Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
35A~8
sackground of the Invention:
The present invention relates to an improvement in a
continuous forming, filling and packing apparatus.
Recently, foods such as jam, marmalade, cream and
yoghurt packed in small containers have become popular because
of the ease of handling and in view of sanitation. For example,
each food package often contains an amount of food necessary
to satisfy one use or an individual serving, and this will be
referred hereinafter as to a "portion pack" when applicable.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate conventional packages for
food material and Fig. 1 is a perspective view while Fig. 2 is
a cross-section taken along a line II-I~ in Fig. 1. A container
portion 1 is made from a bottom sheet 2 of thermoplastic resin.
The container portion 1 is filled with a food 3 such as jam,
marmalade, cream or yoghurt. A cover portion 4 is constituted
usually by a lamination of an aluminum foil and a thermally
fusible resin layer. After the food 3 is placed in the container
portion 1, the cover sheet 4 is placed over the opening of the
container portion 1 and seals the latter by being thermally
fused thereto. On an upper surface of the cover sheet 4, a set
of symbols for indicating the contents, the trade name thereof,
the trademark, and the manufacturer thereof etc. (hereinafter,
referred to as "symbol F" when applicable) are printed.
The usual practice is to manufacture the portion packs
in a batch. For example, an array of 2 x 3 portion packs may
be manufactured in one cycle. Therefore, the cover sheet 4 has
a corresponding number of printing sets of the symbol F thereon,
In Fig. 3 a reference numeral 5 indicates a reading mark which
is used to control the apparatus to obtain a correspondence in
~osition between the symbol F on the cover sheet 4 and the con-
tainer portion 1 as will be described later. The spacing or
pitch of the reading marks 5 together with -the symbols F may
-- 1 --
~b
S354~
include some error which may be caused by some problem in print-
ing accuracy. An accumulation of the errors will cause a con-
siderable divergence between the container portion 1 and the
symbol F on the cover sheet 4. Examples of such divergences are
illustrated in Figs. 4a to 4c in plan view and in Figs. 5a to 5c
in cross-section, respectively. With such divergence, the por-
tion packs are shabby and the values thereof are lowered.
In Fig. 6, a conventional apparatus for manufacturing
packaged food material is shown, wherein a reference numeral 11
indicates a roll of the thermoplastic bottom sheet material 2
and 12 indicates a roll of the cover sheet material. A heating
plate 13 serves to heat the bottom sheet 2 and includes a pair
of heat plates between which the bottom sheet 2 is passed so
as to be heated to a suitable temperature.
A forming device 14 for shaping the bottom sheet 2
into containers having suitable shape after heating of the bot-
tom sheet 2 is provided upstream of a filling device 15 serving
to fill the containers 2 formed by the forming device 14 with a
predetermined amount of food such as jam.
A sealing device 16 functions to seal the containers
2, each filled with the predetermined amount of food, with a
laminated cover sheet 4 composed of a lamination of aluminum
foil and a thermally fusible resin layer. The cover sheet 4
is pressed towards the open container with the resin layer side
facing downwardly onto the openings of containers 2 by using a
heat plate supported for vertical movement by a frame structure
(not shown) to fuse the resin layer to the peripheries of the
openings and then cooling the fused assembly.
A reading device 17 functions to read photoelectrical-
ly the marks 5 shown in Fig. 3 and sellds an out~ut signal to
a control device (not shown).
The reading may be performed in such a way as shown
-- 2
3 S ~ 8
in Figs. 7a and 7b. The reading device 17 is initially set such
that a center S of a light spot emitted therefrom coincides with
a position prior to a trailing edge T of the mark 5 by ~Q, as
shown in Fig. 7a. When the marks 5 are printed closer together
than they should be, the accumulated error after several to
several tens of cycles produces a positional relation shown in
Fig. 7b between the trailing edge T of the mark and the center
S of the light spot from the reading device 17. By making the
reading device 17 capable of discriminating the printed colour
of the mark 5 from the colour of the background, the reading
device 17 discriminates the condition shown in Fig. 7b and sends
a signal through the control device to a carrying device 18 to
correct the feeding amount of a product 6 composed of the con-
tainers sealed with the cover sheet 4 as to be described.
The carrying device 18 functions to pull intermittent-
ly the containers 2 sealed with the cover sheet 4 by the sealing
device 16 in synchronism with the feeding pitch.
