JP6251218B2 - Ultrasonic sealing device for packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic sealing apparatus for sealing a film along a film feeding direction in a packaging machine.

  2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic sealing device that provides ultrasonic vibration to a horn and seals a film interposed between the horn and an anvil by welding is widely known. In addition, in this equipment, cool air was blown to the converter, booster, horn, etc., and the heat generation was suppressed to avoid converter failure, etc., or to suppress thermal expansion of the horn due to temperature rise. It has been known.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, temperature detection means for detecting the temperature of the horn is provided, and when the detected temperature of the horn is out of the set range, cold air is blown toward the horn to rapidly cool the horn. The second embodiment and FIG. 4 show that the cold air supply is stopped when the temperature reaches an appropriate temperature.

JP 2003-159752 A

  However, since the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1 only performs cooling of the horn only when the detected temperature is out of the proper temperature range, even if the horn is within the proper temperature range, The temperature change width becomes large. Increasing the temperature change width of the horn means that the change width of the distance (gap) between the horn and the anvil due to the thermal expansion of the horn is increased, and such a cooling means is adopted. Even if the welding technology by ultrasonic vibration is provided in the vertical sealing means in the packaging machine, the sealing pressure is not stable when the film is ultrasonically sealed along the film feeding direction while the film is being transferred, so that the sequential sealing performance is achieved. Is not stable.

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic sealing device in a packaging machine capable of ultrasonically sealing a film with a stable and appropriate sealing pressure along a film feeding direction while stabilizing a thermal expansion change of a horn that generates heat by ultrasonic vibration. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic sealing device in a packaging machine according to claim 1 of the present invention includes an ultrasonic sealing means having a horn (15) and an anvil (24), and a cooling means for cooling the horn. (43), the operation command for vibrating the horn (15) so that the horn (15) is ultrasonically vibrated with the set amplitude and vibration pattern, and the cooling means are preset (43) A control unit (50) for performing an operation command for the cooling means (43) so as to operate in a cooling pattern, and for performing an operation command for a packaging operation for packaging the article (M), the control unit ( 50), the operation command for vibrating the horn (15), the operation command for the cooling means (43), and the operation command for the packaging operation. In the packaging machine that performs ultrasonic sealing along the feeding direction of the film (F) by the ultrasonic sealing means (12) while cooling the horn (15), an operation signal is sent to the control unit (50). The control unit (50) includes an operation command for causing the horn (15) to vibrate based on an operation signal from the operation unit (50), and the cooling unit. The operation command to the means (23) is performed, and after the period when each operation command is set, information on the stability of the thermal expansion change of the horn (15) is obtained, and the operation is shifted to the packaging operation. A warm-up operation mode for outputting information that permits

  In the ultrasonic sealing apparatus configured as described above, the control unit (50) is based on the operation signal from the operation unit, and the horn (15) with the same amplitude and vibration pattern as those during packaging operation. The horn (15) is caused to vibrate by giving an operation command to the cooling means (43) so as to operate with a cooling pattern set in the same manner as during packaging operation. Although heat is generated, since the cooling means (43) suppresses the temperature rise of the horn (15), the transfer of heat from the horn (15) to the vibrating portion that imparts vibration to the horn (15) is suppressed, A failure of the vibration part (14) due to the heat generation of the horn (15) can always be avoided.

  In addition, the control unit (50) obtains information on the stability of the thermal expansion change of the horn (15) after a period when each operation command has been set, and permits the transition to the packaging operation. When shifting to operation, the horn (15) with a stable change in thermal expansion can be ultrasonically sealed to the film (F) with an appropriate and stable sealing pressure along the film feed direction. You can maintain the quality.

  In invention of Claim 2, it has a detection means (27, 50) which detects the width (W) of the clearance gap (26) between the horn (15) and the anvil (24), and the horn (15 ) Is information regarding whether or not the width (W) of the gap (26) detected by the detection means (27, 50) is within an appropriate range. When the gap (26) is within an appropriate range, information for permitting a shift to the packaging operation is output.

  That is, in the second aspect, in a state where the horn (15) is not vibrated, the horn (15) is always provided with a gap (26) so as to be separated from the anvil (24). It is an ultrasonic sealing device provided with detection means (27, 50) for detecting the width (W), and the width (W) of the gap (26) detected by the detection means (27, 50) is appropriate. It is defined that when it is within an appropriate range that is set in advance as an ultrasonic seal with the seal pressure, information that allows a transition to a packaging operation is output.

