Packaging device and packaging method for packaging material

A packaging device for packaging material includes: a carry-in conveyor configured to carry in a food container along a conveyance direction; a carry-out conveyor configured to carry out the food container along the conveyance direction; a conveyor moving mechanism configured to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor; a packaging material pressing mechanism configured to press a band-shaped packaging material against the food container conveyed between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor and to attach the band-shaped packaging material to the food container; and a control device configured to cause the conveyor moving mechanism to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor to thereby form an attachment space between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor where the packaging material pressing mechanism attaches the band-shaped packaging material to the food container.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a packaging device and a packaging method for a packaging material for attaching a band-shaped packaging material to an object such as a food container conveyed by, for example, a carry-in conveyor.

BACKGROUND ART

As described in Patent Document 1, a known apparatus for sticking a wrapper band includes a carry-in conveyor on which a container with a lid is placed and conveyed, a transfer conveyor on which the container received from the carry-in conveyor is placed and conveyed, and a sticking means for sticking an adhesive tape to the container that has reached a crossover portion between these conveyors. A wrapper band is wound around and sticked to the container conveyed to the crossover portion.

CITATION LIST

Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2013-112414

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

The apparatus for sticking a wrapper band as described in Patent Document 1, however, always includes the crossover portion, and thus, an object has to pass through this crossover portion. While the container passes through the crossover portion, the posture of the container becomes unstable, and the wrapper band has to be sticked in this unstable state, disadvantageously.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to enable attachment of a band-shaped packaging material to an object while maintaining posture of the object.

Solution to Problem

To achieve the object, according to the present invention, an attachment space for attaching a band-shaped packaging material is obtained by moving at least one of a carry-in conveyor or a carry-out conveyor.

Specifically, in a first aspect, a packaging device includes: a carry-in conveyor configured to carry in an object along a conveyance direction; a carry-out conveyor configured to carry out the object along the conveyance direction; a conveyor moving mechanism configured to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor; a packaging material pressing mechanism configured to press a band-shaped packaging material against the object conveyed between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor, and to attach the band-shaped packaging material to the object; and a control device configured to cause the conveyor moving mechanism to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor to thereby form an attachment space between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor, the attachment space being formed such that the band-shaped packaging material is attached to the object by the packaging material pressing mechanism in the attachment space.

With this configuration, when the object is conveyed, the control device moves at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor to form an attachment space between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor, and in this attachment space, the packaging material pressing mechanism attaches the band-shaped packaging material to the object. Thus, even a band-shaped packaging material extending from the side surface to the bottom surface of the object can be attached as intended. After the attachment, it is sufficient to convey the object after the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor have returned to the original positions. Thus, the object can be conveyed with stability.

In a second aspect, in the device of the first aspect, the packaging material pressing mechanism includes a packaging material holding mechanism configured to place the band-shaped packaging material on an upper surface of the object such that both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material hang down at side surfaces of the object, an upper surface pressing mechanism configured to press the band-shaped packaging material supplied by the packaging material holding mechanism against at least the upper surface of the object, and a pair of bottom folding rollers configured to move horizontally toward each other, the pair of bottom folding rollers being configured to press the both end portions of band-shaped packaging material hanging down at both side surfaces of the band-shaped packaging material against a bottom surface of the object and to attach the both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material to the bottom surface of the object, and the pair of bottom folding rollers is movable below the object in the attachment space.

With this configuration, in the attachment space, after the band-shaped packaging material has been attached to the upper surface of the object by the upper surface pressing mechanism, the band-shaped packaging material is also attached to the bottom surface of the object by the pair of bottom folding rollers. Thus, the band-shaped packaging material is attached to the object from the bottom surface to the upper surface thereof as intended.

In a third aspect, in the device of the second aspect, the upper surface pressing mechanism includes an upper surface pressing portion configured to press the band-shaped packaging material against the upper surface of the object, and a side surface pressing portion configured to press the band-shaped packaging material against a side surface of the object, and the upper surface pressing portion and the side surface pressing portion are movable upward and downward independently of each other.

