U.S. patent application number 12/530055 was filed with the patent office on 2010-04-08 for strip-pack apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to ISHIDA CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Yoshio Iwasaki, Yukio Nakagawa, Akira Yamamoto.
Application Number | 20100083611 12/530055 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39788529 |
Filed Date | 2010-04-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100083611 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nakagawa; Yukio ; et
al. |
April 8, 2010 |
STRIP-PACK APPARATUS
Abstract
A strip-pack apparatus is positioned between an upstream
mechanism and a downstream mechanism and adapted to process
products and to manufacture a strip pack. The strip-pack apparatus
includes a moving mechanism, an affixing mechanism, an operating
mode selecting unit and a control unit. The moving mechanism is
configured and arranged to selectively move the products to an
affixing position or the downstream mechanism. The operating mode
selecting unit is configured and arranged to receive a selection
input for an operating mode between a strip pack manufacturing mode
in which the moving mechanism moves the products to the affixing
position and a product passing mode in which the moving mechanism
moves the products to the downstream mechanism without moving the
products to the affixing position. The control unit is configured
to control operations of the moving mechanism and the affixing
mechanism according to the operating mode that has been
selected.
Inventors: |
Nakagawa; Yukio; (Shiga,
JP) ; Iwasaki; Yoshio; ( Shiga, JP) ;
Yamamoto; Akira; ( Shiga, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GLOBAL IP COUNSELORS, LLP
1233 20TH STREET, NW, SUITE 700
WASHINGTON
DC
20036-2680
US
|
Assignee: |
ISHIDA CO., LTD.
Kyoto
JP
|
Family ID: |
39788529 |
Appl. No.: |
12/530055 |
Filed: |
March 25, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
March 25, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2008/055560 |
371 Date: |
September 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/136.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 57/00 20130101;
B65B 35/24 20130101; B65B 15/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
53/136.1 |
International
Class: |
B65B 15/04 20060101
B65B015/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 27, 2007 |
JP |
2007-080463 |
Claims
1. A strip-pack apparatus positioned between an upstream mechanism
and a downstream mechanism and adapted to process products and to
manufacture a strip pack where the products are affixed to a strip
member, the strip-pack apparatus comprising: a moving mechanism
configured and arranged to selectively move the products that have
been supplied from the upstream mechanism to an affixing position
or the downstream mechanism; an affixing mechanism configured and
arranged to affix the products moved to the affixing position to
the strip member; an operating mode selecting unit configured and
arranged to receive a selection input for an operating mode between
a strip pack manufacturing mode in which the moving mechanism moves
the products to the affixing position and a product passing mode in
which the moving mechanism moves the products to the downstream
mechanism without moving the products to the affixing position; and
a control unit configured to control operations of the moving
mechanism and the affixing mechanism according to the operating
mode that has been selected via the operating mode selecting
unit.
2. The strip-pack apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
moving mechanism includes a conveying unit configured and arranged
to convey the products that have been supplied from the upstream
mechanism to a gripping position, and a gripping unit configured
and arranged to grip the products in the gripping position and to
move the products to the affixing position.
3. The strip-pack apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
moving mechanism includes a first conveying part configured and
arranged to convey the products that have been supplied from the
upstream mechanism to a branching position, a second conveying part
configured and arranged to convey the products from the branching
position toward the affixing position, and a third conveying part
configured and arranged to convey the products from the branching
position toward the downstream mechanism, and the control unit is
configured to control operations of the first conveying part, the
second conveying part and the third conveying part such that, when
the product passing mode has been selected via the operating mode
selecting unit, the products are moved to the downstream mechanism
without being moved to the affixing position.
4. The strip-pack apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the third
conveying part is detachably or movably connected to the first
conveying part in the branching position.