  In an ultrasonic sealing device having a structure in which the horn (15) is urged against the anvil (24) by the urging force of a spring or the like in a state where the horn (15) is not vibrated, the film ( When performing ultrasonic sealing on F), for example, depending on the film (F), the seal pressure varies due to the variation of the spring constant due to the variation of the thickness of the overlapping portion of the film (F), and the anvil (24) or the pressure of the film (F) against the horn (15) fluctuates, and the seal pressure fluctuates. However, in the state where the horn (15) according to claim 2 is not vibrated, the horn ( 15) In an ultrasonic sealing device in which a gap (26) is always provided so as to be separated from the anvil (24), it is difficult to be affected by them, and an appropriate sealing pressure is maintained. It can be.

  In invention of Claim 3, the clearance adjustment means (31) for adjusting the width (W) of the clearance gap (26) between the horn (15) and the anvil (24), and the clearance adjustment The present invention is characterized by comprising display means (54) for comparing and displaying the current gap information adjusted by the means (31) and information relating to the allowable value of the gap (26).

With this configuration, since the current gap information and the allowable value of the gap are displayed in comparison, the operator can easily check the current value and check or set the allowable value. .
In the invention of claim 4, the anvil (24) is formed such that the upstream and downstream in the film feeding direction gradually recede from the film (F) across the location facing the horn (15). It is characterized by that. Here, retreating gradually refers to retreating into a straight line or a curved line including an arc in accordance with the shift from the facing part to the upstream side and the downstream side in the film feeding direction.

  Therefore, the film (F) is transported so that the film (F) smoothly passes through the facing portion where the film (F) is welded. For this reason, the film (F) is less likely to be damaged upstream and downstream in the film feeding direction from the confronting portion of the anvil (24), which can contribute to a good-quality sealing process.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to ultrasonically seal the film with a more appropriate sealing pressure along the film feeding direction while suppressing the heat generation that causes a failure or the like and further stabilizing the thermal expansion change of the horn. An ultrasonic sealing device in a simple packaging machine can be provided.

The top view which shows the ultrasonic sealing apparatus of embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram of the ultrasonic sealing device in FIG. 1 viewed from the upstream side in the conveyance direction. The top view which shows the part of a horn and an anvil. The top view which shows the mechanism which moves the anvil seen from the AA location in FIG. The control block diagram about an ultrasonic sealing apparatus. The figure which shows the screen of a display apparatus. The flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of an ultrasonic sealing apparatus.

Embodiments of an ultrasonic sealing device in a packaging machine embodying the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
The packaging machine of the present embodiment is a vertical sealing means for the overlapping portions of both width end portions of the film polymerized by the forming while forming a continuously conveyed belt-like film by a film forming means comprising a bag making machine or the like. A vertical seal is applied by welding, and articles are supplied and transported at predetermined intervals into the film being formed into a cylindrical shape, and conveyed to a cylindrically formed film between the front and rear articles in the conveying direction of the articles. This is a well-known horizontal bag making and filling machine that obtains a pillow package product by performing horizontal sealing by a horizontal sealing means along a direction intersecting the direction, and an ultrasonic sealing means 12 described later is included in the vertical sealing means of this packaging machine. It has been adopted. In the present embodiment, the transport direction of the cylindrically formed film coincides with the transport direction of the article, and hereinafter, it will be referred to as “transport direction” or “film feed direction” for convenience of explanation. .

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of beds 6 are supported by a frame 5 of the packaging machine between the bag making machine and the lateral sealing means in this packaging machine, and between these beds 6. A guide groove 7 extending along the transport direction is formed. On the upper side of the bed 6, a cylindrical film F containing the article M is placed. Below the bed 6, a pair of feed rollers 8, an ultrasonic sealing means 12, and a pair of feed rollers 9 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the transport direction. The upstream feed roller 8 can freely rotate, and the downstream feed roller 9 is positively rotated by a motor (not shown). Then, by driving the feed roller 9 on the downstream side, the overlapping portions Fa on both side edges of the film F formed into a cylindrical shape are sandwiched by these rollers 8 and 9, and the extending direction of the groove 7 is within the guide groove 7. It is conveyed along.

