Bag making and packaging machine

A bag making and packaging machine forms a first transverse seal portion in a packaging material formed in a tubular shape, fills the packaging material with articles, thereafter further forms a second transverse seal portion to make a bag, and allows the bag to fall, and is equipped with a vibrating mechanism. The first transverse seal portion is formed in a direction perpendicular to a conveyance direction of the packaging material. The vibrating mechanism tilts the packaging material to an outer side of a fall path of the bag and vibrates the packaging material after the packaging material has been filled with the articles and before the second transverse seal portion is formed.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a bag making and packaging machine.

2. Related Art

Bag making and packaging machines are used as machines that perform bag making and packaging while filling the inside of a packaging material with articles (contents) such as confectioneries. Bag making and packaging machines longitudinally seal a band-like packaging material to form a tubular packaging material and thereafter transversely seal the tubular packaging material. The transversely sealed tubular packaging material is thereafter cut by a cutter and becomes a bag. Incidentally, in a case where the articles with which the bag is filled are a collection of articles whose specific gravity is small, such as potato chips, the articles accumulate sparsely inside the packaging material. That is, inside the packaging material, the articles pile on top of each other with large spaces in between. For that reason, the quantity of the articles with which the inside of the packaging material is filled decreases, which is inconvenient. Therefore, in patent document 1 (JP-A No. 2000-25721), a method of adjusting the bulk of the articles by pressing the side surfaces of the tubular packaging material with pressing members disposed on the side surfaces of the tubular packaging material is proposed.

However, although the technology proposed in the above document can adjust the bulk of the articles inside the packaging material, it cannot sufficiently prevent biting of the articles (e.g., potato chip fragments, seasonings added to potato chips, etc.) into a sealed place when the packaging material is transversely sealed. The biting of the articles into the sealed place causes damage to the bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a bag making and packaging machine that can raise the fill rate of articles in a tubular packaging material and reduce biting of the articles into a portion of the packaging material that subsequently forms a seal portion.

A bag making and packaging machine pertaining to the present invention is configured to form a first transverse seal portion in a tubular shaped packaging material, fill the packaging material with articles, thereafter further form a second transverse seal portion to make a bag, and allow the bag to fall, and further includes a vibrating mechanism. The first transverse seal portion is formed in a direction orthogonal to a conveyance direction of the packaging material. The vibrating mechanism tilts the packaging material to an outer side of a fall path of the bag and vibrates the packaging material after the packaging material has been filled with the articles and before the second transverse seal portion is formed.

Because of this, the fill rate of the articles can be raised, and biting of the articles into the sealed place can be reduced.

Moreover, it is preferred that the bag making and packaging machine is further equipped with a longitudinal sealing mechanism and a transverse sealing mechanism. The longitudinal sealing mechanism forms the packaging material into a tubular shape by heat-sealing both width direction sides of the packaging material. The transverse sealing mechanism heat-seals the tubular packaging material in a direction orthogonal to the tubular packaging material to form a sealed place and further cuts the sealed place to form the first transverse seal portion and the second transverse seal portion.

Further, it is preferred that the vibrating mechanism includes a rotating brush and a tilting member. The rotating brush is placed in a first position located on the outer side of the fall path. The tilting member is placed in a second position. The second position is a position located on the outer side of the fall path and opposing the first position across the fall path of the bag. Further, it is preferred that the tilting member tilts the neighborhood of the first transverse seal portion positioned in the fall path to the outer side of the fall path to bring the neighborhood of the first transverse seal portion into contact with the rotating brush. Because of this, the bag can be vibrated by the rotating brush placed on the outer side of the fall path.

Further, it is preferred that the tilting member has a contact section that contacts the bag. It is preferred that the contact section contacts the neighborhood of the first transverse seal portion and tilts the neighborhood of the first transverse seal portion toward the first position before the second transverse seal portion is formed. Further, it is preferred that the rotating brush contacts and imparts vibration to the neighborhood of the first transverse seal portion tilted by the contact section. Because of this, vibration can be imparted reliably to the neighborhood of the lower seal portion.

