PACKAGING DEVICE

A packaging device includes a conveyance portion that conveys a base on which an article is placed, a first guide portion that is configured to move along a first path extending from the first side toward a second side which is an opposite side to the first side and a second path extending from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveyance direction on the second side, a first movement portion moves the first guide portion from the first side to the second side along the first path when an upstream side edge in the conveyance direction of the base, and a second movement portion moves the first guide portion from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction along the second path after the first guide portion has been moved to the second side by the first movement portion.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This Application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-107104, filed on May 8, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a packaging device that packages an article by covering the article placed on a mat board with a film, together with the mat board.

A packaging device is known that packages an article by covering the article placed on a board, such as cardboard, with a film. The packaging device places the film over the upper side of the article, and causes the edge of the film to reach around to a surface (hereinafter referred to as a back surface) of the board opposite to the side on which the article is placed. The edge of the film is fixed to the back surface of the board. A tension is applied to the film and the article is fixed onto the board by the film. The film is in close contact with the article and an operator cannot directly touch the article from the outside. The article is protected by the film.

For example, a technology is disclosed in which a receiving member that guides the film goes around the periphery of the article and thereby causes the film to be firmly attached to the periphery of the article. By applying this technology to the above-described packaging device, the packaging device can cause the film to be firmly attached to the periphery of the article placed on the board.

SUMMARY

When the above-described technology is applied to the packaging device, unless the path of the receiving member that goes around is larger than the article, it is not possible to package the article with the film. For that reason, in order to have a structure that can package a large article, the size of the packaging device has to be increased.

In light of the foregoing, the present disclosure provides a packaging device which has a compact size and which is capable of packaging a relatively large article with a film.

Exemplary embodiment provides a packaging device that includes a conveyance portion, a first guide portion, a first movement portion and a second movement portion. A conveyance portion conveys a base on which an article is placed. A first guide portion guides a film supplied from a first side and is configured to move along a first path and a second path. The first side is a side on which the article is placed in the conveyance path through which the base conveyed by the conveyance portion passes. The first path is a path extending from the first side with respect to the conveyance path toward a second side that is an opposite side to the first side. The second path is a path extending from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveyance direction on the second side with respect to the conveyance path. A first movement portion causes the first guide portion to move from the first side to the second side along the first path when an upstream side edge in the conveyance direction of the base, which is conveyed from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the film, reaches the downstream side in the conveyance direction of a position at which the first path and the conveyance path intersect with each other. A second movement portion causes the first guide portion to move from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction along the second path after the first guide portion has been moved to the second side by the first movement portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a packaging device 1 in a first state as seen from the downstream side;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packaging device 1 in the first state as seen from the upstream side;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the packaging device 1 in a second state as seen from the downstream side;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a first receiving tray 12;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging device 1 in a third state;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a first support portion 331;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging device 1 in the third state;

FIG. 8 is a right side view showing the inside of the packaging device 1 in the third state;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging device 1 in a fourth state;

FIG. 10 is a right side view showing the inside of the packaging device 1 in the fourth state;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a second support portion 51;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of the packaging device 1 in a fifth state;

FIG. 13 is a right side view showing the inside of the packaging device 1 in the fifth state;

FIG. 14 is a view showing a state before start of packaging of a base 2 and an article 3;

FIG. 15 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 16 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 17 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 18 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 19 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 20 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 21 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 22 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 23 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged;

FIG. 24 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged; and

FIG. 25 is a view showing a manner in which the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. An outline of a packaging device 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 4. The packaging device 1 is a device that packages an article 3 in the following manner. The packaging device 1 covers the upper side of the article 3 (refer to FIG. 15) that is placed on a base 2 (refer to FIG. 15), such as a board, with a film 24 (refer to FIG. 15), and fixes the article 3 onto the base 2. Hereinafter, packaging the article 3 in the manner described above is referred to as “packaging the base 2 and the article 3”. The packaging device 1 packages the base 2 and the article 3 while conveying the base 2 from the upper right side toward the lower left side of FIG. 1. The upper side, the lower side, the lower right side and the upper left side of FIG. 1 are respectively referred to as the upper side, the lower side, the right side and the left side of the packaging device 1. The upper right side and the lower left side of FIG. 1 are respectively referred to as the upstream side and the downstream side.

The packaging device 1 is provided with a bottom portion having a rectangular shape in a plan view, and side plate portions 111 and 112. The side plate portion 111 stands upward from the right side edge of the bottom portion. The side plate portion 112 stands upward from the left side edge of the bottom portion. Hereinafter, the side plate portions 111 and 112 are collectively referred to as side plate portions 11. The side plate portions 11 have a generally rectangular plate shape that is longer in the up-down direction. Inner surfaces of the side plate portions 111 and 112 face each other. The upper ends of the side plate portions 111 and 112 clamp and hold a film cassette 21.

The film cassette 21 internally houses a film roll 22 (refer to FIG. 5) around which the film 24 is wound. A film discharge opening 26 (refer to FIG. 14) is provided on the upstream side of the film cassette 21, in a lower portion of the film cassette 21. The film discharge opening 26 downwardly discharges the film 24 fed out from the film roll 22. The film discharge opening 26 extends in the left-right direction of the film cassette 21, namely, in the width direction of the film 24 that is discharged from the film discharge opening 26. The packaging device 1 conveys the base 2, on which the article 3 is placed, from the upstream side toward the downstream side below the film cassette 21 between the side plate portions 111 and 112, and packages the base 2 and the article 3 with the film 24 (refer to FIG. 14 to FIG. 25, to be described later).

The downstream side ends of the side plate portions 11 swingably support a first receiving tray 12. The first receiving tray 12 has a generally rectangular plate shape that is longer in the left-right direction. The first receiving tray 12 swings around a fulcrum that is on the upstream side. A top surface of the first receiving tray 12 receives the base 2 and the article 3 for which the packaging is complete. Hereinafter, the top surface of the first receiving tray 12 is referred to as a receiving surface.

The packaging device 1 is provided with a guide portion 161 on the right edge and on the upstream side of the first receiving tray 12. The guide portion 161 is provided with a first extending portion 162, a second extending portion 163 and a groove portion 164. The first extending portion 162 is a plate-shaped member that extends to the right from the right edge of the first receiving tray 12. The second extending portion 163 is a generally triangular-shaped plate member that extends upward from the right edge of the first extending portion 162. The groove portion 164 is a groove that is formed in a left side surface of the second extending portion 163. The groove portion 164 is recessed to the right. The groove portion 164 extends in a conveyance direction in a section where the first extending portion 162 and the second extending portion 163 are in contact with each other.