The conventional carrying device is shown in more
detail in Figs. 8 and 9 wherein grippers31A and 31B associated
with,an air cylinder pinch the product 6 in response to a carry-
ing signal. A slide block 32 on which the grippers 31A and 31B
are mounted is guided by guide bars 33 and driven back and
forth by a driving device 34 having an air cylinder. A plate
35 is provided for correcting the feeding amount of the product.
The plate 6 has a thicXness in the order of ~Q and is guided by
a guide 36 and driven vertically according to demand by a driv-
ing device 37 having an air cylinder.
When the positional relation between the printed mark
S on the cover sheet 4 and the mark reading device 17 becomes
as shown in Fig. 7b, the reading device 17 produces an output
signal which is fed to the control device not shown. Then, the
driving device 37 is actuated in response to an instruction from
-- 3
3 5 ~ ~
the control device to move the plate 35 upwardly. In this state,
the grippers 31A and 31B grip the product sheet 6. By pulling
the slide block 32 by the driving device 34, the amount of
stroke is reduced by a distance corresponding to the thickness
of the plate 35, comparing with that when the plate 35 is in the
bottom position.
Therefore, it is possible to correct the carrying
amount correspondingly to the accumulation of the printing
errors.
In Fig. 6, a punching device 19 is shown which func-
tions to punch the respective portion packs shown in Fig. 1 out
from the product sheet 6 by using a combination of a male and
female edge supported for vertical movement by the frame (not
shown) of the apparatus. The products H punched out from the
product sheet 6 are discharged by an ejection device (not shown)
to a predetermined location.
A take-up device 20 is provided which functions to
receive waste 7 after the punching performed by the punching
device 19.
~s described with reference to Figs. 6 to 9, the con-
ventional forming, filling ~nd packing apparatus manufactures
the portion packs H by performing the steps of heat-forming the
container portions 2 of the thermoplastic resin, filling them
with materials 3, sealing the containers with the cover sheet
4, punching the pac~s out from a web and then taking up the
waste, together with the step of correcting the carrying amount
of the sheet materials. With using this apparatus, however,
the appearance of the final products are freq~ently degraded as
shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
That is, Figs. 4a and 5a shown an e~ample in which the
cover sheet 4 seals the container portion ~ with the symbol F
printed thereon deviated from the container portion 2.
-- 4
~ ~3~
Figs. 4b and 5b shown another example in which the
punching of the packs ~I from the web is performed erroneously
causi~g the flange portion 8 of the pac~ to be unbalanced. If
the punching operation is made with more deviation than that
shown in Figs. 4b and 5b, a portion of the flange in one side
will be lost causing a leakage of the contents 3 of the container.
Figs. 4c and 5c show a further example in which the
flange portion is stamped by a circular male die to prevent air
from being introduced in the container to thereby clearly im-
prove preservation of the contents, but the stamping is madeerroneously causing a stamped recess 9 which is off-centered.
I~ the recess is off-centered more than the above, the circular
stamp may be out of the flange 8 of the container.
The reasons why these states may be caused are as
follows: (1) The state shown in Figs. 4a and 5a may be caused
by an erroneous selection of the setting position of the mark
reading device 17.
As shown in Fig. 6, a temporary reference position is
indicated in a center X-X of the sealing portion of the sealing
device 16 and the distance LL between the center S of the light
spot from the reading device 17 and the center X-X is not equal
to the distance LB between the center of the forming portion of
the forming device 14 and the center X-X. There is, in fact, a
considerable difference between LL and LB. Therefore, even if
the correction control of the carrying amount is performed, it
only corrects the printing error of the cover sheet 4. It does
not make any control so that the symbol F of the cover sheet 4
coincides with the forming container 2.
(2) The state shown in Figs. 4b and 5b is caused by
having no position correction for the punching o~eration by the
punching device 19. Even with the carrying amount correction
control, punching may be performed at an erroneous yosition due
_ 5
~ ~B3548
to the lack of the positional control of the punching.
(3) The state shown in Figs. 4c and 5c is caused by
having no position correction of the sealing operation performed
by the sealing device 16.
Although spacings of the marks 5 printed on the cover
sheet 4 usually are in error by an amount smaller than refer-
ence spacing PO, this is not always true and there may be cases
where the actual spacing P is larger than the reference spacing
PO' That is, the case where Po~Pi=~Pi<O can be considered. In
this case ~Pi is negative which shows the state where the cen-
ter S of the light spot is shifted from the state in Fig. 7a to
the end E of the mark 5.
In this case, since the mark reading device 17 does
not detect the mark 5, the carrying in the next cycle will be
made by PO-~Q according to the above mentioned carrying amount
correction, which may cause the deviation to be more increased.
In view of the above, it may be considered to add a
discriminating function to the mark reading device.
That is, it is possible to make the size of the mark
5 no larger than 2~Q and to initially set the position of the
reading member of the mark reading device at a center of the
mark.
Therefore, when ¦~Pi¦>AQ, it becomes impossible to
detect the mark by the mark reading device and thus the feeding
of the cover sheet 4 is stopped.
The discriminating function is to decide whether the
cover sheet should be stopped after a detection of the mark by
the mark readiny device or before the detection.
The former case corresponds to ~Pi>~Q a}ld the latter
case corresponds to ~Pi<-~2. Therefore it is enough to correct
the carrying amount of the cover sheet 4 to P -~Q or P +AQ in
the preceding cycle.
-- 6 --
3548
The case where the carrying amount is to be increased
may be handled in the same manner as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
~ owever, the addition of the discriminating function
to the mark reading device may considerably increase the cost.
In the apparatus shown in Fig. 6, when the sealing
device 16 and the punching device 19 are not in appropriate posi-
tions, respectively, even if the symbols on the cover sheet 4
correspond exactly in position to the container portions 2, the
appearance oE the product H will be degraded. Therefore, it is
necessary to provide oth~r mark reading devices for the sealing
device 16 and the punching device 19, respectively, so that the
sealing device 16 and the punching device 19 can be moved in
response to outpu~ instructions produced by these additional
reading devices, respectively. This may cause the same disadvan-
tages as those encountered previously.
Summary of the Invention:
A primary object of the present invention is to elim-
inate the disadvantages inherent to the conventional technique
and to provide a forming, filling and packing apparatus by which
the registration of the containers formed in the bottom sheet
with the symbols printed on the cover sheet can be easily achiev-
ed and the sealing can be made optimum and the punching of the
product from a web can be made at the optimum position.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a forming, filling and packing apparatus equipped with a mark
reading device capable of reading a deviation from the marks
printed on the cover sheet and of correcting the carrying amount
thereof according to the deviation.
The present invention resides in a forMing, filling
and packing apparatus having a heating dcvice for heating a bot-
tom sheet of thermoplastic resin supplied intermittently thereto,
a forming device for forming container portions from the hcated
-- 7 --
3 ~ ~ ~
bottom sheet while keeping the latter continuous, a filling de-
vice for filling the container portions with material, a seal-
ing device for sealingly covering the container portions with
a cover sheet carried in synchronism with the intermittent supply
by adhering the cover sheet to the bottom sheet formed with the
containers, the cover sheet bearing pitch marks corresponding
to the intermittent movement and symbol marks printed thereon,
a punching device for removing the sealingly covered containers
from the continuous web of the bottom sheet laminated with the
cover sheet, and a carrying device for feeding intermittently
the bottom sheet and the cover sheet, characterized by a mark
reading device disposed at a position separated from the seal-
ing device by a distance equal to a distance between the forming
device and the sealing device.
Further, the present invention resides in a forming,
filling and packing apparatus having a heating device for heat-
ing a bottom sheet of thermoplastic resin supplied intermittent-
ly thereto, a forming device for forming container portions
from the heated bottom sheet while keeping the latter continu-
ous, a filling device for filling the container portions withmaterial, a sealing device for sealingly covering the container
portions with a cover sheet carried in synchronism with the
intermittent supply by adhering the cover sheet to the bottom
sheet formed with the container portions, the cover sheet bear-
ing pitch marks corresponding to the intermittent movement and
symbol marks printed thereon, a punching device for removing
the sealingly covered containers from the continuous web of the
bottom sheet laminated with the cover sheet, a]ld a carrying
device for feeding intermittently the bottom sheet and the cover
sheet, characterized by further comprising a back and forth
device for moving back and forth at least either of the sealing
device and the punching device in the ~eeding direction of the
-- 8 --
~ ~3548
bottom shee~, and a mark reading device disposed at a position
separated from the sealing device by a distance equal to a dis-
tance between the forming device and the sealing device.
Furthermore, the present invention resides in a form-
ing, filling and packing apparatus having a heating device for
heating a bottom sheet of thermoplastic resin supplied inter-
mittently thereto, a forming device for forming container por-
tions from the heated bottom sheet while keeping the latter con-
tinuous, a filling device for filling the container portions
with material, a sealing device for sealingly covering the con-
tainer portion with a cover sheet carried in synchronism with
the intermittent supply by adhering the cover sheet to the
bottom sheet formed with the container portions, the cover
sheet bearing pitch marks corresponding to the intermittent move-
ment and symbol marks printed thereon, a punching device for
removing the sealingly covered containers from the continuous
web of the bottom wheet laminated with the cover sheet, and a
carrying device for feeding intermittently the bottom sheet and
the cover sheet, characteri~ed by further comprising a mark
~0 reading device having a pair of mark readers which reads the
marks within one pitch of the cover sheet.
The above objects and features as well as other objects
and features of the present invention will become more clear by
the following description of the preferred embodiments with
reference to the attached drawings.
~rief Description of the Drawings:
. . . _ .
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion pack;
Fig. 2 is a cross-section taken along a line II-II in
Fig. l;
Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cover sheet;
Figs. 4a to 4c are plan views of the portion packs,
rcspectively;
_ ~ _
~ ~354~8
Flgs. 5a to 5c are cross-sectional views taken along
lines IV-IV in Figs. 4a to 4c, respectively;
Fig. 6 is a view for explaining schematically the
conventional forming, filling and packing apparatus;
Figs. 7a and 7b are views for explaining the reading
of the reading marks;
Fig. 8 is a side view of the conventional carrying
device;
Fig. 9 is a cross-section taken along a line IIIV-IIIV
in Fig. 8;
Fig. 10 shows schematically a forming, filling and
packing apparatus according to the present invention;
Figs. 11 to 13 are views for explaining the relation
between the cover sheet and the bottom sheet:
Fig. 14 is a front view of the mark reading device
according to another embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 15 is a side view of the reading device in Fig.
14;
Fig. 16 is an enlarged view of a carrying device cor-
responding to that in Fig. 8;
Figs. 17a to 17c are explanatory drawings for the
operation of the mark reading aevicei and
Figs. 18 to 20 show relations between the reading
marks and the mark reading device according to another embodiment
of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments:
. _ .... _
The present invention will now be described with refer-
ence to the embodiments shown in Figs. 9 to 13.
Since the forming, filling and packing apparatus silown
in these Figures is similar to the conventional apparatus shown
in Fig. 6, explanations of the devices depicted by the same
reference numerals will be omitted.
-- 10 --
3~
This apparatus can produce 2 x 3 products H in one
cycle of operation, in which a cover sheet 4 is fed such that
each of the reading marks 5 printed thereon is at a position
intermedia-te of one cycle of operation of the apparatus.
Reference numerals Zl to 23 show reading devices for
reading the marks 5, and centers of the sealing device 16, the
punching device 19 and the forming device 14 are depicted as O,
O' and O", respec~ively. When a distance between the centers O
and O" is represented by LB, the reading device 21 is disposed
in a position in the upstream side separated from the center O
by LL, wherein LL=LB.
The reading devices 22 and 23 are provided integrally
with the sealing device 16 and the punching device 19, respec-
tively, to detect positions separated from the centers O and O'
by a distance P , respectively.
The sealing device 16 and the punching device 19 are
supported by a frame struc-ture (not shown) moveable in the feed-
ing or carrying direction of the bottom sheet 2 and the cover
sheet 4. The movements of the devices 16 and 19 are effected
independently by back and forth devices 24 and 25, respectively.
A carrying amount correction control will be described
with reference to Figs. 11 to 13 in which the positional rela-
tion between the reading of the mark 5 indicating the symbols F
on the cover sheet 4 by the reading device 21 and the forming
of the container portions 2 from the heated bottom sheet by the
forming device 1~ is shown through three operation cycles. S
indicates the center of the light spot from the reading device
21 and T indicates the trailing end of the mark 5.
In Fig. 11, it is assumed that the reading of the
mark 5 for the cover sheet 4 is in the same state as that shown
in Fig. 7a. The forming of the containers 2 is performed at
~ositions corresponding to the symbols F on the cover sheet 4.
~ ~3~8
Further, a distance between the center of the right hand symbol
F in Fig. 11 and the center S of the light spot is assumed as R.
Under these conditions r there is no need of correction
of the carrying amount of the cover sheet. Therefore, the cover
sheet 4 and the bottom sheet 2 are carried away to the next
cycle with the reference pitch PO Assuming that the pitch be-
tween the symbol F on the cover sheet 4 in Fig. 11 and that in
the next cycle becomes Po-~Q due to a printing error, the condi-
tion of the sheet 4 after one cycle with the reference pitch PO
becomes as shown in Fig. 12 and the reading of the mark becomes
the same as shown in Fig. 7b. Since the feeding or carrying
amounts oE the sheets 2 and 4 are the same, the forming of the
container portions in this state is performed at positions sub-
stantially corresponding to the symbols F on the cover sheet 4
with a light deviation within the range of the order of ~Q from
the symbol F (this order may not substantially affect the appear-
ance of the product).
When the reading of the mark on the cover sheet 4 be-
comes as shown in Fig. 12, there is the correction of feeding
amount required. Therefore, the carrying device 18 is controlled
by an instruction from the control device (not shown) such that
the cover sheet 4 and the bottom sheet 2 are fed in the next
cycle with the pitch P -~Q (here, the correction amount is assum-
ed as ~Q). As a result, it becomes as shown in ~ig. 13. In
Fig. 13, since the feeding amounts of the sheets 2 and 4 are
the same, the forming of the bottom sheet 2 can be performed at
positions substantially corresponding to the symbols F on the
cover sheet 4 as in the case shown in Fig. 12.
In this manner, the sheets 2 and 4 are fed sequential-
ly with the symbol F on the cover sheet 4 being coincident tothe containers 2, respectively, and these sheets are sealed to-
gcth~r. That is, the containers are formed from the bottom shcet
- 12 -
3~
2 with the pitch P or P -aQ in response to the instruction from
the reading device 21 and thus the symbol F on the cover sheet
4 substantially coincides with the container (within the range
of aQ)-
In the embodiment in Fig. 10, the distance LB (this i5
equal to the distance LL between the center o and the reading
device 21) between the center O" of the forming device 14 and
the center o of the sealing device 16 is made as 4 P~.
In a case where the carrying device 18 feeds the bottom
sheet 2 and the cover sheet 4 with the pitch PO-~Q according to
the instruction from the reading device 21, the reading device
22 does not detect the mark 5 and, therefore, the feeding of
the sheets 2 and 4 is stopped according to an instruction. In
this case, the back and forth device 24 is actuated by the con-
trol device (not shown) to retrieve the sealing device 16 by AQ
in the next cycle. That is, as shown in Fig. 10, at the dis-
tance between the centers O and O" or the distance between the
center o and the reading device 21, i.e., LB=4P -~Q, the sealing
device 16 is actuated.
If the subsequent feeding is made with the pitch PO~
the reading device 22 will change the state from detection of
the mark 5 to non-detection of the mark 5 in the fourth cycle.
At this time, the feeding is stopped by an instruction. Then,
in the next cycle, the back and forth device 24 is actuated by
the control device (not shown) to advance the sealing device 16
by ~Q.
The above operation is the same for the pu3lching de-
vice 19 and, so, any details thereof will be unnecessary.
Therefore, only one deviation of ~Q which is within
the tolerance occurs with respect to the feeding of the bottom
sheet 2 with PO-~Q by the carrying device 18 for the sealing
and punching.
- 13
3~
In the forming, filling and packing apparatus accord-
iny to this embodiment, the mark reading device 21 is disposed
at the position on the cover sheat 4 remote from the center O of
the sealing device 16 by a distance equal to the distance LB be-
tween the center O" of the forming device 14 and the center O.
Therefore, there is substantially no deviation between the con-
tainer and the svmbol F on the cover sheet 4 resulting in a good
appearance of the product H.
Further, since the sealing device 16 and the punching
device 19 are made movable by the provisions of the back and
forth devices 24 and 25, respectively, and the reading devices
22 and 23 are provided in the upstream sides of the sealing de-
vice 16 and the punching device 19 in positions remote from the
latter by the reference pitch POr respectively, the sealing and
punching correspond well to the container formed in the bottom
sheet 2 resulting in good appearance of the products.
Although, in the above embodiment, the reading devices
22 and 23 are integrally provided on the sealing device 16 and
the punching device 19, respectively, they may be provided in
the following manner.
When the carrying device 18 feeds the sheets 2 and 4
~y PO-~Q according to an instruction of the reading device 21,
the back and forth devices 24 and 25 are actuated to retrieve
the sealing device 16 and the punching device 19 by ~Q simultane-
ously.
On the other hand, since the number of pitches between
reference marks 5 between the sealing device 16 and the punching
device 19 with respect to the forming device 14 is fixed as,
for exampl-e, four and 7 in Fig. 10, it May be possible to mem-
orize by a memory (not shown) the time ~-~hen the carrying device
18 feeds with the pitch PO-~Q and advance the sealing device 16
alld the punching device 19 by ~Q by meal-s of the back and forth
- 14 -
~3~
devices 24 and 25 in the fifth and eighth cycles, respectively.
By doing so, there is no deviation occurring in sealing
and punching the containers and the cover sheet 4.
When the pitch Pi of the reading mark 5 is larger than
PO~ it is necessary to make the feeding amount of the laminated
sheet 6 larger than P . This may be sufficient to do in simple
reverse manner and so, details thereof will be omitted.
Figs. 14 to 17 show another embodiment of the present
invention and Fig6. 14 and 15 are enlarged views of an example
of a mark reading device 40 corresponding to the conventional
reading device 17 in Fig. 6. 41A and 41B are a pair of mark
readers and Sl and S2 a~e the centers of the light spots from
the mark readers 41A and 41s.
42 and 43 are brackets for mounting the readers 41A
and 41B, respectively, and the bracket 42 has a U-shape.
The bracket 43 is formed with a threaded hole for
receiving a regulation screw 44 and a guide hole for a guide 46
so that, by turning the screw 44 supported by opposite ends of
the V-shaped bracket 42, it is guided by the guide 46 vertically.
The regulation screw 44 has a fine pitch so that the
relative position of the reader 41A to that of the reader 41s
can be finely regulated.
45 is a spring for preventing the reader 41A from
shifting due to an unbalance of the bracket 43 and the regula-
tion screw 44. The spring 45 always urges the bracket 43 up-
wardly with respect to the bracket 42.
47 is a brackethaving a U-shape which is secured to
the frame structure (not shown). The bracket 42 is formed with
a threaded hole for receiving a regulation screw 48 and a guide
hole for a guide 50 so that, by turning the regulation screw
48 supported by opposite ends o~ the U-shaped bracket 47, it is
guided vertically along the guide 50. The screw 48 has a pi~ch
- 15 -
3 5 ~ ~
as fine as that of the regulation screw 44. A spring 49 has
the same function as the spring 45.
An example of a carrying device 60 for correcting the
amount of feeding of the laminated sheet 6 (the cover sheet 4 and
the bottom sheet 2) according to information read by a mark
reading device 40 will be described with reference to Fig. 16.
Fig. 16 corresponds to Fig. 8 used to explain the con-
ventional device.
, 61A is a gripper, 62 is a slide block, 63 is a guide
bar and 64 is a driving device.
65 is a plate whose thickness is QQ, 66 is a guide for
the plate 65, and 67 is a driving device for correcting the
feeding amount from the reference pitch PO to P -QQ. 68 is a
second plate whose thickness is AQ, 69 is a guide for the second
plate 68 and 70 is a driving device for correcting the feeding
amount from the reference pitch to PO+QQ.
When the feeding of the laminated sheet 6 is made with
the reference pitch, the driving device 70 is actuated under a
control such that the slide block 62 engages with the plate 68.
When the feeding is to be corrected so as to feed with PO~Q,
the driving device 70 is actuated under a control such that the
slide block 62 is disengaged from the plate 68.
When the feeding is to be corrected so as to feed with
P -QQ, the driving devices 70 and 67 are actuated under a control
such that the slide block 62 engages through the plate 68 with
the plate 65.
When the cover sheet 4 and the bottom sheet 2 are fed
with the reference pitch PO by the carrying device 60, it is
assumed that it is adjusted such that the containers formed in
t]~e bottom sheet 2 and the symbols on the cover sheet 2 are well
matched. In this case, the regulation screws 44 and 48 are
operated to move the readers 41A and 41B so that the spot ends
- 16 -
3 5 ~ ~
Sl and S2 of the readers 41A and 41s of the mark reading device40 are set in positions shifted by ~Q inside from the trailing
end T of the mark 55 printed on the sheet 4 and by ~Q inside
from the leading end E thereof, respectively, as shown in Fig.
17a.
It is assumed that the pitch of the mark 55 is Pi(i=l,
2, ...) and Po-Pi=aPi. F~lrther, it is assumed that the refer-
ence pitch of the cover sheet 4 and bottom sheet 2 in the carry-
ing device 60 is P and it becomes ~APi=~Q after several cycles.
That is, in the state where the cover sheet 4 is
stopped, the relation of the spot ends Sl and S2 of the readers
41A and 41B and the mark 55 becomes as shown in Fig. 17b. In
this case, the reader 41B detects the mark 55 while the reader
4lA does not.
With this situation, the driving device 67 of the
carrying device 60 i5 actuated by a control device (not shown)
to move the plate 65 upwardly.
Therefore, in the next cycle, the feeding amount of
the cover sheet 4 and the bottom sheet 2 in the carrying device
60 becomes P -AQ and it returns to the state shown in Fig. 17a.
Simultaneouslyr the plate 65 is lowered by the driving device
67 so that it returns to the original pitch PO in the next cycle.
When ~Pi=-~Q, i.e., it becomes the state shown in
Fig. 17c, the mark reader 41A detects the mark 55 while the
reader 41s does not. At thattime, the driving device 70 is
actuated by a control device to lower the plate 68.
Therefore, the feeding amount in the next cycle be-
comes PO+~Q and returns to the state shown in Fig. 17a.
In this manner~ in this embodiment of the present in-
3~ vention, since the marks 55 printed on the cover sheet 4 with aprcdctermined pitch are read by the mark reading device 40 com-
poscd of the pair of the mark readcrs ~IA and 4lB disposed along
- 17 -
~ ~i3~
the moving line of the cover sheet 4, the marks 55 can be de-
tected without adding special discriminating funckions to the
apparatus as in the conventional apparatus. Further these marks
55 can be detected not only when an accumulation ~Pi of errors
APi relative to the reference pitch P of the mark 55 is larger
than the tolerable deviation QQ, but also when it is smaller
than -~Q.
Further since the mark readers 41A and 41B of the
reading device 40 can be shifted by the regulation scr~ws 44
and 48, it becomes possible to regulate the relative distance
between the readers 41A and 41B and the relative position between
the marks 55 on the cover sheet 4 and the reading device 40,
resulting in a precise positional regulation of the symbols
printed on the cover sheet 4 with respect to the containers.
In the above embodiment, the readers 4-A and 41s of
the reading device 40 are moved along the flow line of the cover
sheet 4. It should be noted, however, that they can be arranged
in parallel with each other and there is no need for printing
the marXs 55 continuously.
Further, in this embodiment, the deviation is recog-
nized when the readers 41A and 41B of the reading aevice 40 do
not detect the marks 55. Alternatively, it is also possible to
recogniæe the deviation when the readers detect them.
Figs. 18 to 20 show the relation when the spot centers
of the readers 41A and 41s are Sl and S2, the marks are 55 or
55A and 55s.
The effects obtainable from these embodimen-ts are
similar to those obtained in the preceding embodiments.
Furthermore, in order to reduce the deviation between
the symbols on the cover sheet 4 and the containers formed in
the bottom sheet 2, which is caused by an accumulation of errors
of the pitch of the symbols (including the marks 55) printed on
- 18 -
.
~ ~3~
the cover sheet 4 with respect to the reference pitch PO thereof,
as small as possible, the marks 55 are read by the reading de-
vice 40 to correct the feeding amount by the carrying device 60.
This may also be used when the sealing and/or punching position
is to be corrected.
That is, by providing reading devices 40 each composed
of the readers 41A and 41B on the sealing device 16 and/or the
punching device 19 and making the latter two movable along the
feeding line by using suitable driving devices, the sealing
device 16 and/or the punching device 19 are moved according to
the instruction from the reading devices 40. With this arrange-
ment, the same effects as those obtained in relation to the cor-
rect.ion of the carrying device 60.
In this case, it becomes possible to seal and punch
the products having the symbols and the containers mated posi-
tionally at optimum positions, resulting in the packed products
H having good appearance.
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