EP1245492A1 - Method and apparatus for inserting bags into retainers - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for inserting bags into retainers Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1245492A1 EP1245492A1 EP02007135A EP02007135A EP1245492A1 EP 1245492 A1 EP1245492 A1 EP 1245492A1 EP 02007135 A EP02007135 A EP 02007135A EP 02007135 A EP02007135 A EP 02007135A EP 1245492 A1 EP1245492 A1 EP 1245492A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- bag
- retainer
- guide members
- plug
- mouth
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
- B65B43/30—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by grippers engaging opposed walls, e.g. suction-operated
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/26—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks
- B65B43/34—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by internal pressure
- B65B43/36—Opening or distending bags; Opening, erecting, or setting-up boxes, cartons, or carton blanks by internal pressure applied pneumatically
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- B65B43/50—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using rotary tables or turrets
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
- B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
- B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for successively inserting empty bags into retainers in a retainer type bag-filling packaging system.
- bag mouth(s) the mouth of bags
- plugs are brought into the opened bag mounts
- the plugs are then lowered so that the bags are inserted into retainers that are positioned below, and then, the bags are completely opened including the bottom areas inside the retainer by way of blowing compressed air into the bags from the plugs.
- a retaining section and a pair of insertion grooves are formed inside the retainers and extend in the longitudinal orientation.
- the retaining section is an empty space closed at the bottom and has a cross section that can receive the body portion of a self-standing bag after the opening of the bag by suction-chucking members.
- the insertion grooves are formed so as to receive both side edge portions of the self-standing bag. These insertion grooves are symmetrically provided on both (left and right) sides of the retaining section.
- the insertion grooves are formed with a fairly narrow width (so that there is little play between the groove surfaces and the bag surface). Accordingly, when a bag is inserted into the insertion grooves from above, insertion mistakes may occur. The reason for this is that if a bag is warped, or if the attitude of a bag is inclined at the time of insertion, the bottom edge of the bag would deviate from positions directly above the insertion grooves, so that the bottom edge (lower end) of the bag catch on the edges of the retainer when the bag is lowered.
- the entry portion of the insertion grooves formed in a retainer is formed with a greater width (i.e., the areas in the vicinity of the entry portion are formed with a tapered shape) so that the bag can be inserted into the grooves even if the bag is somewhat warped.
- warping may occur when the bag mouth is opened by the suction-chucking members even though the bag is not warped to begin with. Moreover, when the mouth of a bag that is warped is opened, the warping of the lower portion of the bag may be increased even further.
- the retaining section and insertion grooves can be formed with an increased depth, thus fulfilling both functions described above.
- this deep hole and groove structure has its own problem.
- the size of the retainer in the longitudinal direction increases, and the weight of the retainer also increases. Since the retainers are intermittently or continuously conveyed, it is desirable that the retainers be as small and light as possible. This is desired even stronger when the retainers are conveyed at a high speed.
- the bag when plug is inserted and pushed into the bag mouth, the bag may tilt in the direction of width, causing a positional deviation.
- a discrepancy occurs between the center of the retaining section and the center of the bag; and the contact between the bag surface and the inside circumferential surface of the retaining section may drop when the bag is opened up to the bottom after being inserted into the retainer.
- the problem of swinging of the bags following filling with a liquid would occur, so that the liquid splashes out of the bag.
- the present invention is to solve the above-described problems that occur when bags whose mouths have been opened are inserted into retainers.
- the bag mouth is opened by the suction-chucking members after the bag has been positioned by the guide members with respect to the grooves formed in the retainer.
- the suction-chucking members By thus positioning the bags beforehand by means of the guide members, the suction-chucking members always perform suction chucking on specified positions on the bag. Also, warping of the bag surfaces caused by the opening action of the bag mouth by the suction-chucking members can be suppressed.
- each insertion assembly is comprised of, for instance, suction-chucking members, guide members, a plug, and a plurality of sets of such insertion assemblies are continuously conveyed.
- suction-chucking members for instance, suction-chucking members, guide members, a plug
- a plurality of sets of such insertion assemblies are continuously conveyed.
- a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies each comprising the guide members; suction-chucking members and plug are continuously conveyed over an annular path at a constant speed and uniform intervals, the retainers are conveyed over a specified path at the same speed and same interval; and in at least portions of the paths, retainers and bags are conveyed in a state in which the retainers and bags are vertically aligned.
- the bags can be inserted into the retainers while the bags and retainers are continuously conveyed.
- the above objects are accomplished by a unique structure for a rotary type bag insertion apparatus that receives a supply of bags and retainers, inserts the bags into the retainers and then discharges the bags together with the retainers.
- the rotary type bag insertion apparatus of the present invention includes:
- the above rotary type bag insertion apparatus may further includes a receiving stand which supports the lower end of the bag and is disposed along a track of revolution of the guide members.
- This receiving stand extends from at least a bag supply position to a plug insertion position on a circumference of a rotor beneath the guide members.
- the plug is provided with a gas discharge opening.
- the bottoms of the self-standing bags can be spread opened by blowing a compressed gas into the bag after the bag is inserted into the retainers.
- FIGS 1 and 2 show, in terms of a time sequence, how self-standing bags which are conveyed continuously at a constant speed with their mouths (called “bag mouth(s)”) facing upward are inserted into the insertion grooves of retainers that are vertically aligned beneath the bags and moved at the same speed in the horizontal plane.
- the conveying path in Figures 1 and 2 is rectilinear. However, it can take an annular (e.g., circular) shape.
- a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies each substantially comprising, as seen from Figure 1, a pair of guide members 3 and 4, a pair of suction-chucking members (suction disks) 5 and 6 and a plug 7 are continuously conveyed over a specified conveying path at equal intervals.
- a plurality of retainers are continuously conveyed at the same intervals beneath these sets of insertion assemblies. The respective sets and retainers thus successively perform the insertion of the bags into the retainers.
- the guide members 3 and 4 are formed with guide grooves 3a and 4a respectively, and these guide grooves 3a and 4a face each other.
- the guide grooves 3a and 4a have a cross-sectional V shape when viewed from above and perpendicularly oriented in the vertical direction.
- the guide members 3 and 4 are moved toward each other and away from each other, thus opening and closing in the horizontal direction more or less along the conveying path.
- the pair of suction disks 5 and 6 are moved toward and away from each other, thus opening and closing on the vertical plane perpendicular to the conveying path.
- the plug 7 is raised and lowered between the pair of guide members 3 and 4 and between the pair of suction disks 5 and 6.
- Each of the retainers 2 has a retaining section 8 at the center and a pair of insertion grooves 9 (see step (f) shown in Figure 2) that are located on both sides of the retaining section 8.
- the retaining section 8 (a main interior space of substantially cylindrical that receives the main body portion of a bag) and the insertion grooves 9 (subordinate interior spaces that receive the side edges of the bag) are formed in a longitudinal orientation and extend in the vertical direction.
- the retainers 2, that can be made of any appropriate materials including a metal, synthetic resins, etc., are positioned and continuously conveyed so that the insertion grooves 9 are oriented along the conveying path as seen from Figure 2.
- the direction of width of the bag 1 is oriented parallel to the bag conveying path that is shown by laterally elongated rectangle P in Figure 1.
- step (a) the guide members 3 and 4 and suction disks 5 and 6 are respectively separated so as to be in an open state, the plug 7 is in the raised position, and the bag 1 is supplied to a center position between the facing guide grooves 3a and 4a of the guide members 3 and 4.
- the retainer 2 supplied by a retainer supply means (not shown) is positioned beneath the bag 1 so as to be in a vertically aligned position with respect to the bag 1.
- the bag 1 and insertion grooves formed in the retainer are in a parallel relationship, and the center of the bag with respect to its width direction and to its thickness direction coincide with the centers of the insertion grooves and retaining section of the retainer. Keeping this aligned positions, the bag 1, the retainer 2, the guide members 3 and 4, the suction disks 5 and 6 and the plug 7 are conveyed from left to right in Figure 1 at the same and constant speed.
- the plug 7 is, with a timing that matches this movement of the suction disks 5 and 6, lowered, and a part of the plug 7 is brought into the opened bag; and thus, the plug 7 is engaged with the mouth.
- the receiving stand 11 ends at the finishing point of step (d). In other words, the step (d) is completed at the end of the received stand 11.
- the plug 7 is further lowered so as to lower the bag 1 toward the retainer 2.
- the guide members 3 and 4 are also lowered.
