EP1726525A1 - Procédé et dispositif pour sceller des récipients - Google Patents

Procédé et dispositif pour sceller des récipients Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1726525A1
EP1726525A1 EP05425372A EP05425372A EP1726525A1 EP 1726525 A1 EP1726525 A1 EP 1726525A1 EP 05425372 A EP05425372 A EP 05425372A EP 05425372 A EP05425372 A EP 05425372A EP 1726525 A1 EP1726525 A1 EP 1726525A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
film
mouth
container
sealing
fixing member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05425372A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Mauro Biondi Compagnoni
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Guerra SpA
Original Assignee
Guerra SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Guerra SpA filed Critical Guerra SpA
Priority to EP05425372A priority Critical patent/EP1726525A1/fr
Publication of EP1726525A1 publication Critical patent/EP1726525A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
    • B65B7/168—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying and securing double closures
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/08—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by irradiation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sealing containers and the like.
  • this invention relates to the field of the hermetic closure of containers by application of a protective film at a mouth thereof
  • the sealing process is integrated with a step of applying a protective film, lids or caps being then overlapped thereto in order to reinforce its seal and provide greater mechanical strength.
  • the protective film applied to the mouth of the containers does not allow a subsequent closure by lids or caps having a portion of the covering surface sunken with respect to the edges of the mouth of the containers themselves.
  • Lids or caps with a shape such as to have, once applied, a covering surface sunken with respect to the edges of the mouth of the container involved are currently used, e.g. in the field of manufacturing of food containers or of paint cans.
  • the depth of engagement e.g. by fitting in, of the peripheral portion of such lids or caps with the edges of the containers, attainable thanks to said specific shape, ensures a closure with a strong seal.
  • the plane lids or caps not incorporating such a sinking of the covering surface do not prove as sealing, and, though compatible with the applying of a protective film, are anyhow a compromise solution.
  • object of the present invention is to solve said problems, by proposing a sealing method and a sealing apparatus for containers and the like as defined in claim 1 and in claim 7, respectively.
  • the sealing method according to the present invention constitutes a process optimizing the capacity for hermetic closure of containers and the like.
  • the sealing method according to the present invention allows to apply a protective film at a mouth of a container to be sealed, and concomitantly to use lids or caps shaped so as to have, in the operating configuration when closing said container, a covering surface sunken with respect to the edges of the mouth of the container itself.
  • the sealing method according to the present invention is perfectly compatible with a closure of the containers carried out with conventional lids or caps having a plane covering surface, e.g. in case only these are in stock or a saving on supply costs is desired.
  • the sealing method and apparatus according to the present invention can advantageously and economically be adapted to any container typology and shape.
  • the adoption of a method according to the present invention allows to attain an effective sealing of containers through the carrying out of a sequence of simple steps.
  • the apparatus according to the present invention apt to carry out such a sequence of steps, is of easy manufacture and installation by virtue of a linear structure and an operation marked by utmost rationality.
  • an apparatus for sealing containers and the like by the application of a protective film 100 at a mouth 20 of a container 30 to be sealed generally comprises a sealing station and a station for sterilizing the air head comprised between the protective film 100 and a product optionally contained by the container 30.
  • a sealing station for an apparatus according to the present invention comprises a member 1 for fixing the protective film 100 onto the edge 21 of the mouth 20 of the container 30 to be sealed.
  • Such a fixing member 1 e.g. basically disc-shaped, is preferably connected to means 10 for the vertical translation thereof, e.g. ram-shaped, apt to make it movable between a top position A detached from the mouth 20 of the container 30 and a bottom position B of contact with the edge 21 of the mouth 20.
  • the modes of fixing the film 100 onto the edge 21 of the mouth 20 of the container 30 can be plural and envisage different variants, all falling within the protective scope defined for the present invention.
  • the fixing member 1 may incorporate resistors 4 for heat-sealing the film 100.
  • the sealing station also comprises means 2 for forming the film 100 at the mouth 20.
  • the forming means 2 positioned at the bottom of the fixing member 1, is apt to exert a pressure onto the film 100 such as to cause a permanent sinking 110 on the film 100 internal to the container 30.
  • Said means 2 comprises a forming member 2 that, with regard to the hereto-illustrated embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, is basically disc-shaped.
  • such a forming member 2 is made integral to the fixing member 1 and it is dimensioned so as to pass through the mouth 20 of the container 30; thus the forming occurs concomitantly to the lowering of the fixing member 1 to the bottom position B of contact with the edge 21 of the mouth and during its permanence in said position B.
  • a sealing station for an apparatus according to the present invention further comprises means 3 for shearing the film 100, acting onto the film 100 externally to the periphery of the mouth 20 of the container 30.
  • Such means for shearing the film 100 is made, e.g., by a blade 3 circumferentially arranged about the fixing member 1, preferably heated by Joule effect via a resistor arranged into contact with the blade 3 itself.
  • the blade 3 can be made integral to the fixing member 1, and mounted coaxial thereto, so that the descent of the fixing member 1 into position B results in the concomitant carrying out of the shearing of the protective film 100 externally to the periphery of the mouth 20 of the container 30.
  • the fixing member 1, the forming member 2 and the shearing means 3 define, once assembled, a sealing head 500.
  • the apparatus further comprises means 200 for removing the portion 101 of film 100 left over from said shearing step, as well as means 210 for supplying an intact portion 102 of protective film 100.
  • the intact portion 102 can be made available so as to allow its application onto the mouth 20 of a further container 30b taking the place in the sealing station of a previous container 30a already subjected to filming.
  • Such removing and supplying means may comprise a take-up reel 200 and a roll system 210.
  • Said means is in charge of the rewinding of the left-over portion 101 of the film 100 and of the positioning and tensioning of the intact portion 102 of the film 100.
  • the configuration of the apparatus is such that the roll system 210, e.g. comprising two rolls having parallel axis of rotation and being arranged at the same height above the container 30 with respect to the conveyor belt 300, keeps the film 100 tensioned and ready for the application onto the edge 21 of the underlying container 30.
  • the roll system 210 e.g. comprising two rolls having parallel axis of rotation and being arranged at the same height above the container 30 with respect to the conveyor belt 300, keeps the film 100 tensioned and ready for the application onto the edge 21 of the underlying container 30.
  • the take-up reel 200 is located in a position raised with respect to one of the rolls 210 and such as to ease the rewinding without tearing of the left-over portion 101 of the film 100.
  • the vertical translation means 10, apt to carry out the joint descent of the fixing member 1, the forming means 2 and the shearing means 3 for the filming of the container 30, is located in a position basically equidistant from the rolls 210 and anyhow basically true with respect to the surface of the intact portion 102 of the film 100.
  • the container 30 can be brought at the sealing station of the apparatus according to the present invention by means of a moving mechanism, e.g. automatic, like a conveyor belt 300.
  • a moving mechanism e.g. automatic, like a conveyor belt 300.
  • the container 30 can be transferred by means of the moving mechanism to the next sterilizing station.
  • the station for sterilizing the apparatus according to the present invention is apt to disinfect an air head 50 comprised between the film 100 and a product contained in the container.
  • the sterilizing station may comprise means 70 for emitting germicidal radiations 60, e.g. UV-ray lamps.
  • the film 100 is fed to the sealing station and tensioned between the rolls 210a and 210 b.
  • the rotation of the rolls 210a and 210b causes the same feed of the film 100.
  • At least one of the rolls 210a or 210b is dragged in rotation by motorized actuating means.
  • a container 30 is located at the sealing station by the moving mechanism 300.
  • a control unit e.g. programmable by a user, commands the activation of vertical translation means 10.
  • Such vertical translation means 10 brings the sealing head 500 from a top position A where the fixing member 1 is detached from the mouth 20 of the underlying container 30 to a bottom position B where the fixing member 1 is into contact with the edge 21 of the mouth 20.
  • the value of the pressure exerted by the forming member 2 is calibrated so as not to cause the perforation of the protective film 100, merely inducing a progressive deformation thereof until the fixing member 1 adjoins the edge 21 of the mouth 20 of the container 30.
  • the deformation induced onto the protective film 100 is of a permanent kind.
  • the forming member is shaped so as to induce a permanent sinking 110 in the intact portion 102 of protective film, entering through the mouth 20 of the container 30.
  • such a fixing process occurs by heat-sealing, thanks to the heat developed by the resistors 4, incorporated in the fixing member and heated by Joule effect when power-supplied.
  • the shearing process at the periphery of the mouth of the container 30 carried out by the blade 3 can it also occur through an alike heating by Joule effect of a resistor arranged into contact with the blade 3.
  • the dimensioning of the fixing member 1 and of the blade 3, as well as their relative positioning, will be such that the shearing occurs only after the fixing step has been completed, thereby not compromising the success thereof and ensuring the perfect adhesion of the film onto the edge 21.
  • the left-over film portion 101 is rewound about a reel 200, e.g. motorized.
  • the left-over film portion 101 is depicted in the top view of figure 5, in which there can be seen a void left by the film portion applied to the container 30.
  • the rewinding occurs so as to preserve the continuity of the film 100, which is advanced until an intact portion 102 of film useful to the filming of a subsequent container is repositioned between the rolls 210.
  • the filmed container 30a is in turn led from the conveyor belt 300 to the sterilizing station, as illustrated in figure 7.
  • the air head 50 comprised between the permanent sinking 110 of the film 100, created at the preceding sealing station, and a product contained by the container 30a.
  • germicidal UV radiations are emitted by lamps 70 at the opening mouth 20 of the container 30a.
  • the access to the sealing and sterilizing stations can be regulated, e.g., by a sensor system along the moving path, so as to optimize the continuity of the production cycle, e.g. providing that when the sterilizing step to which the container 30a is subjected has ended, the fully filmed container 30b be ready to take the place of the container 30a onto the sterilizing station.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
EP05425372A 2005-05-26 2005-05-26 Procédé et dispositif pour sceller des récipients Withdrawn EP1726525A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05425372A EP1726525A1 (fr) 2005-05-26 2005-05-26 Procédé et dispositif pour sceller des récipients

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05425372A EP1726525A1 (fr) 2005-05-26 2005-05-26 Procédé et dispositif pour sceller des récipients

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1726525A1 true EP1726525A1 (fr) 2006-11-29

Family

ID=36128333

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05425372A Withdrawn EP1726525A1 (fr) 2005-05-26 2005-05-26 Procédé et dispositif pour sceller des récipients

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1726525A1 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0065380A1 (fr) * 1981-05-11 1982-11-24 Consumers Glass Company Limited Système de stérilisation par un rayonnement ultra-violet
US20040159080A1 (en) * 2000-09-26 2004-08-19 Cryovac Australia Pty. Ltd. Method of forming a sealed container having a sealing sheet material and a reclosable lid, wherein the lid projects into a recessed portion of the sheet material

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0065380A1 (fr) * 1981-05-11 1982-11-24 Consumers Glass Company Limited Système de stérilisation par un rayonnement ultra-violet
US20040159080A1 (en) * 2000-09-26 2004-08-19 Cryovac Australia Pty. Ltd. Method of forming a sealed container having a sealing sheet material and a reclosable lid, wherein the lid projects into a recessed portion of the sheet material

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