  The ultrasonic sealing means 12 is provided with a vibration part 14 in which a piezoelectric element is housed, and a horn 15 connected to the vibration part 14. Note that the vibration unit 14 integrally connected to the horn 15 is not shown, but is supported by the device frame 5. A narrow action portion 16 is provided at the tip of the horn 15, and vibration of the vibration portion 14 generated by deformation of the piezoelectric element is transmitted to the action portion 16 as ultrasonic vibration.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, an air cylinder 18 is disposed in the apparatus frame 5. The piston rod 19 of the air cylinder 18 is switched between forward and backward movement along a direction orthogonal to the conveying direction in response to ON / OFF selection switching of an operation switch (not shown).

  A rail 21 is disposed on the apparatus frame 5, and the rail 21 supports a movable table 22 disposed on the rail 21 so as to be slidable in a direction perpendicular to the film F conveyance direction. ing. The moving table 22 is connected to the tip of the piston rod 19 and supports the bracket 23 on the upper surface thereof. A plate-like anvil 24 is fixed to the upper end of the bracket 23. A receiving portion 25 is formed at an edge of the anvil 24 on the horn 15 side so as to face the action portion 16 of the horn 15 with a gap 26 interposed therebetween. By moving the piston rod 19 in accordance with the ON / OFF selection switching of the operation switch, the moving base 22 moves in a direction perpendicular to the film F conveyance direction, so that the receiving portion 25 of the anvil 24 is moved with respect to the horn 15. It is possible to switch between a first position approaching and a second position spaced apart.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the first position, a gap 26 is formed between the action portion 16 of the horn 15 and the receiving portion 25 of the anvil 24, which is located in the film F conveyance path. In this state, ultrasonic vibration is applied to the overlapping portion Fa of the film F located in the gap 26, and the overlapping portion Fa is welded and sealed. Here, the width W of the gap 26 is determined before the start of production (packaging operation) so that the horn 15 whose length variation due to thermal expansion is stable can press and weld the overlapping portion Fa of the film F with an appropriate pressure. In addition, it is appropriately set via a gap adjusting means described later based on the test data according to the packaging specifications such as the material of the film F and the type of packaging.

  Below the anvil 24, the bracket 23 supports a gap sensor 27 that constitutes a detecting means in cooperation with the control unit 50. The gap sensor 27 detects information related to the position of the detected portion 28 on the front surface of the action portion 16 and outputs the information signal to the control portion 50. The control unit 50 calculates the width W of the gap 26 based on the detection information from the gap sensor 27 and information on the origin position where the action unit 16 is in contact with the anvil 24.

  The apparatus frame 5 supports a main body 32 in an adjuster 31 as a gap adjusting means. In this adjuster 31, an adjustment rod 34 is disposed inside the main body 32, and the adjustment rod 34 moves along the moving direction of the movable table 22 with respect to the main body 32 by rotating the adjustment knob 33 in the main body 32. It is configured to move. The moving base 22 is connected to the tip of the adjusting rod 34, and when the adjusting knob 33 is rotated, the anvil 24 moves within a range shorter than the moving stroke of the air cylinder 18 via the moving base 22 and the bracket 23. By moving, the width W of the gap 26 can be set and changed in units of micrometers. The main body 32 is provided with a scale 36, and the adjustment knob 33 is provided with a pointer 37. The scale 36 and the pointer 37 allow the operator to recognize the value of the width W of the gap 26. A lock knob 38 is provided on the main body 32 to disable the rotation of the adjustment knob 33.

  When the operation of the air cylinder 18 is switched for the operation of setting the film F and the receiving portion 25 of the anvil 24 is moved to the second position, the adjustment rod 34 integrally connected to the moving table 22 is used. However, it moves together with the adjustment knob 33 screwed into the adjustment rod 34.

  A cooling nozzle 41 is disposed in the vicinity of the horn 15, and the air (cold air) sent from the cold air supply source and regulated in accordance with an operation command from the control unit 50 vibrates from the cooling nozzle 41 with the horn 15. The cooling means 43 is configured to be sprayed according to a preset cooling pattern for each of the parts 14. Note that the preset cooling pattern during the warm-up operation period and production (packaging) in the present embodiment, which will be described later, that is, during the packaging operation, is such that the cold air is continuously blown at a constant flow rate. Yes.

