WO2009027947A2 - Film sealing a moving plastic bottle supported by clamp members - Google Patents
Film sealing a moving plastic bottle supported by clamp members Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2009027947A2 WO2009027947A2 PCT/IB2008/053497 IB2008053497W WO2009027947A2 WO 2009027947 A2 WO2009027947 A2 WO 2009027947A2 IB 2008053497 W IB2008053497 W IB 2008053497W WO 2009027947 A2 WO2009027947 A2 WO 2009027947A2
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- sealing
- conveyor belt
- clamp
- sealing arrangement
- containers
- Prior art date
Links
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
- B65B7/162—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by feeding web material to securing means
- B65B7/164—Securing by heat-sealing
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a sealing arrangement.
- the present invention relates to a sealing arrangement for packaging agricultural produce that is susceptible to spoilage and thus has a relatively limited shelf life.
- a disadvantage of such a batch process is that it lengthens the production time and subsequently the production cost.
- a sealing arrangement includes a frame; a conveyor belt passing through the frame and being adapted to transport a sequence of open containers; a sealing member supported by the frame and being adapted to attach a sealing film to close each of the containers; at least one clamp member associated with the sealing member, each clamp member being adapted to support a container on the frame while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container; and movement means being adapted to cause the sealing member and each clamp member to move concurrently with the conveyor belt while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container.
- Each clamp member may be provided on a rotating annular chain.
- Each clamp member may have a clamp plate leading to a concavely arc-shaped clamp head.
- the clamp plate may be slidably supported by the chain and is reciprocally transversely slidable relative to the conveyor belt.
- Each clamp member may be adapted to grip a container adjacent to an annular compression ring that is integrally moulded with the container.
- Each clamp member may have an alignment wheel protruding therefrom and being rotatable relative thereto.
- the sealing arrangement may include a guide member being adapted to cause sliding movement of each clamp member transversely relative to the conveyor belt.
- the guide member may have guide channels for receiving the alignment wheels and being adapted to guide their movement.
- Each guide channel may have an elongated section that extends substantially parallel to the conveyor belt and end portions that are curved away from the conveyor belt.
- the sealing arrangement may include a ramp associated with the sealing member and the clamp members.
- the ramp may be adapted to sequentially operatively lift, support and lower the clamp members to support the containers off the conveyor belt while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container.
- the ramp may lift the containers 3 mm away from the conveyor belt.
- the sealing member may have a five sealing heads.
- the sealing member may be reciprocatingly movable along a longitudinal section of the conveyor belt.
- the containers may be plastic bottles.
- Figure 1 A perspective view of a sealing arrangement according to the invention
- Figure 2 An end view seen along arrow II in Figure 1 ;
- Figure 3 A side view seen along arrow III in Figure 2;
- Figure 4 A top plan view seen along arrow IV in Figure 3.
- the sealing arrangement 10 includes a frame 12 supporting a conveyor belt 14 for transporting a number of containers or bottles 16.
- Rotary clamp chains 18,20 are provided on opposite sides of the conveyor belt 14 and respectively slidably support a number of complimentary clamp members 22,24.
- the clamp chains 18,20 move at the same speed as the speed of the conveyor belt 14.
- the clamp members 22,24 are similarly shaped to each other and each have a clamp plate 26 leading to a concavely arc-shaped clamp head 28.
- An alignment wheel 30 protrudes from the clamp plate 26 and is rotatable relative thereto.
- Guide members 32,34 are provided adjacent to the conveyor belt 14.
- the guide members 32,34 respectively have curved guide channels 36,38 each having an elongated section that extends substantially parallel to the conveyor belt 14 and further having end portions that are curved away from the conveyor belt 14.
- the guide channels 36,38 are adapted to receive the alignment wheels 30.
- the curvature of the guide channels 36,38 causes each set of the complimentary clamp members 22,24 to be moved towards each other so as to grip a bottle 16 by enclosing its neck between the clamp heads 28.
