JP2008120439A - Paper container flap inspection device and paper container flap inspection method - Google Patents

Abstract

A paper container flap inspection apparatus and a paper container flap inspection method capable of reliably preventing shipment of a paper container having a defective flap are provided.
[Solution]
The paper container 30 moves on the conveyor 35 with one side surface 30a directed in the traveling direction. A paper container flap inspection device 36 for inspecting the fixed state of the upper flap 31 fixed to the side surface 30 a of the paper container 30 includes a detection means 37, a control means 38, and a discharge means 39. The detection means 37 is not in contact with the paper container 30 and is provided in the vicinity of the upper flap 31 in parallel with the side surface 30a and the top surface 30c of the paper container 30 and the side surface 30a of the paper container 30 above the upper flap 31. And a second detector 42 provided in a vertical direction with the top surface 30c. The first detection unit 41 is a transmission type photoelectric switch using a light emitting element unit 41a, a light receiving element unit 41b, and an optical axis 41c, and the second detection unit 42 is a photoelectric switch using a reflection type optical axis 42a.
[Selection] Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a flap inspection of a brick-shaped paper container, and relates to a technique of a paper container flap inspection apparatus and a paper container flap inspection method for inspecting a fixed state of an upper flap on a conveyor.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, paper containers made of a paper base material filled with liquid food such as milk and soft drinks are commercially available. Such a paper container manufacturing method is known from Patent Document 1.

According to Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 9, a web-like packaging material is continuously longitudinally sealed SS2 in a filling machine (not shown) into a tube shape, and after the liquid food is filled, the horizontal seal SS1 is sealed. Further, a flap SS3 formed by folding the transverse seal SS1 is fixed to the side surface 2 of the original container thus separated, and the brick-shaped paper container 1 is completed. At this time, the upper flap SS3 is fixed to the side surface 2 by thermocompression bonding between the resins covering the paper container 1. A lower flap (not shown) is folded into the bottom surface of the paper container 1.
JP 2002-307575 A

  However, although extremely rare, as shown in FIG. 10, the paper container 1 in a state where the upper flap SS3 is not fixed to the side surface 2 and the gap 3 is generated between the side surface 2 may occur. Such a defective flap has no problem with the filled liquid food, but has a problem of poor shape quality.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and is a paper container flap inspection that can detect the upper flap that is not fixed to the side surface and reliably prevent the shipment of a defective paper container. An object is to provide an apparatus and a paper container flap inspection method.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a packaging material in which a paper base material is covered with a thermoplastic resin is vertically sealed to form a cylindrical packaging material. The cylindrical packaging material is filled with a content liquid, and both end portions are laterally sealed. A pair of upper flaps and a pair of lower flaps formed by folding the horizontal seal are fixed to the packaging material to form a brick-shaped paper container, and the pair of upper flaps are A paper container flap inspection device configured to be fixed to both side surfaces of a paper container, and inspecting the fixed state of the upper flap while the paper container moves on the conveyor with the top surface upward and the side surface in the traveling direction, A detection comprising a first detection unit provided parallel to the side surface and the top surface of the paper container and a second detection unit provided perpendicularly to the top surface of the paper container above the upper flap aiming at a substantially central position of the upper flap And a feeling of the paper container detected by the detecting means A storage processing unit for storing a start signal and a detection end signal; a full width calculation processing unit for calculating a full width including an upper flap of the paper container using the detection start signal and the detection end signal; and Control means comprising a width comparison processing unit that determines whether or not the upper flap is firmly fixed in comparison with the reference width, and a discharge instruction unit that instructs discharge from the conveyor based on the quality determination of the upper flap, A discharge means for discharging the defective paper container based on the discharge instruction is provided.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the paper container flap inspection apparatus according to the first aspect, wherein the first detection unit is a transmissive photoelectric switch and the second detection unit is a reflective photoelectric switch. It is said.