  The control unit 50 shown in the control block diagram of the ultrasonic sealing device in FIG. 5 controls the operation of the ultrasonic sealing device, and although not shown, a horizontal sealing means, a film feeding mechanism, and an article supply in a horizontal bag making and filling machine. It controls various operation controls such as mechanisms and discharge mechanisms.

As a configuration relating to the operation control of the ultrasonic sealing device, the control unit 50 includes a processing unit 70 and a storage / setting unit 80 therein.
The control unit 50 includes any one of the information from the gap sensor 27 described above, the selection switching operation information for starting / stopping the packaging operation from the packaging operation switch 90, the type of packaging material, the size of the article M to be packaged, and the like. Information on the appropriate range of the width of the gap 26 between the anvil 24 and the horn 15 to be properly sealed, and the appropriateness of each Corresponding to the information on the range, setting information on the amplitude and vibration pattern for oscillating the horn 15 set when obtaining the appropriate range and the cooling pattern by the cooling means 43, and the origin position of the gap sensor 27 Various setting information related to warm-up operation such as setting information is input. The appropriate range of the width W of the gap 26 between the anvil 24 and the horn 15 can be obtained from test data and calculations performed in advance before the warm-up operation.

  Note that the control unit 50 stores various information input from the display device 54 in the storage / setting unit 80 and passes the information to the processing unit 70 when the processing unit 70 requires arithmetic processing. For example, information is exchanged between the processing unit 70 and the storage / setting unit 80.

  FIG. 6 shows a display screen 54 a related to the warm-up operation in the display device 54. On this display screen 54a, an upper limit value is set for registering an appropriate range setting of the width W of the gap 26 between the anvil 24 and the horn 15 obtained in advance, the warm-up operation mode switch 55, the warm-up operation start switch 56, and the anvil 24. A switch 58 and a lower limit setting switch 59 are provided. The warm-up operation mode changeover switch 55 is a switch for selecting whether or not the warm-up operation mode is used (ON / OFF), and can be turned ON / OFF every time a touch operation is repeated at that location. .

  The warm-up operation start switch 56 receives an amplitude and vibration pattern operation command and a cooling pattern operation command from the cooling means 43 for vibrating the horn 15 stored in advance in the storage / setting unit 80 corresponding to the packaging type. This is a switch for selecting whether or not to output a command to the control unit 50 to the control unit 50 as an operation signal, and it can be switched on and off each time a touch operation is repeated. Yes.

  If the warm-up operation start switch 56 is turned on while the warm-up operation mode changeover switch 55 is in the ON state, the control unit 50 performs processing in the warm-up operation mode. An operation unit 57 is configured by the switch 55 and the warm-up operation start switch 56.

The upper limit value setting switch 58 is configured so that the upper limit value shown in the display area 61 can be raised by touching the upper triangle mark and lowered by touching the lower triangle mark.
The lower limit value setting switch 59 is configured so that the upper limit value shown in the display area 62 can be raised by touching the upper triangle mark and lowered by touching the lower triangle mark.

  As for the lower limit value, even if the gap is wide enough to perform an appropriate seal, if the heat of the horn 15 rises too much, it vibrates due to collision with the anvil 24 due to excessive thermal expansion of the horn 15 or the like. A value that does not cause a malfunction such as a failure in the unit 14 is set.

  As described above, regarding the relationship between the appropriate range defined by the upper limit value and the lower limit value and the width W of the gap 26 between the anvil 24 and the horn 15, the current width W of the gap 26 when shifting to the packaging operation. Is always within an appropriate range, and is set so that the stable state continues without greatly changing. That is, with respect to the relationship between the appropriate range and the width W of the gap 26, the warm-up operation processing unit 71 of the control unit 50 uses each operation command for the vibration of the horn 15 and the cooling by the cooling means 43 in the warm-up operation mode. Based on the information from the warm-up operation period elapsed determination means 72 that determines that the preset period has elapsed, the packaging operation transition permission information generation means 73 determines that the current width W of the gap 26 is within the appropriate range. After generating the information that permits the transition to the packaging operation from the information that has been generated and outputting the information to the display device 54 or the like, the current width W of the gap 26 during the transition to the packaging operation is always within an appropriate range, and The stable state is set so as not to fluctuate greatly.