- the bottles 16 are gripped beneath an annular compression ring 40 that is integrally moulded with the neck of the bottles 16 (i.e. on the side of the compression ring 40 opposite to the mouth of the bottle 16).
- Each guide member 32,34 has a neighbouring complimentary ramp 42,44 running alongside the conveyor belt 14.
- the ramps 42,44 are adapted to operatively raise the clamp plates 26 away from the conveyor belt 14 by about 3 mm and to support them while the clamp heads 28 grip the bottles 16. This causes the bottles 16 to be slightly lifted off from the conveyor belt 14.
- the movement of the rotary chains 18,20 cause the clamp plates 26 to slide along on the ramps 42,44.
- a heat sealing member 46 with a number of sealing heads 48 is supported by the frame 12 to allow reciprocating movement of the heat sealing member 46 longitudinally along a length section of the conveyor belt 14.
- the sealing member 46 has five sealing heads 48.
- a flexible sealing film (not shown) is fed from roll-stock in longitudinal alignment with the conveyor belt 14 so that it extends between the sealing heads 48 and the bottles 16. While the bottles 16 are lifted off from the conveyor belt 14 (by the clamp members 22,24 sliding on the ramps 42,44) the sealing heads 48 press down onto the bottles 16 to heat seal the sealing film over the bottle mouths.
- the heat sealing member 46 is simultaneously moved along the frame 12 at the same speed as that of the conveyor belt 14 and the clamp chains 18,20 so that no relative movement takes place between the heat sealing member 46, the conveyor belt 14 and the bottles 16.
- the pressure exerted by the sealing heads 48 on the necks of the bottles 16 is about 300 kgf.
- This pressure is transferred through the annular compression ring 40 onto the clamp members 22,24 so that the pressure is borne by the ramps 42,44 as they support the clamps 22,24.
- no pressure is exerted on the weaker bodies of the bottles 16 or onto the conveyor belt 14 as well as preventing any stress being applied on the clamp chains 18,20.
- the sealing heads 48 are raised and the heat sealing member 46 is moved back along the conveyor belt 14 to its original starting point, from which a new sealing cycle commences. Thereafter the ramps 42,44 lower the bottles 16 onto the conveyor belt 14 onto the same position from which they were raised. The subsequent divergence of the guide channels 36,38 from each other separates the clamp members 22,24 from the bottles 16. The bottles 16 are then conveyed for further processing, while the clamp members 22,24 are returned along the conveyor belt 14 by the clamp chains 18,20.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Closing Of Containers (AREA)
- Package Closures (AREA)
Abstract
A sealing arrangement wherein a conveyor belt (14) transports a sequence of open plastic containers or bottles (16) through a frame supporting a heat sealing member (46) for attaching a flexible sealing film to close each of the containers. Complimentary clamp members (22, 24) on rotary clamp chains (18, 20) are associated with the sealing member for slightly lifting the containers off from the conveyor by their necks to prevent bottles from buckling while the sealing member applies pressure to the sealing film to ensure a proper bond. Complimentary ramps (42, 44) running alongside the conveyor belt operatively raise the clamp members away from the conveyor belt which supports them while the clamp members grip the containers (16). The arrangement has movement means for moving the sealing member (46) and each clamp member concurrently with the conveyor belt (14) while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container.
Description
SEALING ARRANGEMENT
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a sealing arrangement.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a sealing arrangement for packaging agricultural produce that is susceptible to spoilage and thus has a relatively limited shelf life.
BACKGROUND TO INVENTION
Fruit produce that is packaged in plastic containers and bottles must be sealed with a sealing film for hygienic purposes. Such film sealing requires a high pressure to ensure a proper bond between the sealing film and the plastic of the bottles to ensure that no leakage can occur. This pressure is about 300kgf.
Due to the high pressure and the inherent relative weakness of the plastic bodies of the bottles, it is necessary to support the bottles by their necks to prevent the bottles from buckling under the pressure thereby resulting in damage to the bottles and spillage their contents. Normally the supporting is done in a batch process whereby each of the bottles is clamped on its neck before the sealing pressure is applied.