  According to the invention of claim 3, a packaging material in which a paper base material is covered with a thermoplastic resin is vertically sealed to form a cylindrical packaging material. The cylindrical packaging material is filled with a content liquid, and both end portions are laterally sealed. A pair of upper flaps and a pair of lower flaps formed by further folding the transverse seal on the sealed pillow-shaped packaging material are fixed to the packaging material to form a brick-shaped paper container, and the pair of upper flaps are A paper container flap inspection method, wherein the paper container is fixed to both side surfaces of the paper container, and the paper container flap inspection method inspects the fixed state of the upper flap while the paper container moves on the conveyor with the top surface facing upward in the direction of travel. A first detection step provided parallel to the side surface and the top surface of the paper container aiming at a substantially central position of the upper flap, a second detection step provided perpendicular to the top surface of the paper container above the upper flap, Detection start signal of the paper container detected in the detection process A storage processing step for storing a sensing end signal, a full width calculation processing step for calculating a full width including the upper flap of the paper container using the sensing start signal and the sensing end signal, and the full width as a reference width of the paper container. A width comparison process step for determining whether the upper flap is firmly fixed, a discharge instruction step for instructing discharge from the conveyor based on the upper flap determination, and discharging a defective paper container based on the discharge instruction It is characterized by comprising a discharge process.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the first detector provided parallel to the side surface and the top surface of the paper container aiming at the substantially center position of the upper flap, and the top surface of the paper container perpendicular to the top surface of the paper container Since the state of the upper flap is detected by two sets of detection units including the second detection unit provided, the detection reliability is improved, and a defective paper container can be reliably discharged from the conveyor.

  According to the invention of claim 2, since the first detection unit is a transmission type photoelectric switch and the second detection unit is a reflection type photoelectric switch, in a state where the upper flap is slightly peeled from the side surface, The first detection unit can detect the side surface of the paper container and the upper flap in a separated state.

  In addition, when the upper flap is peeled away from the side, the overall width of the paper container including the upper flap is wider than the width of the normal paper container by the reflective second detection unit that detects the upper flap from above. Can be detected.

  Thus, since the inspection performance is improved by taking advantage of the characteristics of the two types of photoelectric switches, the reliability of detection is improved, and the same effect as that of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained with certainty.

<Embodiment of the present invention>
Below, 1st embodiment of this invention is described based on FIGS.

<Configuration of paper container flap inspection device>
First, the manufacturing process of the brick-shaped (cuboid shape) paper container 30 inspected using the paper container flap inspection apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

  The packaging material 11 of the paper container 30 is formed of an outer layer 14, a paper base 13, a barrier layer 15, adhesive layers 14a and 14b, and an innermost layer 14c from the surface side to the inner surface side of the packaging container. The outer layer 14, the adhesive layers 14a and 14b, and the innermost layer 14c are made of thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene or ethylene copolymer, and the barrier layer 15 is made of aluminum foil or the like.

  The strip-shaped packaging material 11 is set in a packaging material feeding portion 18 in a reel state, and is fed from the packaging material feeding portion 18 into the filling machine 17.

  The wrapping material 11 is gradually and continuously curved by a forming ring (not shown) while being guided by the roller 19, and then a vertical seal 21 is formed by the vertical seal device 20 to form a cylindrical wrapping material 22.

  And while the cylindrical packaging material 22 is conveyed below, content liquids 24, such as milk and a soft drink, are supplied from the upper direction through the pipe 23 for filling. Further, the cylindrical packaging material 22 is continuously sealed at a predetermined interval by the horizontal sealing device 25 and then separated, whereby a pillow-shaped packaging material 27 sealed with the horizontal seal 26 is formed.

  Further, the pillow-shaped packaging material 27 is formed in a brick-shaped (cuboid shape) paper container 30 by a molding device (not shown). Here, a pair of upper flaps 31 formed by folding the horizontal seal 26 on the top surface 30 c side of the paper container 30 are formed on the side surface 30 a of the paper container 30, and a pair of lower flaps 32 formed by folding the horizontal seal 26 on the bottom surface 30 b side. Each is fixed to the bottom surface 30b by thermocompression bonding.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the paper container 30 has the bottom surface 30b abutted on the conveyor 35 and the top surface 30c facing upward, and the one side surface 30a is directed in the traveling direction indicated by the arrow 34, etc. Move at high speed.

  And the paper container flap test | inspection apparatus 36 which test | inspects the adhering state of the upper flap 31 fixed to the side surface 30a of the paper container 30 is provided. The paper container flap inspection device 36 includes a detection unit 37, a control unit 38, and a discharge unit 39.

