JP2024007146A - Packaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a packaging device that can prevent bias in the gathering of packaging sheets.SOLUTION: A packaging device 1 includes: support means 25 having a support body 33 that supports a crop through a packaging sheet; and collecting means 131 that collects an upper portion of the packaging sheet located above the crop on the support body 33. The collecting means 131 includes: a pair of collecting rotators 143, 144 that collects the upper portion of the packaging sheet by rotating in a direction approaching each other. One collecting rotator 143 of the collecting rotators is rotatable about a first fulcrum 181, and the other collecting rotator 144 of the collecting rotators is rotatable about a second fulcrum 182. The first fulcrum 181 and the second fulcrum 182 are located at point symmetrical positions around a center point P of the support 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging device for packaging agricultural products with a packaging sheet.

BACKGROUND ART Conventionally, for example, a packaging device described in Patent Document 1 below is known.

This conventional packaging device includes a pair of sheet shifting arms that swing in a direction perpendicular to the sliding direction of the support plate, and these pair of sheet shifting arms have vertical axes on the same side that are close to each other on the underside of the support plate. It is supported swingably around the core. The sheet shifting arm is provided with an F-shaped long hole, and a pair of rollers provided on the back side of the support plate are inserted into the long hole to support the sheet shifting arm so that it does not fall downward. A guide plate is installed across both rollers.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-67165

However, in the above-mentioned conventional packaging device, the pair of sheet shifting arms are swingably supported around the vertical axes on the same side close to each other, so the sheet shifting arms are pivoted around the vertical axes on the same side. When the upper portion of the packaging sheet is gathered together by swinging around, there is a possibility that the sheet gathering arm gathers the packaging sheet unevenly.

The present invention has been made in view of these points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a packaging device that can prevent uneven collection of packaging sheets.

A packaging device according to the present invention is a packaging device for packaging agricultural products with packaging sheets, and is provided with a collecting means for collecting the packaging sheets, and the collecting means rotates the packaging sheets in a direction in which the packaging sheets approach each other. A pair of gathering and rotating bodies are provided, one of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a first fulcrum, and the pair of gathering and rotating bodies are rotatable about a first fulcrum. The other gathering rotating body of the rotating bodies is rotatable about a second fulcrum, and the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum are different from each other so that the packaging sheets are not gathered unevenly. It is located on the side.

Moreover, the packaging device according to the present invention is a packaging device for packaging agricultural products with a packaging sheet, and includes a support means having a support for supporting the agricultural products via the packaging sheet, and a support means that supports the agricultural products through the packaging sheet, and a gathering means for gathering together the upper portions of the packaging sheets located above, and the gathering means includes a pair of gathering rotating bodies that gather together the upper portions of the packaging sheets by rotating in directions approaching each other. , one of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a first fulcrum, and the other of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a first fulcrum; The movable body is rotatable about a second fulcrum, and the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum are located at symmetrical positions about the center point of the support.

Furthermore, the packaging device according to the present invention is a packaging device for packaging agricultural products with a packaging sheet, and includes a support means having a support that supports the agricultural product via the packaging sheet, and a support means that supports the agricultural product through the packaging sheet, and a gathering means for gathering together the upper portions of the packaging sheets located above, the gathering means comprising a pair of gathering moving bodies that gather together the upper portions of the packaging sheets by moving in directions approaching each other; , comprising a pair of gathering and rotating bodies that gather together the upper portions of the packaging sheets by rotating in directions approaching each other, one of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies being a first gathering and rotating body; The other of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a fulcrum, and the other of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a second fulcrum, and the first and second fulcrums are rotatable about a second fulcrum. are located at points symmetrical with respect to the center point of the support.

According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent packaging sheets from being unbalanced.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a packaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a rear perspective view of the packaging device same as the above. It is a front view showing the inside of the packaging device same as the above. FIG. 3 is a partial front view of the inside of the packaging device (with the first elevating body in the raised position). FIG. 2 is a partial front view of the inside of the packaging device (with the first elevating body in the lowered position). It is a side view which shows the 1st elevating and lowering drive means of a packaging device same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the support means of a packaging device same as the above. It is a partial plan view of the collection means of the packaging device same as the above (state where the collection moving body is located in a standby position). It is a partial plan view of the collection means same as the above (state where the collection moving body is located in the collection position). It is a partial plan view of the collection means same as the above (state where the collection rotating body is located in a standby position). It is a partial plan view of the collection means same as the above (state where the collection rotating body is located in the collection position). It is a front view of the collection means same as the above. (a) thru|or (d) are explanatory drawings for demonstrating the operation|movement of the packaging process by the packaging apparatus same as the above. (e) to (h) are explanatory diagrams following FIG. 13.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 14.

1 in the figure is a packaging device, and this packaging device 1 is a lettuce packaging machine (vegetables packaging machine).

In other words, the packaging device 1 automatically wraps the agricultural products W supplied into the packaging device 1 from the supply port 2 manually by the worker with the packaging sheet S, and then the wrapped agricultural products W are released from the discharge port 3. It is automatically discharged to the outside of the packaging device 1.

The packaging sheet (packaging film) S is obtained by cutting a long sheet S0 pulled out from a roll-shaped sheet roll R into predetermined dimensions, and is, for example, a transparent sheet (film) made of relatively flexible synthetic resin. It is. Note that the sheet roll R is a roll of a long continuous sheet S0 for packaging, and is rotatably supported by the support rollers 5 of the roll support means 4. Further, the material of the packaging sheet S is, for example, an OPP film or a stretch film.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the packaging device 1 includes a box-shaped device main body 11 whose outer shape is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. A rectangular upper supply port 13 is formed in the upper plate 12 of the main body 11 of the apparatus. A horizontal support plate (packaging sheet support section) 14 is provided below the upper plate 12 to support the flatly developed packaging sheet S in a placed state.