Moreover, it is preferred that the rotating brush has first sections and second sections. The first sections are sections in which bristles of a first length are implanted. The second sections are sections in which bristles of a second length longer than the first length are implanted. Because of this, large vibration can be imparted to the neighborhood of the lower seal portion.

Further, it is preferred that the rotating brush rotates in the opposite direction of the direction in which the tubular packaging material extends. Because of this, the neighborhood of the lower seal portion can be vibrated effectively.

According to the bag making and packaging machine pertaining to the present invention, the fill rate of the articles can be raised and biting of the articles into the sealed place can be reduced.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. “Up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “front”, and “rear” in the description of the bag making and packaging machine100are as defined inFIG. 3.

(1) Overall Configuration

FIG. 1andFIG. 2show the overall configuration of the bag making and packaging machine100. The bag making and packaging machine100is a machine that makes products P (bags B1) comprising bagged articles C. The bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the present embodiment bags articles C whose specific gravity is light such as a snack food and which include seasonings and so forth.

The bag making and packaging machine100has a bag making and packaging unit5, a film supplying unit6, and a control unit7(seeFIG. 6). The bag making and packaging unit5packs the articles C into the bags B1while forming the bags B1. The film supplying unit6supplies a film F that becomes the material of the bags B1to the bag making and packaging unit5. The control unit7controls the operation of the entire bag making and packaging machine100. A combination weighing unit2is placed above the bag making and packaging unit5. In the bag making and packaging unit5, a predetermined quantity of the articles C weighed by the combination weighing unit2is bagged.

An operation panel8is placed in front of the bag making and packaging unit5. The operation panel8has a liquid crystal display and a touch panel that covers the liquid crystal display. The operation panel8shows the operating state of the bag making and packaging machine100to an operator standing on the right side of the bag making and packaging machine100. Further, the operation panel8accepts the input of various commands from the operator with respect to the bag making and packaging machine100.

The bag making and packaging machine100makes flat-bottom bags B1. The flat-bottom bags B1are self-standing bags having a bottom portion FB.FIG. 10shows an external perspective view of the flat-bottom bag B1, andFIG. 11shows the bottom portion FB of the flat-bottom bag B1. The bag B1has a bag body portion FL that surrounds the articles C, an upper seal portion (a second transverse seal portion) SL1(seeFIG. 10) that closes the upper side of the bag body portion FL, and a lower seal portion (a first transverse seal portion) SL2(seeFIG. 11) that closes the lower side of the bag body portion FL. A longitudinal seal portion LSP that extends in the longitudinal direction is formed on the back surface of the bag B1. The bag body portion FL has a first surface S1that has the longitudinal seal portion LSP, a second surface S2that opposes the first surface S1, and side surfaces S3and S3that are sandwiched between the first surface S1and the second surface S2. The bottom portion FB mainly comprises the lower seal portion SL2, the lower portion of the first surface S1, the lower portion of the second surface S2, and the lower portions of the side surfaces S3and S3.

The bag making and packaging machine100forms the sheet-like film F supplied by the film supplying unit6into a tubular film Fc. The bag making and packaging machine100further forms the lower seal portion SL2in the tubular film Fc while filling the tubular film Fc with a mass of the articles C and thereafter transforms the lower seal portion SL2to form the bottom portion FB in the tubular film Fc. Thereafter, the bag making and packaging machine100forms the upper seal portion SL1in the tubular film Fc and cuts apart the flat-bottom bag B1having the upper seal portion SL1, the body portion FL, and the bottom portion FB from the tubular film Fc.

The configuration of the bag making and packaging unit5will be described in detail below.

(2) Bag Making and Packaging Unit

As shown in any ofFIG. 1toFIG. 3, the bag making and packaging unit5has a forming mechanism51, pull-down belt mechanisms52and52, a longitudinal sealing mechanism53, a guide mechanism54, a shutter mechanism55, a transverse sealing mechanism56, a first folding mechanism57, second folding mechanisms58and58, a vibrating mechanism59, and a support frame12that supports these mechanisms.