  The detection means 37 is a non-contact type, and the first detection unit 41 aims at the position of the length P1 downward from the top surface 30c, which is a substantially central position of the upper flap 31, and the side surface 30a and the top surface 30c of the paper container 30. Are provided in parallel. The second detection unit 42 is provided above the paper container 30 and perpendicular to the top surface 30c, aiming at the position of the lateral seal 26 of the upper flap 31.

  The first detection unit 41 is a transmission type photoelectric switch using a light emitting element unit 41a, a light receiving element unit 41b, and an optical axis 41c, and the second detection unit 42 is a photoelectric switch using a reflection type optical axis 42a.

  Here, the detection unit in the first detection unit 41 and the second detection unit 42 is time (seconds), but since the conveyor 35 is constant speed, the relationship between the detection time T and the width W in the traveling direction of the paper container 30 is directly proportional. To do. Assuming that the speed of the conveyor 35 is K (mm / second), W = K × T.

  The normal paper container 30 is formed such that the reference width W1 of the paper container 30 and the width W3 between the pair of upper flaps 31 are substantially the same. For this reason, when the width W3 of the upper flap 31 is larger than the reference width W1, the paper container 30 is determined to be defective because the upper flap 31 is away from the side surface 30a.

  The paper container 30 determined to be defective is discharged from the conveyor 35 in the direction perpendicular to the compressed air 39a of the ejector by the discharge means 39 as indicated by an arrow 40.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the optical axis 41c of the photoelectric switch of the first detection unit 41 is positioned at a length P1 downward from the top surface 30c so that the paper container 30 and the upper flap 31 can be inspected simultaneously. Is provided.

  The front end 31a of the upper flap 31 in the traveling direction is now separated from the side surface 30a by a length G1. In this state, since the inspection by the first detection unit 41 is preferentially performed, the inspection result by the second detection unit 42 (optical axis 42a) is not used.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the optical axis 41c of the first detection unit 41 is shielded between the side surfaces 30a of the paper container 30 and the upper flap 31 in conjunction with the movement of the paper container 30, and the photoelectric switch is turned off. It becomes a state. For this reason, it becomes a waveform in which a gap Q exists between the position 31b where the optical axis 41c intersects the upper flap 31 and the side surface 30a, and the total width W2 = W1 + Q. More specifically, the full width W2 or the like in the waveform does not represent the actual length W2 of the paper container 30, but is displayed as a corresponding position.

  When the upper flap 31 is normally fixed to the paper container 30, as shown in FIG. 5C, the space between both side surfaces 30a shielded by the paper container 30 is turned OFF, and the width W1 of this OFF is the paper container. It is the same as 30 reference widths W1.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, when the tip 31a of the upper flap 31 is further away from the side surface 30a and above the optical axis 41c of the photoelectric switch of the first detection unit 41, the detection by the first detection unit 41 is performed. Is impossible, and is detected by the reflective second detection unit 42.

  Now, as shown in FIG. 6B, when the paper container 30 is in a normal state, the optical axis 42a of the second detection unit 42 does not hit the upper flap 31, so that it is ON between both side surfaces 30a reflected by the paper container 30. This width W1 is the same as the reference width W1 of the paper container 30.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 6C, when the paper container 30 is defective, the tip 31a of the upper flap 31 in a state of being separated from the side surface 30a is detected by the optical axis 42a of the second detector 42, and the photoelectric switch Since the full width W3 of ON is wider than the reference width W1 of the paper container 30, the abnormality of the upper flap 31 can be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the front end detection times T1 and T3 as the sensing start signals of the paper container 30 detected by the first detection unit 41 and the second detection unit 42 of the detection means 37 and the rear end detection time as the sensing end signal T2 and T4 are stored in the storage processing unit 45.

  In the full width calculation processing unit 46, the full widths W2 and W3 are obtained from the required times from the front end detection times T1 and T3 to the rear end detection times T2 and T4.

  Next, the width comparison processing unit 47 compares the total widths W2 and W3 with the reference width W1 to determine whether the upper flap 31 of the paper container 30 is firmly attached.

  The discharge instruction unit 48 instructs the discharge means 39 to discharge the defective paper container 30 from the conveyor. Compressed air is used for the discharge means 39. Further, a display unit 49 for displaying the instructed discharge contents is provided.