The packaging device 1 is provided with a guide portion 165 on the left edge and on the upstream side of the first receiving tray 12. The guide portion 165 is provided with a first extending portion 166, a second extending portion 167 and a groove portion 168. The first extending portion 166 is a plate-shaped member that extends to the left from the left edge of the first receiving tray 12. The second extending portion 167 is a generally triangular-shaped plate member that extends upward from the left edge of the first extending portion 166. The groove portion 168 is a groove that is formed in a right side surface of the second extending portion 167.

The groove portion 168 is recessed to the left. The groove portion 168 extends in the conveyance direction in a section where the first extending portion 166 and the second extending portion 167 are in contact with each other.

The upstream side ends of the second extending portions 163 and 167 extend upward in a direction orthogonal to the receiving surface of the first receiving tray 12. The upper ends of the second extending portions 163 and 167 are inclined downward toward the downstream side. Hereinafter, the guide portions 161 and 165 are collectively referred to as a guide portion 16. The guide portion 16 can be switched between a state in which the first extending portions 162 and 166 are pulled out from both the left and right sides of the first receiving tray 12 in the outward direction and a state in which the first extending portions 162 and 166 are accommodated in the first receiving tray 12. The second extending portions 163 and 167 can move in the left-right direction with respect to the first receiving tray 12. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the second extending portions 163 and 167 have moved to the outside in the left-right direction with respect to the first receiving tray 12. In this state, the distance between the second extending portions 163 and 167 is generally the same as the distance between the side plate portions 111 and 112. The positions of the second extending portions 163 and 167 in the left-right direction match the positions of the side plate portions 111 and 112 in the left-right direction. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the second extending portions 163 and 167 have moved to the inside in the left-right direction with respect to the first receiving tray 12. In this state, the distance between the second extending portions 163 and 167 is shorter than the distance between the side plate portions 111 and 112.

As shown in FIG. 2, the upstream side ends of the side plate portions 11 swingably support a second receiving tray 13. The second receiving tray 13 has a generally rectangular plate shape that is longer in the left-right direction. The second receiving tray 13 swings around a fulcrum that is on the downstream side. A top surface of the second receiving tray 13 receives the base 2 that is conveyed from the upstream side toward a position between the side plate portions 111 and 112. Hereinafter, the top surface of the second receiving tray 13 is referred to as a receiving surface, in the same manner as in the case of the first receiving tray 12.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, when the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 swing and their receiving surfaces become horizontal, the receiving surface of the first receiving tray 12 and the receiving surface of the second tray 13 form the same plane. The base 2 on which the article 3 is placed is conveyed from the upstream side toward the downstream side on the plane formed by the receiving surface of the first receiving tray 12 and the receiving surface of the second tray 13. Hereinafter, a state in which the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 swing such that the receiving surfaces of the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 form the same plane is referred to as a first state. The plane formed by the receiving surfaces of the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13, namely, the plane through which the conveyed base 2 passes, is referred to as a conveyance surface or a conveyance path.

A user can switch to the first state by manually swinging the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13. When the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 are changed to the first state, the packaging device 1 becomes able to package the base 2 and the article 3 with the film 24. Since the receiving surfaces of the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 form the same plane, the packaging device 1 can smoothly convey the base 2. Note that, when the user switches to the first state by swinging the first receiving tray 12, the user moves the second extending portions 163 and 167 of the guide portion 16 to the outside in the left-right direction of the first receiving tray 12. Therefore, the packaging device 1 can appropriately convey the base 2 from the upstream side toward the downstream side. Details will be described later.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the user can also switch so that the receiving surfaces are vertical, by manually swinging the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13. Hereinafter, a state in which the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 are swung such that the receiving surfaces of the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 are vertical is referred to as a second state. In the second state, the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 block the conveyance path between the side plate portions 111 and 112. When the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 are in the second state, it is possible to reduce a space necessary to install the packaging device 1. Further, the packaging device 1 can be easily carried about.

Further, when the user switches to the second state by swinging the first receiving tray 12, the user moves the second extending portions 163 and 167 of the guide portion 16 to the inside in the left-right direction of the first receiving tray 12. The distance between the second extending portions 163 and 167 is shorter than the distance between the side plate portions 111 and 112. When the first receiving tray 12 is switched from the first state to the second state, the second extending portions 163 and 167 do not come into contact with the side plate portions 11. Therefore, the user can swing the first receiving tray 12 until the receiving surface of the first receiving tray 12 becomes vertical. It is thus possible to further reduce the space necessary to install the packaging device 1.

An internal structure of the packaging device 1 will be explained with reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 5 to FIG. 13. As shown in FIG. 5, the packaging device 1 is provided with conveyance rollers 411 and 412 and urging rollers 421 and 422. The conveyance roller 411 and the urging roller 421 are provided on the left side of the side plate portion 111 (refer to FIG. 1) of the packaging device 1. In the packaging device 1, the conveyance roller 411 is provided below the conveyance surface and the urging roller 421 is provided above the conveyance surface. The conveyance roller 411 and the urging roller 421 face each other such that the conveyance surface is located between them. The conveyance roller 412 and the urging roller 422 are provided on the right side of the side plate portion 112 (refer to FIG. 1) of the packaging device 1. In the packaging device 1, the conveyance roller 412 is provided below the conveyance surface and the urging roller 422 is provided above the conveyance surface. The conveyance roller 412 and the urging roller 422 face each other such that the conveyance surface is located between them. The conveyance roller 411 and the urging roller 421 come into contact with the right side of the base 2 that moves along the conveyance surface. The conveyance roller 412 and the urging roller 422 come into contact with the left side of the base 2 that moves along the conveyance surface. Hereinafter, the conveyance rollers 411 and 412 are collectively referred to as conveyance rollers 41. The urging rollers 421 and 422 are collectively referred to as urging rollers 42. The conveyance rollers 41 are geared rollers, for example. The urging rollers 42 are wheel-shaped rubber rollers, for example. The conveyance rollers 41 and the urging rollers 42 are collectively referred to as a conveyance portion 40.

The conveyance rollers 41 rotate in a state in which the conveyance rollers 41 are in contact with the base 2 from below. The urging rollers 42 downwardly urge the base 2 in a state in which the urging rollers 42 are in contact with the base 2 from above. The base 2 that is held between the conveyance rollers 41 and the urging rollers 42 is conveyed from the upstream side toward the downstream side.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the packaging device 1 is provided with a detection portion 43. The detection portion 43 is provided on the side plate portion 112 below a slit 122 (which will be described later), at a section where the side plate portion 112 intersects with the conveyance surface. The detection portion 43 is a limit switch that detects the base 2 that is conveyed along the conveyance surface.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 5, the packaging device 1 is provided with base guide rollers 71 and 73 between the side plate portions 111 and 112 (refer to FIG. 1) and below the conveyance surface. The base guide rollers 71 and 73 are arranged side by side on the upstream side and the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 5, the base guide roller 71 is provided with a shaft portion 711 and a plurality of roller portions 712. The base guide roller 73 is provided with a shaft portion 731 and a plurality of roller portions 732. The shaft portions 711 and 731 are suspended between the side plate portions 111 and 112. The plurality of roller portions 712 are provided at equal intervals in the axial direction of the shaft portion 711. The plurality of roller portions 732 are provided at equal intervals in the axial direction of the shaft portion 731. The base guide rollers 71 and 73 support the base 2 conveyed by the conveyance portion 40, from below, between the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13. When the base 2 is conveyed from the upstream side toward the downstream side, the base guide rollers 71 and 73 guide the base 2 from the second receiving tray 13 to the first receiving tray 12.

