US20070204570A1 - Bag filling and packaging method and bag filling and packaging apparatus - Google Patents

Bag filling and packaging method and bag filling and packaging apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
US20070204570A1
US20070204570A1 US11/713,982 US71398207A US2007204570A1 US 20070204570 A1 US20070204570 A1 US 20070204570A1 US 71398207 A US71398207 A US 71398207A US 2007204570 A1 US2007204570 A1 US 2007204570A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
bag
gripper
distance
grippers
pair
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Abandoned
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US11/713,982
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English (en)
Inventor
Hiroyuki Okazaki
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd
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Toyo Jidoki Co Ltd
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Assigned to TOYO JIDOKI CO., LTD. reassignment TOYO JIDOKI CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: OKAZAKI, HIROYUKI
Publication of US20070204570A1 publication Critical patent/US20070204570A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65B43/46—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 grippers
    • B65B43/465—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 grippers for bags
    • 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
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/14—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B65B43/22—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines by rollers
    • 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
    • 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
    • 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
    • B65B43/60—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation rotatable
    • 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
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/003—Arrangements to enable adjustments related to the packaging material
    • 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
    • B65B59/00—Arrangements to enable machines to handle articles of different sizes, to produce packages of different sizes, to vary the contents of packages, to handle different types of packaging material, or to give access for cleaning or maintenance purposes
    • B65B59/02—Arrangements to enable adjustments to be made while the machine is running
    • 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
    • B65B1/00—Packaging fluent solid material, e.g. powders, granular or loose fibrous material, loose masses of small articles, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B1/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B65B1/06—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by gravity flow
    • 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
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B65B3/06—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by gravity flow

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a bag filling and packaging apparatus including a plurality of gripper pairs, which are provided at equal distance about a carrying member (table or chain) that rotates continuously or intermittently along a circular path, for gripping both (left and right) side edges of a bag, wherein bags are supplied to the gripper pairs while the carrying member makes one revolution, and the bags gripped by the gripper pairs are sequentially subjected to such packaging processes as bag mouth opening, contents charging, and bag mouth sealing.
  • a carrying member table or chain
  • a typical bag filling and packaging apparatus includes a table that has a plurality of gripper pairs provided about the circumference and rotates intermittently; and in this bag filling and packaging apparatus, various packaging processes are sequentially performed at various stop positions. Such processes include supplying of bags to the gripper pairs, printing on the bag surface(s) gripped by a gripper pair, bag mouth opening, contents charging, air removal or gas exchange, and bag mouth sealing.
  • the degree of opening (or the distance) in the grippers of each one of the gripper pairs varies within some range.
  • a distance X 0 (see FIG. 11 ) between two grippers is effected which is slightly narrower (smaller) than the widest distance; in the printing process, the widest distance X 0 + ⁇ is effected between two grippers; in the mouth opening process and charging process, the two grippers making the gripper pair are moved closer to each other and the distance in between is made narrowed to be X 0 ⁇ ; and, thereafter, the widest distance which is X 0 + ⁇ is again effected for the two grippers.
  • ⁇ is generally a small positive number and is smaller than ⁇ ( ⁇ ).
  • the distance between the two grippers of the gripper pair is widened so that tensions are applied to the bag mouth to effect a condition of no looseness or wrinkle in the bag.
  • the gripper pair is (or the two grippers thereof are) moved closer to each other, narrowing the distance so as to open the bag mouth.
  • the distance between the grippers is set slightly narrower in the bag supply process, because, generally, the bags supplied to the gripper pair in the bag supply process are slightly loose and not in a condition that they are tensioned tightly in the width direction.
  • a full-circumference cam for adjusting the distance between two grippers of a gripper pair is provided, with its cam face oriented upward, about the circumference of the rotary shaft of the table so as to be ascendable and descendable.
  • the full-circumference cam rotates together with the table when the table rotates, and it rotates backward to its original position when the table stops.
  • a spring is provided for each gripper pair so that the spring urges two grippers of the gripper pair in a direction that narrows the distance between the grippers.
  • a transmission mechanism having a roller at its end is provided for each gripper pair.
  • the roller is pushed against the cam surface by the urging force of the spring and rotates on the cam surface when the cam makes the backward rotation.