With this configuration, after the upper surface pressing portion of the upper surface pressing mechanism presses a center portion of the band-shaped packaging material in the longitudinal direction against the upper surface of the object, the side surface pressing portion is pushed downward so that the band-shaped packaging material is also attached to the side surface of the object.

In a fourth aspect, in the device of the third aspect, the packaging material holding mechanism configured to swing while gripping the both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material, and to place the band-shaped packaging material on the upper surface of the object, and includes a pair of openable clamps configured to release the both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material after the upper surface pressing portion presses the band-shaped packaging material against the upper surface of the object.

With this configuration, the band-shaped packaging material is supplied while extending perpendicularly to the conveyance direction by the pair of clamps. Thus, a subsequent operation by the upper surface pressing mechanism can be easily performed.

In a fifth aspect, in the device of any one of the first to fourth aspects, an elevation object stopper is disposed at the carry-out conveyor and is configured to move downward in attaching the band-shaped packaging material to the object and restrict movement of the object.

With this configuration, the band-shaped packaging material is pushed against the object by the packaging material pressing mechanism to be attached to the object with movement of the object being prevented by the object stopper. Thus, the band-shaped packaging material can be attached as intended. After the attachment of the band-shaped packaging material, the object stopper is moved upward to be retracted so that object is carried out.

A packaging method according to a sixth aspect includes: a preparation step of preparing a packaging device for a packaging material, the packaging device including a carry-in conveyor configured to carry in an object along a conveyance direction, a carry-out conveyor configured to carry out the object along the conveyance direction, a conveyor moving mechanism configured to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor, and a packaging material pressing mechanism configured to press a band-shaped packaging material against an object conveyed between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor and to attach the band-shaped packaging material to the object; a standby step of keeping the carry-out conveyor in a standby position in which a downstream end of the carry-in conveyor and an upstream end of the carry-out conveyor are close to each other; a carry-in detecting step of causing a sensor to detect that the object is carried in to the carry-in conveyor; a retraction step of moving at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor to a retraction position after a lapse of a predetermined time from detection of carry-in of the object in the carry-in detecting step; a conveyor stop step of stopping driving of the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor after the retraction step; a packaging material attaching step of causing the packaging material pressing mechanism to press the band-shaped packaging material against the object and attach the band-shaped packaging material to the object by using an attachment space between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor; and a conveyor re-driving step of returning at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor to the transit position after the packaging material attaching step, and restarting driving of the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor.

With this configuration, when the object is carried in, at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor is moved to the retraction position, and the attachment space is formed between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor so that the packaging material pressing mechanism attaches the band-shaped packaging material to the object in this attachment space. This ensures attachment of even a band-shaped packaging material extending from the side surfaces to the bottom surface of the object. After the attachment, it is sufficient to convey the object after the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor have returned to the original positions. Thus, the object can be conveyed with stability.

In a seventh aspect, in the method of the sixth aspect, in the packaging material attaching step, the band-shaped packaging material is placed on an upper surface of the object such that both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material hang down at side surfaces of the object, the band-shaped packaging material is pressed against at least the upper surface of the object, and a pair of bottom folding rollers is moved horizontally toward each other such that the both end portions hanging down at the both side surfaces of the band-shaped packaging material are pressed against a bottom surface of the object and attached to the bottom surface in the attachment space.

With this configuration, in the attachment space, the band-shaped packaging material is first attached to the upper surface of the object, and then, both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material hanging down are also attached to the bottom surface of the object by the pair of bottom folding rollers. Thus, the band-shaped packaging material is attached to the object from the bottom surface to the upper surface thereof as intended.

Advantages of Invention

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to ensure attachment of a band-shaped packaging material to an object from the upper surface to the bottom surface thereof while maintaining posture of the object.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIGS.3and4illustrate a packaging device1for a packaging material according to an embodiment of the present invention. The packaging device1attaches a band-shaped packaging material60to a food container50as a conveyed object. As illustrated inFIG.1A, the food container50includes, for example, a disc-shaped lid member51of a thin resin product and a circular cross-section container portion52. The circular cross-section container portion52containing food is closed with the disc-shaped lid member51. The band-shaped packaging material60is attached by the packaging device1. The band-shaped packaging material60is made of, for example, a film and bibliographic items such as a date is printed thereon, but may be a plain packaging film or paper, for example.