The packaging device 1 is provided with a holding roller 72. The holding roller 72 has a column shape. The holding roller 72 extends in the left-right direction. A holding portion 611 rotatably supports the right end of the holding roller 72. A holding portion 612 rotatably supports the left end of the holding roller 72. Hereinafter, the holding portions 611 and 612 are collectively referred to as a holding portion 61. The holding portion 61 can swing. Due to the swinging movement of the holding portion 61, switching is performed between a state in which the holding roller 72 is disposed close to the base guide roller 71 on the downstream side of the base guide roller 71 and a state in which the holding roller 72 is separated, in the downward direction, from the base guide roller 71. In the state in which the holding roller 72 is disposed close to the base guide roller 71 on the downstream side of the base guide roller 71, the holding roller 72 and the base guide roller 71 can clamp the film 24 fed out from the film cassette 21. Hereinafter, the base guide roller 71 and the holding roller 72 that clamp the film 24 are correctively referred to as a clamping portion.

The packaging device 1 is provided with a cutting portion 77. Guide rails 74 pass through the cutting portion 77. The cutting portion 77 includes the guide rails 74 between the side plate portions 111 and 112 and below the base guide roller 73. The guide rails 74 are mounted between the side plate portions 111 and 112. The cutting portion 77 can move in the left-right direction along the guide rails 74. The cutting portion 77 is provided with a blade portion 771 (refer to FIG. 8) that protrudes upward from the top surface of the cutting portion 77. The blade portion 771 extends in the left-right direction. When the cutting portion 77 moves in the left-right direction along the guide rails 74, the blade portion 771 cuts the film 24 in the left-right direction.

The packaging device 1 is provided with a guide roller 31 and an auxiliary roller 32. The guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 each have a column shape. The guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 extend in the left-right direction. The guide roller 31 is provided with a cylindrical portion and a shaft portion. The shaft portion of the guide roller 31 extends in the left-right direction. The cylindrical portion of the guide roller 31 is provided around a peripheral wall of the shaft portion. The cylindrical portion of the guide roller 31 can rotate around the shaft portion. The auxiliary roller 32 is provided with a cylindrical portion and a shaft portion. The shaft portion of the auxiliary roller 32 extends in the left-right direction. The cylindrical portion of the auxiliary roller 32 is provided around a peripheral wall of the shaft portion. The cylindrical portion of the auxiliary roller 32 can rotate around the shaft portion.

The packaging device 1 is provided with first support portions 331 and 332 and a second support portion 51. Hereinafter, the first support portions 331 and 332 are collectively referred to as a first support portion 33. The first support portion 33 can move in the up-down direction while supporting the guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32. The second support portion 51 can move in the conveyance direction while supporting the guide roller 31. The guide roller 31 mutually moves between the first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51. An outline of the manner in which the first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51 move is as follows.

The first support portions 331 and 332 detachably support the right end and the left end of the shaft portion of the guide roller 31, respectively. The first support portions 331 and 332 respectively support the right end and the left end of the shaft portion of the auxiliary roller 32. As shown in FIG. 7, the first support portions 331 and 332 can move in the up-down direction along slits 121 and 122, respectively. The side plate portions 111 and 112 are respectively provided with the slits 121 and 122 at substantially the center in the conveyance direction, above the conveyance surface. The slits 121 and 122 extend in the up-down direction. As the first support portion 33 moves in the up-down direction along the slits 121 and 122, the guide roller 31 moves in the up-down direction between a position above the conveyance surface and a position below the conveyance surface. A movement path of the guide roller 31 that moves in the up-down direction intersects with the conveyance surface. Hereinafter, the path of the guide roller 31 that moves in the up-down direction due to the movement of the first support portion 33 is referred to as a first path.

The second support portion 51 detachably supports the right end and the left end of the shaft portion of the guide roller 31. The second support portion 51 can move in the conveyance direction along slits 123 and 124. The side plate portions 111 and 112 are respectively provided with the slits 123 and 124 below the conveyance surface. The slits 123 and 124 extend in the conveyance direction. As the second support portion 51 moves in the conveyance direction along the slits 123 and 124, the guide roller 31 moves in the conveyance direction below the conveyance surface. Hereinafter, the path of the guide roller 31 that moves in the conveyance direction due to the movement of the second support portion 51 is referred to as a second path.

FIG. 5, FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 each show a state in which the first support portion 33 has moved to the topmost side of the slits 121 and 122 and the second support portion 51 has moved to the uppermost stream side of the slits 123 and 124. Hereinafter, this state is referred to as a third state. In the third state, the first support portion 33 supports the guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32. As shown in FIG. 5, in the state in which the first support portion 33 has moved to the topmost side, the first support portions 331 and 332 are respectively arranged on the right side and the left side of the film cassette 21 (refer to FIG. 1) that houses the film roll 22. The guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 are located above the conveyance surface and below the film cassette 21.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 each show a state in which the first support portion 33 has moved to the lowermost side of the slits 121 and 122 from the third state. Hereinafter, this state is referred to as a fourth state. In the fourth state, the second support portion 51 (refer to FIG. 9) and the holding portion 61 (refer to FIG. 10) are located below the guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 that have moved to the lowermost side of the first path. Although details will be described later, in the fourth state, the guide roller 31 moves from the first support portion 33 to the second support portion 51. The second support portion 51 supports the guide roller 31 in place of the first support portion 33. In a position where the first path and the second path intersect with each other, the guide roller 31 moves from the first support portion 33 to the second support portion 51.

FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 each show a state in which the second support portion 51 has moved to the lowermost stream side of the slits 123 and 124 from the fourth state. Hereinafter this state is referred to as a fifth state. In the fifth state, the guide roller 31 is separated from the first support portion 33 and moves to the lowermost stream side of the second path. Since a state is maintained in which the auxiliary roller 32 is supported by the first support portion 33, the guide roller 31 is separated from the auxiliary roller 32 in the conveyance direction.

The first support portion 331 will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 6. The shape of the first support portion 331 and the shape of the first support portion 332 are symmetrical to each other in the left-right direction. The first support portion 331 is provided with a roller support portion 34 and a detachment switching portion 35. The roller support portion 34 and the detachment switching portion 35 have a generally rectangular plate shape that is longer in the up-down direction. A right side surface of the roller support portion 34 and a left side surface of the detachment switching portion 35 are in contact with each other. The roller support portion 34 and the detachment switching portion 35 overlap with each other in the left-right direction.