A circular lower supply port 15 facing the upper supply port 13 is formed in the support plate 14 . A part of the lower supply port 15 (the outer circumference side portion) can be opened and closed by a resin plate 16 that is a plurality of elastic plates that are elastically deformable and lined up in the circumferential direction of the lower supply port 15. It is being said. Note that the upper supply port 13 and the lower supply port 15 facing each other constitute a supply port 2 through which an operator manually supplies the agricultural products W before packaging into the apparatus main body 11 from above.

A rectangular discharge port 3 is formed in the rear plate 18 of the apparatus main body 11 for discharging the agricultural products W after packaging to the outside of the apparatus main body 11. That is, from this discharge port 3, the packaged agricultural products W, which are entirely wrapped in the packaging sheet S, are discharged to the outside of the apparatus main body 11. Note that the agricultural products (packaged agricultural products) W discharged from the discharge port 3 are transported to the next process by a transport means such as a conveyor. Further, for example, the agricultural products W discharged from the discharge port 3 may be stored in a container.

A rectangular surplus discharge port 20 is formed in the right plate 19 of the apparatus main body 11 for discharging the surplus part S1 of the packaging sheet S after packaging to the outside of the apparatus main body 11. In other words, from this surplus discharge port 20, the surplus part (surplus waste, which is the surplus of the packaging sheet) S1 separated from the upper part of the packaging sheet S wrapped around the agricultural products W is discharged to the outside of the main body 11 of the apparatus. Ru. Note that the device main body 11 is provided with, for example, a manual operation switch (operating means) 21, a setting panel (setting means) 22, and the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the packaging device 1 receives and supports the unwrapped agricultural products W supplied from the supply port 2 of the device main body 11 via the packaging sheet S, and outputs the wrapped agricultural products W through the discharge port. A support means (receiving section) 25 that sends out to the third side and discharges from the discharge port 3, and a predetermined amount for the upper part of the packaging sheet S wrapped around the agricultural products W on the support body 33 of the support means 25. It is provided with processing means (slide section) 26 that performs processing (for example, gathering, cutting, and heat welding).

Furthermore, the packaging device 1 includes an air injection unit that injects compressed air to the surplus portion (surplus waste) S1 separated from the packaging sheet S by the processing means 26 and discharges the surplus portion S1 from the surplus portion discharge port 20. (Air injection part) 27 is provided.

The packaging device 1 also includes a pull-out unit (sheet pull-out unit) 28 that pulls out the long sheet S0 from the sheet roll R on the support roller 5 of the roll support unit 4 in the pull-out direction (left direction); A cutting means (sheet cutting section) 29 is provided for cutting the long sheet S0 obtained by cutting the long sheet S0 to obtain a packaging sheet S having a predetermined size (predetermined length).

As described above, the packaging device 1 includes the device body 11, the roll support means 4, the support means 25, the processing means 26, the air injection means 27, the drawing means 28, the cutting means 29, and the like.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the support means (support and delivery means) 25 includes a guide body 30 erected on the bottom 17 of the apparatus main body 11, and a first movable up-and-down device guided by the guide body 30. An elevating body 31, a second elevating body 32 that is provided on the first elevating body 31 so as to be able to rise and fall, and a second elevating body 32 that rotates about a rotation center axis (rotation fulcrum) L1 in the left and right direction. A support body 33 is provided to support the lower surface of the agricultural products W in a placed state from below via the packaging sheet S, and a support body 33 is provided to support the lower surface of the agricultural products W in a placed state from below via the packaging sheet S, and the first elevating body 31 is provided with a support body 33 that is provided with a support body 33 that supports the lower surface of the agricultural products W in a placed state from below through the packaging sheet S. A pair of left and right holding bodies (pinching bodies) 34 which are rotatably provided as a support body 33 and hold (pinches) both left and right sides of the agricultural product W supported by the support body 33 from both left and right sides via the packaging sheet S. It is equipped with

The support means 25 also includes a first elevating drive means 36 for elevating the first elevating body 31 with respect to the guide body 30, and a second elevating drive means for elevating the second elevating body 32 relative to the first elevating body 31. 37, a first rotation driving means 38 that rotates the support body 33 with respect to the second elevating body 32 around the rotation center axis L1, and both left and right holding bodies 34 with respect to the first elevating body 31. It is provided with a second rotation drive means 39 that rotates (opens and closes) about the rotation center axis L2.

The guide body 30 that guides the first elevating body 31 in the vertical direction includes a first guide member 51 that is elongated in the vertical direction and has a round bar shape that guides the cylindrical part 41 of the first elevating body 31; It has a second guide member 52 which is elongated in the vertical direction and has a U-shaped frame shape and guides the roller portion 42 .

The first elevating drive means 36 includes a motor (drive source) 55 that is a drive source for elevating the support body 33 together with the first elevating body 31 and the like with respect to the apparatus main body 11, and a motor (drive source) 55 that is powered by the motor 55. The chain 56 has an endless chain 56 that rotates around the base, and this chain 56 is stretched between upper and lower sprockets 57 that are spaced apart from each other and are opposed to each other, and the tension thereof can be adjusted by a tension adjustment means 58.

