JPH03212311A - packaging equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to automatically package an object without damaging a packaging sheet and the object to be packaged even when a lettuce, etc. of which shape or size, etc. is not regular is packaged by a method wherein a cam mechanism, which controls entering of a packaging roller for more than a designated degree in the contract-pressing direction to an object to be packaged, in a process wherein one side end is folded to cover the object under a condition in which the packaging roller is being in contact with the object to be packaged, is provided. CONSTITUTION:A packaging roller 28 moves under a condition in which the packaging roller 28 is contact-pressed to the outer peripheral surface of an object to be packaged C by an energizing spring 43. A cam plate 32 in which an elongated cam hole 32a is formed is provided, and a guide roller 33 which moves while being engaged with the cam hole 32a is axially supported at the rear end of a roller supporting arm 35, and it is constituted in such a manner that the packaging roller 28 is made to move along a designated locus. At one side end 5d of a packaging sheet 5, an adhesive tape 34 is attached as a bonding fixing measure, and when the one side end 5d is folded and lapped at a designated position, the packaging roller 28 moves on the adhesive tape 34, and one side ends 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d which are lapped in four layers are mutually bonded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a packaging device for wrapping an object to be packaged, typified by spherical vegetables such as lettuce, in a packaging sheet.

[Conventional technology]

A possible method for packaging this kind of spherical vegetables, etc. is to place the item to be packaged on a spread packaging sheet, and fold each one side end of the peripheral edge of the packaging sheet. There are products that are concentrated in one place, heat-welded, and hermetically packaged.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

If the packaging is simply sealed by heat welding, the finish of the heat welded parts cannot be described as aesthetically pleasing.In order to achieve aesthetically pleasing packaging, it is necessary to It is necessary to sequentially fold the package over the outer circumferential surface of the packaged item and fix each folded end on one side, and this process was performed manually.

However, manual work has low work efficiency and is an obstacle to cost reduction, so there remains room for further improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging sheet that provides a good packaging finish, improves work efficiency, and improves the degree of adhesion of a packaging sheet to an object to be packaged.

[Means to solve the problem]

The characteristic structure according to the present invention is that each side edge of the peripheral edge of the packaging sheet on which the object to be packaged is placed is folded back and placed over the object to be packaged, and then folded over the other side edge of the peripheral edge that was previously folded and covered. The plurality of packages are switched between a working position in which the folded state is maintained, and a non-working position in which the next one side end is overlapped on top of one side end in the peripheral part and retired to a standby position. A wrapping tool is provided corresponding to each one side end of the packaging sheet, and at least one wrapping tool of the wrapping tools is provided in a swinging manner relative to the swinging drive arm. and a roller support arm that is movably connected and biased in the direction of pressing the object to be packaged, and a packaging roller that folds one side end of the packaging sheet onto the roller support arm and covers the object to be packaged. and a cam mechanism that restricts the roller from entering beyond a certain level in the direction of contact and press against the object to be packaged in the process of folding back and covering one side end with the wrapping roller in contact with the object to be packaged. The functions and effects are as follows.

[For production]

In other words, when the swinging drive arm is rotated in one direction with the packaging roller acting on the corresponding one side end of the packaging sheet, the roller support arm connected to this swinging drive arm moves, and this roller As the support arm moves, the one end is folded back by the packaging roller, and the central part of the packaging sheet is brought into contact with the object to be packaged, and the roller support arm is directed toward the object to be packaged. Using the urging force, the packaging roller follows the surface of the object to be packaged, and sequentially covers the center side of the packaging sheet in a close contact state, and then places the packaging sheet on top of one side edge that was previously covered. When the one side ends folded back by the rollers are folded over, the swing drive arm is stopped and the one side ends are pressed together by the wrapping roller to maintain this state.

This state is the operating posture state of the wrapping tool. Then, when the next one side end is folded back and folded over the other side end, the wrapper is retired and switched to the non-operating position.

As described above, in this wrapping device, the roller support arm is connected to the swing drive arm so as to be able to swing relative to it so as to cover the packaging sheet while contacting and pressing the surface of the packaged object. Moreover, since the packaging roller is biased in the direction of pressing the object to be packaged, the packaging sheet can be placed tightly over the object to be packaged. Furthermore, since the packaging roller acts directly on the packaging sheet and moves on the surface of the item to be packaged, it will not penetrate deeply into the packaging sheet and cause damage or damage the surface of the item to be packaged.

