JP7555593B2 - Center seal device - Google Patents

Description

Application of Article 30, Paragraph 2 of the Patent Act High-speed horizontal pillow packaging machine (NSW-7000BX) will be unveiled at MOBAC SHOW 2021 (Publication date: March 9, 2021 - March 12, 2021) FOOMA JAPAN High-speed horizontal pillow packaging machine (NSW-7000BX) will be released in 2021 (Release date: June 1, 2021 - June 4, 2021)

The present invention relates to a center seal device, for example, a center seal device installed in a regular pillow packaging machine.

A pillow packaging machine continuously supplies a strip of film wound on a roll of raw material to a bag maker, and as it passes through the bag maker, it forms a cylindrical bag. Then, a center seal device arranged downstream of the bag maker seals the area where both side edges of the film are overlapped after the bag maker forms a cylindrical bag, forming a cylindrical film. Also, a product conveying and supplying device is arranged upstream of the bag maker, and products conveyed from the product conveying and supplying device at predetermined intervals are supplied to the bag maker. As a result, when the products pass through the bag maker, they are stored in the cylindrical film at predetermined intervals, and the products are conveyed together with the cylindrical film. Then, an end seal device arranged on the discharge side of the pillow packaging machine seals and cuts the cylindrical film so as to cross the horizontal direction at predetermined intervals, thereby producing a pillow package containing the product.

In a regular pillow packaging machine where packaging film is fed to a bag maker from above, both side edges of the packaging film that passes through the bag maker to be formed into a cylindrical shape and then overlapped are positioned below the bag maker and move forward protruding below the product conveying surface.

The center seal device sandwiches and heats both side edges of the overlapped packaging film with a pair of center sealers, and the center sealers or another pressure means apply pressure to heat seal both side edges. In the case of a normal pillow packaging machine, as described above, both side edges of the packaging film move forward while protruding below the conveying path, so the heat sealing device such as the center sealer is also placed below the conveying path. Furthermore, the center seal device has a pair of left and right upper plates that are placed above the heat sealing devices such as the center sealer. These upper plates form the conveying path for the cylindrical portion of the packaging film that is formed into a cylindrical shape and the products fed into the packaging film, and are also configured so that both side edges of the packaging film hang down and protrude from the gap formed between the opposing side edges of the pair of left and right upper plates.

Thus, in normal conditions, the upper side of heat-sealing devices such as center sealers is covered by an upper plate. Therefore, for example, as in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, a pair of upper plates on the left and right are configured to be flipped up so that the front side rises around the rear edge as the center of rotation, and the center sealer and other heat-sealing devices can be cleaned, repaired, and maintained in the flipped-up and open-top state.

In addition, for example, of the pair of left and right upper plates, the upper plate on the front side of the pillow packaging machine is detachably fixed to a specified machine frame of the device using a magnet or the like, and the front upper plate can be removed and opened as needed.

Chinese Patent No. 104249831

When the upper plate is made to flip up, as in the device disclosed in Patent Document 1, there are problems such as the following. For example, there are regular pillow packaging machines in which an upper feed belt device is placed a certain distance above the conveying path, contacting the upper part of the cylindrical packaging film to hold down the product and guide the conveying, and side guides and side belt devices are placed on both the left and right sides directly above the conveying path to prevent the product from shifting sideways. In packaging machines of this type in which belt devices and the like are placed above the upper plate, flipping up the upper plate would interfere with the belt devices and the like, and therefore cannot be used.

Even if there is nothing above that interferes with the top plate, the top plate will be tilted so that the front side is on top, and the top of the heat sealing devices such as the center sealer will not be completely open. Therefore, workers cannot see these devices from directly above, and workers cannot reach in from directly above, making cleaning the center sealer etc. cumbersome.

On the other hand, in the case of a structure in which the upper plate is fixed using a magnet, for example, the upper plate is lifted upward to release the fixation by the magnet, and then the upper plate is removed from the conveying path. Therefore, for example, in the center seal device of a regular pillow packaging machine, if there is a sensor or the like above the upper plate, when the upper plate is lifted upward, it may interfere with the sensor or the like, making it impossible to remove the upper plate or making the removal process complicated.

In addition, regardless of the presence or absence of interfering objects such as sensors, it is only the front top plate that can be attached and detached by magnets, so the upper part of the rear half of the heat sealing equipment such as the center sealer remains closed, making it difficult to work on that rear part.

