U.S. patent application number 11/797484 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-15 for strip-pack manufacturing apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to ISHIDA CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Taro Hijikata, Yoshio Iwamoto, Yoshio Iwasaki, Kazumi Kitagawa.
Application Number | 20070261366 11/797484 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38683807 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070261366 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Iwamoto; Yoshio ; et
al. |
November 15, 2007 |
Strip-pack manufacturing apparatus
Abstract
A strip-pack manufacturing apparatus is arranged to receive an
article having a projecting portion at a prescribed receiving
position and to affix the article to a tape at a prescribed
affixing position, and includes a transporting mechanism, a
grasping section, a transfer mechanism, an affixing mechanism, and
a wrinkle smoothing mechanism. The transporting mechanism is
arranged to transport the article to the receiving position with
the projecting portion of the article being oriented in front. The
transfer mechanism is arranged to transfer the article from the
receiving position to the affixing position in a state wherein the
article is grasped at the project portion by the grasping section.
The affixing mechanism is arranged to affix the article to the tape
at the affixing position. The wrinkle smoothing mechanism is
disposed at the receiving position and arranged to smooth wrinkles
of the projecting portion.
Inventors: |
Iwamoto; Yoshio; (Ritto-shi,
JP) ; Kitagawa; Kazumi; (Ritto-shi, JP) ;
Iwasaki; Yoshio; (Ritto-shi, JP) ; Hijikata;
Taro; (Ritto-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GLOBAL IP COUNSELORS, LLP
1233 20TH STREET, NW, SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-2680
US
|
Assignee: |
ISHIDA CO., LTD.
Kyoto-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
38683807 |
Appl. No.: |
11/797484 |
Filed: |
May 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/136.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 61/24 20130101;
B65B 15/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/136.1 |
International
Class: |
B65B 61/00 20060101
B65B061/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 15, 2006 |
JP |
JP 2006-134880 |
Claims
1. A strip-pack manufacturing apparatus configured and arranged to
receive an article having a projecting portion on at least one end
thereof at a prescribed receiving position and to affix the article
to a striped-shaped tape at a prescribed affixing position, the
strip-pack manufacturing apparatus comprising: a transporting
mechanism configured and arranged to transport the article to the
prescribed receiving position with the projecting portion of the
article being oriented in front with respect to a direction of
travel; a grasping section configured and arranged to grasp the
projecting portion of the article that is transported by the
transporting mechanism at the prescribed receiving position; a
transfer mechanism configured and arranged to transfer the article
from the prescribed receiving position to the prescribed affixing
position in a state wherein the article is grasped by the grasping
section; an affixing mechanism configured and arranged to affix the
article to the stripped-shaped tape at the prescribed affixing
position; and a wrinkle smoothing mechanism disposed at the
prescribed receiving position and configured and arranged to smooth
wrinkles of the projecting portion of the article.
2. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 1,
wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism includes a stopper member
configured and arranged to restrain the projecting portion of the
article at a prescribed position, and a pair of rotary brushes
having rotary shafts disposed substantially parallel to each other,
the rotary brushes being configured and arranged to sandwich the
projecting portion therebetween and to rotate in a direction from a
base part of the projecting portion toward a tip end of the
projecting portion.
3. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2,
wherein the transporting mechanism includes an end part disposed
adjacent to the prescribed receiving position, the end part being
configured and arranged to selectively switch between a holding
state wherein the article is supported horizontally at the
prescribed receiving position and a dropping state wherein the
article is dropped downward from the prescribed receiving position,
and the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to
retract at least one of the rotary brushes disposed at a lower
position than the projecting portion of the article away from the
projecting portion when the article is dropped downward when the
end part of the transporting mechanism is in the dropping
state.
4. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2,
wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured and
arranged to selectively adjust a vertical position of the rotary
brushes with respect to the transporting mechanism.
5. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 3,
wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured and
arranged to selectively adjust a vertical position of the rotary
brushes with respect to the transporting mechanism.
6. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2,
wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to
adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes
according to diameters of the rotary brushes.
7. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 3,
wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to
adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes
according to diameters of the rotary brushes.
8. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 4,
wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is further configured to
adjust a distance between the rotary shafts of the rotary brushes
according to diameters of the rotary brushes.
9. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2,
wherein each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an
axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the stopper member is
disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.
10. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 3,
wherein each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an
axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the stopper member is
disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.
11. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 4,
wherein each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an
axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the stopper member is
disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.
12. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 6,
wherein each of the rotary brushes of the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism includes a plurality of brush portions spaced apart in an
axial direction of the rotary shaft, and the stopper member is
disposed in a gap formed between the brush portions.
13. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 2,
further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide
the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the
rotary brushes.
14. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 3,
further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide
the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the
rotary brushes.
15. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 4,
further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide
the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the
rotary brushes.
16. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 6,
further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide
the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the
rotary brushes.
17. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus as recited in claim 9,
further comprising a guide member configured and arranged to guide
the projecting portion of the article to a portion between the
rotary brushes.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to Japanese Patent
Application No. 2006-134880 filed on May 15, 2006. The entire
disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-134880 is hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a strip-pack manufacturing
apparatus configured and arranged to affix a plurality of articles
to a strip of tape so that those articles can be displayed in a
suspended state.
[0004] 2. Background Information
[0005] Conventionally, numerous articles, each of which contains
snacks and the like wrapped by a soft packaging material such as
plastic film, are affixed to a strip of tape, and displayed in, for
example, a retail shop by suspending them from one end part of the
tape. Because the combination of the articles and the design of the
tape can form the entire design, such a display mode can achieve
excellent display effects, which makes it possible to motivate
buyers to purchase the product.
[0006] Examples of the conventional strip-pack manufacturing
apparatus that manufactures such a strip and bags combination are
disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Publication No.
2004-182302 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,895. These conventional
apparatuses are incorporated directly below or in the vicinity of a
transverse seal apparatus in a vertical bag manufacturing and
packaging apparatus. The articles obtained by transverse sealing
are grasped at the relatively upper parts in both the right and
left side parts thereof at a receiving position of the strip-pack
manufacturing apparatus that is directly below the transverse seal
apparatus. Then, the articles are transferred to an affixing
position of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus, which is below
or in front of the receiving position. Furthermore, the transverse
seal part of each article is affixed at the affixing position to
tape, which is separately supplied.
[0007] Nevertheless, since the conventional strip-pack
manufacturing apparatuses discussed above are integrally
incorporated directly below or in the vicinity of the bag
manufacturing and packaging machine, the manufactured articles
(strip-pack) cannot be stabilized and affixed to the tape unless
the abovementioned grasping, transferring, and affixing processes
are linked to the bag manufacturing operation of the packaging
machine when they are performed. Accordingly, strip-pack
manufacturing is limited to the use of articles that are
manufactured by a packaging machine in the conventional strip-pack
manufacturing apparatus. Consequently, only articles of the same
type can be affixed to a supplied tape. For example, it is not
possible to affix multiple types of articles to a tape, or to affix
articles of a packaging mode other than bag packaging, and
therefore the need to further enhance the display effect cannot be
met. Accordingly, there is a problem from the perspective of
overall versatility.
[0008] In addition, because each of the conventional strip-pack
manufacturing apparatuses disclosed in the above mentioned
references is provided so that it is disposed directly below a bag
manufacturing and packaging machine, there is also a problem in
that it is not possible to handle articles that have been inspected
by an inspection apparatus, such as a weight checker or a seal
checker. In other words, in the conventional strip-pack
manufacturing apparatuses, the articles are affixed to the tape
without going through inspection by the weight checker or the seal
checker. Therefore, from the perspective of quality, it may not be
possible to effectively manufacture reliable strip-packs whereto
articles are affixed.