The roller support portion 34 will be explained. The roller support portion 34 is provided with a shaft receiving portion 341 on the lower end thereof. The shaft receiving portion 341 is provided with a first extending portion, a second extending portion and a third extending portion. The first extending portion extends downward. The second extending portion extends toward the downstream side from the lower end of the first extending portion. The third extending portion extends upward from the downstream side end of the second extending portion. The shaft receiving portion 341 is generally J-shaped when seen from the right side. The shaft support portion 341 supports, from below, the right end of the shaft portion of the guide roller 31.

A protruding portion 342 is provided on the upstream side end of the roller support portion 34. The protruding portion 342 protrudes to the upstream side. The protruding portion 342 is provided with a through hole. The right end of the shaft portion of the auxiliary roller 32 passes through the through hole. The through hole supports the auxiliary roller 32. Since the protruding portion 342 is located on the upstream side of and above the shaft receiving portion 341, the auxiliary roller 32 is located on the upstream side of and above the guide roller 31.

The roller support portion 34 is provided with two rod portions 343. The rod portions 343 extend horizontally to the right from the right side surface of the roller support portion 34. The two rod portions 343 are aligned in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the rod portions 343 pass through the slit 121 provided on the side plate portion 111. The rod portions 343 protrude to the right of the side plate portion 111. The rod portions 343 can move in the up-down direction along the slit 121. As the rod portions 343 move in the up-down direction along the slit 121, the first support portion 33 moves in the up-down direction along the slit 121.

The detachment switching portion 35 will be explained. The detachment switching portion 35 is provided with two through holes 352. The through holes 352 are elongated in the up-down direction. The two through holes 352 are aligned in the up-down direction. The two rod portions 343 provided on the roller support portion 34 respectively pass through the two through holes 352. As the rod portions 343 move in the up-down direction along the through holes 352, a relative position of the detachment switching portion 35 with respect to the roller support portion 34 moves in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 8, in a state in which the first support portion 331 has moved to the topmost side, the detachment switching portion 35 moves downward with respect to the roller support portion 34 due to its weight. The rod portions 343 come into contact with the upper ends of the through holes 352, and the roller support portion 34 supports the detachment switching portion 35 using the rod portions 343.

The detachment switching portion 35 is provided with a shaft presser portion 351 at a lower end thereof. The shaft presser portion 351 is provided with a recessed portion at the lower end thereof, at substantially the center in the conveyance direction. The recessed portion is recessed upward. As shown in FIG. 8, in a state in which the detachment switching portion 35 has moved downward with respect to the roller support portion 34, the shaft presser portion 351 presses, from above, the right end of the shaft portion of the guide roller 31 supported by the shaft receiving portion 341 of the roller support portion 34. The right end of the shaft portion of the guide roller 31 fits into the recessed portion of the lower end of the shaft presser portion 351. In this state, the shaft portion of the guide roller 31 cannot be detached from the first support portion 331.

The detachment switching portion 35 is provided with a protruding portion 353 on the downstream side end thereof. The protruding portion 353 protrudes to the downstream side. The lower end of the protruding portion 353 comes into contact with a regulation portion 151 in the course of the downward movement of the first support portion 331 from the topmost side of the slit 121. As shown in FIG. 7, the regulation portion 151 protrudes to the left from the left surface of the side plate portion 111. The detachment switching portion 35 is provided with the regulation portion 151 on the downstream side of the slit 121, in the vicinity of the bottom of the slit 121. As the lower end of the protruding portion 353 comes into contact with the regulation portion 151, the downward movement of the detachment switching portion 35 is regulated. In this case, only the roller support portion 34 moves downward. As shown in FIG. 10, the detachment switching portion 35 moves upward with respect to the roller support portion 34. The shaft presser portion 351 is separated from the shaft portion of the guide roller 31 that is supported by the shaft receiving portion 341 of the roller support portion 34. In this state, the shaft portion of the guide roller 31 can be detached from the first support portion 331.

Note that the structure and the operation of the first support portion 332 are the same as the structure and the operation of the first support portion 331 described above.

The second support portion 51 will be explained with reference to FIG. 11. The second support portion 51 is provided with a bridge portion 511, upright portions 521 and 522, extending portions 531 and 532 and shaft receiving portions 541 and 542. The bridge portion 511 has a generally rectangular plate shape that is longer in the left-right direction. The length of the bridge portion 511 in the left-right direction is shorter than the distance between the side plate portions 11. The upright portions 521 and 522 extend vertically upward from the right end and the left end of the bridge portion 511, respectively. The extending portion 531 and 532 respectively extend horizontally toward the downstream side from the upper ends of the upright portions 521 and 522. The shaft receiving portions 541 and 542 are respectively recessed downward. Hereinafter, the upright portions 521 and 522 are collectively referred to as upright portions 52. The extending portions 531 and 533 are collectively referred to as extending portions 53. The shaft receiving portions 541 and 542 are collectively referred to as shaft receiving portions 54.

The second support portion 51 is provided with a rod portion 551 that extends to the right from the right surface of the upright portion 521. The second support portion 51 is provided with a rod portion 552 that extends to the left from the left surface of the upright portion 522. The rod portions 551 and 522 respectively pass through the slits 123 and 124 (refer to FIG. 9) that are provided in the side plate portions 111 and 112. The rod portions 551 and 552 move in the conveyance direction along the slits 123 and 124.

Arrangements of the first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51 etc. in the third state (FIG. 7, FIG. 8), the fourth state (FIG. 9, FIG. 10) and the fifth state (FIG. 12, FIG. 13) will be explained with reference to FIG. 7 to FIG. 10, FIG. 12 and FIG. 13.

In the third state, as shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the upright portions 52 of the second support portion 51 located on the uppermost stream side are located on both the left and right sides of the holding portion 61. The extending portions 53 are located on both the left and right sides of the base guide roller 71. The shaft receiving portions 54 are located on both the left and right sides of the holding roller 72. The shaft receiving portions 54 are located directly below the guide roller 31 supported by the first support portion 33 that has moved to the topmost side.

In the fourth state, as shown in FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the holding portion 61 swings and the holding roller 72 is separated from the base guide roller 71 (refer to FIG. 8). The first support portion 33 moves to the lowermost side, and the shaft receiving portion 341 of the roller support portion 34 is located below the shaft receiving portion 54 of the second support portion 51. Therefore, the shaft receiving portion 54 supports, from below, the shaft portion of the guide roller 31 in place of the shaft receiving portion 341. The shaft portion of the guide roller 31 is separated from the shaft receiving portion 341. In the course of the movement of the first support portion 33 to the lowermost side, downward movement of the detachment switching portion 35 of the first support portion 33 is regulated by the regulation portion 151. The detachment switching portion 35 moves upward with respect to the roller support portion 34. The guide roller 31 becomes detachable from the first support portion 33. The auxiliary roller 32 is located above the base guide roller 71.

