JP7632238B2 - Folding plate support structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a folding plate support structure that supports a folding plate for folding down an extending flap in a packaging sheet wrapped around contents.

One known technique for manufacturing a laminated package (also known as a "caramel fold") type package is to automatically fold down the flaps of the extended portion of a packaging sheet in a semi-finished product in which the contents are wrapped in the packaging sheet while the semi-finished product is being transported (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 57-86412

Incidentally, since the main part of the semi-finished product excluding the flaps is positioned on the widthwise inner side of the folding plate for folding down the flaps, it is considered to support the folding plate from the widthwise outer side with a bracket.
However, depending on the area where the brackets are arranged to support the upper plate piece (the side where the flap is folded down) from the outside in the width direction relative to the slit in the folding plate, the folding area through which the flap is folded down and the area where the brackets are arranged may overlap. In a folding plate support structure provided with such a bracket, the folding down of the flap may be hindered by contact with the folded down flap, which may lead to poor packaging of the package.
Therefore, there is room for improvement in reducing packaging defects of the package.

This invention was devised in consideration of the above problems, and one of its objectives is to prevent packaging defects in packages. However, this objective is not the only objective. Another objective of this invention is to achieve actions and effects that cannot be obtained with conventional technology, which are derived from the configurations shown in the "Mode for carrying out the invention" described below.

This is a folded plate support structure used in a manufacturing line for packaging bodies in which a part of a packaging sheet wrapped around a content has a flap extending outward from the content in the CD direction, which intersects with the direction in which the sheet is wrapped around the content, and the flap of the semi-finished product is folded down to be packaged in a lapped form.
This folded plate support structure supports a folded plate having a first slit through which a first outer flap located on one side of the TD direction intersecting the MD direction and the CD direction among the flaps of the semi-finished product being transported in the MD direction intersecting the CD direction is inserted outward in the CD direction and folded down to the other side in the TD direction as the semi-finished product is transported.
This folded plate support structure includes a base portion fixed to the folded plate at a distance outward in the CD direction than the extension dimension of the first outer flap, and a first bracket supporting a first plate piece in a region of the folded plate adjacent to the other side of the first slit in the TD direction relative to the base portion, and provided in a non-interference region different from a folding region through which the first outer flap inserted into the first slit passes when it is folded down to the other side in the TD direction.

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. 11 is a perspective view of the first bracket and the second bracket as viewed from the downstream side in the MD direction. FIG. FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of a folded-down region as viewed from the outside in the CD direction. 11A to 11C are explanatory diagrams illustrating the process in which the lower flap is folded down. 13A and 13B are explanatory diagrams of modified examples of the first bracket.

Hereinafter, an embodiment for carrying out the folded plate support structure will be described.
The folding plate support structure of this embodiment is used in 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 wrapping 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 both the MD direction and the CD direction 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 direction and the TD direction.

I. EMBODIMENT
In the following description, the manufacturing line will be outlined in item [1], the folding plate support structure used in the manufacturing line will be described 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 the flap 52 of the semi-finished product 51 being transported, and employs a folding plate support structure, the details of which will be described later.

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 bottom (one side in the TD direction) is referred to as the "lower flap 54A (first outer flap)" and the portion located at the top (the other side in the TD direction) is referred to as the "upper flap 54B (second outer flap)", 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, respectively.
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 flap 52 is folded down in a folded-over shape to produce a package (reference numeral 50 in FIG. 3(d)). 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 package (reference number 50 in FIG. 3(d)) fed from the sealing section 150 and feeds it to the rear stage 170. The rear stage 170 is a part that performs various rear processes such as inspecting the package (reference number 50 in FIG. 3(d)) and packaging multiple packages (reference number 50 in FIG. 3(d)) while transporting the package (reference number 50 in FIG. 3(d)) downstream. An example of an inspection part that inspects the package (reference number 50 in FIG. 3(d)) in the rear stage 170 is a part that inspects the quality of the packaging condition of the package (reference number 50 in FIG. 3(d)) by an operator's visual inspection or by visual inspection means such as a camera.

[2. Detailed configuration]
Next, the configuration of the folded plate support structure will be described in detail.
As shown in FIG. 1 , a folding member 20 to which a folding plate support structure is applied 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. The folding plates 22 are arranged on one side and the other side in the CD direction, and a pair of the folding plates 22 are installed on the base 21 that forms the base of the folding member 20. The main portion of the semi-finished product 51, excluding the flap 52, is arranged between the pair of folding plates 22.
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 where 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." The "outside in the CD direction" can be said to be a direction toward the outside of the semi-finished product 51 (contents) in the CD direction. The flap 52 extends from the semi-finished product 51 to the outside in the CD direction. In other words, the flap 52 extends to the outside of the semi-finished product 51 in the CD direction.

A support frame 24 (base portion) for supporting the folded plate 22 is arranged on the outer side in the CD direction of the folded plate 22.
The support frame 24 is fixed to the base 21 at a position spaced outward in the CD direction from a dimension E (see FIG. 3B ) of the outer flap 54 extending from the folding plate 22. In other words, the support frame 24 is fixed to the base 21 at a position spaced outward in the CD direction from the tip (extending edge) of the outer flap 54.
The dimension E of the outer flap 54 corresponds to the dimension of the outer flap 54 extending outward in the CD direction from the contents 50A when the outer flap 54 is in the unfolded state shown in Fig. 3(b). The support frame 24 illustrated in this embodiment is formed as a U-shaped frame body when viewed from the CD direction.
The folding plate 22 is attached to the support frame 24 by brackets 28 protruding inward in the CD direction from the support frame 24. The support frame 24 and the brackets 28 that support the folding plate 22 form a folding plate support structure.
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 mechanism 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 mechanism 23 is conveyed in the MD direction between the pair of folding plates 22. Examples of the conveying mechanism 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 mechanism 23 is not limited to fingers or belt conveyors, and any well-known conveying mechanism can be used.

<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 with the contact point with the upper edge of the first slit 25A as a swing fulcrum while being transported in the MD direction.

The second slit 25B is provided such that its extension area 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. The first slit 25A and the second slit 25B join downstream in the MD direction. In the second slit 25B, the upper flap 54B is conveyed without being folded down (in the folding direction). The upper flap 54B is conveyed while maintaining a predetermined position extending from the second slit 25B. The "predetermined position" refers to 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 by a first edge portion 25BX and from above 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 down along a downward gradient with the contact point with the lower edge of the third slit 25C as a swing fulcrum in the process of being conveyed in the MD direction. The folding down of the upper flap 54B by the third slit 25C is performed after the lower flap 54A is folded down 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.

As shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the folding plate 22 is divided into three parts by three slits 25A, 25B, 25C: a first plate piece 22A, a second plate piece 22B above the first plate piece 22A, and a third plate piece 22C below the first plate piece 22A.
The first plate piece 22A forms an area adjacent to the upper side of the first slit 25A and adjacent to the lower side of the second slit 25B. That is, the lower edge of the first plate piece 22A forms the upper edge of the first slit 25A, and the upper edge of the first plate piece 22A forms the first edge 25BX of the second slit 25B.

The first plate piece 22A in this embodiment is formed from a teardrop-shaped plate material in which the dimension of separation in the TD direction decreases toward the downstream side in the MD direction. This first plate piece 22A forms a sandbar-shaped area sandwiched between the first slit 25A and the second slit 25B. The upstream end of the first plate piece 22A in the MD direction forms the bow portion 26 of the folded plate 22. The first plate piece 22A has a smaller dimension in the MD direction than the second plate piece 22B and the third plate piece 22C, and is lighter in weight than these plate pieces 22B and 22C.

The second plate piece 22B forms an area adjacent to the upper side of the second slit 25B and the third slit 25C. In this embodiment, the second plate piece 22B extends upstream in the MD direction beyond the upstream end of the second slit 25B on the upstream side, and extends to the downstream end of the third slit 25C on the downstream side. The dimension of the second plate piece 22B extending in the MD direction is larger than that of the first plate piece 22A.

Of the areas of the second plate piece 22B adjacent to the second slit 25B and the third slit 25C, the area adjacent to the first plate piece 22A via the second slit 25B forms the upstream portion, and the area adjacent to the third plate piece 22C via the third slit 25C forms the downstream portion. In the upstream portion of the second plate piece 22B, the lower edge forms the second edge portion 25BY of the second slit 25B, and in the downstream portion of the second plate piece 22B, the lower edge forms the upper edge portion of the third slit 25C.

The third plate piece 22C forms an area adjacent to the lower side of the first slit 25A and the third slit 25C. In this embodiment, the third plate piece 22C extends from the upstream end of the first slit 25A to the downstream end of the third slit 25C. The dimension of the third plate piece 22C extending in the MD direction is larger than that of the first plate piece 22A.
Of the regions of the third plate piece 22C adjacent to the first slit 25A and the third slit 25C, the region adjacent to the first plate piece 22A via the first slit 25A forms the upstream portion, and the region adjacent to the second plate piece 22B via the third slit 25C forms the downstream portion. In the upstream portion of the third plate piece 22C, the upper edge portion forms the lower edge portion of the first slit 25A, and in the downstream portion of the third plate piece 22C, the upper edge portion forms the lower edge portion of the third slit 25C.

<Bracket>
As shown in Figures 1 and 5, as brackets 28 that support the folding plate 22 relative to the support frame 24, three types of brackets 28A, 28B, and 28C are provided corresponding to the three plate pieces 22A, 22B, and 22C, respectively, as described below.
First bracket 28A: bracket 28 supporting the first plate piece 22A
Second bracket 28B: bracket 28 supporting the second plate piece 22B
Third bracket 28C: bracket 28 supporting the third plate piece 22C

Each of the brackets 28A, 28B, 28C is a leg-shaped member that protrudes in the CD direction from the support frame 24 toward the folding plate 22.
The dimension by which each of the brackets 28A, 28B, and 28C protrudes in the CD direction from the support frame 24 toward the folding plate 22 corresponds to the dimension by which the support frame 24 is spaced outward in the CD direction from the folding plate 22, and is longer than the dimension by which the lower flap 54A extends outward in the CD direction from the folding plate 22.

From the viewpoint of ensuring support stability, it is preferable that the first bracket 28A is provided at least in one location, and the second bracket 28B and the third bracket 28C are each provided at two or more locations on the upstream and downstream sides. In this embodiment, as an example, the first bracket 28A is provided at only one location, while the second bracket 28B and the third bracket 28C are each provided at two locations on the upstream and downstream sides. Of the two second brackets 28B provided, the one on the upstream side is disposed at a position overlapping the first bracket 28A in a plan view.

In the second bracket 28B and the third bracket 28C, the upstream side 28BU, 28CU (see FIG. 5) and the downstream side 28BD, 28CD (see FIG. 5) need only have the same dimension in at least the CD direction. In this embodiment, as an example, the upstream side 28BU of the second bracket 28B and the downstream side 28BD have the same shape, and similarly, the upstream side 28CU of the third bracket 28C and the downstream side 28CD have the same shape.

The first bracket 28A is disposed above the upstream side of the first slit 25A. The upstream second bracket 28BU (see FIG. 5) is disposed above the second slit 25B, and the downstream second bracket 28BD (see FIG. 5) is disposed above the third slit 25C. The upstream third bracket 28CU (see FIG. 5) is disposed below the first slit 25A, and the downstream third bracket 28CD (see FIG. 5) is disposed below the junction of the first slit 25A and the second slit 25B.

Fig. 8 shows a specific example of the first bracket 28A together with a second bracket 28BU on the upstream side. Note that in Fig. 8, a part of the support frame 24 and the folding plate 22 are omitted.
The first bracket 28A is provided at a position and with a shape that overlaps with the second bracket 28BU in a plan view.
Specifically, the first bracket 28A is formed of a member having an L-shape in a plan view. The upstream second bracket 28BU (and the downstream second bracket 28D not shown in FIG. 8 ) is formed of a member having a R-shape in a plan view.
The L-shaped second bracket 28BU is a two-legged bracket with two legs 28BX, 28BY extending in the CD direction from the support frame 24, while the L-shaped first bracket 28A is a one-legged bracket with one leg 28AX extending in the CD direction from the support frame 24.

The L-shaped first bracket 28A can be said to have a shape obtained by removing a portion of the downstream side in the MD direction from the square-shaped second bracket 28BU in Fig. 8. The portion of the downstream side in the MD direction is the downstream leg 28BY of the second bracket 28BU and a portion of the portion extending in the MD direction on the inner side in the CD direction.
The first bracket 28A is provided such that the dimension M1 in the MD direction on the inside in the CD direction is shorter than the dimension M2 in the MD direction on the inside in the CD direction of the second bracket 28B. The inside in the CD direction of the first bracket 28A is the attachment side to the first plate piece 22A (the side opposite to the fixed part to the support frame 24).

8, the dimension M1 in the MD direction on the inside in the CD direction of the first bracket 28A corresponds to the dimension in the MD direction of the leg 28AX. As an example, the dimension M1 in the MD direction on the inside in the CD direction of the first bracket 28A is set to the same dimension as the dimension M3 in the MD direction of the leg 28BX of the second bracket 28BU.
The leg portion 28AX of this first bracket 28A is provided at a position that coincides (overlaps) with the upstream leg portion 28BX of the second bracket 28BU in a plan view.

The first bracket 28A is provided in a position and shape that overlaps with the support frame 24 when viewed from the outside in the CD direction.
8, the support frame 24 is formed with a first bracket 28A that is wider than the MD dimension at the outer side in the CD direction. The first bracket 28A protrudes inward in the CD direction from the surface of the support frame 24 facing inward in the CD direction.

In this embodiment, the first bracket 28A is disposed in a predetermined area to avoid contact with the lower flap 54A that is folded upward at the first slit 25A. The "predetermined area" here is a "non-interference area" that is different from the folding area.
The "folding region" is the region where the lower flap 54A moves from a horizontal state before being folded down to a completely folded down state.

The "non-interference area" is the area through which the lower flap 54A inserted in the first slit 25A passes when it is folded down upward. In other words, the non-interference area is the area through which the lower flap 54A does not pass when it is being folded down after it has been inserted in the first slit 25A. In other words, the first bracket 28A is provided on the side of the first slit 25A where the lower flap 54A is folded down, but is disposed in an area that does not come into contact with the lower flap 54A being folded down.

Figure 9 is an explanatory diagram of the folding region 60 when the folding member 20 is viewed from the outside in the CD direction, with some parts omitted. Figures 10(a) to (c) are explanatory diagrams of the process in which the lower flap 54A is folded down. Figures 10(a) to (c) show the lower flap 54A and the upper flap 54B of the semi-finished product 51 as viewed from the CD direction and as viewed from the MD direction, respectively, and the inner flap 53 is omitted from the illustration. Note that positions P1 to P3 shown in Figure 9 and the upper edge 61 and side edge 62 that define the folding region 60 are examples for explanatory purposes and are not limited to those shown.

The lower flap 54A inserted through the first slit 25A is gradually folded upward from the downstream end in the MD direction as the semi-finished product 51 is transported.
In FIG. 9, positions P1 to P3 are positions for explaining the folded-down state of the lower flap 54A when the downstream end of the lower flap 54A reaches the positions P1 to P3.
Position P1 is the position immediately before the downstream end of the lower flap 54A starts to fold down.
Position P2 is a position where the downstream end of the lower flap 54A is being folded down.
Position P3 is the position where the downstream end of the lower flap 54A has been completely folded down.

When the downstream end of the lower flap 54A reaches position P1, the lower flap 54A has not yet started to be folded down as shown in FIG. 10(a) and is in a horizontally extended state (a state immediately before being folded down).
When the downstream end of the lower flap 54A reaches position P2, as shown in FIG. 10(b), the downstream end of the lower flap 54A is folded upward at a predetermined angle (for example, 60°) from the horizontal state.

When the downstream end of the lower flap 54A reaches position P3, the downstream end side of the lower flap 54A is completely folded down.
When the upstream end of the lower flap 54A passes position P3, the lower flap 54A is completely folded down as shown in Fig. 10C. The "completed folding" state refers to the state in which the lower flap 54A is folded up 90[°] from the horizontal state.

In the process of being folded down as shown in FIGS. 10(a) to 10(c), the lower flap 54A passes through a folding region 60 indicated by hatched lines in FIG.
The folded-down region 60 shown in FIG. 9 is a region that overlaps a portion of the first plate piece 22A when viewed from the outside in the CD direction, and is a three-dimensional region that extends in the MD direction, CD direction, and TD direction.
When the lower flap 54A is being folded down in the region from position P1 to position P3, the tip of the lower flap 54A moves along a trajectory along a side edge 62 on the upstream side in the MD direction in the folding-down region 60. This side edge 62 is inclined so as to be positioned upward in the TD direction as it moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the MD direction in the region from position P1 to position P3.

The upper edge 61 of the folding region 60 corresponds to the position of the tip of the lower flap 54A when the folding of the lower flap 54A is completed. The upper edge 61 extends in a straight line from the downstream end of the side edge 62 (i.e., position P3) toward the downstream side in the MD direction, and its position in the TD direction is constant.
The area of the folded-down region 60 extending in the CD and TD directions is determined by the extension dimension E of the bottom flap 54A and the folded-down angle of the bottom flap 54A. The "folded-down angle" corresponds to the degree to which the bottom flap 54A is folded upward.

In FIG. 9, the non-interference region is the portion other than the folded-down region 60, and a portion of the non-interference region overlaps with the first plate piece 22A when viewed from the outside in the CD direction.
The first bracket 28A in Figure 9 is positioned in the non-interference area below the tip position of the lower flap 54A that has been completely folded down, and is positioned upstream of the lower flap 54A that has been completely folded down.
In other words, the first bracket 28A is disposed below the upper edge 61 in the TD direction and upstream of the position P3 in the MD direction.

As a more specific example of the MD direction position at which the first bracket 28A is arranged, Figure 9 shows a case where the first bracket 28A is arranged upstream in the MD direction of position P2 at which the lower flap 54A is folded down by 60°.
More specifically, the position H1 in the TD direction at which the first bracket 28A is disposed is lower than the upper edge 61 in the TD direction and higher in the TD direction than the side edge portion 62. Here, the position H1 in the TD direction is the position of the surface of the first bracket 28A facing downward.
In other words, the first bracket 28A in FIG. 9 is disposed in a region lower than the upper edge 61 in the TD direction and upper and upstream of the side edge 62 (i.e., the lower flap 54A being folded down).
By disposing the first bracket 28A at a low position in the TD direction, the position where the first bracket 28 is disposed can be brought closer to the center of gravity (the center in the TD direction) of the first plate piece 22A. Since the first plate piece 22A in this embodiment has a teardrop shape with a large upstream side in the MD direction, a structure in which the first bracket 28A is disposed on the upstream side of the first plate piece 22A in the MD direction and near the center in the TD direction is preferable from the viewpoint of stably supporting the first bracket 28A.

In addition, the following points will be added regarding the contact of the upper and lower flaps 54A, 54B with the second bracket 28B and the third bracket 28C.
The second bracket 28B and the third bracket 28C are provided in an area that does not overlap with the folding-down area 60 of the lower flap 54A. Therefore, there is no risk that the lower flap 54A will come into contact with the second bracket 28B or the third bracket 28C in the process of being folded upward at the first slit 25A.
5, the second bracket 28B is provided above the second slit 25B and the third slit 25C, and the third bracket 28C is provided upstream of the third slit 25C in the MD direction. Therefore, there is no risk that the upper flap 54B will come into contact with the second bracket 28B and the third bracket 28C in the process of being folded downward in the third slit 25C.

<Pressing member>
1 and 5, the pressing member 30 is a eaves-shaped member that extends outward in the CD direction from the second plate piece 22B (folded plate 22). The pressing member 30 is provided below the second bracket 28B.
The pressing member 30 extends in the MD direction and is formed of a member having an L-shaped cross section when viewed from 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 upper 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 substantially horizontally before being folded (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 bent 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 bends upward from the appropriate position, and has the function of restricting the upper flap 54B from bending 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 "upstream region in the MD direction with respect to the folded plate 22" is specifically a region upstream in the MD direction of the bow portion 26 that forms the tip of the first plate piece 22A (folded plate 22). The upstream pressing portion 33 can also be said to be a member that guides the upper flap 54B to be inserted into the second slit 25B in an appropriate posture upstream of the tip of the folded plate 22.

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 folded plate support structure of this embodiment has the above-mentioned configuration, it can obtain the following actions and effects.
(1) In the conventional technology in which the first bracket is positioned so as to overlap the folding area, the folding of the lower flap is hindered by contact between the folded lower flap and the first bracket, which may result in defective packaging of the package.
In contrast, according to the folding plate support structure of the present embodiment, the first bracket 28A is provided in a non-interference area, so that the first bracket 28A can be prevented from contacting the lower flap 54A. Therefore, the lower flap 54A can be smoothly folded down without being hindered. Therefore, packaging defects of the package 50 can be suppressed.

(2) The first bracket 28A is disposed in a region below the upper edge 61 (i.e., the position of the tip of the lower flap 54A that has been completely folded down) in the TD direction, and above and upstream of the side edge 62 (the trajectory of the lower flap 54A that is being folded down). In this case, the first bracket 28A can be provided at a position lower than the position of the tip of the lower flap 54A that has been completely folded down, so that the TD position of the first bracket 28A can be brought closer to the center of gravity (the center in the TD direction) of the first plate piece 22A. This prevents packaging defects in the package 50 and provides stable support for the first plate piece 22A.

(3) The dimension M1 in the MD direction on the inside of the CD direction of the first bracket 28A is set to be shorter than the dimension M2 in the MD direction of the second bracket 28B. Therefore, the first bracket 28A can easily move the lower flap 54A, which is conveyed downstream in the MD direction, to the upstream side in the MD direction, increasing the freedom of the arrangement area.
For example, when the first bracket 28A and the second bracket 28B are arranged so as to overlap in a planar view, the first bracket 28A and the second bracket 28B can each be arranged downstream in the MD direction (closer to the side edge 62 of the folding region 60) than when the MD direction dimensions M1, M2 are the same.

In addition, when the second plate piece 22B is heavier than the first plate piece 22A, the first bracket 28A, which has a shorter MD dimension than the second bracket 28B, can stably support the relatively lightweight first plate piece 22A. On the other hand, the second bracket 28B, which has a longer MD dimension than the first bracket 28A, can easily ensure support strength and can reliably support the second plate piece 22B, which is heavier than the first plate piece 22A.

(4) The first bracket 28A is provided in a position and shape that overlaps the second bracket 28B when viewed from above and overlaps the support frame 24 when viewed from the outside in the CD direction, so that the first bracket 28A is difficult to see from above or from the outside in the CD direction. Therefore, in the past, even if the lower flap came into contact with the first bracket, the contact went unnoticed, which could lead to defective packaging.
In contrast, in the present embodiment, by arranging the first bracket 28A in a non-interference area, even if the structure is difficult to visually see from above and from the outside in the CD direction, contact of the first bracket 28A with the lower flap 54A can be avoided, thereby suppressing defective packaging of the package 50.

(5) Even if the upper flap 54B inserted through the second slit 25B tries to warp upward from the appropriate position, this warping is structurally restricted by the eaves portion 30A of the pressing member 30. Therefore, the upper flap 54B can be maintained in the appropriate position PA [shown by the solid line in FIG. 6(a)] in which the warping is restricted, and the upper flap 54B can be folded down at the ideal fold FA [shown by the solid line in FIG. 6(b)].
Therefore, contact of the first bracket 28A with the lower flap 54A is avoided, thereby preventing packaging defects on the lower flap 54A side, and the pressing member 30 contacts the upper flap 54B to prevent warping, thereby preventing packaging defects on the upper flap 54B side.

(6) With a packaging sheet made of film, even if the bottom flap comes into contact with the first bracket 28A and is not folded at the ideal crease, the quality of the crease is not noticeable and the package can be accepted. On the other hand, if the packaging sheet is made of paper, if the bottom flap comes into contact with the first bracket 28A and is not folded at the correct crease, it is noticeable and is likely to result in defective packaging. Therefore, the effect of preventing contact of the first bracket 28A with the bottom flap 54A in suppressing defective packaging is greater when packaging paper is used as the packaging sheet than when a packaging sheet made of film is used.

FIG. 7(a) is an explanatory diagram showing the folding of the upper flap 54B by the folding plate 22 along the CD direction, with a portion of the folding plate 22 omitted. The second slit 25B having a tapered shape causes the upper flap 54B to be gradually folded from the initial folded state (see CA1 in FIG. 7(a)) (see CA2 in FIG. 7(a)). This makes it easier for the upper flap 54B to be folded down at an ideal fold. This can prevent packaging defects of the package 50. On the other hand, in the conventional folding plate 90 shown in FIG. 7(b), a linear slit 92 is provided along the MD direction, and the upper flap 54B does not change its folded state from the initial folded state (see CB1 in FIG. 7(b)) (see CB2 in FIG. 7(b)). This may cause the upper flap 54B to be folded down at an incorrect fold at a location different from the ideal fold, resulting in packaging defects of the package 50.
Therefore, according to the folding member 20 of the present invention, which combines the pressing member 30 and the second slit 25B having a tapered shape, packaging defects of the package 50 can be further suppressed.

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 and is formed of a eave-shaped member that extends outward in the CD direction in an area that intersects with an area where the lower flap 54A inserted through the first slit 25A may bend downward.

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.
That is, the second slit 25B forms an inclination gradient in which one of the first edge portion 25BX and the second edge portion 25BY is disposed closer to the other of the first edge portion 25BX and the second edge portion 25BY as it moves toward the downstream side in the MD direction. 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 extension region of the second slit 25B in the MD direction.
The tapered shape can also be applied to the first slit 25A and the third slit 25C.

The first bracket 28A may be provided at a position higher in the TD direction than the upper edge 61 of the folding-down region 60 (i.e., the position where the tip of the folded-down lower flap 54A is located).
The shape of the first bracket 28A is not limited to the L-shape shown in FIG.
For example, FIG. 11(a) shows a first bracket 28A' made of an I-shaped one-leg member as an example. FIG. 11(b) shows a first bracket 28A'' having a tapered shape in which the dimension in the MD direction is larger on the inside than on the outside in the CD direction. This first bracket 28A'' has a tapered shape in which the dimension in the MD direction on the inside in the CD direction is larger than the dimension in the MD direction on the outside in the CD direction. When the lower flap 54A is folded down upward as it is conveyed downstream in the MD direction, the tip of the lower flap 54A moves from the outside to the inside in the CD direction in a plan view. It can be said that the first bracket 28A'' has a tapered shape that follows the trajectory of the tip of the lower flap 54A moving from the outside to the inside in the CD direction in a plan view. In this case, since the first bracket 28A'' is thick on the attachment side to the first plate piece 22A, it is easy to ensure the support strength of the first plate piece 22A. As a modified example of the first bracket 28A'', an L-shaped first bracket 28A shown in FIG. 8 may have legs 28AX formed in a tapered shape in which the dimension in the MD direction is larger on the inside than on the outside in the CD direction.
The shape of the first bracket 28A may be a tapered shape in which the dimension in the MD direction is larger on the outer inner side than on the inner side in the CD direction, unlike the first bracket 28A''. In this case, it is easy to ensure the support strength on the fixed part side relative to the support frame 24.

In the above embodiment, the case where the lower flap 54A of the flap 52 is folded down (step A3) and then the upper flap 54B of the flap 52 is folded down (step A4) is described as an example, but the procedure for folding down the flaps is not limited to this. That is, the lower flap 54A may be folded down after the upper flap 54B is folded down.
In this case, a slit (first slit) for folding down the upper flap 54B downward is provided upstream in the MD direction from a slit for folding down the lower flap 54A upward in the folding plate 22. A plate piece (first plate piece) adjacent to the lower side of the first slit of the folding plate 22 is supported by a bracket (first bracket) provided in a non-interference region different from the folding region through which the upper flap 54B passes when folded down downward.

20 Folding member 21 Base 22 Folding plate 22A First plate piece 22B Second plate piece 22A Third plate piece 23 Conveying path 24 Support frame (base portion, folding plate support structure)
25 Slit 25A First slit 25B Second slit 25C Third slit 25BX Lower edge portion 25BY Upper edge portion 26 Bow portion 27 Tucker 28 Bracket (folded plate support structure)
28A First bracket (folded plate support structure)
28B Second bracket (folded plate support structure)
28C Third bracket (folded plate support structure)
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 60 Folding region 61 Upper edge 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 (5)

a folding plate support structure for supporting a folding plate that is used in a manufacturing line for packaging in which a part of a packaging sheet wrapped around a content has flaps extending from the content to the outside in a CD direction intersecting a direction in which the content is wrapped around the content, and the flaps are folded down to package the content in a lapped type package, the folding plate having a first slit through which a first outer flap located on one side of a TD direction intersecting the MD direction and the CD direction of the flaps of the semi-finished product being transported in an MD direction intersecting the CD direction is inserted outward in the CD direction and folded down to the other side in the TD direction as the semi-finished product is transported, and a second slit through which a second outer flap located on the other side of the TD direction of the flap is inserted outward in the CD direction, the second slit extending along the MD direction, and that supports the folding plate that guides the second outer flap inserted into the second slit without folding down the first outer flap when the first outer flap is folded down ,
A base portion fixed to the folding plate at a distance outward in the CD direction from the dimension by which the first outer flap extends;
A first bracket supports a first plate piece in a region adjacent to the other side of the first slit in the TD direction of the folding plate relative to the base portion, and is provided in a non-interference region different from a folding region through which the first outer flap inserted into the first slit passes when folded down to the other side in the TD direction;
A second bracket supports a second plate piece in a region adjacent to the other side of the second slit in the TD direction of the folded plate and adjacent to the first plate piece via the second slit, against the base portion .
The first bracket is disposed on one side of the second slit in the TD direction, and a dimension in the MD direction on the inner side in the CD direction is shorter than that of the second bracket.
A folded plate support structure characterized by: The first bracket is disposed on one side of the TD direction relative to the position of the tip of the first outer flap where folding down to the other side in the TD direction by the first slit has been completed, and on the other side of the TD direction relative to the trajectory of the first outer flap being folded down to the other side in the TD direction by the first slit, in an area upstream in the MD direction. The folded plate support structure according to claim 1, characterized in that it is disposed in an area upstream in the MD direction relative to the trajectory of the first outer flap where folding down to the other side in the TD direction by the first slit has been completed . The first bracket is provided in a position and shape such that it is covered by the second bracket when viewed from the other side in the TD direction and is covered by the base portion when viewed from the outside in the CD direction. The folded plate support structure according to claim 1 or 2 . The folded plate support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a eaves-shaped pressing member is provided that extends outward from the second plate piece in the CD direction and is located on one side of the second bracket in the TD direction in a region where the first outer flap inserted into the first slit intersects with a region where the first outer flap can be warped. The folded plate support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , characterized in that the first bracket has a tapered shape in which the dimension in the MD direction is larger on the inside than on the outside in the CD direction.

Images