The tension adjustment means 58 has a tightener 60 that is rotatable about a support shaft 59, and a lower sprocket 57 is attached to the tip of the tightener 60. A connecting rod 61 is connected to the base end of the tightener 60, and the connecting rod 61 is urged upward by an adjustment spring 62. Further, a mounting plate 63 is attached to the middle of the chain 56, and the mounting portion 43 of the first elevating body 31 is attached to this mounting plate 63.

Then, the first elevating body 31 rises to the raised position relative to the guide body 30 by the rotation of the chain 56 in one direction based on the power from the motor 55 (see FIG. 4). As the chain rotates in the other direction, the guide body 30 is lowered to a lowered position corresponding to the size (height) of the agricultural product W (see FIG. 5).

Here, the elevated position is a predetermined constant position regardless of the size of the agricultural product W. On the other hand, the lowered position is an arbitrary position determined according to the size of the agricultural product W (a packaging position that is a corresponding lowered position corresponding to the size of the agricultural product).

That is, for example, the control means 50 determines the lowering position according to the size of the agricultural product W based on information from a detection means (such as a photoelectric sensor) 49 that detects passage of the agricultural product W supplied from the supply port 2. The control means 50 appropriately controls each drive source (motor, air cylinder, etc.) based on information from sensors, switches, etc., for example. Under the control of the control means 50, for example, after the detection means 49 detects the passage of the agricultural products W, and before the motor 55 stops, the collecting means 131 automatically starts the gathering operation.

The second elevating body 32 has a plurality of guided parts 65 that can be raised and lowered and are guided by a plurality of (for example, two left and right) guide parts 44 of the first elevating body 31. An upper end portion of the guided portion 65 is attached to a horizontal base plate portion 66.

Further, the second elevating body 32 has a U-shaped frame portion 67 that is movable up and down with respect to the base plate portion 66, and the support body 33 is mounted on the U-shaped frame portion 67 around the rotation center axis L1. It is attached so that it can be moved up and down. Although not shown, the U-shaped frame portion 67 is a buffer means for alleviating the impact on the agricultural products W when the agricultural products W are placed on the support 33 (when the agricultural products are set on the support). It is elastically supported by a buffer spring, and a guide pin inside the buffer spring is slidably inserted into a cylindrical buffer guide part.

The second elevating and lowering drive means 37 has an elevating cylinder (drive source) 71 that is an expandable and retractable fluid pressure cylinder. That is, the second elevating drive means 37 is composed of only the elevating cylinder 71. The elevating cylinder 71 has a cylinder body 72 attached to the first elevating body 31 and a rod 73 that moves in and out of the cylinder body 72. The tip of the rod 73 is attached to the base plate 66 of the second elevating body 32.

Then, the second elevating body 32 is lowered to a lower position relative to the first elevating member 31 by the retracting action of the elevating cylinder 71, and is raised to an upper position relative to the first elevating member 31 by the extending action of the elevating cylinder 71. . That is, the second elevating body 31 is movable up and down relative to the first elevating body 31 so that agricultural products W of different sizes can be handled, and the support body 33 is moved between the upper and lower positions with respect to the holding body 34. It is possible to go up and down.

The holding body (clamping body) 34 rotates about the rotation center axis L2 with respect to the first elevating body 31, so that it can be in an open state (a state in which it does not hold agricultural products) and a closed state (a state in which it grips agricultural products from both sides). It is something that becomes.

In other words, the pair of holding bodies 34 are brought into a closed state by synchronous movement (closing operation) in the direction of approaching each other based on rotation around the rotation center axis L2, The opening state is achieved by synchronous movement (opening operation) in directions away from each other based on the rotation.

The holding body 34 includes an L-shaped arm portion 76 provided on the first elevating body 31 so as to be rotatable about the rotation center axis L2, and an L-shaped arm portion 76 provided at the tip of the upper end side of the arm portion 76. A holding part 77 is provided at the base end of the lower end side of the arm part 76 to contact and hold the side surface of the agricultural product W via the packaging sheet S when the body 34 is in the closed state. It has a roller portion 78 that comes into contact with the roller contact plate 85 of the second rotation drive means 39.

The holding part 77 includes, for example, a rectangular holding plate 79 and a cushion such as a sponge attached to the holding plate 79 so as to cover the surface of the holding plate 79 (at least the surface that contacts the agricultural products via the packaging sheet). It is made up of a material 80.

The second rotation drive means 39 has an opening/closing cylinder (drive source) 81 that is an expandable and retractable fluid pressure cylinder. The opening/closing cylinder 81 has a cylinder body 82 attached to the first elevating body 31 and a rod 83 that moves in and out of the cylinder body 82. A roller contact plate 85 is attached to the tip of the rod 83 for lifting the roller portion 78 against the biasing force of a closing spring 84 serving as biasing means. The roller contact plate 85 moves up and down while being guided by a guide pin 86 extending in the vertical direction.

A closing spring 84 for closing the holding body 34 is installed between the first elevating body 31 and the holding body 34 . That is, the closing spring 84 has one end attached to the spring attachment part 45 of the first elevating body 31 and the other end attached to the spring attachment part 46 of the holder 34.

Then, the holding body 34 rotates about the rotational center axis L2 relative to the first elevating body 31 by the extension operation of the opening/closing cylinder 81 and becomes an open state (see FIG. 4), and by the retracting operation of the opening/closing cylinder 81. It receives a biasing force (elastic restoring force) from the closing spring 84, and based on this biasing force, it rotates about the rotation center axis L2 with respect to the first elevating body 31 and enters the closed state (see FIG. 5).

As shown in FIG. 5, when the holding body 34 is switched from the open state to the closed state, the agricultural products W on the support body 33 are held by the holding parts (pinching parts) of both the holding bodies 34 based on the biasing force of the closing spring 84. ) 77 from both sides.