The forming mechanism51(also referred to as a tube formation mechanism) forms the sheet-like film F sent from the film supplying unit6into a tubular shape. As shown inFIG. 2andFIG. 3, the forming mechanism51has a tube11aand a former11b. The tube11ais a tubular member extending in the up-and-down direction and has openings in its upper and lower ends. The tube11ais placed in an open section in the center of a ceiling plate29of the support frame12and is integrated with the former11bvia an unillustrated bracket. As shown inFIG. 3, the articles C falling a predetermined quantity at a time from the combination weighing unit2(seeFIG. 1) are dropped into the tube11afrom the opening in the tube11aand fall through the inside of the tube11a. The former11bis placed in such a way as to surround the tube11a. The shape of the former11bis a shape by which the film F is wrapped around the outer surface of the tube11awhile passing through a space between the former11band the tube11aand is formed from a sheet-like shape into a tubular shape. The former11bis also fixed to the support frame12via an unillustrated support member.

The pull-down belt mechanisms52and52(also referred to as a conveyance mechanism) are supported by support members (not shown in the drawings) hanging down from the ceiling plate29of the support frame12. As shown inFIG. 3, the pull-down belt mechanisms52and52are placed in such a way as to be symmetrical in the left-and-right direction across the tube11a. The pull-down belt mechanisms52and52extend in the up-and-down direction along the tube11aand downwardly convey, while sucking, the tubular film Fc wrapped around the tube11a. Each of the pull-down belt mechanisms52and52has a drive roller21, a driven roller22, and a belt23that has a sucking function.

The longitudinal sealing mechanism53is supported by a support member (not shown in the drawings) hanging down from the ceiling plate29of the support frame12and extends in the up-and-down direction along the tube11a. The longitudinal sealing mechanism53heats the overlapping section of the tubular film Fc (both width direction sides of the tubular film Fc) wrapped around the tube11awhile pressing the overlapping section with regular applied pressure against the tube11ato thereby heat-seal the overlapping section in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal sealing mechanism53has a heater and a heater belt. The heater belt heated by the heater contacts the overlapping portion of the tubular film Fc, whereby the overlapping section of the tubular film Fc is heat-sealed.

(2-4) Guide Mechanism

As shown inFIG. 3, the guide mechanism54is placed under the tube11aand above the transverse sealing mechanism56. The guide mechanism54is a mechanism that transforms the lower end of the tubular film Fc. The guide mechanism54has a pair of guide members41and41that are placed on the inner side of the tubular film Fc. The pair of guide members41and41are capable of operating in such a way as to be symmetrical in the front-and-rear direction on the basis of a centerline of the tube11a. The pair of guide members41and41rotate about one end on the upstream side. The guide mechanism54pushes out the tubular film Fc from its inner side in the depth direction (the front-and-rear direction) by causing the guide members41and41to operate after the lower seal portion SL2has been formed in the tubular film Fc by the transverse sealing mechanism56.

As shown inFIG. 3, the shutter mechanism55is placed under the forming mechanism51, the pull-down belt mechanisms52and52, the longitudinal sealing mechanism53, and the guide mechanism54and above the later-described transverse sealing mechanism56and is supported by the support frame12.

The shutter mechanism55is a mechanism that suppresses biting of the articles C into a sealed place formed by the later-described transverse sealing mechanism56and has a pair of shutter members. The pair of shutter members are placed on the front side and on the rear side of the tubular film Fc. The pair of shutter members extend longer than the dimension of the tubular film Fc in a direction intersecting the up-and-down direction of the tubular film Fc.

The shutter mechanism55prevents biting of the articles C into the sealed place by repeatedly alternating between a first operation and a second operation. The first operation is an operation in which the shutter members descend a predetermined distance in a state in which they nip the tubular film Fc. The second operation is an operation in which the shutter members move away from the tubular film Fc and then move closer to and nip the tubular film Fc.

The shutter members nip the tubular film Fc earlier than sealing jaws61aand61bof the later-described transverse sealing mechanism56and suppress falling of the articles above the sealed place during transverse sealing of the tubular film Fc.

As shown inFIG. 3, the transverse sealing mechanism56is placed under the forming mechanism51, the pull-down belt mechanisms52and52, the longitudinal sealing mechanism53, the guide mechanism54, and the shutter mechanism55and is supported by the support frame12.