  In the display area 63, the latest width W of the gap 26 detected by the detecting means, that is, the latest width W of the gap 26 obtained by the control unit 50 based on the detection information of the gap sensor 27 is displayed. Is input and displayed.

  The latest width W of the gap 26 is displayed in the display area 63, and the operator can compare and confirm with any of the values in the display area 61 and the display area 62. The operation command for vibrating the horn 15 with a preset vibration pattern and amplitude and the operation command for cooling the cooling means 43 with a preset cooling pattern are performed, and a preset period has elapsed. Therefore, when the latest width W of the gap 26 is too close to the upper limit (allowable value) or the lower limit (allowable value), the aforementioned adjustment knob 33 is operated to set the upper limit of the width W of the gap 26. It is easy to adjust to the center side between the value and the lower limit value.

  The display area 64 has message information corresponding to information indicating whether or not a preset period sent from the warm-up operation period elapsed determination means 72 has passed, whether a set time has elapsed since each operation command was stopped Various information such as message information corresponding to information on whether or not, message information corresponding to information on whether or not to permit shifting to packaging operation sent from the packaging operation transition permission information generating means 73, error information, etc. indicate.

  The control part 50 in the ultrasonic sealing apparatus comprised as mentioned above performs control of warm-up operation mode in the procedure of the flowchart of FIG. Each step of the flowchart is abbreviated as “S” and described. Also, the processing contents of a subroutine program such as a timer that is separately started at a required location in the flowchart of FIG. 7 are not shown.

  When the control unit 50 inputs information indicating that the warm-up operation mode changeover switch 55 and the warm-up operation start switch 56 as the operation unit 57 are turned on in S1, the control unit 50 is directed to the ultrasonic sealing unit 12 in S2. An operation command for vibrating the horn 15 is issued, and an operation command for the cooling unit 43 is started so that the cooling unit 43 operates in a preset cooling pattern.

  As described above, the operation command for vibrating the horn 15 and the operation command for the cooling means 43 are generated based on the information corresponding to the package type stored in the storage / setting unit 80 in advance. The operation command for vibrating the horn 15 in the present embodiment is a command content of a vibration pattern in which the horn 15 has a preset amplitude and continuously vibrates, and the cooling means pattern always keeps a constant flow of cool air. The command content in the cooling pattern sprayed on the horn 15 and the vibration part 14 is shown below.

  When S2 is continuously executed, it is determined whether or not the current width W of the gap 26 detected by the detection means in S3 has reached the lower limit of the appropriate range. Since the horn 15 is not thermally expanded at the start of execution of S2, the width W of the gap 26 is wide and may be larger than the upper limit value of the appropriate range.

  In S3, the horn 15 is thermally expanded due to an abnormal operation of the vibration unit 14 and the current width W of the gap 26 reaches the lower limit of the appropriate range, or the adjustment knob 33 is turned by a third party. This is provided to confirm an abnormality such as the current width W of the gap 26 reaching the lower limit of the appropriate range when the user is not aware of this.

  In S3, if N (NO), the process proceeds to S4. On the other hand, if Y (YES), the process proceeds to S20, and the operation command to vibrate the horn 15 started in S2 is stopped and only the cooling means 43 is operated. In the operation state, in S21, a command for notifying that there is an abnormality in the display area 64, lamp, alarm buzzer, etc. of the display device 54 is given, and the warm-up operation mode is ended.

  In S4, the warm-up operation period elapsed determination means 72 determines whether or not a preset period has elapsed since the start of execution of S2 (for example, whether or not 7 minutes have elapsed). If yes, go to S5, if N, return to S3.

In S5, the operation command to vibrate the horn 15 started in S2 and the operation command to the cooling means 43 are stopped, and the process proceeds to S6.
In S6, the packaging operation transition permission information generating means 73 determines whether or not the current width W of the gap 26, that is, the width W of the gap 26 according to the stabilized thermal expansion change is within an appropriate range. If the determination is Y, that is, if information related to the stability of the thermal expansion change of the horn 15 is obtained, the process proceeds to S7. On the other hand, if N, the process proceeds to S30 and an abnormality occurs in the display area 64 of the display device 54 or a lamp. The warm-up operation mode is terminated by issuing a command to notify that the

  In S7, the packaging operation transition permission information generating unit 73 generates information that permits the transition to the packaging operation, and outputs the information to the display device 54 (S8). The display device 54 receives the information and displays in the display area 64 information indicating that the packaging operation can be started, information prompting the operation of the packaging operation switch 90, and information indicating that the warm-up operation has been normally completed. Either one is displayed.