The support body (mounting body) 33 rotates about the rotation center axis L1 with respect to the second elevating body 32, so that it can be placed in a first state (a supporting state in which the crops are supported from below) and a second state (in which the crops are supported from the side). This is the sending state in which the data is sent to the other direction.

In other words, the support body 33 becomes a horizontal first state (a state in which agricultural products are placed) by rotating in one direction (front side) about the rotation center axis L1, Rotation about the center in the other direction (backward side) brings it into the second state where it is tilted backwards (the state where the agricultural products are discharged).

As shown in FIG. 7, the support 33 supports the lower surface of the agricultural product W from below in the placed state via the packaging sheet S in the first state of the support 33, but in the second state of the support 33, In this state, it has a dish-shaped support part 91 that sends the agricultural products W backward (to the side) by its own weight, and a downwardly protruding mounting part 92 that projects downward from this support part 91. . In other words, the support body 33 includes a mounting portion 92 rotatably attached to the second elevating body 32 around the rotation center axis L1, and is fixed to the upper part of the mounting portion 92, and supports the lower surface side of the agricultural product W. It has a supporting part (receiving part) 91 for supporting.

The mounting portion 92 has a mounting plate 94 attached to the lower surface of the support portion 91 with a mounting tool 93 such as a screw. From both ends of the mounting plate 94, a pair of left and right opposing plates 95 are spaced apart from each other and project downward. A cylindrical insertion tube 96 extending in the left-right direction is provided at the center portion of both opposing plates 95 in the front-rear direction.

Then, a bolt 97 is inserted into the insertion tube 96, and a nut 98 is screwed onto the bolt 97, so that the mounting portion 92 is attached to the U-shaped frame portion 67 of the second elevating body 32 about the rotation center axis L1. It is rotatably mounted. A line passing through the axis of the shaft portion of this bolt 97 is the rotation center axis L1.

Further, the tip end of the rod 123 of the rotation cylinder 121 of the first rotation drive means 38 is rotatably attached to the front end portions of both opposing plates 95 of the attachment portion 92 via the attachment means 100. The attachment means 100 includes, for example, a bolt 101, a nut 102, and a spacer 103.

The support part 91 supports the agricultural products W from below when the support body 33 is in the first state, and sends the agricultural products W to the rear side when the support body 33 is in the second state. A support plate (saucer) 105 having a shape, and a cushioning material 106 such as a sponge attached to the support plate 105 so as to cover the surface of the support plate 105 (at least the surface that contacts the agricultural products via the packaging sheet). It is configured.

Here, the support part 91 includes a rectangular plate-shaped central support part 107 that supports the central part of the lower surface of the agricultural product W via the packaging sheet S, and four end parts (outer edge ), rectangular plate-shaped peripheral support parts 108a and 108b that protrude obliquely upward and support four peripheral parts located around the central part of the lower surface of the agricultural product W via the packaging sheet S; have.

The front and rear pair of peripheral support parts 108a are formed larger than the left and right pair of peripheral support parts 108b. The pair of front and rear peripheral support portions 108a includes an inclined portion 109 located at an angle with respect to the center support portion 107, and a tip portion 110 located parallel to the center support portion 107. The pair of left and right peripheral support portions 108b are composed only of inclined portions 111 that are inclined with respect to the center support portion 107. Note that when the support body 33 is in the first state, the central support portion 107 is located along the horizontal plane. On the other hand, when the support body 33 is in the second state, the inclined portion 109 of the front peripheral support portion 108a is located along a vertical plane.

The first rotation drive means 38 has a rotation cylinder (drive source) 121 that is an expandable and retractable fluid pressure cylinder. In other words, the first rotation drive means 38 is composed of only the rotation cylinder 121. The rotation cylinder 121 has a cylinder body 122 attached to the cylinder attachment part 124 of the second elevating body 32, and a rod 123 that moves in and out of the cylinder body 122. The tip of the rod 123 is attached to the attachment portion 92 of the support body 33 via the attachment means 100.

Then, the support body 33 rotates about the rotation center axis L1 with respect to the second elevating body 32 due to the contraction operation of the rotation cylinder 121, and becomes a horizontal first state (support state), and the rotation cylinder 121 rotates about the rotation center axis L1 relative to the second elevating body 32 and enters the inclined second state (feeding state).

When the support body 33 is in the second state, the agricultural products W on the support part 91 are sent out (discharged) onto the conveyance section 127 of the conveyance body 126, and then the agricultural products W are transported by the inclined conveyance section 127. It is conveyed toward the discharge port 3 and is discharged from the device main body 11 from the discharge port 3 .

The conveying section 127 of the conveying body 126 is composed of, for example, a backward inclined conveying plate 128 and a cushioning material 129 such as a sponge attached to the conveying plate 128 so as to cover the upper surface of the conveying plate 128. ing.

Further, the rotation center axis (rotation fulcrum) L1 of the support body 33 is from the center point (the center of the support body) of the central support portion 107 of the support portion 91 in the first state of the support body 33 in a side view. It is also located on the anti-feeding side, that is, shifted to the front side from the center position in the longitudinal direction of the central support portion 107 in the horizontal position. In other words, the rotation center axis L1 is a vertical axis passing through the center point (center of gravity position) O of the spherical agricultural product W supported in the mounted state by the support part 91 in a side view of the support body 33 in the first state. It is located in front of the line (on the anti-delivery side). In addition, in a plan view, the center point P of the support part 91 (the center of the saucer) and the center point O of the agricultural product W on the support part 91 (the center of gravity of the agricultural product) coincide with each other (including substantially coincide with each other). ing.