The transverse sealing mechanism56heat-seals the tubular film Fc in a direction orthogonal to the tubular film Fc to form a sealed place. Moreover, the transverse sealing mechanism56cuts the sealed place to form the upper seal portion SL1and the lower seal portion SL2. As shown inFIG. 4, the transverse sealing mechanism56has body portions63aand63b, rotating mechanisms65aand65b, a horizontal moving mechanism60, and sealing jaws61aand61b.

(2-6-1) Body Portions

As shown inFIG. 4, the body portions63and63bare placed sandwiching a broken line C0and extend in a direction perpendicular to the page ofFIG. 4. The body portions63aand63bsupport the sealing jaws61aand61b. The body portions63aand63bare driven by the rotating mechanisms65aand65bto rotate in opposite directions based on the broken line C0.

The rotating mechanisms65aand65bhave center shafts C1and C2, respectively, which extend perpendicularly to the page ofFIG. 4. The center shafts C1and C2are disposed in the centers of the body portions63aand63band are rotated by drive motors. Because of the rotation of the center shafts C1and C2, the body portion63arotates clockwise inFIG. 4and the body portion63brotates counter-clockwise inFIG. 4.

(2-6-3) Horizontal Moving Mechanism

The horizontal moving mechanism60is a mechanism that enables horizontal movement of the body portions63aand63b. Specifically, the horizontal moving mechanism60is a mechanism that moves the body portions63aand63btoward and away from each other in such a way that they are symmetrical in the front-and-rear direction based on the broken line C0inFIG. 4. The horizontal moving mechanism60has horizontal moving plates64aand64b, a horizontal moving plate drive mechanism68, and a drive motor80. The horizontal moving plates64aand64bare attached respectively to both ends in the left-and-right direction (the direction perpendicular to the page ofFIG. 4) of the body portions63aand63b. The horizontal moving plate drive mechanism68uses the drive motor80to horizontally move the horizontal moving plates64aand64btoward and away from each other.

The sealing jaws61aand61bare attached to the body portions63aand63b, respectively. The tubular film Fc is conveyed downward in a state in which the broken line C0shown inFIG. 4is in the width direction center of the tubular film Fc. The sealing jaws61aand61bextend longer than the dimension of the tubular film Fc in the left-and-right direction (i.e., the direction perpendicular to the page ofFIG. 4). That is, the sealing jaws61aand61bare placed in a direction intersecting the length direction of the tubular film Fc. The sealing jaws61aand61bhave sealing surfaces that contact the tubular film Fc. Further, the sealing jaws61aand61beach have a heater inside and use the heaters to heat the sealing surfaces. The sealing jaws61aand61bnip part of the tubular film Fc with the heated sealing surfaces to form the sealed place (the upper seal portion SL1and the lower seal portion SL2) in the tubular film Fc. The sealing jaws61aand61bheat-seal the tubular film Fc in the transverse direction while revolving about the center shafts C1and C2. Specifically, the sealing jaws61aand61bmove in D-shaped loci by a combination of reciprocal motion in the horizontal direction resulting from the horizontal moving mechanism60and rotational motion resulting from the rotating mechanisms65aand65b(seeFIG. 5). The sealing jaws61aand61bmove in the horizontal direction and nip and heat-seal the tubular film Fc when they come closest to the tubular film Fc.

(2-7) First Folding Mechanism

The first folding mechanism57has a bottom plate50and an air cylinder that is one type of a reciprocating actuator. The bottom plate50is placed above the transverse sealing mechanism56(seeFIG. 3). The reciprocating actuator is controlled by a speed controller. The bottom plate50reciprocally moves in the horizontal direction toward and away from the tubular film Fc. The bottom plate50contacts the lower portion of the tubular film Fc in a position closest to the tubular film Fc and pushes over the lower seal portion SL2in a direction (the front-and-rear direction) intersecting the direction (the left-and-right direction) in which the lower seal portion SL2extends. Because of this, the lower seal portion SL2is folded with respect to the lower portion of the bag body portion FL, and a bag lower portion FA (seeFIG. 12) is formed in the tubular film Fc. The bag lower portion FA is a section including the lower seal portion SL2of the bag B1, the lower portion of the first surface S1, the lower portion of the second surface S2, and the lower portions of the side surfaces S3and S3. The bag lower portion FA is thereafter transformed by the second folding mechanisms58and58to become the bottom portion FB (FIG. 11).