Moreover, since the guide mechanism restricts the wrapping roller from entering a certain amount above the pressing direction of the object to be packaged, when the wrapping roller moves toward the object to be packaged and starts contacting the object to be packaged, When moving along the surface of an object, the wrapping roller can be moved smoothly without applying an unnecessarily biting pressing force to the object to be packaged.

Therefore, even if there is a difference in the size of the packaged items, the packaging roller may not bite into the packaged items too much at the start of contact.
It also improves the ability to follow "undulations" on the outer circumferential surface of the same packaged item, and enables smooth movement of the packaging roller.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Even when packaging items such as lettuce that are easily damaged and whose shape and size are not consistent, such as packaging sheets, it is possible to do so without damaging the packaging sheet or damaging the items being packaged.
We have now been able to provide a device that can automatically package while maintaining its aesthetic appearance.

Although the cam mechanism is configured so that the packaging roller is not pressed into contact with the packaged object more than necessary, it is possible to achieve the same effect by using a cam mechanism located near the connecting portion between the swing drive arm and the roller support arm. A stopper mechanism may be provided over the swing drive arm and the roller support arm to prevent the roller support arm from approaching the packaged object contacting and pressing side by a biasing force beyond a certain level. Since the stopper mechanism does not operate unless the swing drive arm approaches a certain relative swing angle, the roller support arm resists the force when the packaging roller moves in contact with the surface of the packaged object. Since the stopper mechanism is oscillated to a position where it does not act at an angle greater than the relative oscillation angle with respect to the oscillation drive arm, it is conceivable that the stopper mechanism may bite into the packaged object more than necessary. Since the cam mechanism acts when the wrapping roller moves in contact with the surface of the object to be packaged, it has the advantage of being able to suppress the wrapping roller from contacting and pressing the object to be packaged more than necessary.

〔Example〕

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 10, the packaging device (A)
A packaging workbench (1) and a packaged object holding mechanism (2) provided at the packaging work position on the packaging workbench (1).
A wrapping device (B) consisting of a stopper (3), a wrapping tool (4), etc., and an adhesive fixing means supply for applying an adhesive fixing means (6) to the packaging sheet (5) placed at the wrapping work position. A device (7) and a packaging sheet (5) at the packaging work position.
Packaging sheet supply device (8) that automatically supplies sheets in an expanded state
It has the following. Here, the object to be packaged (C) is spherical vegetables such as lettuce, but it may be of other shapes. Further, although an adhesive tape is used as the adhesive fixing means, a simple adhesive may be used.

Next, the wrapping device (B), which includes the packaged object holding mechanism (2), the catch and stopper stand (3), and the wrapping tool (4), will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 4, 8, and 9, the holding mechanism (2) has a first moving member (10) and a second moving member (11 ) is fitted onto the outside so that it can move up and down, and a compression spring (12) is interposed between the two (10) and (11) to maintain a constant distance. A stopper stand (3) is provided at the upper end of the sliding shaft (9) to receive and hold the object to be packaged (C).
Arms (3a) projecting in all directions are provided on the outer periphery of the disc.

On the other hand, the four arms (13) extend radially with respect to the top plate of the first moving member (10) and are located below the arm portion (3a). (13) and the four arm portions (3a) are respectively connected by four bending links (14). A holding arm (2A) is pivotally supported at the tip of the arm portion (3a) so as to be able to swing up and down, and the arms (2A) are linked to the refraction links (14), respectively, so that the refraction of the refraction links (14) As the receiver swings, the holding arm (2A) holds the packaged object (C) placed on the stopper (3). The holding member (2A) holds the packaged object (C) from the base end to the distal end which is pivotally supported by the arm part (3a).
It has an arcuate shape when viewed from the side along the outer circumferential surface of the blade, and when viewed from above, its width is wide at the intermediate portion C between the base end and the distal end, and gradually increases toward the base end and the distal end. It has a narrow shape. Therefore, the object to be packaged (C) can be fixed and held well. Further, the tip of the holding member (2A) is curved outward so that it will not bite into the outer circumferential surface of the packaged item (C) and damage it when it comes into contact with the packaged item (C). .