Note that, in FIG. 7, illustration of the cushioning material 106 of the support body 33 and the cushioning material 80 of the holding body 34 is omitted. The three cylinders (elevating cylinder 71, opening/closing cylinder 81, and rotating cylinder 121) illustrated in FIG. 7 are, for example, air cylinders. Further, in FIG. 5, illustration of the packaging sheet S is omitted.

As shown in FIGS. 8 to 12, the processing means 26 selects one of the packaging sheets S that is wrapped around the agricultural product W supported by the support body 33 of the support means 25 (approximately the entire agricultural product is wrapped). A predetermined process is performed on the upper part (the outer peripheral part in the unfolded state before packaging), which is the part located above the agricultural products W on the support body 33. For example, the gathering means 131 and the cutting It includes a separating means 132 and a thermal welding means 133.

The collection means (convergence means) 131 is a means for converging and gathering the upper part of the packaging sheet S located above the agricultural products W supported by the support part 91 of the support body 33 so as to squeeze it from the periphery. be.

The separating means 132 cuts the upper part of the packaging sheet S gathered by the gathering means 131 at a predetermined cutting position, thereby cutting the packaging sheet S, which is the part of the packaging sheet S in which the entire agricultural product W is wrapped. It is a means for cutting off the surplus portion S1 from the portion, and is composed of, for example, a cutting blade 135.

The thermal welding means 133 is a means for thermally welding and sealing (closing) the upper part of the packaging sheet S gathered by the gathering means 131, which is located slightly below the cutting position. It consists of a pair of heaters 136 and 137.

The collecting means 131 includes a guide rod 140, which is a pair of left and right guide bodies formed in the shape of an elongated rod in the front-rear direction, and the packaging sheets are moved toward each other along these guide rods 140 (slide movement). A front gathering moving body 141 and a rear gathering moving body 142, which are a pair of front and rear gathering moving bodies that gather together the upper part of S from the front and rear sides, and these gathering moving bodies 141, 142. A left gathering rotating body 143 and a right gathering rotating body 144 are a pair of right and left gathering rotating bodies that pinch and gather the upper part of the packaging sheet S from the left and right sides by interlocking rotations in directions approaching each other. It is equipped with

The collecting means 131 also includes a first moving drive means 146 that moves the front collecting moving body 141 in the front-rear direction with respect to the guide rod 140 between a standby position and a collecting position, and a first moving drive means 146 that moves the front collecting moving body 141 with respect to the guide rod 140 in the front and rear direction. It is provided with a second moving drive means 147 that moves the gathering moving body 142 in the front-rear direction between the standby position and the gathering position.

Note that both gathering and rotating bodies 143 and 144 have the same configuration (composed of a plurality of common parts), and the movement of both gathering and rotating bodies 141 and 142 in the front and rear direction based on the operation of both movement drive means 146 and 147 is (first direction), it rotates in the left-right direction (second direction intersecting the first direction). In other words, the gathering and rotating bodies 143 and 144 rotate in conjunction with the gathering and rotating bodies 141 and 142 that move based on the power from the moving drive means 146 and 147. Furthermore, the two collection moving bodies 141, 142, the two movement driving means 146, 147, etc. have the same configuration, and the parts of this collection means 131 are made common.

First, as shown in FIG. 8 etc., the front collection moving body 141 has a moving member 151 that slides in the front and back direction along the front portion 140a of the guide rod 140, and the moving member 151 has a A guide rod 140 is inserted through the slider portion 152. The moving member 151 is provided with a guide collar 153, a slide plate 154, and a sheet clamping plate 155, and a cutting blade 135 and a heater 136 are attached to the tip side of the sheet clamping plate 155.

The first moving drive means 146 has a cylinder (for example, a driving source such as an air cylinder) 156 that is an expandable and retractable fluid pressure cylinder, and this cylinder 156 has a cylinder body 158 and a cylinder body 158 that moves in and out of the cylinder body 158. It is composed of a rod 159. The rear end of a cylinder arm 160 is connected to the tip of the rod 159, and the front end of the cylinder arm 160 is connected to the left end of the moving member 151.

The rear collection moving body 142 has a moving member 161 that slides in the front and back direction along the rear portion 140b of the guide rod 140. It is inserted. The moving member 161 is provided with a guide collar 163, a slide plate 164, and a seat clamping plate 165, and a heater 137 is attached to the tip side of the seat clamping plate 165. Note that a predetermined portion of the packaging sheet S is held between the heater 136 on the front collecting moving body 141 side and the heater 137 on the rear collecting moving body 142 side and thermally welded.

The second moving drive means 147 has a cylinder 166 (for example, a driving source such as an air cylinder) that is an expandable and retractable fluid pressure cylinder, and this cylinder 166 has a cylinder body 168 and a cylinder body 168 that moves in and out of the cylinder body 168. It is composed of a rod 169. The front end of a cylinder arm 170 is connected to the tip of the rod 169, and the rear end of the cylinder arm 170 is connected to the right end of the moving member 161. Note that the two guide rods 140 that are spaced apart from each other are installed between the front frame 138 and the rear frame 139.

Next, as shown in FIG. 10 etc., the left gathering rotation body 143 has a plurality of, for example, two plate-shaped blade members, an upper blade 171 and a lower blade 172, and the lower blade 172 has a long blade. The hole 173 is formed in a curved shape, and a guide collar (roller part) 163, which is an insertion part of the rear collection moving body 142, is inserted along the long hole 173 (cam hole) 173. Slidably inserted.