(2-8) Second Folding Mechanisms

As shown inFIG. 3, the second folding mechanisms58and58are placed above the transverse sealing mechanism56. The second folding mechanisms58and58are placed on the right side and the left side on the basis of the centerline of the tube11a. The second folding mechanisms58and58are mechanisms that push over side portions EP of the bag lower portion FA in the direction (the left-and-right direction) in which the lower seal portion SL2extends. The second folding mechanisms58and58operate in such a way as to be symmetrical in the left-and-right direction on the basis of the centerline of the tube11a.

Each of the second folding mechanisms58and58mainly has a side plate81and a support member82. The side plate81has a predetermined length in the depth direction (the front-and-rear direction) of the tubular film Fc. The side plate81has a configuration in which it is capable of being rotated about one end on the upper side by an unillustrated driver. The support member82is a member that supports the side plate81and is driven by an air cylinder or the like. The air cylinder or the like is controlled by an unillustrated speed controller. The support members82are driven by the air cylinders to reciprocally move in diagonal directions and cause the side plates81to move toward and away from the side portions EP of the bag lower portion FA. The side plates81rotate upward in a state in which the bottom plate50is closest to the lower end of the tubular film Fc and fold the side portions EP of the bag lower portion FA with respect to neighboring portions CP1(seeFIG. 12) of the bag lower portion FA. The side portions EP and the neighboring portions CP1are heat-sealed together by the residual heat that the lower seal portion SL2has.

As shown inFIG. 3, the vibrating mechanism59is placed under the forming mechanism51, the pull-down belt mechanisms52and52, the longitudinal sealing mechanism53, the guide mechanism54, the shutter mechanism55, and the transverse sealing mechanism56. The vibrating mechanism59is a mechanism that imparts vibration to the lower end of the tubular film Fc. Specifically, the vibrating mechanism59is a mechanism that imparts vibration to the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2of the tubular film Fc with respect to the tubular film Fc after the lower seal portion SL2has been formed and before the upper seal portion SL1is formed.

The vibrating mechanism59is mainly configured from an air cylinder591, a cylindrical brush (rotating brush)592, and a motor (not shown in the drawings) that causes the brush592to rotate (seeFIG. 3etc.). As shown inFIG. 3andFIG. 7toFIG. 9, the air cylinder591and the brush592are placed with a fall path FP of the bags B1in between them. The fall path FP is a path down which the bags B1fall after the sealed place of the tubular film Fc has been cut by the transverse sealing mechanism56. Further, the fall path FP coincides with the conveyance path of the tubular film Fc. That is, the air cylinder591and the brush592are placed in positions in which they do not hinder the falling of the bags B1. Specifically, the air cylinder591is placed on the depth direction front side of the tubular film Fc. The brush592is placed on the depth direction rear side of the tubular film Fc. That is, the brush592is placed in a position (corresponding to a first position) in which it opposes the air cylinder591across the fall path FP.

(2-9-1) Air Cylinder

The air cylinder591is a type of reciprocating actuator and is controlled by an unillustrated speed controller. The air cylinder591has a contact portion591a. The contact portion591amoves back and forth between a standby position and a forwardly advanced position (seeFIG. 7toFIG. 9). The standby position is a position on the depth direction front side of the tubular film Fc (the outer side of the fall path FP) (seeFIG. 7andFIG. 9), and the forwardly advanced position is a position to which the contact portion591ahas forwardly advanced from the standby position toward the depth direction rear side of the tubular film Fc (seeFIG. 8). The air cylinder591reciprocally moves between the standby position and the forwardly advanced position at predetermined time intervals. The air cylinder591contacts the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2of the tubular film Fc short of the forwardly advanced position and, in the forwardly advanced position, tilts the lower end of the tubular film Fc to the depth direction rear side of the tubular film Fc. In other words, the air cylinder591contacts the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2of the tubular film Fc inside the fall path FP and tilts the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2to the outer side of the fall path FP to bring the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2into contact with the brush592. The air cylinder591retracts the contact portion591ato the standby position after it has brought the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2of the tubular film Fc into contact with the brush592for a predetermined amount of time (seeFIG. 8andFIG. 9). The air cylinder591tilts the lower end of the tubular film Fc to the outer side of the fall path FP to bring the lower end of the tubular film Fc into contact with the brush592after the tubular film Fc has been filled with the articles C and before the upper seal portion SL1is formed in the tubular Fc.

