EP0559290B1 - Apparatus for sealing containers - Google Patents

Apparatus for sealing containers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0559290B1
EP0559290B1 EP19930200632 EP93200632A EP0559290B1 EP 0559290 B1 EP0559290 B1 EP 0559290B1 EP 19930200632 EP19930200632 EP 19930200632 EP 93200632 A EP93200632 A EP 93200632A EP 0559290 B1 EP0559290 B1 EP 0559290B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sealing
pushing
container
closure material
head
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP19930200632
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0559290A1 (en
Inventor
Michio Shikoku Kakoki Co. Ltd. Ueda
Tetsuya Shikoku Kakoki Co. Ltd. Iuchi
Masao Shikoku Kakoki Co. Ltd. Nobuta
Tadashi Shikoku Kakoki Co. Ltd. Mifune
Seiji Shikoku Kakoki Co. Ltd. Hashimoto
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.)
Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd
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 Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd filed Critical Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd
Publication of EP0559290A1 publication Critical patent/EP0559290A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0559290B1 publication Critical patent/EP0559290B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime 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
    • B65B7/28—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 separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
    • B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers
    • B65B7/2878—Securing closures on containers by heat-sealing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for heat-sealing the openings of cuplike containers with a strip of closure material, for example, with a dessert accommodated in the containers, and more particularly to a sealing apparatus for heat-sealing such containers with the effect of sealing prevented from being impaired by the expansion of air within the container.
  • JP-A No. 54-126193 such an apparatus which comprises a sealing head upwardly and downwardly movable for pressing a closure material against the opening edge portion of a container, a pushing-in member for pushing down the closure material over an area thereof inward from the portion to be affixed to a downwardly bulging curved form to force out air from inside the container before sealing, and a hydraulic cylinder mounted as directed downward on the sealing head and having the pushing-in member attached to its piston rod.
  • the closure material pushing-in member must be moved up and down by the cylinder every sealing cycle.
  • the cylinder is composed of relatively expensive parts, requires an operation controller and therefore makes the overall apparatus higher in equipment cost.
  • the main object of the present invention is to provide a container sealing apparatus which is reduced in equipment cost.
  • the present invention provides an apparatus for sealing containers which comprises a sealing head movable upward and downward for pressing a closure material against an opening edge portion of the container as defined in claim 1.
  • the closure material pushing-in member is attached to the sealing head by screwing the externally threaded portion into the threaded bore, and the level of the pushing-in member is variable by rotating the member.
  • Closure-material pushing-in members of different heights may selectively become attached to the sealing head by a bolt.
  • the present apparatus are reduced in equipment cost since they do not require an expensive hydraulic cylinder.
  • the level of the closure material pushing-in member is altered by rotating the member and additionally by replacement, so that the amount of air to be forced out from the container is adjustable optimally by altering the level of the pushing-in member in accordance with the size of containers.
  • front refers to the direction in which containers are transported (the right-hand side of FIG. 1), the term “rear” to a direction opposite to this direction, and the terms “right” and “left” are used as the apparatus is seen toward the rear.
  • the direction toward the front or the forward direction is indicated by an arrow.
  • containers C are prepared from a heat-sealable plastics in the form of a cup and each have a flange F at the opening edge portion thereof.
  • a closure material L is made of a heat-sealable plastics film and is supplied to a sealing apparatus in the form of a roll.
  • the closures to be blanked out from the closure material L each have a tab K projecting from a portion of a circular outer periphery along the outer periphery of the flange F.
  • the container sealing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 comprises a conveyor 11 for transporting containers C via a feed station S1, then a sealing station S2 and thereafter a discharge station S3, a transport device 12 for paying off the closure material L from the roll and transporting the material via the sealing station S2, a sealing device 13 disposed at the sealing station S2 and a trimming device 14 disposed at the sealing station S2 in combination with the sealing device 13.
  • the conveyor 11 comprises a pair of front drive sprocket 21 and rear driven sprocket 22 arranged at each of right and left sides, an endless chain 23 reeved around the pair of sprockets 21, 22, and trays 24 mounted on and provided between the chains 23.
  • the chain 23 has claws 25 arranged at a predetermined spacing.
  • the tray 24 is pushed forward by claws 25 in engagement therewith.
  • the tray 23 is formed with six rows of container retaining holes 26 arranged in the right-to-left direction and each including four holes 26 as arranged longitudinally of the conveyor 11.