- the lowering of the guide members 3 and 4 is not essential; however, by lowering the guide members 3 and 4 together with the bag 1, the flat lower end of the bag 1 is oriented more accurately toward the centers of the insertion grooves of the retainer 2.
- the bag 1 is guided by the guide grooves 3a and 4a of the guide members 3 and 4 and is inserted, at its side edges, into the centers of the insertion grooves 9 of the retainer 2.
- the bag 1 is set in the retainer 2 so that the center of the bag 1 with respect to the direction of width thereof is positioned in the centers of the retaining section 8 and insertion grooves 9 of the retainer 2. Accordingly, the center of the retaining section 8 and the center of the bag 1 are kept coincide with each other even after the bag has been spread open. Thus, a tight contact is ensured between the surfaces of the bag and the inside circumferential surface of the retaining section 8.
- the guide members 3 and 4 and plug 7 are returned to their original positions, so that the process returns to the state shown in step (a), thus completing one cycle of insertion of the bag into the retainer.
- a main stand 13 is installed in an upright attitude on a base 12, and a rotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported in the main stand 13.
- An upper table 15 is fastened to the upper portion of the rotating shaft 14, and a lower table 17 is rotatably supported on the circumference of the main stand 13 via a bearing 16.
- the rotating shaft 14 and tables 15 and 17 are referred to as a rotor in the present invention.
- a plurality of supporting frames 18 that are substantially C-shaped in cross section are provided at equal intervals.
- the supporting frames 18 extend in the vertical direction; and the upper ends of the supporting frames 18 are fastened to the upper table 15, and the lower ends are fastened to the lower table 17.
- An opening device 21 is provided in the upper portion of the outer circumferential surface of each one of the supporting frames 18 via an attachment plate 19.
- a retainer positioning member 22 (see Figure 9) is provided in the lower portion of the outer circumferential surface of each one of the supporting frames 18.
- a retainer supporting plate 24 is provided at the lower end of each one of the supporting frames 18 via a supporting plate 23.
- slots 25 and 26 are respectively formed in the outer circumferential surface of each supporting frame 18.
- a connecting member 28 of an upper raising-and-lowering element 27 extends to the outside from the interior of the supporting frame 18 through the slot 25, and an insertion device 29 is provided on the tip end of the connecting member 28.
- upper slide members 34 are attached to the upper raising-and-lowering element 27 in an outward-facing orientation.
- the upper slide members 34 slide on a slide rail 35 that is fastened to the supporting frame 18.
- a cam roller 36 is disposed on the inside end of the upper raising-and-lowering element 27, and a tubular raising-and-lowering cam 38 is disposed on the circumference of a cam attachment plate 37 which is fastened to the main stand 13.
- the cam roller 36 runs on this raising-and-lowering cam 38.
- lower slide members 39 are attached to the lower raising-and-lowering element 31 in an outward-facing orientation, and these slide members 39 slide on the slide rail 35.
- a cam roller 41 is disposed on the inside end of the lower raising-and-lowering element 31. The cam roller 41 runs inside the groove of a raising-and-lowering cam 42.
- the reference numeral 43 seen in Figures 4A and 4C is a tension spring.
- the tension spring 43 extends vertically through holes 44 and 45 formed in the upper and lower raising-and-lowering elements 27 and 31 and presses the cam roller 36 against the raising-and-lowering cam 38.
- the insertion device 29 is comprised, along with other elements, of a supporting flange 46 which is fastened to the connecting member 28 of the upper raising-and-lowering element 27, a pipe-form rod element 47 that is slidably provided in this supporting flange 46, and a plug 7 which is provided at the tip end of the rod element 47.
- One end (upper end) of the rod element 47 is connected to a compressed air source or gas supply source via a filter, a switching valve, etc. (not shown), so that a compressed gas is caused to jet out of a gas discharge opening opened at the lower end of the plug 7 at a specified timing.
- the rod element 47 is provided so that when an upward-oriented force referred to by arrow U is applied to the plug 7, the rod element 47 is caused to retract or moved upward relative to the supporting flange 46 by the action of a stopper 48 fastened to the rod element 47, a spring receiving plate 49 and a compression spring 50 which is interposed between the spring receiving plate 49 and the supporting flange 46.
- the guide device 33 is provided, as seen from Figure 5A, at the tip end of the connecting member 32 of the lower raising-and-lowering element 31.
- the guide device 33 is comprised of guide members 3 and 4 which have substantially V-shaped grooves 3a and 4a (see Figure 8), which extend in the vertical direction, and an opening-and-closing mechanism that opens and closes the guide members 3 and 4.
- the guide members 3 and 4 are respectively attached to an opening-and-closing driving arm 51 and an opening-and-closing driven arm 52.
- the opening-and-closing driving arm 51 is fastened to a hollow shaft 54 which is supported on a supporting member 53 on the tip ends of the connecting members 32 so that the hollow shaft 54 is free to rotate.
- the opening-and-closing driven arm 52 is likewise fastened to an opening-and-closing driven shaft 55 which is fastened to the supporting member 53 so that the shaft 55 is free to rotate.
- Gears 56 and 57 which engages with each other are respectively fastened to the lower portions of the hollow shaft 54 and opening-and-closing driven shaft 55, so that the opening-and-closing driving arm 51 and the opening-and-closing driven arm 52 open and close (or moved toward and away from each other) simultaneously.
- a slide bearing 58 that has longitudinal grooves formed in its inside circumferential surface is fastened to the lower portion of the hollow shaft 54.
- An opening-and-closing driving shaft 59 which has longitudinal ribs formed on its outer circumferential surface, is inserted into the slide bearing 58. With its longitudinal ribs being engaged with the longitudinal grooves, the shaft 59 slides upward and downward as shown by arrow in Figure 5.
- the opening-and-closing driving shaft 59 is rotatably supported at its lower end area by a bearing 61 that is attached to the supporting plate 23.
- a swing lever 62 is fastened to the lower end of the opening-and-closing driving shaft 59, and this swing lever 62 is connected to one end 64a of a cam lever 64 via a connecting rod 63.
- the cam lever 64 is shaft-supported on a supporting part 65 so that the cam lever 64 can pivot, and a cam roller 66 is attached to another end of the cam lever 64.
- the cam roller 66 is pressed by the driving force of a tension spring 67 (see Figure 5B) against an annular cam 68 which is disposed on the base 12 (see Figure 3), so that the cam roller 66 runs over the upper surface of the annular cam 68.
- the opening device 21 is mounted on the attachment plate 19; and it includes, as seen from Figures 10 and 11, suction disks 5 and 6 and a mechanical assembly that operates the suction disks 5 and 6.
- the suction disks 5 and 6 are respectively attached to the lower ends of pipe-form opening-and-closing arms 71 and 72 as best seen from Figure 10.
- the opening-and-closing arms 71 and 72 are respectively attached to pivot levers 73 and 74 which are pivotally shaft-supported on the attachment plate 19.
- Open ends at the upper ends of the opening-and-closing arms 71 and 72 are connected to a vacuum means via filters, switching valves, etc. (not shown), so that the suction disks 5 and 6 apply suction on a bag with a specified timing.
- a cam roller 75 is rotatably mounted on one end of the pivot lever 73.
- the cam roller 75 is pressed by the force of a tension spring 76 against an opening-and-closing cam 77.
- the opening-and-closing cam 77 is disposed in the form of a circular arc on the circumference of the rotor, so that the cam roller 75 runs along the undersurface of the opening-and-closing cam 77.
- a connecting link 78 is pin-connected between the other end of the pivot lever 73 and the pivot lever 74.
- the pivot lever 74 also simultaneously pivots in the opposite direction, thus causing the opening-and-closing arms 71 and 72 to move toward and away from each other so as to open and close as indicated by the solid lines (closed) and imaginary dashed lines (opened) in Figure 10.
- the reference numeral 79 in Figures 10 and 11 is a stopper that regulates the pivoting limit of the pivot lever 74, i.e., the opening limit of the opening-and-closing arms 71 and 72.
- bags 1 are supplied by a bag supply means (not shown, but such a supply means shown in the rotary type transfer apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-318713), and retainers 2 are supplied by a universally known retainer supply means.
- a bag supply means not shown, but such a supply means shown in the rotary type transfer apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-318713
- retainers 2 are supplied by a universally known retainer supply means.