5. The strip-pack apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
moving mechanism includes a conveying unit configured and arranged
to convey the products selectively in a first direction or a second
direction different from the first direction, and the control unit
is configured to drive the conveying unit in the first direction to
move the products toward the affixing position when the strip pack
manufacturing mode has been selected via the operating mode
selecting unit and to drive the conveying unit in the second
direction to move the products toward the downstream mechanism when
the product passing mode has been selected via the operating mode
selecting unit.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a strip-pack apparatus that
manufactures a strip pack where plural products are affixed to a
strip and displayed in a hanging state, and the present invention
belongs to the technical field of strip packs.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Conventionally, displays called strip packs have been known
where plural products having contents such as a snack food enclosed
in packaging bags are affixed to and hung from a strip. These strip
packs have the advantage that they can economize display space and
diversify design and they heighten a customer's desire to buy.
Additionally, as strip-pack apparatus that manufactures such strip
packs, there are the strip-pack apparatus disclosed in patent
document 1 and patent document 2, for example.
[0003] Patent Document 1: JP-A No. 2004-182302
[0004] Patent Document 2: U.S. Pat. No. 3,864,895
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
[0005] The strip-pack apparatus is disposed directly under or in
the vicinity of a transverse sealing apparatus in a bag making and
packaging machine and has a configuration that moves products that
have been supplied from the bag making and packaging machine to an
affixing position where the products are affixed to the strip. For
that reason, when the products that have been supplied are to be
cartoned as they are without being formed into a strip pack, it is
necessary to remove this strip-pack apparatus and install a
cartoning machine instead of the strip-pack apparatus.
Consequently, there has been the problem that the strip-pack
apparatus cannot easily accommodate a change in production planning
that calls for a layout change of apparatus elements.
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
strip-pack apparatus that has excellent versatility and is capable
of appropriately switching between forming and not forming products
that have been supplied from an upstream side into a strip pack
depending on circumstances on a downstream side while ensuring the
manufacture of a strip pack where plural products are affixed to a
strip.
Solution to the Problem
[0007] In order to achieve this object, the present invention is
configured as follows.
[0008] A strip-pack apparatus according to a first aspect of the
present invention comprises moving means, affixing means, operating
mode selecting means and control means, is positioned between an
upstream mechanism and a downstream mechanism that process
products, and manufactures a strip pack where a plurality of the
products are affixed to a strip. The moving means selectively moves
the products that have been supplied from the upstream mechanism to
an affixing position or the downstream mechanism. The affixing
means affixes the products to a strip in the affixing position. The
operating mode selecting means receives a selection between a strip
pack manufacturing mode and a product passing mode. The strip pack
manufacturing mode is an operating mode that causes the moving
means to move the products to the affixing position. The product
passing mode is an operating mode that causes the moving means to
move the products to the downstream mechanism without moving the
products to the affixing position. The control means controls the
driving of the moving means and the affixing means depending on the
operating mode that has been selected via the operating mode
selecting means.
[0009] A strip-pack apparatus according to a second aspect of the
present invention is the strip-pack apparatus according to the
first aspect of the present invention, wherein the moving means
includes conveying means and gripping means. The conveying means
conveys the products that have been supplied from the upstream
mechanism to a gripping position. The gripping means grips the
products in the gripping position and moves the products to the
affixing position.
[0010] A strip-pack apparatus according to a third aspect of the
present invention is the strip-pack apparatus according to the
first aspect of the present invention, wherein the moving means
includes first conveying means, second conveying means and third
conveying means. The first conveying means conveys the products
that have been supplied from the upstream mechanism to a branching
position. The second conveying means conveys the products from the
branching position toward the affixing position. The third
conveying means conveys the products from the branching position
toward the downstream mechanism. The control means controls the
driving of the first conveying means, the second conveying means
and the third conveying means such that, when the product passing
mode has been selected via the operating mode selecting means, the
products are moved to the downstream mechanism without being moved
to the affixing position.
[0011] It will be noted that the first conveying means and the
second conveying means may be integrally formed, the first
conveying means and the third conveying means may be integrally
formed, the second conveying means and the third conveying means
may be integrally formed, or the first conveying means, the second
conveying means and the third conveying means may be integrally
formed.