In addition, for example, some have cooling hoses or other components attached to the upper plate. In such a configuration, it is necessary to remove the cooling hoses from the upper plate and place the removed cooling hoses or other components in an appropriate position before removing the upper plate. This requires the work of removing the cooling hoses or other components, which is cumbersome. Furthermore, when returning the upper plate to its original appropriate position after maintenance or other work is completed, it is necessary to fix the upper plate in a specified position with a magnet, for example, and then attach the cooling hoses or other components to the appropriate position on the upper plate, which makes the work even more complicated.

The above-mentioned problems are described as being independent of each other, and the present invention does not necessarily have to solve all of the problems described, but it is sufficient if it can solve at least one of the problems. In addition, we intend to obtain rights to the configuration for solving this problem separately through divisional applications, amendments, etc.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the center seal device of the present invention is (1) a center seal device used in a pillow packaging machine for sealing overlapping portions of both side edge portions of a packaging film that is formed into a cylindrical shape and protrudes below a conveying surface, the center sealer including a pair of upper plates that constitute the conveying surface, a center sealer that is disposed below the pair of upper plates and that sandwiches and heats the both side edge portions that protrude downward through a gap between the pair of upper plates, and a support section that horizontally moves an upper plate unit to which the pair of upper plates are attached in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film and supports the upper plate unit so that it can be pulled out to the front side of the pillow packaging machine, the support section tilting the upper plate unit downward with the upper plate unit pulled out a predetermined amount to the front side, The upper plate unit has a function of supporting the upper plate unit in a suspended state, and the upper plate unit has a rail-shaped portion on both left and right sides in the direction of horizontal movement that allows it to move horizontally, and the support portion has a guide member that can come into contact with the rail-shaped portion and guides the horizontal movement.On both left and right sides of the upper plate unit, a stopper member is provided on the rear side of the rail-shaped portion that can come into contact with the guide member provided on the front side of the support portion, and when the upper plate unit is pulled out to the front side, the guide member and the stopper member come into contact with each other to prevent further horizontal movement to the front side, and the stopper member in the upper plate unit when the upper plate unit is tilted downward is supported by the guide member to be in a suspended state .

In this way, the upper plate unit is moved horizontally and pulled out toward the front, opening the upper part of the center sealer. Since the transition to this state is made by the horizontal movement of the upper plate unit, even if there are devices and equipment such as belt devices for holding down products above the upper plate, or devices and equipment such as sensors, the upper plate can be pulled out smoothly without interfering with them. In addition, since the pair of upper plates are integrated by the upper plate unit, the entire upper part of the center sealer is opened by pulling out the upper plate unit. Furthermore, since the upper plate unit can be in a suspended state, the moved upper plate unit does not remain protruding toward the front and get in the way of work.
(2) A center seal device used in a pillow packaging machine for sealing the overlapped portions of both side edges of a packaging film that is formed into a cylindrical shape and protrudes below a conveying surface, the center sealer including a pair of upper plates that constitute the conveying surface, a center sealer that is arranged below the pair of upper plates and that clamps and heats the both side edges that protrude downward through the gap between the pair of upper plates, and a support part that supports a top plate unit to which the pair of upper plates are attached by moving the top plate unit horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film and allowing it to be pulled out toward the front side of the pillow packaging machine, the top plate unit moves horizontally while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the pair of top plates, and the support part is configured to be able to tilt the top plate unit downward when it is pulled out a predetermined amount toward the front side, and the support part includes a guide member that can come into contact with a stopper member provided on the rear side of the top plate unit in the pull-out direction, and the stopper member of the top plate unit with the top plate unit tilted downward is supported by the guide member.

(3) The upper plate unit may be configured to be detachable from the support portion, and the upper plate unit may be configured to be prevented from coming off during the horizontal movement section in which the upper plate unit is not pulled out by the predetermined amount. Since the upper plate unit can be removed, the surroundings of, for example, a center sealer and other devices and equipment are more open. Cleaning and maintenance of the upper plate unit are also easier to perform. Since the upper plate unit is prevented from coming off during the horizontal movement section, it is possible to prevent the upper plate unit from unintentionally coming off the support portion while being pulled out or while being pushed in to set it, and for example, from coming up and contacting surrounding devices and equipment.

(4) The upper plate unit may be configured to be attached and detached in a suspended position, and to transition to a state in which it can be detached from the support by lifting the suspended upper plate unit. In this way, attachment and detachment can be performed with a simple operation, and by making it impossible to remove the upper plate unit in a horizontal position, the upper plate unit is in an upright position when removed, so that the load of the upper plate unit when it is detached from the support is directly below the upright upper plate unit, allowing the worker to maintain a balanced grip.

