material TF form a gap between the pair of heater blocks 22 due to the intermittent feeding described above. pass. On the other hand, when the pair of heater blocks 22 are in the closed position, the pair of heater blocks 22 sandwich and heat seal both side edges of the cylindrical packaging material TF to form a vertical seal LS in the form of a fin seal. At this point, the cylindrical packaging material TF is completely closed when viewed in its circumferential direction. Therefore, the complete tube T is continuously formed from the cylindrical packaging material TF by repeating the intermittent delivery of the cylindrical packaging material TF and the opening / closing operation of the pair of heater blocks 22.

Further, a horizontal sealing device 24 is disposed below the filling tube 10, and the horizontal sealing device 24 also includes a pair of heater blocks 26. These heater blocks 26 are arranged horizontally and are opened and closed as the tube T is intermittently drawn.
Specifically, each time intermittent delivery of the tube T is performed, the pair of heater blocks 26 are closed and positioned at a closed position where the tube T is sandwiched. In this closed position, the pair of heater blocks 26 heat-seal the tube T in the transverse direction, and form a transverse seal CS on the tube T.

  When such a horizontal seal CS is formed, the vertical seal LS of the tube T is also partially sandwiched between the pair of heater blocks 26 and seat-sealed in a state of being superimposed on the horizontal seal CS. In order to ensure that the vertical seal LS is sandwiched here, a folding guide 28 is arranged on the left side of the vertical seal LS between the lower end of the filling tube 10 and the horizontal sealing device 24. Fold it to the right as shown while guiding the vertical seal LS.

  Specifically, in the example of FIG. 1, of the pair of heater blocks 22 of the vertical seal device 20, the left heater block 22 is fixed, the right heater block 22 is movable, and the fixed heater block 22 is movable. When the heater block 22 contacts and separates, the pair of heater blocks 22 opens and closes. In this case, the heating temperature of the movable heater block 22 is higher than that of the fixed heater block 22. Such a temperature difference causes the vertical seal LS to fall rightward on the side of the movable heater block 22 after the vertical seal LS has come out below the vertical seal device 20. Therefore, the above-described folding guide 28 ensures that the vertical seal LS is folded, because the vertical seal LS has such a fallen fold.

  One of the pair of heater blocks 26 may include a cutting knife (not shown), and the other heater block 26 may have a relief groove (not shown) for the cutting knife. In this case, after the formation of the lateral seal CS is completed, before the pair of heater blocks 26 returns to the open position, the cutting knife projects from one heater block 26 into the escape groove of the other heater block 26, and the lateral seal Cut CS up and down.

  The formation and cutting of the lateral seal CS described above are performed alternately with the charging operation of the above-mentioned filled article, and as a result, the individual packs P containing the filled article are discharged from the lateral seal device 24 as shown in FIG. The pack P is dropped downward. Here, the cutting of the horizontal seal CS is performed by dividing the horizontal seal CS into a top seal portion TS of the pack P manufactured this time and a bottom seal portion BS of the pack P manufactured next time.

Next, the vertical seal device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in further detail.
As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical sealing device 20 includes a support arm 30, and the support arm 30 extends horizontally in a direction transverse to the filling tube 10 on the front side of the filling tube 10. The support arm 30 is attached to a support beam (not shown) via a support shaft 32, and can be rotated in the direction of arrow C in FIG. Further, the fastening between the support arm 30 and the support shaft 32 or the release thereof can be performed by the opening / closing lever 34.

  The support arm 30 is provided with a pair of left and right support brackets 36 in the form of plates. The support brackets 36 are spaced apart so as to sandwich the filling tube 10 and protrude from the support arm 30 toward the filling tube 10. As apparent from FIG. 3, a pair of upper and lower guide rods 38 are bridged between the support brackets 36, and a pair of left and right heater mounts 40 are attached to the guide rods 38 via sliders 42. ing.

A heater block 22L is attached to the left heater mount 40, and a heater block 22R is attached to the right heater mount 40. Therefore, the heater blocks 22L and 22R can reciprocate in a direction in which the heater blocks 22L and 22R come in contact with and separate from each other along the upper and lower guide rods 38.
The heater blocks 22L and 22R include an electric heater, a temperature sensor, and a heat pipe if necessary, and power is supplied to the heaters via power supply sockets 44 attached to the lower ends of the heater blocks 22L and 22R, respectively. Is possible. Further, the temperature signal from the temperature sensor can be taken out via the signal cable 46.

Further, air cylinders 48L and 48R as actuators are respectively attached to the pair of support brackets 36 described above. These air cylinders 48L and 48R are double-acting and have output rods 50 penetrating the support brackets 36, and these output rods 50 are connected to the heater mounts 40 on the corresponding side, whereby the heater block 22L. , 22R, respectively. That is, the air cylinders 48L and 48R can reciprocate the corresponding heater blocks 22L and 22R along the guide rod 38 via the heater mount 40 by extending and contracting the output rod 50 thereof.
The air cylinders 48L and 48R are connected to a compressed air line including a compressed air source and a switching valve, but this compressed air line is omitted.

  When the left heater block 22L is used in a fixed manner as described above, it is removed between the heater mount 40 on the heater block 22L side and the support bracket 36 on the air cylinder 48L side as shown in FIGS. A stopper 52 is mounted in such a manner that the stopper 52 disables the contraction operation of the output rod 50 in the air cylinder 48L and fixes the heater block 22L at the reference position (see FIG. 2), while only the air cylinder 48R. Is made active. At this time, the air cylinder 48L is in a paused state during the contraction operation, and holds the stopper 52 in a pressed state between the support bracket 36 and the heater mount 40.