The packaging device1includes a base frame2constituted by, for example, a metal frame. The base frame2is provided with a carry-in conveyor3such as a belt conveyor having a conveyance surface3aon which the food container50is conveyed from the left to the right inFIG.4. A packaging material supply mechanism4, a packaging material printing mechanism5, and a packaging material pressing mechanism6, for example, are provided above the carry-in conveyor3. A pair of lateral guides7and7for preventing an outflow of the food container50from the carry-in conveyor3stands on both sides of the carry-in conveyor3. A carry-out conveyor8for carrying the food container50in the conveyance direction is provided downstream of the carry-in conveyor3.

Although not specifically described, the packaging device1includes a centering device10upstream of the carry-in conveyor3, for example. The centering device10modifies posture of the food container50such that the band-shaped packaging material60can be easily attached to the food container50. An operation of the entire packaging device1is controlled by a control device40.

The packaging material pressing mechanism6for restricting a movable range of the conveyed food container50in the lateral direction of the carry-in conveyor3attaches the band-shaped packaging material60to the food container50centered by the centering device10. For example, in this embodiment, a large number of band-shaped packaging materials60coupled in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction are supplied from the packaging material supply mechanism4, and necessary items are printed on each of the band-shaped packaging materials60by the packaging material printing mechanism5so that the packaging material pressing mechanism6attaches the band-shaped packaging material60to each food container50.

This embodiment also includes a conveyor moving mechanism9configured to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor3or the carry-out conveyor8. As illustrated inFIGS.3and5, for example, the carry-out conveyor8includes a conveyance belt constituting a conveyance surface8a, and a carry-out conveyor motor8bfor driving the conveyance belt, and is disposed on the conveyor moving mechanism9. The conveyor moving mechanism9is configured to move the carry-out conveyor8horizontally to a specified distance relative to the carry-in conveyor3by using, for example, a motor or a cylinder, by control of the control device40, for example. The conveyor moving mechanism9moves the carry-out conveyor8so that an attachment space S is formed between the carry-in conveyor3and the carry-out conveyor8.

The packaging material pressing mechanism6attaches the band-shaped packaging material60to an area from the upper surface to the bottom surface of the food container50that has reached the attachment space S and is stopped between the carry-in conveyor3and the carry-out conveyor8.

The packaging material pressing mechanism6includes a packaging material holding mechanism20for placing the band-shaped packaging material60on the food container50such that both ends of the band-shaped packaging material60hang down at the side surfaces of the food container50. As also illustrated inFIG.2B, the packaging material holding mechanism20includes a pair of clamps20aand20athat swings a band-shaped packaging material60supplied from the packaging material supply mechanism4and subjected to printing by the packaging material printing mechanism5with both ends of the band-shaped packaging material60being gripped by the pair of clamps20aand20aand places the band-shaped packaging material60on the upper surface of the food container50. The clamps20aare configured to be opened and closed to thereby grip and release the band-shaped packaging material60. In the packaging material holding mechanism20, based on a control signal of the control device40, an upper surface pressing portion21a(shown inFIG.2C) described later performs opening/closing operations of pressing the band-shaped packaging material60against the upper surface of the food container50and then releasing both ends of the band-shaped packaging material60.

The packaging material pressing mechanism6includes an upper surface pressing mechanism21of pressing the band-shaped packaging material60supplied by the packaging material holding mechanism20against at least the upper surface of the food container50. Specifically, as also illustrated inFIGS.2C and2D, the upper surface pressing mechanism21includes the upper surface pressing portion21athat presses the band-shaped packaging material60against the upper surface of the food container50and a side surface pressing portion21bthat presses the band-shaped packaging material60against a side surface of the food container50. The upper surface pressing portion21aand the side surface pressing portion21bare movable upward and downward independently of each other.

Specifically, the upper surface pressing portion21ais constituted by, for example, a pair of rod members each having a plate-shaped pressing surface horizontal to the lower end, and is movable upward and downward. The distance between the pair of rod members is also adjustable. When the upper surface pressing portion21amoves downward, the upper surface pressing portion21apresses the band-shaped packaging material60against the upper surface of the food container50. For example, if an adhesive is applied to the lower surface of the band-shaped packaging material60, the band-shaped packaging material60is temporarily fixed to the upper surface of the food container50.

The side surface pressing portion21bis constituted by, for example, a pair of substantially plate-shaped members respectively disposed at the left and right outer sides of the upper surface pressing portion21aand extending along the conveyance direction. After the upper surface pressing portion21apresses the band-shaped packaging material60against the upper surface of the food container50, the side surface pressing portion21bmoves downward and presses both ends of the band-shaped packaging material60against the side surfaces of the food container50.

In addition, as illustrated inFIGS.2D and2E, the packaging material pressing mechanism6includes a pair of bottom folding rollers23that moves horizontally toward each other and attaches both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material60hanging down at side surfaces of the band-shaped packaging material60while pressing both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material60against the bottom surface of the food container50. Although not specifically illustrated, the pair of bottom folding rollers23is slidable below the food container50by a motor or an air cylinder, for example, instructed by the control device40in the attachment space S.

As illustrated inFIG.1A, a food container stopper24is disposed at the carry-out conveyor8of the packaging material pressing mechanism6, and serves as an elevation object stopper that moves downward in attaching the band-shaped packaging material60to the food container50and restricts movement of the food container50. The food container stopper24is configured to be movable upward and downward by an actuator (not shown) such as an air cylinder controlled by the control device40, for example.

Next, an operation of the packaging device1according to this embodiment will be described.

First, in a preparation step, the packaging device1with the configuration described above is prepared. The following control is performed by the control device40, as shown inFIGS.6and7.

Then, in a standby step of step S01, as shown inFIGS.1A and2A, the carry-out conveyor8is kept standby in a transit position P1in which the downstream end of the carry-in conveyor3and the upstream end of the carry-out conveyor8are close to each other. The carry-in conveyor3and the carry-out conveyor8are in driven states, and the food container stopper24is lowered.

Thereafter, in a carry-in detecting step of step S02, a sensor30detects that the food container50is conveyed into the carry-in conveyor3. The sensor30is configured to detect the food container50that has reached near an end of the carry-in conveyor3. The detection method is not specifically limited, and a detection signal is transmitted to the control device40.

Subsequently, in a retraction step, in step S03, after the sensor has detected that the food container50has been received in the carry-in detecting step, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed or not, and then, the food container50is stopped by the food container stopper24. Although not shown, the packaging material holding mechanism20swings downstream in the conveyance direction to grip one band-shaped packaging material60on which printing has been performed by the packaging material printing mechanism5beforehand.

Then, in step S04, as illustrated inFIGS.1B and2B, when the carry-out conveyor8is moved to a retraction position P2by the conveyor moving mechanism9, an attachment space S of a size enough to prevent a fall of the food container50is formed between the carry-in conveyor3and the carry-out conveyor8. The distance of movement of the carry-out conveyor8is instructed such that in specifying the food container50to be conveyed, the control device40instructs that the carry-out conveyor8moves to a predetermined distance. Thereafter, in step S05, when it is detected that movement to the retraction position P2is completed, in a conveyor stop step of step S06, driving of the carry-in conveyor3and the carry-out conveyor8is stopped.

Then, in a packaging material attaching step of step S07, packaging is started. Here, the packaging material pressing mechanism6presses the band-shaped packaging material60against the food container50to attach the band-shaped packaging material60thereto by using the attachment space S.

