Abstract: A bag mouth opening device for continuously conveyed bags including suction cups (16, 17) continuously rotated in mutually opposite directions along substantially symmetrical elliptical moving paths (24, 25) on ether side of a conveying path (1) for bags. The time the suction cups take to make their single rotation along the moving paths matches the time a bag (20) takes to be conveyed for an inter-bag distance(s). The major axes (26, 27) of both moving paths of the suction cups are inclined at almost the same angles relative to the conveying path and digress from the bag conveying path toward their anterior side.

Abstract: A container conveying apparatus wherein retainers (1) are disposed along a retainer movement rail (52), and the one-time movement distance of a retainer is set to be an integer multiple of the spacing p of the retainers and to be different values in the two straight sections (A lane and B lane) of the retainer movement rail. If the maximum value of the one-time movement distance of a retainer in the straight sections is n times the spacing p, and the maximum number of retainers that can be disposed along the retainer movement rail is m, then the number of retainers actually disposed along the retainer movement rail is preferably m?n. The number of retainers m?n is an integer multiple of n, and all retainers disposed along the retainer movement rail are linked together in groups of n retainers at spacing p.

Abstract: Provided is a relay device capable of moving objects to be conveyed from a conveying section of a continuous conveying system to a conveying section of an intermittent conveying system in various modes. The relay device includes: a first conveying section that conveys the objects to be conveyed, continuously in a forward direction in a first direction; a second conveying section that transfers a plurality of assembly sections intermittently in the forward direction in the first direction; a relay conveying section provided between the first conveying section and the second conveying section; and a relay driving section that moves the relay conveying section in the first direction.

Abstract: A spout holding device for holding a spout part having a communication hole, includes an elastic part capable of elastically deforming in a direction orthogonal to a first direction when compressive force or tensile force is applied to the elastic part in the first direction, wherein the elastic part applies elastic force to the spout part in three or more different directions orthogonal to the first direction to hold the spout part.

Abstract: A method and device for opening spout attachment portion of a bag being set up such that films on both sides of a spout attachment portion (2) of a bag (1) are suction-held up by a pair of suction cups (8), and the spacing between the pair of suction cups is widened to open the spout attachment portion, after which a gas is blown from the spout attachment portion into the bag by a gas blowing member (9); and when the gas is blown into, a clamping member (19) clamps a position under the gripper that is on the top edge (6) side of the bag from both sides of the bag, thus suppressing outflow of the gas blown into the bag from the top edge, thus allowing entire bag to inflate for its entirety substantially and the spout attachment portion to be kept opened.

Abstract: A continuous conveying type bag filling and packaging machine including multiple groups of grippers (2) continuously traveling along a racetrack-shaped annular path and, as the grippers (2) complete a single revolution, carries out various packaging operations, wherein a measuring hopper (42) is provided above each elevating hopper (37) and is continuously rotated in conjunction therewith. The measuring hopper (42) has a shutter (44). A weight detector (46), along with a shutter actuation mechanism (47), is provided so as to correspond to each measuring hopper (42) and is continuously rotated in conjunction therewith. If, based on a detection signal from the weight detector (46), it is determined that the weight of the material to be packaged that is supplied to the measuring hopper (42) exceeds the upper limit value of the allowable range, the corresponding shutter actuation mechanism (47) is not actuated, and the shutter (44) is maintained closed.

Abstract: A container conveying apparatus wherein retainers (1) are disposed along a retainer movement rail (52), and the one-time movement distance of a retainer is set to be an integer multiple of the spacing p of the retainers and to be different values in the two straight sections (A lane and B lane) of the retainer movement rail. If the maximum value of the one-time movement distance of a retainer in the straight sections is n times the spacing p, and the maximum number of retainers that can be disposed along the retainer movement rail is m, then the number of retainers actually disposed along the retainer movement rail is preferably m?n. The number of retainers m?n is an integer multiple of n, and all retainers disposed along the retainer movement rail are linked together in groups of n retainers at spacing p.

Abstract: A gripper device includes: a carrier device movably provided; a plurality of gripper pairs attached to the carrier device through supports; and a distance adjustment mechanism that adjusts a distance between one gripper and another gripper included in each of the plurality of gripper pairs, wherein, the one gripper and the another gripper included in each of the plurality of gripper pairs are attached to the carrier device through a same support, and the distance adjustment mechanism swings at least one of the one gripper and the another gripper included in each of the plurality of gripper pairs around the same support in such a manner that a distance between the one gripper and the another gripper is adjusted.

Abstract: A gripper device used in a bag filling and packaging machine and moved, while holding a bag, along a predetermined path to change the orientation of the bag, the gripper device including: a movable frame (2) that is moved along the predetermined path in a horizontal plane, a pivot frame (3) that is pivotably supported by the movable frame and has a horizontal pivot axis (O1), a pair of gripper arms (4, 5) that are pivotably supported by the pivot frame and pivoted, in conjunction with each other, symmetrically in a plane parallel to the pivot axis of the pivot frame, a bag orientation changing mechanism (14) that is installed on the movable frame and pivots the pivot frame at an angle of 90°, and a gripper arm pivot mechanism (15) that is installed on the movable frame and pivots the pair of gripper arms.

Abstract: A bag supply device used in a rotary bag-filling packaging machine and including: an empty-bag holding member (9) for holding a bag (B), a reciprocating mechanism (13) for moving the empty-bag holding member back and forth between a bag receiving position and a bag delivery position, a first turning mechanism (14) for turning the empty-bag holding member around a first axis (O1) parallel to a bag width direction thereof upon operation of the reciprocating mechanism and orienting the holding face of the empty-bag holding member vertically in the delivery position, and a second turning mechanism (15) for turning the empty-bag holding member around a second axis (O2) parallel to a bag length direction thereof and causing the bag held by the empty-bag holding member in the delivery position to be directly across from the pair of grippers stopped in the empty bag supply position.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying spout attachment bags including a first transfer device for transferring a spout attachment bag in a horizontal orientation, a positioning device for receiving and horizontally positioning the spout attachment bag transferred from the first transfer device, a second transfer device for transferring upward the spout attachment bag positioned by the positioning device and changing the spout attachment bag from the horizontal orientation to a vertical orientation so that the spout attachment opening faces upward and is horizontal, and a detection device. The position of the spout attachment opening on the positioning device is detected by the detection device and is compared to a preset reference position, so that any amount of deviation between the two positions is corrected, thus keeping the height positions of the spout attachment openings of the spout attachment bags changed to a vertical orientation steady.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for charging the gas compartment portion of a bag (1) in which incisions (9) are formed in gas introduction section (6a) of the gas compartment portion (6). A pair of gas injection nozzles (23, 24) are disposed so as to be on the opposite sides of the bag and reciprocate between its standby and advanced positions, so that in the advanced position, the discharge outlets (23a, 24a) of the gas injection nozzles are aligned with the gas introduction section on both sides, and compressed gas is injected into the gas introduction section through the incisions. A small gap (L) is provided between the discharge outlets of the gas injection nozzles when they are in the advanced position. As the gas is injected, film sheets of the expanded gas introduction section closely adhere to the discharge outlets, so that the gas injection state becomes stable.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for filling a gas in a gas compartment portion of a bag, a bag-conveying gripper (41) including a pair of gripping elements (45 and 46), and the inner surface (gripping surface) of the gripping element (45) being formed with a shallow groove (47). The bag-conveying gripper (41) grips the sealed portion (12) of the bag, and a neck section (16a) of the gas compartment portion (16) in the sealed portion is held at a groove formed in the gripping elements of the bag-conveying gripper. Compressed gas is ejected into the gas compartment portion through incision (17) formed in the neck section, inflating the gas compartment portion 16. The inflated shape of the neck section held by the bag-conveying gripper is restricted to a flat configuration by the inner surfaces of the bag-conveying gripper.

Abstract: A horn and an anvil are moved toward and away from each other by axially reciprocating a driving rod and thereby reciprocatingly rotating a forked lever in a predetermined angle range. The horn and the anvil are moved toward and pressed against each other with a predetermined force with a bag mouth b held therebetween. A sensor detects the position of a second mounting block secured to the rear end of a sliding shaft of the anvil, thereby detecting the distance between respective pressing surfaces of the horn and the anvil, i.e. the thickness m of a portion of the bag mouth held between the pressing surfaces. When the thickness m is not less than a predetermined threshold value M, a vibrator is activated to perform sealing. When the thickness m is less than the threshold value M, no sealing is performed.

Abstract: A transport apparatus including a rotary transport mechanism (5), which rotationally transports multiple equidistantly installed article holding members (gripper pairs (4)) in one direction along an annular trackway having a pair of parallel portions, and a reciprocating drive mechanism (6), which causes the entire rotary transport mechanism (5) to reciprocate a predetermined distance along the parallel portions. The article holding members are moved at a velocity of travel that is a combination of velocity of the reciprocating motion and velocity of the rotary transport. The velocity of the rotary transport and the velocity of the reciprocating motion are controlled by a control unit (9). The article holding members travel along the parallel portions on both sides (Lanes A and B) in an intermittent manner, each time covering a distance that is an integral multiple of the installation spacing p of the article holding members.

Abstract: A bag abnormality detection device includes a synchronous sensor, a first bag detection sensor, a second bag detection sensor and a controller. When the synchronous sensor detects a change, at a first detection point, from a state in which the bag is absent to a state in which the bag is present and the detection result of the first bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at a second detection point, the controller recognizes that the bag has an abnormality. When the synchronous sensor detects a change, at the first detection point, from a state in which the bag is present to a state in which the bag is absent and the detection result of the second bag detection sensor indicates that the bag does not exist at a third detection point, the controller recognizes that the bag has an abnormality.

Abstract: A horn and an anvil are moved toward and away from each other by axially reciprocating a driving rod and thereby reciprocatingly rotating a forked lever in a predetermined angle range. The horn and the anvil are moved toward and pressed against each other with a predetermined force with a bag mouth b held therebetween. A sensor detects the position of a second mounting block secured to the rear end of a sliding shaft of the anvil, thereby detecting the distance between respective pressing surfaces of the horn and the anvil, i.e. the thickness m of a portion of the bag mouth held between the pressing surfaces. When the thickness m is not less than a predetermined threshold value M, a vibrator is activated to perform sealing. When the thickness m is less than the threshold value M, no sealing is performed.

Abstract: An ultrasonic sealing method and device for a bag, in which pressurized gas spray outlets (47, 52) are provided at distal ends of a horn (31) and an anvil (32) so as to be used as gas blowing nozzles, the distal ends of the horn and the anvil are placed against a cutout (19) formed in a gas compartment (16) of the bag, a gas is blown into the gas compartment to inflate it, and then the horn and the anvil clamp films surrounding the cutout while the gas blowing is in progress, so that ultrasonic sealing is carried out by the horn to the films to trap the gas inside the gas compartment. A contact member (71) is provided directly under the horn. The contact member is pressed against inflated film (18) of the gas compartment, and in this state ultrasonic vibration energy is supplied to the horn.

Abstract: A gas pressure testing device, which is for checking pressure of gas inside the gas compartment portion of a bag, including: a pressing member (31) disposed on one side of the bag, a receiving member (38) positioned on another side of the bag, and a movable support member (39) having thereon the pressing member and a distance sensor (32). The pressing member being kept urged toward the gas compartment portion by air cylinder (44) is moved toward the bag so that the gas compartment portion is sandwiched by the pressing member and the receiving member. The distance sensor measures the distance (D) at such time to the pressing member and sends a distance signal to a control unit (37). Based on the distance signal, the control unit determines whether or not the gas pressure in the gas compartment portion is within a preset range.

Abstract: A method and device for supplying spout attachment bags, in which one vertical plane is set as a reference plane N, and the center line (C) of a corner-spout attachment bag (2) positioned at the distal end of a conveyor magazine (7) is located in the reference plane N. A suction cup (28) picks up the bag and is rotated by a specific angle (?) centered on a vertical rotational axis (O) when being transferred. When the suction cup picks up the positioned bag, the rotational axis is set to a position where a corner opening vertical line (M) that passes through the center of a corner opening (3) of the bag intersects the reference plane N. The bag held by the suction cup is sent to a positioning conveyor and positioned by stoppers (52, 53) with the corner opening vertical line being in the reference plane.