In the invention (1), the upper plate unit has rail-like portions on both the left and right side surfaces in the direction of horizontal movement that allow it to move horizontally, and the support portion is provided with a guide member that can come into contact with the rail-like portions and guides the horizontal movement. Therefore, the upper plate unit can be supported for horizontal movement and the movement can be guided with a simple configuration.

In the invention (1), a stopper member capable of contacting the guide member provided on the front side of the support part is provided on the rear side of the rail-shaped part on both the left and right sides of the upper plate unit, and when the upper plate unit is pulled out toward the front side, the guide member and the stopper member come into contact with each other to prevent further horizontal movement toward the front.In addition, when the upper plate unit is in a tilted-down position, the stopper member is supported by the guide member and is configured to be in a suspended state.Therefore, when the upper plate unit is pulled out toward the front, it will not come off, and the upper plate unit can be supported in a suspended state by utilizing this anti-slip mechanism.

The present invention provides one or more of the following effects. For example, the center seal device can be exposed for cleaning, repair, maintenance, etc., making it easy to check the condition and perform work. For example, the upper plate unit can be suspended so it does not get in the way of work. The upper plate unit moves horizontally, so even if there are devices or equipment above the upper plate unit, it can be opened without interfering with them.

1 is a front view showing an example of a regular pillow packaging machine in which a center seal device according to the present invention is implemented. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the bag making machine and the center seal device. This is a front view. 1A is a plan view showing one embodiment of a center seal device, and FIG. 1B is a front view thereof. FIG. 4A is a right side view thereof, and FIG. 1A is a plan view showing a state in which the upper plate unit 40 is being moved horizontally, and FIG. 1A is a plan view showing the upper plate unit 40 pulled out to the front side, and FIG. 1A is a plan view showing the upper plate unit 40 in a laid-down state, and FIG. FIG. 1A is a plan view showing the state in which the upper plate unit 40 has been removed, and FIG. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper plate unit 40 is in the middle of horizontal movement. FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper plate unit 40 is pulled out to the front side. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper plate unit 40 is laid down. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the upper plate unit 40 has been removed. FIG.

The following describes in detail a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not to be interpreted as being limited to this embodiment, and various changes, modifications, and improvements may be made based on the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a regular pillow packaging machine in which the center seal device of the present invention is implemented. The regular pillow packaging machine 10 is configured with a product conveying and supplying device 11 and a packaging machine main body 12 arranged in that order from the upstream side, and a film supplying device 14 above them.

The product conveying and supplying device 11 is formed from a finger conveyor device that conveys products 13 at regular intervals and sequentially supplies them to the packaging machine body 12 of the next stage. That is, it is configured by attaching push fingers 9 at regular intervals to an endless chain 8 stretched between sprockets 7 arranged in front and behind (only the downstream side is shown in Figure 1). Then, by supplying products 13 between the front and rear push fingers 9, the products 13 are conveyed at the finger pitch of the push fingers 9.

The film supply device 14 is for continuously supplying the belt-shaped packaging film 16 for wrapping the product 13 to the packaging machine main body 12. This film supply device 14 is provided with a support means for the original roll 15 on which the belt-shaped packaging film 16 is wound into a roll. The film supply device 14 is provided with rollers 17 (only one is shown in the figure) for transporting the belt-shaped packaging film 16 continuously drawn from the original roll 15 along a predetermined transport path and guiding it to the loading area of the packaging machine main body 12. The rollers 17 include a drive roller that applies drive to the belt-shaped packaging film 16, a tension roller that applies tension, and a free roller that changes the transport direction of the belt-shaped packaging film 16 and guides the transport. Furthermore, the film supply device 14 is disposed above the bag maker 22 and supplies the packaging film 16 from above.

The packaging machine main body 12 is equipped with a bag former 22 on the carry-in side. The bag former 22 forms the strip-shaped packaging film 16, which is continuously supplied from the film supply device 14, into a cylindrical shape. As the packaging film 16 passes through the bag former 22, both side edge portions 16a of the packaging film 16 are overlapped and protrude below the conveying surface of the bag former 22.

That is, the bag maker 22 has a main body 22a made of a frame with a rectangular cross section, and the bottom of the main body 22a is separated at its widthwise center to form a gap extending in the conveying direction. As a result, the strip-shaped packaging film 16 supplied to the bag maker 22 is made into a cylindrical bag along the inner peripheral surface of the main body 22a, and both side edges 16a protrude downward through the gap formed in the bottom of the main body 22a and are overlapped.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the bag maker 22 further includes a guide plate portion 22b that protrudes toward the downstream side and the discharge side. The guide plate portion 22b is located on the same plane as the bottom surface of the main body 22a, and a similar gap is formed on the extension line of the gap formed on the bottom surface, and the side edge portions 16a of the packaging film 16 that has passed through the main body 22a and been made into a cylindrical bag are transported in a state where they protrude downward from the gap even in the formation area of the guide plate portion 22b. The bottom surface of the main body 22a and the upper surface of the guide plate portion 22b form a transport surface, and the cylindrical packaging film 16 with the product 13 inside moves on the transport surface. Furthermore, the downstream portion of the guide plate portion 22b has a tapered tip and the left and right side edges are inclined sides that gradually move toward the center.