- Figure 12 shows the above-described rotary type insertion apparatus with an addition of a mechanism that allows adjustment of the opening width of the guide members 3 and 4 so as to comply with bags of various sizes.
- the annular cam 68 is adjustable in height.
- the annular cam 68 is fastened to the outer circumference of an annular attachment bracket 81, and a plurality of internally threaded members 82 are disposed around the circumference of the annular attachment member 81.
- Rotating shafts 84 which are rotatably supported on stands 83 that are disposed on the base 12 are screw-engaged with the internally threaded members 82, thus supporting the attachment bracket 81 in a horizontal attitude.
- Gears 85 are attached to the lower ends of the rotating shafts 84.
- the gears 85 are engaged with the outer circumference of an intermediate gear 86 which is rotatably attached to the circumference of the rotating shaft 14.
- a sprocket 87 is attached to one of the gears 85.
- the sprocket 87 is connected via a chain 88 and sprocket 89 to a rotating shaft 92 that is rotatably supported in a stand 91 disposed on the base 12.
- the height of the annular cam 68 is adjusted in accordance with the bag width; and when the bags to be processed have a large width, then the annular cam 68 is lowered.
- Figure 13 shows (in the form of a time sequence) the bag insertion process performed with a use of plug 94 shown in Figures 14A through 14C instead of the plug 7 that is shown in Figures 1 and 2.
- each plug 94 has three (first, second and third) stepped portions 94a, 94b and 94c that are continuously formed with inclined surfaces in between, the inclined surfaces having more or less a shape of truncated circular cones.
- the first stepped portion 94a (located at the lower most or the bottom of the plug 94 and has a smallest diameter) has flat outer surfaces 94e that are diametrically opposite from each other.
- the first stepped portion 94a is somewhat flat when viewed from below; and its lower end is pointed and faces downward (or to face the bag mouth), so that the flat outer surfaces 94e are set so as to be parallel to the surfaces of the bag or to the conveying path.
- the plug 94 has a gas discharge opening 94d at the end of this first step portion 94a.
- the insertion process of Figure 13 is substantially the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 up to the point where the tip end of the plug 94 is brought into the bag. Accordingly, only the steps that are taken after the bag has been inserted into the retainer (that corresponds to steps (d) through (g) in Figure 1) are shown in Figure 13.
- the insertion process of a bag into a retainer in Figure 13 is as follows:
- the tip end of the plug (the first stepped portion 94a) that is brought into the bag when the bag mouth is opened by the suction disks is in a flattened shape. Accordingly, the bag returns to flat when the suction disks are separated from the bag, allowing less inclination at both edges of the mouth thereof. Accordingly, the bag being processed show less of a tendency to incline to the left and right in the guide members than in the previous example shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which the plug 7 used has no flat outer surfaces 94e and thus not in a flattened shape at its tip end. Accordingly, an even more accurate guidance of the bag is accomplished with the use of the plug 94.
- the lower end of a bag 1 is horizontal when the bag 1 is flat.
- both edges of the bag are slightly lifted as indicated by arrows in Figure 16B, and the lower ends of the bag 1 is curved when viewed from the side as shown in Figure 16B.
- the bag 1 becomes unstable inside the retainer, and the bag may be tilted or may show a positional deviation to the left or right during conveying.
- a drainage hole that has a diameter much smaller than that of the retaining section is formed in the center of the bottom of the retaining section as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-302106.
- the retainer 95 shown in Figures 17A and 17B is the same as a conventional retainer in that it has a retaining section 8 and insertion grooves 9 that extend longitudinally or in the axial direction.
- the feature of the retainer 95 is that the insertion grooves 9 has bottoms 9a thus being closed, but the retaining section 8 has no bottom thus being opened.
- the edge portions of the lower end of the bag 1 inserted in the retaining section 8 and insertion grooves 9 are supported by the bottoms 9a of the insertion grooves 9, and the curved central portion of the bag is not supported. Accordingly, the bag 1 inside the retainer 2 is set with a higher stability.
- the retainer 96 shown in Figures 18A and 18B is also the same as a conventional retainer.
- the retainer 96 has a retaining section 8 and insertion grooves 9 that extend longitudinally or in the axial direction, and a drainage hole 96a which is slightly smaller than the retaining section 8 in diameter is formed in the bottom.
- this retainer 96 is characterized in that the entire bottom surface 96b of the retaining section 8 and insertion grooves 9 is curved in a concave shape. It is preferable that this curvature more or less coincide with the lower end curvature of the bag, so that the lower end of the bag 1 is snugly supported.
- the retaining section 8 can be formed without a bottom as in the retainer 95 shown in Figures 17A and 17b.
- the retainer 97 shown in Figures 19A and 19b is also the same as a conventional retainer in terms of the longitudinal or axial formation of the retaining section 8 and insertion grooves 9.
- the retainer 97 is characterized in that the bottom of the retaining section 8 is formed only at the left and right ends, i.e., near the insertion grooves 9, and no bottom is formed in the central area.
- This structure is similar to that of the retainer 95 shown in Figures 17A and 17B in terms of structure and function. Also, the entire bottom can be curved in the same manner as in the retainer 96 of Figures 18A and 18B.
- the entry portions of the retaining section 8 and insertion grooves 9 are not tapered; nevertheless, a stable and accurate insertion of bags is assured in the present invention since the positioning of both side edges of each bag is made by guide members, so that the side edges are guided into the retainer.
- the entry portions of the retainers 95, 96 and 97 can be formed with a tapered shape as in conventional retainers. However, because of the use of the guide members, the size of the tapered portion can be made smaller than in the conventional retainers.
- the bag holding function can be improved at the same longitudinal size of the retainer, or the longitudinal size of the retainer can be reduced by an amount equal to the taper with the same bag holding function being maintained.
- the retainer can be made more compact and light-weight.
- the left and right ends of the insertion grooves 9 are closed in all cases (these parts are called the "retainer sides") as typically indicate in Figure 17A by the reference numerals 9b.
- these retainer sides are important for preventing tilting and positional deviation since the retainer sides come in contact with both side edges of the bags 1.
- positioning is securely accomplished by the guide members. Accordingly, these retainer sides can be omitted.
- the left and right outside portions indicated by arrows in Figures 17A, 18A and 19A can be removed. By doing this, the size of the retainer in the lateral direction is reduced, and the retainer can be more compact and light in weight.
- bags whose mouths have been opened are inserted into the retaining sections and insertion grooves of retainers without any interference. Furthermore, in the present invention, since the bags are inserted into the centers of the retaining sections and insertion grooves of the retainers, the centers of the retaining sections and the centers of the bags coincide, and the contact between the bags and the inside circumferential surfaces of the retaining sections after the bags have been spread open by gas is improved. As a result, swinging of the bags and splashing out of the liquid contents after the bags have been filled with a liquid can be effectively prevented.
- compact, light weight retainers are used. This is advantageous for increasing the running speed of the bag insertion apparatus and therefore for increasing the running speed of the entire system that involves the bag-filling apparatus.
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Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for successively inserting empty bags into retainers in a retainer type bag-filling packaging system.
- In retainer type bag-filling packaging systems, self-standing bags are inserted into retainers in the following manner: the mouth of bags (called "bag mouth(s)") are first opened by being suction-chucked from both sides by a pair of suction-chucking members, plugs are brought into the opened bag mounts, the plugs are then lowered so that the bags are inserted into retainers that are positioned below, and then, the bags are completely opened including the bottom areas inside the retainer by way of blowing compressed air into the bags from the plugs.
- This insertion method and insertion apparatus is described in, for instance, the "Prior Art" section of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-142630.
- Generally, in retainers, a retaining section and a pair of insertion grooves are formed inside the retainers and extend in the longitudinal orientation. The retaining section is an empty space closed at the bottom and has a cross section that can receive the body portion of a self-standing bag after the opening of the bag by suction-chucking members. The insertion grooves are formed so as to receive both side edge portions of the self-standing bag. These insertion grooves are symmetrically provided on both (left and right) sides of the retaining section.
- In order to prevent swinging of a bag after the bag is inserted into the retainer (especially preventing swinging of the bag after the contents are put in the bag), the insertion grooves are formed with a fairly narrow width (so that there is little play between the groove surfaces and the bag surface). Accordingly, when a bag is inserted into the insertion grooves from above, insertion mistakes may occur. The reason for this is that if a bag is warped, or if the attitude of a bag is inclined at the time of insertion, the bottom edge of the bag would deviate from positions directly above the insertion grooves, so that the bottom edge (lower end) of the bag catch on the edges of the retainer when the bag is lowered.