  • the transport device 12 comprises a rewinder 31 disposed to the rear of the sealing station S2, a winder 32 disposed in front of the sealing station S2, and a group of rolls 33 for paying off the closure material L from the rewinder 31, passing the paid-off closure material L through the sealing station S2 at, a position above the path of transport of containers and thereafter guiding the material L to the winder 32.
  • the roll group 33 includes a rear dancer role 34 and a feed roll 35 which are arranged at intermediate portions of the path of transport of the material L from the rewinder 31 to the sealing station S2, and a front dancer roll 36 disposed at an intermediate portion of the path of transport of the material L from the station S2 to the winder 32.
  • the roll group 33 includes guide rolls arranged at suitable portions of the path of transport of the closure material.
  • the feed roll 35 is driven by unillustrated drive means so as to vary the amount of feed of the material L.
  • a horizontal support plate 41 having container inserting apertures is fixedly provided between the path of transport of containers and the path of transport of the closure material at the sealing station S2.
  • Right and left posts 42 are provided upright at opposite ends of the support plate 41, and a movable top plate 43 extends over and is supported by the upper ends of the posts 42.
  • the left end of the top plate 43 rests on the left post 42, while the right end of the plate 43 is connected to the right post 42 by a horizontal pin 44.
  • a top plate opening cylinder 45 is attached to the right end of the support plate 41 and has a rod connected to the right end of the top plate 43.
  • a container lifter 46 is provided under the support plate 41, while a container holder 47 is disposed on the upper side of the support plate 41.
  • Mounted on the upper surface of the top plate 43 are three head lifting cylinders 48 each having a rod projecting downward through the top plate 43.
  • Three sealing heads 49 are attached to the respective rod projecting ends.
  • a rod guide sleeve 51 extends through the top plate 43 and has a vertical head guide rod 52 removably inserted therethrough.
  • the container lifter 46 comprises a horizontal lift bar 53 extending transversely of the path of transport of containers under the support plate 41, overstroke cylinders 54 provided between the support plate 41 and the lift bar 53 at their right and left ends, six container lifting cylinders 55 attached as directed upward to the underside of the lift bar 53 in corresponding relation to the respective rows of containers to be transported and each having a rod projecting upward through the lift bar 53, and suction members 56 attached to the projecting rod ends of the respective cylinders 55.
  • the container holder 47 comprises a pair of right and left guide rods 57 mounted on the upper side of the support plate 41 close to their respective ends and extending longitudinally of the path of transport, and a pair of front and rear divided holder plates 58 movable toward or away from each other and slidably supported by these guide rods 57.
  • a pair of front and rear driven arms 61, 62 is connected to each of opposite ends of the holder plate pair 58.
  • the front driven arm 61 is fixed to a front rotatable shaft 63
  • the rear driven arm 62 to a rear rotatable shaft 64.
  • a front drive arm 65 is secured to the right end of the front shaft 63 and has the rod of a holder opening cylinder 63 connected thereto.
  • a rear drive arm 67 is secured to the right end of the rear shaft 64 and has the rod of a holder opening cylinder 68 connected thereto.
  • the cylinders 66 and 68 are oriented forward and rearward, respectively.
  • the opposed sides of the two holder plates 58 are formed with six pairs of semicircular cutouts 71 corresponding to the respective rows of containers to be transported, the cutouts of each pair being opposed to each other.
  • the cutouts 71 of each pair form a circular container retaining aperture when combined together.
  • the upper edge of each holder plate 58 defining the cutout 71 provides a container flange support 72, and a cutter clearance groove 73 is formed in the plate upper surface around the support 72 externally thereof.
  • the flange support 72 is in the form of a circular ring having a flat upper surface.
  • the cutter clearance groove 73 is then defined by a circular inner side face extending along the outer periphery of the flange support 72 and by an outer side face partly bulging in conformity with the shape of the closure described.
  • each sealing head 49 comprises an upper lift plate 81 removably connected to the rod of the head lifting cylinder 48 by a coupling and having two head guide rods 52 slidably extending therethrough, a lower lift plate 84 positioned at a predetermined distance downward from the upper lift plate 81, suspended therefrom by connecting rods 82 extending from peripheral portions of the plate 81 and having two heater inserting holes 83 as arranged side by side, two press plates 85 arranged side by side at an intermediate level between the two lift plates 81, 84 and elastically suspended from the upper lift plate 81, two tubular heaters 86 suspended from the respective press plates 85 and each having a small-diameter portion inserted through the hole 83, two closure material pushing-in members 87 each in the form of a vertical rod and suspended from the press plate 85 so as to be accommodated in the heater 86, two tubular cutters 88 each attached as projected downward to the edge portion of the lower lift plate 84 defining the heater inserting hole 83
  • Upper guide rods 92 are provided upright on outer peripheral portions of each press plate 85. Each upper guide rod 92 slidably extends through the upper lift plate 81 to project upward beyond the plate 81 and has an upper stopper 93 at the projecting end. An upper compression spring 95 is provided around the guide rod 92 between the upper lift plate 81 and the press plate 85.
  • the press plate 85 is centrally formed with a threaded bore 96, and a downwardly extending guide sleeve 97 is integral with the bored portion.
  • the heater 86 comprises a replaceable heat ring 101, and a heater body 102 having the ring 101 removably attached to its lower end and an unillustrated electric heating wire embedded therein.
  • the closure material pushing-in member 87 has a small-diameter screw portion 103 screwed in the threaded bore 96, a solid cylinder portion 104 having a medium diameter and slidably fitted into the guide sleeve 97, and a large-diameter press portion 105, these portions 103 to 105 being arranged from above downward.
  • the screw portion 103 projects upward beyond the press plate 85 and carries a knob 106 secured to the projecting end and a level adjusting nut 107 screwed thereon below the knob 106.
  • the press portion 105 has a convex bottom face.
  • Lower guide rods 108 are provided upright on outer peripheral portions of the closure material holder 91. Each lower guide rod 108 slidably extends through the lower lift plate 84 to project upward beyond the plate 84 and has a lower stopper 109 at its projecting end. A lower compression spring 110 fitted around the rod 108 is interposed between the lower lift plate 84 and the closure material holder 91. An elastic material 111 is affixed to the lower surface of the holder 91 around each cutter inserting hole 89.
  • the heat ring 101 has an annular lower surface having a larger width than the flange support 72, while the cutting edge of the cutter 88 at its lower end has a circular form partly deformed in conformity with the shape of the outer side face defining the cutter clearance groove 73.
  • the lower surface of the heat ring 88 is at the same level as that of the elastic material 111, but the cutting edge of the cutter 88 is at a level about 1 to about 2 mm higher than this level.
  • the closure material L is driven by one pitch by the operation of the feed roll 35, whereby the portions of the material L to be blanked out are brought to the sealing station S2.
  • the head lifting cylinders 48 are operated to lower the sealing heads 49.
  • the closure material pushing-in member 87 first holds the center of the portion of the closure material L to be applied to recess this portion to a downwardly bulging curved form, whereby air is forced out from inside the container C to diminish the head space (unfilled space) within the container.
  • each heat ring 101 presses the closure material L and the container flange F against the flange support 72, and the closure material holder 91 immediately thereafter holds the material L over an outside area around the portion thereof to be blanked out, whereby the closure material L is affixed to the flange F by heat sealing.
  • Compression of the upper and lower springs 95, 110 permits the sealing head 49 to further lower to blank out a closure from the material L with each cutter 88. After blanking, the edge of the cutter 88 is inserted into the clearance groove 73 to avoid the interference of the holder plates 58 with the cutter 88. After the closure material L has been punched, the sealing head 49 is reversely moved to rise.
  • the closure blanked out remains on the container C, while the remaining portion of the punched closure material L leaves the container C. Accordingly, the closure material L is freely transported independently of the transport of containers C when to be transported in the next cycle.
  • the top plate opening cylinder 45 in the state shown in FIG. 3 is operated to retract its rod, the top plate 43 is raised to the broken-line position shown in FIG. 3.
  • the sealing heads 49 can be replaced by other sealing heads when the guide rods 52 are removed from the guide sleeves 51 of the stop plate 43 in this position to disconnect the sealing heads 49 from the rods 52.
  • the closure material L affixed to the container will inflate upward. If the head space is large, the amount of expansion will be great, possibly causing the closure portion to separate off. Accordingly, the head space is diminished before heat sealing to obivate the likelihood of the closure portion separating off.
  • the diminution of the head space is dependent on the amount of projection of the lower end of the closure material pushing-in member 87 from the lower surface of the heat ring 101. Usually, the amount is about 1 to about 2 mm.
  • the amount of projection of the pushing-in member 87 is variable by altering the level of the member 87. The level is altered by loosening the nut 107, rotating the pushing-in member 87 clockwise or counterclockwise and thereafter tightening up the nut 107.
  • FIG. 11 shows an additional modification of the closure material pushing-in member.
  • a suspending rod 121 extends downward from the lower surface of the press plate 85 integrally therewith, and a closure material pushing-in member 122 in the form of a disk is removably fastened to the lower end of the rod 121 by a bolt 123.
  • An upward threaded bore 121a is formed in the lower end face of the suspending rod 121, while the pushing-in member 122 is formed with a stepped bolt hole 122a for concealing the head of the bolt 123.
  • pushing-in member 122 In addition to the pushing-in member 122, other different closure material pushing-in members 124, 125 are prepared which have different heights t1 and t2, respectively, as shown in FIG. 12. One of these members is selectively used in accordance with the desired level.
  • the pushing-in members 124, 125 are also formed with bolt holes 124a, 125a.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
EP19930200632 1992-03-06 1993-03-05 Apparatus for sealing containers Expired - Lifetime EP0559290B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1992011441U JP2578668Y2 (ja) 1992-03-06 1992-03-06 容器の密封装置
JP11441/92U 1992-03-06

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0559290A1 EP0559290A1 (en) 1993-09-08
EP0559290B1 true EP0559290B1 (en) 1997-01-22

Family

ID=11778186

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19930200632 Expired - Lifetime EP0559290B1 (en) 1992-03-06 1993-03-05 Apparatus for sealing containers

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0559290B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2578668Y2 (ja)
DE (1) DE69307558T2 (ja)
DK (1) DK0559290T3 (ja)

Families Citing this family (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP3644992B2 (ja) * 1994-12-05 2005-05-11 日本テトラパック株式会社 包装容器の充填方法
JPH09169303A (ja) * 1995-12-21 1997-06-30 Shikoku Kakoki Co Ltd 容器のシール装置
JP3658660B2 (ja) * 1995-12-21 2005-06-08 四国化工機株式会社 容器のシール装置
PL196554B1 (pl) * 2000-05-23 2008-01-31 Zbigniew Przybysz Sposób szczelnego zamykania pojemników i urządzenie do szczelnego zamykania pojemników
WO2012005678A1 (en) * 2010-07-07 2012-01-12 Innovative Design Of Scandinavia Ab Sealing machine
RU2565719C2 (ru) * 2011-07-11 2015-10-20 О Энд Р Картон Лунд Аб Устройство и способ запечатывания контейнера на основе картона
JP5866854B2 (ja) * 2011-08-11 2016-02-24 澁谷工業株式会社 カップ状容器の密封シール装置
GB201901204D0 (en) * 2019-01-29 2019-03-20 British American Tobacco Investments Ltd Method and apparatus for manufacturing a consumable unit for an inhalation device, and a consumable unit for an inhalation device
CN110395422B (zh) * 2019-08-09 2020-06-19 盐城保荣机械有限公司 一种涂料包装的封口装置
CN114715456B (zh) * 2022-03-31 2024-04-19 山东莯霂生物科技有限公司 一种用于食品加工防泄漏的食品封装设备及方法
CN115489786B (zh) * 2022-09-02 2023-07-21 宿松县天天香食品有限公司 一种咸鸭蛋真空包装设备

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2404197A1 (de) * 1974-01-29 1975-07-31 Friedrich Albrecht Verfahren zur befestigung von praeparierten deckeln auf behaeltern und vorrichtung zur ausuebung des verfahrens
JPS5513963A (en) * 1978-07-17 1980-01-31 Nec Corp Photo semiconductor device
GB2130564B (en) * 1982-09-23 1986-02-19 Ti Fords Ltd Apparatus for heat sealing and crimping a skirted cap on a container
US4989393A (en) * 1989-12-22 1991-02-05 Rutherford Engineering, Inc. Machine for sealing cups with film

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DK0559290T3 (da) 1997-03-10
DE69307558T2 (de) 1997-05-28
EP0559290A1 (en) 1993-09-08
JP2578668Y2 (ja) 1998-08-13
JPH0572703U (ja) 1993-10-05
DE69307558D1 (de) 1997-03-06

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