Meanwhile, the products 13 successively conveyed out of the product conveying and supplying device 11 are supplied into the bag making machine 22. As a result, the products 13 are supplied at predetermined intervals into the packaging film 16 that is being made into a cylindrical bag, and thereafter, the products 13 are conveyed together with the packaging film 16 while remaining enclosed within the cylindrical bag.

The packaging machine main body 12 further includes a center seal device 23 downstream of the bag maker 22. The center seal device 23 seals the overlapping portions of both side edge portions 16a of the tubular packaging film 16 that has passed through the bag maker 22 and been made into bags. This center seal device 23 is configured such that, from the upstream side, an entrance pinch roller 23b, a bar-shaped center sealer 23c, and an exit pinch roller 23d are arranged in that order below the pair of left and right upper plates 23a that form the conveying surface.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the pair of upper plates 23a on the left and right are arranged with their opposing surfaces spaced a specified distance apart and their upper surfaces on the same horizontal plane. Both side edges 16a of the packaging film 16 overlapped by the bag maker 22 enter the gap formed between the opposing surfaces while still overlapped, and both side edges 16a hang down and protrude below the upper plates 23a.

The upstream end portions of the opposing surfaces of the pair of left and right upper plates 23a are inclined sides that gradually become longer as they move upstream. As a result, a roughly triangular space is formed at the upstream entrance of the pair of left and right upper plates 23a, and the guide plate portion 22b of the bag maker 22 is arranged in this space in a plan view as shown in FIG. 2. The guide plate portion 22b is arranged so that the gap formed between the opposing surfaces of the pair of left and right upper plates 23a is located on the extension line of the gap extending in the front-rear direction provided in the guide plate portion 22b. In this way, the side edge portions 16a of the packaging film 16 made into a cylindrical bag by the bag maker 22 move through the gap in the width direction center of the guide plate portion 22b in a superimposed state, enter the gap between the opposing surfaces of the pair of left and right upper plates 23a as it is, and move forward along the gap while protruding below the upper plate 23a.

The pair of left and right entrance pinch rollers 23b pinch the overlapping portions of both side edges 16a of the packaging film 16 that protrude downward from the upper plate 23a from the left and right, providing a conveying force. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the entrance pinch rollers 23b are disposed in an area where the downstream tip portion of the guide plate portion 22b of the bag maker 22 and the upstream end portion of the upper plate 23a intersect. As a result, in this embodiment, the entrance pinch rollers 23b pinch both side edges 16a of the packaging film 16 that protrude downward from the gap in the guide plate portion 22b, providing a conveying force.

The pair of left and right center sealers 23c, which may have built-in heaters, clamp and heat both side edges 16a from both sides. The pair of left and right exit pinch rollers 23d clamp and apply a conveying force to both side edges 16a heated by the center sealer 23c. To apply this conveying force, the film is pressed and cooled by the center sealer 23c to apply a predetermined pressure to both sides, completing the heat seal. The exit pinch rollers 23d are also called press rollers. In this embodiment, the center seal device 23 uses a bar-shaped center sealer 23c, but it can also be configured with a pair of rotating rollers, and can have various other structures.

The side edge portions 16a of the packaging film 16 made into a cylindrical bag by the bag making machine 22 are sealed by the center seal device 23, and the packaging film 16 is closed in the direction of the film circumference perpendicular to the film conveyance direction.

The packaging machine body 12 is provided with a lower belt conveyor device 26 and an upper holding belt device 28 downstream of the center seal device 23. The lower belt conveyor device 26 constitutes a conveying path for the packaging film 16 containing the product 13. The upper holding belt device 28 is arranged at a predetermined position above the lower belt conveyor device 26. The upper holding belt device 28 is provided with a drive pulley 32 and a driven pulley 33 arranged at a predetermined interval in front and behind, and an endless belt 34 stretched between the pulleys. The endless belt 34 can move up and down together with the pulleys, and is adjusted so that it is in contact with or close to the packaging film 16 containing the product 13. The drive pulley 32 is linked to a drive motor (not shown) and rotates by receiving the rotational force of the drive motor. The endless belt 34 also rotates accordingly. In addition, the moving speed of the endless belt 34 in the horizontal moving section is controlled to be equal to the moving speed of the packaging film 16. This allows the upper restraining belt device 28 to prevent the product 13 from floating upward.