- Accordingly, the entry portion of the insertion grooves formed in a retainer is formed with a greater width (i.e., the areas in the vicinity of the entry portion are formed with a tapered shape) so that the bag can be inserted into the grooves even if the bag is somewhat warped.
- In some cases, warping may occur when the bag mouth is opened by the suction-chucking members even though the bag is not warped to begin with. Moreover, when the mouth of a bag that is warped is opened, the warping of the lower portion of the bag may be increased even further.
- When the entry portion of the insertion grooves (and retaining sections) of a retainer has an expanded width so as to be in a tapered shape, this measure is effective in regard to the insertion of a bag into such a retainer. However, the portions having a tapered shape do not contact snugly to the opened bag and therefore do not function to hold the bag securely. Accordingly, as the size of such portions having a tapered shape increases, the function of suppressing swinging of the bags that have been filled with the contents deteriorates.
- Conversely, if priority is given to the function of suppressing swinging of the bags, and the portions having a tapered shape are therefore reduced in size, then the insertion of the bag is impeded.
- To solve these problems, the retaining section and insertion grooves can be formed with an increased depth, thus fulfilling both functions described above. However, this deep hole and groove structure has its own problem. The size of the retainer in the longitudinal direction increases, and the weight of the retainer also increases. Since the retainers are intermittently or continuously conveyed, it is desirable that the retainers be as small and light as possible. This is desired even stronger when the retainers are conveyed at a high speed.
- Furthermore, when plug is inserted and pushed into the bag mouth, the bag may tilt in the direction of width, causing a positional deviation. In this case, a discrepancy occurs between the center of the retaining section and the center of the bag; and the contact between the bag surface and the inside circumferential surface of the retaining section may drop when the bag is opened up to the bottom after being inserted into the retainer. In such cases as well, the problem of swinging of the bags following filling with a liquid would occur, so that the liquid splashes out of the bag.
- Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above-described problems that occur when bags whose mouths have been opened are inserted into retainers.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for inserting empty bags into retainers in which bags are set in retaining sections and insertion grooves of retainers without any interference.
- It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for inserting empty bags into retainers in which bags are set in the centers of retaining sections and insertion grooves.
- It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for inserting empty bags into retainers that uses lightweight and compact retainers.
- The above objects are accomplished by unique method of the present invention for inserting bags into retainers in which:
- the mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking the mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members, and
- the bag and a retainer positioned beneath the bag are caused to approach each other, thus inserting the bag into the retainer; and
- the method includes the steps of:
- bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of the bag so that the guide members come into contact with the side edges of the bag, thus positioning the bag with respect to the grooves formed in the retainer, and
- guiding the bag by the guide members so that the bag is inserted into the retainer.
-
- The above objects are accomplished by another unique method of the present invention for inserting bags into retainers in which:
- the mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking the mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members,
- a plug is caused to be brought into the mouth of the bag, and
- the plug and a retainer positioned beneath the plug are caused to approach each other, thus inserting the bag into the retainer; and
- the method includes the steps of:
- bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of the bag so that the guide members come into contact with the side edges of the bag, thus positioning the bag with respect to the grooves formed in the retainer, and
- guiding the bag by the guide members so that the bag is inserted into the retainer.
-
- The above objects are accomplished by still another unique method of the present invention for inserting bags into retainers in which:
- the mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking the mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members,
- a plug is caused to be brought into the mouth of the bag, and
- the plug is caused to be lowered toward a retainer that is positioned beneath the plug, thus inserting the bag into the retainer; and the method includes the steps of:
- bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of the bag so that the guide members come into contact with the side edges of the bag, thus positioning the bag with respect to the grooves formed in the retainer, and
- guiding the bag by the guide members so that the bag is inserted into the retainer.
-
- In the above insertion bag methods, when the guide members are caused to contact both side edges of the bag, the guide members that face each other after being opened to an extent that exceeds the bag width are caused to approach both side edges of the bag in, for instance, the horizontal plane. However, it is also possible to insert the bags between the guide grooves of the guide members from above. In this case, as long as the spacing of the facing guide groove gradually narrows in the downward direction, it is not necessary to cause the guide members themselves to approach the bag.
- In addition, when the bag is lowered toward the retainer below, it is desirable to lower the pair of guide members to a point immediately above the retainer as the bag is lowered. This is done in order to prevent the lower end of the bag from slipping downward out of the guide grooves to an excessive extent as a result of the lowering motion of the bag, thus resulting in a loss of the guiding effect provided by the guide members. By lowering the bag together with the guide members, it is possible to guide the lower end of the bag to a position that is as close as possible to the retainer.
- It is preferable that the bag mouth is opened by the suction-chucking members after the bag has been positioned by the guide members with respect to the grooves formed in the retainer. By thus positioning the bags beforehand by means of the guide members, the suction-chucking members always perform suction chucking on specified positions on the bag. Also, warping of the bag surfaces caused by the opening action of the bag mouth by the suction-chucking members can be suppressed.
- Furthermore, the above-described insertion methods can be executed by the use of a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies. In this case, each insertion assembly is comprised of, for instance, suction-chucking members, guide members, a plug, and a plurality of sets of such insertion assemblies are continuously conveyed. When such insertion assemblies are used, supplied bags are positioned by the guide members, the retainers that are vertically aligned with the positioned bags are continuously conveyed, and insertion of the bags into the retainers is performed during the process of this continuous conveying.
- It is also possible to execute the bag insertion process in such a manner that the bags and retainers are intermittently conveyed, the bags and retainers are vertically aligned in the stopping position, and insertion is performed by means of suction-chucking members, guide members, a plug, etc. that are disposed in the stopping position.
- The above objects are accomplished by a unique structure for an apparatus for inserting bags into retainers, wherein the apparatus includes:
- guide members which have guide grooves oriented in a vertical direction and are opened and closed,
- suction-chucking members which are moved toward and away from each other so that the suction-chucking members open a mouth of a bag, which is positioned by the guide members, by way of suction-chucking the mouth from both sides thereof,
- a vertically movable plug which is brought into the mouth that is opened by the suction-chucking members, and
- a retainer positioning member that positions a retainer beneath the guide members; and
- the bag is positioned in a specified position by way of closing the guide members so that the guide members come into contact with both side edges of the bag,
- a mouth of the bag is opened by way of suction-chucking both sides of the mouth of the bag by the suction-chucking members,
- the plug is lowered and brought into the mouth of the bag, and
- the plug is lowered toward the retainer positioned beneath the plug so that the bag is inserted into the retainer.
-
- In this insertion apparatus, for example, a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies each comprising the guide members; suction-chucking members and plug are continuously conveyed over an annular path at a constant speed and uniform intervals, the retainers are conveyed over a specified path at the same speed and same interval; and in at least portions of the paths, retainers and bags are conveyed in a state in which the retainers and bags are vertically aligned. Thus, the bags can be inserted into the retainers while the bags and retainers are continuously conveyed.
- The above objects are accomplished by a unique structure for a rotary type bag insertion apparatus that receives a supply of bags and retainers, inserts the bags into the retainers and then discharges the bags together with the retainers. The rotary type bag insertion apparatus of the present invention includes:
- a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies which are disposed at equal intervals
around a circumference of a continuously rotating rotor, each of the insertion assemblies
comprising:
- guide members which have guide grooves oriented in a vertical direction and are opened and closed,
- suction-chucking members which are moved toward and away from each other so that the suction-chucking members open a mouth of a bag, which is positioned by the guide members, by way of suction-chucking the mouth from both sides thereof,
- a vertically movable plug which is brought into the mouth that is opened by the suction-chucking members, and
- a retainer positioning member that positions a retainer beneath the guide members; wherein as the rotor is rotated,
-
- The above rotary type bag insertion apparatus may further includes a receiving stand which supports the lower end of the bag and is disposed along a track of revolution of the guide members. This receiving stand extends from at least a bag supply position to a plug insertion position on a circumference of a rotor beneath the guide members.
- In the above apparatuses for inserting bags into retainers of the present invention, wherein the guide members are raised and lowered, and when the plug is lowered further after the plug is lowered so as to be brought into the bag, the guide members are lowered together with the plug.
- In addition, in the above apparatuses for inserting bags into retainers, the plug is provided with a gas discharge opening. In this case, the bottoms of the self-standing bags can be spread opened by blowing a compressed gas into the bag after the bag is inserted into the retainers.
