JP2002104305A - Method for sealing container mouth and mouth sealing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To carry out the work for fixing an aluminum cap on a mini-cup type container simply and with high efficiency. SOLUTION: A cap material 6 to become a forming material of a cap 5 is at first made into the shape of a material tape 8 adhered to a mount 7. The cap 5 is formed by making a cut 23 only in the cap material 6 in its inner side. Since each cap 5 is not cut apart from the mount 7, position adjustment between the cap 5 and a container 2 can be carried out as the whole material tape 8. As a result, the cap 5 and the container 2 can be simply and surely fixed together without taking the trouble of using a positioning tool for the exclusive use. Accordingly, the mouth sealing of the container 2 can be carried out with high efficiency and with simple structure.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and a device for sealing a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When it is necessary to prevent oxidation, moisture, and leakage of the contents in a container, or when it is necessary to promote quality assurance, virgin seal, and prevention of mischief, an aluminum material is used at the mouth of the container. It is known that a thin lid made of a material such as a product is tightly adhered and sealed. When the container is in the form of a bottle (glass bottle, metal can, resin bottle, etc.) and has a structure in which a screw-type or fitting-type cap is attached to its mouth, the above-mentioned seal is placed on the back of the cap. The lid is prepared in advance, and the cap is attached to the mouth of the container so that back pressure is applied to the lid. Then, high frequency is applied from the outside of the cap, and the fixing material (hot melt Etc.).

On the other hand, when the container is a mini-cup type (a type frequently used for packing fresh coffee, syrup, various kinds of jelly confectionery, etc.) and a cap is not required, the above-mentioned mouth seal is provided with a lid. Is held in a dedicated holder with a heater, the holder with the heater is positioned so that the lid comes into contact with the mouth of the container, and then the heater (heating wire) incorporated in the holder with the heater Is heated, and welding is performed using a fixing material previously applied to the lid.

[0004]

In any of the mouth sealing methods described above, the lid is manufactured by punching a lid material formed of an aluminum material or the like supplied in a tape shape into a predetermined lid shape. I have. For this reason, in the method of sealing a container with a cap, it is troublesome to prepare an independent lid in the cap, and in the method of sealing a container without a cap, it is necessary to re-hold the independent lid in a holder with a heater. And this can be cumbersome.

In the method of sealing a container with a cap, the positioning of the lid and the application of back pressure to the container are performed by using a screw-in structure or a forcibly fitting structure when the cap is attached to the mouth of the container. While it is possible to use the high-frequency heating method, it is difficult to position the lid with respect to the container and to apply a back pressure to the container without the cap. Therefore, the heater (heating wire) is used. There is a situation that the heating method by has been adopted. This is because the heater with a heater used for the method of sealing a container without a cap has a structure in which the heater is exposed at a portion where the lid is taken in and out, and thus the heater often breaks due to contact between the lid and the heater. It was connected to the fact that it became easy to do.

[0006] Accordingly, a reduction in production rate, an increase in running cost, and the like have been caused, including an increase in labor required for maintenance. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and regardless of whether the container is a container with a cap or a container without a cap, the mouth can be sealed easily and efficiently, and the structure can be implemented simply. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and an apparatus for sealing a sealed container.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention takes the following measures. That is, in the method for sealing a container according to the present invention, a material tape in which a backing material and a lid material are laminated and formed in a tape shape is used. Then, cuts are made in the material tape at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction from the lid material side in accordance with a predetermined lid shape. Then, while the lid formed inside the lid-shaped cut portion is kept attached to the backing paper, the material tape is fed out to a container appropriately held.

Then, the lids formed on the material tape as described above are brought into contact with the mouth of the container in a one-to-one correspondence, and are brought into contact with each other and then fixed to each other. Thereafter, the container and the lid in the fixed state are detached from the base material of the material tape. As described above, the lid material is initially in a state of being bonded to the backing sheet, and even after the cut for forming the lid shape is made, the lid formed inside the cut portion is attached to the backing sheet. The state is maintained.