Furthermore, the packaging machine main body 12 is equipped with a top sealing device 30 downstream of the lower belt conveyor device 26 and the upper restraining belt device 28. The top sealing device 30 seals and cuts the packaging film 16 in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, i.e., in the transverse direction. The film part that is sealed and cut is a predetermined position between the front and rear products 13. This top sealing device 30 is equipped with an upper top sealer 30a and a lower top sealer 30b above and below the packaging film 16, sandwiching it between them. The upper top sealer 30a and the lower top sealer 30b have built-in heaters, and the sealing surfaces at the tips of each are heated to a predetermined temperature. The upper top sealer 30a and the lower top sealer 30b approach and move away from each other along a predetermined trajectory while maintaining their sealing surfaces facing each other. When approaching each other, the sealing surfaces of the upper top sealer 30a and the lower top sealer 30b sandwich and heat the packaging film 16 from above and below, and the cutter blade built into the upper top sealer 30a enters the cutter groove provided in the lower top sealer 30b and cuts the sealed portion. As a result, the tip portion of the packaging film 16 (the portion containing the leading product 13) is separated from the following packaging film 16, and a package 29 is produced. This package 29 is then transported on the discharge conveyor device 27.

In this embodiment, the pair of upper plates 23a on the left and right are integrated as an upper plate unit 40, and the upper plate unit 40 is configured to be movable back and forth toward the front side of the packaging machine body 12 (for example, the right side in the conveying direction) within a horizontal plane parallel to the conveying surface, i.e., the upper plate 23a, while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the upper plates 23a (see Figures 6, 7, 12, 13, etc.), and when moved to the front side and pulled out as shown in Figures 7, 13, etc., the upper part is opened and the center sealer 23c and the devices such as the entrance side pinch roller 23b and the exit side pinch roller 23d arranged before and after it are exposed to the outside. Furthermore, the upper plate unit 40 is configured so that when pulled out to the front side at a predetermined position, the front side is lowered downward with the back side as the center of rotation, and is supported in a hanging state, for example, rotated approximately 90 degrees from the horizontal state (see Figures 8, 9, 14, etc.). Furthermore, this embodiment also includes a configuration for removing the upper plate unit 40, as shown in Figures 10, 11, 15, etc. As an example of a specific configuration for realizing each of these configurations, it is preferable to use the configuration shown below.

The upper plate unit 40 includes, for example, a pair of left and right upper plates 23a, and a pair of side wall portions 41 attached to the lower surfaces of the upper plates 23a and setting the relative positions of the pair of upper plates 23a. The upper end portion 41a of the side wall portion 41 is bent approximately 90 degrees in a predetermined direction (for example, toward the non-opposing surface side of the pair of side wall portions 41) to come into surface contact with the lower surface of the upper plate 23a, and the upper end portion 41a and the upper plate 23a are fixed with fasteners 60 such as screws. The side wall portions 41 are fixed near both the front and rear ends of the upper plate 23a in the conveying direction. The pair of side wall portions 41 are parallel to each other and extend in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction, and are arranged so that each straddles the pair of upper plates 23a.

On the non-facing surfaces of each side wall portion 41, an upper rail-shaped portion 42 and a lower rail-shaped portion 43 are arranged to extend horizontally at a predetermined interval above and below. The upper rail-shaped portion 42 may be, for example, an L-shaped plate-shaped member, one surface of which may be fixed by screwing or welding with contacting the side wall portion 41. As a result, the upper rail-shaped portion 42 is firmly connected to the side wall portion 41 and protrudes forward or backward within a horizontal plane. The lower rail-shaped portion 43 may be a separate member attached in the same way as the upper rail-shaped portion 42, but may be, for example, formed integrally by bending the lower portion of the side wall portion 41 90 degrees in a predetermined direction.

A concave cutout 43a is provided at a predetermined position near the rear end of the lower rail portion 43, and opens downward. Furthermore, a rectangular stopper member 44 is attached to the rear edge of the side wall portion 41, in the space between the upper rail portion 42 and the lower rail portion 43. The concave cutout 43a is formed a predetermined distance forward of the stopper member 44.