As shown inFIG. 7, the brush592has a cylindrical core592ain which bristles592band592cmade of resin are implanted. The core592ais attached to a rotating shaft of a motor via a joint (not shown in the drawings). The brush592is driven by the motor to rotate. Further, the brush592is rotated in such a way as to contact the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2of the tubular film Fc from the flow direction downstream side of the tubular film Fc to the upstream side. Specifically, the brush592rotates in the direction (clockwise direction) indicated by arrows R1(seeFIG. 7andFIG. 8). Because of the rotation of the brush592, vibration is imparted to the tubular film Fc from the lower end of the tubular film Fc. The bristles592band592cinclude bristles of different lengths. Specifically, the bristles592band592cinclude bristles592bhaving a first length and bristles592chaving a second length shorter than the first length. The bristles592bhaving the first length and the bristles592chaving the second length are placed in such a way as to impart large vibration to the tubular film Fc when the brush592rotates while contacting the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2of the tubular film Fc. Specifically, the core592ahas first regions in which the bristles592bhaving the first length are implanted and second regions in which the bristles592chaving the second length are implanted. Further, the first regions and the second regions are disposed adjacent to each other. InFIG. 7toFIG. 9, as seen from the side the first regions and the second regions are placed in positions adjacent to each other, with a first region being placed in a position in which it opposes another first region and with a second region being placed in a position in which it opposes another second region. When vibration is imparted to the tubular film Fc by the brush592, the articles C sparsely piled up inside the tubular film Fc and fragments and seasonings of the articles C adhering to the inner wall of the tubular film Fc fall downward in the conveyance direction of the tubular film Fc and gather together. The lower end of the tubular film Fc is tilted in such a way as to contact at least either of the bristles592bin the first regions or the bristles592cin the second regions when the air cylinder591has moved to the forwardly advanced position.

(2-10) Control Unit

The control unit7comprises a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and a hard disk and reads and executes a program for controlling each part of the bag making and packaging machine100. As shown inFIG. 6, the control unit7is connected to the film supplying unit6, the pull-down belt mechanisms52, the longitudinal sealing mechanism53, the guide mechanism54, the transverse sealing mechanism56, the first folding mechanism57, the second folding mechanisms58and58, the vibrating mechanism59, and the operation panel8.

(3) Operation of Bag Making and Packaging Machine

(3-1) Operation until Bottom Portion is Formed

In conjunction with the driving of the pull-down belt mechanisms52and52, the sheet-like film F is paid out from a film roll of the film supplying unit6and is sent to the forming mechanism51. The sheet-like film F sent to the forming mechanism51is wrapped around the outer surface of the tube11awhile passing through the space between the former11band the tube11a, and both width direction side portions of the film F are overlapped. The film F, both of whose width direction side portions are overlapped, is conveyed downward along the outer surface of the tube11aby the pull-down belt mechanisms52and52. Further, the overlapped section of the film F is heat-sealed in the longitudinal direction by the longitudinal sealing mechanism53, whereby the sheet-like film F becomes the tubular film Fc.

Next, the tubular film Fc is heat-sealed by the sealing jaws61aand61b, whereby the sealed place is formed. The sealed place is cut by a cutter built into either of the sealing jaws61aand61band becomes the upper seal portion SL1of the leading bag B1and the lower seal portion SL2of the tubular film Fc (the trailing bag B1). That is, the leading bag B1and the tubular film Fc (the trailing bag B1) are cut apart by the sealing jaws61aand61b(seeFIG. 9).