[0009] In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled
in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an
improved strip-pack manufacturing apparatus. This invention
addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from this
disclosure.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In order to solve such problem, the present applicant has
proposed an apparatus with excellent versatility that is arranged
as a unit that is independent from upstream side apparatuses such
as a bag manufacturing and packaging machine. Such apparatus
includes a transferring mechanism that receives, for example,
bagged or boxed articles at a receiving position and transfers them
to an affixing position and an affixing section that affixes the
articles to a strip of tape at an affixing position. However, there
is still a problem with the abovementioned apparatus proposed by
the present applicant.
[0011] More specifically, articles that have a thin projecting
piece at one end may, for example, wrinkle or bend thereat. As one
example, as shown with a pillow-type bagged article X as shown in
FIG. 19, wrinkles may be formed at a thin transverse seal part X2
(refer to the transverse seal part X2 on the right side in FIG. 19)
that protrudes from a trunk part X' of the article X, as a result
of the article X making contact with a peripheral member while it
is being transported from the upstream side to the receiving
position. Also, the transverse seal part X2 may bend vertically
(refer to the transverse seal part X2 on the left side of FIG. 19)
as a result of the article X contacting a peripheral member as
discussed above because the trunk part X' swells greatly when there
is a large amount of gas, such as air, sealed therein. For the sake
of convenience, FIG. 19 shows a combination of problems that can
arise (i.e., the wrinkles in the transverse seal part X2 on the
right side and the bend in the transverse seal part X2 on the left
side of FIG. 19).
[0012] If a transverse seal part X2 is affixed to a tape in a state
wherein there is a wrinkle, a bend, or the like, then the affixing
strength, the affixing position, and the like will no longer be
uniform, which will make it difficult to reliably affix that
transverse seal part X2 on the tape and will reduce product value
from the perspective of appearance.
[0013] In addition, if a transporting system is used that
transports articles supplied from the upstream side to the
receiving position, then it may be difficult to stabilize and
position the articles at the receiving position just by performing
control that starts and stops the transporting system, and the
transferring mechanism will no longer be able to transfer the
articles to the affixing position by grasping them at a prescribed
location. As a result, the position at which articles are affixed
to the tape becomes nonuniform, which reduces product value.
[0014] Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to
reliably affix articles and improve their affixed appearance on the
tape in a strip-pack manufacturing apparatus that receives the
articles with at least one end of each of the articles having a
projecting piece, which are transported to a prescribed receiving
position, and affixes the articles to a tape at a prescribed
affixing position.
[0015] In order to achieve the above object of the present
invention, a strip-pack manufacturing apparatus is configured and
arranged to receive an article having a projecting portion on at
least one end thereof at a prescribed receiving position and to
affix the article to a striped-shaped tape at a prescribed affixing
position. The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus includes a
transporting mechanism, a grasping section, a transfer mechanism,
an affixing mechanism, and a wrinkle smoothing mechanism. The
transporting mechanism is configured and arranged to transport the
article to the prescribed receiving position with the projecting
portion of the article being oriented in front with respect to a
direction of travel. The grasping section is configured and
arranged to grasp the projecting portion of the article that is
transported by the transporting mechanism at the prescribed
receiving position. The transfer mechanism is configured and
arranged to transfer the article from the prescribed receiving
position to the prescribed affixing position in a state wherein the
article is grasped by the grasping section. The affixing mechanism
is configured and arranged to affix the article to the
stripped-shaped tape at the prescribed affixing position. The
wrinkle smoothing mechanism is disposed at the prescribed receiving
position and configured and arranged to smooth wrinkles of the
projecting portion of the article.
[0016] These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of
the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the
art from the following detailed description, which, taken in
conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses preferred
embodiments of the present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] Referring now to the attached drawings which form a part of
this original disclosure:
[0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of a production
system according to an illustrated embodiment of the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a packaged article as viewed from
the longitudinal seal part side according to the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a strip-pack
manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a third conveyor of the
strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the third conveyor of
the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the principal parts of
the third conveyor of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus
according to the illustrated embodiment of the present
invention;
[0024] FIG. 7 is a top plan view of a transfer mechanism of the
strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the principal parts of
the transfer mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus
according to the illustrated embodiment of the present
invention;
[0026] FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the transfer mechanism
of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the
illustrated embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a tape transport
mechanism and an affixing mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing
apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of the present
invention;
[0028] FIG. 11A is a side elevational view of the principal parts
of a cutting unit of the tape transport mechanism illustrating its
operation when only a punch hole is formed according to the
illustrated embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 11B is a side elevational view of the principal parts
of the cutting unit of the tape transport mechanism illustrating
its operation when both a punch hole is formed and tape is cut;
[0030] FIG. 12 is a side elevational view of a wrinkle smoothing
mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to
the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;
[0031] FIG. 13 is top a plan view of the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism of the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to
the illustrated embodiment of the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 14 is a side elevational view of the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism that shows a state wherein the lower rotary brush has
been retracted according to the illustrated embodiment of the
present invention;
[0033] FIG. 15 is a side elevational view of a top guide member
coupled to the wrinkle smoothing mechanism of the strip-pack
manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of
the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 16 is a control block diagram of the strip-pack
manufacturing apparatus according to the illustrated embodiment of
the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of a modified wrinkle
smoothing mechanism wherein the wrinkle smoothing mechanism is
selectively raised or lowered according to the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism for explaining a case wherein a boxed article has been
supplied to the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus according to the
illustrated embodiment of the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an article for explaining
the problems with the conventional apparatus;
[0038] FIG. 20 is a partial schematic side view illustrating a
problem that occurs when rotary brushes are used that have small
diameters in order to better explain the effects of the illustrated
embodiment of the present invention; and
[0039] FIG. 21 is a side elevational view corresponding FIG. 20 for
explaining the effects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0040] Selected embodiments of the present invention will now be
explained with reference to the drawings. It will be apparent to
those skilled in the art from this disclosure that the following
descriptions of the embodiments of the present invention are
provided for illustration only and not for the purpose of limiting
the invention as defined by the appended claims and their
equivalents.
[0041] Referring initially to FIG. 1, a manufacturing system 1
including a string-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 is illustrated in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing system 1 is configured
and arranged to manufacture a plurality of strip-packs Y as
products by manufacturing a plurality of bagged articles X that are
each filled with contents such as snack food, and then by affixing
a prescribed number of the articles X to a strip-shaped tape T,
which is fed from a tape roll R. The manufacturing system 1
includes, starting from an upstream side with respect to the
manufacturing process, a vertical bag manufacturing and packaging
apparatus 2, a first relay conveyor 3, a weight checker 4, a second
relay conveyor 5, the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6, and a
discharge conveyor 7. The weight checker 4 includes a sorting
apparatus 4a. The articles X or the strip-packs Y are dropped or
transported as shown by arrows A1-A10 in FIG. 1.
[0043] The bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2 has a well
known configuration that wraps contents by vertically and
transversely sealing a soft packaging material such as plastic
film. More specifically, the bag manufacturing and packaging
apparatus 2 is configured and arranged to place both the left and
right edge parts of the supplied strip shaped soft packaging
material to overlap each other to form a tubular shape, to seal
this overlapped part in the longitudinal direction, and then to
seal the tubular soft packaging material, which contains the
contents, in the width (transverse) direction and cut the formed
transverse seal part at its center in the width direction, thereby
obtaining a bagged article X that has a longitudinal seal part X1
at substantially the center of a trunk part X' and two transverse
seal parts X2 (protruding portion) (one at each longitudinal end)
as shown in FIG. 2.
[0044] The first relay conveyor 3 is a flat belt system is
configured and arranged to receive the articles X, which are
supplied from the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2 by
being dropped as indicated by the arrow A1, and to transport such
in the direction of the arrow A2. Furthermore, the transport
surface of the first relay conveyor 3 is inclined upward toward the
downstream side.
[0045] The weight checker 4 is configured and arranged to weigh
each article X that is received from the first relay conveyor 3
while transporting such in the direction of the arrow A3. The
sorting apparatus 4a is configured and arranged to pass the
nondefective articles to the downstream side and to forcibly
discharge defective articles, such as underweight articles or
overweight articles, from the transport pathway.