In the fifth state, as shown in FIG. 12 and FIG. 13, as the second support portion 51 moves to the lowermost stream side, the guide roller 31 supported by the shaft receiving portion 54 is separated from the first support portion 33. The guide roller 31 is located in an upstream vicinity of the base guide roller 73. The blade portion 771 (refer to FIG. 8) that protrudes from the cutting portion 77 is located on the upstream side of the guide roller 31. Note that, even when the second support portion 51 has moved to the lowermost stream side, the first support portion 33 supports the auxiliary roller 32. The auxiliary roller 32 is maintained in the vicinity of a position where the guide roller 31 moves from the first support portion 33 to the second support portion 51, namely, the position where the first path and the second path intersect with each other.

Operations of the packaging device 1 when the packaging device 1 packages the base 2 and the article 3 with the film 24 will be explained with reference to FIG. 14 to FIG. 25. FIG. 14 to FIG. 18, FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 each show the third state. FIG. 19 and FIG. 23 each show the fourth state. FIG. 20 to FIG. 22 each show the fifth state.

FIG. 14 shows a state of the packaging device 1 before the packaging is started. The user swings the first receiving tray 12 and the second receiving tray 13 to establish the first state. The receiving surface of the first receiving tray 12 and the receiving surface of the second receiving tray 13 form a conveyance surface 93. The user moves the second extending portions 163 and 167 (refer to FIG. 1) of the guide portion 16 to the outside in the left-right direction of the first receiving tray 12. An arrow 91 shows the first path and an arrow 92 shows the second path. Hereinafter, the first path and the second path are referred to as the first path 91 and the second path 92. The first support portion 33 (refer to FIG. 5) is located on the uppermost side, and the guide roller 31 is located at the uppermost position of the first path. The second support portion 51 is located on the uppermost stream side. The cutting portion 77 is located on the left end. The conveyance rollers 41 do not rotate.

The film cassette 21 is provided with a film guide roller 23 in the vicinity of the film discharge opening 26. The film guide roller 23 has a column shape. The film guide roller 23 extends in the left-right direction. The film 24 fed out from the film roll 22 comes into contact with a side peripheral surface on the upstream side of the column-shaped film guide roller 23. The film guide roller 23 guides the film 24 toward the film discharge opening 26. The film discharge opening 26 discharges the film 24 below the film cassette 21. The packaging device 1 is provided with a clutch spring in a portion that supports the film cassette 21. The clutch spring applies a torque in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the film roll 22 when the film discharge opening 26 discharges the film 24.

First, the user manually pulls out the film 24 discharged from the film discharge opening 26 of the film cassette 21, in the downward direction. The user pulls out an edge (hereinafter referred to as a leading edge of the film 24), on the opposite side to the film discharge opening 26, of the pulled out film 24 until the leading edge is below the conveyance surface 93, and disposes the leading edge of the film 24 in a downstream vicinity of the base guide roller 71. The user operates the packaging device 1 such that the holding portion 61 swings and the holding roller 72 is disposed in the downstream vicinity of the base guide roller 71. The leading edge of the film 24 pulled out from the film cassette 21 is clamped from both sides in the conveyance direction by the base guide roller 71 and the holding roller 72. The film 24 extends in the up-down direction between the side plate portions 11, and the film 24 and the conveyance surface 93 intersect with each other. The torque is applied to the film roll 22 by the clutch spring and tension is thus applied to the film 24. The film 24 extends in a straight manner in the up-down direction.

As shown in FIG. 15, the user places the plate-shaped base 2, on which the article 3 is placed, on the receiving surface of the second receiving tray 13. A cardboard board is an example of the base 2. The user sends the base 2 toward the downstream side. The downstream side edge of the base 2 moves on the second receiving tray 13 and the base guide roller 71 in order. The downstream side edge of the base 2 gradually approaches the film 24 that is extending in the up-down direction. The downstream side edge of the base 2 comes into contact with the film 24, and after that, passes through over the holding roller 72.

Further, the user sends the base 2 toward the downstream side. The downstream side edge of the base 2 pushes the film 24 to the downstream side. The downstream side edge of the base 2 approaches the first path 91 (refer to FIG. 14) from the upstream side, and passes over the first path 91 from the upstream side toward the downstream side. The detection portion 43 (refer to FIG. 1), which is provided in a section where the first path 91 and the conveyance surface intersect with each other, detects the downstream side edge of the base 2. The packaging device 1 starts to rotate the conveyance rollers 41. The downstream side edge of the base 2 reaches the conveyance portion 40. The conveyance portion 40 clamps the left and right edges of the base 2 in the up-down direction. The urging rollers 42 urge the base 2 downward and press the base 2 against the conveyance rollers 41. The conveyance rollers 41 rotate without running idle. The conveyance portion 40 conveys the base 2 toward the downstream side. The base 2 moves further to the downstream side.

As shown in FIG. 16, as the base 2 moves to the downstream side, the downstream side edges of the base 2 and the article 3 come into contact with the film 24. The film 24 is bent at the contact portion with the base 2 and the contact portion with the article 3. The film 24 is fed out from the film cassette 21 little by little. Due to the torque applied to the film roll 22, the film 24 is strongly pressed against the downstream side of the base 2 and the article 3. The film 24 is firmly attached to the base 2 and the article 3 in a position where the film 24 covers the downstream side of the base 2 and the article 3.

Since a force toward the downstream side is applied to the film 24, the leading edge of the film 24 is separated from the base guide roller 71 and the holding roller 72. The leading edge of the film 24 moves along with the base 2 and passes through between the base 2 and the holding roller 72. The holding roller 72 presses the leading edge of the film 24 against the bottom surface of the base 2, from below. The leading edge of the film 24 is bonded to the bottom surface of the base 2 on the downstream side of the base 2.

The conveyance portion 40 continuously conveys the base 2 to the downstream side. The downstream side edge of the base 2 enters the groove portions 164 and 168 (refer to FIG. 1) of the second extending portions 163 and 167 of the guide portion 16 from the upstream side, and moves to the downstream side along the groove portions 164 and 168. The torque is applied to the film roll 22 by the clutch spring and the tension acts on the film 24. Therefore, in accordance with the movement of the base 2, an upward force acts on the downstream side edge of the base 2 to which the leading edge of the film 24 is bonded. In contrast to the upward force, the groove portions 164 and 168 cover both the left and right sides of the base 2 from above, and thereby inhibit the base 2 from lifting upward.