[0012] A strip-pack apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the
present invention is the strip-pack apparatus according to the
third aspect of the present invention, wherein the third conveying
means is detachably or movably connected to the first conveying
means in the branching position.
[0013] A strip-pack apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the
present invention is the strip-pack apparatus according to the
first aspect of the present invention, wherein the moving means
includes conveying means that is capable of conveying the products
selectively in a first direction or a second direction different
from the first direction. The control means causes the conveying
means to move the products toward the affixing position by driving
the conveying means in the first direction when the strip pack
manufacturing mode has been selected via the operating mode
selecting means and causes the conveying means to move the products
toward the downstream mechanism by driving the conveying means in
the second direction when the product passing mode has been
selected via the operating mode selecting means.
Advantageous Effects of the Invention
[0014] According to the first aspect of the present invention, when
the strip pack manufacturing mode is selected by the operating mode
selecting means, the driving of the moving means and the affixing
means is controlled by the control means, and the primary operation
of the strip-pack apparatus, that is, operation to affix the plural
products to the strip, is executed. In other words, the products
that have been supplied from upstream are moved to the affixing
position and the strip pack is efficiently manufactured. On the
other hand, when the product passing mode is selected, the products
that have been supplied from upstream are delivered as they are
downstream, where, for example, a cartoning machine is disposed,
without being moved to the affixing position. In this manner, there
is realized a strip-pack apparatus that has excellent versatility
and is capable of appropriately switching between forming and not
forming a strip pack depending on circumstances on the downstream
side.
[0015] According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the
third conveying means is detachably or movably disposed
consecutively with the downstream side of the first conveying
means. Consequently, when the product passing mode has been
selected, the third conveying means is kept in the state where it
is disposed consecutively with the downstream side of the first
conveying means, so that the products that have been supplied from
the upstream mechanism are capable of being carried reliably to the
downstream mechanism without being supplied to the affixing
position. Additionally, when the strip pack manufacturing mode is
selected as the operating mode, it suffices to remove this
auxiliary conveying means.
[0016] According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the
conveyance direction of the conveying means included in the moving
means is capable of being switched between a direction (first
direction) where the conveying means is capable of supplying the
products toward the affixing position and a direction (second
direction) where the conveying means is capable of carrying the
products toward the downstream mechanism without supplying the
products toward the affixing position. Consequently, by controlling
the conveyance direction of the conveying means, it becomes
possible to easily switch between the strip pack manufacturing mode
and the product passing mode.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a manufacturing system
according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side view of a strip-pack apparatus.
[0019] FIG. 3(a) is a front view of a strip pack and FIG. 3(b) is a
side view of the strip pack.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control system.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a manufacturing system
according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side view of a strip-pack apparatus.
[0023] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control system.
EXPLANATION OF THE REFERENCE SIGNS
[0024] 1, 100 Strip-pack apparatus [0025] 3 Supply Conveyor (Moving
Means) [0026] 3c Auxiliary Conveyor (Moving Means) [0027] 4
Introduction Conveyor (Moving Means) [0028] 5 Drop Conveyor (Moving
Means) [0029] 8 Gripping Unit (Gripping Means) [0030] 9 Affixing
Unit (Affixing Means) [0031] 20 Control Unit (Control Means) [0032]
30 Operating Mode Selection Switch (Operation Mode Selecting Means)
[0033] C Cartoning Machine (Downstream Mechanism) [0034] SP Strip
Pack [0035] T Tape (Strip) [0036] X Bag (Product)
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0037] Below, embodiments of the present invention will be
described.
[0038] The system shown in FIG. 1 represents an overview of a
manufacturing system A1 according to a first embodiment of the
present invention. In this system A1, a combination weighing device
W, a bag making and packaging machine P, a strip-pack apparatus 1
and a cartoning machine C are disposed in order from an upstream
side. As described in detail below, the strip-pack apparatus 1 is
configured to manufacture a strip pack SP or to allow products X to
pass therethrough as they are without manufacturing the strip pack
SP depending on apparatus disposed on a downstream side.