-
- Figure 1 is a model diagram that shows (in the form of a time sequence) the steps (a) through (d) of the operation of the respective members used in the bag insertion method of the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a model diagram of the steps (e) through (g) of the operation, a continuation of the steps of Figure 1;
- Figure 3 is a sectional view of the overall structure of the rotary type bag insertion apparatus of the present invention;
- Figure 4A is an enlarged sectional view of the main portion of the raising-and-lowering mechanisms of the guide device and insertion device, 4B is a side view thereof, and 4C is a sectional top view thereof;
- Figure 5A shows the essential portion of opening-and-closing mechanism of the guide device, 5B is a partially sectional bottom view thereof, and 5C is a side view thereof;
- Figure 6 is a sectional view of the essential portion of the opening-and-closing mechanism of the guide device;
- Figure 7 is a sectional view of the main portion of the opening-and-closing mechanism of the guide device;
- Figure 8 is a sectional view of the main portion of the raising-and-lowering mechanism of the guide device;
- Figure 9 is a sectional view of the retainer positioning member;
- Figure 10 is an enlarged front view of the structure of the opening device;
- Figure 11 is a partial sectional top view thereof;
- Figure 12 is a sectional view of the overall structure of another rotary type bag insertion apparatus of the present invention;
- Figure 13 is a model diagram that illustrates (in the form of a time sequence) the steps (d) through (g) of operations of the respective members used in the insertion method of the present invention with another type of plug being employed;
- Figure 14A is a front view of another plug used in the method of Figure 13, Figure 14B is a side view thereof, and Figure 14C is a bottom view thereof showing the of the first step of the plug;
- Figure 15A is a top view a self-standing bag before the bag is spread open, and figure 15B is a side view thereof;
- Figure 16A is a top view of the self-standing bag after the bag has been spread open, and Figure 16B is a side view thereof;
- Figure 17A is a top view of a retainer used in the present invention with a bag therein, and Figure 17B shows the vertical section of the center portion thereof;
- Figure 18A is a top view of another retainer used in the present invention with a bag therein, and Figure 17B shows the vertical section of the center portion thereof; and
- Figure 19A is a top view of still another retainer used in the present invention with a bag therein, and Figure 19B shows the vertical section of the center portion thereof.
-
- The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
- Figures 1 and 2 show, in terms of a time sequence, how self-standing bags which are conveyed continuously at a constant speed with their mouths (called "bag mouth(s)") facing upward are inserted into the insertion grooves of retainers that are vertically aligned beneath the bags and moved at the same speed in the horizontal plane.
- The conveying path in Figures 1 and 2 is rectilinear. However, it can take an annular (e.g., circular) shape. Furthermore, in the actual insertion apparatus, a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies each substantially comprising, as seen from Figure 1, a pair of
guide members plug 7 are continuously conveyed over a specified conveying path at equal intervals. Also, a plurality of retainers are continuously conveyed at the same intervals beneath these sets of insertion assemblies. The respective sets and retainers thus successively perform the insertion of the bags into the retainers. - More specifically, the
guide members guide grooves guide grooves guide grooves guide members - The pair of
suction disks - The
plug 7 is raised and lowered between the pair ofguide members suction disks - Each of the
retainers 2 has aretaining section 8 at the center and a pair of insertion grooves 9 (see step (f) shown in Figure 2) that are located on both sides of the retainingsection 8. The retaining section 8 (a main interior space of substantially cylindrical that receives the main body portion of a bag) and the insertion grooves 9 (subordinate interior spaces that receive the side edges of the bag) are formed in a longitudinal orientation and extend in the vertical direction. Theretainers 2, that can be made of any appropriate materials including a metal, synthetic resins, etc., are positioned and continuously conveyed so that theinsertion grooves 9 are oriented along the conveying path as seen from Figure 2. - The process for successively inserting
bags 1 intoretainers 2 is performed by steps (a) through (g) in Figures 1 and 2. - Step (a): A
bag 1 is supplied by a bag supply means (not shown) from outside the conveying path of theguide members bag 1 is oriented parallel to the bag conveying path that is shown by laterally elongated rectangle P in Figure 1. In step (a), theguide members suction disks plug 7 is in the raised position, and thebag 1 is supplied to a center position between the facingguide grooves guide members - Step (b): The
guide members guide grooves bag 1. Thus, a positioning is made for thebag 1. At more or less the same time, thebag 1 is released from the bag supply means (not shown). As a result, thebag 1 that has thus been positioned by theguide members stand 11. Thus, thebag 1 is supported by the receivingstand 11 and is slid over the surface of the receivingstand 11 by theguide members - Step (c): The
suction disks suction disks retainer 2 supplied by a retainer supply means (not shown) is positioned beneath thebag 1 so as to be in a vertically aligned position with respect to thebag 1. In other words, thebag 1 and insertion grooves formed in the retainer are in a parallel relationship, and the center of the bag with respect to its width direction and to its thickness direction coincide with the centers of the insertion grooves and retaining section of the retainer. Keeping this aligned positions, thebag 1, theretainer 2, theguide members suction disks plug 7 are conveyed from left to right in Figure 1 at the same and constant speed. - Step (d): The
suction disks bag 1 is opened (at this point, the lower portion of the bag is not spread open yet and remains flat). Theplug 7 is, with a timing that matches this movement of thesuction disks plug 7 is brought into the opened bag; and thus, theplug 7 is engaged with the mouth. The receivingstand 11 ends at the finishing point of step (d). In other words, the step (d) is completed at the end of the receivedstand 11. - Step (e): The suction of the
suction disks suction disks plug 7 is further lowered so as to lower thebag 1 toward theretainer 2. At the same time, theguide members guide members guide members bag 1, the flat lower end of thebag 1 is oriented more accurately toward the centers of the insertion grooves of theretainer 2. - Step (f): The lowering of the
guide members retainer 2, but theplug 7 is lowered even further. Thebag 1 is guided by theguide grooves guide members insertion grooves 9 of theretainer 2. - Step (g): A compressed gas is jetted out of the gas discharge opening (not shown) which is at the tip end of the
plug 7, and thebag 1 is as a whole including its bottom is spread open by the inserted gas. Thebag 1 is set in theretainer 2 so that the center of thebag 1 with respect to the direction of width thereof is positioned in the centers of the retainingsection 8 andinsertion grooves 9 of theretainer 2. Accordingly, the center of the retainingsection 8 and the center of thebag 1 are kept coincide with each other even after the bag has been spread open. Thus, a tight contact is ensured between the surfaces of the bag and the inside circumferential surface of the retainingsection 8. Next, theguide members - In the above steps, a description is made for only one bag. However, with a use of plurality of sets of insertion assemblies (each substantially comprising the pair of
guide members - The above-described insertion apparatus is applicable to a rotary type insertion apparatus, and such a rotary type insertion apparatus will be described below with reference to Figures 3 through 11.