[0046] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, both the second relay
conveyor 5 and the discharge conveyor 7, which are provided
respectively on the upstream and downstream sides of the strip-pack
manufacturing apparatus 6 so that they sandwich such, are flat belt
systems. The second relay conveyor 5 is configured and arranged to
receive nondefective articles X from the weight checker 4, to
orient each article X so that its transverse seal parts X2 are
respectively frontward and rearward, to transport it in the
direction of the arrow A4, and then to transfer it to the
strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6. The discharge conveyor 7 is
configured and arranged receive the strip-packs Y obtained from the
strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 and to discharge them to the
downstream side, as indicated by the arrow A10. Furthermore, the
transport surface of the second relay conveyor 5 is substantially
flat. The transport surface of the discharge conveyor 7 is inclined
upward toward the downstream side as shown in FIG. 2.
[0047] The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6, which is the
featured portion of the present invention, is configured as a unit
that is independent from the bag manufacturing and packaging
apparatus 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the strip-pack manufacturing
apparatus 6 includes a first conveyor 11, a second conveyor 12, a
third conveyor 13 (transporting mechanism), a transfer mechanism
14, a tape transport mechanism 15, an affixing mechanism 16, and a
receiving platform 17. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the strip-pack
manufacturing apparatus 6 further includes a wrinkle smoothing
mechanism 18 and a top guide member 19. All of the components of
the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 are assembled on the main
body frame 6a as shown in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the articles X are
transported or dropped as indicated by the arrows A5-A9. In FIG. 3,
a symbol P1 indicates the position (a prescribed receiving
position) at which the transfer mechanism 14 receives the articles
X from the third conveyor 13, and a symbol P2, which is set below
the receiving position P1, indicates the position (a prescribed
affixing position) at which the affixing mechanism 16 affixes the
articles X, which are transferred from the transfer mechanism 14,
to the tape T. Moreover, the tape T is paid out from the tape roll
R, which is rotatably supported by the main body frame 6a at the
rear portion thereof, and transported frontward until it reaches
the affixing position P2.
[0048] The first and second conveyors 11 and 12 are both flat belt
systems with opposite transport directions A5 and A7, and are
provided and disposed so that the first conveyor 11 is above the
second conveyor 12 and their downstream sides mutually overlap. In
addition, the first conveyor 11 includes a pair of side guide
members 11a (only one side guide member 11a disposed on the near
side one shown in FIG. 3) that sandwich the articles X and guide
them in the transport direction A5. Also, the second conveyor 12
includes a pair of side guide members 12a (only one side guide
member 12a disposed on the near side is shown in FIG. 3) that
sandwich the articles X and guide them in the transport direction
A7. Furthermore, the second conveyor 12, which transports the
articles X in the direction of the receiving position P1, includes
a stopper member 12b at its upstream side end part in order to
prevent the articles X, which are supplied by being dropped from
the first conveyor 11 as indicated by the arrow A6, from falling
off the second conveyor 12.
[0049] The third conveyor 13 (transporting mechanism) is provided
so that it is coupled to the downstream side end part of the second
conveyor 12. The third conveyor 13 is configured and arranged to
transport each article X received from the second conveyor 12 to
the receiving position P1. The third conveyor 13 includes a pair of
units 20 (end part) (one each on the left and right sides) as shown
in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6. These units 20 have mirror images of the
same configuration. Furthermore, for the reader's reference, the
figures separately show a case wherein the article X is a large bag
XL and a case wherein the article X is a small bag X.sub.S in FIG.
4 through FIG. 6.
[0050] Each of the units 20 includes a rotary shaft 21 that extends
in the transport direction A7, a motor 23, which is supported by a
support platform 22 and drives the rotary shaft 21, and first
through fourth subconveyors 24.sub.1-24.sub.4, which are provided
and disposed at 90.degree. intervals about the rotary shaft 21.
Each of the subconveyors 24.sub.1-24.sub.4 is a flat belt system
and includes a follower roller 24a and a driver roller 24b on the
upstream and downstream sides, respectively. Further, a flat belt
24c is wound around the two rollers 24a and 24b. Each of the
rollers 24b protrudes by a prescribed length from the flat belt 24c
on the rotary shaft 21 side. Furthermore, each of the rollers 24a
and 24b is preferably made of resin in order to reduce weight.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 6, the rotary shaft 21 of the left side
unit 20 rotates in the direction of the arrow A11, and the rotary
shaft 21 of the right side unit 20 rotates in the direction of the
arrow AA11, i.e., they rotate in opposite directions. More
specifically, the side edges of the left and right first through
fourth subconveyors 24.sub.1-24.sub.4 that are adjacent to each
other rotate downward about the side edges that are mutually spaced
apart (i.e., about the rotary shaft 21). Accordingly, each right
and left pair of the first through fourth subconveyors
24.sub.1-24.sub.4 can cooperate to form a transport surface whereon
the article X is transported to the receiving position P1, and then
eliminate that transport surface and drop the article X, which was
on that transport surface, in the direction of the affixing
position P2 as indicated by the arrow A8. Furthermore, the
transport surface of the second conveyor 12 and the transport
surface that is formed by each corresponding right and left pair of
the first through fourth subconveyors 24.sub.1-24.sub.4 of the
third conveyor 13 are set so that they are at substantially the
same height. Therefore, the units 20 are configured and arranged to
selectively switch between a holding state wherein the article X is
supported horizontally at the receiving position P1 and a dropping
state wherein the article X is dropped downward from the receiving
position P1.
[0052] The outer circumferential surface of the protruding part of
each driver roller 24b discussed above has alternating projections
and recesses. Each unit 20 is provided with a timing pulley 25 that
circumferentially contacts the protrusion formed on the outer
circumferential surface of each of the driver rollers 24. Each
timing pulley 25 has a urethane rubber layer on its outer
circumferential surface so that its rotation is reliably
transmitted to one of the driver rollers 24b via its protruding
part. FIGS. 4 and 5 show an example in which each timing pulley 25
circumferentially contacts the protrusion of the driver roller 24b
of each of the third subconveyor 24.sub.3.
[0053] Each timing pulley 25 is coupled via an orthogonal gear head
27a to an output shaft of a motor 27, which is supported by a
support platform 26 and includes a brake function. Furthermore,
each motor 27 is installed on the corresponding support platform
26. An output rod of each motor 27 is coupled to an air cylinder
28, which advances and retracts in the directions of the arrows A11
and AA11 in FIG. 6. The drive of the air cylinder 28 causes the
timing pulley 25 and the driver roller 24b to circumferentially
contact one another or to release such contact.
[0054] In addition, in each unit 20, the driver rollers 24b (which
sandwich the rotary shaft 21) of the second subconveyor 24.sub.2
and of the opposite side fourth subconveyor 24.sub.4 are
integrated. Thus, the flat belts 24c of both subconveyors 24.sub.2
and 24.sub.4 run simultaneously when the motive power of the
transport motor 27 is transmitted via the timing pulley 25 to the
protrusion of one of the driver rollers 24b.
[0055] On the other hand, in each unit 20, the driver rollers 24b
(which sandwich the rotary shaft 21) of the first subconveyor 24,
and the opposite side third subconveyor 24.sub.3 are divided.
