Patent Description:
In a state where two sheet bodies are nipped by a pair of sealing members while the two sheet bodies (i.e., a front sheet body and a back sheet body) constituting a bag are stacked on top of each other, a sealing process is performed by applying a high frequency (an electromagnetic wave) or ultrasonic waves from the pair of sealing members to the two sheet bodies to weld the two sheet bodies.

If a foreign matter such as contents is present between the planned sealing portions of the two sheet bodies when the sealing process is performed, the two sheet bodies cannot be sufficiently welded, which may lead to poor sealing. Due to such poor sealing, sufficient sealing strength may not be ensured, and in some cases, there is a concern that the contents may leak through the poor sealing portion, and further the appearance of the bag may be impaired.

International Publication No. <CIT> discloses an apparatus that measures the vibration (for example, an acceleration) of a sealed body, monitors the operating state of the sealed body based on the measurement results, and inspects the sealing quality of the package. A state of the art sealing apparatus is disclosed in <CIT>.

In cases where the technique disclosed in International Publication No. <CIT> is applied to an intermittent bagging packaging machine, there are the following concerns.

In a conventional sealing device included in an intermittent bagging packaging machine, the driving for conveying a bag and the driving for opening and closing a pair of sealing members are performed based on the output from a common drive source.

Typically, a rotary table having bag support units such as grippers provided on the outer peripheral portion is attached to the rotary shaft of a common drive source, and a cam forming a part of the mechanism for opening and closing a pair of sealing members is also attached to the rotary shaft of the common drive source. In this case, one rotation of the rotary shaft causes one rotation of the rotary table and the cam to be performed, causes one cycle of bag transportation to be performed, and causes one cycle of the opening-closing operation of the pair of sealing members to be performed.

In this way, in a case where the operation of the pair of sealing members is linked to the rotation operation of the cam, the operation speed of the pair of sealing members depends on the rotation speed of the cam, and the open/closed state of the pair of sealing members depends on the rotation state of the cam. The rotation speed and rotation state of the cam depend on the rotation speed and rotation state of the rotary shaft of the common drive source.

On the other hand, the conveyance speed and the conveyance position of bags by the bag support units also depend on the rotation speed and the rotation state of the rotary shaft of the common drive source. Therefore, the conveyance speed and the conveyance position of bags by the bag support units and the opening-closing speed and the opening-closing state of the pair of sealing members are in a state of depending on each other. For example, in order to cause a bag to be intermittently conveyed and stopped, the pair of sealing members perform the opening-closing movement only while the bag is conveyed (specifically, only while the rotary shaft is intermittently rotated), and the pair of sealing members cannot perform the opening-closing movement while the bag is stopped (specifically, while the rotary shaft is intermittently stopped).

Furter, the same time is allocated to the sealing process included in a series of bagging processes as the other processes included in the series of bagging processes. Therefore, if the pair of sealing members are in a closed position for a long time so as to suit to other processes, there is a concern that the bag sealing process may be excessively performed.

Further, there is a tendency that as the time required for one cycle of a series of bagging processes becomes longer, the rotation speed of the rotary shaft of the common drive source becomes slower, and as a result, the rotation speed of the cam becomes slower and the opening-closing speed of the pair of sealing members becomes slower. As the opening-closing speed of the pair of sealing members becomes slower, the change in vibration generated in the pair of sealing members during the sealing process becomes smaller. In such a case, it may be difficult to determine the quality of the sealing process according to the measured change in vibration of the sealing members.

The present disclosure has been contrived in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present disclosure is to provide a technique advantageous in accurately determining the quality of the sealing process for a bag.

One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a bag sealing apparatus comprising: a bag support unit which supports a bag; a support drive unit which includes a first drive source and intermittently moves the bag support unit to position the bag at a sealing process position; a first sealing member and a second sealing member which are provided to be capable of opening and closing, and to perform a sealing process while nipping the bag by being placed in a closed position in a state where the bag is positioned in the sealing process position; a sealing drive unit which includes a second drive source provided separately from the first drive source, and opens and closes the first sealing member and the second sealing member; a vibration measurement device which measures vibration of at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member; and a determination device which determines quality of the sealing process according to a measurement result of the vibration measurement device from before the first sealing member and the second sealing member reach the closed position to after the first sealing member and the second sealing member reach the closed position, wherein the sealing drive unit causes relative movement between the first sealing member and the second sealing member from an open position at a moving speed determined according to a type of the bag, to place the first sealing member and the second sealing member in the closed position.

