JP6916520B2 - Film for bag making and packaging - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a film for bag making and packaging.

Patent Document 1 (Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-132454) discloses a packaging film set in a bag-making packaging machine. The packaging film has a repetitively printed pattern. One design corresponds to one bag. The design often includes a product code for identifying the type of product to be packaged.

If the design of the packaging film includes not only the product code but also individual identification information that enables individual identification of the product, it can be used for various purposes.

An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging film that can be used for various purposes.

The packaging film according to the first aspect of the present invention is set in a bag-making and packaging machine. The design is repeatedly printed on the packaging film. Each design corresponds to one bag. Each symbol contains unique individual identification information.

According to this configuration, each bag has unique individual identification information that does not overlap with the other bags. Therefore, individual identification information can be used for various purposes such as identification of a production line, identification of a production lot, matching of production conditions with product quality, identification and disposal of defective products in a manufacturing process, tracing in shipping and distribution, and the like.

The packaging film according to the second aspect of the present invention is the packaging film according to the first aspect, and the design includes a plurality of the same individual identification information.

According to this configuration, a plurality of the same individual identification information is printed on one bag. Therefore, the probability that the reading device recognizes the individual identification information is increased, and the efficiency of individual identification of the product is improved.

In the packaging film according to the third aspect of the present invention, the bag has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface in the packaging film according to the second aspect. The design has a first area corresponding to the first surface and a second area corresponding to the second surface. Each of the first area and the second area contains a plurality of the same individual identification information.

According to this configuration, a plurality of the same individual identification information is printed on each of the first surface and the second surface. Therefore, individual identification is possible regardless of whether the reading device reads the first surface or the second surface.

The wrapping film according to the fourth aspect of the present invention is the wrapping film according to any one of the first to third aspects, and is unique individual identification information included in a plurality of patterns printed on the wrapping film. Is a continuous number.

According to this configuration, the individual identification information is a continuous number. Therefore, it is easy to manage the product at the manufacturing site or the like.

In the packaging film according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the packaging film according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the ratio of the area occupied by the individual identification information in the design is 20% or more.

According to this configuration, 20% or more of the area of the symbol is individual identification information. Therefore, the reading device can easily read the individual identification information.

In the packaging film according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the proportion of the area occupied by the individual identification information in the design is 50% or more in the packaging film according to the fifth aspect.

According to this configuration, 50% or more of the area of the symbol is individual identification information. Therefore, it is easier for the reading device to read the individual identification information.

In the packaging film according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the individual identification information is printed in the form of a digital watermark in the packaging film according to any one of the first to sixth aspects.

According to this configuration, the individual identification information is printed in the form of a digital watermark. Therefore, there is little risk of inconvenience to consumers who do not need individual identification information.

The packaging film according to the present invention can use individual identification information for various purposes.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first surface S1 of a product P packaged with a film F. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a second surface S2 of the product P packaged with the film F. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a repetitive symbol PT of the film F according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a configuration of a bag making / packaging machine 20 in which the film F is set. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a film cylinder FT. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a film cylinder FT. FIG. 7A is a diagram showing the camera 201. FIG. 7B is a diagram showing a barcode reader 202. FIG. 7C is a diagram showing a wearable terminal 203. FIG. 7D is a diagram showing a keyboard 204. FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a repetitive symbol PT of the film F'according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a film cylinder FT'. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a film cylinder FT'.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the packaging film according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The specific configuration of the packaging film according to the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments, and can be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the invention.

<First Embodiment>
(1) Product P packaged in film F
1 and 2 are appearances of the product P packaged by the packaging film F. The articles packaged in the film F are diverse, such as food. The foods referred to here also include pharmaceutical products. The film F forms the bag B. FIG. 1 shows the first surface S1 of the bag B, and FIG. 2 shows the second surface S2 of the bag B. The second surface S2 is located on the opposite side of the first surface S1. The bag B has a vertical seal portion XL on the side of the second surface S2. The bag B has horizontal seal portions XT on two opposite sides.

(2) Film F
FIG. 3 shows a packaging film F according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The film F has a constant width that extends long in the vertical direction L and extends in the horizontal direction T perpendicular to the vertical direction L. On the film F, a pattern PT corresponding to one bag B is repeatedly printed for each dimension D. That is, the compartment Z1, the compartment Z2, the compartment Z3, and the compartment Z4 each have a symbol PT and are used to form one bag B. When the film F is finally processed into a bag B, the dimension D is the distance between the upper side and the lower side of the bag B, or the distance between the left side and the right side of the bag B, depending on the design of the bag B.

Each compartment has a first area A1 and a second area A2. The first area A1 is a portion corresponding to the first surface S1 of the bag B. The second area A2 is a portion corresponding to the second surface S2 of the bag B.

The symbol PT includes the reference mark M. The reference mark M is for being read by the photoelectric sensor 29 of the bag making and packaging machine 20, which will be described later. The reference mark M may be in either the first area A1 or the second area A2.

The symbol PT includes unique individual identification information I. That is, each bag B has different individual identification information I. A plurality of the same individual identification information Is are printed in the first area A1 of one bag B. A plurality of the same individual identification information Is are printed in the second area A2 of one bag B. The plurality of individual identification information I printed in the first area A1 of one bag B and the plurality of individual identification information I printed in the second area A2 of the same bag B are the same.

The individual identification information I is printed in the form of an optically readable code such as a bar code, a two-dimensional bar code, or a dot code. Adjacent individual identification information I is arranged substantially without gaps. The ratio of the area occupied by the individual identification information I in the symbol PT is 20% or more, preferably 50% or more.

The individual identification information I may be a number. Furthermore, the individual identification information I included in the repetitive symbol PT may be a continuous number. For example, each individual identification information I included in the compartment Z1, the compartment Z2, the compartment Z3, and the compartment Z4 is incremented by 1 in this order.

It is preferable that the symbol PT includes notation of the individual identification information I in numbers or letters in addition to the individual identification information I printed in the form of a code.

(3) Bag making and packaging machine 20
FIG. 4 is a bag-making and packaging machine 20 for making a product P using a film F. The film F is set in the bag making and packaging machine 20.

The bag-making and packaging machine 20 includes a roll holding unit 21, a transport mechanism 22, a printing unit 23, a printing inspection unit 24, a former 25, a vertical sealing mechanism 26, a horizontal sealing mechanism 27, a cutting mechanism 28, and a photoelectric sensor 29.

The roll holding portion 21 holds the film roll FR. The film roll FR has a core material and a film F wrapped around the core material.

The transport mechanism 22 transports the film F taken out from the roll holding portion 21. The transport mechanism 22 has a plurality of rollers, a pull-down belt 22a, a discharge conveyor 22b, and the like without reference numerals.

The printing unit 23 prints predetermined information such as a manufacturing date in the form of characters at an appropriate position on the film F being conveyed. The print inspection unit 24 includes a camera. The print inspection unit 24 inspects whether or not the predetermined information printed by the print unit 23 is printed on the film F in the correct manner.

The former 25 is for rolling the film F that has been conveyed in a flat state and superimposing the two vertical sides of the film F. The former 25 has a tubular member. The internal space of the tubular member is used as a filling path for filling the bag B formed of the film F with the article to be packaged.

The vertical sealing mechanism 26 fixes the two vertical sides of the film F superposed by the former 25. The vertical seal mechanism 26 has a heater. The heat generated by the heater temporarily softens the overlapping portion of the film F, so that the film F is fixed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, a vertical seal portion XL is formed on the film F, and a film cylinder FT having a cylinder shape is produced.

Returning to FIG. 4, the lateral sealing mechanism 27 fixes two opposing portions in the film cylinder FT. The lateral seal mechanism 27 has a first member 27a and a second member 27b that face each other via a transport path. The first member 27a and the second member 27b can be brought close to each other or separated from each other by a motor (not shown). When the first member 27a and the second member 27b approach each other, the opposing portions of the film cylinder FT come into contact with each other. Both the first member 27a and the second member 27b have a heater. The heat generated by the heater temporarily softens the contact portion of the film cylinder FT, so that the film is fixed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6, a horizontal seal portion XT is formed on the film cylinder FT. Each time the operation of the lateral sealing mechanism 27 is completed, the film cylinder FT is filled with an article for one bag through the internal space of the former 25.

Returning to FIG. 4, the cutting mechanism 28 is provided in the lateral sealing mechanism 27. The cutting mechanism 28 has a blade 28a and a receiving portion 28b. The blade 28a is provided on the first member 27a and can be extended and retracted. The receiving portion 28b is provided on the second member 27b and can receive the extended blade 28a. In the cutting operation of the cutting mechanism 28, the blade 28a extends toward the receiving portion 28b. As a result, the individual products P are separated. As shown in FIG. 6, the cutting position CP for cutting by the cutting mechanism 28 is located at the lateral seal portion XT.

Returning to FIG. 4, the photoelectric sensor 29 is for reading the reference mark M provided on the film F. The output signal of the photoelectric sensor 29 is used to determine the operation timing of the horizontal sealing mechanism 27 and the cutting mechanism 28.

(4) Reading device Various reading devices can be considered for reading the individual identification information I. For example, the reading device may be the camera 201 shown in FIG. 7A. Alternatively, the reading device may be the barcode reader 202 shown in FIG. 7B. Alternatively, the reading device may be a wearable terminal 203 such as the smart glasses shown in FIG. 7C. These reading devices have, for example, an image processing unit that extracts individual identification information I from an image. The image processing unit is composed of software or hardware. The image processing unit may be mounted on a device different from the reading device.

Further, in case the reading by the reading device fails, the reading device may also have a keyboard 204 for inputting the individual identification information I represented by numbers or characters as shown in FIG. 7D.

(5) Features (5-1)
Each bag B has unique individual identification information I that does not overlap with the other bags B. Therefore, the individual identification information I can be used for various purposes such as identification of a production line, identification of a production lot, matching of production conditions with product quality, identification and disposal of defective products in a manufacturing process, tracing in shipping and distribution, and the like.

(5-2)
A plurality of the same individual identification information Is are printed on one bag B. Therefore, since the probability that the reading device recognizes the individual identification information I increases, the efficiency of individual identification of the product P improves.

(5-3)
A plurality of the same individual identification information Is are printed on each of the first surface S1 and the second surface S2. Therefore, individual identification is possible regardless of whether the reading device reads either the first surface S1 or the second surface S2.

(5-4)
The individual identification information I can be a continuous number. Therefore, it is easy to manage the product P at the manufacturing site or the like.

(5-5)
20% or more, or 50% or more, of the area of the symbol PT is the individual identification information I. Therefore, the reading device can easily read the individual identification information I.

<Second Embodiment>
(1) Film F'
FIG. 8 shows a packaging film F'according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The film F'is set in the bag-making and packaging machine 20 in the same manner as the film F according to the first embodiment.

The film F'is different from the film F according to the first embodiment in that the individual identification information I is printed in the form of a digital watermark.

The design PT is composed of pictures, photographs, characters, figures, etc. that can be recognized by human vision. The individual identification information I is included in the symbol PT in the gradation of pixels or some other form. The individual identification information I does not have to be recognizable by human vision. One notation of individual identification information I is, for example, a square having a side of 1 cm. Not limited to those described above, any specifications for digital watermarking can be adopted.

The symbol PT includes unique individual identification information I. That is, each bag B has different individual identification information I. A plurality of the same individual identification information Is are printed in the first area A1. A plurality of the same individual identification information Is are printed in the second area A2. The plurality of individual identification information I printed in the first area A1 of one bag B and the plurality of individual identification information I printed in the second area A2 of the same bag B are the same.

Adjacent individual identification information I is arranged substantially without gaps. The ratio of the area occupied by the individual identification information I in the symbol PT is 20% or more, preferably 50% or more.

9 and 10 are film cylinders FT'formed from film F'.

(2) Reading device The reading device and keyboard described in the first embodiment can also be used for the film F'.

(3) Features The individual identification information I is printed in the form of a digital watermark. Therefore, there is little risk of bothering consumers and the like who do not need the individual identification information I.

20: Bag making and packaging machine 201: Camera 202: Bar code reader 203: Wearable terminal 204: Keyboard A1: First area A2: Second area B: Bag D: Dimension F: Film F': Film FR: Film roll FT: Film cylinder FT': Film cylinder I: Individual identification information P: Product PT: Design S1: First side S2: Second side

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2016-132454

Claims (7)

A packaging film in which a design corresponding to one bag is repeatedly printed, which is set in a bag-making and packaging machine.
Each of the symbols contains unique individual identification information.
Packaging film. The symbol includes a plurality of the same individual identification information.
The packaging film according to claim 1. The bag has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface.
The symbol has a first area corresponding to the first surface and a second area corresponding to the second surface.
The first area and the second area each include a plurality of the same individual identification information.
The packaging film according to claim 2. The unique individual identification information contained in the plurality of symbols printed on the packaging film is a continuous number.
The packaging film according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The ratio of the area occupied by the individual identification information in the symbol is 20% or more.
The packaging film according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The ratio of the area occupied by the individual identification information in the symbol is 50% or more.
The packaging film according to claim 5. The individual identification information is printed in the form of a digital watermark.
The packaging film according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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