On the other hand, the support section 50 for supporting and moving the upper plate unit 40 horizontally is arranged so as to cross the conveying path. The support section 50 includes a band-shaped support column 51 arranged at a predetermined interval in the front and rear along the conveying direction on the rear side of the center seal device 23 and the packaging machine main body 12, and a support plate section 52 connected to the upper side of the front side surface of each support column 51 so as to protrude toward the front. The support plate section 52 is band-shaped and arranged to cross the conveying path and is arranged upright vertically. On the opposing surface of the support plate section 52, three guide rollers (one first guide roller 53 on the front side and two second guide rollers 54 arranged at a predetermined position on the rear side) are attached rotatably at appropriate positions from the rear side to the front side. The first guide roller 53 and the second guide roller 54 have the same diameter, and their rotation axes are arranged in a straight line in a horizontal plane. Furthermore, the first guide roller 53 and the second guide roller 54 are arranged at different levels in the axial direction, with the first guide roller 53 located close to the support plate portion 52 and the second guide roller 54 located slightly away from the support plate portion 52. When the upper plate unit 40 is moved in the horizontal direction, the stopper member 44 attached to the side wall portion 41 of the upper plate unit 40 is configured in a positional relationship such that it does not come into contact with the second guide roller 54 but comes into contact with the first guide roller 53.

Furthermore, a long and thin rectangular guide member 55 is attached to the upper side of the opposing surface of the support plate portion 52. This guide member 55 is set up above the two second guide rollers 54 at the back, but not above the first guide roller 53 at the front. Furthermore, a set screw portion 56 is provided on the lower end side of the front side of the support plate portion 52.

When the upper plate unit 40 is attached to the support part 50, the upper rail-shaped part 42 enters between the first guide roller 53 and the second guide roller 54 and the guide member 55, and the first guide roller 53 and the second guide roller 54 are positioned in the space between the upper rail-shaped part 42 and the lower rail-shaped part 43. In addition, the distance between the upper rail-shaped part 42 and the lower rail-shaped part 43 is slightly longer than the diameter of the first guide roller 53 and the second guide roller 54, and either the upper rail-shaped part 42 or the lower rail-shaped part 43 comes into contact with the first guide roller 53 and the second guide roller 54 to guide the reciprocating movement of the upper plate unit 40.

Then, with the upper plate unit 40 pushed into the innermost position, the set screw 56 is tightened to fix the upper plate unit 40 and prevent movement in a direction perpendicular to the conveying surface. Fixation by the set screw 56 can be performed, for example, by attaching the tip of the set screw 56 to the support plate 52, making the groove 56a extending circumferentially on the shaft 56c of the set screw 56 insertable into the notch 41b provided below the tip of the side wall 41, and turning the head 56b of the set screw 56 in a predetermined direction to tighten the screw, so that the groove 56a inserted into the notch 41b urges the side wall 41 toward the support plate 52, preventing the upper plate unit 40 from easily coming loose from the tightening of the set screw 56 and moving forward. In this state, the regular pillow packaging machine 10 operates.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a roughly triangular space is formed at the upstream entrance of the pair of left and right upper plates 23a, and the guide plate portion 22b of the bag former 22 is disposed within this space. The upper surfaces of the guide plate portion 22b and the upper plate 23a together form a conveying surface and are placed flush with each other. Therefore, when the rear upper plate 23a is pulled out toward the front, the triangular portion of the guide plate portion 22b is in the direction of travel of the rear upper plate 23a, which interferes and prevents the plate from being pulled out.

In this embodiment, therefore, a mechanism (not shown) for raising and lowering the guide plate portion 22b is provided, and an operating lever (not shown) is provided, for example, near the upstream side of the support portion 50. The mechanism for raising and lowering may be, for example, a mechanical mechanism such as a link mechanism, and the link mechanism may be linked to the operation of, for example, moving the operating lever up and down, so that the guide plate portion 22b can be moved back and forth between, for example, a reference position flush with the upper plate 23a and a retracted position raised a predetermined distance from the reference position. For example, the power of a driving source such as a drive motor or cylinder may be transmitted directly or via a predetermined transmission mechanism to the guide plate portion 22b to raise and lower it, but in this embodiment, since the interference between the guide plate portion 22b and the upper plate 23a is caused by, for example, simply moving the guide plate portion 22b upward or downward by about a few mm, the guide plate portion 22b is raised and lowered by a link mechanism based on the manual operation of the operating lever. This makes it possible to avoid interference between the two with a simple configuration and to pull out the upper plate unit 40. In addition, the above-mentioned lifting movement can be configured so that at least the triangular protruding portion on the downstream side of the guide plate portion 22b can be lifted and lowered to avoid interference, but the entire guide plate portion 22b or even the entire bag maker 22 can also be lifted and lowered.

When cleaning, repairing or performing other maintenance on devices such as the center sealer 23c, the operating lever is operated as described above to move the guide plate portion 22b upward from the reference position to the retracted position. Also, before or after this process, the set screw portion 56 is loosened to reduce the biasing force of the groove portion 56a against the side wall portion 41, making it possible for the notch portion 41b to be removed from the groove portion 56a. In this state, when the upper plate unit 40 is pulled toward the front, the entire upper plate unit 40 is pulled out toward the front. At this time, the first guide roller 53 and the second guide roller 54, which come into contact with the upper rail portion 42 or the lower rail portion 43, rotate on their own axis, guiding the pull-out toward the front, and the upper plate unit 40 is smoothly pulled out.

When the upper plate unit 40 is completely pulled out toward the front side, the stopper member 44 attached to the rear side of the side wall portion 41 comes into contact with the first guide roller 53 attached to the front side, preventing further movement toward the front side. In this state of being pulled out toward the front side, the first guide roller 53 on the tip side is present in the space between the upper rail-shaped portion 42 and the lower rail-shaped portion 43, and the guide member 55 is not present above the upper rail-shaped portion 42. Therefore, for example, the upper plate unit 40 becomes rotatable around the first guide roller 53 on the front side. For example, when the upper plate unit 40 is rotated about 90 degrees so that the front side of the upper plate unit 40 is lowered, the stopper member 44 is caught by the first guide roller 53 on the front side, and the upper plate unit 40 is held in a suspended position.

In this state, the surroundings, including the top, of devices such as the entrance pinch roller 23b, center sealer 23c, and exit pinch roller 23d are open, allowing workers to easily and accurately check the state and condition of the devices, and since there is sufficient space around the devices to perform various tasks, maintenance and other procedures can be completed in a short time. Furthermore, since the upper plate unit 40 is supported in a suspended state below, workers can approach and work on, for example, the front side of the center seal device 23.

The pair of upper plates 23a on the front and back sides are pulled out together as an upper plate unit 40, so the upper plate 23a on the back side can also be moved away from above devices such as the center sealer 23c, allowing it to be opened widely.

To achieve this state, the upper plate unit 40 only needs to be pulled out horizontally. Therefore, even if, for example, the upper restraining belt device 28 or the like is located above the upper plate unit 40 as in this embodiment, or a sensor is located near the top of the upper plate unit 40, the upper plate unit 40 can be pulled out smoothly without interfering with these, opening up the surroundings of devices such as the center sealer 23c, and exposing and opening up the entire devices in a plan view. This allows easy and accurate cleaning, repairs, and other maintenance to be performed all the way to the back of the devices. Furthermore, because the upper plate unit 40 can be suspended, the pulled-out upper plate unit does not protrude forward and get in the way of work.

After completing maintenance or other procedures, follow the above steps in reverse, push the upper plate unit 40 to the rear, and with the upper plate unit 40 in the specified position, fix it with the set screw 56, and operate the operating lever to return the guide plate 22b to its reference position.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the concave cutout 43a provided on the rear side of the lower rail-shaped portion 43 has an open length (length in a direction parallel to the pull-out direction of the upper plate unit 40) longer than the diameter of the first guide roller 53 and the second guide roller 54. When the upper plate unit 40 is pulled out to the front side and the stopper member 44 is in contact with the first guide roller 53 on the front side, the concave cutout 43a is located further forward than the first guide roller 53, and the first guide roller 53 on the front side contacts the lower rail-shaped portion 43. When the upper plate unit 40 is moved a predetermined distance from the front-most position to the rear, the first guide roller 53 on the front side faces the concave cutout 43a of the lower rail-shaped portion 43. In this state, the upper rail-shaped portion 42 of the upper plate unit 40 is located within the arrangement area of the guide member 55, and the upward movement of the upper plate unit 40 is suppressed. Therefore, for example, when the concave cutout portion 43a of the lower rail portion 43 is positioned inside the first guide roller 53 while the upper plate unit 40 is being pulled out toward the front, the upper plate unit 40 can be pulled out to the frontmost side without accidentally moving upward and coming off the support portion 50.

When the upper plate unit 40 is pulled out to the front in this manner, as described above, the upper plate unit 40 rotates downward based on the guide member 55 on the front side, transitioning to a suspended and supported state. The upper plate unit 40 in this suspended state can be lifted slightly to position the first guide roller 53 facing the concave cutout portion 43a of the lower rail-shaped portion 43, and then pulled toward the front in this state to remove the upper plate unit 40.

Meanwhile, the removed upper plate unit 40 is raised vertically so that the concave cutout 43a faces the first guide roller 53 and is moved to the rear, positioning the first guide roller 53 in the space between the upper rail-shaped portion 42 and the lower rail-shaped portion 43. Next, when the upper plate unit 40 is moved downward, the stopper member 44 comes into contact with the first guide roller 53, and the upper plate unit 40 is supported in a suspended state.

In this way, the upper plate unit 40 can be attached to and detached from the support part 50 simply by moving it along a specified trajectory without using tools. Therefore, for example, by removing the upper plate unit 40, the front side of the center seal device 23 can be opened, making it easier to visually check the internal condition and to perform various operations.

In the above-described embodiment, the downstream end portion of the guide plate portion 22b of the bag maker 22 is configured to fit between the pair of left and right upper plates 23a, but the downstream end portion of the bag maker 22, such as the guide plate portion 22b, may be configured not to fit between the pair of left and right upper plates 23a, and not to interfere when pulled out in front of the upper plate unit 40. In such a configuration, it is not necessary to provide a configuration for raising and lowering the bag maker 22 or the guide plate portion 22b.

The guide plate portion 22b of the bag maker 22 and the upper plate 23a may also be configured to overlap.

Although various aspects of the present invention have been described above using embodiments, it should be noted that these embodiments and descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are provided to aid in the understanding of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is not limited to the configurations and manufacturing methods explicitly described in the specification, but includes combinations of the various aspects of the present invention disclosed herein. Although the configurations of the present invention that are sought to be patented are specified in the appended claims, it is hereby reiterated that configurations disclosed in this specification that are not currently specified in the claims may be claimed in the future.

10: Regular pillow packaging machine 23: Center seal device 23a: Upper plate 23b: Entrance side pinch roller 23c: Center sealer 23d: Exit side pinch roller 26: Lower belt conveyor device 40: Upper plate unit 41: Side wall portion 42: Upper rail-shaped portion 43: Lower rail-shaped portion 44: Stopper member 50: Support frame portion 51: Support portion 52: Support plate portion 53: First guide roller 54: Second guide roller 55: Guide member

Claims (4)

A center seal device used in a pillow packaging machine, which seals overlapping portions of both side edges of a packaging film that is formed into a cylindrical shape and protrudes below a conveying surface,
A pair of upper plates constituting the conveying surface;
a center sealer disposed below the pair of upper plates and configured to sandwich and heat the both side edge portions protruding downward from the gap between the pair of upper plates;
A support section is provided for supporting the upper plate unit to which the pair of upper plates are attached in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film so as to be capable of being pulled out toward the front side of the pillow packaging machine,
The support portion has a function of tilting the upper plate unit downward when the upper plate unit is pulled out a predetermined amount toward the front side and supporting the upper plate unit in a suspended state ,
The upper plate unit includes rail-shaped portions configured to be horizontally movable on both left and right sides in the horizontal movement direction,
a guide member provided on the support portion side and capable of contacting the rail-shaped portion and guiding the horizontal movement;
a stopper member that is capable of contacting the guide member provided on the front side of the support portion, the stopper member being provided on the rear side of the rail-shaped portion on both the left and right side surfaces of the upper plate unit;
This center seal device is characterized in that when the upper plate unit is pulled out toward the front, the guide member and the stopper member come into contact to prevent further horizontal movement toward the front, and the stopper member of the upper plate unit in a downwardly tilted position is supported by the guide member to be in a suspended state. A center seal device used in a pillow packaging machine, which seals overlapping portions of both side edges of a packaging film that is formed into a cylindrical shape and protrudes below a conveying surface,
A pair of upper plates constituting the conveying surface;
a center sealer disposed below the pair of upper plates and configured to sandwich and heat the both side edge portions protruding downward from the gap between the pair of upper plates;
A support section is provided for supporting the upper plate unit to which the pair of upper plates are attached in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the packaging film so as to be capable of being pulled out toward the front side of the pillow packaging machine,
The upper plate unit moves horizontally while maintaining the relative positional relationship between the pair of upper plates,
The support portion is configured to be able to tilt the upper plate unit downward when the upper plate unit is pulled out a predetermined amount toward the front side,
The support portion is provided with a guide member that can contact a stopper member provided at the rear side of the upper plate unit in the pull-out direction, and the stopper member of the upper plate unit when in a downward tilted position is supported by the guide member, thereby forming a center seal device . The upper plate unit is configured to be detachable from the support portion,
3. The center seal device according to claim 1, wherein the upper plate unit is prevented from coming off during a section of the horizontal movement in which the upper plate unit is not pulled out by the predetermined amount. The upper plate unit can be attached and detached in a suspended position,
The center seal device according to claim 3, characterized in that the upper plate unit transitions from the suspended state to a state in which it can be detached from the support portion by being lifted.

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