The measurement result of the vibration measurement device may include information about acceleration of vibration of the at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member, and the determination device may determine the quality of the sealing process according to the information about acceleration of vibration derived from the measurement result of the vibration measurement device.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a bag sealing method comprising the steps of: positioning a bag at a sealing process position; causing relative movement between a first sealing member and a second sealing member from an open position to a closed position in such a manner that the first sealing member and the second sealing member nip the bag positioned at the sealing process position to perform a sealing process of the bag; measuring vibration of at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member by a vibration measurement device; and determining quality of the sealing process according to a measurement result of the vibration measurement device from before the first sealing member and the second sealing member reach the closed position to after the first sealing member and the second sealing member reach the closed position, wherein the relative movement between the first sealing member and the second sealing member from the open position to the closed position is performed in such a manner that an absolute value of acceleration of vibration which occurs in the at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member by placing the first sealing member and the second sealing member in the closed position as a result of the relative movement is larger than an absolute value of acceleration of vibration which occurs in the at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member in a state where the first sealing member and the second sealing member are placed in the open position.

A maximum value of the absolute value of acceleration of vibration which occurs in the at least one of the first sealing member and the second sealing member by placing the first sealing member and the second sealing member in the closed position as a result of the relative movement may be <NUM>/s<NUM> or more.

The first sealing member and the second sealing member may be relatively moved from the open position to the closed position at a moving speed determined according to a type of the bag.

According to the present disclosure, it is advantageous in accurately determining the quality of the sealing process for a bag.

An embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

A bag sealing apparatus described below may be provided as a device that independently performs a bag sealing process or may be provided as a part of a bag processing apparatus (for example, a package processing apparatus) that continuously performs a plurality of processes on one bag.

<FIG> is a top view showing an outline of an example of a package processing apparatus <NUM>. The package processing apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG> includes a bag supply device <NUM>, a bag delivery device <NUM> (a first station S1), a bag printing device <NUM> (a second station S2), a print inspection device <NUM> (a third station S3), and a bag opening device <NUM> (a fourth station S4), a bag content feeding device <NUM> (a fifth station S5), a bag sealing apparatus <NUM> (a sixth station S6 and a seventh station S7), a seal portion cooling device <NUM> (a eighth station S8), a bag release device <NUM> (the eighth station S8), and a bag discharge device <NUM>.

New bags are sequentially supplied to the package processing apparatus <NUM> by means of the bag supply device <NUM>. The bag delivery device <NUM> delivers a bag from the bag supply device <NUM> to a support drive unit <NUM>. The support drive unit <NUM> includes, for example, a rotary table, and intermittently moves the same number of bag support units (for example, grippers) as the number of stations in a conveyance direction (a circumferential direction) Dr. A bag delivered via the bag delivery device <NUM> and supported by the support drive unit <NUM> (specifically, each bag support unit) goes around the first station S1 to the eighth station S8 sequentially.

The bag printing device <NUM> prints on a bag and the print inspection device <NUM> inspects the printing state of a bag. The bag opening device <NUM> opens the mouth portion of a bag and the bag content feeding device <NUM> feeds contents into the inside of a bag through the opened mouth portion. The bag sealing apparatus <NUM> seals (in particular, performs heat sealing) the mouth portion of a bag and the seal portion cooling device <NUM> cools the sealed portion of a bag. The bag release device <NUM> releases a cooled bag to the bag discharge device <NUM>, and the bag discharge device <NUM> conveys a received bag to a subsequent stage. The seal portion cooling device <NUM> and the bag release device <NUM> shown in <FIG> are realized by the same device. For example, the sealed portion of a bag may be gripped by cooling plates of a cooling release device that functions as the seal portion cooling device <NUM> and the bag release device <NUM> so as to cool the sealed portion, and the cooling plates may release the grip of the bag to cause the bag to drop so that the bag is released to the bag discharge device <NUM>.