That is, when a cut is made in the material tape, the depth of the cut is limited only to the cover material so that the cut does not reach the backing material. Are not separated and fall apart. Therefore, when the lid and the container are aligned with each other, the position can be corrected using the backing paper (as a whole material tape), which can be performed simply and reliably. In addition, a dedicated positioning jig is used. There is no need for. From these facts, the efficiency of the entire operation can be improved, and the device can be simplified and downsized.

It is preferable that high frequency sealing is performed as a method of fixing the lid formed on the material tape to the container. As a result, the working efficiency can be improved, and the apparatus configuration can be further simplified. On the other hand, the container sealing device according to the present invention includes a tape supply unit, a lid forming unit, a positioning unit, a fixing unit, and a product take-out unit. The tape supply section is made of the above-mentioned material tape (the backing material and the cover material are bonded together and formed into a tape shape)
Is to supply.

The cover forming section cuts the material tape from the tape supply section from the side of the cover material at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction thereof, and forms a cover conforming to a predetermined lid shape in the cut. By the way. The positioning portion guides the material tape fed from the lid forming portion to the container in an appropriately held state, and matches the lid to the mouth of the container in one-to-one correspondence and abuts the same. The fixing part is where the container and the lid that have been brought into a matched state through the positioning part are fixed.

The product take-out section is where the container and the lid, which have been fixed to each other via the fixing section, are separated from the base material of the material tape. With such a configuration, the method for sealing a container according to the present invention can be mechanized or automated.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the mouth sealing device 1 according to the present invention, and FIGS.
Shows an example of the container 2 to be sealed by the sealing device 1. Although the container 2 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is a mini-cup type, its outer diameter, depth, shape, and the like are not limited at all, and the material is resin, metal, glass, or the like. It is not limited at all, such as made of paper.

A lid 5 for closing the mouth 3 of the container 2
Is not limited to only those formed of an aluminum material, and it is stated that resin, paper, or the like may be used as appropriate. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid material 6 is formed by forming a lid material 6 as a forming material (aluminum material or the like) in a tape shape in advance and taking out the lid material 6 by punching or the like. Is provided as a material tape 8 by being attached to a mount 7 having the same tape shape at first. Needless to say, this material tape 8
Naturally, it is in the shape of a tape. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the material tape 8 is initially wound in a roll state.

The mount 7 of the material tape 8 is not limited to paper, but may be formed of a resin sheet or cloth, or a flexible thin plate made of resin or metal. Not done. In addition, the cover material 6 has a surface facing the mouth 3 of the container 2 as the cover 5 (the surface bonded to the backing sheet 7 is opposite to the surface) in advance, and a fixing material (such as hot melt or polyethylene) (Abbreviated) is applied. The bonding between the mount 7 and the lid material 6 may be appropriately performed with an adhesive. It is not particularly necessary to use a strong adhesive for the adhesive.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mouth sealing device 1 has a tape supply section 14, a lid forming section 15, a positioning section 16, a fixing section 17, and a product take-out section 18. are doing. The tape supply unit 14 is provided with a material tape 8 in a roll state.
Is held by the roll unwinding section 20 and the material tape 8 is supplied toward the lid forming section 15 as required by the subsequent lid forming section 15 and the positioning section 16. It is. It should be noted that whether or not the tape supply unit 14 itself has a structure for feeding and feeding the material tape 8 is not particularly limited.

Accordingly, for example, the tape supply unit 14 may be provided with a drive rotation mechanism for the roll unwinding unit 20, a dancer roll mechanism, a pinch roller mechanism (all not shown), or the like. This tape supply unit 1
A structure that feeds and drives the material tape 8 at a position other than the position 4 (after the lid forming portion 15) may be provided. The lid forming part 15 includes:
Cuts 23 are made in the material tape 8 supplied by the tape supply unit 14 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction from the side of the lid material 6, and the lids 5 are formed in the cuts 23 according to a predetermined lid shape. It is about to be done.