[0039] The combination weighing device W respectively weighs the
weights of goods that have been placed in plural measuring hoppers,
performs combination calculation on the basis of these weighing
values, selects a combination of weighing values that become the
closest weight to a target value within a predetermined weight
range, and discharges the goods from only the measuring hoppers
corresponding to that selected combination to thereby obtain a set
of goods with the target weight. Further, the bag making and
packaging machine P forms a soft packaging material such as a
plastic film into a tubular form, places the goods therein and
simultaneously heat-seals the top and bottom of that tubular object
to thereby package, as contents, the goods that are discharged from
the combination weighing device W. Additionally, the cartoning
machine C packs the products X that have been manufactured by the
combination weighing device W and the bag making and packaging
machine P into cardboard boxes, and an apparatus with an
appropriate configuration is applicable.
[0040] A strip-pack apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is an example of the
strip-pack apparatus 1. This strip-pack apparatus 1 affixes the
plural products X to a tape to manufacture the strip pack SP and
includes a body unit 2, a supply conveyor 3 to which the products X
are supplied from an upstream apparatus, an introduction conveyor 4
that introduces, to the inside of the apparatus 1, the products X
that have been supplied by this supply conveyor 3, a drop conveyor
5 that is positioned on a terminal end portion of this introduction
conveyor 4, a discharge conveyor 6 that discharges, to a downstream
apparatus, the strip pack SP that has been manufactured by the
apparatus 1, a brush unit 7 for smoothing out wrinkles in end
portions of the products X that have been introduced to the inside
of the apparatus 1, a gripping unit 8 for gripping the end portions
of the products X, an affixing unit 9 for affixing the products X
at the end portions to the tape, and a tape feeding unit 10 for
feeding the tape synchronously with the affixing operation by the
affixing unit 9. Here, a roll 11 of the tape is disposed in the
upper portion of the body unit 2. It will be noted that the
apparatus 1 has a configuration that is independent from upstream
apparatus and downstream apparatus and has high versatility.
[0041] Further, a metal detector 3a is supported on the body unit 2
and is annexed to the supply conveyor 3 so as to surround a
conveyance path of the products X. This metal detector 3a detects
metal foreign bodies that are mixed inside packaging bags Y of the
products X when the products X pass through a magnetic field.
Additionally, an air nozzle 3b for spraying air and removing the
products X being conveyed from the conveyance path is annexed to
one side in the vicinity of the downstream end of the supply
conveyor 3. Moreover, an auxiliary conveyor 3c that serves as
auxiliary conveying means that conveys the products X in the
direction of arrow D1 is configured to extend the downstream end
portion of the supply conveyor 3 and is detachably disposed
consecutively with the body unit 2. And a receiving conveyor that
supplies the products X to the cartoning machine C is installed
consecutively with the downstream side of this auxiliary conveyor
3c. It will be noted that, in the example in the drawing, the
receiving conveyor configures part of this cartoning machine C.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 3, the strip pack SP that is manufactured
by the strip-pack apparatus 1 is one where a plurality (in the
example in the drawing, three) of the products X, in which a snack
food is enclosed as contents in the packaging bags Y made of a
plastic film, are affixed in an aligned state to an elongate tape T
at seal portions Z on the top sides of the products X. A punch hole
t1 for fastening and displaying the strip pack SP in a hanging
state is formed in one end of the tape T.
[0043] Next, a control system of this strip-pack apparatus 1 will
be described.
[0044] As shown in FIG. 4, the strip-pack apparatus 1 is equipped
with a control unit 20 that controls the entire apparatus, and this
control unit 20 outputs control signals to the supply conveyor 3,
the auxiliary conveyor 3c, the introduction conveyor 4, the drop
conveyor 5, the discharge conveyor 6, the brush unit 7, the
gripping unit 8, the affixing unit 9 and the tape feeding unit 10.