The right gathering and rotating body 144 has a plurality of, for example, two plate-shaped blade members, an upper blade 176 and a lower blade 177, and the lower blade 177 has a long hole 178 formed in a curved shape. A guide collar (roller portion) 153, which is an insertion portion of the front collecting moving body 141, is inserted into the elongated hole portion (cam hole portion) 178 so as to be slidable along the elongated hole portion 178.

Further, the upper blade 176 of the right gathering and rotating body 144 is provided with a regulating plate that restricts the downward elastic deformation of the resin plate 16 due to contact with the lower surface of the resin plate 16 when compressed air is injected by the air injection means 27. (Resin plate guide serving as a droop prevention plate) 180 is attached via a plurality of support rods 179. That is, a plurality of support rods 179 are erected on the tip side of the upper surface of the upper blade 176 of the right gathering rotation body 144, and a regulating plate 180 is fixed to the upper end of the support rod 179 at a position near the lower surface of the resin plate 16. It is located in Note that the left and right gathering and rotating bodies 143 and 144 have the same configuration (both are composed of the same plurality of common parts), but as described above, only the right gathering and rotating body 144 has the regulating plate 180. It is attached via a support rod 179.

Here, the left gathering and rotating body 143 (left upper blade and lower blade), which is one of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies 143 and 144, is fixedly attached to the rear side of the device main body 11. The standby position (separated position, which is a position that does not overlap with the support part 91 of the support body 33 in plan view) and the standby position (separated position, which is a position that does not overlap with the support part 91 of the support body 33 in plan view) It is rotatable in the left-right direction between a collection position (an approach position that is a position overlapping with the support part 91 of the support body 33 in plan view).

On the other hand, the right side gathering and rotating body (upper blade and lower blade on the right side) 144, which is the other gathering and rotating body of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies 143 and 144, is fixedly attached to the front side of the device main body 11. The standby position (separated position, which is a position that does not overlap with the support part 91 of the support body 33 in plan view) and the standby position (separated position, which is a position that does not overlap with the support part 91 of the support body 33 in plan view) It is rotatable in the left-right direction between a collection position (an approach position that is a position overlapping with the support part 91 of the support body 33 in plan view).

Note that the upper portions of the packaging sheets S are gathered together by the left and right gathering and rotating bodies 143 and 144 respectively rotating toward their gathering positions (rotating toward each other). , 144 are in the assembled position, there is a gap 183 having a predetermined size between them (see FIG. 11). Due to the existence of this gap 183, the packaging sheet S is properly thermally welded by both heaters 136 and 137.

As is clear from FIG. 10, in a plan view, the first support shaft portion 181 rotatably supports the rear end portion (base end portion on the first support side) of the left gathering rotation body 143, and the right side The second support shaft portion 182 that rotatably supports the front end portion (base end portion on the second support side) of the gathering and rotating body 144 is the center point of the support portion 91 of the support body 33 (the center of the agricultural product). It is located at a point symmetrical position with P as the center.

That is, both the support shaft portions 181 and 182 are located on different sides with respect to the straight line La in the left-right direction passing through the center point P of the support body 33 in plan view, and more specifically, the first support shaft The portion 181 is located on the rear side of the straight line La, and the second support shaft portion 182 is located on the front side of the straight line La. Further, both the support shaft portions 181 and 182 are located on different sides from each other with respect to the straight line Lb in the front-rear direction passing through the center point P of the support body 33 in plan view, and more specifically, the first support shaft The portion 181 is located on the left side of the straight line Lb, and the second support shaft portion 182 is located on the right side of the straight line Lb.

The state shown in FIG. 10 is such that both collection moving bodies 141 and 142 are separated from each other and located in the standby position, and both collection moving bodies 141 and 142 are located at the standby position so that agricultural products W can be set on the support body 33 from the supply port 2. The moving bodies 143 and 144 are also separated from each other and located in the standby position, but when both the cylinders 156 and 166 start to extend from this state (that is, the gathering means 131 starts the gathering operation), the corresponding Due to the stretching action of both cylinders 156, 166, both gathering moving bodies 141, 142 move synchronously to the gathering position in a direction approaching each other, and as a result, the upper part of packaging sheet S is moved by these gathering moving bodies 141, 142. are gathered from the front and back.

At the same time, the guide collars 153, 163 slide within the elongated holes 173, 178, thereby moving the point-symmetrical support shafts 181, 182 in a direction in which both the gathering and rotating bodies 143, 144 approach each other to the gathering position. They rotate synchronously about the center, and as a result, the upper portion of the packaging sheet S is gathered together from the left and right sides by both gathering rotation bodies 143 and 144.

In this way, the upper part of the packaging sheet S is gathered together by both gathering moving bodies 141, 142 and both gathering rotating bodies 143, 144, but at the end of the gathering operation by such gathering means 131, the upper part of the packaging sheet S is separated. The blade 135 cuts the upper part of the packaging sheet S at a desired cutting position to separate the excess surplus part S1 from the packaging part of the packaging sheet S, and both heaters 136 and 137 cut the upper part of the packaging sheet S at the desired cutting position. The part located slightly below the position is sealed by heat welding. As a result, the entire agricultural product W is wrapped by the thermally welded packaging sheet S, and packaging is completed.

When the cylinders 156, 166 of both moving drive means 146, 147 perform a retracting operation after this wrapping is completed, both gathering moving bodies 141, 142 and both gathering rotating bodies 143, 144 return to their original standby positions.