  The storage processing unit 45, the full width calculation processing unit 46, the width comparison processing unit 47, the discharge instruction unit 48, and the display unit 49 are integrated into a small sequencer as the control means 38.

  The operation will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. First, in step S1, the paper container flap inspection device 36 is started.

  In step S2, the reference width W1 of the normal paper container is input. The reference width W1 is set in advance based on a detection value obtained by the detection means 37 when a normal paper container 30 is caused to flow on a conveyor.

  In step S3, the initial value of the discharged paper container 30 is set to N = 0.

  In step S4, the front end detection time T1 of the upper flap 31 detected by the first detection unit 41 is stored. In step S5, the rear end detection time T2 of the upper flap detected by the first detection unit is stored.

  In step S6, the full width W2 is calculated using the trailing edge detection time T2 and the leading edge detection time T1, and W2 = K (T2−T1) is stored as the full width W2 in the upper flap 31 of the paper container.

  In step S7, the stored reference width W1 and full width W2 of the paper container are compared. If W2> W1, it is determined that the product is defective and the process proceeds to step S8.

  In step S8, the total number of discharged paper containers is calculated. Since N = 0, N = N + 1 = 1 and N = 1 is displayed on the display unit 49.

  In step S9, the defective paper container is discharged. Since the time until the paper container moves to the discharge position is measured by a counter (not shown), the defective paper container is surely discharged at the discharge operation position. Can do.

  If W2> W1 is not satisfied in step S7, the process further proceeds to step S10, and the determination in the second detection unit 42 is additionally performed.

  In step S10, the front end detection time T3 of the upper flap 31 detected by the second detection unit 42 is stored. In step S11, the rear end detection time T4 of the upper flap 31 detected by the second detection unit 42 is stored.

  In step S12, the full width W3 is calculated from the trailing end detection time T4 and the leading end detection time T3, and W3 = K (T4-T3) is stored as the full width W3 in the upper flap 31 of the paper container 30.

  In step S13, the stored reference width W1 and full width W3 of the paper container 30 are compared. If W3> W1, it is determined that the reference is not satisfied, and the process proceeds to step S8 and subsequent steps. When W3> W1 is not satisfied, both the inspection results of the first detection unit 41 and the second detection unit 42 are within the reference width W1, so it is determined that the product is non-defective, and the next paper container inspection is performed.

<Operation of paper container flap inspection device>
When the upper flap 31 is away from the side surface 30a and above the optical axis 41c of the photoelectric switch of the first detection unit 41, the optical axis 41c does not intersect with the upper flap 31. It is impossible to detect defects due to the above.

  However, the second detection unit 42 can detect the upper flap 31 because the optical axis 42 a of the reflective photoelectric switch is provided aiming at the top surface 30 c of the paper container 30.

  As described above, since the double inspection can be performed by making use of the characteristics of the two types of photoelectric switches, the reliability of the inspection can be reliably increased without overlooking the state of the upper flap 31. No visual inspection by the operator is required, and inspection is not missed by 100% inspection. An expensive device such as a CCD camera is unnecessary, and an equivalent device can be obtained by an inexpensive device.

  The embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes and the like within the scope of the present invention are included in the present invention. It is.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 8, if W2> W1 in step S7, it is determined that the product is defective, and the process proceeds to step S8. Even in this case, the calculations from step S10 to step S12 are performed as a reference. By constantly referring to the fact that the obtained full width W3 and full width W2 are the same, the reliability of the detecting means 37 can be constantly monitored and confirmed, so that the reliability of the inspection is further improved.

  Instead of the first detector being a transmissive photoelectric switch and the second detector being a reflective photoelectric switch, the first detector may be a reflective photoelectric switch and the second detector may be a transmissive photoelectric switch. .

  Since the detection unit in the first detection unit 41 and the second detection unit 42 is time (seconds) and the conveyor 35 is constant speed and K (mm / second), the detection time T and the width W in the traveling direction of the paper container 30 are as follows. However, if it is not necessary to confirm the actual width W of the paper container, the paper container flap inspection device 36 can perform the calculation process using only the detection time T.

  The conveyor on which the paper container moves is preferably in a horizontal state, but may be inclined within a range where the paper container can move stably.