  • the distance between the grippers is set, against the urging force of the springs, to be a distance that accords with the height of the cam surface in the sequence of X 0 (slightly narrower (smaller) than largest distance) ⁇ X 0 + ⁇ (largest distance) ⁇ X 0 ⁇ (narrower (smaller) than the largest distance) ⁇ X 0 + ⁇ (largest distance).
  • the height of the gripper distance setting cam is adjustable, so that, when the bag size (bag width) varies, the cam height is adjusted accordingly, and the distance between the grippers is changed to one that corresponds to the bag width to be worked.
  • the numerical value of this bag width is generally the width of the bag mouth when the bag is substantially flat (such is called a “nominal value” of bag width in the present invention), and the distance between grippers for each process is set on the basis of this nominal value. In the present invention, the distance between grippers set on the basis of the nominal value is called a “reference value.”
  • the distance between grippers (reference value) set for a particular bag width is generally not changed so long as bags having such a bag width are processed.
  • the bag width of the bags when they are actually supplied to the gripper pairs, takes substantially the nominal value.
  • the apparent bag width (the bag width measured without correcting the warping or distortion) is narrower than the actual width, even if the nominal value of the bag width is the same, and there are differences in apparent bag widths.
  • FIG. 11 shows a gripper pair stopped at a bag supply position.
  • the reference numeral 1 is a table that rotates intermittently, and a pair of grippers 2 and 3 are supported by pins 4 so that they pivot horizontally.
  • the reference numerals 5 are chucks for holding bags, and 6 refers to a spring that urges the pair of grippers 2 and 3 inwardly (or urges toward each other).
  • a latching pin 7 secured to the back end of the gripper 2 mates in a long hole 8 formed in the back end of the gripper 3 , so that two (or the pair of) grippers 2 and 3 pivot simultaneously. This structure is known conventionally.
  • a bag 9 (a bag prior to being gripped is referred to by 9 a ) is supplied by a bag feeder (not shown) to the chucks 5 and 5 that are open as indicated by dashed lines, and the bag 9 is gripped by the chucks 5 and 5 as shown by solid lines.
  • the bag mouth of the bag 9 a is flat, and its bag width is W 0 (identical with the nominal value); and thus the bag is gripped by the chucks 5 and 5 , keeping the bag width W 0 “as is.”
  • the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 in this process is set to be the reference value X 0 , and thus the amount S 0 of the part gripped is basically W 0 ⁇ X 0 )/2.
  • FIG. 12 shows the manner of gripping for the case where warping or distortion exists in the bag 9 (the bag prior to being gripped is referred to by 9 a ) supplied to the pair of grippers 2 and 3 for which the bag width for the bag supply process is set to be the same reference value X 0 .
  • the apparent bag width W of the bag 9 a having warping or distortion is equal to or below the nominal value W 0 , and the bag 9 a is gripped by the chucks 5 and 5 keeping the bag width W; accordingly, in this case, the amount S of the part gripped which are at side edges of the bag is smaller (S ⁇ S 0 ).
  • the object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems with the conventional art conventional art, and the present invention provides a bag filling and packaging method and apparatus which is free of the problems of the conventional art, even in cases that bags having warping or distortion in the bag surfaces and having bag width of below the nominal value are involved.
  • the present invention is for a bag filling and packaging method and apparatus in which a plurality of gripper pairs, for gripping the left and right side edges of bags, are provided at equal distance about a carrying member that rotates continuously or intermittently along a circular path, and while the carrying member makes one revolution, bags are supplied to the gripper pairs, the bags gripped by the gripper pairs are subjected sequentially to such packaging processes as bag mouth opening, contents charging, and bag mouth sealing; and the present invention can be categorized into four: a bag filling and packaging method ( 1 ) and apparatus ( 2 ) that maintains the amount of part gripped by a gripper pair at bag side edges constant, and a bag filling and packaging method ( 3 ) and apparatus ( 4 ) that, when the distance of two grippers (of a gripper pair) is widened and the bag mouth is thus tensioned, maintains the degree of tension in the bags constant.
  • the above described bag filling and packaging method ( 1 ) that maintains the amount of part gripped by a gripper pair at bag side edges constant is characterized in that the apparent bag width of each one of the bags supplied to a gripper pair in the bag supply process is measured prior to the gripping action on the bag by a gripper pair; the distance between two grippers (of the gripper pair) when the gripper pair grips the two side edges of a bag is adjusted according to the measured value; so that the amount of part gripped by grippers at the side edges of a bag is constant for all the bags to be processed.