The notch 23 is formed by pressing a punch (not shown) having a required lid shape against the lid material 6 or by fitting a non-contact type cutter head (for example, a laser or the like) to the lid shape. What is necessary is just to make it the structure moved. The depth of the cut 23 with respect to the material tape 8 is
Stop only on (the thickness of) the lid material 6,
Not to reach the cut 23. Therefore, even after the cut 23 is made, the material tape 8 (mount 7)
The lids 5 are not separated from each other.

When the cover forming section 15 is operating to form the cut 23, the feed drive is preferably intermittent so that the material tape 8 is stopped. In the present embodiment, the material tape 8 having passed through the lid forming portion 15 is attached to the mount 7 and the lid material 6.
The scrap portion (frame portion) generated around the lid 5 on the lid material 6 side can be wound up by the collection reel 24. Therefore, the next positioning portion 16 is in a state where all of the lid material 6 except the lid 5 is removed as the material tape 8 (see FIG. 3).

The positioning section 16 guides the material tape 8 having passed through the cover forming section 15 to the container 2 appropriately held, and transfers the cover 5 formed on the material tape 8 to the container 2.
Is brought into contact with the mouth part in a one-to-one correspondence and is brought into contact with the mouth part. In the present embodiment, the positioning unit 16
As shown in FIG. 2, a vacuum device 27 is arranged on the middle side (upper side) of the lower side of the drive belt device 26 in which the breathable belt 25 is stretched endlessly in the vertical direction. 8 is fed horizontally while sucking the mount 7, and a container conveyor 30 is provided below the drive belt device 26 so that these container conveyors 3 can be fed.
0 and the drive belt device 26 are driven synchronously.

The container conveyor 30 is provided with a plurality of work holders 31 for holding the containers 2 at predetermined intervals along the transport direction. These work holders 3
The mounting pitch of the material tape 8
Corresponding to the pitch at which the lid 5 is formed. The coincidence timing between the lid 5 of the raw material tape 8 and the container 2 held by the container conveyor 30 is determined by detecting the presence or absence of the lid 5 with a sensor 34 provided on the entry side guide 33 of the raw material tape 8. It is preferable to adjust the feed driving of the motor in that the structure is simple, the control is easy, and the reliability is obtained.

The fixing portion 17 is a portion for fixing the container 2 and the lid 5 held in contact with each other by the positioning portion 16. The fixation at this time may be performed by a high-frequency seal. Note that an electric heating method may be used. In the present embodiment, the container 2 in the work holder 31 is pushed up from the back (lower) side of the container conveyor 30 at a predetermined timing on the upper side corresponding to the position where the fixing portion 17 is provided. Is provided with a backup device 35 for increasing the back pressure of the material tape 8 in contact with the lid 5 and ensuring its fixation.

The product take-out section 18 is where the container 2 and the lid 5 fixed to each other via the fixing section 17 are detached from the mount 7 of the material tape 8. This product take-out section 1
8 is automatically formed at the boundary between the folded end where the drive belt device 26 returns upward and the folded end where the container conveyor 30 returns downward. In addition, this product take-out section 18
The container 2 (sealed with the lid 5) is naturally dropped at the folded end where the container conveyor 30 returns downward, and is collected by the product collection unit 40.

Next, a method for sealing according to the present invention will be described based on the operation status of the sealing device 1 having the above configuration. First, when the material tape 8 is supplied from the tape supply unit 14 to the lid forming unit 15, the material tape 8 is supplied to the lid forming unit 15.
On the other hand, cuts 23 are formed at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction from the lid material 6 side in accordance with a predetermined lid shape. Therefore, the lid 5 is formed inside the notch 23. When the unnecessary portion (slag) of the lid material 6 is removed from the material tape 8 on which the lid 5 is formed, the material tape 8 is kept in a state in which the lid 5 is adhered to the mount 7, and then the positioning unit 1 is moved.
It is fed out to 6.

In the positioning portion 16, the lid 5 formed on the material tape 8 and the opening 3 of the container 2 conveyed by the container conveyor 30 are matched with each other in a one-to-one correspondence. It is brought into contact with the fixing portion 17 as it is.
Sent to. Then, in the fixing portion 17, the container 2 and the lid 5 are fixed by a high-frequency seal or the like. The container 2 and the lid 5 thus fixed are continuously transported by the container conveyor 30 as they are, and the product take-out section 18
At the time, the material tape 8 is detached from the mount 7 and collected by the product collection unit 40.

The mount 7 remaining after the container 2 and the lid 5 are detached in this manner is appropriately collected and discarded. When the container 2 is provided with a cap (not shown), the cap may be attached after being carried out as described above. By the way, the present invention
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and appropriate changes, replacements, increases and decreases, and the like can be made in the detailed member shapes, adopted mechanisms, operation procedures, and the like.

[0027]

As is clear from the above description, in the method and apparatus for sealing a container according to the present invention, the lid material is initially formed in the form of a material tape bonded to a backing paper, and a cut is made in the cut. Even when the lid is inserted and the lid is formed inside, each lid is not separated from the backing paper, so that the positioning of the lid and the container can be performed as a whole material tape, and as a result, a dedicated positioning jig is bothersome. The lid and the container can be easily and reliably fixed without using them. Therefore, the container can be sealed with a simple, efficient and simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing one embodiment of a mouth sealing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view corresponding to FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of a material tape.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an example of a container and a lid.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing an example of a container and a lid.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mouth sealing device 2 Container 3 Mouth part 5 Lid 7 Base paper 6 Lid material 8 Material tape 14 Tape supply part 15 Lid forming part 16 Alignment part 17 Fixing part 18 Product take-out part 23 Cut 30 Container conveyor

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Noriko Kobayashi 8-1 Aonomachi Rokutan, Ayabe-shi, Kyoto Gunze Machinery Division F-term (reference) 3E049 AA05 AB03 CA06 DB03 EA02 EB03 FA06 FA07 3E067 AA03 AB01 AB16 AB26 AB27 AC01 BA03A BB14A BC03A BC07A CA24 EA06 EA32 EB27 FA01 FC01 3E094 AA06 BA02 BA12 CA04 DA02 FA02 FA04 GA05 GA11 HA02 HA08

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A base material (7) and a cover material (6) are bonded to each other and a predetermined cover is provided from a cover material (6) side at a predetermined interval in a longitudinal direction of the material tape (8) formed in a tape shape. A cut (23) according to the shape is made, and the material tape (8) is put in a state where the cover (5) formed inside the cover-shaped cut (23) is stuck to the mount (7). It is fed out to the container (2) which is appropriately held, and the lid (5) formed on the material tape (8) is made to correspond to the mouth (3) of the container (2) in a one-to-one correspondence. A method for sealing a container, characterized in that the container (2) and the lid (5) in the fixed state are detached from the backing (7) of the material tape (8) after being brought into contact with each other and then fixed to each other. . 2. A lid (5) formed on a material tape (8).
2. The method for sealing a container according to claim 1, wherein high-frequency sealing is performed as a method of fixing the container to the container (2). 3. A tape supply unit (14) for supplying a material tape (8) formed by laminating a mount (7) and a lid material (6) and forming a tape, and the tape supply unit (14).
A cut (23) is made from the side of the lid material (6) at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the raw material tape (8), and a lid (5) adapted to a predetermined lid shape is formed in the cut (23). The lid (5) is guided to a container (2) in which a lid forming section (15) to be made and a material tape (8) fed from the lid forming section (15) are appropriately held, and the lid (5) is placed in the container (2). And a lid (5) which is brought into contact with the mouth (3) in a one-to-one correspondence and is brought into contact with the mouth (3), and the container (2) and the lid (5) brought into a matched state through the positioning part (16). ), And a product for detaching the container (2) and the lid (5) fixed to each other via the fixing portion (17) from the mount (7) of the material tape (8). Extraction unit (18)
And a container sealing device.