  The shape of the paper container is not limited, and can be similarly applied to various shapes such as a paper container having a quadrangular top and bottom surface and an octagonal body portion.

It is a perspective view of a paper container in an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the packaging material of a paper container in embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the manufacturing state of the paper container in embodiment of this invention. In embodiment of this invention, (a) is the arrangement | positioning front view of the paper container and paper container flap inspection apparatus which move on a conveyor, (b) is an arrangement | positioning top view. In embodiment of this invention, (a) is a front view which shows the state in which an upper flap is detected by the 1st detection part, (b) is a signal output figure which shows the state in which an upper flap is bad, (c) is the first It is a signal output figure which shows a state with a normal upper flap by a detection part. In embodiment of this invention, (a) is a front view which shows the state in which an upper flap is detected by a 2nd detection part, (b) is a signal output figure which shows a state with an upper flap normal by a 2nd detection part, ( c) is a signal output diagram showing a state in which the upper flap is defective. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the paper container flap inspection apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart figure which shows operation | movement of the paper container flap inspection apparatus in embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the state of upper flap SS3 of a paper container in a prior art example. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 10, in which a gap 3 is generated between one upper flap SS3 and the side surface 2.

Explanation of symbols

30 Paper container 30a Side surface 30c Top surface 31 Upper flap 35 Conveyor 36 Paper container flap inspection device 37 Detection means 38 Control means 39 Discharge means 41 First detection part 41a Light emitting element part 41b Light receiving element part 41c Optical axis 42 Second detection part 42a optical axis

Claims (3)

Pillow-shaped packaging in which a packaging material in which a paper base material is covered with a thermoplastic resin is vertically sealed to form a cylindrical packaging material. A brick-shaped paper container is formed by fixing a pair of upper flaps and a pair of lower flaps formed by folding the transverse seal to the packaging material,
The pair of upper flaps are fixed to both side surfaces of the paper container, and the state of the upper flaps is inspected while the paper container moves on the conveyor with the top surface upward and the side surfaces moving in the traveling direction. Paper container flap inspection device
A detection comprising a first detection unit provided parallel to the side surface and the top surface of the paper container and a second detection unit provided perpendicularly to the top surface of the paper container above the upper flap aiming at a substantially central position of the upper flap Means,
A storage processing unit for storing a sensing start signal and a sensing end signal of the paper container detected by the detection means, and a full width for calculating a full width including the upper flap of the paper container using the sensing start signal and the sensing end signal An arithmetic processing unit, a width comparison processing unit that compares the full width with a reference width of the paper container to determine whether the upper flap is firmly attached, and a discharge that instructs discharge from the conveyor based on the determination of the upper flap. A control means comprising an instruction unit;
A paper container flap inspection apparatus comprising a discharge means for discharging a defective paper container based on the discharge instruction.   2. The paper container flap inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first detection unit is a transmission type photoelectric switch and the second detection unit is a reflection type photoelectric switch. .   Pillow-shaped packaging material in which a packaging material in which a paper base material is covered with a thermoplastic resin is vertically sealed to form a cylindrical packaging material, the cylindrical packaging material is filled with the content liquid, and both ends are sealed laterally A pair of upper flaps and a pair of lower flaps formed by folding the horizontal seal are fixed to the packaging material to form a brick-shaped paper container, and the pair of upper flaps are fixed to both side surfaces of the paper container. The paper container flap inspection method for inspecting the fixed state of the upper flap while the paper container moves on the conveyor with the top surface upward and the side surface in the advancing direction is aimed at a substantially central position of the upper flap. A detection step comprising a first detection step provided parallel to the side surface and the top surface of the paper container, and a second detection step provided perpendicularly to the top surface of the paper container above the upper flap, and the detection step Detection start signal and detection of the paper container A storage processing step for storing an end signal, a full width calculation processing step for calculating a full width including the upper flap of the paper container using the sensing start signal and the sensing end signal, and the full width as a reference width of the paper container. A width comparison process for determining whether the upper flap is firmly fixed in comparison, a discharge instruction process for instructing discharge from the conveyor based on the quality determination of the upper flap, and discharging the defective paper container based on the discharge instruction And a paper container flap inspection method.

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