The second extending portions 163 and 167 of the guide portion 16 have moved to the outside in the left-right direction of the first receiving tray 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the positions in the left-right direction of the second extending portions 163 and 167 match the positions in the left-right direction of the side plate portions 111 and 112. The upstream side ends of the second extending portions 163 and 167 extend in the same direction as the direction in which the downstream side ends of the side plate portions 111 and 112 extend. Therefore, upward swinging movement of the first receiving tray 12 is inhibited by the upstream side ends of the second extending portions 163 and 167 being in contact with the downstream side ends of the side plate portions 111 and 112. Therefore, even when the upward force applied to the base 2 acts on the groove portions 164 and 168 and the upward force acts on the first receiving tray 12 via the guide portion 16, it is possible to inhibit the first receiving tray 12 from lifting upward. Thus, the packaging device 1 can reliably convey the base 2 along the conveyance surface. Further, the packaging device 1 can inhibit the base 2 from lifting upward by the groove portions 164 and 168 provided in the second extending portions 163 and 167 of the guide portion 16. It is therefore possible to appropriately convey the base 2 with a simple structure.

The conveyance portion 40 continuously conveys the base 2 to the downstream side. As shown in FIG. 17, the film 24 is located in the position where the film 24 covers the upper side of the base 2 and the article 3. The guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 are located above the film 24. The film 24 is firmly attached to the top surface of the article 3 due to the torque applied to the film roll 22. The upstream side edge of the base 2 passes through on the base guide roller 71 and the holding roller 72. Further, the conveyance portion 40 conveys the base 2 to the downstream side. The upstream side edge of the base 2 passes over the first path 91 (refer to FIG. 14).

After the upstream side edge of the base 2 has passed through the first path 91, the detection portion 43 (refer to FIG. 1), which is provided in the position where the first path 91 and the conveyance surface intersect with each other, no longer detects the base 2. The packaging device 1 determines that the upstream side edge of the base 2 has passed the detection portion 43. This means that the upstream side edge of the base 2 has moved to the downstream side with respect to the first path 91. The packaging device 1 stops the rotation of the conveyance rollers 41. The movement of the base 2 is stopped.

As shown in FIG. 18, after the movement of the base 2 is stopped, the packaging device 1 causes the holding portion 61 to swing in a direction in which the holding roller 72 is separated from the base guide roller 71. The holding roller 72 is separated from the base guide roller 71.

Next, as shown in FIG. 19, the packaging device 1 moves the first support portion 33, which is holding the guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32, from the uppermost side to the lowermost side. The guide roller 31 moves from the uppermost side to the lowermost side along the first path 91 (refer to FIG. 14) in a state in which the guide roller 31 is in contact, from above, with the film 24 disposed below. The guide roller 31 guides the film 24 downward and disposes the film 24 in a position at which the film 24 covers the upstream side of the base 2 and the article 3. Due to the movement of the first support portion 33, the guide roller 31 is located on the downstream side of the base guide roller 71 and the auxiliary roller 32 is located above the base guide roller 71. In FIG. 18, the holding roller 72 is separated from the base guide roller 71 due to the swinging movement of the holding portion 61. Therefore, even when the guide roller 31 moves to the lowermost side of the first path 91, the guide roller 31 does not come into contact with the holding roller 72.

As the first support portion 33 moves to the lowermost side, the guide roller 31 moves from the first support portion 33 to the second support portion 51 (refer to FIG. 10). In place of the first support portion 33, the second support portion 51 supports the guide roller 31. The guide roller 31 becomes detachable from the first support portion 33 (refer to FIG. 10).

Next, as shown in FIG. 20, the packaging device 1 moves the second support portion 51 from the uppermost stream side to the lowermost stream side. The guide roller 31 is separated from the first support portion 33, and moves from the uppermost stream side to the lowermost stream side along the second path 92 (refer to FIG. 14). The guide roller 31 moves to the lowermost stream side along the second path 92 in a state in which the film 24 is wound around the top and bottom side surfaces and the downstream side surface of the guide roller 31. The top side surface of the guide roller 31 moves on the upstream side of the base 2 in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the base 2. The guide roller 31 is located in the vicinity of and on the upstream side of the base guide roller 73. Note that, since the first support portion 33 continues to support the auxiliary roller 32, the auxiliary roller 32 remains located above the base guide roller 71 and does not move.

As shown in FIG. 21, the film 24 extends downward from the position at which the film 24 covers the upstream side of the base 2 and the article 3, comes into contact with the upstream edge of the base 2, and bends to the downstream side along the bottom surface of the base 2. In the course of the movement of the guide roller 31 to the lowermost stream side, the guide roller 31 presses the film 24 against the bottom surface of the base 2. Therefore, the film 24 is bonded to the bottom surface of the base 2 on the upstream side of the base 2.

The film 24 is wound from above the guide roller 31 and bends to the downstream side. The film 24 extends to the upstream side from the bottom side surface of the guide roller 31 toward the auxiliary roller 32 that is disposed above the base guide roller 71. The film 24 is bent upward by being wound on the auxiliary roller 32, and extends toward the film cassette 21 (refer to FIG. 1) that is the supply source of the film 24. Since the base 2 has already passed above the base guide roller 71 toward the downstream side, the film 24 that extends from the guide roller 31 toward the film cassette 21 does not come into contact with the base 2. Therefore, the auxiliary roller 32 inhibits the film 24 from coming into contact with the base 2 that is being conveyed.

After the guide roller 31 has moved to the lowermost stream side, the packaging device 1 moves the cutting portion 77 along the guide rails 74 from the left end to the right end. The blade portion 771 moves on the upstream side of the shaft receiving portion 54 of the second support portion 51, below the extending portion 53. The blade portion 771 cuts a section of the film 24 that extends to the upstream side from the guide roller 31 toward the auxiliary roller 32, from below in the left-right direction. The cutting portion 77 can cut off a part of the film 24 that is covering the base 2 and the article 3, from the remaining part of the film 24 that is wound around the film roll 22. Note that, since the torque is applied to the film roll 22, the tension is applied to the film 24 that extends from the guide roller 31 toward the auxiliary roller 32. Therefore, the blade portion 771 can appropriately cut the film 24. After the film 24 is cut, the edge (cut by the blade portion 771) of the film 24 extending from the film cassette 21 hangs below the base guide roller 71, as shown in FIG. 22.

Both the edges of the film 24 that has been cut off from the film roll 22 are bonded to the bottom surface of the base 2. The article 3 is fixed to the base 2 by the cut-off film 24. The film 24 is in close contact with the article 3 and an operator cannot directly touch the article 3 from the outside. The article 3 is protected by the film 24. The packaging of the base 2 and the article 3 with the film 24 is complete.

Next, as shown in FIG. 23, the packaging device 1 moves the second support portion 51 to the uppermost stream side. The guide roller 31 moves to the uppermost stream side along the second path 92 (refer to FIG. 14), and is located on the downstream side of the base guide roller 71. The packaging device 1 restarts the rotation of the conveyance rollers 41. The conveyance portion 40 restarts the conveyance of the base 2. The base 2 and the article 3 for which the packaging is complete are conveyed to the downstream side and are placed on the first receiving tray 12. The packaging device 1 stops the rotation of the conveyance rollers 41 and the conveyance of the base 2 and the article 3 is complete.