A disadvantage of such a batch process is that it lengthens the production time and subsequently the production cost.
It is an object of the invention to suggest a sealing arrangement, which will assist in overcoming these problems.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
According to the invention, a sealing arrangement includes a frame; a conveyor belt passing through the frame and being adapted to transport a sequence of open containers; a sealing member supported by the frame and being adapted to attach a sealing film to close each of the containers; at least one clamp member associated with the sealing member, each clamp member being adapted to support a container on the frame while the sealing member applies the sealing
film to the container; and movement means being adapted to cause the sealing member and each clamp member to move concurrently with the conveyor belt while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container.
Each clamp member may be provided on a rotating annular chain.
Each clamp member may have a clamp plate leading to a concavely arc-shaped clamp head.
The clamp plate may be slidably supported by the chain and is reciprocally transversely slidable relative to the conveyor belt.
Each clamp member may be adapted to grip a container adjacent to an annular compression ring that is integrally moulded with the container.
Each clamp member may have an alignment wheel protruding therefrom and being rotatable relative thereto.
The sealing arrangement may include a guide member being adapted to cause sliding movement of each clamp member transversely relative to the conveyor belt.
The guide member may have guide channels for receiving the alignment wheels and being adapted to guide their movement.
Each guide channel may have an elongated section that extends substantially parallel to the conveyor belt and end portions that are curved away from the conveyor belt.
The sealing arrangement may include a ramp associated with the sealing member and the clamp members.
The ramp may be adapted to sequentially operatively lift, support and lower the clamp members to support the containers off the conveyor belt while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container.
The ramp may lift the containers 3 mm away from the conveyor belt.
The sealing member may have a five sealing heads.
The sealing member may be reciprocatingly movable along a longitudinal section of the conveyor belt.
The containers may be plastic bottles.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.
In the drawings there is shown in :
Figure 1 : A perspective view of a sealing arrangement according to the invention;
Figure 2: An end view seen along arrow II in Figure 1 ;
Figure 3: A side view seen along arrow III in Figure 2; and
Figure 4: A top plan view seen along arrow IV in Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
Referring to the drawings, a sealing arrangement in accordance with the invention, generally indicated by reference numeral 10, is shown. The sealing arrangement 10 includes a frame 12 supporting a conveyor belt 14 for transporting a number of containers or bottles 16.
Rotary clamp chains 18,20 are provided on opposite sides of the conveyor belt 14 and respectively slidably support a number of complimentary clamp members 22,24. The clamp chains 18,20 move at the same speed as the speed of the conveyor belt 14. As can be more clearly seen in Figure 4, the clamp members 22,24 are similarly shaped to each other and each have a clamp plate 26 leading to a concavely arc-shaped clamp head 28. For purposes of clarity some of the clamp members 22 have been omitted from the drawings. An alignment wheel 30 protrudes from the clamp plate 26 and is rotatable relative thereto.
Guide members 32,34 are provided adjacent to the conveyor belt 14. The guide members 32,34 respectively have curved guide channels 36,38 each having an elongated section that extends substantially parallel to the conveyor belt 14 and further having end portions that are curved away from the conveyor belt 14. The guide channels 36,38 are adapted to receive the alignment wheels 30. As the alignment wheels 30 enter the guide channels 36,38, the curvature of the guide channels 36,38 causes each set of the complimentary clamp members 22,24 to be moved towards each other so as to grip a bottle 16 by enclosing its neck between the clamp heads 28. The bottles 16 are gripped beneath an annular compression ring 40 that is integrally moulded with the neck of the bottles 16 (i.e. on the side of the compression ring 40 opposite to the mouth of the bottle 16).
Each guide member 32,34 has a neighbouring complimentary ramp 42,44 running alongside the conveyor belt 14. The ramps 42,44 are adapted to operatively raise the clamp plates 26 away from the conveyor belt 14 by about 3 mm and to support them while the clamp heads 28 grip the bottles 16. This causes the bottles 16 to be slightly lifted off from the conveyor belt 14. The movement of the rotary chains 18,20 cause the clamp plates 26 to slide along on the ramps 42,44.
A heat sealing member 46 with a number of sealing heads 48 is supported by the frame 12 to allow reciprocating movement of the heat sealing member 46 longitudinally along a length section of the conveyor belt 14. In the drawings the sealing member 46 has five sealing heads 48. A flexible sealing film (not shown) is fed from roll-stock in longitudinal alignment with the conveyor belt 14 so that it extends between the sealing heads 48 and the bottles 16. While the bottles 16 are lifted off from the conveyor belt 14 (by the clamp members 22,24 sliding on the ramps 42,44) the sealing heads 48 press down onto the bottles 16 to heat seal the sealing film over the bottle mouths.
During the sealing process the heat sealing member 46 is simultaneously moved along the frame 12 at the same speed as that of the conveyor belt 14 and the clamp chains 18,20 so that no relative movement takes place between the heat sealing member 46, the conveyor belt 14 and the bottles 16.
The pressure exerted by the sealing heads 48 on the necks of the bottles 16 is about 300 kgf. This pressure is transferred through the annular compression ring 40 onto the clamp members 22,24 so that the pressure is borne by the ramps 42,44 as they support the clamps 22,24. Thus no pressure is exerted on the weaker bodies of the bottles 16 or onto the conveyor belt 14 as well as preventing any stress being applied on the clamp chains 18,20.
Once the sealing film has been properly attached to the bottles 16, the sealing heads 48 are raised and the heat sealing member 46 is moved back along the conveyor belt 14 to its original starting point, from which a new sealing cycle commences. Thereafter the ramps 42,44 lower the bottles 16 onto the conveyor belt 14 onto the same position from which they were raised. The subsequent divergence of the guide channels 36,38 from each other separates the clamp members 22,24 from the bottles 16. The bottles 16 are then conveyed for further processing, while the clamp members 22,24 are returned along the conveyor belt 14 by the clamp chains 18,20.
Claims
1. A sealing arrangement including a frame; a conveyor belt passing through the frame and being adapted to transport a sequence of open containers; a sealing member supported by the frame and being adapted to attach a sealing film to close each of the containers; at least one clamp member associated with the sealing member, each clamp member being adapted to support a container on the frame while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container; and movement means being adapted to cause the sealing member and each clamp member to move concurrently with the conveyor belt while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container.
2. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, in which each clamp member is provided on a rotating annular chain.
3. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which each clamp member has a clamp plate leading to a concavely arc-shaped clamp head.
4. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 3, in which the clamp plate is slidably supported by the chain and is reciprocally transversely slidable relative to the conveyor belt.
5. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each clamp member is adapted to grip a container adjacent to an annular compression ring that is integrally moulded with the container.
6. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each clamp member has an alignment wheel protruding therefrom and being rotatable relative thereto.
7. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a guide member being adapted to cause sliding movement of each clamp member transversely relative to the conveyor belt.
8. A sealing arrangement as claimed claim 7, in which the guide member has guide channels for receiving the alignment wheels and being adapted to guide their movement.
9. A sealing arrangement as claimed claim 8, in which each guide channel has an elongated section that extends substantially parallel to the conveyor belt and end portions that are curved away from the conveyor belt.
10. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a ramp associated with the sealing member and the clamp members.
11. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 10, in which the ramp is adapted to sequentially operatively lift, support and lower the clamp members to support the containers off the conveyor belt while the sealing member applies the sealing film to the container.
12. A sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 11, in which the ramp lifts the containers 3 mm away from the conveyor belt.
13. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing member has a five sealing heads.
14. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the sealing member is reciprocatingly movable along a longitudinal section of the conveyor belt.
15. A sealing arrangement as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the containers are plastic bottles.
16. A sealing arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| ZA2007/07667 | 2007-08-31 | ||
| ZA200707667 | 2007-08-31 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2009027947A2 true WO2009027947A2 (en) | 2009-03-05 |
| WO2009027947A3 WO2009027947A3 (en) | 2009-06-04 |
Family
ID=40387964
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2008/053497 WO2009027947A2 (en) | 2007-08-31 | 2008-08-29 | Film sealing a moving plastic bottle supported by clamp members |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2009027947A2 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102009754A (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2011-04-13 | 吴章荣 | Capping device for drink outlet of high-capacity rectangular or square package box |
| CN105060227A (en) * | 2015-07-24 | 2015-11-18 | 镇江市顶智微电子科技有限公司 | Rinsing, screening, conveying, filling, sealing and rotary covering method of medical, chemical and biological reagent bottles |
| CN108438819A (en) * | 2018-04-19 | 2018-08-24 | 海盐明盛塑业有限公司 | A kind of plastic bottle positioning conveying closing device |
| CN111086965A (en) * | 2019-12-30 | 2020-05-01 | 重庆西进塑料制品有限公司 | Plastic bottle tectorial membrane device that prevents dust |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3454142A (en) * | 1967-02-27 | 1969-07-08 | John H Holstein | Positive straight line article conveying mechanism |
| US3527020A (en) * | 1968-06-21 | 1970-09-08 | Portion Containers Inc | Apparatus for filling and sealing cups |
| GB1247499A (en) * | 1970-01-13 | 1971-09-22 | Kureha Chemical Ind Co Ltd | Apparatus for filling and sealing synthetic resin containers |
| GB1480970A (en) * | 1975-05-14 | 1977-07-27 | Cawrse R | Apparatus and method for applying lids to containers |
| US4095390A (en) * | 1976-04-01 | 1978-06-20 | Mckenna Equipment Company, Inc. | Machine and process for capping and sealing containers |
-
2008
- 2008-08-29 WO PCT/IB2008/053497 patent/WO2009027947A2/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US3454142A (en) * | 1967-02-27 | 1969-07-08 | John H Holstein | Positive straight line article conveying mechanism |
| US3527020A (en) * | 1968-06-21 | 1970-09-08 | Portion Containers Inc | Apparatus for filling and sealing cups |
| GB1247499A (en) * | 1970-01-13 | 1971-09-22 | Kureha Chemical Ind Co Ltd | Apparatus for filling and sealing synthetic resin containers |
| GB1480970A (en) * | 1975-05-14 | 1977-07-27 | Cawrse R | Apparatus and method for applying lids to containers |
| US4095390A (en) * | 1976-04-01 | 1978-06-20 | Mckenna Equipment Company, Inc. | Machine and process for capping and sealing containers |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN102009754A (en) * | 2010-11-04 | 2011-04-13 | 吴章荣 | Capping device for drink outlet of high-capacity rectangular or square package box |
| CN105060227A (en) * | 2015-07-24 | 2015-11-18 | 镇江市顶智微电子科技有限公司 | Rinsing, screening, conveying, filling, sealing and rotary covering method of medical, chemical and biological reagent bottles |
| CN108438819A (en) * | 2018-04-19 | 2018-08-24 | 海盐明盛塑业有限公司 | A kind of plastic bottle positioning conveying closing device |
| CN108438819B (en) * | 2018-04-19 | 2024-03-26 | 海盐明盛塑业有限公司 | Plastic bottle positioning, conveying and sealing device |
| CN111086965A (en) * | 2019-12-30 | 2020-05-01 | 重庆西进塑料制品有限公司 | Plastic bottle tectorial membrane device that prevents dust |
| CN111086965B (en) * | 2019-12-30 | 2021-06-18 | 重庆西进塑料制品有限公司 | Plastic bottle tectorial membrane device that prevents dust |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| WO2009027947A3 (en) | 2009-06-04 |
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