  When ON information is output in S9 by operating the packaging operation switch, in S10, the warm-up operation period elapsed determination means 72 stops each operation command in S5, and then the set time (for example, 2 Min) Determine whether or not it has passed.

  In S10, even if the width W of the gap 26 is within an appropriate range, the temperature of the horn 15 changes as the set time elapses, and the width W of the gap 26 when the width W of the gap 26 is detected in S6. Judgment is made in consideration of a change with respect to W.

  In S10, when the determination is Y, the process proceeds to S40, where the packaging operation transition permission information generating means 73 cancels the permission to proceed to the packaging operation, and issues a command to notify the display area 64 or the like (S41). On the other hand, in the case of N, that is, when information on the stability of the thermal expansion change of the horn 15 is obtained, the process proceeds to S11, and the packaging operation transition permission information generating means 73 continuously outputs information that permits the packaging operation. To do. Therefore, the control unit 50 shifts to the packaging operation and ends the warm-up operation mode based on the ON information of the packaging operation switch and the permission information by the packaging operation transition permission information generation unit 73. When shifting to the packaging operation and executing the packaging operation, the amplitude, vibration pattern and cooling pattern of the packaging operation are the same as the amplitude and vibration pattern of the horn 15 in the warm-up operation mode and the cooling pattern by the cooling means 43. Then, an ultrasonic seal is continuously applied to the film along the film feeding direction.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, and can be embodied in the following aspects.
-In the warm-up operation mode in this embodiment, the amplitude for vibrating the horn is set to be constant, and an ultrasonic seal is continuously applied to the film along the film feed direction with a vibration pattern that continuously vibrates. However, for example, in each film location where horizontal sealing by the horizontal sealing means is scheduled as the edge of each bag, when not performing vertical sealing, the vibration of the horn is temporarily stopped, A vibration pattern that vibrates intermittently may be employed, and in such a case, an operation command for vibrating the horn by changing the amplitude in the vicinity of the planned location of the horizontal seal may be issued. May adopt a cooling pattern such as temporarily changing the flow rate of the cold air. Also in this case, it goes without saying that the operation command for vibrating the horn and the operation command for the cooling means are the same in the warm-up operation mode and in the packaging operation, respectively.

The liquid for cooling the horn 15 may be a liquid such as water or oil instead of cold air. In this case, a pipe is provided around the horn 15 and the refrigerant is passed through the pipe.
-Although the example which actualized the apparatus which ultrasonically seals the film F along the film feeding direction with the horizontal bag making and filling machine was shown, various packaging machines, such as a packaging machine which performs a horizontal three-side seal and a four-side seal, for example In this case, an ultrasonic sealing device may be provided so that the film can be ultrasonically sealed along the film feeding direction.

  As the film F to be ultrasonically sealed along the film feeding direction, the film F in a strip-like state continuously drawn from a film supply source such as a raw roll is brought along the film feeding direction by the ultrasonic sealing means. The film part of the zipper tape to be welded is also included.

-You may comprise a horn and an anvil with the roller rotated in a film feed direction.
・ It is negligible that the presence or absence of film F affects the heat generation of the horn, but when warming up without film, it was obtained in advance before warming up such as test data and calorie calculation. Based on the information, the maximum and minimum gaps in the warm-up operation mode are taken into account so that an appropriate seal pressure can be obtained by taking into account information on the difference in horn heat loss between the packaging operation in which the film F and the horn come into contact. You may make it set the range which consists of.