As shown in FIG. 24, the packaging device 1 moves the first support portion 33 from the lowermost side to the uppermost side. In the course of the movement, the guide roller 31 moves from the second support portion 51 to the first support portion 33 (refer to FIG. 10). In place of the second support portion 51, the first support portion 33 supports the guide roller 31. Further, the guide roller 31 is unable to be detached from the first support portion 33 (refer to FIG. 10). The guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 move from the lowermost side to the uppermost side along the first path 91 (refer to FIG. 14). As shown in FIG. 25, the packaging device 1 swings the holding portion 61 so that the holding roller 72 is located on the downstream side of the base guide roller 71. The edge of the film 24 cut by the cutting portion 77 is clamped by the base guide roller 71 and the holding roller 72. Therefore, it becomes possible to package the next base 2 and the next article 3 with the film 24.

As explained above, the guide roller 31 of the packaging device 1 moves along the first path and the second path, and packages the base 2 and the article 3 with the film 24. In the packaging device 1, the guide roller 31 moves along the two movement paths (the first path and the second path) and packaging is performed. Therefore, there is no need to move the guide roller 31 around the entire periphery of the base 2 and the article 3. It is therefore possible to reduce the size of the structure that causes the guide roller 31 to move along the movement paths. Although the packaging device 1 is a compact device, it can package the article 3 having a large size with the film 24.

Since the first support portion 33 moves along the slits 121 and 122 while supporting the guide roller 31, the first support portion 33 can move the guide roller 31 along the first path. Further, since the second support portion 51 moves along the slits 123 and 124 while supporting the guide roller 31, the second support portion 51 can move the guide roller 31 along the second path. Since the guide roller 31 guides the film 24 while the cylindrical portion of the guide roller 31 is rotating, it is possible to reduce friction between the guide roller 31 and the film 24 to a minimum. Therefore, the packaging device 1 can inhibit excessive tension from being applied to the film 24 by the friction between the guide roller 31 and the film 24, and it is thus possible to inhibit the film 24 from breaking. Further, the guide roller 31 is detachably provided with respect to the first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51. Thus, the guide roller 31 can easily move between the first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51.

Further, the detachment switching portion 35 of the first support portion 33 switches between a state in which the guide roller 31 is detachable from the roller support portion 34 and a state in which the guide roller 31 is not detachable from the roller support portion 34. Therefore, when the first support portion 33 switches to the state in which the guide roller 31 is not detachable, the first support portion 33 can reliably cause the guide roller 31 to guide the film 24. Note that, when the first support portion 33 switches to the state in which the guide roller 31 is detachable, the guide roller 31 can easily move between the first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51. Note that the switching between the state in which the guide roller 31 is detachable and the state in which the guide roller 31 is not detachable is performed by the regulation portion 151 regulating the movement of the detachment switching portion 35. Therefore, by adjusting the position in which the regulation portion 151 is provided, it is possible to easily switch between the state in which the guide roller 31 is detachable and the state in which the guide roller 31 is not detachable, at an appropriate timing.

The first support portion 33 moves the auxiliary roller 32 in the up-down direction, in addition to the guide roller 31. In a state in which the base 2 is on the upstream side with respect to the first path, the auxiliary roller 32 is located above the conveyance surface. After the base 2 has moved to the downstream side with respect to the first path, the auxiliary roller 32 is located above the base guide roller 71. The packaging device 1 can therefore effectively inhibit the auxiliary roller 32 from obstructing the conveyance of the base 2.

Further, since the leading edge of the film 24 is clamped between the holding roller 72 and the base guide roller 71, the leading edge of the film 24 can be disposed below the conveyance surface. Thus, in the course of the conveyance of the base 2 from the upstream side to the downstream side, it is possible to appropriately dispose the film 24 in a position where the film 24 covers the downstream side and the upper side of the base 2 and the article 3, and it is thus possible to firmly attach the film 24 to the base 2 and the article 3 in an appropriate manner.

Further, when the downstream side edge of the base 2 pushes the film 24 to the downstream side, the leading edge of the film 24 is separated from the base guide roller 71 and the holding roller 72. Therefore, it is possible to bond the film 24 only to a downstream side part of the bottom surface of the base 2. Thus, it is possible to effectively inhibit the film 24 from being bonded to the entire bottom surface of the base 2.

The packaging device 1 is provided with the detection portion 43 in the section where the first path and the conveyance surface intersect with each other. Therefore, if the user approaches the base 2 in the vicinity of the conveyance portion 40, it is possible to automatically start the conveyance of the base 2 by the conveyance portion 40. Further, when the packaging of the base 2 and the article 3 is complete, the conveyance portion 40 automatically stops the conveyance of the base 2. It is thus possible to improve operation convenience of the packaging device 1 by the user.

The present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible. In place of the guide roller 31, the packaging device may include a member having another structure, such as two rod-like members that can clamp the film 24 in the left-right direction, for example. The packaging device may guide the film 24 by the two rod-like members moving while clamping the film 24.

The first support portion 33 may switch between the state in which the guide roller 31 is detachable and the state in which the guide roller 31 is not detachable, using a method different from that of the above-described embodiment. For example, the first support portion 33 may be provided with a pair of support portions that support both the ends of the axis line of the guide roller 31, from both sides. Further, the first support portion 33 may be configured such that it can adjust the distance between one of the support portions and the other support portion. The first support portion 33 may switch between the state in which the guide roller 31 is detachable and the state in which the guide roller 31 is not detachable, by changing the distance between the one of the support portions and the other support portion.

In the above-described embodiment, the guide roller 31 moves between the first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51. Then, the guide roller 31 moves along the first path due to the movement of the first support portion 33 in the up-down direction, and the guide roller 31 moves along the second path due to the movement of the second support portion 51 in the conveyance direction. However, a support portion that can move in the up-down direction and in the conveyance direction may be provided in place of the first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51. The support portion may move the guide roller 31 in the up-down direction and the conveyance direction while supporting the guide roller 31 such that the guide roller 31 is not detachable. Thus, the support portion may move the guide roller 31 along the first path and the second path.

The cutting portion 77 may include scissors in place of the blade portion 771. The cutting portion 77 may cut the film 24 using the scissors. The cutting portion 77 may cut a section of the film 24 other than the section of the film 24 that extends from the guide roller 31 toward the auxiliary roller 32. For example, the cutting portion 77 may cut a section of the film 24 that is bonded to the bottom surface of the base 2. A blade portion that extends in the left-right direction may be provided in place of the cutting portion 77. A configuration may be adopted in which, after the base 2 and the article 3 are packaged, the user can manually cut the film 24 by pressing the film 24 against the blade portion.