Therefore, since the fixed heater block 22L is stably held at the reference position determined by the stopper 52, the positions where both side edges of the cylindrical packaging material TF are sandwiched between the heater blocks 22L and 22R, that is, The seal position becomes constant, the vertical seal LS can be formed with high quality, and the positioning control of the seal position is easy.
In this case, as is clear from the above description, the folding guide 28 is detachably attached to the lower end of the heater block 22L via a mounting tool 54 (see FIG. 3), and the folding guide 28 moves the vertical seal LS to the right. Fold it in.

  The above-described vertical seal device 20 is equipped with a stopper 52 on the assumption that the vertical seal LS is folded to the right. However, to fold the vertical seal LS to the left, the stopper 52 is removed from the heater block 22L side and removed. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stopper 52 is mounted between the support bracket 36 on the heater block 22 R side and the heater mount 40. In this case, the heater block 22R becomes the fixed side and the heater block 22L becomes the movable side, and the air cylinder 48R is stopped in the process of the contraction operation similarly to the air cylinder 48L described above, and only the air cylinder 48L can be activated.

Again, the stopper 52 and the air cylinder 48R cooperate with each other, and stably fix the heater block 22R at the reference position as in the case of the heater block 22L described above (see FIG. 4). As shown in FIG. 5, the folding guide 28 is attached to the lower end of the heater block 22R via an attachment 54, unlike the case described above.
Even with such a vertical seal device 20, a high-quality vertical seal LS can be formed in the same manner, and the formed vertical seal LS can be reliably folded to the left.

  Therefore, according to the vertical seal device 20 of the present invention, the folding direction (falling wrinkle) of the vertical seal LS can be easily achieved by simply installing the stopper 52 or simply switching the one air cylinder 48 to the resting state. Can change. As a result, the time required for the switching operation, that is, the operation stop time of the vertical bag making filling and packaging machine is greatly reduced.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, in order to semi-automate the switching of the folding direction of the vertical seal LS in the vertical seal device 20, a pair of left and right proximity sensors 56L and 56R are provided, and these proximity sensors 56L and 56R are, for example, air Attached to the cylinders 48L and 48 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). As shown in FIG. 6, the proximity sensors 56 </ b> L and 56 </ b> R are electrically connected to a controller 58, and the controller 58 controls the operation of the entire packaging machine including the vertical sealing device 20.

  If the proximity sensor 56L, 56R has a stopper 52 mounted in the vicinity thereof, the proximity sensor 56L detects the stopper 52 and transmits a detection signal to the controller 58. Based on the received detection signal, the controller 58 determines whether the stopper 52 is mounted on the left or right side, puts one of the air cylinders 48L, 48R into a resting state as described above, and then turns on the air cylinders 48L, 48R. Make the other active.

Therefore, in the case of the present embodiment, the stopper 52 and the controller 58 constitute a switching means for switching the folding direction (falling wrinkle) of the vertical seal LS.
The presence of such proximity sensors 56L and 56R makes it possible to easily confirm the arrangement of the stopper 52, so that the vertical bag making filling and packaging machine is not operated without forgetting to install the stopper 52, and the defective pack P Can be prevented from being produced undesirably.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made.
For example, not only the air cylinder but also various types of actuators such as a feed screw and a link mechanism can be used for the contact / separation movement of the heater block 22, and the stopper prevents the actuator and the heater block from operating and moving in both directions. It may be what you do. Furthermore, it goes without saying that not only the proximity sensor but also various types of sensors can be used for detecting the stopper.

10 Filling tube 20 Vertical seal device 22L, 22R Heater block 48L, 48R Air cylinder (actuator)
52 Stopper (switching means)
56L, 56R Proximity sensor 58 Controller (switching means)
TF Cylindrical packaging
LS vertical seal

Claims (4)

In a vertical sealing device that is arranged in the vicinity of a filling tube in a vertical bag making filling and packaging machine and forms both side edges of a cylindrical packaging material surrounding the filling tube into a vertical seal in the form of a fin seal,
A pair of heater blocks that extend along the axial direction of the filling tube and heat-seal between the side edges;
A pair of actuators that are assigned to each of the heater blocks, and that enable a contact / separation movement to contact or separate one heater block on the corresponding side with respect to the other heater block;
By making one actuator active, the heater block on the side corresponding to the actuator becomes a movable heater block, and on the other actuator, the heater block on the side corresponding to the actuator becomes a fixed heater block. Switching means ,
A vertical sealing device for a vertical bag making filling and packaging machine, wherein the heating temperature of the movable heater block is higher than that of the fixed heater block . Each of the pair of actuators is a double-acting air cylinder,
2. The vertical sealing device of the vertical bag making filling and packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit includes a stopper that is detachably provided on the fixed heater block side and disables the contact and separation of the fixed heater block.   The stopper disables the contraction operation of the air cylinder in the resting state at an intermediate position of the telescopic stroke when viewed from the telescopic stroke of the air cylinder in the resting state. The vertical sealing device of the vertical bag making filling and packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein the vertical bag making filling and packaging machine is resting in the process of shrinking operation.   4. The vertical sealing device for a vertical bag making filling and packaging machine according to claim 3, wherein the switching means further includes a sensor assigned to each of the air cylinders and detecting the presence of the stopper.

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