- As shown in Figure 3, a
main stand 13 is installed in an upright attitude on abase 12, and arotating shaft 14 is rotatably supported in themain stand 13. An upper table 15 is fastened to the upper portion of therotating shaft 14, and a lower table 17 is rotatably supported on the circumference of themain stand 13 via abearing 16. The rotatingshaft 14 and tables 15 and 17 are referred to as a rotor in the present invention. Around the circumferences of the tables 15 and 17, a plurality of supportingframes 18 that are substantially C-shaped in cross section are provided at equal intervals. The supporting frames 18 extend in the vertical direction; and the upper ends of the supportingframes 18 are fastened to the upper table 15, and the lower ends are fastened to the lower table 17. - An
opening device 21 is provided in the upper portion of the outer circumferential surface of each one of the supportingframes 18 via anattachment plate 19. Likewise, a retainer positioning member 22 (see Figure 9) is provided in the lower portion of the outer circumferential surface of each one of the supporting frames 18. Furthermore, aretainer supporting plate 24 is provided at the lower end of each one of the supportingframes 18 via a supportingplate 23. - As shown in Figure 4B,
slots frame 18. A connectingmember 28 of an upper raising-and-loweringelement 27 extends to the outside from the interior of the supportingframe 18 through theslot 25, and aninsertion device 29 is provided on the tip end of the connectingmember 28. Beneath thisinsertion device 29, a pair of connectingmembers 32 of a lower raising-and-loweringelement 31 extend to the outside through theslots guide device 33 is mounted to the tip ends of the connectingmembers 32. - Inside each supporting
frame 18, as seen from Figure 4A,upper slide members 34 are attached to the upper raising-and-loweringelement 27 in an outward-facing orientation. Theupper slide members 34 slide on aslide rail 35 that is fastened to the supportingframe 18. Acam roller 36 is disposed on the inside end of the upper raising-and-loweringelement 27, and a tubular raising-and-loweringcam 38 is disposed on the circumference of acam attachment plate 37 which is fastened to themain stand 13. Thecam roller 36 runs on this raising-and-loweringcam 38. - Likewise,
lower slide members 39 are attached to the lower raising-and-loweringelement 31 in an outward-facing orientation, and theseslide members 39 slide on theslide rail 35. Acam roller 41 is disposed on the inside end of the lower raising-and-loweringelement 31. Thecam roller 41 runs inside the groove of a raising-and-loweringcam 42. - The
reference numeral 43 seen in Figures 4A and 4C is a tension spring. Thetension spring 43 extends vertically throughholes elements cam roller 36 against the raising-and-loweringcam 38. - As best seen from Figure 4A, the
insertion device 29 is comprised, along with other elements, of a supportingflange 46 which is fastened to the connectingmember 28 of the upper raising-and-loweringelement 27, a pipe-form rod element 47 that is slidably provided in this supportingflange 46, and aplug 7 which is provided at the tip end of therod element 47. One end (upper end) of therod element 47 is connected to a compressed air source or gas supply source via a filter, a switching valve, etc. (not shown), so that a compressed gas is caused to jet out of a gas discharge opening opened at the lower end of theplug 7 at a specified timing. Therod element 47 is provided so that when an upward-oriented force referred to by arrow U is applied to theplug 7, therod element 47 is caused to retract or moved upward relative to the supportingflange 46 by the action of a stopper 48 fastened to therod element 47, aspring receiving plate 49 and acompression spring 50 which is interposed between thespring receiving plate 49 and the supportingflange 46. - The
guide device 33 is provided, as seen from Figure 5A, at the tip end of the connectingmember 32 of the lower raising-and-loweringelement 31. Theguide device 33 is comprised ofguide members grooves guide members - As seen from Figures 5A through Figure 8, the
guide members closing driving arm 51 and an opening-and-closing drivenarm 52. The opening-and-closing driving arm 51 is fastened to ahollow shaft 54 which is supported on a supportingmember 53 on the tip ends of the connectingmembers 32 so that thehollow shaft 54 is free to rotate. The opening-and-closing drivenarm 52 is likewise fastened to an opening-and-closing drivenshaft 55 which is fastened to the supportingmember 53 so that theshaft 55 is free to rotate. -
Gears hollow shaft 54 and opening-and-closing drivenshaft 55, so that the opening-and-closing driving arm 51 and the opening-and-closing drivenarm 52 open and close (or moved toward and away from each other) simultaneously. - Furthermore, a slide bearing 58 that has longitudinal grooves formed in its inside circumferential surface is fastened to the lower portion of the
hollow shaft 54. An opening-and-closing driving shaft 59, which has longitudinal ribs formed on its outer circumferential surface, is inserted into the slide bearing 58. With its longitudinal ribs being engaged with the longitudinal grooves, theshaft 59 slides upward and downward as shown by arrow in Figure 5. - The opening-and-
closing driving shaft 59 is rotatably supported at its lower end area by abearing 61 that is attached to the supportingplate 23. - A
swing lever 62 is fastened to the lower end of the opening-and-closing driving shaft 59, and thisswing lever 62 is connected to oneend 64a of acam lever 64 via a connectingrod 63. Thecam lever 64 is shaft-supported on a supportingpart 65 so that thecam lever 64 can pivot, and acam roller 66 is attached to another end of thecam lever 64. Thecam roller 66 is pressed by the driving force of a tension spring 67 (see Figure 5B) against anannular cam 68 which is disposed on the base 12 (see Figure 3), so that thecam roller 66 runs over the upper surface of theannular cam 68. As a result, thecam lever 64 pivots, theswing lever 62 pivots, the opening-and-closing driving shaft 59 andhollow shaft 54 are rotated, and thus the opening-and-closing driving arm 51 and opening-and-closing drivenarm 52 pivots, so that theguide members - The
opening device 21 is mounted on theattachment plate 19; and it includes, as seen from Figures 10 and 11,suction disks suction disks - More specifically, the
suction disks arms arms levers attachment plate 19. Open ends at the upper ends of the opening-and-closingarms suction disks - A
cam roller 75 is rotatably mounted on one end of thepivot lever 73. Thecam roller 75 is pressed by the force of atension spring 76 against an opening-and-closing cam 77. The opening-and-closing cam 77 is disposed in the form of a circular arc on the circumference of the rotor, so that thecam roller 75 runs along the undersurface of the opening-and-closing cam 77. - A connecting
link 78 is pin-connected between the other end of thepivot lever 73 and thepivot lever 74. Thus, when thepivot lever 73 pivots, thepivot lever 74 also simultaneously pivots in the opposite direction, thus causing the opening-and-closingarms - The
reference numeral 79 in Figures 10 and 11 is a stopper that regulates the pivoting limit of thepivot lever 74, i.e., the opening limit of the opening-and-closingarms - In operation of the above rotary type insertion apparatus, when a gear 80 (see Figure 3) that is linked to a driving means (not shown) and is fixed to the
rotating shaft 14 is rotated, the upper and lower tables 15 and 17 are rotated at a constant speed together with the rotatingshaft 14. As a result, thecam roller 36 attached to the upper raising-and-loweringelement 27, thecam roller 41 attached to the lower raising-and-loweringelement 31, thecam roller 66 attached to thecam lever 64 and thecam roller 75 attached to thepivot lever 73 run over the respective corresponding cam surfaces; and with the timing shown above in Figures 1 and 2, theguide member suction disks plug 7 is raised and lowered. - Of course, during these movements, the application of suction by the
suction disks plug 7 are also performed with the above-described timing. - Furthermore, into the above rotary type insertion apparatus,
bags 1 are supplied by a bag supply means (not shown, but such a supply means shown in the rotary type transfer apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-318713), andretainers 2 are supplied by a universally known retainer supply means. When the bags and retainers are thus supplied, thebags 1 are immediately positioned by theguide members stand 11; and theretainers 2 are positioned on theretainer receiving plates 24 with respect to theretainer positioning members 22 by a universally known means, and bags are inserted into the retainers by the steps shown above in Figures 1 and 2. - In the above description, self-standing bags (bags having fold-ins in the bottoms) are described as an example of the
bags 1. However, the insertion method and apparatus of the present invention can be used for ordinary flat bags. - Figure 12 shows the above-described rotary type insertion apparatus with an addition of a mechanism that allows adjustment of the opening width of the
guide members annular cam 68 is adjustable in height. - The
annular cam 68 is fastened to the outer circumference of anannular attachment bracket 81, and a plurality of internally threadedmembers 82 are disposed around the circumference of theannular attachment member 81. Rotating shafts 84 which are rotatably supported onstands 83 that are disposed on thebase 12 are screw-engaged with the internally threadedmembers 82, thus supporting theattachment bracket 81 in a horizontal attitude. -
Gears 85 are attached to the lower ends of the rotating shafts 84. Thegears 85 are engaged with the outer circumference of anintermediate gear 86 which is rotatably attached to the circumference of therotating shaft 14. - Furthermore, a
sprocket 87 is attached to one of thegears 85. Thesprocket 87 is connected via a chain 88 andsprocket 89 to arotating shaft 92 that is rotatably supported in astand 91 disposed on thebase 12. - Accordingly, when a handle 93 fastened to the
rotating shaft 92 is turned, the plurality of rotating shafts 84 are rotated by the same amount, and thebracket 81 andannular cam 68 are raised or lowered while maintaining their horizontal attitude. - As seen from the above, the height of the
annular cam 68 is adjusted in accordance with the bag width; and when the bags to be processed have a large width, then theannular cam 68 is lowered. - Figure 13 shows (in the form of a time sequence) the bag insertion process performed with a use of
plug 94 shown in Figures 14A through 14C instead of theplug 7 that is shown in Figures 1 and 2. - As seen from Figures 14A and 14B, each plug 94 has three (first, second and third) stepped
portions portion 94a (located at the lower most or the bottom of theplug 94 and has a smallest diameter) has flatouter surfaces 94e that are diametrically opposite from each other. Thus, the first steppedportion 94a is somewhat flat when viewed from below; and its lower end is pointed and faces downward (or to face the bag mouth), so that the flatouter surfaces 94e are set so as to be parallel to the surfaces of the bag or to the conveying path. Theplug 94 has a gas discharge opening 94d at the end of thisfirst step portion 94a. - The insertion process of Figure 13 is substantially the same as that of Figures 1 and 2 up to the point where the tip end of the
plug 94 is brought into the bag. Accordingly, only the steps that are taken after the bag has been inserted into the retainer (that corresponds to steps (d) through (g) in Figure 1) are shown in Figure 13. The insertion process of a bag into a retainer in Figure 13 is as follows: - Step (d): The
suction disks plug 94 is lowered with a timing that matches the mouth opening movement of thesuction disks first step 94a of theplug 94 is brought into the opened bag so that theplug 7 is engaged with the mouth. - Step (e): The suction of the
suction disks suction disks bag 1 is caused to return to flat (as far as the thickness of the tip end ofplug 94 that is defined by theflat surfaces 94a) by its own elastic force. As a result, the inclination of both edges of thebag 1 is smaller compared to the bags processed by the steps in Figures 1 and 2. Then, theplug 94 is further lowered, thus lowering thebag 1 toward theretainer 2. Theguide members - Step (f): The downward movement of the
guide members retainer 2, but theplug 94 is lowered even further. Thebag 1, being guided by theguide grooves guide members insertion grooves 9 of theretainer 2. - Step (g): The second stepped portion 94b of the
plug 94 is completely brought into thebag 1, so that the mouth of thebag 1 is opened wider. Next, the inclined surface between the second stepped portion 94b and the third steppedportion 94c (that has the largest diameter among the three stepped portions) comes into contact with the edge of the bag mouth, and a compressed gas is jetted out of the gas discharge opening 94d of theplug 94. As a result, thebag 1 is, for its entirety including the bottom thereof, spread open. In theretainer 2, the center of thebag 1 with respect to its width direction is positioned in the centers of the retainingsection 8 andinsertion grooves 9 of theretainer 2. Accordingly, the center of the retainingsection 8 and the center of thebag 1 coincide with each other even after thebag 1 is spread open, so that tight contact is maintained between the bag surface and the inside circumferential surface of the retainingsection 8. Theguide members -
- In the above embodiment, the tip end of the plug (the first stepped
portion 94a) that is brought into the bag when the bag mouth is opened by the suction disks is in a flattened shape. Accordingly, the bag returns to flat when the suction disks are separated from the bag, allowing less inclination at both edges of the mouth thereof. Accordingly, the bag being processed show less of a tendency to incline to the left and right in the guide members than in the previous example shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which theplug 7 used has no flatouter surfaces 94e and thus not in a flattened shape at its tip end. Accordingly, an even more accurate guidance of the bag is accomplished with the use of theplug 94. - Next, a retainer that is used when the present invention processes self-standing bags will be disclosed.
- First, a description is made about a
bag 1. As shown in Figures 15A and 15B, the lower end of abag 1 is horizontal when thebag 1 is flat. However, when thebag 1 is spread open by gas as shown in Figure 16B to its bottom in the retainer, both edges of the bag are slightly lifted as indicated by arrows in Figure 16B, and the lower ends of thebag 1 is curved when viewed from the side as shown in Figure 16B. As a result, thebag 1 becomes unstable inside the retainer, and the bag may be tilted or may show a positional deviation to the left or right during conveying. - In typical conventional retainers, a drainage hole that has a diameter much smaller than that of the retaining section is formed in the center of the bottom of the retaining section as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. 2000-302106.
- The
retainer 95 shown in Figures 17A and 17B is the same as a conventional retainer in that it has aretaining section 8 andinsertion grooves 9 that extend longitudinally or in the axial direction. However, the feature of theretainer 95 is that theinsertion grooves 9 hasbottoms 9a thus being closed, but theretaining section 8 has no bottom thus being opened. As a result, only the edge portions of the lower end of thebag 1 inserted in theretaining section 8 andinsertion grooves 9 are supported by thebottoms 9a of theinsertion grooves 9, and the curved central portion of the bag is not supported. Accordingly, thebag 1 inside theretainer 2 is set with a higher stability. - The
retainer 96 shown in Figures 18A and 18B is also the same as a conventional retainer. Theretainer 96 has aretaining section 8 andinsertion grooves 9 that extend longitudinally or in the axial direction, and adrainage hole 96a which is slightly smaller than the retainingsection 8 in diameter is formed in the bottom. However, thisretainer 96 is characterized in that the entirebottom surface 96b of the retainingsection 8 andinsertion grooves 9 is curved in a concave shape. It is preferable that this curvature more or less coincide with the lower end curvature of the bag, so that the lower end of thebag 1 is snugly supported. The retainingsection 8 can be formed without a bottom as in theretainer 95 shown in Figures 17A and 17b. - The
retainer 97 shown in Figures 19A and 19b is also the same as a conventional retainer in terms of the longitudinal or axial formation of the retainingsection 8 andinsertion grooves 9. Theretainer 97, however, is characterized in that the bottom of the retainingsection 8 is formed only at the left and right ends, i.e., near theinsertion grooves 9, and no bottom is formed in the central area. This structure is similar to that of theretainer 95 shown in Figures 17A and 17B in terms of structure and function. Also, the entire bottom can be curved in the same manner as in theretainer 96 of Figures 18A and 18B. - In the
above retainers section 8 andinsertion grooves 9 are not tapered; nevertheless, a stable and accurate insertion of bags is assured in the present invention since the positioning of both side edges of each bag is made by guide members, so that the side edges are guided into the retainer. The entry portions of theretainers - As a result of the tapered shape of the entry portions being eliminated or reduced in size, the bag holding function can be improved at the same longitudinal size of the retainer, or the longitudinal size of the retainer can be reduced by an amount equal to the taper with the same bag holding function being maintained. Thus, the retainer can be made more compact and light-weight.
- Furthermore, in the
retainers insertion grooves 9 are closed in all cases (these parts are called the "retainer sides") as typically indicate in Figure 17A by thereference numerals 9b. In a conventional insertion method, these retainer sides are important for preventing tilting and positional deviation since the retainer sides come in contact with both side edges of thebags 1. However, in the insertion method of the present invention, positioning is securely accomplished by the guide members. Accordingly, these retainer sides can be omitted. In other words, the left and right outside portions indicated by arrows in Figures 17A, 18A and 19A can be removed. By doing this, the size of the retainer in the lateral direction is reduced, and the retainer can be more compact and light in weight. - When retainers that have no retainer sides are used, it is advisable to perform the compressed air discharge twice (i.e., to stop or weaken the discharge for a very short period of time during the discharge) or to perform the compressed air discharge with a gradual increase in gas pressure. With such performance of compressed air discharge, bags are self-centered in the retaining
sections 8; and even if bags should tilt or show a positional deviation during insertion into the retainers, defective bags can be prevented. Nonetheless, these compressed air discharging methods are effective for retainers that have retainer sides. - As seen from the above, according to the present invention, bags whose mouths have been opened are inserted into the retaining sections and insertion grooves of retainers without any interference. Furthermore, in the present invention, since the bags are inserted into the centers of the retaining sections and insertion grooves of the retainers, the centers of the retaining sections and the centers of the bags coincide, and the contact between the bags and the inside circumferential surfaces of the retaining sections after the bags have been spread open by gas is improved. As a result, swinging of the bags and splashing out of the liquid contents after the bags have been filled with a liquid can be effectively prevented.
- Furthermore, in the present invention, compact, light weight retainers are used. This is advantageous for increasing the running speed of the bag insertion apparatus and therefore for increasing the running speed of the entire system that involves the bag-filling apparatus.
the bag is positioned in a specified position by way of closing the guide members so that the guide members come into contact with both side edges of the bag,
a mouth of the bag is opened by way of suction-chucking both sides of the mouth of the bag by the suction-chucking members,
the plug is lowered and brought into the mouth of the bag, and
the plug is lowered toward the retainer positioned beneath the plug so that the bag is inserted into the retainer.
Claims (13)
- A method for inserting bags into retainers wherein:mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members, andsaid bag and a retainer positioned beneath said bag are caused to approach each other, thus inserting said bag into said retainer,bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of said bag so that said guide members come into contact with said both side edges, thus positioning said bag with respect to grooves formed in said retainer, andguiding said bag by said guide members into said retainer.