After the leading bag B1has been cut apart from the tubular film Fc, the bottom portion FB is formed in the tubular film Fc (the trailing bag B1). Specifically, the lower end of the tubular film Fc is pushed out in the front-and-rear direction by the guide mechanism54. Thereafter, the bottom plate50of the first folding mechanism57approaches the tubular film Fc and pushes over the lower seal portion SL2in the direction (the front-and-rear direction) intersecting the direction (the left-and-right direction) in which the lower seal portion SL2extends. Because of this, the bag lower portion FA is formed in the tubular film Fc. Moreover, the second folding mechanisms58and58push over the side portions EP and EP of the bag lower portion FA in the direction (the left-and-right direction) in which the lower seal portion SL2extends. The side portions EP and EP are heat-sealed to the neighboring portions CP1and CP1by the residual heat of the lower seal portion SL2. Because of this, the bottom portion FB is formed in the tubular film Fc.

A mass of the articles C falls from the combination weighing unit2immediately before the bottom portion FB is formed or immediately after the bottom portion FB has been formed.

(3-2) Operation after Bottom Portion Has Been Formed

The vibrating mechanism59operates in conjunction with the timing when the tubular film Fc in which the bottom portion FB has been formed is sent downstream in the conveyance direction. As shown inFIG. 7, when the lower end of the tubular film Fc is positioned on the upstream side of the sealing jaws61aand61b, the air cylinder591has its contact portion591standing by in the standby position, and the brush592also stands by without rotating. Next, as shown inFIG. 8, a predetermined quantity of the tubular film Fc is sent to the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the air cylinder591moves the contact portion591ato the forwardly advanced position at the timing when the lower end of the tubular film Fc is positioned in the neighborhood of the vibrating mechanism59. The contact portion591acontacts the neighborhood of the lower end of the tubular film Fc and tilts the lower end of the tubular film Fc to the outer side of the fall path FP to bring the neighborhood of the lower end of the tubular film Fc into contact with the brush592. The brush592rotates in such a way as to contact the lower end of the tubular film Fc from the conveyance direction downstream side of the tubular film Fc to the upstream side and imparts vibration to the lower end of the tubular film Fc. When vibration is applied to the neighborhood of the lower end of the tubular film Fc for a predetermined amount of time, as shown inFIG. 9, the air cylinder591retracts the contact portion591ato the standby position. Because of this, the lower end of the tubular film Fc returns to the inner side of the fall path FP from the outer side of the fall path FP, and the tubular film Fc no longer tilts. Thereafter, the sealed place is formed in the tubular film Fc by the sealing jaws61aand61b. That is, the place that becomes the upper seal portion SL1of the leading bag B1and the lower seal portion SL2of the trailing bag B1is formed in the tubular film Fc. The sealed place is cut by the cutter built into either of the sealing jaws61aand61band becomes the upper seal portion SL1of the leading bag B1and the lower seal portion SL2of the trailing bag B1. That is, the leading bag B1and the tubular film Fc (the trailing bag B1) are cut apart by the sealing jaws61aand61b(seeFIG. 9). The bag B1is cut apart from the tubular film Fc and falls down the fall path FP.

The bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the present embodiment packages the articles C whose specific gravity is small, such as potato chips. When the articles C whose specific gravity is small are dropped from above the tube11a, the articles C pile on top of each other with large spaces in between inside the packaging material. That is, it is easy for the articles C to become bulky inside the tubular film Fc.

However, in the bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the present embodiment, vibration is imparted to the lower end of the tubular film Fc by the vibrating mechanism59after the tubular film Fc has been filled with the articles C and before the upper seal portion SL1is formed in the tubular film Fc. Because of the vibration, the articles C move inside the tubular film Fc such that the spaces formed between the articles C become smaller. That is, the articles C gather together inside the tubular film Fc and the bulkiness is eliminated. Further, in accompaniment with the elimination of the bulkiness, the fill rate of the articles C inside the tubular film Fc can be raised. Moreover, because of the vibration imparted to the tubular film Fc, seasonings and fragments of the articles C adhering to the inside surface of the tubular film Fc can be caused to fall, and biting of the articles C into the sealed place can be reduced.