Each bag supported by the support drive unit <NUM> (specifically, by each bag support unit) is subjected to a process by a corresponding device during an intermittent stop at each station. As a result, the package processing apparatus <NUM> can continuously send out bags (i.e., product bags) on which information is printed, which contain contents and which have the sealed mouth portion, toward a subsequent stage.

The bag sealing apparatus <NUM> described below is applicable not only to the package processing apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG>, but also to packaging processing devices and other devices with different structures from that of the package processing apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG>. For example, the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> described below can be used also in a package processing apparatus in which the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> performs high-frequency sealing or ultrasonic sealing and the seal portion cooling device <NUM> is not included.

<FIG> is a side view of a bag sealing apparatus <NUM> of one embodiment, showing a first sealing member <NUM> and a second sealing member <NUM> arranged in an open position. In <FIG>, for ease of understanding, a second mount <NUM>, a stand <NUM>, a first slide support block <NUM>, and a second slide support block <NUM> are shown in cross-section, and a state of the inside of the stand <NUM>, the first slide support block <NUM> and the second slide support block <NUM> is illustrated.

<FIG> is a top view of the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG>. <FIG> is a side view of the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG>, showing a bag B positioned at a sealing process position Ps and the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> positioned at a closed position.

In the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> shown in <FIG>, a drive source for conveying a bag B and a drive source for opening-closing movement of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are provided separately from each other. Therefore, the conveyance of bags B and the opening and closing of the first sealing member <NUM> and second sealing member <NUM> can be performed independently of each other.

Specifically, the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> includes: a sealing drive unit <NUM> that causes the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> to open and close; and a support drive unit (not shown in <FIG>) that causes a bag support unit <NUM> supporting a bag B to move.

Each bag support unit <NUM> is, for example, in the form of grippers that grasp both sides of a bag B.

The support drive unit includes a first drive source (not shown in <FIG>) and intermittently moves a bag support unit <NUM> to position a bag B at the sealing process position Ps (corresponding to the sixth and seventh stations S6 and S7 shown in <FIG> described above). The specific configuration of the support drive unit is not limited. For example, a motor (not shown in the drawings) may form the first drive source and the support drive unit may include the motor and a rotary table (see <FIG>) attached to the rotary shaft of the motor. In this case, by rotating the rotary table in response to the rotation of the rotary shaft, one or more bag support units <NUM> attached to the periphery of the rotary table can be moved in the circumferential direction.

The sealing drive unit <NUM> includes a second drive source <NUM>, such as a servomotor, which is provided separately from the first drive source.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the second drive source <NUM> is fixed to a base <NUM> on a first mount <NUM>. One end portion of a first swing lever <NUM> is fixedly attached to the rotary shaft 24a of the second drive source <NUM>. The first swing lever <NUM> swings around the rotary shaft 24a in response to the rotation of the rotary shaft 24a. One end portion of a connecting shaft <NUM> is rotatably attached to the other end portion of the first swing lever <NUM> in a freely rotatable manner. A second swing lever <NUM> is rotatably attached to the other end portion of the connecting shaft <NUM> in a freely rotatable manner. The connecting shaft <NUM> extends in the height direction (along the vertical direction in which gravity acts) through the inside of the stand <NUM> fixed onto the second mount <NUM>.

The second swing lever <NUM> is rotatably attached to a support shaft <NUM> in a freely rotatable manner while one end portion of a first advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> and one end portion of a second advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> are rotatably attached to the second swing lever <NUM> in a freely rotatable manner. The second swing lever <NUM> is provided to be freely rotatable around the support shaft <NUM> in a freely rotatable manner. As shown in <FIG>, both ends of the support shaft <NUM> are fixed to support bodies <NUM> attached to the stand <NUM>, so that the support shaft <NUM> is fixedly supported by the stand <NUM> via the support bodies <NUM>.

The other end portion of the first advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> is rotatably attached to a first moving block <NUM> in a freely rotatable manner, and the first moving block <NUM> is fixed to a first drive shaft <NUM>. The other end portion of the second advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> is rotatably attached to a second moving block <NUM> in a freely rotatable manner, and the second moving block <NUM> is fixed to a second drive shaft <NUM>.

The first slide support block <NUM> and the second slide support block <NUM> are fixedly attached to the hollow stand <NUM>. The first slide support block <NUM> and the second slide support block <NUM> are located horizontally away from each other and guide the first drive shaft <NUM> and the second drive shaft <NUM> horizontally while supporting the first drive shaft <NUM> and the second drive shaft <NUM> in such a manner that the first drive shaft <NUM> and the second drive shaft <NUM> can freely slide.

The first sealing member <NUM> is attached to one end of the first drive shaft <NUM> via a first relay block <NUM>. The second sealing member <NUM> is attached to one end of the second drive shaft <NUM> via a second relay block <NUM>. The first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> horizontally face each other and are driven by the sealing drive unit <NUM> described above to perform opening and closing motions (horizontal movement motions in the present embodiment), so as to move closer to each other or to move away from each other.

For example, by rotating the rotary shaft 24a in a counterclockwise direction in <FIG> in a state where the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> is placed in an open position (<FIG>), the first swing lever <NUM> is caused to swing upward. This causes the connecting shaft <NUM> to move upward, the second swing lever <NUM> to rotate in a clockwise direction around the support shaft <NUM>, and the first and second advancing-retreating shafts <NUM> and <NUM> to move in directions opposite from each other (facing directions) of the horizontal direction. Specifically, the first advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> moves in a right direction in <FIG> while the second advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> moves in a left direction in <FIG>.

As a result, the first sealing member <NUM>, which is attached to the first advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> via the first moving block <NUM>, the first drive shaft <NUM> and the first relay block <NUM>, moves in the same direction as the first advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> (i.e., in a right direction in <FIG>). The second sealing member <NUM>, which is attached to the second advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> via the second moving block <NUM>, the second drive shaft <NUM> and the second relay block <NUM>, moves in the same direction as the second advancing-retreating shaft <NUM> (i.e., in a left direction in <FIG>).

As a result, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position as shown in <FIG>. When the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position with a bag B placed at the sealing process position Ps, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> pressurize the bag B from both sides while contacting the bag B. The first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> perform a sealing process (e.g., heat sealing, high-frequency sealing or ultrasonic sealing) while nipping the bag B arranged at the sealing process position Ps in this way.

The bag sealing apparatus <NUM> of the present embodiment further includes a vibration measurement device <NUM> that measures the vibration of at least one of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the vibration measurement device <NUM> is attached to the first relay block <NUM>. The vibration measurement device <NUM> measures the vibration occurring in the first sealing member <NUM> via the first relay block <NUM>. The vibration measurement device <NUM> transmits the measurement results to a control panel <NUM>.

<FIG> is a block diagram of an example of the control configuration of the bag sealing apparatus <NUM>.

The vibration measurement device <NUM> is electrically connected to the control panel <NUM> while the first drive source <NUM> of the support drive unit <NUM> and the second drive source <NUM> of the sealing drive unit <NUM> are electrically connected to the control panel <NUM>.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the control panel <NUM> includes a drive control section <NUM>, a determination section <NUM>, a display section <NUM>, an alarm section <NUM>, and a memory section <NUM>.

The drive control section <NUM> controls the drive of the components of the bag sealing apparatus <NUM>. For example, by driving the first drive source <NUM> under the control of the drive control section <NUM>, the moving speed and the moving position of each bag support unit <NUM> and each bag B can be adjusted. Further, by driving the second drive source <NUM> under the control of the drive control section <NUM>, the relative opening/closing speed and the relative open/closed positions of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> can be adjusted.

The drive control section <NUM> controls the first drive source <NUM> in the example shown in <FIG> and may control other elements (e.g., power transmission adjustment device (omitted in the drawings)) included in the support drive unit <NUM> so as to adjust the moving speed and moving position of each bag support unit <NUM>. Likewise, if the sealing drive unit <NUM> has a structure different from that shown in <FIG>, the drive control section <NUM> may control an element (e.g., a power transmission adjustment device (omitted in the drawings)) included in the sealing drive unit <NUM> other than the second drive source <NUM> so as to adjust the relative opening/closing speed and the relative open/closed positions of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

While the specific control method of the components of the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> by the drive control section <NUM> is not limited, the drive control section <NUM> performs control in such a manner that each bag support unit <NUM>, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> operate in cooperate with each other. For example, the drive control section <NUM> may transmit regular synchronization signals to the support drive unit <NUM> (i.e., the first drive source <NUM> in the present embodiment) and the sealing drive unit <NUM> (i.e., the second drive source <NUM> in the present embodiment), and the support drive unit <NUM> and the sealing drive unit <NUM> may autonomously execute various operations at a timing based on the received synchronization signals. Alternatively, the drive control section <NUM> may emit various operation signals to each of the support drive unit <NUM> and the sealing drive unit <NUM> at desired timings, and the support drive unit <NUM> and the sealing drive unit <NUM> may execute operations in accordance with the received operation signals.

The determination section <NUM> determines the quality of the sealing process according to the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM> from before the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> reach the closed position to after the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> reach the closed position.

The determination results of the determination section <NUM> may be displayed on the display section <NUM>, an alarm may be issued from the alarm section <NUM> according to the determination results of the determination section <NUM>, and data which associating respective bags B (e.g., their identification numbers) and the determination results may be stored in the memory section <NUM>. An operator for the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> can check the display of the display section <NUM>, listen to the alarm issued by the alarm section <NUM>, or access the data stored in the memory section <NUM> in order to know the determination results of the quality of the sealing process of bags B.

<FIG> shows an example of the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM> shown in <FIG>, and in <FIG>, the vertical axis shows the acceleration (including deceleration) occurring in the first sealing member <NUM> and the horizontal axis shows the time.

It is considered that, in the example described below, the first relay block <NUM> is subjected to substantially the same vibrations (e.g., the same frequency and the same amplitude) as the first sealing member <NUM> and therefore the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM> indicate the state of vibration of the first sealing member <NUM>.

In the waveform result shown in <FIG>, the part shown above the horizontal axis indicates that the first sealing member <NUM> is accelerated (specifically, the first sealing member <NUM> speeds up) in a direction (i.e., a horizontal direction) away from a bag B located at the sealing process position Ps (or in a direction away from the second sealing member <NUM>). On the other hand, the part shown below the horizontal axis indicates that the first sealing member <NUM> is accelerated (specifically, the first sealing member <NUM> speeds up) in a direction (i.e., a horizontal direction) approaching a bag B located at the sealing process position Ps (or in a direction approaching the second sealing member <NUM>).

As indicated by the sign of "C1" in <FIG>, a bag support unit <NUM> is basically always subjected to slight vibrations that are recognized as noise vibrations. The noise vibrations continue to work on a bag support unit <NUM> due to a variety of factors.

In order to seal a bag B located at the sealing process position Ps, each of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> moves from the open position toward the closed position, decelerates rapidly in the course of the movement from the open position to the closed position, and stops at the closed position. In other words, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are moved from the opening position and are then arranged in the closed position, so that the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in a state where the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are pressed against each other via a bag B.

As a result, when each of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> stops in the closed position, each of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> receives a large force (in particular, an impact load) from each other to vibrate with a large acceleration (including deceleration).

While the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the open position, noise vibrations (see the sign of "C1" in <FIG>) occur in the first sealing member <NUM>, but no other vibration occur in the first sealing member <NUM>. On the other hand, when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are stopped in the closed position, an impact force acts on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>, so that a vibration acceleration with a large absolute value (see the sign of "C2" in <FIG>) acts on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

As described above, by placing the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> in the closed position in order to perform the sealing process of a bag B, large vibration acceleration acts on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

In this regard, however, the magnitude of the vibration acceleration acting on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> varies depending on the presence or absence of a foreign matter (e.g., contents, etc.) between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> (in particular, between the portions to be sealed). Specifically, the absolute value of vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position is smaller in cases where there is a foreign object between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>, compared to cases where there is no foreign object between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>. This is because a foreign object between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> acts as a cushion to reduce the impact.

The determination section <NUM> (see <FIG>) of the present embodiment determines, based on the measurement results of the vibration of the first sealing member <NUM> thus generated, whether or not a foreign object is present between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> during the sealing process, and thus determines whether the quality of the sealing process is good or bad.

For example, the determination section <NUM> may obtain the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> from the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM>, and may determine whether the quality of the sealing process is good or bad based on whether or not the said peak value Vmax (absolute value) exceeds the judgment criterion value Th. When the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of vibration acceleration exceeds the judgment criterion value Th, it can be determined that there has been no foreign object between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> during the sealing process and that the sealing process has been performed well. On the other hand, if the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of vibration acceleration is less than or equal to the judgment criterion value Th, it can be determined that there is a possibility that a foreign object (in particular, a foreign object that may interfere with the sealing process) exists between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> during the sealing process and that a sealing process failure has occurred.

The determination section <NUM> may obtain the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> from the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM> using various techniques.

For example, the determination section <NUM> may obtain the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration occurring in the first sealing member <NUM>, based on only the acceleration working in a direction away from a bag B (or from the second sealing member <NUM>) of the vibration acceleration occurring in the first sealing member <NUM>. Further, the determination section <NUM> may also obtain the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM>, taking into account the time information of the timing at which the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position. The determination section <NUM> may obtain, in any way, the time information of the timing at which the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position, and may obtain the time information, for example, based on the information used when the drive control section <NUM> performs drive control of the sealing drive unit <NUM> (i.e., the second drive source <NUM>).

Further, the judgment criterion value Th used to determine whether the sealing process is good or bad (i.e., the criterion value to be compared with the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM>) can be decided in advance based on various factors, such as the type of bags B and the relative movement speed of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

For example, if the relative movement speed of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> is slow when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are caused to move from the open position to the closed position, the force (impact load) that the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> receive from each other tends to be small. In this case, as shown in <FIG>, the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position is small (see the sign of "C2" in <FIG>). An erroneous determination is likely to occur as the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position approaches the absolute value of vibration acceleration of the noise vibrations (see the sign of "C1" in <FIG>).

Therefore, from the viewpoint of preventing an erroneous determination of whether the sealing process is good or bad, it is preferable that the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position should be sufficiently larger than the absolute value of the vibration acceleration of the noise vibrations.

The absolute value of the vibration acceleration of the noise vibrations acting on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> of a general configuration operating in a general environment is often around <NUM> (<NUM>/s<NUM>). Therefore, for example, the peak absolute value Vmax of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position may be <NUM> (<NUM>/s<NUM>) or more, <NUM> (<NUM>/s<NUM>) or more, <NUM> (<NUM>/s<NUM>) or more, <NUM> (<NUM>/s<NUM>) or more, or <NUM> (<NUM>/s<NUM>) or more.

Further, the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position may be <NUM> times or more, <NUM> times or more, <NUM> times or more, <NUM> times or more, or <NUM> time or more than the peak value of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> and/or the second sealing member <NUM> while the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the open position.

In order to achieve a desired value for the peak absolute value of the vibration acceleration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position, the relative movement speed of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> may be decided, for example, depending on the type of bags B. Specifically, the sealing drive unit <NUM> (i.e., the second drive source <NUM>) may cause relative movement between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> from the open position to the closed position at a moving speed determined according to the type of bags B, to place the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> in the closed position.

Next, one example of a bag sealing process method performed by the above-mentioned bag sealing apparatus <NUM> is explained. The bag sealing process method described below is carried out by appropriately controlling various devices included in the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> by the control panel <NUM> (in particular, the drive control section <NUM>).

First, a bag support unit <NUM> is moved intermittently by the support drive unit <NUM> in such a manner that a bag B is placed at the sealing process position Ps.

Thereafter, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are moved toward a bag B which is intermittently stopped at the sealing process position Ps, by the sealing drive unit <NUM>. During this movement, while the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> accelerate, the acceleration has little effect on the vibration state of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> and the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM> are basically dominated by the effect of noise vibrations.

Thereafter, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> intermittently stop in the closed position to pinch and seal a bag B positioned at the sealing process position Ps. In this process, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> collide against each other via the bag B and stop. Thus, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are subjected to an impact force, so that a large acceleration in a direction opposite to the direction of travel (i.e., in a direction away from the bag B) acts on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

The impact force acting on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> causes vibrations in the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> in this manner, and as a result, the direction of the acceleration acting on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> is repeatedly switched. The effects of the vibrations thus created will continue at least for a while during the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> being intermittently stopped in the closed position. Noise vibrations continues to act on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> even while the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are stopped in the closed position. Therefore, even though the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> arranged in the closed position are placed in a state where the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> appear to be stationary, vibration is actually occurring in the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

The vibration generated in the first sealing member <NUM> is measured by the vibration measurement device <NUM> in this manner, and the measurement results are sent from the vibration measurement device <NUM> to the control panel <NUM> (in particular, the determination section <NUM>). The determination section <NUM> then determines whether the sealing process is good or bad based on the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM>, and if necessary, causes the display section <NUM> to display the determination results, causes the alarm section <NUM> to issue an alarm, and/or causes the memory section <NUM> to store the determination results.