  • a reference value is set for the distance between the grippers for each one of the processes; and the distance between the grippers, when the gripper pair grips the two side edges of a bag in a bag supplying process, is set to be adjustable to a size equal to or below the reference value.
  • the above-described bag filling and packaging apparatus ( 2 ) that executes the method ( 1 ) described above is characterized in that
  • the bag filling and packaging method ( 3 ) that, when the distance of a gripper pair is widened and the bag mouth is thus tensioned, maintains the degree of tension constant is characterized in that the apparent bag width of each one of the bags is measured and the distance between grippers of a gripper pair is adjusted, according to the measured value, when, in one or more processes after the bag supplying process, the distance between the grippers is widened to be greater than the distance of grippers in the bag supplying process so that the degree of bag tension at that time is constant for all of the bags.
  • the apparent bag width can be measured any time so long as it is a timing wherein the apparent bag width for individual bags can be properly measured.
  • a timing is, for example, before a bag supplied to a gripper pair in the bag supply process is gripped or after it is gripped, or prior to widening the gripper distance in a process (the printing process, for example) following the bag supply process, or, if the gripper distance is maintained without widening it in the process following the bag supply process, then the time period of such process.
  • timing is a time period extending from prior to a bag being supplied to a gripper pair until the space distance of a gripper pair gripping a bag is changed from the initial distance (the point in time when the bag is gripped in the bag supply process).
  • a reference value based on the nominal bag width value, is set for a distance between grippers corresponding to each one of the packaging processes, and a distance between grippers of the gripper pair in one or more processes, for which a reference value greater than the reference value in the bag supplying process is set, is able to be set to be the size equal to or greater than the reference value in the one or more processes; and the apparent bag width of each one of the bags is measured, and a distance between grippers of the gripper pair is adjusted, according to the measured value of the apparent bag width in the one or more processes after the bag supplying process, to a size equal to or greater than the reference value in the one or more processes, so that the degree of bag tension in the one or more processes after the bag supplying process is constant for all of bags.
  • the above-described bag filling and packaging apparatus ( 4 ) is an apparatus that executes the above-described method ( 3 ); and this bag filling and packaging apparatus ( 4 ) is characterized in that
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag filling and packaging apparatus according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 shows in cross section the gripper distance setting cam and a gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam, as well as a drive means for the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam in the bag filling and packaging apparatus of the present invention
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevation thereof
  • FIG. 4 shows in cross section the gripper distance adjusting mechanism in the bag filling and packaging apparatus of the present invention
  • FIG. 5 is an expanded diagram of the gripper distance setting cam and gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 showing also the positions of various processes;
  • FIG. 6 is an expanded diagram of the gripper distance setting cam and gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam according to the first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 showing also the positions of various processes;
  • FIG. 7 is a top view showing the distance between grippers (in a bag supply process) according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is an expanded diagram of the gripper distance setting cam and gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 showing also the positions of various processes;
  • FIG. 9 is an expanded diagram of the gripper distance setting cam and gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam according to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 showing also the positions of various processes;
  • FIG. 10 is a top view showing the distance between grippers (in a steam blowing process) according to the second embodiment of the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 illustrates, using a top view of a gripper pair, problems, in a conventional bag filling and packaging apparatus, when the apparent bag width of a bag differs from a nominal value
  • FIG. 12 illustrates, using a top view of a gripper pair, problems, in a conventional bag filling and packaging apparatus, when the apparent bag width of a bag differs from a nominal value
  • FIG. 13 is an expanded diagram of a gripper distance setting cam and gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam of a conventional bag filling and packaging apparatus, FIG. 13 showing also the positions of various processes.
  • a plurality of pairs of grippers 2 and 3 (only the chucks 5 and 5 thereof being shown in FIG. 1 ) for gripping the left and right side edges of each one of the bags 9 and suspending such bags are provided at equal distance along the circumference of a table 1 that intermittently or continuously rotates (in the rotating direction being shown by arrow).