Accordingly, two auxiliary rollers 29, which make circumferential
contact from the side opposite the timing pulley 25, are provided
to the protrusions of the driver rollers 24b of both subconveyors
24.sub.1 and 24.sub.3. These auxiliary rollers 29 are positioned on
opposite sides so that they sandwich the rotary shaft 21, and are
coupled by a shaft that passes therethrough. Therefore, when the
motive power of the transport motor 27 is transmitted via the
timing pulley 25 to the protrusion part of the driver roller 24b of
one of the subconveyors (the third subconveyor 24.sub.3 in FIG. 4),
the motive power is transmitted via both auxiliary rollers 29 to
the driver roller 24b of the other subconveyor (the first
subconveyor 24.sub.1 in FIG. 4), and the flat belts 24c of both
subconveyors 24.sub.1 and 24.sub.3 thereby run simultaneously.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, an article detection sensor 30
configured and arranged to detect the transported article X is
installed above the vicinity of the downstream side end part of the
second conveyor 12. In addition, on each support platform 22, a
rotational angle detection sensor 31 is installed that is
configured and arranged to detect the rotational position of the
rotary shaft 21 via the rotation of the output shaft of the rotary
motor 23.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 7 through FIG. 9, the transfer mechanism 14
is configured and arranged to receive each article X from the third
conveyor 13 at the receiving position P1 above and to transport
each article X to the affixing position P2 below, as indicated by
the arrow A8. The transfer mechanism 14 includes a support plate
41, a pair of support blocks 42, a pair of support rods 43, a pair
of arm members 44 and a pair (left and right) of chuck members 45
(grasping section). The support plate 41 is provided on the
downstream side of the third conveyor 13 in the transport direction
A7 of the article X. One of the support blocks 42 is attached to
the left and the other to the right end part of the front surface
of the support plate 41. The support rods 43 extend from the
support blocks 42 in a direction that is orthogonal to the
transport direction A7. The arm members 44 extend frontward and are
externally fit to the support rods 43, respectively, so that they
are movable therealong by the operation of handles 44a. The chuck
members 45 are respectively attached to the tip parts of the arm
members 44. The chuck members 45 are configured and arranged to
grasp both transverse side ends of one of the transverse seal parts
X2 (or the vicinity thereof) of the article X (i.e., the upper
transverse seal part X2 during manufacturing) on top and bottom
surfaces of the transverse seal part X2. Furthermore, an actuator
is built into each of the arm member 44, which is configured and
arranged to selectively open and close the corresponding upper and
lower pair of the chuck members 45 to grasp the transverse seal
part X2.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a guide block 46 is fixedly
provided to the right side end part of the rear surface of the
support plate 41. The guide block 46 is slidably and externally fit
to a guide rod 48, which extends between upper and lower brackets
47 that are supported by the main body frame 6a.
[0059] Moreover, in the vicinity of the left side end part of the
rear surface of the support plate 41, a motor operated cylinder 50,
which extends vertically, is attached to a bracket 49, which is
supported by the main body frame 6a. Furthermore, a slider 50b,
which slides in the directions of the arrows A8 and AA8 in FIG. 9
with respect to a main body 50a of the motor operated cylinder 50,
is fixedly provided to the support plate 41. FIG. 9 illustrates an
elevational view of the transfer mechanism 14 as viewed in a
direction opposite to the direction of the arrow A7 in FIG. 7.
[0060] The following will now explain how each part of the transfer
mechanism 14 is adjustably configured for the case wherein the
article X, which is transported from the upstream side, is a large
bag X.sub.L, and for the case wherein it is a small bag
X.sub.S.
[0061] First, as shown in FIG. 7, the width (transverse width)
dimension of the article X, i.e. the width dimension of the
transverse seal parts X2, that is transported to the receiving
position P1 by the third conveyor 13 differs for a large bag
X.sub.L and a small bag X.sub.S. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7, the
spacing between the right and left chuck members 45 can be adjusted
to a spacing W.sub.L for a large bag X.sub.L, and to a spacing
W.sub.S for a small bag X.sub.S. More specifically, the chuck
members 45 can accurately grasp the transverse seal part X2.sub.L
or X2.sub.S of a large bag X.sub.L or a small bag X.sub.S (or the
vicinity thereof) by manually adjusting the fixing positions of the
arm members 44 along the pair of support rods 43 via the handles
44a in accordance with whether the article X is a large bag X.sub.L
or a small bag X.sub.S.
[0062] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the height position
of the transverse seal parts X2 of the article X transported by the
third conveyor 13 to the receiving position P1 differs depending on
whether it is a large bag X.sub.L or a small bag X.sub.S.
Therefore, as shown in the figures, the height of the left and
right chuck members 45 can be adjusted based on a height H.sub.L of
the transverse seal parts X2.sub.L from the third conveyor 13 for
large bags X.sub.L, or likewise based on a height H.sub.S of the
transverse seal parts X2.sub.S from the third conveyor 13 for small
bags X.sub.S. More specifically, the height position of the chuck
members 45, i.e., the receiving position P1, can be adjusted by
controlling the drive of the motor operated cylinder 50.
Furthermore, regardless of whether the article X is a large bag
X.sub.L or a small bag X.sub.S, the height of the affixing position
P2 is fixedly set, and only the article X transfer stroke performed
by the transfer mechanism 14 differs for the large bags X.sub.L and
the small bags X.sub.S.
[0063] As shown in FIG. 10, the tape transport mechanism 15 is used
for transporting the tape T, which is paid out from the tape roll
R, to the affixing position P2. More specifically, the tape T is
transported to the affixing position P2 by two transport rollers 62
and two pressing rollers 63, which are rotatably supported by a
support plate 61 that is supported by the main body frame 6a. More
specifically, a motor 65 is attached to a bracket 64, which is
supported by the main body frame 6a, and a timing belt 67 is wound
around a pulley 65a, a pulley 66, and a pair of pulleys 62a. The
pulley 65a is assembled onto an output shaft of the motor 65. The
pulley 66 is rotatably supported by the support plate 61. The
pulleys 62a are assembled coaxially with the transport rollers 62.
Therefore, the motive power of the motor 65 is transmitted to the
two pulleys 62a as well as the two transport rollers 62 via the
timing belt 67, thereby feeding the tape T frontward.
[0064] As shown in FIG. 10, the affixing mechanism 16 is configured
and arranged to affix the article X, which is transferred by the
transfer mechanism 14 from the receiving position P1 above to the
affixing position P2 in the direction of the arrow A8, to the tape
T, which is transported by the tape transport mechanism 15. The
affixing mechanism 16 includes a heater block 71, which heats the
tape T and the transverse seal part X2 of the article X. The heater
block 71 is attached to a bracket 72, which is supported by the
main body frame 6a. Furthermore, an air cylinder 73 is installed on
the bracket 72, and a dissolution prevention plate 74, which
extends so that it is inclined upward and rearward, is attached to
a tip part of an output rod of the air cylinder 73, which advances
and retracts in the vertical direction. The dissolution prevention
plate 74 serves to prevent the dissolution of the tape T due to
overheating by moving upward in order to push the tape T upward
from below and separate it from the heater block 71.
[0065] In addition, the affixing mechanism 16 includes a clamp
member 75, which presses the tape T and the transverse seal part X2
of the article X to the heater block 71. The clamp member 75 swings
about a spindle 75a (as indicated by arrows A13 and AA13 between
positions indicated by the solid lines and the chain double dashed
lines in FIG. 10) by the action of a motor (not shown). When the
clamp member 75 swings in the direction of the arrow A13, an
oscillating end part clamps the transverse seal part X2 of the
article X (positioned above the tape T) and the tape T (positioned
below the transverse seal part X2), and presses them against the
heater block 71, thereby welding them.
[0066] In addition, a cutting unit 76 is provided and disposed in
the transport pathway of the tape T on the upstream side of the
heater block 71 and the downstream side of the tape transport
mechanism 15. As shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, the cutting unit 76
includes an air cylinder 77 an upstream side punch 78, and a
downstream side cutter 79. The upstream side punch 78 and the
downstream side cutter 79 are attached to a tip part of an output
rod of the air cylinder 77, which advances and retracts in the
vertical direction. The punch 78 forms a hole for suspending the
strip-pack Y, i.e., the product, in the tape T, and the cutter 79
cuts the tape T.
[0067] At that time, the tip part of the punch 78 retracts slightly
downward from the tip part of the cutter 79, and the advancing and
retracting strokes of the output rod of the air cylinder 77 are set
to two levels, e.g., 10 mm and 20 mm. More specifically, as shown
in FIG. 11A, when the output rod of the air cylinder 77 advances by
a stroke of 10 mm, the punch 78 and the cutter 79 move upward (as
indicated by arrow A14) from the initial position indicated by the
chain double dashed lines to the position indicated by the solid
lines, and the punch 78 passes through the tape T and forms a punch
hole, but the cutter 79 falls short of cutting the tape T.
[0068] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 11B, when the output rod of the
air cylinder 77 advances by a stroke of 20 mm, the punch 78 and the
cutter 79 move upward (as indicated by arrow AA14) from the initial
position indicated by the chain double dashed lines to a position
indicated by a solid lines, whereupon the punch 78 passes through
the tape T and forms a punch hole and the cutter 79 cuts the tape
T.
[0069] Next, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism 18 is supported by being suspended between a pair of
brackets 6b (one each on the right and left sides), which are fixed
to the main body frame 6a.
[0070] More specifically, a mounting member 82 is provided so that
it extends from the support plate 81 (rectangular in a side view)
in the width direction of the article X that is transported (as
indicated by the arrow A7) by the third conveyor 13. Furthermore,
two first arm members 83, which both extend in the direction of the
article X, and two second arm members 84, which further extend from
the tip parts of the first arm member 83, are provided with one of
each on the left and the right side of the lower part of the
mounting member 82. Each second arm member 84 is coupled to a
corresponding first arm member 83 by a bolt 85 through a slot 83a,
which is provided to the tip part of that first arm member 83 and
extends in the vertical direction. Therefore, the vertical position
of the second arm member 84 with respect to the first arm member 83
can be changed.
[0071] Two linking members 86, which are both L-shaped in a plan
view, are respectively attached to the outer sides of the first arm
members 83 that are mounted to the mounting member 82, and the
wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 is supported by the brackets 6b as
well as the main body frame 6a via these linking members 86. In
addition, a shaft 87 is rotatably provided between both the upper
and lower pairs of first arm members 83 so that it spans
therebetween, and a shaft 88 is rotatably provided between the tip
parts of both the upper and lower pairs of the second arm members
84 so that it spans therebetween.
[0072] A motor 92 is attached to the support plate 81 via four
linking rods 91. Furthermore, a timing belt 93 is wound around a
pulley 92b, which is assembled on an output shaft 92a of the motor
92, and a pulley 87a, which is assembled on the shaft 87 of the
first arm members 83 in the vicinity of its right side end part. In
addition, a timing belt 94 is wound around a pulley 87b, which is
assembled on the shaft 87 of the first arm members 83 in the
vicinity of its center, and a pulley 88a, which is assembled on the
shaft 88 of the second arm members 84 in the vicinity of its
center. In addition, a rubber coated roller 95, which has a rubber
layer on its outer circumferential part, is coaxially assembled in
the vicinity of the pulley 87b of the first arm members 83.
[0073] An upper rotary brush 96 is assembled on the shaft 88 of the
second arm members 84. The rotary brush 96 includes multiple split
brushes 96a (brush portions) that are spaced apart at a prescribed
interval in an axial direction of the shaft 88. Furthermore, the
brush hairs are preferably made of a relatively hard resin.
[0074] Moreover, an air cylinder 102 is attached below the motor 92
via a mounting plate 101. Furthermore, other left and right pairs
of first and second arm members 83 and 84, which are similar to
those discussed earlier, extend in the article X direction via a
laterally extending bracket 103 and a mounting member 104. The
bracket 103 is L shaped in a side view and is fixedly provided to a
tip part of an advancing and retracting (indicated by arrows A15
and AA15) output rod 102a of the air cylinder 102. The mounting
member 104 is fixedly provided to the bracket 103. Each of these
second arm members 84 is coupled to its corresponding first arm
member 83 by another bolt 85 through another slot 83a that is
provided to a tip part of that first arm member 83 and extends in
the vertical direction. Therefore, the vertical position of the
second arm member 84 with respect to the first arm member 83 can be
changed.
[0075] Another shaft 87 is rotatably provided between both first
arm members 83 so that it spans therebetween, and another shaft 88
is rotatably provided between the tip parts of both second arm
members 84, and another timing belt 94 is wound around another
pulley 87b, which is assembled on the shaft 87 of the first arm
members 83 in the vicinity of its center, and another pulley 88a,
which is assembled on the shaft 88 of the second arm members 84 in
the vicinity of its center. Furthermore, a rubber coated roller 95,
which has a rubber layer at its outer circumferential part, is
assembled in the vicinity of the pulley 87b of the first arm
members 83.
[0076] A lower rotary brush 96, which includes other split brushes
96a (brush portions) that have the similar structure as the split
brushes 96a discussed earlier, is assembled on the shaft 88 of the
second arm members 84. Furthermore, this lower rotary brush 96 has
the same diameter as the upper rotary brush 96. In addition, the
width dimension of the rotary brushes 96 is set in accordance with
the width dimension of the transverse seal parts X2 of the article
X, e.g., if the width dimension of the transverse seal parts X2 is
135 mm, then the width dimension of the rotary brushes 96 is
preferably set to 50 mm. Of course, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from this disclosure that the precise dimensions
and the relative dimensions of the rotary brushes 96 and the
article X are not limited to the arrangement described in this
embodiment, and can be varied according to various
considerations.
[0077] The distance between the upper and lower shafts 88 is
adjusted via the slots 83a and the bolts 85 so that, as shown in
FIG. 12, the upper and lower rubber coated rollers 95 and rotary
brushes 96 make circumferential contact when the output shaft 102a
of the air cylinder 102 advances in the direction of the arrow A15,
and so that, as shown in FIG. 14, that circumferential contact is
released when the output shaft 102a of the air cylinder 102
retracts in the direction of the arrow AA15. More specifically, if
both rubber coated rollers 95 circumferentially contact one another
as shown in FIG. 12, then the output of the motor 92 is transmitted
to the upper rotary brush 96 via the timing belt 93, the upper
shaft 87, the upper timing belt 94, and the upper shaft 88, and is
also transmitted to the lower rotary brush 96 via the lower shaft
87, the lower timing belt 94, and the lower shaft 88. Therefore,
the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 each rotate in the direction
of the arrow A16.
[0078] Moreover, if the circumferential contact of both rubber
coated rollers 95 is released as shown in FIG. 14, then the output
of the motor 92 is transmitted to the upper shaft 88, and the upper
rotary brush 96 therefore rotates in the direction of the arrow
A16. However, the output is not transmitted to the lower shaft 88,
and therefore the lower rotary brush 96 does not rotate.
Furthermore, when the lower rotary brush is retracted away from the
transverse seal part X2 as shown in FIG. 4, there is no longer
anything below the transverse seal part X2 of the article X to
prevent the article X from dropping downward in the direction
indicated by the arrow A8.
[0079] As shown in FIG. 13, a mounting plate 111 is provided below
and between the tip parts of the two upper second arm members 84
(one on the left side and one on the right side) so that it spans
therebetween, multiple support rods 112 are provided so that they
extend from the mounting plate 111 in the article X direction, and
stopper members 113, which have bended shapes in a side view, are
fixedly provided to the tip parts of the support rods 112. Each of
the stopped members 113 are position so that a recess part thereof
faces the transverse seal part X2 of the article X as shown in FIG.
12. More specifically, the support rods 112, i.e., the stopper
members 113, are set so that their recessed parts that oppose the
article X transported by the third conveyor 13 are substantially
positioned along a line that connects the upper and lower shafts 88
in the state wherein the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 make
circumferential contact, and so that they are positioned in the
gaps between laterally adjacent split brushes 96a as shown in FIG.
13. The angle of the stopper members 13 are adjusted so that the
stopper members 13 do not interfere with the transverse seal part
X2 of the transfer of the article X in the downward direction.