One end of a scale-type drive arm (15) that swings up and down is linked to the side surface of the second moving member (11), and the scale-type drive arm (15) is connected to the other end of the scale-type drive arm (15). This crank arm (16
) is attached to the output shaft of a drive motor (17) to move the second moving member (II) up and down.

Therefore, when the second moving member (11) is moved upward from the open state of the holding arm (2A), the first moving member (l) is first moved by the pressing force of the compression spring (12).
Push up O). Then, as the bending link (14) bends, the holding arm (13) rises and swings to hold the lower half of the packaged object (C).

Next, the wrapper (4) will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8, this wrapping tool (4) includes first to fourth wrapping tools (18), (19), which are arranged radially.
(20) and (21). The first wrapping device (18) has the holding arm (2A) holding the object to be packaged (C).
It operates first with the button being held. This first wrapping tool (
18) is one end (
5a), the packaging sheet (5) is placed over the object to be packaged (C), and is fixed at the upper center position of the object to be packaged (C); It consists of a swing drive arm (24) which pivotally supports the wrapping plate (22) at its tip so that it can swing relative to each other, and which is fixed to the output shaft of a swing motor (23). The first wrapping plate (22) is made of an elastically deformable thin plate material, and the elastic deformation force allows the wrapped object (22) to be
C) It is structured so that it easily conforms to the surrounding surface. First wrapping plate (22
) has a fork-shaped tip that performs the pressing action.

A plate cam (25) is fixed to the tip of the first wrapping plate (22), and a roller type guide mechanism (26) is provided on the outside of the movement trajectory of the first wrapping plate (22). When the plate (22) operates, the roller guide mechanism (26) acts on the curved portion of the first wrapping plate (22) and forcibly directs the tip of the first wrapping plate (22) toward the object to be packaged (C). Dodge.

When the tip of the first wrapping plate (22) comes close to the object to be packaged (C), the plate cam (25) moves the roller type guide mechanism (2
6), the tip of the first wrapping plate (22) touches the object to be packaged (
C), and when the plate 2 cam (25) is disengaged from the roller guide mechanism (26) near the moving end, the first package The tip of the plate (22) is the object to be packaged (C
) moves in a trajectory that enters the inside from the outer circumferential surface. Therefore, the tip of the first wrapping plate (22) moves in sliding contact with the outer circumferential surface of the object to be packaged (C) due to its elastic force, and the one side end (5a) of the packaging sheet (5) is attached to the object to be packaged (C). It can be brought into close contact with the Then, the first wrapping tool (18) assumes an operating position in which it presses and holds one side end (5a) of the packaging sheet (5) against the outer peripheral surface of the object to be packaged (C).

When the first wrapping device (18) finishes covering one side end (5a) of the packaging sheet (5), the second wrapping device (19) located 180° diagonally begins to operate.

The second wrapping tool (19) has almost the same structure as the first wrapping tool (18), the difference being that the tip of the second wrapping plate (27) is not shaped like a fork but is shaped like a strip. It is formed into a single plate, and one side end (5b) of the packaging sheet (5) is
When placing it on top of the wrapping tool (18), insert the first wrapping tool (
The tip is inserted into the fork-shaped tip of 18). Then, the second wrapping tool (19) is attached to the packaging sheet (
5) When the next one side end (5b) is overlaid on the one side end (5a), the first wrapper (18) returns to its original standby position in a non-operating position. In this case, the first wrapping tool (18
) into the split end of the wrapping plate (22) of the second wrapping tool (1).
Since the tip of the wrapping plate (22) of 8) is inserted, the corresponding one end (5b) can be folded over with a sufficient weight allowance.

Next, the third wrapper (20) is activated. As shown in FIG. 5, the third wrapper (20) is driven by a swing motor (
a swinging drive arm (24) driven by (23);
A roller support arm (34) is rotatably supported at the tip of the swing drive arm (24), and one side end (5) of the packaging sheet (5) is attached to the tip of the roller support arm (34).
c) and a packaging roller (28) that folds back the packaging material (C) and brings it into contact with and covers the outer peripheral surface of the packaging material (C). The roller support arm (34) is moved by a biasing spring (29) to the packaged object (
C) is biased in the direction of pressing down, and is configured to easily follow changes in the shape of the packaged object (C) with elastic deformation force. A fixed plate cam (30) is provided outside the movement trajectory of the roller support arm (34), and a guide roller (31) is attached to the rear end of the roller support arm (34), so that the guide roller (31) By abutting against the cam surface (30a) of the fixed plate cam (30), the wrapping roller (28) is prevented from entering beyond a certain level in the direction of contact and press against the object (C) to be packaged.

As shown in FIG. 2, the packaging roller (28) has a fixed shaft (41) and a collar (4) attached to the roller support arm (34).
2) The recess (28a) is pivoted in a cantilevered state and is recessed in the outer circumferential surface of the drum like a drum, and the recess (28a) is recessed toward the center.
Circumferential surface portions (28b) are formed on both sides of 8a), and the concave portion (28a) is configured to hold down the packaged item (C). From the above, when the third wrapping tool (20) finishes overlapping the one side end (5c) at a predetermined position, the second wrapping tool (
19) returns to the standby position, and subsequently the fourth wrapper (21) is activated.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 75, the fourth enclosing tool (21) includes a swing drive arm (24) driven by a swing motor (23), and a swing drive arm (24) of the swing arm (24). A roller support arm (35
) and a packaging roller (28) supported pivotally at the tip of the roller support arm (35), and has almost the same configuration as the third packaging device (20), except that the roller support arm (35) is further refracted and swingable at the proximal end (35A).
) and a tip (35B).

Then, the wrapping roller (28) is moved to the third wrapping tool (28).
Similar to the packaging roller (28) of No. 0), the packaging roller (28) moves while being pressed against the outer circumferential surface of the item (C) to be packaged by the biasing spring (43). That is, a cam plate (32) in which a long cam hole (32a) is formed is provided, and a guide roller (33) that engages with and moves in the cam hole (32a) is connected to the roller support arm (32).
5) is pivotally supported at the rear end of the packaging roller (28), and is configured to move the packaging roller (28) along a predetermined trajectory. Here, an adhesive tape (34) as an adhesive fixing means is attached to one side end (5d) of the packaging sheet (5), and the one side end (5d)
) is folded back and polymerized at a predetermined position, 6 the packaging roller (28) is placed over the adhesive tape (34).
One side edge (5a) is moved and folded into four layers.

(5b), (5c), (5d) Paste the comrades. Here, since the tip of the roller support arm (35) can bend and swing, the adhesive tape (34) can
Even in the position that wraps around the lower half of C), the pressing action of the wrapping roller (28) can be sufficiently exerted.

Next, place the packaging sheet (5) at the specified position on the packaging workbench (1).
The supply mechanism (36) that feeds out will be explained.

As shown in Fig. 10, conveyor chains (41), (41) are arranged on the left and right to convey the packaging sheets (5) from the storage box (37) in which the packaging sheets (5) are stacked and stored to the packaging work position. At the same time, a transport portal frame (39) is connected to the chain link of this transport chain (41). The packaging sheet (5) and suction nozzles (38) (38) are attached to the left and right sides of the concave conveyance frame (39) so as to be movable up and down, and as shown in FIG. (38), (38) descends and the packaging sheet (
5), and then lifts it as it is and feeds out the packaging sheet (5) to the packaging work position as the conveying portal frame (39) moves.

The working form based on the above-mentioned configuration will be explained based on FIG. 12.

■ Pay out the adhesive tape (6) to the specified position.

(2) Next, the packaging sheet (5) is taken out from the storage box (37), conveyed, and placed in a predetermined position. Then, the adhesive tape (6) can be attached to the last folded end (5d) of the packaging sheet (5).

■ The receiver of the packaged object holding mechanism (2) is the stopper (3).
) Place the item to be packaged (C) on top. The steps up to this point are the second
This is the state shown in (a) in the figure.

(2) As shown in FIG. 12(0), next, the packaged object holding mechanism (2) is operated to hold the packaged object (C).

■ As shown in Figure 11 (c), the first wrapping tool (18)
is operated to fold back one side end (5a) of the packaging sheet (5) onto the top surface of the object to be packaged (C), and maintain the state in which the first wrapping plate (22) is pressed.

■ As shown in Figure 11 (d), the second
The wrapping tool (19) is operated to overlap the corresponding one side edge (5b) of the packaging sheet (5) from above the wrapping plate (22). As shown in FIG. 12(E), the one side end (5
When the layer b) is completed, the first wrapper (18) returns to the standby position.

Next, one end (5c) is placed along the outer peripheral surface of the packaged item (C).
, (5d) with the third wrapping tool (
20) Blow air toward the bent area before it operates.

■ Subsequently, as shown in FIGS. 12(f) and ()), the third wrapper (20) is activated and when the remaining one side edge (5c) is overlaid, the second wrapper (19) is activated. ) returns to the standby position.

■ Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 12 (H) and (S), the fourth wrapping tool (21) folds back the one end (5d) to which the adhesive tape (6) is attached and wraps the packaged object (C). and each one side edge (5a) folded in four layers with the adhesive tape (6).
), (5b), (5c), (5d) Attach 9 and finish the packaging work.

[Another example]

(2) The number of the wrapping tools (18) etc. is not limited to what is shown in the figure, and correspondingly, the shape of the packaging sheet (5') may also be polygonal or circular other than square.

■ The material for the packaging sheet (5) may be paper other than resin.

■ Each time the switch is manually operated to operate the wrapping tools (18) to (21), each wrapping tool (1
8) to (21) may be operated in a semi-automatic manner.

■ The material of the wrapping plate (22) may be a thin steel plate other than resin, as long as it is elastically deformable so that the effect on the wrapped object (C) can be suppressed in the working position of pressing the wrapped object (C). Alternatively, the surface of this thin steel plate may be coated with resin, chrome plating, or the like.

■ The wrapping tools (18) to (21) include wrapping tools (20) and (21) provided with a wrapping roller (28), and wrapping tools (18) not provided with a wrapping opening 0-ra (28). ), (1
9), but all wrapping tools (1
8) to (21) may be formed to include a packaging roller (28).

■ The object to be packaged may have a cylindrical shape other than a spherical shape.

■ The cam mechanism (30) includes the wrapping tool (20).
) or packaged items (C) whose position can be adjusted relative to
The configuration may be such that the cam surface shape can be switched to one with a different cam surface shape depending on the size of the cam surface.

Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the packaging device according to the present invention, FIG. 1 is a front view showing the third wrapping device and the cam mechanism, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the packaging roller, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the wrapping device. 4 is a front view showing the wrapping mechanism, FIG. 5 is a front view showing the operating state of the third wrapping device, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing the operating state of the fourth wrapping device. 7 is a front view showing the third wrapper in a retracted state, FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the wrapping device, FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the wrapping mechanism, and FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view. , Figure 11 (a), (o)
are a front view and a 12th view showing the conveyance state of the packaging sheet, respectively.
Figures (A) to (S) are action diagrams showing the packaging process, respectively. (5)... Packaging sheet, (5a), (5b)
, (5c), (5d)... One side end, (18
), (19), (20), (21)...
Wrapping tool, (24)... Swinging drive arm, (2
8)...Packaging roller, (30)...Cam mechanism, (34)...Roller support arm.

Claims (1)

[Claims] Each side edge (5a), (5b), (5c), (5d) at the peripheral edge of the packaging sheet (5) on which the item to be packaged (C) is placed
is folded back and placed on the object to be packaged (C), and the other one side end (5a) of the peripheral portion that was previously folded and placed on the packaged object (C).
, (5b), (5c) and the working posture of maintaining the folded state, and one end (5a) of the peripheral edge part.
, (5b), (5c) on top of the next one side edge (5b), (5c)
c), a plurality of wrappers (18) that switch to a non-working position in which they retire to a standby position in a state in which (5d) are superimposed.
, (19), (20), and (21) in the packaging sheet (
5), each one side end (5a), (5b), (5c), (5d
), and the wrapping tools (18), (19),
At least one enclosing device (20) of (20) and (21) is connected to the swing drive arm (24) so as to be able to swing relative to the swing drive arm (24). The object to be packaged (C) is formed by a roller support arm (34) that is biased in the pressing direction, and one side end (5c) of the packaging sheet (5) is folded over the roller support arm (34) to hold the object to be packaged. A packaging roller (28) is provided to cover the article (C),
In the process of folding back and covering one side end (5c) with the wrapping roller (28) in contact with the object to be packaged (C), the direction in which the roller (28) contacts the object to be packaged (C) A packaging device equipped with a cam mechanism (30) that restricts entry beyond a certain level.