The auxiliary roller 32 may be supported by a separate member that is different from the first support portion 33 and that can move in the up-down direction. The auxiliary roller 32 in the fourth state may be located in a position other than above the base guide roller 71. For example, the auxiliary roller 32 may be located on the downstream side of the base guide roller 71.

In the above-described embodiment, the leading edge of the film 24 is clamped between the base guide roller 71 and the holding roller 72, and thus the leading edge of the film 24 is held below the conveyance surface. However, the leading edge of the film 24 may be held below the conveyance surface by bonding the leading edge of the film 24 to the base guide roller 71.

In the above-described embodiment, the packaging device 1 controls the rotation of the conveyance rollers 41 by the detection portion 43 detecting the base 2. However, the detection portion 43 may detect the article 3. The packaging device 1 may start the rotation of the conveyance rollers 41 when the detection portion 43 detects the article 3, and the packaging device 1 may stop the rotation of the conveyance rollers 41 when the detection portion 43 does not detect the article 3.

In the above-described embodiment, the base 2 has a plate shape. However, the base 2 may have another shape. For example, the base 2 may have a dish shape in which an upright portion is provided around a plate-shaped portion. The film 24 may be supplied from other than the film cassette 21. For example, the film 24 may be supplied from outside the packaging device 1.

The guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 may be structured such that they each include a column portion and a shaft portion that extends from both the ends of the column portion toward both sides in the axial direction. The first support portion 33 and the second support portion 51 may support the guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 by rotatably supporting their shaft portions. Even with this type of structure, since the column portions come into contact with the film 24 while the column portions are rotating, it is possible to reduce the friction between the film 24 and the guide roller 31 and the auxiliary roller 32 to a minimum.

In place of the groove portions 164 and 168, the second extending portions 163 and 167 of the guide portion 16 may respectively include third extending portions that extend to the inner side in the left-right direction of the first receiving tray 12. The third extending portions may cover, from above, both the left and right edges of the base 2 for which the packing is complete. In a similar manner to the groove portions 164 and 168, the third extending portions can regulate the base 2 from lifting upward.

Claims

1. A packaging device comprising:

a conveyance portion that conveys a base on which an article is placed;
a first guide portion that guides a film supplied from a first side and that is configured to move along a first path and a second path, the first side being a side on which the article is placed in the conveyance path through which the base conveyed by the conveyance portion passes, the first path being a path extending from the first side with respect to the conveyance path toward a second side that is an opposite side to the first side, and the second path being a path extending from an upstream side to a downstream side in a conveyance direction on the second side with respect to the conveyance path;
a first movement portion that causes the first guide portion to move from the first side to the second side along the first path when an upstream side edge in the conveyance direction of the base, which is conveyed from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction with respect to the film, reaches the downstream side in the conveyance direction of a position at which the first path and the conveyance path intersect with each other; and
a second movement portion that causes the first guide portion to move from the upstream side to the downstream side in the conveyance direction along the second path after the first guide portion has been moved to the second side by the first movement portion.

2. The packaging device according to claim 1, wherein

the first guide portion is a column-shaped guide roller, and
the first movement portion is a first support portion which detachably supports the guide roller and which is configured to move along the first path.

3. The packaging device according to claim 2, wherein

the first support portion includes a roller support portion that supports the guide roller from a direction from the second side toward the first side, and a detachment switching portion that is configured to move in a direction between the first side and the second side with respect to the roller support portion, wherein when the detachment switching portion has moved in a direction from the second side toward the first side with respect to the roller support portion, the guide roller becomes detachable from the roller support portion, and when the detachment switching portion has moved in a direction from the first side toward the second side with respect to the roller support portion, the guide roller is not detachable from the roller support portion.

4. The packaging device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a regulation portion that regulates the detachment switching portion from moving in the direction from the first side toward the second side when the first support portion is moving in the direction from the first side toward the second side,
wherein
when the movement of the detachment switching portion in the direction from the first side toward the second side is regulated by the regulation portion, the detachment switching portion moves in the direction from the second side toward the first side with respect to the roller support portion, and the guide roller becomes detachable from the roller support portion.

5. The packaging device according to claim 4, wherein

the roller support portion includes a shaft receiving portion that is recessed in the direction from the first side toward the second side,
the detachment switching portion includes a shaft presser portion that is recessed in the direction from the second side toward the first side, in a position that faces a recessed portion of the shaft receiving portion,
when the detachment switching portion has moved in the direction from the first side toward the second side with respect to the roller support portion, a distance between the shaft receiving portion and the shaft presser portion is reduced, and the roller support portion and the detachment switching portion rotatably support the guide roller such that the guide roller is unable to be detached from the roller support portion, and
when the detachment switching portion has moved in the direction from the second side toward the first side with respect to the roller support portion, the distance between the shaft receiving portion and the shaft presser portion is increased, and the roller support portion and the detachment switching portion allow the guide roller to be detachable from the roller support portion.

6. The packaging device according to claim 2, wherein

the second movement portion is a second support portion which supports the guide roller that is detached from the first support portion, and the second movement portion is configured to move along the second path.

7. The packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising;

a cutting portion that cuts, in a width direction, the film located on the second side of the base in a state in which the second movement portion has moved the first guide portion to the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

8. The packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second guide portion which is located in a position where the first path and the second path intersect with each other, and which guides the film, which extends from a supply source of the film to the first guide portion, to the upstream side in the conveyance direction in a state in which the second movement portion has moved the first guide portion to the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

9. The packaging device according to claim 8, wherein

the first movement portion, along with the first guide portion and the second guide portion, moves from the first side to the second side along the first path, and
the first movement portion that has moved to the second side disposes the second guide portion in the position at which the first path and the second path intersect with each other.

10. The packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a clamping portion that holds an edge on the second side of the film, on the second side of the conveyance path.

11. The packaging device according to claim 10, wherein

the clamping portion holds the edge on the second side of the film until a downstream side edge in the conveyance direction of the base, which is conveyed from the upstream side toward the downstream side in the conveyance direction for the film, comes into contact with the film, and
when the base is conveyed further to the downstream side in the conveyance direction, the film is separated from the clamping portion.

12. The packaging device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a detection portion that detects at least one of the base and the article,
wherein
the conveyance portion conveys the base when the detection portion detects at least one of the base and the article, and
the conveyance portion stops the conveyance of the base when the detection portion does not detect the base and the article.
Patent History
Publication number: 20130298498
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 13, 2013
Publication Date: Nov 14, 2013
Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA (Nagoya-shi)
Inventors: Teruo IMAMAKI (Nissin-shi), Toshihiro TAKAHASHI (Nagoya-shi)
Application Number: 13/799,028
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Wrapping Machines (53/203)
International Classification: B65B 11/06 (20060101);