- A method for inserting bags into retainers wherein:a mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members,a plug is caused to be brought into said mouth of said bag, andsaid plug and a retainer positioned beneath said plug are caused to approach each other, thus inserting said bag into said retainer,bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of said bag so that said guide members come into contact with said side edges, thus positioning said bag with respect to grooves formed in said retainer, andguiding said bag by said guide members into said retainer.
- A method for inserting bags into retainers wherein:a mouth of a bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof by suction-chucking members,a plug is caused to be brought into said mouth of said bag, andsaid plug is caused to be lowered toward a retainer that is positioned beneath said plug, thus inserting said bag into said retainer,bringing guide members, which have guide grooves that are oriented in a vertical direction, to both side edges of said bag so that said guide members come into contact with said side edges, thus positioning said bag with respect to grooves formed in said retainer, andguiding said bag by said guide members into said retainer.
- The method for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of Claims 1 through 3, wherein said guide members, which face each other while opening to an extent that is greater than a width of said bag, are caused to approach and contact both side edges of said bag in a horizontal direction.
- The method for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of Claims 1 through 4, wherein
said bag is lowered toward said retainer that is positioned below said bag, and
upon said bag is thus lowered, said guide members are lowered to a point immediately above said retainer. - The method for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of Claims 1 through 5, wherein said mouth of said bag is opened after said bag is positioned by said guide members with respect to said grooves formed in said retainer.
- The method for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of Claims 1 through 6, wherein said bag that is positioned and said retainer are conveyed at a constant speed with said bag and said retainer being vertically aligned.
- An apparatus for inserting bags into retainers, said apparatus comprising:guide members which have guide grooves oriented in a vertical direction and are opened and closed,suction-chucking members which are moved toward and away from each other so that said suction-chucking members open a mouth of a bag, which is positioned by said guide members, by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof,a vertically movable plug which is brought into said mouth that is opened by said suction-chucking members, anda retainer positioning member that positions a retainer beneath said guide members, whereinsaid bag is caused to be positioned in a specified position by way of closing said guide members so that said guide members come into contact with both side edges of said bag,a mouth of said bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking both sides of said mouth of said bag by said suction-chucking members,said plug is lowered and brought into said mouth of said bag, andsaid plug is lowered toward said retainer positioned beneath said plug so that said bag is inserted into said retainer.
- The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to Claim 8, wherein
a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies each comprising said guide members, suction-chucking members and plug are continuously conveyed over an annular path at a constant speed and uniform intervals,
a plurality of retainers are conveyed over a specified path at a same speed and same intervals as said insertion assemblies, and
said retainers and bags are conveyed, in at least a part of said specified path, with said retainers and bags being aligned vertically. - An apparatus for inserting bags into retainers in which said apparatus is a rotary type bag insertion apparatus that receives a supply of bags and retainers, inserts said bags into said retainers and then discharges said bags together with said retainers, said apparatus comprising:a plurality of sets of insertion assemblies which are disposed at equal intervals around a circumference of a continuously rotating rotor, each of said insertion assemblies comprising:guide members which have guide grooves oriented in a vertical direction and are opened and closed,suction-chucking members which are moved toward and away from each other so that said suction-chucking members open a mouth of a bag, which is positioned by said guide members, by way of suction-chucking said mouth from both sides thereof,a vertically movable plug which is brought into said mouth that is opened by said suction-chucking members, anda retainer positioning member that positions a retainer beneath said guide members,
said bag is caused to be positioned in a specified position by way of closing said guide members so that said guide members come into contact with both side edges of said bag,
a mouth of said bag is caused to open by way of suction-chucking both sides of said mouth of said bag by said suction-chucking members,
said plug is lowered and brought into said mouth of said bag, and
said plug is lowered toward said retainer positioned beneath said plug so that said bag is inserted into said retainer. - The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to Claim 10, further comprising a receiving stand which supports a lower end of said bag and is disposed along a track of revolution of said guide members, said receiving stand extending from at least a bag supply position to a plug insertion position on a circumference of a rotor beneath said guide members.
- The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of Claims 8 through 11, wherein said guide members are raised and lowered; and when said plug is lowered further after said plug is lowered so as to be brought into said bag, said guide members are lowered together with said plug.
- The apparatus for inserting bags into retainers according to any one of Claims 8 through 12, wherein said plug is provided with a gas discharge opening.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2001096221A JP2002293306A (en) | 2001-03-29 | 2001-03-29 | Method and apparatus for inserting a bag into a retainer |
JP2001096221 | 2001-03-29 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1245492A1 true EP1245492A1 (en) | 2002-10-02 |
Family
ID=18950163
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP02007135A Withdrawn EP1245492A1 (en) | 2001-03-29 | 2002-03-28 | Method and apparatus for inserting bags into retainers |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20020170276A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1245492A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2002293306A (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP1770018A1 (en) * | 2005-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. | Bag-filling packaging machine |
EP1862389A1 (en) * | 2006-06-02 | 2007-12-05 | Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. | Apparatus and method for disengaging mating zipper elements of packaging bag with zipper |
CN109204953A (en) * | 2017-06-30 | 2019-01-15 | 杭州威士德灵智科技有限公司 | A kind of automatic slash pocket machine |
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DE102011012879A1 (en) * | 2011-03-02 | 2012-09-06 | Haver & Boecker Ohg | Apparatus and method for filling valve bags with pourable goods |
ES2422831B1 (en) * | 2012-03-09 | 2014-07-01 | Bossar Packaging, S.A. | Preformed bag feeder for packaging machines |
JP6371746B2 (en) * | 2015-09-16 | 2018-08-08 | 株式会社田中衡機工業所 | Grain pack body manufacturing apparatus and grain pack body manufacturing method |
CN107662726B (en) * | 2016-07-28 | 2024-03-22 | 福建鑫天宏电子科技有限公司 | Tea packaging machine |
CN111392124B (en) * | 2020-04-08 | 2024-05-31 | 泉州市友茗机械设备有限公司 | Pure electric intelligent vacuum shaping packaging machine for high-capacity materials |
WO2022230555A1 (en) * | 2021-04-28 | 2022-11-03 | 株式会社トクヤマ | Jig and method for manufacturing boxed body of polycrystalline silicon |
US20240199258A1 (en) * | 2021-04-28 | 2024-06-20 | Tokuyama Corporation | Jig and method for manufacturing boxed body of polycrystalline silicon |
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JP2000042630A (en) | 1998-07-31 | 2000-02-15 | Miyazaki Iron Works Ltd | Downward receiving type wire rod winder |
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EP1035022A1 (en) * | 1999-03-11 | 2000-09-13 | Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. | Continuous container supply device in continuous-filling packaging system and continuous-filling packaging system |
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-
2001
- 2001-03-29 JP JP2001096221A patent/JP2002293306A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2002
- 2002-03-28 EP EP02007135A patent/EP1245492A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-03-28 US US10/112,565 patent/US20020170276A1/en not_active Abandoned
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GB749897A (en) * | 1953-01-05 | 1956-06-06 | Hesser Ag Maschf | Improvements relating to bag-filling and bag-closing machines |
US4473989A (en) * | 1980-10-17 | 1984-10-02 | Toyo Seikan Kaisha, Ltd. | Method, a line and a pouch supporting base for automatically filling up and sealing pouches at high speed |
JP2000042630A (en) | 1998-07-31 | 2000-02-15 | Miyazaki Iron Works Ltd | Downward receiving type wire rod winder |
JP2000142630A (en) * | 1998-11-10 | 2000-05-23 | Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd | Supplying apparatus for bag-like container |
JP2000302106A (en) | 1999-02-15 | 2000-10-31 | Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd | Retainer for self-supporting packaging bag to be fed into bagging and packaging machine |
EP1035022A1 (en) * | 1999-03-11 | 2000-09-13 | Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. | Continuous container supply device in continuous-filling packaging system and continuous-filling packaging system |
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EP1770018A1 (en) * | 2005-10-03 | 2007-04-04 | Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. | Bag-filling packaging machine |
EP1862389A1 (en) * | 2006-06-02 | 2007-12-05 | Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. | Apparatus and method for disengaging mating zipper elements of packaging bag with zipper |
CN109204953A (en) * | 2017-06-30 | 2019-01-15 | 杭州威士德灵智科技有限公司 | A kind of automatic slash pocket machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2002293306A (en) | 2002-10-09 |
US20020170276A1 (en) | 2002-11-21 |
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