After the sealing process is completed, a bag B is moved with a bag support unit <NUM> from the sealing process position Ps.

The bag sealing apparatus <NUM> may change the transport route of a bag B based on the determination results of the determination section <NUM> although the drawings do not show such a mechanism. For example, a bag B that has been determined to have a sealing failure may be released from a bag support unit <NUM> in such a manner that the bag B is not conveyed to a subsequent stage. As an example, a bag support unit <NUM> driven under the control of the drive control section <NUM> may release the support of a bag B that has been determined to have a sealing failure, to let the bag B fall, thereby preventing the bag B from being sent to a subsequent stage. Further, a bag support unit <NUM> driven under the control of the drive control section <NUM> may separate the destination of a bag B that has been determined to have a sealing failure, from the destination of a bag B that has been determined to having received a good sealing process.

As explained above, the above-mentioned bag sealing apparatus <NUM> comprises: a bag support unit <NUM> which supports a bag B; a support drive unit <NUM> which includes a first drive source <NUM> and intermittently moves the bag support unit <NUM> to position the bag B at a sealing process position Ps; a first sealing member <NUM> and a second sealing member <NUM> which are provided to be capable of opening and closing, and to perform a sealing process while nipping the bag B by being placed in a closed position in a state where the bag B is positioned in the sealing process position Ps; a sealing drive unit <NUM> which includes a second drive source <NUM> provided separately from the first drive source <NUM>, and opens and closes the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>; a vibration measurement device <NUM> which measures vibration of at least one of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>; and a determination section (i.e., a determination device) <NUM> which determines quality of the sealing process according to a measurement result of the vibration measurement device <NUM> from before the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> reach the closed position to after the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> reach the closed position, and the sealing drive unit <NUM> causes relative movement between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> from an open position at a moving speed determined according to a type of the bag B, to place the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> in the closed position.

According to this bag sealing apparatus <NUM>, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are opened and closed by the sealing drive unit <NUM> including the second drive source <NUM> provided separately from the first drive source <NUM>. Further, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are relatively moved from the open position at a moving speed determined by the type of bags B, so that the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position. Thus, it is possible to generate vibrations of a desired state (such as a desired state of acceleration) in the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position. Therefore, the bag sealing apparatus <NUM> described above is advantageous in accurately determining the quality of the bag sealing process from the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM>.

Further, the measurement result of the vibration measurement device <NUM> includes information about acceleration of vibration of the at least one of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>, and the determination section <NUM> determines the quality of the sealing process according to the information about acceleration of vibration derived from the measurement result of the vibration measurement device <NUM>.

According to this configuration, the quality of the bag sealing process can be accurately determined.

The above-described bag B sealing method comprises the steps of: positioning a bag B at a sealing process position Ps; causing relative movement between a first sealing member <NUM> and a second sealing member <NUM> from an open position to a closed position in such a manner that the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> nip the bag B positioned at the sealing process position Ps to perform a sealing process of the bag B; measuring vibration of at least one of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> by a vibration measurement device <NUM>; and determining quality of the sealing process according to a measurement result of the vibration measurement device <NUM> from before the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> reach the closed position to after the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> reach the closed position, and the relative movement between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> from the open position to the closed position is performed in such a manner that an absolute value of acceleration of vibration which occurs in the at least one of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> by placing the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> in the closed position as a result of the relative movement is larger than an absolute value of acceleration of vibration which occurs in the at least one of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> in a state where the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the open position.

According to this bag sealing method, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are moved relative to each other from the open position to the closed position in such a manner that the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> exhibit an absolute value of acceleration of vibration that is greater than the absolute value of acceleration of vibration that occurs in a state where the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the open position. Therefore, it is advantageous in accurately determining the quality of the bag sealing process from the measurement result of the vibration measurement device <NUM>.

The maximum value of the absolute value of acceleration of vibration which occurs in the at least one of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> by placing the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> in the closed position as a result of the relative movement may be <NUM>/s<NUM> or more.

In this case, it is easier to clearly distinguish the vibration caused by the impact load acting on the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> due to the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> being placed in the closed position, from the noise vibration, thus effectively avoiding erroneous determinations.

Further, the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are relatively moved from the open position to the closed position at a moving speed determined according to a type of the bag B.

In this case, vibrations of a desired acceleration can be generated in the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> when the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> are placed in the closed position, and thus the quality of sealing process of a bag can be accurately determined.

In the above-described embodiment, it is determined, based on the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration, whether the quality of the sealing process is good or bad; however, it may be determined, based on other state quantities of the vibration occurs in the first sealing member <NUM> and/or the second sealing member <NUM>, whether the quality of the sealing process is good or bad.

For example, the determination section <NUM> may determine whether the sealing process is good or bad, based on the amount of change in vibration acceleration per unit time before and after the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of vibration acceleration is exhibited. In general, the amount of change in vibration acceleration per unit time tends to be smaller in cases where there is a foreign object between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>, compared to in cases where there is no foreign object between the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

Hence, the determination section <NUM> may determine whether the sealing process is good or bad, based on whether the amount of change in the vibration acceleration per unit time of the first sealing member <NUM> and/or the second sealing member <NUM> (e.g., the amount of change in the vibration acceleration per unit time before and after the peak value Vmax of the absolute value of the vibration acceleration is exhibited) obtained from the measurement results of the vibration measurement device <NUM> is greater than a judgment criterion value. Specifically, if the change in vibration acceleration per unit time is greater than the judgment criterion value, the determination section <NUM> may determine that the sealing process has been performed well, and if the change in vibration acceleration per unit time is equal to or less than the judgment criterion value, the determination section <NUM> may determine that a sealing failure might have occurred.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the state quantity of vibration (in the above-mentioned embodiment, acceleration) occurring in the first sealing member <NUM> is measured by the vibration measurement device <NUM> and is used for determining whether the sealing process is good or bad; however, the state quantity of vibration occurring in the second sealing member <NUM> may be measured by the vibration measurement device <NUM> and be used for determining whether the sealing process is good or bad. Further, the state quantity of vibration occurring in both the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> may be measured by the vibration measurement device <NUM> and be used for determining whether the sealing process is good or bad.

The opening-closing movement of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> may be performed by a single drive source (i.e., the second drive source <NUM>) as in the embodiment described above or may be performed respectively by drive sources which are separately provided. Further, the relative opening-closing movement of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM> may be performed by moving only one of the first sealing member <NUM> and the second sealing member <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A bag sealing apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a bag support unit (<NUM>) which supports a bag (B);
a support drive unit (<NUM>) which includes a first drive source (<NUM>) and intermittently moves the bag support unit (<NUM>) to position the bag (B) at a sealing process position (Ps);
a first sealing member (<NUM>) and a second sealing member (<NUM>) which are provided to be capable of opening and closing, and to perform a sealing process while nipping the bag (B) by being placed in a closed position in a state where the bag (B) is positioned in the sealing process position (Ps);
a sealing drive unit (<NUM>) which includes a second drive source (<NUM>) provided separately from the first drive source (<NUM>), and is configured to open and close the first sealing member (<NUM>) and the second sealing member (<NUM>); characterized in that the bag sealing apparatus further comprises:
a vibration measurement device (<NUM>) which is configured to measure vibration of at least one of the first sealing member (<NUM>) and the second sealing member (<NUM>); and
a determination device (<NUM>) which is configured to determine quality of the sealing process according to a measurement result of the vibration measurement device (<NUM>) from before the first sealing member (<NUM>) and the second sealing member (<NUM>) reach the closed position to after the first sealing member (<NUM>) and the second sealing member (<NUM>) reach the closed position,
wherein the sealing drive unit (<NUM>) is configured to cause relative movement between the first sealing member (<NUM>) and the second sealing member (<NUM>) from an open position at a moving speed determined according to a type of the bag (B), to place the first sealing member (<NUM>) and the second sealing member (<NUM>) in the closed position.