Moreover, in the bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the present embodiment, the vibrating mechanism59is configured by the air cylinder591and the brush592. The air cylinder591and the brush592are placed on the outer side of the fall path (the conveyance path of the tubular film Fc) FP of the bags B1. In other words, the air cylinder591and the brush592are placed in locations in which they do not hinder the falling of the bags B1. Because of this, the amount of time needed to allow the bags B1to fall can be reduced, and overall the efficiency with which the bags B1are produced by the bag making and packaging machine100can be improved.

Further, in the bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the present embodiment, when the contact portion591aof the air cylinder591moves from the standby position to the forwardly advanced position, the contact portion591acontacts the lower end of the tubular film Fc and moves the lower end of the tubular film Fc to the outer side of the fall path FP. That is, the lower end of the tubular film Fc is tilted to the outer side of the fall path FP by the operation of the air cylinder591. The lower end of the tubular film Fc moves to a position in which it is capable of contacting the brush592, and vibration is imparted to the lower end of the tubular film Fc by the brush592. Because of this, vibration can be imparted reliably to the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2of the tubular film Fc. Further, by imparting vibration to the neighborhood of the lower seal portion SL2, the articles C inside the tubular film Fc can be moved effectively.

Further, the brush592pertaining to the present embodiment has the core592aand the bristles592band592cimplanted in the core592aand having two types of different lengths. The core592ahas the first regions in which the bristles592bhaving the first length are implanted and the second regions in which the bristles592chaving the second length are implanted, and the first regions and the second regions are alternately disposed in the core592a. That is, the first regions and the second regions are disposed adjacent to each other. The brush592contacts the lower end of the tubular film Fc while rotating, so the bristles592bhaving the first length and the bristles592chaving the second length alternately contact the lower end of the tubular film Fc. Because of this, larger vibration can be imparted to the lower end of the tubular film Fc by the brush592.

Moreover, the brush592is rotated in such a way as to contact the tubular film Fc from the conveyance direction downstream side of the tubular film Fc to the upstream side. Consequently, the articles C inside the tubular film Fc first move slightly in the opposite direction (upward) of the falling direction and then again fall from there. Consequently, the spaces between the articles C inside the tubular film Fc can be reduced effectively.

In the bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the above embodiment, a transverse sealing mechanism capable of continuous bag making and packaging is disposed, but instead of this transverse sealing mechanism a transverse sealing mechanism capable of intermittent operation may also be disposed.

The bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the above embodiment makes the flat-bottom bags B1, but the shape of the bags that are made is not limited to the flat-bottom bags B1. For example, the bag making and packaging machine100may also make pillow bags B2(seeFIG. 13). The pillow bag B2comprises a bag body portion FL that surrounds the articles C and an upper seal portion SL1and a lower seal portion SL2that are positioned on the upper side and the lower side of the bag body portion FL. A longitudinal seal portion LSP that extends in the longitudinal direction is formed on the back surface of the bag B2. In the case of making the pillow bag B2, the first folding mechanism57and the second folding mechanisms58and58are removed from the configuration of the bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the above embodiment. Because of this, in regard also to the pillow bag B2, the fill rate of the articles C can be improved, and the articles C that can bite into the upper seal portion SL1and the lower seal portion SL2can be reduced.

In the bag making and packaging machine100pertaining to the above embodiment, the shape of the brush592is not limited to the shape exemplified inFIG. 3andFIG. 7toFIG. 9. For example, the number of the first regions and the second regions disposed on the core592aof the brush592is not limited to two each and may also be three or more each. Further, the vibration imparted to the tubular film Fc may also be made complex by making the lengths of the bristles of the brush592regular and partially changing the densities of the bristles implanted in the core592a. Moreover, the brush592may also be driven by an eccentric motor. That is, the aspect of the brush592may be any aspect as long as it is an aspect where vibration can be imparted effectively from the brush592to the lower end of the tubular film Fc when the lower end of the tubular film Fc has been pressed against the brush592by the operation of the air cylinder591.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST