JP7615971B2 - Folding parts - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a folding member for folding down an extended flap of a packaging sheet wrapped around a content.

As one type of packaging, a folded package (so-called "caramel fold") in which the extended portion of a packaging sheet wrapped around the contents is folded down is known. Furthermore, a technology is also known in which the extended portion of a packaging sheet wrapped around the contents in an extended state is automatically folded down during transport of a semi-finished product.
For example, a technique has been proposed in which the above-mentioned semi-finished product is conveyed with the extended portion of the packaging sheet inserted through a slit provided in a folding plate, and the extended portion of the packaging sheet is automatically folded down. In this technique, the upstream and downstream parts of the extended portion of the packaging sheet in the conveying direction are folded down into inner flaps, and then the upper and lower parts are folded down into outer flaps. In detail, the lower "lower flap" of the upper and lower parts is folded up, and then the upper "upper flap" is folded down (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-86412

FIG. 7B is an explanatory diagram showing the state in which the upper flap is folded by the above-mentioned technique, viewed from the side, with a part of the folding plate omitted. As shown in FIG. 7B, in the above-mentioned technique, a slit 92 is linearly provided in the folding plate 90 along the conveying direction. The upper flap 54B is inserted into the slit 92 in a folded state as shown by the reference character CB1 in FIG. 7B. Then, while the lower flap 54A is folded upward, the upper flap 54B is conveyed through the slit 92 without changing from the initial folded state as shown by the reference character CB2 in FIG. Then, after the lower flap 54A is folded down, the upper flap 54B is folded down.
However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, the upper flap 54B is suddenly folded down from the initial folded state (the state shown by symbols CB1 and CB2 in Figure 7 (b)), so that the upper flap 54B is folded at a defective fold at a place other than the ideal fold, which may result in defective packaging.

Therefore, there is room for improvement in reducing packaging defects of the package.
The present invention was invented in consideration of the above problems, and one of its objectives is to prevent defective packaging of the package. However, other objectives of the present invention are to achieve actions and effects derived from the configurations shown in the "Mode for Carrying Out the Invention" described later, which are not obtainable by conventional techniques.

This is a folding structure attached to a manufacturing line for packaging in which a flap of a semi-finished product having flaps extending from the content in a CD direction intersecting the direction in which a portion of a packaging sheet wrapped around the content is wrapped around the content is folded down to package the content in a lapped form. This folding structure is a folding structure of folding plates provided in the form of plates along both the MD direction and the TD direction in order to fold down outer flaps located on one side and the other side of the flap of the semi-finished product being transported in the TD direction intersecting the MD direction and the CD direction after inner flaps located on the upstream and downstream sides of the MD direction in which the semi-finished product is transported are folded down. This folding structure has a slit for folding down the outer flap that penetrates the folding plate in the CD direction and extends along the MD direction, and includes a first edge that defines the slit from one side in the TD direction, and a second edge that defines the slit from the other side in the TD direction, with the first edge and the second edge being positioned closer to each other as they move downstream in the MD direction, forming a tapered shape that narrows.

This makes it possible to prevent packaging defects in the packaging.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a folding member together with the semi-finished product. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a manufacturing line. 5A to 5D are explanatory diagrams illustrating the procedure for folding down the flap. FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which an inner flap of the semi-finished product is folded down by the folding member. FIG. FIG. 13A is an explanatory diagram of the position of the upper flap, and FIG. 13B is an explanatory diagram of the fold of the upper flap. FIG. 1A is an explanatory diagram of how the upper flap is folded using the folding plate of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of how the upper flap is folded using a conventional folding plate.

Hereinafter, an embodiment for implementing the folding member will be described.
The folding member of this embodiment is attached to a manufacturing line for packaging. The packaging is packaged in a laminated wrapping (so-called "caramel fold"). Specific examples of packaging include toilet rolls, kitchen paper, and other various contents packaged in any packaging material such as paper or film. In this embodiment, a packaging is exemplified in which four (or more) toilet rolls are packaged together in a single piece of packaging paper (paper packaging sheet).

The directions used in the description of this embodiment are defined as follows.
MD direction: the direction in which the manufacturing process progresses on the production line CD direction: the direction that intersects the direction in which the packaging sheet is wrapped around the contents TD direction: the direction that intersects the MD and CD directions In one embodiment described below, an example is given in which one side of the TD direction corresponds to downward (the direction in which gravity acts, shown by "D" in the figure) and the other side of the TD direction corresponds to upward (shown by "U" in the figure), and it is assumed that the CD direction is perpendicular to the MD and TD directions.

I. EMBODIMENT
In the following description, the manufacturing line will be outlined in item [1], the folding members attached to the manufacturing line will be explained in detail in item [2], and the effects of the configurations of items [1] and [2] will be described in item [3].

[1. Overall configuration]
As shown in FIG. 2, a feeding section 110 for conveying and feeding the contents and a paper feeding section 120 for conveying and feeding the packaging sheet are provided on the upstream side of the production line 100.
The feeding section 110 is a part that supplies the four toilet rolls together in a predetermined arrangement as a single unit. The paper feeding section 120 is a part that sequentially cuts the continuous strip of wrapping paper (base paper) wound from a roll into individual wrapping sheets and supplies the cut wrapping sheets.

A preparation section 130 is provided downstream of the feeding section 110 and the paper feeding section 120. The preparation section 130 is a part that wraps the wrapping sheet transported from the paper feeding section 120 around the group of toilet rolls transported from the feeding section 110 and supplies them to the folding section 140.
The folding section 140 is a part in which the folding member 20 shown in FIG. 1 is provided, and is a part which produces a package (reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3(d)) by folding down the extended portion of the packaging sheet wrapped around the contents and wrapping them together.

As shown in FIG. 1, the folding member 20 of this embodiment is provided for folding down a part of a packaging sheet 50B wrapped around a content 50A, the part extending from the content 50A to both sides in the CD direction.
In this embodiment, the state in the middle of manufacturing the package and before the flap 52 is folded down by the folding member 20 is referred to as the "semi-finished product 51." In the semi-finished product 51, a part of the packaging sheet 50B extends from the content 50A to both sides in the CD direction, and this extending part is referred to as the "flap 52."
The folding member 20 is a member that automatically folds down a flap 52 of a semi-finished product 51 being conveyed.

Of the flaps 52, the portion located on the upstream side in the MD direction is referred to as the "front flap 53A," and the portion located on the downstream side in the MD direction is referred to as the "rear flap 53B," and these are collectively referred to as the "inner flap 53."
The portion of the flap 52 located at the lower side (one side in the TD direction) is referred to as the "lower flap 54A," and the portion located at the upper side (the other side in the TD direction) is referred to as the "upper flap 54B," and these are collectively referred to as the "outer flap 54."

The flap 52 is folded down in the following steps A1 to A4.
Step A1: As shown in the pre-folding state of FIG. 3(a), a semi-finished product 51 having a flap 52 extending from a content 50A is supplied.
3B, the front flap 53A and the rear flap 53B of the flaps 52 are folded down. As the front flap 53A and the rear flap 53B are folded down, the packaging sheet is folded in two layers at the upstream and downstream portions in the MD direction of the lower flap 54A and the upper flap 54B.
Step A3: As shown in the second folded state in FIG. 3(c), the lower flap 54A of the flap 52 is folded down.
Step A4: As shown in the third folded state in Fig. 3(d), the upper flap 54B of the flap 52 is folded down. In this way, the package 50 is produced.

The semi-finished product 51 is folded down in the above-mentioned steps A1 to A4 so that the flaps 52 are folded down in a folded-over shape to produce a package. That is, in the folding member 20, the inner flap 53 is folded down, and then the outer flap 54 is folded down.
2 can be said to be a part that automatically folds down the flap 52 of the semi-finished product 51 in accordance with the above steps A1 to A4. The preparation section 130 upstream of the folding section 140 can be said to be a part that prepares the semi-finished product 51 and feeds it to the folding section 140 (i.e., a part that performs the above step A1).

Here, the folding member 20 shown in FIG. 1 folds down the rear flap 53B, the lower flap 54A and the upper flap 54B of the flap 52 in accordance with the above-mentioned steps A2 to A4.
As shown in Fig. 1, a tucker 27 for folding down the front flap 53A is provided on the upstream side of the folding member 20. The tucker 27 is disposed at a position corresponding to the front flap 53A on the upstream side of the folding plate 22. The tucker 27 is a folding plate member that folds down the front flap 53A from the upstream side to the downstream side in the MD direction. In this embodiment, the tucker 27 is moved in the MD direction by a drive mechanism (not shown) before the semi-finished product 51 is conveyed between the folding plates 22, and folds down the front flap 53A from the upstream side to the downstream side in the MD direction.

Downstream of the folding unit 140, a sealing unit 150, an inversion mechanism 160, and a rear stage 170 are provided in this order.
The sealing section 150 is a part that seals and conveys the package (reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3(d)) conveyed from the folding section 140. The sealing section 150 includes a sealing mechanism that seals the wrapping paper of the package (reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3(d)) and a conveying path that conveys the sealed package (reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3(d)) downstream. An example of the sealing mechanism is a heat-sealing mechanism using a heater. An example of the sealing mode is a mode in which a heat-sealing layer provided on the packaging sheet by coating or lamination is heat-sealed.

The reversing mechanism 160 is a part that turns over the packages fed from the sealing section 150 and feeds them to the rear stage 170. The rear stage 170 is a part that performs various post-processing such as inspecting the packages and packaging multiple packages while transporting the packages downstream. An example of an inspection part that inspects the packages in the rear stage 170 is a part that inspects the quality of the packaging condition of the packages by visual inspection by an operator or using a visual inspection means such as a camera.

[2. Detailed configuration]
Next, the configuration of the folding member 20 will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 1 , the folding member 20 is provided with a folding plate 22 and a pressing member 30 .
The folding plates 22 are plate-shaped members extending in both the MD and TD directions. A pair of the folding plates 22 are disposed on each of one side and the other side in the CD direction, and are installed on a base 21 that forms a base for the folding member 20.
In this specification, the side opposite the semi-finished product 51 in the CD direction with respect to the pair of folding plates 22 is referred to as the “outside in the CD direction,” and the side opposite the “outside” (the side on which the semi-finished product 51 is located in the CD direction with respect to the pair of folding plates 22) is referred to as the “inside in the CD direction.”

A support frame 24 for supporting the folded plate 22 is disposed on the outer side in the CD direction of the folded plate 22. The folded plate 22 is attached to the support frame 24 by a bracket protruding from the support frame 24 inward in the CD direction.
A pressing member 30 is provided between the folding plate 22 and the support frame 24. As will be described in detail later, the pressing member 30 is provided to suppress the upper flap 54B from warping upward.

A conveying structure 23 for conveying the semi-finished product 51 in the MD direction is provided between the pair of folding plates 22 on the base 21. The semi-finished product 51 placed on the conveying structure 23 is conveyed in the MD direction between the pair of folding plates 22. Examples of the conveying structure 23 include a structure in which the semi-finished product 51 is clamped and conveyed by claw-shaped jigs (fingers), and a belt conveyor with a rotating belt. The conveying structure 23 is not limited to fingers or a belt conveyor, and any well-known conveying mechanism can be applied.

<Folded plate>
The folding plate 22 is provided with a bow portion 26 as an element for folding down the rear flap 53B, and with a slit 25 as an element for folding down the outer flap 54 at a predetermined crease. The semi-finished product 51 with the front flap 53A folded down by the tucker 27 is fed to the folding plate 22, the rear flap 53B is folded down by the bow portion 26, and then the outer flap 54 is folded down by the slit 25.

The bow 26 is provided at the end portion upstream in the MD direction of each of the pair of folding plates 22. The "end portion upstream in the MD direction" here refers to the portion upstream of the slit 25 that is the portion of the folding plate 22 that first comes into contact with the rear flap 53B when the semi-finished product 51 is fed.

The bow portion 26 is positioned at a position where it abuts against the downstream side of the rear flap 53B when the semi-finished product 51 is transported between the folding plates 22, and is a bow-shaped portion that folds down the rear flap 53B from the downstream side to the upstream side in the MD direction as the semi-finished product 51 moves in the MD direction. The bow portion 26 illustrated in this embodiment has rounded corners on both sides in the TD direction in a side view, reducing the contact area when the rear flap 53B abuts against the bow portion 26.

A slit 25 (folding structure) for folding down the outer flap 54 at a predetermined crease is provided through each of the pair of folding plates 22. The slit 25 extends along the MD direction and is formed as a gap defined by a first edge portion on the lower side and a second edge portion on the upper side.
The outer flap 54 is inserted from the inside to the outside in the CD direction into the slit 25. In detail, the outer flap 54 extending from the semi-finished product 51 to one side in the CD direction is inserted into the slit 25 of the folding plate 22 arranged on one side in the CD direction. The outer flap 54 extending from the semi-finished product 51 to the other side in the CD direction is inserted into the slit 25 of the folding plate 22 arranged on the other side in the CD direction.
The outer flap 54 inserted as described above is in a position extending outward in the CD direction from the slit 25 .

As shown in Fig. 4, the slits 25 provided in the folding plate 22 include the following three slits 25A, 25B, and 25C. Note that the support frame 24 is omitted in the side view of Fig. 4.
First slit 25A: a slit for folding down the lower flap 54A. Second slit 25B: a slit for guiding the upper flap 54B without folding it down. Third slit 25C: a slit for folding down the upper flap 54B.

The first slit 25A extends along the MD direction on the downstream side of the slit 25 corresponding to the lower flap 54A and has an upward gradient that is positioned higher as it approaches the downstream side in the MD direction.
In the first slit 25A, the lower flap 54A is gradually folded upward along an ascending gradient while being transported in the MD direction.

The second slit 25B is provided such that its extending region in the MD direction overlaps with the first slit 25A, and extends above the first slit 25A to a position corresponding to the upper flap 54B.
In the second slit 25B, the upper flap 54B is conveyed without being folded downward (in the folding direction). The upper flap 54B is conveyed while maintaining a predetermined position extending from the second slit 25B. The predetermined position is a position in which the upper flap 54B extending from the second slit 25B extends horizontally without bending upward (opposite the folding direction).
In this manner, while the lower flap 54A is being folded down by the first slit 25A, the second slit 25B guides the upper flap 54B in parallel without folding it down.

As shown in FIG. 4, the second slit 25B is defined from below (one side in the TD direction) by a first edge portion 25BX and from above (the other side in the TD direction) by a second edge portion 25BY.
The second slit 25B has a tapered shape in which a first edge portion 25BX and a second edge portion 25BY are disposed closer to each other toward the downstream side in the MD direction.

Specifically, the first edge 25BX of the second slit 25B has an upward gradient disposed closer to the second edge 25BY toward the downstream side in the MD direction, and the position of the second edge 25BY in the TD direction is constant throughout the entire extension region of the second slit 25B in the MD direction. In other words, the second edge 25BY has a straight line shape with no change in gradient along the MD direction.
In other words, the second slit 25B has a shape in which the groove width narrows toward the downstream side in the MD direction. The groove width corresponds to the distance between the first edge 25BX and the second edge 25BY in the TD direction. The groove width is set to a dimension that allows the upstream portion of the upper flap 54B, which is in a double-layered state as a result of the rear flap 53B being folded down at the bow portion 26, to be inserted without being deformed into an unintended shape.

In contrast, the groove widths of the first slits 25A and the third slits 25C are set constant over the entire extension region in the MD direction.
The groove width of the second slit 25B is preferably narrower than the groove width of the first slit 25A and/or the third slit 25C at least at its narrowest portion.

The first slit 25A is provided so that the outer flap 54 starts to fold down immediately after the area where the bow portion 26 folds down the rear flap 53B. In other words, the first slit 25A and the second slit 25B do not overlap the area where the bow portion 26 folds down the rear flap 53B. The lower flap 54A and the upper flap 54B are inserted into the first slit 25A and the second slit 25B, respectively, after the rear flap 53B is folded down by the bow portion 26.

The third slit 25C is provided downstream of the second slit 25B and has a downward gradient that decreases toward the downstream side in the MD direction.
In the third slit 25C, the upper flap 54B guided by the second slit 25B is gradually folded downward along the downward gradient while being conveyed in the MD direction. The folding of the upper flap 54B by the third slit 25C is performed after the lower flap 54A is folded by the first slit 25A.

FIG. 5 shows a state in which the front flap 53A of the semi-finished product 51 is folded down by the tucker 27 and the rear flap 53B is folded down by the bow portion 26 (first folded down state in FIG. 3(b)).
After the front flap 53A and the rear flap 53B are folded down, the lower flap 54A is inserted through the first slit 25A, and the upper flap 54B is inserted through the second slit 25B.

<Pressing member>
The pressing member 30 is a eaves-shaped member that extends outward in the CD direction relative to the folded plate 22.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the pressing member 30 extends in the MD direction and is formed of a member having an L-shaped cross section when viewed in the MD direction.
In this pressing member 30, the surfaces along the MD and CD directions form an eave portion 30A that extends outward in the CD direction like an eave, and the surfaces along the MD and TD directions form an attachment surface 30B for attaching the pressing member 30 to the folding plate 22.

The overhanging portion 30A forms a land overhanging area that intersects with an area where the upper flap 54B can be warped upward. The overhanging portion 30A can be said to be a portion that forms a planar area that overlaps with the upper flap 54B in a plan view.
The "area in which the flap 54B can bend back" refers to a range in which the upper flap 54B can swing upward when extended in an appropriate position. The "appropriate position" exemplified in this embodiment is a position in which the upper flap 54B extends in a substantially horizontal direction (see symbol PA in FIG. 6A).

The eaves portion 30A is disposed above the upper flap 54B with a gap above the upper flap 54B in the appropriate position. The "gap" here refers to a space in which the upper flap 54B in the appropriate position does not contact the eaves portion 30A, but the upper flap 54B in the inappropriate position that is curved upward contacts the eaves portion 30A. In this case, the eaves portion 30A comes into contact with the upper flap 54B when the upper flap 54B curves upward from the appropriate position, and has the function of restricting the upper flap 54 from curving upward above the eaves portion 30A.
As another example, the eaves portion 30A may be provided at a position where it comes into contact with the upper flap 54B in an appropriate position. In this case, the eaves portion 30A has a function of restricting the warping of the upper flap 54B by coming into contact with the upper flap 54B and maintaining the appropriate position.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pressing member 30 includes the following three parts.
Pressing portion 31: A part overlapping the extending region of the second slit 25B Pre-pressing portion 32: A part that is on the upstream side of the pressing portion 31 and extends to a region where the rear flap 53B is folded down by the bow portion 26 Upstream pressing portion 33: A part that extends to a region upstream in the MD direction with respect to the folding plate 22

In the pressing portion 31, the eaves portion 30A extends in a region that intersects with a region in which the upper flap 54B inserted through the second slit 25B can be warped upward.
It can also be said that the holding portion 31 is provided in an area where the upper flap 54B is transported through the second slit 25B while maintaining an appropriate posture in parallel with folding down the lower flap 54A through the first slit 25A.

In the pre-holding portion 32, the eaves portion 30A extends in a region that intersects with a region where the upper flap 54B may be warped upward as the rear flap 53B in the bow portion 26 is folded down.
The pre-holding portion 32 can also be considered to be a member that guides the upper flap 54B so that it is inserted into the second slit 25B in an appropriate posture just before the second slit 25B.

In the upstream pressing portion 33, the eaves portion 30A extends in a region that intersects with a region where the upper flap 54B may be warped upward in the upstream region in the MD direction relative to the folding plate 22. As a cause of the upper flap 54B warping upward in the upstream region in the MD direction relative to the folding plate 22, for example, the upper flap 54B warping upward as the front flap 53A is folded down in the tucker 27 may be mentioned.
The "region upstream in the MD direction with respect to the folded plate 22" is, in detail, a region upstream in the MD direction of the bow portion 26 that forms the tip of the folded plate 22. The upstream pressing portion 33 can also be said to be a member that guides the upper flap 54B upstream of the tip of the folded plate 22 so that the upper flap 54B is inserted into the second slit 25B in an appropriate posture.

In this embodiment, the pressing member 30 has a shape in which the TD position of the overhanging portion 30A does not change toward the downstream side in the MD direction (i.e., it extends linearly without forming an inclination gradient). This pressing member 30 restricts the warping of the upper flap 54B at a constant TD position over the entire extension area in the MD direction.
As another example, the eaves 30A of the pressing member 30 may have an inclined shape such that the TD position is lower toward the downstream side in the MD direction. In this case, the pressing member 30 not only functions to prevent warping, but also functions to gradually come into contact with the upwardly facing surface of the upper flap 54B toward the downstream side in the MD direction and gradually bend the upper flap 54B.

[3. Action and Effects]
Since the folding plate 22 of the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, it can provide the following actions and effects.
(1) Figures 7(a) and (b) are explanatory diagrams showing how the top flap is folded by a folding plate along the CD direction, with a portion of the folding plate omitted. In the conventional folding plate 90 shown in Figure 7(b) with the linear slit 92, as described above, the top flap 54B is conveyed downstream in the MD direction in the initial folded state (see reference CB1 in Figure 7(b)), and the folded state does not change (see reference CB2 in Figure 7(b)). Since the top flap 54B is suddenly folded down from the initial folded state, the top flap 54B may be folded down at a defective fold at a location different from the ideal fold, resulting in defective packaging.

In contrast, according to the second slit 25B of the present invention, which has a tapered shape, the upper flap 54B is gradually folded from the initial folded state (see symbol CA1 in Figure 7(a)) toward the downstream side in the MD direction (see symbol CA2 in Figure 7(a)).
Therefore, compared to the conventional technique in which the upper flap 54B is suddenly folded down without gradually folding it down, the upper flap 54B is more likely to be folded down at an ideal crease, thereby making it possible to prevent defective packaging of the package.

(2) Because the first edge 25BX has an upward gradient and the second edge 25BY has a constant position in the TD direction, the upper flap 54B is gradually folded from below in the TD direction while being restricted to a constant position of the second edge 25BY above in the TD direction. The upper portion in the TD direction restricted to a constant position corresponds to the pivot point when the upper flap 54B is folded down in the third slit 25C downstream in the MD direction. Therefore, in the third slit 25C, the upper flap 54B can be folded down in the TD direction at the pivot point restricted to a constant position (predetermined position). This makes it easier for the upper flap 54B to be folded down at an ideal fold, further reducing packaging defects in the package.

(3) When the packaging sheet is made of paper, the appropriateness of the fold tends to affect the quality of the packaging more easily than, for example, a packaging sheet made of film. Therefore, the effect of gradually folding the upper flap 54B at the tapered second slit 25B in this case is greater in the case where packaging paper is used as the packaging sheet than in the case where a packaging sheet made of film is used.

Furthermore, according to the folding member 20 of this embodiment, even if the upper flap 54B inserted through the second slit 25B tries to bend upward from the appropriate position, this bending is structurally restricted by the eaves portion 30A of the pressing member 30 (pressing portion 31). Therefore, the upper flap 54B can be maintained in the appropriate position PA [shown by the solid line in FIG. 6(a)] where bending is suppressed, and the upper flap 54B can be folded down at the ideal fold FA [shown by the solid line in FIG. 6(b)]. This makes it possible to suppress packaging defects of the package.
On the other hand, in a conventional folding plate without a pressing member, the upper flap inserted into the slit is not structurally restricted from bending upward, and there is a risk that the upper flap may be folded down in an improperly bent position PB (shown by the broken line in Fig. 6(a)). This may result in the upper flap being folded down at an improper fold FB (shown by the broken line in Fig. 6(b)), which may lead to defective packaging of the package.

II. Modifications
The above-described embodiment is merely an example, and is not intended to exclude various modifications and application of techniques not explicitly stated in the embodiment. Each configuration of the present embodiment can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the embodiment. In addition, the configurations can be selected as necessary, and can be combined appropriately.

The pressing member may have the following modified examples.
(1) The pressing member does not include a pre-pressing portion and an upstream pressing portion, which makes it possible to suppress warping of the upper flap 54B inserted through the second slit 25B with a simple configuration.
(2) The pressing member is provided below the first slit 25A (on one side in the TD direction) and is formed of a eave-shaped member extending outward in the CD direction in an area intersecting with an area where the lower flap 54A inserted into the first slit 25A may bend upward (to one side in the TD direction).

The tapered shape of the second slit 25B may be modified as follows.
Of the second slits 25, the second edge 25BY has an inclined gradient in which it is positioned closer to the first edge 25BX the further downstream in the MD direction, and the position of the first edge 25BX in the TD direction is constant throughout the entire MD-direction extension area of the second slit 25B.
In other words, the second slit 25B has an inclined gradient in which one of the first edge portion 25BX and the second edge portion 25BY is positioned closer to the other of the first edge portion 25BX and the second edge portion 25BY as it moves downstream in the MD direction, and the other of the first edge portion 25BX and the second edge portion 25BY may have a constant position in the TD direction throughout the entire MD direction extension area of the second slit 25B.
The tapered shape can also be applied to the first slit 25A and the third slit 25C.

[III. Notes]
Regarding the above embodiment, the following supplementary notes are disclosed.
[Appendix 1]
A folding structure of folding plates provided in a plate shape along both the MD direction and the TD direction in order to fold down outer flaps located on one side and the other side of the flap of the flap of the semi-finished product being transported in the TD direction intersecting the MD direction and the CD direction, the folding structure being attached to a manufacturing line for packaging a semi-finished product in which a part of a packaging sheet wrapped around a content and having flaps extending from the content in a CD direction intersecting a direction in which the content is wrapped, and the flaps are folded down to package the semi-finished product in a lapped type packaging, the folding structure being attached to a manufacturing line for packaging a semi-finished product in which a part of the packaging sheet wrapped around the content and having flaps extending from the content in a CD direction intersecting a direction in which the content is wrapped, the folding structure being attached to a manufacturing line for packaging a semi-finished product in which the flaps are folded down to package the semi-finished product in a lapped type packaging, the folding structure being attached to a manufacturing line for packaging a semi-finished product in which the flaps are folded down
A slit for folding down the outer flap is provided in the CD direction and extended along the MD direction in the folding plate, and a first edge portion defining the slit from one side in the TD direction;
The folding plate includes a second edge portion that defines the slit from the other side in the TD direction,
A folding structure characterized in that the first edge portion and the second edge portion are arranged closer to each other and have a tapered shape that tapers toward the downstream side in the MD direction.
[Appendix 2]
The folding structure described in Appendix 1, characterized in that one of the first edge portion and the second edge portion has an inclination gradient in which the more it proceeds downstream, the closer it is to the other of the first edge portion and the second edge portion, and the other of the first edge portion and the second edge portion has a constant position in the TD direction in the MD direction extension region.
[Appendix 3]
The folding structure described in Appendix 1 or 2, characterized in that the first edge portion has an inclination gradient in which the first edge portion is positioned closer to the second edge portion as it approaches the downstream side, and the second edge portion is positioned at a constant position in the TD direction in the extending region in the MD direction.
[Appendix 4]
A folding member is provided in a manufacturing line for packaging in which a flap of a semi-finished product having flaps extending from the content in a CD direction intersecting a direction in which a portion of a packaging sheet wrapped around the periphery of the content is folded down to package the content in a lapped form, and after inner flaps located on the upstream and downstream sides of the MD direction in which the semi-finished product is transported are folded down, outer flaps located on one side and the other side of the flap of the semi-finished product being transported in a TD direction intersecting the MD direction and the CD direction,
A slit for folding down the outer flap is extended along the MD direction, and a plate-shaped folding plate along both the MD direction and the TD direction;
a pressing member having an eave shape extending outward in the CD direction in a region intersecting with a region where the outer flap inserted through the slit can be warped;
A folding member comprising:
[Appendix 5]
The folding plate has a bow portion at an upstream end in the MD direction that folds down a rear inner flap located downstream in the MD direction among the inner flaps toward the upstream side in the MD direction,
The folding member described in Appendix 4, characterized in that the holding member includes a pre-holding portion in the shape of a canopy extending outward in the CD direction in an area intersecting an area where the outer flap may curl up as the rear inner flap is folded down at the bow portion.
[Appendix 6]
The folding member according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the pressing member includes an upstream pressing portion that extends outward in the CD direction in a region that intersects with a region where the outer flap may be warped upstream in the MD direction with respect to the folding plate.

20 Folding member 21 Base 22 Folding plate 23 Conveying structure 24 Support frame 25 Slit 25A First slit 25B Second slit (folding structure)
25C Third slit 25BX Lower edge 25BY Upper edge 26 Bow portion 27 Tucker 30 Pressing member 30A Eaves portion 30B Mounting surface 31 Pressing portion 32 Pre-pressing portion 33 Upstream pressing portion 50 Package 50A Contents 50B Packaging sheet 51 Semi-finished product 52 Flap 53 Inner flap 53A Front flap 53B Rear flap 54 Outer flap 54A Lower flap 54B Upper flap 100 Production line 110 Feeding portion 120 Paper feeding portion 130 Preparation portion 140 Folding portion 150 Sealing portion 160 Reversing mechanism 170 Rear portion

Claims (3)

A folding member is provided in a manufacturing line for packaging in which a flap of a semi-finished product having flaps extending from the content in a CD direction intersecting a direction in which a portion of a packaging sheet wrapped around the periphery of the content is folded down to package the content in a lapped form, and after inner flaps located on the upstream and downstream sides of the MD direction in which the semi-finished product is transported are folded down , outer flaps located on one side and the other side of the flap of the semi-finished product being transported in a TD direction intersecting the MD direction and the CD direction,
The folding member is provided in a plate shape along both the MD direction and the TD direction, and includes a folding plate having a slit for folding down the outer flap on the other side penetrating in the CD direction and extending along the MD direction, and a visor-shaped pressing member attached to the folding plate in a region intersecting a region where the outer flap on the other side inserted into the slit can be warped, and extending outward in the CD direction relative to the folding plate;
In the folding plate, a first edge portion defining the slit from the one side in the TD direction;
The folding plate includes a second edge portion that defines the slit from the other side in the TD direction,
The first edge portion and the second edge portion have a tapered shape in which the first edge portion and the second edge portion are disposed closer to each other toward the downstream side in the MD direction,
the pressing member has a surface along the MD direction and the CD direction that forms an eave portion extending outward in the CD direction,
The eaves portion has a shape in which the position in the TD direction is inclined toward the one side as it moves toward the downstream side in the MD direction.
A folding member characterized by: The folding member according to claim 1, characterized in that one of the first edge portion and the second edge portion has an inclination gradient in which the one of the first edge portion and the second edge portion is disposed closer to the other of the first edge portion and the second edge portion as it proceeds downstream, and the other of the first edge portion and the second edge portion has a constant position in the TD direction in the extending region in the MD direction. The folding member according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first edge portion has an inclination gradient in which the first edge portion is positioned closer to the second edge portion as it approaches the downstream side, and the second edge portion is positioned at a constant position in the TD direction in the extending region in the MD direction.

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