[0080] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 15, the top guide member 19 is
installed above the transport surfaces of the second and third
conveyors 12 and 13. The top guide member 19 has a generally strip
shaped (refer to FIG. 4) that extends from the downstream side of
the second conveyor 12 to the vicinity of the downstream end part
of the third conveyor 13. The top guide member 19 is supported so
that it is cantilevered via upwardly protruding brackets 12d
extending from both side parts of the second conveyor 12. The top
guide member 19 is configured and arranged to guide the tip part of
each article X, which is transported in the direction of the arrow
A7, to a portion between the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 of
the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, which is disposed at the
receiving position P1.
[0081] Referring now to FIG. 16, a control system of the
manufacturing system 1 will be explained in more detail. As shown
in FIG. 16, a control unit 120 is provided that is configured to
comprehensively control the manufacturing system 1. The control
unit 120 is configured to control the operation of the strip-pack
manufacturing apparatus 6 in accordance with the supply of articles
X from the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2, and to
exchange signals with the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus
2. In addition, the control unit 120 is configured to exchange
signals with the weight checker 4, which includes the sorting
apparatus 4a. Furthermore, the control unit 120 is configured to
output a control signal to the first relay conveyor 3, the second
relay conveyor 5, and the discharge conveyor 7.
[0082] The exchange of signals between the control unit 120 and the
strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 will now be explained. The
control unit 120 is configured to first output control signals to a
transport motor 11b that is provided to the first conveyor 11, a
transport motor 12c that is provided to the second conveyor 12, the
rotary motors 23 of the left and right units 20 of the third
conveyor 13, the transport motors 27, and the air cylinders 28 that
move the transport motors 27.
[0083] The control unit 120 is configured to output control signals
to two chuck actuators 44b, which open and close the chuck members
45 that are built into the arm members 44 of the transfer mechanism
14, the lifting motor operated cylinder 50, the transport motor 65
of the tape transport mechanism 15, the heater block 71 of the
affixing mechanism 16, the air cylinder 73 for the dissolution
prevention plate 74, a clamping motor 75b, which swings the clamp
member 75, and the air cylinder 77 of the cutting unit 76.
[0084] The control unit 120 is configured to receive detection
signals from the article detection sensor 30 and the rotational
angle detection sensors 31. More specifically, the control unit 120
is configured to receive the detection signal of the article X from
the article detection sensor 30 to control the drive of, for
example, the third conveyor 13 and the moving mechanism 14. The
control unit 120 is configured to determine the rotational
positions of the rotary shafts 21 based on the detection signals
from the rotational angle detection sensors 31, and to control the
drive of each of the rotary motors 23 of the third conveyor 13.
[0085] Furthermore, the control unit 120 is configured to output
control signals to the motor 92, which is for rotating the upper
and lower rotary brushes 96 of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18,
and to the air cylinder 102, which is for moving the lower rotary
brush 96.
[0086] The effect of the manufacturing system 1 will now be
explained.
[0087] As shown in FIG. 1, the bagged articles X, each of which is
manufactured by the bag manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2
vertically and transversely sealing such, are supplied by being
dropped onto the first relay conveyor 3. Furthermore, a
manufacturing completion signal, which is output from the bag
manufacturing and packaging apparatus 2, is input to the control
unit 120, which controls subsequent processes. Furthermore, each
article X is transported by the first relay conveyor 3 with the
transverse seal part X2 that was the lower one when it was dropped
oriented frontward and the transverse seal part X2 that was the
upper one when it was dropped oriented rearward, and is then
transferred to the weight checker 4.
[0088] Each transferred article X is weighed at the weight checker
4, after which defective articles, such as underweight articles and
overweight articles, are forcibly discharged from the transport
pathway by the downstream side sorting apparatus 4a. The
nondefective articles X pass by the sorting apparatus 4a and are
supplied to the strip-pack manufacturing apparatus 6 via the second
relay conveyor 5.
[0089] As shown in FIG. 3, each article X supplied from the second
relay conveyor 5 is transported by the first conveyor 11 in the
direction of the arrow A5, and is supplied to the second conveyor
12 below by being dropped at the downstream side end part of the
first conveyor 11 as indicated by the arrow A6. The article X that
is supplied by being dropped is transported by the second conveyor
12 in the direction of the arrow A7, which is the direction that is
opposite from the direction of the arrow A5, i.e., in the direction
of the receiving position P1. Regardless of the orientation of the
article X during its transport by the first conveyor 11 above or
during its transport by the second conveyor 12 below, during such
transport the article X is transported by the second conveyor 12 so
that the transverse seal part X2 that was the upper one when it was
dropped after being manufactured is oriented frontward with respect
to the direction of travel.
[0090] As shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, the article X supplied
from the second conveyor 12 is transferred to one of the transport
surfaces formed by the first through fourth subconveyors
24.sub.1-24.sub.4 of the left and right units 20 of the third
conveyor 13, and is transported to the receiving position P1. In
addition, the article X is transported from the second conveyor 12
to the third conveyor 13 while being guided by the top guide member
19.
[0091] In the operation of the third conveyor 13 in the above case,
when the article detection sensor 30 detects the article X that is
transported by the second conveyor 12, the drive of the motors 23,
which rotate the pair of rotary shafts 21, is controlled based on
the detection signals from the rotational angle detection sensors
31. More specifically, the drive of the motors is controlled so
that a transport surface is formed by one pair of the first through
fourth subconveyors 24.sub.1-24.sub.4 of the left and right units
20, i.e., as shown in FIG. 4 through FIG. 6, so that the flat belts
24.sub.c of the pair of first conveyors 24.sub.1 transition to a
horizontal state and form a transport surface (holding state).
[0092] The motive power of the transport motors 27 provided to the
pair of units 20 is transmitted, as shown in the drawings, from the
motors 27 to the driver rollers 24b of the third subconveyors
24.sub.3 via the timing pulleys 25, and also from those driver
rollers 24b to the first subconveyors 24.sub.1 via the auxiliary
rollers 29. Therefore, the flat belts 24c of the first subconveyors
24.sub.1 run in the direction of the arrow A7. As a result, the
article X is transported to the receiving position P1 by the
transport surface formed by the flat belts 24c.
[0093] When the article X reaches the receiving position P1, the
drive of the transport motors 27 is stopped and the air cylinders
28 are driven. The drive of the air cylinders 28 moves the
transport motors 27 in the direction of the arrow AA12 to a
prescribed position, and stopping the drive of the air cylinders 28
thereafter stops the drive of the timing pulleys 25, which releases
the circumferential contact between the timing pulleys 25 and the
driver rollers 24b and stops the transport of the article X.
Furthermore, the provision of a brake function to the transport
motors 27 makes it possible to easily keep the article X at a
prescribed position on one of the transport surfaces that is formed
by the left and right pairs of the first through fourth
subconveyors 24.sub.1-24.sub.4 by stopping the drive.
[0094] In addition, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, the transverse
seal part X2, which extends from the trunk part X', of the article
X that arrives at the receiving position P1 contacts the stopper
members 113 of the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18. Because the
plurality of stopper members 113 are set so that they are arranged
along the width direction of the transverse seal part X2, the
transverse seal part X2 stabilizes in the width direction and
contacts the stopper members 113, thereby lining up the tip
position of the transverse seal part X2 in the width direction. In
other words, the stopper members 13 are configured and arranged to
restrict a longitudinal movement of the article X in the direction
of arrow A7 in FIG. 12.
[0095] In addition, the upper and lower rotary brushes 96, which
rotate in the direction of the arrow A16, contact both the upper
and lower surfaces of the transverse seal part X2. Furthermore, it
is expected that the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 will contact
the front part of the article X and suitably smooth such.
[0096] Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 13, both side parts of the
base part of the frontward transverse seal part X2 will approach
relatively close to the rotary brushes 96 and will be grasped from
top and bottom by the chuck members 45 of the transfer mechanism
14. Then, as shown in FIG. 14, the output rod 102a of the air
cylinder 102 along with the lower rotary brush 96 will retract in
the direction of the arrow AA15. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6,
the rotary shafts 21 of the units 20 rotate by 90.degree. in the
direction of the arrows A11 and AA11, which eliminates the
transport surface of the pair of first subconveyors 24, and forms a
space wherein the article X can drop in the vertical direction,
whereupon that article X is transferred through the space to the
affixing position P2 below as indicated by the arrow A8 in a state
wherein the vicinity of the transverse seal part X2 is grasped by
the chuck members 45. As shown in FIG. 14, the reverse angled
stopper members 113 do not interfere with the transfer of the
article X.
[0097] In the present invention, the article X can be grasped by
the chuck members 45 after the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18
smoothes wrinkles of the transverse seal part X2 of the article X,
or alternatively, the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 can smooth the
wrinkles of the transverse seal part X2 of the article X after the
chuck members 45 grasps the article.
[0098] The rotation of the rotary shafts 21 discussed earlier
causes, as shown in the drawing, the pair of second subconveyors
24.sub.2 to form a new transport surface, and driving the transport
motors 27 and the air cylinders 28 causes the timing pulleys 25 to
circumferentially contact the driver rollers 24b of the second
subconveyors 24.sub.2 and the fourth subconveyors 24.sub.4, which
sandwich the rotary shafts 21. Because the driver rollers 24b of
the second subconveyors 24.sub.2 and the fourth subconveyors
24.sub.4 are integrated, the flat belts 24c of the second
subconveyors 24.sub.2 run without going by way of the auxiliary
rollers 29, and the article X supplied to the newly formed
transport surface can be transported to the receiving position
P1.
[0099] The operation of the transfer mechanism 14 at the receiving
position P1 will now be explained. Depending on whether the article
X is a large bag X.sub.L or a small bag X.sub.S, the spacing
between the left and right chuck members 45 can be adjusted (as
indicated by the solid lines and the chain double dashed lines in
FIG. 7) to the different spacing W.sub.L or W.sub.S, respectively.
The simplified configuration for adjusting the spacing between the
left and right chuck members 45, wherein the spacing can be
manually adjusted as discussed earlier, is advantageous in that it
is relatively lightweight and it is easy to prevent the
interference of peripheral members. Furthermore, if the spacing
between the chuck members 45 is not adjusted for cases wherein the
article X is a large bag X.sub.L or a small bag X.sub.S, e.g., if
the spacing W.sub.S that matches the small bag X.sub.S is set and a
large bag X.sub.L is transported, the vicinity of its transverse
seal part X2.sub.L may be grasped too deeply.
[0100] In addition, as shown by the solid lines and the chain
double dashed lines in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the height positions of
the left and right chuck members 45, i.e., the receiving position
P1, can be adjusted to match the heights H.sub.L or H.sub.S of the
transverse seal parts X2.sub.L or X2.sub.S from the third conveyor
13 for cases wherein the article X is a large bag X.sub.L or a
small bag X.sub.S. Furthermore, if the receiving position P1 of the
chuck members 45, i.e., the transfer mechanism 14, is prepared in
advance in the control unit 80 for each type of article X, then it
becomes possible to automatically set the receiving position P1 by,
for example, issuing an instruction that includes an article
code.
[0101] Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, the tape T that is paid out
from the tape roll R is transported by the tape transport mechanism
15 to the heater block 71 of the affixing mechanism 16.
Furthermore, when the transverse seal part X2 (on the side grasped
by the chuck members 45) of the article X, which is transferred to
the affixing position P2 by the transfer mechanism 14, is applied
to the tape T on the heater block 71, the clamp member 75 swings in
the direction of the arrow A13 about the spindle 75a and presses
the transverse seal part X2 against the tape T. As a result, the
transverse seal part X2 is welded to the tape T and the article X
is thereby affixed to the tape T.
[0102] In addition, while the tape T is pinched between the clamp
member 75 and the heater block 71, the punch 78 and the cutter 79
move upward by the drive of the air cylinder 77 of the cutting unit
76, and, as shown in FIG. 11, if the upward movement stroke is 10
mm, then only a punch hole is formed in the tape T by the punch 78.
Moreover, if the upward movement stroke is 20 mm, then a punch hole
is formed in the tape T by the punch 78 and the tape T is cut
laterally by the cutter 79. Furthermore, a punch hole is formed
every time one article X is affixed to the tape T, and cutting is
performed every time a prescribed number of articles X is affixed
to the tape T. Thereby, after the strip-pack Y is displayed and the
article X is removed from the tape T, it is possible to suspend the
strip-pack Y at an arbitrary length through a punch hole in
accordance with that removal, and thereby to display the strip-pack
Y in an attractive manner.
[0103] When the article X is affixed to the tape T, the clamp
member 75 swings in the direction of the arrow AA13 about the
spindle 75a and the dissolution prevention plate 74 moves upward by
the drive of the air cylinder 73, which pushes the tape T upward
and forcibly separates it from the heater block 71. Furthermore,
the tape T is transported frontward by the drive of the transport
motor 65 of the tape transport mechanism 15, and then stands by for
the next affixing operation.
[0104] By repetitively performing such an operation, a strip-pack
Y, wherein a prescribed number of articles X is successively
affixed to the tape T as shown in FIG. 3, is transferred to the
discharge conveyor 7 via the receiving platform 17, which is
inclined frontward and downward from the affixing position P2, and
is then further discharged to the downstream process.
[0105] By configuring the components as described above, when the
article X is transported to the receiving position P1 by the second
and third conveyors 12 and 13, any wrinkles or bends in the
transverse seal part X2 of the article X are smoothed by the
wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, which is provided at the receiving
position P1. Furthermore, the article X is transferred by the
transfer mechanism 14 to the affixing position P2 in a state
wherein the transverse seal part X2 or both side parts of the base
part thereof are grasped by the chuck members 45, and is then
affixed to the tape T by the affixing mechanism 16. Accordingly,
any wrinkles or bends of the transverse seal part X2 are remedied,
and it is therefore possible to reliably affix the transverse seal
part X2 and to improve its appearance when affixed.
[0106] In addition, restraining the transverse seal part X2 of the
article X, which was transported by the second and third conveyors
12 and 13, at a prescribed position via the stopper members 113
makes it possible for the transfer mechanism 14 to transfer the
article X to the affixing position P2 in a state wherein a
prescribed location of the article X is stabilized and grasped by
the chuck members 45. As a result, the affixing strength, affixing
position, and the like are further uniformized, and it is therefore
possible to achieve affixing operation that is much more dependable
and to greatly improve the appearance of the article X when
affixed.
[0107] Furthermore, the rotary brushes 96, which sandwiches the
transverse seal part X2 of the article X and rotate from the base
part toward the tip end of the transverse seal part X2, can remedy
any wrinkles or bends in the transverse seal part X2 without
damaging such. As a result, it is possible to improve the affixed
appearance from this perspective as well.
[0108] In addition, because the third conveyor 13 is configured so
that it is capable of switching between the state wherein it
supports the article X (holding state) and the state wherein it
drops the article X downward (dropping state), the transfer stroke
to the affixing position P2 is shortened, which speeds up the
transfer of the article X. Because the lower rotary brush 96 of the
pair of rotary brushes 96 is configured so that it can move in the
direction wherein it retracts from below the transverse seal part
X2, the lower rotary brush 96 moves in a direction wherein it
retracts away from the transverse seal part X2 when dropping the
article X downward, and thereby nothing interferes with the article
X that drops and its transfer is carried out smoothly.
[0109] In addition, because it is possible to change the distance
between the shafts 88, which are the rotary shafts of the pair of
rotary brushes 96, in accordance with a change in the diameter of
the rotary brushes 96, it is possible to accurately respond to, for
example, changes in the thickness of the article X.
[0110] For example, as schematically shown in FIG. 20, when a
bagged article X that has a particularly thick trunk part X' of a
thickness t makes contact with two rotary brushes B.sub.S that each
have a relatively small diameter d.sub.S, the front part of the
trunk part X' may deform as shown by the chain double dashed line.
As a result, it may become difficult for the transferring mechanism
to grasp the transverse seal part X2, or the base part thereof, of
the article X. Furthermore, if the article X is affixed to the tape
in a state wherein its front part is deformed, then it will become
unattractive.
[0111] In that case, as schematically shown in FIG. 21, by using
two rotary brushes B.sub.L, which each have a relatively large
diameter d.sub.L, to handle bagged articles X that have a
particularly thick trunk part X' of thickness t, the front part of
the trunk part X' of each article X that contact the rotary brushes
B.sub.L is properly smoothed from above and below thereby, and
therefore the problem discussed earlier no longer arises. For the
sake of brevity, the stopper members are omitted in FIG. 20 and
FIG. 21.
[0112] In addition, because the two rotary brushes 96 are each
split into a plurality of split brushes 96a (brush portions) spaced
apart in an axial direction of the shafts 88, and stopper members
113 are disposed in the gaps provided between the split brushes
96a, it is possible to avoid enlarging the spacing between the
rotary brushes, which would be a risk if, for example, just one
plate shaped stopper member were disposed between the pair of
rotary brushes. Accordingly, because the thin transverse seal part
X2 is prevented from entering between the stopper members 113 and
one of the rotary brushes 96, it is possible to much more reliably
restrain the transverse seal part X2 at the prescribed position.
Furthermore, because the spacing between the two rotary brushes 96
does not increase, the effect wherein both rotary brushes 96 remedy
any wrinkles or bends of the transverse seal part X2 is
satisfactorily achieved.
[0113] Furthermore, because the top guide member 19 that guides the
transverse seal part X2 to the space between the two rotary brushes
96 is disposed, it is possible to reliably prevent a problem
wherein an article X that is particularly heavy at its rear part is
transported at a particularly high speed by the second and third
conveyors 12 and 13 to the receiving position P1, whereupon the
lighter front part lifts up and the transverse seal part X2 thereby
is not appropriately guided to the space between the two rotary
brushes 96.
[0114] Referring now to FIG. 17, a modified structure of the
wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18 in which the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism 18 is movable in a vertical direction will now be
explained.
[0115] As shown in FIG. 17, a screw rod 132 is rotatably supported
between two upper and lower support members 131, which are attached
to the main body frame 6a, and is threaded so that a block member
133 can be raised and lowered. In addition, a motor 134, wherein
its output shaft is coupled to a lower end part of the screw rod
132, is attached below the lower support member 131. Furthermore,
the wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, which has the stopper members
113 and the two upper and lower rotary brushes 96, is supported by
the block member 133 via a bracket 135, which is L shaped in a side
view.
[0116] Accordingly, when the drive of the motor 134 rotates the
screw rod 132, the block member 133, which is screwed to the screw
rod 132, is raised and lowered as indicated by the arrows A17 and
AA17 between the positions indicated by the solid lines and the
chain double dashed lines. Therefore, the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism 18 is selectively raised and lowered. More specifically,
the vertical positions of the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 are
adjusted between the positions as indicated by, for example, solid
lines and chain double dashed lines.
[0117] Because the vertical positions of the two rotary brushes 96
are adjustable with respect to the second and third conveyors 12
and 13 by the configuration described above, it is possible to
accurately respond to changes in the height position of the
transverse seal part X2 of the article X transported by the second
and third conveyors 12 and 13.
[0118] Furthermore, the above explained an embodiment of the
present invention based on the drawings, but the specific
constitution is not limited to the embodiment illustrated herein,
and it is understood that variations and modifications may be
effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.
[0119] For example, although the upper and lower rotary brushes 96
in the illustrated embodiment have the same diameter, they can have
different diameters. In addition, although the upper and lower
rotary brushes 96 make circumferential contact in the illustrated
embodiment, the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 can be arranged
so that the upper and lower rotary brushes 96 are capable of
overlapping somewhat when viewed in a direction along an axial
direction of the shafts 88. Overlapping the upper and lower rotary
brushes. 96 greatly enhances the wrinkle smoothing effect.
[0120] In addition, in the illustrated embodiments, the stopper
member 113 is installed in each gap between the split brushes 96a
that constitute the rotary brushes 96. However, the stopper member
113 can be installed in just one of the gaps.
[0121] In addition, although the lower rotary brush 96 is retracted
from below the transverse seal part X2 of the article X when the
third conveyor 13 drops the article X downward in the illustrated
embodiment, the lower rotary brush 96 may be configured so that it
pivots downward about the shaft 87, or the upper and lower rotary
brushes 96, i.e., the entire wrinkle smoothing mechanism 18, may be
configured so that they both retract away from the transverse seal
part X2.
[0122] In addition, although a flat plate shaped top guide member
19 is used in the illustrated embodiment, a conveyor system may be
used that is provided with, for example, a round belt or a flat
belt. In such a case, the transport of the article X is made
smoother by equipping the top guide member with transport
power.
[0123] In addition, although the illustrated embodiment was
explained for bagged articles X, the present invention can be
satisfactorily adapted to boxed articles or articles of another
packaging configuration as well. For example, as shown in FIG. 18,
even in the case of a boxed article Z that has a thin header part
Z2 (projected portion), which projects from a trunk part Z' and
constitutes the region that is affixed to the tape T, the position
of the header part Z2 is restrained by the contact between the
header part Z2 and the stopper members 113 of the wrinkle smoothing
mechanism 18. Furthermore, even if there are wrinkles or bends in
the header part Z2, the upper and lower rotary brushes 96
satisfactorily solve these problems.
[0124] Furthermore, for example, in the case of the boxed article Z
discussed above, instead of installing the stopper members 113 in
the upper and lower rotary brushes 96, a stopper member 113' that
contacts the lower part of the tip part of the trunk part Z' of the
article Z may be attached to the side of the third conveyor 13, as
shown by the addition of the chain double dashed lines in FIG. 18,
as a substitute for the stopper members 113. Therefore, the header
part Z2 of the article Z transitions to a free state in the forward
direction, and is drawn through by the upper and lower rotary
brushes 96, which promotes the wrinkle smoothing effect.
[0125] The strip-pack manufacturing apparatus in accordance with
the present invention can be widely adapted to the technical field
of the apparatus.
GENERAL INTERPRETATION OF TERMS
[0126] In understanding the scope of the present invention, the
term "configured" as used herein to describe a component, section
or part of a device includes hardware and/or software that is
constructed and/or programmed to carry out the desired function. In
understanding the scope of the present invention, the term
"comprising" and its derivatives, as used herein, are intended to
be open ended terms that specify the presence of the stated
features, elements, components, groups, integers, and/or steps, but
do not exclude the presence of other unstated features, elements,
components, groups, integers and/or steps. The foregoing also
applies to words having similar meanings such as the terms,
"including", "having" and their derivatives. Also, the terms
"part," "section," "portion," "member" or "element" when used in
the singular can have the dual meaning of a single part or a
plurality of parts. As used herein to describe the present
invention, the following directional terms "forward, rearward,
above, downward, vertical, horizontal, below and transverse" as
well as any other similar directional terms refer to those
directions of the manufacturing system equipped with the present
invention. Accordingly, these terms, as utilized to describe the
present invention should be interpreted relative to the
manufacturing system equipped with the present invention as used in
the normal riding position. Finally, terms of degree such as
"substantially", "about" and "approximately" as used herein mean a
reasonable amount of deviation of the modified term such that the
end result is not significantly changed. For example, these terms
can be construed as including a deviation of at least .+-.5% of the
modified term if this deviation would not negate the meaning of the
word it modifies.
[0127] While only selected embodiments have been chosen to
illustrate the present invention, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from this disclosure that various changes and
modifications can be made herein without departing from the scope
of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore,
the foregoing descriptions of the embodiments according to the
present invention are provided for illustration only, and not for
the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *