Packaging device and packaging method for packaging material

A packaging method comprising:

• a preparation step of preparing a packaging device for a packaging material, the packaging device including
• a carry-in conveyor configured to carry in an object along a conveyance direction,
• a carry-out conveyor configured to carry out the object along the conveyance direction,
• a conveyor moving mechanism configured to move at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor, and
• a packaging material pressing mechanism configured to press a band-shaped packaging material against an object conveyed between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor and to attach the band-shaped packaging material to the object;
• a standby step of keeping the carry-out conveyor in a standby position in which a downstream end of the carry-in conveyor and an upstream end of the carry-out conveyor are close to each other;
• a carry-in detecting step of causing a sensor to detect that the object is carried in to the carry-in conveyor;
• a retraction step of moving at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor to a retraction position after a lapse of a predetermined time from detection of carry-in of the object in the carry-in detecting step;
• a conveyor stop step of stopping driving of the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor after the retraction step;
• a packaging material attaching step of causing the packaging material pressing mechanism to press the band-shaped packaging material against the object and attach the band-shaped packaging material to the object by using an attachment space between the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor;
• and
• a conveyor re-driving step of returning at least one of the carry-in conveyor or the carry-out conveyor to the transit position after the packaging material attaching step, and restarting driving of the carry-in conveyor and the carry-out conveyor, wherein
• in the packaging material attaching step,
• the band-shaped packaging material is placed on an upper surface of the object such that both end portions of the band-shaped packaging material hang down at side surfaces of the object,
• the band-shaped packaging material is pressed against the upper surface of the object and then against the side surfaces of the object, and
• a pair of bottom folding rollers is moved horizontally toward each other such that the both end portions hanging down at the side surfaces of the band-shaped packaging material are pressed against a bottom surface of the object and attached to the bottom surface in the attachment space.