  • a conveyor magazine type bag feeder 11 is provided at position A
  • a printer (not shown) is provided at position B
  • a bag mouth opening device (only a pair of suction plates 12 thereof being shown)
  • a guide device (only guide members 13 thereof being shown) for holding the bag mouth in an opened state are provided at position C.
  • a solid material feeder (only a hopper 14 thereof being shown) is provided at position D
  • a liquid material feeder (only a charging nozzle 15 thereof being shown) is provided at position E
  • a steam blower (only a blower nozzle 16 thereof being shown) is provided at position F.
  • a bag mouth initial sealing device (only hot plates 17 thereof being shown) is provided at position G
  • a bag mouth second sealing device (only hot plates 18 thereof being shown) is provided at position H
  • a cool sealing device (only cooling plates 19 thereof being shown) and a product discharge chute 21 are provided at position I. Defective bags are discharged at position J.
  • a bag 9 is supplied from the conveyor magazine type bag feeder 11 to a pair of grippers 2 and 3 (chucks 5 ), which are not in motion, so that the bag 9 is chuck-held by the grippers 2 and 3 having the bag 9 , and, at position B after the grippers 2 and 3 (chucks 5 ) have moved thereto, printing is done on the bag surface of the bag 9 by a printer (not shown).
  • the bag 9 is opened by the pair of suction plates 12 .
  • the guide members 13 that until then were in an upper (raised) position (withdrawn position) pivot down and enter the bag 9 .
  • the guide members 13 are then moved in mutually opposite directions or in substantially the radial direction of the table 1 , so that the opened state of the bag mouth opened by the pair of suction plates 12 is maintained.
  • the suction of the pair of suction plates 12 is stopped, and the suction plates 12 are withdrawn from the bag surface of the bag 9 .
  • the guide members 13 When the table 1 , next, rotates, the guide members 13 also rotate to follow the rotation of the table 1 , thus moving to position D.
  • a hopper 14 descends from above toward the bag mouth held in the opened state by the guide members 13 , the lower end of the hopper 14 is brought into the bag mouth, solid material 22 is then introduced into the hopper 14 , and the interior of the bag 9 is charged with the solid material 22 .
  • the guide members 13 ascend, being pulled out of the bag 9 , and make a rotational movement back to position C for the next bag.
  • a charging nozzle 15 is inserted into the bag mouth of the bag 9 , steam is blown into the bag interior, and the air inside the bag 9 is replaced therewith.
  • bag mouth sealing is performed by the hot plates 17 at position G and by the hot plates 18 at position H.
  • the sealed bag mouth is cooled by cooling plates 19 .
  • the finished bag 9 A is released from the pair of grippers 2 and 3 , dropped onto the product discharge chute 21 , and discharged out from the packaging apparatus.
  • a hub 23 is provided to stand on a machine base (not shown), a follower shaft 24 is provided in the hub 23 so that the follower shaft 24 rotates on the inner circumferential side of the hub 23 .
  • a rotary shaft 25 for rotating the table 1 is provided in the follower shaft 24 so that the rotary shaft 25 rotates relative to the follower shaft 24 on the inner circumferential side of the follower shaft 24 .
  • a cam receiver 26 On the outer circumference of the follower shaft 24 , a cam receiver 26 is attached so that it can freely slide, only in the up-and-down direction, by a rotating-prevention key 27 .
  • a gripper distance setting cam 28 On the outer circumferential side of the cam receiver 26 , a gripper distance setting cam 28 is secured; and, at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction of the gripper distance setting cam 28 , a gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 is provided so that it is movable up and down in a vertical direction.
  • the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 is driven so as to ascend and descend along guide rods 30 erected on the cam receiver 26 by a servo motor 31 , which is secured to the cam receiver 26 , and by a threaded shaft 32 , which is secured to the rotary shaft of the servo motor 31 and is screwed into a base 29 a of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 .
  • the cam receiver 26 can ascend and descend by an elevator means (not shown).
  • the follower shaft 24 (and the gripper distance setting cam 28 attached to the follower shaft 24 and the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 as well) rotates to follow the rotation of the table 1 , and it rotates backward to its original position when the table 1 is stopped.
  • a transmission mechanism 33 is provided for each pair of grippers 2 and 3 (see FIG. 4 ).
  • This transmission mechanism 33 is comprised of, similar to that of the above-described Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. H09-95318, an L-shaped lever 34 and rollers 35 and 36 .