Further, this control unit 20 is connected to an operating mode
selection switch 30 and controls the driving of each of the
conveyors 3 to 6 and 3c and each of the units 7 to 10 such that
they operate in the operating mode that has been selected by the
operating mode selection switch 30. Included in the operating modes
are a strip pack manufacturing mode that serves the function of
manufacturing the strip pack, which is the primary function of the
strip-pack apparatus 1, and a product passing mode that allows the
products X that have been supplied from the bag making and
packaging machine P on the upstream side to pass through as they
are to the cartoning machine C on the downstream side without
conveying those products X to a gripping position.
[0045] Further, the control unit 20 receives a detection signal
from the metal detector 3a and determines whether the products X
are normal products or abnormal products on the basis of this
detection signal. Additionally, when one of the products X is an
abnormal product, the control unit 20 actuates and controls the air
nozzle 3b such that the air nozzle 3b removes that product X to the
side of the conveyance path.
[0046] Next, an example of the operation of the strip-pack
apparatus 1 will be described.
[0047] First, when the manufactured products X are to be formed
into the strip pack SP, an operator flips up the upstream end side
of the auxiliary conveyor 3c or removes the entire auxiliary
conveyor 3c from the body unit 2 and selects the strip pack
manufacturing mode with the operating mode selection switch 30.
Then, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the products X that have been
manufactured by the combination weighing device W and the bag
making and packaging machine P on the upstream side and have been
carried into the strip-pack apparatus 1 undergo inspection by the
metal detector 3a while being conveyed in the direction of arrow D1
by the supply conveyor 3 above. When it is determined that the
products X are normal products, the products X are conveyed as they
are in the direction of arrow D1, and when it is determined that
the products X are abnormal products, the air nozzle 3b is actuated
and the products X are removed to the side of the conveyance
path.
[0048] Next, wrinkles in the end portions, that is, the seal
portions, of the products X that have been determined to be normal
products, have dropped from the supply conveyor 3 onto the
introduction conveyor 4 below and have been conveyed to the
gripping position in the direction of arrow D2 by the introduction
conveyor 4 and the drop conveyor 5 are smoothed out by the brush
unit 7, and the products X are moved diagonally downward of the
front side in the conveyance direction D2 in a state where the end
portions are gripped by the gripping unit 8. At this time, the drop
conveyor 5 slants such that its front side in the conveyance
direction D2 becomes lower.
[0049] Then, the plural products X are affixed by the affixing unit
9 in an affixing position to the tape T that has been let out by
the tape feeding unit 10 from the tape roll 11 supported on the
body unit 2 and fed to the affixing position, whereby the strip
pack SP is manufactured. The strip pack SP that has been
manufactured is delivered to the discharge conveyor 6 while sliding
down on a slanted receiver 13 and is conveyed by this conveyor 6 in
the direction of arrow D3.
[0050] On the other hand, when the manufactured products X are to
be cartoned, the operator selects the product passing mode with the
operating mode selection switch 30 and attaches the auxiliary
conveyor 3c to the body unit 2. Thus, the products X that are
conveyed by the supply conveyor 3 are delivered as they are to the
auxiliary conveyor 3c and are conveyed in the downstream direction.
Additionally, the control unit 20 performs control so as to stop
the driving of all of the conveyors 4 to 6 and the units 7 to 10.
Consequently, when the products X that have been supplied from the
upstream side are determined to be normal products by the metal
detector 3a, the products X are conveyed in the direction of arrow
D1 and are delivered as they are, without being formed into the
strip pack SP, from the supply conveyor 3 and the auxiliary
conveyor 3c to the cartoning machine C on the downstream side.
Additionally, when the products X are determined to be abnormal
products, the air nozzle 3b is actuated and the products X are
removed to the side of the conveyance path.
[0051] Further, when inspection by the metal detector 3a is stopped
and the air nozzle 3b is not actuated, the strip-pack apparatus 1
can be made to function as simple conveying means that delivers the
products X that have been supplied from the bag making and
packaging machine P on the upstream side to the cartoning machine C
on the downstream side.
[0052] That is, the course of the products X in the strip-pack
apparatus 1 branches at the downstream end of the supply conveyor
3. When the strip pack manufacturing mode is selected, the products
X are conveyed by the conveyors 4 and 5 toward the affixing
position where the affixing operation by the affixing unit 9 is
performed, and when the product passing mode is selected, the
products X are conveyed by the conveyor 3c toward the cartoning
machine C.
[0053] Next, a second embodiment will be described. It will be
noted that, in order to simplify description, the same reference
signs will be added to components that are the same as or similar
to components that have been mentioned above, and description of
those same or similar components will be omitted.
[0054] A manufacturing system shown in FIG. 5 is a manufacturing
system A2 according to the second embodiment of the present
invention. In this system A2, the combination weighing device W,
the bag making and packaging machine P, a strip-pack apparatus 100
and the cartoning machine C are disposed in order from an upstream
side. The strip-pack apparatus 100 is, like the strip-pack
apparatus 1 in the first embodiment, configured to be capable of
selecting whether or not to manufacture the strip pack SP depending
on apparatus disposed on a downstream side.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 6, in the strip-pack apparatus 100, the
metal detector 3a and the air nozzle 3b are annexed to the supply
conveyor 3, but extension by the auxiliary conveyor 3c is omitted.
Further, the introduction conveyor 4 has a structure where a belt
is wrapped around rollers that are capable of forward and reverse
rotation, and the conveyance direction thereof is configured to be
switchable by the control unit 20. That is, the introduction
conveyor 4 can convey the products X in the direction of arrow D2
and in the opposite direction of arrow D4. The cartoning machine C
is disposed consecutively with the end portion of this introduction
conveyor 4 on the opposite side of the drop conveyor 5. It will be
noted that other configurations are the same as the configurations
of the strip-pack apparatus 1 in the first embodiment, so detailed
description thereof will be omitted.
[0056] As shown in FIG. 7, the strip-pack apparatus 100 is equipped
with the control unit 20 that controls the entire apparatus, and
this control unit 20 outputs control signals to the supply conveyor
3, the introduction conveyor 4, the drop conveyor 5, the discharge
conveyor 6, the brush unit 7, the gripping unit 8, the affixing
unit 9 and the tape feeding unit 10. Further, this control unit 20
is connected to the operating mode selection switch 30 and controls
the driving of each of the conveyors 3 to 6 and each of the units 7
to 10 such that they operate in the operating mode that has been
selected by the operating mode selection switch 30. The operating
modes are as has been mentioned above.
[0057] Further, the control unit 20 receives a detection signal
from the metal detector 3a and determines whether the products X
are normal products or abnormal products on the basis of this
detection signal. Additionally, when one of the products X is an
abnormal product, the control unit 20 actuates and controls the air
nozzle 3b such that the air nozzle 3b removes that product X to the
side of the conveyance path.
[0058] Next, an example of the operation of the strip-pack
apparatus 100 will be described.
[0059] First, when the manufactured products X are to be formed
into the strip pack SP, the operator selects the strip pack
manufacturing mode with the operating mode selection switch 30.
Then, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the products X that have been
manufactured by the combination weighing device W and the bag
making and packaging machine P on the upstream side and have been
carried into the strip-pack apparatus 100 undergo inspection by the
metal detector 3a while being conveyed in the direction of arrow D1
by the supply conveyor 3 above. When it is determined that the
products X are normal products, the products X are conveyed as they
are in the direction of arrow D1, and when it is determined that
the products X are abnormal products, the air nozzle 3b is actuated
and the products X are removed to the side of the conveyance
path.
[0060] Next, the products X that have been determined to be normal
products and have dropped from the supply conveyor 3 onto the
introduction conveyor 4 are conveyed to the gripping position in
the direction of arrow D2 by the introduction conveyor 4 and the
drop conveyor 5, but the operation hereinafter is the same as the
operation in the first embodiment, so description thereof will be
omitted.