On the other hand, the air injection means 27 includes an injection nozzle 190 that injects compressed air. Further, the pull-out means 28 includes an upper holder 192 and a lower holder 193, which are provided on the movable body 191 and hold the long sheet S0. Further, the cutting means 29 includes a receiving body 195, a pressing body 197 that presses the long sheet S0 against the sheet receiving portion 196 of the receiving body 195, and a pressing body 197 that presses the long sheet S0 against the sheet receiving portion 196 and presses the long sheet S0 against the sheet receiving portion 196. It is equipped with a cutting blade 198, which is a cutting body that cuts the long sheet S0 in direct contact to obtain a packaging sheet S of a predetermined size.

Next, the operation of the packaging process by the packaging device 1 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14.

First, as shown in FIGS. 13(a) and 13(b), after the upper holder 192 and lower holder 193 of the pull-out means 28 sandwich and hold the leading end of the long sheet S0, the movable body 191 The long sheet S0 is pulled out from the sheet roll R by moving from the holding position to the holding release position.

Next, as shown in FIGS. 13(c) and 13(d), after the pressing body 197 of the cutting means 29 presses the intermediate portion of the long sheet S0 against the sheet receiving portion 196 of the receiving body 195, the cutting blade 198 presses the intermediate portion of the long sheet S0. By cutting the long sheet S0, a packaging sheet S of a predetermined size is obtained.

Then, when the holding of the packaging sheet S by both the holders 192 and 193 of the pull-out means 28 is released, the packaging sheet S falls onto the support plate 14 of the apparatus main body 11 due to its own weight.

At this time, the packaging sheet S is not stuck (does not adhere) to the receiving portion 196a of the sheet receiving portion 196 that was pressed by the pressing body 197, and is smoothly separated from the receiving portion 196a. Therefore, the operator can appropriately set the agricultural products W on the support body 33 via the packaging sheet S.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14(e), with the packaging sheet S falling under its own weight and being placed on the support plate 14, the operator pushes the resin plate 16 with the agricultural product W to be packaged held in his hand. While being pressed down and elastically deformed once, the agricultural products W are fed into the packaging device 1 from the supply port 2 and placed on the support body 33.

Then, as shown in FIG. 14(f), almost the entire agricultural product W (excluding the central part of the upper surface) is wrapped in the packaging sheet S, and the support part of the support body 33 of the support means 25 is wrapped. 91 with the packaging sheet S interposed therebetween. In this way, the agricultural products W are appropriately set on the support part 91 of the support body 33 in the first state via the packaging sheet S.

Then, after both the holding bodies 34 are changed from the open state to the closed state by the closing operation and sandwich the right and left side surfaces of the agricultural product W from both sides, the second elevating member 32 and the first elevating member 31 are moved up and down integrally therewith. Together with the support 33 and the like, it descends from the raised position to the lowered position (corresponding lowered position) based on the power from the motor 55 and stops. As a result, the agricultural products W placed on the support part 91 of the support body 33 in the first state are stopped at the packaging position corresponding to the size of the agricultural products W.

Further, after the detection means 49 detects the passage of agricultural products W, and before the motor 55 stops, that is, when the support body 33 is descending, the collection means 131 of the processing means 26 is activated under the control of the control means 50. The gathering operation is started, and the upper portion of the packaging sheet S on the support body 33 is gathered together by the gathering means 131, as shown in FIG. 14(g).

In addition, at the end of the gathering operation, the cutting blade 135 of the separating means 132 cuts the upper part of the packaging sheet S at the cutting position to separate the surplus portion S1, and the heater 136 of the thermal welding means 133, 137 thermally welds and seals a portion of the upper portion of the packaging sheet S located slightly below the cutting position.

That is, in this way, the processing means 26 performs predetermined processing on the upper portion of the packaging sheet S, such as gathering, cutting, and heat welding.

As a result, the entire agricultural product W on the support body 33 is wrapped by the packaging sheet S sealed by heat welding, and the packaging is completed, and the surplus part (surplus ) S1 is disconnected.

Then, as shown in FIG. 14(h), the cut-off surplus portion S1 is blown away by the compressed air jetted from the jet nozzle 190 of the air jetting means 27, and is discharged from the surplus portion discharge port 20 to the outside of the packaging device 1. be discharged. Furthermore, both holders 34 of the support means 25 return from the closed state to the open state by the opening operation, and the holding of the agricultural product W by the two holders 34 is released.

Subsequently, the agricultural products W that have been packaged are moved so that the support body 33 is rotated at the center of rotation relative to the second elevating member 32 while the first elevating member 31 is stopped at the lowered position (the second elevating member 32 is also in a stopped state). By rotating by a rotation angle (for example, 60 degrees) about the axis L1, the package is sent out from above the support part 91 of the support body 33, slides down on the conveyance part 127, and is discharged from the discharge port 3 to the outside of the packaging apparatus 1. be done.

In this way, since the packaging device 1 automatically packages the agricultural products W using the packaging sheet S, the operator only has to supply the agricultural products W to be packaged (for example, lettuce) by sequentially inputting them from the supply port 2.

According to the packaging device 1 described above, the first support shaft portion (first fulcrum) 181 of the left gathering rotation body 143 and the second support shaft portion (second fulcrum) of the right gathering rotation body 144 in plan view. 182 and 182 are located on different sides so that the packaging sheets S are not biased in gathering by both gathering and rotating bodies 143 and 144, that is, for example, point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center point P of the support body 33. Because of this configuration, it is possible to prevent uneven gathering of the packaging sheets S, and therefore, the gathering means 131 can evenly and neatly gather the upper part of the packaging sheets S without any bias.

Furthermore, when the packaging sheet S is collected by the collecting means 131, the directions in which the agricultural products W are pulled by the packaging sheet S are also symmetrical, so that misalignment of the agricultural products W on the support body 33 can be prevented.

Furthermore, since both the left and right collecting and rotating bodies 143 and 144 have the same configuration, parts can be made common, and the types of parts that make up the collecting means 131 can therefore be reduced. Of the left and right gathering and rotating bodies 143 and 144, a regulating plate 180 for regulating the elastic deformation of the resin plate 16 is attached to only the right gathering and rotating body 144 via a support rod 179. There is a difference.

Furthermore, before the motor 55 of the first elevating drive means 36 stops, the gathering means 131 starts the gathering operation while the support body 33 is descending, so the packaging sheet S becomes difficult to spread. The upper part of S can be tightly gathered together even more neatly, and the overall operation time can be shortened, thereby improving work efficiency.

Further, since the rotation center axis L1 of the support body 33 of the support means 25 is located on the anti-feeding side from the center point P of the support portion 91 in the first state of the support body 33, the support portion 91 The agricultural products W are not easily subjected to impact when being sent from the container, and damage to the agricultural products W after packaging can be appropriately prevented.

Furthermore, in the second state of the support body 33, since the upper end position of the agricultural product W before being sent out on the support body 33 in the second state is relatively low, the first elevating body 31 stopped at the lowered position is lowered further. Therefore, it is possible to avoid interference between the agricultural products W and the processing means 26 during sending out, and therefore, it is possible to more appropriately prevent damage to the agricultural products W after packaging, and by omitting the lowering operation of the first elevating body 31, Durability can also be improved.

Further, the support part 91 of the support body 33 includes a central support part 107 that supports the central part of the lower surface of the agricultural product W, and a plurality of (for example, four) support parts that support the peripheral part located around the central part of the lower surface of the agricultural product W. ), and since the rotation center axis L1 of the support body 33 is located on the opposite side from the center point P of the center support part 107 in the first state when viewed from the side, after packaging Damage to agricultural crops W can be effectively prevented.

The agricultural product to be packaged is not limited to lettuce (a spherical vegetable), and may be, for example, cabbage, melon, apple, etc., and its shape may be arbitrary.

Further, the cylinder serving as the driving source is not limited to an air cylinder, which is a fluid pressure cylinder, for example, but may be a hydraulic cylinder, or a driving source such as a motor may be used in place of the cylinder.

Further, it is preferable that the parts that come into contact with agricultural products (supporting parts, holding parts, conveying parts, etc.) have a cushioning material, which is an elastic member, in order to reduce the impact on the agricultural products. No wood is required.

Further, it is preferable that the gathering means includes both a gathering moving body and a gathering rotating body, but it may be, for example, one having only a gathering rotating body.

Further, the gathering and rotating body is not limited to one that rotates in conjunction with the gathering and moving body, and for example, the gathering and rotating body is rotated separately from the movement driving means that moves the gathering and moving body. A driving means may also be provided.

Further, the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum are not limited to those fixed at fixed positions with respect to the main body of the apparatus, but may be ones whose positions can be adjusted in the left-right direction, for example.

1 Packaging device 25 Support means 33 Support body 55 Motor serving as a driving source 131 Gathering means 141 Front gathering moving body which is a gathering moving body 142 Rear gathering moving body which is a gathering moving body 143 Gathering rotating body A certain left-side gathering and rotating body (one gathering and rotating body)
144 Right gathering and rotating body that is the gathering and rotating body (the other gathering and rotating body)
181 First support shaft portion which is the first support point 182 Second support shaft portion which is the second support point P Center point S Packaging sheet W Agricultural products

Claims (6)

A packaging device for packaging agricultural products with a packaging sheet,
Equipped with a collecting means for collecting packaging sheets,
The gathering means includes a pair of gathering rotating bodies that gather the packaging sheets together by rotating in a direction toward each other,
One of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a first fulcrum,
The other gathering and rotating body of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a second fulcrum,
The packaging device is characterized in that the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum are located on different sides so that the packaging sheets are not unevenly gathered. A packaging device for packaging agricultural products with a packaging sheet,
A support means having a support body that supports agricultural products via a packaging sheet;
a collecting means for collecting the upper part of the packaging sheet located above the agricultural products supported by the support body,
The gathering means includes a pair of gathering rotating bodies that gather together the upper portions of the packaging sheets by rotating in a direction toward each other,
One of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a first fulcrum,
The other gathering and rotating body of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a second fulcrum,
The packaging device, wherein the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum are located at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center point of the support. A packaging device for packaging agricultural products with a packaging sheet,
A support means having a support body that supports agricultural products via a packaging sheet;
a collecting means for collecting the upper part of the packaging sheet located above the agricultural products supported by the support body,
The collection means is
a pair of gathering moving bodies that gather together the upper portions of the packaging sheets by moving in directions approaching each other;
comprising a pair of gathering and rotating bodies that gather together the upper portions of the packaging sheet by rotating in a direction toward each other;
One of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a first fulcrum,
The other gathering and rotating body of the pair of gathering and rotating bodies is rotatable about a second fulcrum,
The packaging device, wherein the first fulcrum and the second fulcrum are located at point-symmetrical positions with respect to the center point of the support. The packaging device according to claim 3, wherein the pair of gathering and rotating bodies rotates in conjunction with the pair of gathering and rotating bodies. The support means includes a drive source for raising and lowering the support body,
The packaging device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the gathering means starts a gathering operation while the support body is being lowered before the drive source stops. The packaging device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the pair of gathering and rotating bodies have the same configuration.

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