-You may comprise so that the set warm-up operation period may be displayed on the display apparatus 54. FIG.
In the above embodiment, the present invention is embodied in a configuration in which the gap 26 is provided between the horn 15 and the anvil 24. However, in a state where the horn is not vibrated, the horn 15 The present invention may be embodied in a configuration in which the anvil 24 is brought into contact. In this case as well, the stability of the change in thermal expansion of the horn after the lapse of the set period of the operation command for vibrating the horn 15 and the operation command for the cooling means in the preset warm-up operation mode. Obtain information and configure to move to packaging operation. Therefore, in this configuration, the contact pressure between the horn 15 and the anvil 24 that varies due to the thermal expansion change of the horn 15 can be stabilized and set as an appropriate seal pressure. In addition, as a method for confirming whether or not the stable seal pressure is within a preset appropriate range, for example, the temperature is stable based on the temperature information of the horn 15 sequentially obtained by the non-contact temperature sensor. In other words, a method for estimating the seal pressure when the thermal expansion of the horn 15 is stable, and a state in which the horn 15 is not vibrated after the period in which each of the aforementioned operation commands in the warm-up operation is set. Thus, a method of detecting a change in a specific position such as an end of the anvil 24 elastically biased toward the horn 15 by a position sensor or the like and estimating a seal pressure based on the detection information may be employed. .

-Although the operation part which outputs an operation signal to the control part 50 was provided in the touch-panel type display apparatus 54, you may provide the operation part which consists of a mechanical switch etc. in a packaging machine main-body part.
The warm-up operation mode changeover switch 55 and the warm-up operation start switch 56 may be combined on the operation unit 57.

  -The output destination of the information which permits the packaging operation transition permission information generation means 73 to shift to the packaging operation is not limited to the display device 54, and can take various forms of output destinations inside the control unit 50, for example. .

  In the flowchart of FIG. 7, after determining that the period for which the warm-up operation period elapsed determination means 72 has been set has elapsed in S <b> 4, the operation command is stopped and the operation command is stopped in S <b> 5. Although the warming-up operation period progress determining unit 72 determines that the set time has elapsed in S10, the example in which the packaging operation transition permission information generating unit 73 outputs information permitting the transition to the packaging operation is shown. When the warm-up operation is performed with the film F set, each operation command is continued until the operation command stop S5 and S10 are omitted and the packaging operation switch 90 of S9 is turned ON. You may let them. Furthermore, in S9, the control unit 50 may automatically generate an operation signal related to the start of the packaging operation.

  -It is not always necessary to blow cool air to the vibration unit 14 by the cooling means 43. The cool air may be only the horn 15, and various arrangements such as the installation location and number of the cooling nozzles 41 may be adopted.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 ... Ultrasonic sealing means, 14 ... Vibration part, 15 ... Horn, 24 ... Anvil, 26 ... Gap, 43 ... Cooling means, 50 ... Control part, 57 ... Operation part, W ... Gap.

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic sealing means having a horn and an anvil;
Cooling means for cooling the horn;
An operation command for vibrating the horn so that the horn vibrates ultrasonically with a set amplitude and vibration pattern, and an operation command for the cooling unit so that the cooling unit operates with a preset cooling pattern. And a control unit that issues an operation command related to the packaging operation for packaging the article,
The ultrasonic sealing means while cooling the horn with respect to the film being conveyed by the operation command for vibrating the horn from the control unit, the operation command for the cooling means, and the operation command for the packaging operation. In the packaging machine that performs ultrasonic sealing along the feeding direction of the film,
An operation unit that outputs an operation signal to the control unit;
The control unit performs an operation command for vibrating the horn and an operation command for the cooling unit based on an operation signal from the operation unit, and after a period in which each operation command is set has elapsed. An ultrasonic sealing device in a packaging machine having a warm-up operation mode that obtains information on the stability of thermal expansion change of the horn and outputs information that permits the transition to the packaging operation. Comprising detection means for detecting the width of the gap between the horn and the anvil;
Information on the stability of thermal expansion change of the horn is information about whether or not the width of the gap detected by the detection means is within an appropriate range, and when the gap is within the appropriate range, The ultrasonic sealing device in the packaging machine according to claim 1, which outputs information permitting transition to the packaging operation. A gap adjusting means for adjusting the width of the gap between the horn and the anvil;
3. The ultrasonic sealing device in a packaging machine according to claim 1, further comprising display means for comparing and displaying the current gap information adjusted by the gap adjusting means and information relating to the allowable value of the gap.   In the packaging machine as described in any one of Claims 1-3 in which the said anvil is formed so that the upstream and downstream of a film feed direction may gradually recede from a film across the confrontation location with the said horn. Ultrasonic sealing device.