In the packaging material attaching step, as shown inFIG.7, in a band-shaped packaging material placing step of step S11, as illustrated inFIGS.2B and2B, the packaging material holding mechanism20pivots the band-shaped packaging material60whose both ends gripped by the clamps20aand20ato a downstream side. Subsequently, the band-shaped packaging material60is placed on the upper surface of the food container50such that both ends of the band-shaped packaging material60hang down at the side surfaces of the food container50. As described above, the band-shaped packaging material60is supplied by the pair of clamps20aand20awhile extending perpendicularly to the conveyance direction, and thus, a subsequent operation by the upper surface pressing mechanism21can be easily performed.

Then, in an upper surface pressing step of step S12, as illustrated inFIGS.1C and2C, the upper surface pressing portion21aof the upper surface pressing mechanism21is lowered so that the band-shaped packaging material60is pressed against the upper surface of the food container50.

Thereafter, in a side surface pressing step of step S13, as illustrated inFIGS.1Dand2D, the side surface pressing portion21bof the upper surface pressing mechanism21is lowered so that the band-shaped packaging material60is pressed against both side surfaces of the food container50. As described above, the side surface pressing portion21bis movable independently of the upper surface pressing portion21a. For example, as illustrated inFIG.2C, the entire upper surface pressing mechanism21may moves downward first, and then as illustrated inFIG.2D, only the side surface pressing portion21bmay move downward.

Subsequently, in a bottom folding step of step S14, as illustrated inFIGS.1E and2E, the pair of bottom folding rollers23is horizontally moved toward each other so that both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material60hanging down at both side surfaces are pressed against the bottom surface of the food container50in the attachment space S to attach the band-shaped packaging material60to the bottom surface. As described above, since the bottom folding roller23presses the band-shaped packaging material60with the band-shaped packaging material60pressed against the food container50by the upper surface pressing portion21aand the side surface pressing portion21b, the band-shaped packaging material60can be attached to the food container50from the bottom surface to the upper surface thereof as intended.

Then, packaging is finished in step S08. In this embodiment, the packaging material pressing mechanism6presses the band-shaped packaging material60against the food container50to attach the band-shaped packaging material60to the food container50with the attachment space being kept therebelow by stopping movement of the food container50by the food container stopper24. This ensures attachment of the band-shaped packaging material60.

Then, in a conveyor re-driving step of step S20, after the packaging material attaching step, the carry-out conveyor8is returned to the transit position P1.

Thereafter, in step S21, the food container stopper24is lifted to be retracted. In this manner, the food container50can be carried out. Subsequently, driving of the carry-in conveyor3and the carry-out conveyor8are restarted, and the food container50to which the band-shaped packaging material60is attached is carried out. In this manner, after the attachment, it is sufficient to convey the food container50after returning the carry-out conveyor8to an original position after attachment. Thus, the food container50can be conveyed stably.

Then, in step S22, it is determined whether a predetermined time has elapsed or not. If a time substantially enough to allow the food container50to pass has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S23, and the food container stopper24is lowered again.

Subsequently, the process returns to step S02, and the operation is repeated.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the food container50is carried in, the carry-out conveyor8is moved to the retraction position P2, and the attachment space S is formed between the carry-in conveyor3and the carry-out conveyor8so that the packaging material pressing mechanism6attaches the band-shaped packaging material60to the food container50in this attachment space S. Thus, even a long band-shaped packaging material60extending from side surfaces to the bottom surface of the food container50can be attached as intended.

As a result, in the packaging device1according to this embodiment, it is possible to ensure attachment of the band-shaped packaging material60to the food container50from the upper surface to the bottom surface thereof while maintaining posture of the food container50by moving the carry-out conveyor8to form the attachment space S.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The embodiment of the present invention may have the following configurations.

Specifically, in the embodiment described above, when the food container50is carried in, only the carry-out conveyor8is moved to the retraction position P2. Alternatively, both the carry-in conveyor3and the carry-out conveyor8may be retracted to the retraction position or the carry-in conveyor3may be retracted to the retraction position.

In the embodiment described above, although the object is the food container50, the object is not specifically limited as long as a long band-shaped packaging material60extending to the bottom surface is to be attached to the object.

The foregoing embodiments are merely preferred examples in nature, and are not intended to limit the invention, applications, and use of the application.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS