Method for detecting a hopper insertion state for a bag-filling packaging machine

Abstract

A method for detecting a hopper insertion state for a bag-filling packaging machine using photoelectric sensors 7 provided at an item supply step position. The photoelectric sensors 7 detect deformation of the bag mouth that occurs when the hopper 4 is inserted into the bag mouth, and a decision whether the insertion status of the hopper 4 in the bag mouth is good or bad is made based on the detection result of the photoelectric sensors 7 . If the tip end of the descending hopper 4 catches the bag mouth or presses the bag mouth and folds it, the bag face is moved away from the detection part 9 (light passage route) of the sensors 7 , so that light from the light-emitting part of the sensors 7 reaches a reflecting mirror 6 and reflected, and the reflected light is detected by the light-receiving part of the sensors 7.

1 . A method for detecting a hopper insertion state for a bag-filling packaging machine that opens a bag mouth of a supplied bag, inserts a hopper into the bag mouth of the supplied bag, loads items to be packed into the bag via said hopper, and then withdraws said hopper from the bag mouth, said method comprising the steps of: 
 detecting deformation of the bag mouth during insertion operation of said hopper into the bag mouth by bag mouth detecting sensors provided in said bag-filling packaging machine, and    determining whether or not a hopper insertion state in the bag mouth is acceptable based on a detection result of said bag mouth detecting sensors.    
   
   
       2 . The method for detecting a hopper insertion state according to  claim 1 , wherein in said bag-filling packaging machine, both edges of the supplied bag are held by grippers so that the supplied bag is kept hanging down.  
   
   
       3 . The method for detecting a hopper insertion state according to  claim 2 , further comprising the steps of 
 detecting whether or not items to be packed are falling from said hopper when the hopper is withdrawn from the bag mouth by falling items detecting sensors provided in said bag-filling packaging machine, and    determining whether or not the hopper insertion state in the bag mouth is acceptable based on a detection result of said falling items detecting sensors.    
   
   
       4 . A method for detecting a hopper insertion state for a bag-filling packaging machine that: 
 holds both edges of a supplied bag by grippers, thus keeping the supplied bag hanging down,    opens the bag mouth of the supplied bag,    inserts a hopper into the bag mouth,    loads items to be packed into the bag via said hopper, and then    withdraws said hopper from the bag mouth; wherein    said method comprises the steps of:    detecting items to be packed falling from the hopper when said hopper is withdrawn from the bag mouth by falling items detecting sensors, and    determining whether or not the hopper insertion state in the bag mouth is acceptable based on a detection result of said falling items detecting sensors.    
   
   
       5 . The method for detecting a hopper insertion state according to any one of claims  2  through  4 , wherein said bag-filling packaging machine comprises: 
 an intermittently rotating table,    a plurality of pairs of grippers for holding both side edges of a bag so that the bag hangs down, said plurality of pairs of grippers being disposed at equidistant separation on a periphery of said intermittently rotating table, and    a hopper that is raised and lowered at a predetermined timing and is disposed on said table so as to correspond to each respective gripper pair; and wherein    various packaging means including a bag supply device, a bag mouth opening device, an item supply device, a sealing device are disposed on the periphery of said table; and    various packaging operations including supplying of a bag, opening of the bag mouth, inserting of the hopper into the bag mouth, loading of the items to be packed in to the bag, withdrawing of the hopper from the bag mouth, sealing of the bag mouth are performed when said table is rotated once.