  • the L-shaped lever 34 is axially supported at its bent part in the table 1 , and the rollers 35 and 36 are attached to the upper and lower ends thereof, respectively.
  • the roller 35 is in contact with a tail end 2 a of the gripper 2 (see FIG. 11 ), while the roller 36 rolls along the cam surfaces of the gripper distance setting cam 28 and gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 .
  • the conventional gripper distance setting cam 28 A similar to the gripper distance setting cam 28 of the present invention, is secured to a cam receiver 26 that is attached, so as to ascend and descend, to a follower shaft 24 provided on the circumference of the rotary shaft 25 of a table 1 ; and it rotates so as to follow the rotation of and together with the table 1 and rotates backward to its original position when the table 1 stops.
  • the height of the gripper distance setting cam 28 A is set on the basis of the width of the bag processed.
  • FIG. 13 shows the gripper distance setting cam 28 A extended, and it also shows the position of the roller 36 at each one of the above-described processes A to J.
  • FIG. 13 the positions of the gripper distance setting cam 28 A and roller 36 when the rotation of the rotary shaft 25 of the table 1 has just stopped and the roller 36 has stopped simultaneously are shown in (a); and in (b), the positions of the gripper distance setting cam 28 A and roller 36 when, continued from (a), the follower shaft 24 has rotated backward are shown.
  • the gripper distance setting cam 28 A has a slightly lower recess (first or shallow recess) 28 Aa and a much lower recess (second or deep recess) 28 Ab.
  • the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is X 0 + ⁇ (see the description in above “Background of the Invention”). Then, when the gripper distance setting cam 28 A rotates backward, the roller 36 rolls into the first (shallow) recess 28 Aa, and the distance between the pair of grippers 2 and 3 , as a result, becomes X 0 ; and, at this point in time, a bag is supplied to the pair of grippers 2 and 3 and held thereby.
  • the table 1 rotates, and when the pair of grippers 2 and 3 stop at the printing process position B, the distance between the pair of grippers 2 and 3 is still X 0 ; however, when the gripper distance setting cam 28 A then rotates backward, the roller 36 comes out of the first (shallow) recess 28 Aa, and the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 becomes X 0 + ⁇ , so that the bag gripped by the pair of grippers 2 and 3 attains a tensioned condition and the bag mouth is pulled tight.
  • the table 1 further rotates, and when the pair of grippers 2 and 3 stop at the bag mouth opening process position C, the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is still X 0 + ⁇ ; however, when the gripper distance setting cam 28 A rotates backward, the roller 36 rolls into the second (deep) recess 28 Ab. As a result, the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 narrows to be X 0 ⁇ , and the bag gripped by the pair of grippers 2 and 3 attains a condition that the bag mouth is loose.
  • the distance X 0 ⁇ is kept up to position E, and then the distance becomes to be X 0 + ⁇ at position F, and the distance X 0 + ⁇ is kept up to position J.
  • this distance is basically not changed so long as those (same size) bags continue to be processed. Accordingly, in the present invention, this distance is called the “reference value.”
  • the gripper distance setting cam 28 and the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 which is provided at predetermined positions in the circumferential direction of the gripper distance setting cam 28 so as to be ascendable and descendable relative to the gripper distance setting cam 28 , employed in the bag filling and packaging apparatus of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7 and FIGS. 1 to 4 .
  • the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is set by the gripper distance setting cam 28 so as to be the reference value based on the nominal value of the bag width.
  • the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is adjusted, by the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 and drive means therefor, to an appropriate value equal to or below the reference value according to the apparent bag width (measured value) measured bag by bag.
  • a camera 38 is provided at the bag supply process position A.
  • This camera 38 detects, one bag at a time, the apparent bag width of the bags 9 that are suction-held by the bag-feeding suction device 37 of the bag feeder 11 and supplied to the pair of grippers 2 and 3 .
  • An image captured by the camera 38 is sent to a controller 39 (see FIG. 4 ), and the apparent bag width is measured by way of image processing.
  • the controller 39 controls the drive of the servo motor 31 pursuant to this measured value, so that the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 is made to ascend or descend, and the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is adjusted (widened or narrowed) to be an appropriate value.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 shows the expanded gripper distance setting cam 28 and gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 , as well as showing the positions of the roller 36 in the various process positions.
  • the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 is positioned at the bag supply process position A (and reciprocates between the positions A and B).
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively, (a) shows the positions of the two cams 28 and 29 and the roller 36 when the rotation of the rotary shaft 25 of the table 1 has just stopped and the roller 36 has also stopped simultaneously; and (b), continued from (a), shows the positions of the two cams 28 and 29 and the roller 36 when the follower shaft 24 has rotated backward.
  • the roller 36 is positioned on the gripper distance setting cam 28 ; however, in the bag supply process (position A), the roller 36 is positioned on the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 . As shown in FIGS.
  • the gripper distance setting cam 28 has a lower recess (first or shallow recess) 28 a and a much lower recess (second or deep recess) 28 b .
  • the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 is provided in parallel at the position of the recess 28 a . Compared to the recesses 28 Aa and 28 Ab of the gripper distance setting cam 28 A (see FIG.
  • the first (or shallow) recess 28 a of the gripper distance setting cam 28 is considerably deeper than the first (or shallow) recess 28 Aa of the gripper distance setting cam 28 A, and the second (or deep) recess 28 b of the gripper distance setting cam 28 is formed to have the same depth as the second (or deep) recess 28 Ab of the gripper distance setting cam 28 A.
  • the nominal value of the bag width of the bags 9 is W 0
  • the amount of part gripped by the pair of grippers 2 and 3 is set to be S 0 (so that it is constant for any and all bags)
  • the reference value for the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 in the bag supply process is set to be X 0 .
  • X 0 W 0 ⁇ 2S 0 .
  • FIG. 5 shows this situation, in which the height of the cam surface of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 is the same height as the first (shallow) recess 28 Aa in FIG. 13 .
  • the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 must be adjusted to be X 0 ⁇ (W 0 ⁇ W), narrower than the reference value X 0 .
  • Dashed lines in FIG. 7 indicate the positions of the grippers 2 and 3 when the grippers 2 and 3 are opened (moved away from each other) to the reference value X 0 .
  • the controller 39 controls the servo motor 31 , based on the measured value, to adjust the height of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 , making adjustment so that the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 becomes X 0 ⁇ (W 0 ⁇ W).
  • This condition is shown in FIG. 6 .
  • the height of the cam surface of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 is slightly lower than the height of the cam surface of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 shown in FIG. 5 .
  • the bags can always be gripped with the same (gripped) amount S 0 .
  • a gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 is provided so as to be movable up and down in a configuration similar to the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 in FIGS. 5 and 6 .
  • the position where the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 is provided differs from that of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 .
  • the drive mechanism for moving the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 up and down is the same as that for the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 . Accordingly, if, in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 29 is replaced by the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 , FIGS. 2 to 4 can be referred to in describing the second embodiment.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 show the expanded gripper distance setting cam 28 and gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 , wherein the positions of the roller 36 at the various process positions are shown as well.
  • the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 is provided at the first sealing process position G (and reciprocates between the position G and position H).
  • the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is set to be the reference value based on the nominal value W 0 for the bag width; and in the first sealing process at position G, the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is adjusted, by the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 and the drive means therefor, to an appropriate value equal to or greater than the reference value, one bag at a time, according to the apparent bag width W (measured value) measured for each bag.
  • FIGS. 8 and 9 respectively, the positions of the two cams 28 and 41 and the roller 36 when the rotation of the rotary shaft 25 of the table 1 has just stopped and the roller 36 has stopped simultaneously are shown in (a), and, in (b), the positions of the two cams 28 and 41 and the roller 36 when, continued from (a), the follower shaft 24 has rotated backward are shown.
  • the roller 36 is positioned on the gripper distance setting cam 28 ; however, in the first sealing process (position G), the roller 36 is on the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 .
  • the shape of the gripper distance setting cam 28 is the same as that of the conventional gripper distance setting cam 28 A.
  • the nominal value of the bag width of the bags 9 is set to be W 0
  • the reference value for the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 in the bag supply process is set to be X 0
  • the amount of part gripped by the pair of grippers 2 and 3 when the apparent bag width W of the bag 9 coincides with the nominal value W 0 is set to be S 0
  • the reference value for the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 in the first sealing process is set to be X 0 + ⁇ .
  • X 0 W 0 ⁇ 2 S 0 .
  • the controller 39 controls the servo motor 31 to adjust the height of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 , so that the cam surface of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 coincides with the cam surface of the gripper distance setting cam 28 , thus making adjustment that the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 becomes the reference value X 0 + ⁇ .
  • This situation is shown in FIG. 8 .
  • the controller 39 controls the servo motor 31 based on the above-described measured value and adjusts the height of the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 so that the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is X 0 + ⁇ +(W 0 ⁇ W) as indicated by the solid lines in FIG. 10 .
  • FIG. 9 shows the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 after this height adjustment is completed.
  • the roller 36 rides on the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 from the gripper distance setting cam 28 , and the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 is adjusted so as to be the above-described appropriate value.
  • the camera 38 detects the apparent bag width W of the bag 9 before this bag is suction-held by the bag-feeding suction device 37 of the bag feeder 11 and supplied to and gripped by the pair of grippers 2 and 3 .
  • this detection by the camera can be done after the bag is supplied to and gripped by the pair of grippers 2 and 3 .
  • Such detection can also be done, furthermore, immediately after the pair of grippers 2 and 3 stop at position B (prior to when the gripper distance setting cam 28 and the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 make the backward rotations and the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 widens).
  • the detection means is not limited to a camera, and a laser sensor or the like, for example, can be used instead.
  • the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 is used for adjusting the distance between the grippers 2 and 3 in the first sealing process.
  • the gripper distance adjustment auxiliary cam 41 can also be used for other processes where it is preferable to apply tensions to the bag mouth uniformly and sufficiently, such other processes, for example, being a steam blowing process, a second sealing process, and a cool sealing process; and it can also be used, respectively, to two or more processes, such as a first sealing process and a second sealing process, for example.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
US11/713,982 2006-03-06 2007-03-05 Bag filling and packaging method and bag filling and packaging apparatus Abandoned US20070204570A1 (en)

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JP2006-60123 2006-03-06
JP2006060123 2006-03-06
JP2006322936A JP2007269401A (ja) 2006-03-06 2006-11-30 袋詰め包装方法及び袋詰め包装機
JP2006-322936 2006-11-30

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US20110030319A1 (en) * 2009-08-10 2011-02-10 O'malley Martin Machine
US20110138751A1 (en) * 2009-12-11 2011-06-16 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Bag Filling and Packaging Method and Bag Filling and Packaging Apparatus
US20120289391A1 (en) * 2011-05-12 2012-11-15 SN Maschinenbau, GmbH Apparatus for simultaneously separating a plurality of pouches, transferring the pouches and method of same
US20130160400A1 (en) * 2011-12-23 2013-06-27 Alfa Laval Parma S.R.L. Aseptic filling machine
US20140083560A1 (en) * 2011-05-09 2014-03-27 Haver & Boecker Ohg Rotatable packaging machine, and method for filling open bags
US20140083559A1 (en) * 2011-05-09 2014-03-27 Haver & Boecker Ohg Rotatable packing machine and method for filling open bags
WO2014121429A1 (zh) * 2013-02-05 2014-08-14 Lv Nanming 全自动包装袋灌装封装装置
US20150033677A1 (en) * 2012-02-20 2015-02-05 Bühler AG Apparatus and Method for Packing Bulk Material into a Container
CN106184909A (zh) * 2016-07-18 2016-12-07 蚌埠市众邦包装厂 一种全自动多功能块状产品包装设备
US10414530B2 (en) 2011-02-18 2019-09-17 SN Maschinenbau GmbH Method for the two stage filling of flexible pouches
CN111038802A (zh) * 2019-12-31 2020-04-21 合肥浩普智能装备科技有限公司 一种机器人式的智能柔性包装机
US20210292021A1 (en) * 2020-03-18 2021-09-23 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Bag supply method and bag supply apparatus
US11420779B2 (en) 2017-04-05 2022-08-23 General Packer Co., Ltd. Packaging method used in bag-feeding and packaging apparatus, and the bag-feeding and packaging apparatus
WO2023275364A1 (de) * 2021-07-02 2023-01-05 Hdg-Verpackungsmaschinen Gmbh Verpackungsbeutelaufnahmevorrichtung für eine verpackungsmaschine, verpackungsmaschine und verfahren

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JP5669585B2 (ja) * 2011-01-05 2015-02-12 株式会社古川製作所 テトラ包装袋用包装機
JP5718766B2 (ja) * 2011-08-12 2015-05-13 東洋自動機株式会社 被包装物充填装置及び方法
JP6847539B2 (ja) * 2017-05-24 2021-03-24 東洋自動機株式会社 固形物が充填された袋の供給方法及び装置
JP6983715B2 (ja) * 2018-04-20 2021-12-17 Ｐａｃｒａｆｔ株式会社 袋詰め包装機及び袋詰め包装方法
JP7223309B2 (ja) * 2018-06-13 2023-02-16 大日本印刷株式会社 印刷装置、印刷充填装置、印刷方法および包装袋
JP7154156B2 (ja) * 2019-02-28 2022-10-17 Ｐａｃｒａｆｔ株式会社 袋搬送方法及び袋処理システム
IT201900006691A1 (it) * 2019-05-09 2020-11-09 G F S P A Metodo e apparato di ispezione di una sacca per fluidi
KR102129025B1 (ko) * 2019-11-29 2020-07-01 주식회사 농우 즉석 식품 제조 시스템 및 이를 이용해 제조된 즉석 식품

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20110030319A1 (en) * 2009-08-10 2011-02-10 O'malley Martin Machine
US20110138751A1 (en) * 2009-12-11 2011-06-16 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Bag Filling and Packaging Method and Bag Filling and Packaging Apparatus
US10414530B2 (en) 2011-02-18 2019-09-17 SN Maschinenbau GmbH Method for the two stage filling of flexible pouches
US9352860B2 (en) * 2011-05-09 2016-05-31 Haver & Boecker Ohg Rotatable packaging machine, and method for filling open bags
US20140083560A1 (en) * 2011-05-09 2014-03-27 Haver & Boecker Ohg Rotatable packaging machine, and method for filling open bags
US20140083559A1 (en) * 2011-05-09 2014-03-27 Haver & Boecker Ohg Rotatable packing machine and method for filling open bags
US9346568B2 (en) * 2011-05-09 2016-05-24 Haver & Boecker Ohg Rotatable packing machine and method for filling open bags
US20120289391A1 (en) * 2011-05-12 2012-11-15 SN Maschinenbau, GmbH Apparatus for simultaneously separating a plurality of pouches, transferring the pouches and method of same
US9944037B2 (en) * 2011-05-12 2018-04-17 Pouch Pac Innovations, Llc Apparatus for simultaneously separating a plurality of pouches, transferring the pouches and method of same
US20130160400A1 (en) * 2011-12-23 2013-06-27 Alfa Laval Parma S.R.L. Aseptic filling machine
US9592924B2 (en) * 2011-12-23 2017-03-14 Alfa Laval Corporate Ab Aseptic filling machine
US20150033677A1 (en) * 2012-02-20 2015-02-05 Bühler AG Apparatus and Method for Packing Bulk Material into a Container
US9815580B2 (en) * 2012-02-20 2017-11-14 Bühler AG Apparatus and method for packing bulk material into a container
WO2014121429A1 (zh) * 2013-02-05 2014-08-14 Lv Nanming 全自动包装袋灌装封装装置
CN106184909A (zh) * 2016-07-18 2016-12-07 蚌埠市众邦包装厂 一种全自动多功能块状产品包装设备
US11420779B2 (en) 2017-04-05 2022-08-23 General Packer Co., Ltd. Packaging method used in bag-feeding and packaging apparatus, and the bag-feeding and packaging apparatus
CN111038802A (zh) * 2019-12-31 2020-04-21 合肥浩普智能装备科技有限公司 一种机器人式的智能柔性包装机
US20210292021A1 (en) * 2020-03-18 2021-09-23 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Bag supply method and bag supply apparatus
US11912451B2 (en) * 2020-03-18 2024-02-27 Toyo Jidoki Co., Ltd. Bag supply method and bag supply apparatus
WO2023275364A1 (de) * 2021-07-02 2023-01-05 Hdg-Verpackungsmaschinen Gmbh Verpackungsbeutelaufnahmevorrichtung für eine verpackungsmaschine, verpackungsmaschine und verfahren

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