[0061] On the other hand, when the manufactured products X are to
be cartoned, the operator selects the product passing mode with the
operating mode selection switch 30. In this case, the control unit
20 stops the driving of all of the conveyors 5 and 6 and the units
7 to 10 and controls the introduction conveyor 4 such that the
introduction conveyor 4 conveys the products X in the direction of
arrow D4. Consequently, when the products X that have been supplied
from the upstream side are determined to be normal products by the
metal detector 3a, the products X are conveyed in the direction of
arrow D1, thereafter drop onto the introduction conveyor 4, and are
conveyed by this introduction conveyor 4 in the direction of arrow
D4, so the products X are delivered as they are, without being
formed into the strip pack SP, from the introduction conveyor 4 to
the cartoning machine C on the downstream side. Additionally, when
the products X are determined to be abnormal products, the air
nozzle 3b is actuated and the products X are removed to the side of
the conveyance path.
[0062] Further, when inspection by the metal detector 3a is stopped
and the air nozzle 3b is not actuated, the strip-pack apparatus 100
can be made to function as simple conveying means that delivers the
products X that have been supplied from the bag making and
packaging machine P on the upstream side to the cartoning machine C
on the downstream side.
[0063] Because the strip-pack apparatus is configured as described
above, first, when the strip pack manufacturing mode is selected by
the operating mode selection switch 30 in order to form the
manufactured products X into the strip pack SP, the driving of the
supply conveyor 3, the gripping unit 8 and the affixing unit 9 is
controlled by the control unit 20, and the primary operation of the
strip-pack apparatus 1 and 100 is executed. As a result, the
products X that have been supplied from the upstream side are
conveyed to the gripping position and the strip pack SP is
efficiently manufactured. On the other hand, when the product
passing mode is selected in order to carton the manufactured
products X, the products X that have been supplied from the
upstream side are conveyed as they are to the downstream side
without being conveyed to the gripping position, so the strip-pack
apparatus 1 and 100 function as apparatus that deliver the products
X that have been received from the upstream side as they are to the
cartoning machine C. In this manner, there are realized the
strip-pack apparatus 1 and 100 that have excellent versatility and
are capable of appropriately switching between forming and not
forming the products X that have been supplied from the upstream
side into the strip pack depending on a request on the downstream
side.
[0064] In that case, as in the first embodiment, the auxiliary
conveyor 3c can be detachably disposed consecutively with the
downstream side of the supply conveyor 3 or can be given a flip-up
configuration. For that reason, when the product passing mode has
been selected as the operating mode, the products X that have been
supplied from the upstream side can be reliably conveyed to the
downstream side by the auxiliary conveyor 3c with this
configuration without being conveyed to the gripping position.
Additionally, when the strip pack manufacturing mode has been
selected as the operating mode, it suffices to remove or flip up
this auxiliary conveyor 3c.
[0065] In the second embodiment, the introduction conveyor 4 that
is capable of being driven in a direction where it is capable of
supplying the products X to the gripping position or a direction
where it is capable of carrying the products X to the downstream
side without supplying the products X to the gripping position is
disposed on the downstream side and below the supply conveyor 3.
Therefore, by controlling this introduction conveyor 4, it becomes
possible to easily switch between when the strip pack manufacturing
mode has been selected and when the product passing mode has been
selected as the operating mode.
[0066] It will be noted that the present invention is not limited
to the preceding embodiments that have been specifically described
and various changes to the described embodiments may be made within
the spirits of the present invention.
[0067] For example, in the first embodiment, the auxiliary conveyor
3c is capable of being disposed between the supply conveyor 3 and
the cartoning machine C, but instead of this, the cartoning machine
C may also be configured so as to be movable such that it moves
close to the downstream end portion of the supply conveyor 3.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0068] As described above, according to the present invention,
there is realized a strip-pack apparatus that has excellent
versatility and is capable of appropriately switching between
forming and not forming products into a strip pack depending on
circumstances on a downstream side while ensuring the efficient
manufacture of a strip pack where plural products are affixed to a
strip. That is, the present invention is widely suited to the
technical field of strip packs.
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