JP2005324168A - Heat shrinkable film removal apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a heat shrinkable film removal apparatus capable of improving reliability in cutting a heat shrinkable film by hot air and having high productivity, safety, and usefulness when the conveying speed of a container is relatively high. <P>SOLUTION: In the heat shrinkable film removal apparatus, the heat shrinkable film 2 tightly covering the outer periphery of the container 1 reused after the usage is fusion-cut by hot air. The apparatus forms a conveyor 3 conveying the container 1, an air supplying means 4 for supplying air to a heating means 5, and two-row parallel slits 7, 7 serving as jetting ports for jetting hot air in the horizontal direction B roughly orthogonal in the conveying direction of the container 1 toward the heat shrinkable film 2, and is equipped with a nozzle 8 connected to a discharge port 6 for air heated by the heating means 5. The nozzle 8 is disposed turning around the shaft in the horizontal direction at predetermined angles, and the slits 7, 7 are tilted at predetermined angles from the vertical direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing a heat-shrinkable film that is tightly coated on a container that is reused after being used.

  For a container such as a beer bottle or a raw barrel (hereinafter referred to as “returnable container”) that is reused after being used, heat shrink made of polypropylene or the like, which is a label for displaying a product name, etc. on the outer periphery. There is one in which the adhesive film is tightly coated in a band-seal shape. When such a returnable container is reused, it is necessary to remove the heat-shrinkable film before washing the returnable container.

  As a method for removing the heat-shrinkable film, cutting with thermal energy of a laser beam (hereinafter referred to as “laser cutting”) or cutting with a cutter such as a cutter performed manually (hereinafter referred to as “cutter cutting”) or the like. Has been done. However, in laser cutting, there is a problem that the apparatus becomes large and positioning is necessary, so that the cost is increased, and the line needs to be stopped at the time of cutting, so that productivity is lowered. In addition, there is a problem from the viewpoint of productivity and safety, such as the case where the surface of the returnable container may be damaged and the operator may be injured by fingers in cutting the cutter. .

  In order to solve such problems, a method of blowing and removing the heat shrinkable film by blowing hot air (hereinafter referred to as “hot air cutting”) is also known. For example, it moves in a line at a predetermined interval. A hot air blower provided with a nozzle having a slit-like hot air outlet at the tip from the side surface of the cylindrical bottle, the hot air outlet covers the entire height of the heat-shrinkable film attached to the bottle, and the bottle The hot-shrinkable film is blown by blowing hot air concentrated in a line from the hot air outlet onto the body of each bottle passing through the front surface of the nozzle. In addition, the blown-out heat-shrinkable film is blown off by hot air pressure to remove it from the bottle (for example, see Patent Document 1), and the heat-shrinkable film set in the bottle has a narrow width groove. The A hot air is blown from the outside of the bottle toward the axial direction of the bottle by a nozzle that cuts the heat-shrinkable film of the sprayed portion, and further, heat is applied by a heat medium to cause the film to shrink and peel from the bottle (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP-A-10-263495 (FIGS. 1-3) Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-33993 (Fig. 1-4)

  In the conventional hot air cutting as described above, when the return speed of the returnable container by a conveyor is about 5 m / min, the heat-shrinkable film can be cut with high reliability. However, when the conveyance speed is relatively high, for example, about 20 to 30 m / min, the heat-shrinkable film often cannot be removed, and the reliability of the cutting is lowered. There is a problem that can not be built. In addition, when the transport speed is relatively high, in order to improve the reliability of the cutting, there is a problem that the hot air must be very high temperature (for example, about 600 to 800 ° C.). Furthermore, in the conventional hot air cutting, high temperature hot air is constantly ejected from the nozzle, and it is necessary to continuously supply power to the heater, the compressor, etc. There is also a safety problem in that the worker is easily burned.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and with a simple configuration, the return speed of the returnable container is relatively low while suppressing the temperature of the hot air without constantly blowing the hot air. An object of the present invention is to obtain a practical heat-shrinkable film removing device that can improve the reliability of hot-air cutting of the heat-shrinkable film even at high speed, and has high productivity and safety.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to the present invention is a heat-shrinkable film that melts a heat-shrinkable film that is tightly coated on the outer periphery of a container that is reused after use with hot air. A removal device, a conveyor for transporting the used containers, an air supply means for supplying air to the heating means, and a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the containers toward the heat-shrinkable film A slit that is a jet outlet for ejecting hot air is formed, and a nozzle connected to a discharge port for air heated by the heating means is provided, and the nozzle is rotated by a predetermined angle around the horizontal axis. The slit is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical direction.

  Here, the predetermined inclination angle of the slit is preferably 40 to 50 °.

  Further, it is preferable that a plurality of the slits are arranged side by side.

  Furthermore, it is preferable that the slits are provided in two rows in parallel.

  Furthermore, a sensor for detecting the container is provided at a predetermined position on the upstream side of the nozzle in the transport direction, and when the sensor detects the container, the heating means and the air supply means are activated, and the sensor Preferably, the heating means and the air supply means are deactivated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the container was detected.

  In addition, a sensor for detecting the container is provided at predetermined positions on the upstream side and downstream side of the nozzle in the transport direction, and the heating unit and the air supply unit are operated when the upstream sensor detects the container. It is preferable that the heating means and the air supply means become inactive when the downstream sensor detects the container.

  According to the heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to the present invention, the heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus that melts the heat-shrinkable film that is tightly coated on the outer periphery of the container that is reused after use with hot air. A conveyor for transporting the used containers, an air supply means for supplying air to the heating means, and hot air in a horizontal direction substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the containers toward the heat-shrinkable film. A slit is formed as a jet port for jetting, and a nozzle connected to a discharge port of the air heated by the heating means, and the nozzle is arranged by rotating a predetermined angle around the horizontal axis, Since the slit is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical direction, even when the container is transported at a relatively high speed while suppressing the temperature of the hot air with a simple configuration, It is possible to improve the reliability of the hot air cleavage of serial heat shrinkable film, the productivity can be improved safety and practicality.

  Moreover, when the predetermined inclination angle of the slit is 40 to 50 °, the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film by hot air cutting can be increased.

  Furthermore, when a plurality of the slits are arranged in parallel, the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film by hot air cutting can be further increased.

  Furthermore, if the slits are provided in two rows in parallel, the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film by hot air cutting can be further increased with a simpler configuration.

  In addition, a sensor that detects the container is provided at a predetermined position upstream of the nozzle in the transport direction, and when the sensor detects the container, the heating unit and the air supply unit are activated, and the sensor When the heating means and the air supply means are deactivated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the detection of the container, the hot air is not constantly blown out, so that running costs are reduced, energy is saved, and safety is improved. Can do.

  Further, a sensor for detecting the container is provided at a predetermined position upstream and downstream of the nozzle in the transport direction, and the heating unit and the air supply unit are operated when the upstream sensor detects the container. If the heating means and the air supply means are deactivated when the downstream sensor detects the container, the hot air is not constantly blown out, so that the running cost is reduced, energy saving and safety are achieved. Can be improved.

  Next, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and is an embodiment that satisfies the structural requirements described in the claims. It includes everything.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Moreover, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of the configuration of the heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 (a) is a plan view and FIG. 2 (b) is a front view. In the figure, a heat-shrinkable film 2 made of polypropylene or the like, which is a label for displaying a product name or the like, is adhered to the outer periphery of a used empty container 1 as an example of a returnable container. It is covered. The empty container 1 is conveyed by a conveyor 3 (refer to the arrow A in the drawing for the conveying direction), and the thermal contraction of the empty container 1 from the slits 7 and 7 of the nozzle 8 provided in the middle of the conveying path. The heat-shrinkable film 2 is melted by blowing hot air toward the heat-sensitive film 2 in a horizontal direction (see arrow B in the drawing) that is substantially orthogonal to the transport direction. Further, the melted heat-shrinkable film 2 is collected by the dust collection duct 13 (see arrow C in the figure). The dust collection duct 13 is connected to a dust collector (not shown).

  The guide bars 9 and 9 guide the side surfaces of the empty container 1, and the guide bars 9 and 9 make the distance at which the nozzle 8 and the heat shrink film 2 that is tightly coated on the container 1 come closest to each other are substantially constant. Can do. For example, the closest distance between the nozzle 8 and the heat shrink film 2 is set to about 3 to 5 mm. The relative position between the nozzle 8 for blowing hot air from the guide bars 9 and 9 and the heat-shrinkable film 2 blown by the hot air is fixed (the position at which the empty container 1 passes over the conveyor 3 provided with the nozzle 8). The stability and certainty of fusing of the heat-shrinkable film 2 can be improved.

  The conveyor 3 is driven by one of the rollers 3a, 3a at both ends by a motor (not shown), and is connected between the rollers 3a, 3a at both ends, and an endless belt 3b that circumscribes each roller 3a,. Then, the empty containers 1... That are the objects to be conveyed on the belt 3b are conveyed. Moreover, since the conveyor 3 can perform speed control using an encoder or the like attached to the motor, the conveyance speed can be arbitrarily set within a predetermined speed range. In the heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, the conveying speed of the conveyor 3 is set to about 20 to 30 m / min.

  The air supply means 4 is for compressing air into a high-pressure gas and utilizing the compressed energy, and for example, a compressor or a blower can be used. Then, the air that has become high-pressure gas by the air supply means 4 is supplied to the heating means 5. The heating means 5 has a built-in heating element such as a coil, and generates heat by passing a current through the heating element. The heating means 5 transmits the amount of heat generated to the air to heat the air. The air that has become the high-pressure gas by the means 4 is heated to become hot air and is discharged from the discharge port 6. The heating element incorporates a sensor such as a thermocouple, and the temperature of the hot air can be controlled by controlling the current supplied to the heating element by the temperature controller 10 using the output of the sensor. it can. Further, the temperature controller 10 makes it easy for the heating means 5 to be in an operating state (a state in which the energization to the heating element is turned on) and a non-operating state (a state in which the energization to the heating element is turned off). Can be switched.

  In FIG. 2, the first sensor 11 is, for example, a photoelectric proximity sensor or a displacement sensor, and is a predetermined position upstream of the nozzle 8 in the transport direction (for example, a position about 10 to 15 cm upstream from the nozzle 8). It is for detecting the empty container 1 which is arrange | positioned and is conveyed on the conveyor 3. FIG. When the first sensor 11 detects the empty container 1, the heating means 5 and the air supply means 4 are activated, and after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first sensor 11 detected the empty container 1, the heat-shrinkable film 2. After being removed, the heating means 5 and the air supply means 4 can be deactivated. Accordingly, energy saving can be achieved as compared with the case where the heating means 5 and the air supply means 4 are continuously operated, and hot air is not continuously ejected from the slits 7 and 7 of the nozzle 8. The safety at the time of work of a person can be improved. The second sensor 12 is a sensor similar to the first sensor or a gloss sensor, and is arranged at a predetermined position downstream of the nozzle 8 in the transport direction (for example, a position about 30 cm to 1 m downstream of the nozzle 8). The presence or absence of the heat-shrinkable film 2 is detected in order to check the removal mistake of the heat-shrinkable film 2 due to hot air cutting.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the nozzle connected to the discharge port of the heating means, FIG. 3 (a) is a perspective view, FIG. 3 (b) is a front view, and FIG. 3 (c) is an XX cross-sectional view. It is. In the figure, the nozzle 8 is connected to the discharge port 6 of the heating means 5 by a joint portion 8a. For example, a pipe taper screw (male thread) is formed on the outer periphery of the pipe forming the air outlet 6 heated by the heating means 5, and a pipe taper screw (female thread) is formed on the inner periphery of the joint portion 8a. Is formed. Therefore, the nozzle 8 is easily and reliably connected to the discharge port 6 of the heating means 5 by the engagement of these screws, and the pressure gas does not leak.

The nozzle 8 has a tapered shape so as to accelerate the air that has passed through the joint portion 8a, and two rows of parallel slits 7 and 7 are formed at the tip thereof. Therefore, the air heated by the heating means 5 to become hot air is ejected from the slits 7 and 7. For example, the temperature of the hot air ejected from the slits 7 and 7 is about 400 ° C., and the pressure is 2 to 3 atmospheres (about 2 × 10 ^{5 to} 3 × 10 ⁵ Pa). Note that the slits 7 and 7 are not necessarily linear, and may be, for example, curved or zigzag. The slits 7 are not limited to two rows, and three or more rows of slits may be provided in parallel.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an arrangement in which the slit 7 of the nozzle 8 is inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical direction. As described above, the nozzle 8 faces the heat-shrinkable film 2 in the horizontal direction (in FIGS. 1, 2) substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the container 1 (see arrow A in FIGS. 1, 2, and 4). In the present invention, the nozzle 8 is arranged by being rotated by a predetermined angle around the horizontal axis, and the slit 7 is provided. , 7 are inclined at a predetermined angle (see α in FIG. 4) from the vertical direction (for example, the state of FIG. 2B). The slits 7 and 7 are inclined such that the upper portions of the slits 7 and 7 are moved downstream in the transport direction and the lower portions are moved upstream as shown in FIGS. Alternatively, the slits 7 and 7 may be inclined so that the upper part of the slits 7 and 7 moves to the upstream side in the transport direction and the lower part moves to the downstream side.

  Such a configuration in which the slits 7 and 7 are inclined at a predetermined angle from the vertical direction is very effective for increasing the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film 2 by hot air cutting, as will be described later. Is preferably about 40 to 50 °. 4 is 40 mm, the length L of the slit 7 in FIG. 3 is about 50 to 60 mm, the width of the slit 7 is about 0.2 to 0.8 mm, and the slit 7 The pitch P of 7 and 7 may be about 15 to 25 mm.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the heat-shrinkable film removing operation, and shows the basic operation of the heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus having the above-described configuration. The empty containers 1 are sequentially conveyed by the conveyors 3 ... (S1), and when the empty containers 1 are detected by the first sensor 11 arranged at a predetermined position upstream of the nozzles 8 (S2), Based on the detection signal of the first sensor 11, the heating means 5 and the air supply means 4 are put into an operation state by control by a programmable controller, for example (S3). Therefore, hot air is ejected from the slits 7 and 7 of the nozzle 8 (the temperature of the hot air is about 400 to 500 ° C., the pressure of the hot air is about 2 to 3 atmospheres (about 2 × 10 ^{5 to} 3 × 10 ⁵ Pa)), The heat-shrinkable film 2 in the empty container 1 is melted and removed by the blowing of hot air (S4). The heat-shrinkable film 2 removed in this way is collected by the dust collection duct 13 (S5).

  After a predetermined time has elapsed since the first sensor 11 detected the empty container 1 (after the heat-shrinkable film 2 has been removed), the heating means 5 and the air supply means 4 are deactivated, for example, under the control of a programmable controller. (S6). Next, the presence or absence of the heat-shrinkable film 2 is detected in the empty container 1 by the second sensor 12 disposed at a predetermined position downstream of the nozzle 8 (S7), and the heat-shrinkable film 2 is removed by hot air cutting. Mistakes are checked. When the next empty container 1 is detected by the first sensor 11, the operations in steps S2 to S6 are repeated in the same manner as described above.

  In step S6 described above, the heating unit 5 and the air supply unit 4 are deactivated after a predetermined time has elapsed since the first sensor 11 detected the empty container 1. A sensor capable of detecting the empty container 1 may be provided at a predetermined position, and when the sensor detects the empty container 1, the heating means 5 and the air supply means 4 may be deactivated.

When the heat-shrinkable film 2 is removed by hot air cutting according to the configuration of the present invention, for example, the conveyance speed of the conveyor 3 is 25 m / min, and the width W of the heat-shrinkable film 2 (see FIG. 4). 40 mm, the slits of the nozzles 8 are parallel to each other, the length L of the slits 7, 7 (see FIG. 3) is 55 mm, the width of the slits 7, 7 is 0.5 mm, and the slits 7, 7 The pitch P (see FIG. 3) is 20 mm, the temperature of hot air ejected from the slits 7 and 7 is about 400 ° C., the pressure of the hot air is about 2 atmospheres (about 2 × 10 ⁵ Pa), and the nozzle 8 and the container 1 are in close contact with each other. In an experiment in which the closest distance to the coated heat-shrinkable film 2 was about 4 mm and the predetermined inclination angle α of the slits 7 and 7 was 45 °, the heat-shrinkable film 2 could be removed almost 100% (heat The removal efficiency of the shrinkable film 2 is approximately 1. 0%).

  In addition, the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film 2 was about 90% according to a comparison experiment in which the predetermined inclination angle α was 0 ° (the direction of the slits 7 and 7 was the vertical direction) and other specifications were the same. there were. Further, the heat by the comparison experiment in which the slits 7 of the nozzle 8 are manufactured in a single row, the predetermined inclination angle α is 0 ° (the direction of the slits 7 is the vertical direction), and other specifications are the same. The removal efficiency of the shrinkable film 2 was about 50%.

  In order to increase the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film 2 and enable the construction of an automated line, the predetermined inclination angle α is preferably in the range of 40 to 50 °, and the predetermined inclination angle α is 40 to 50 °. If it is out of the range, the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film 2 is lowered. This is because, when the predetermined inclination angle α is small, the nozzle 8 and the container 1 are connected to the empty container 1 that is transported at a relatively high speed (for example, the transport speed is about 25 m / min (about 417 mm / s)). The time for applying hot air at the closest distance to the heat-shrinkable film 2 that is closely coated is reduced, and if the predetermined tilt angle α is large, the heat-shrinkable film 2 has a band width. It is conceivable that hot air is not efficiently applied in the width direction of the belt.

  If the length L (see FIG. 3) of the slit 7 is too long, the wind pressure of the hot air is lowered and the amount of heat applied to the heat-shrinkable film 2 by heat transfer is lowered. Similarly, even if the number of slits 7 is increased too much, the wind pressure of the hot air is lowered and the amount of heat applied to the heat-shrinkable film 2 by heat transfer is lowered. Furthermore, when the slits 7 are arranged in one row, especially when the conveying speed of the conveyor is relatively high, the time for applying the hot air at the closest distance between the nozzle 8 and the heat-shrinkable film 2 that is in close contact with the container 1 is reduced. Therefore, the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film 2 is lowered as in the comparison experiment.

  Therefore, setting the predetermined inclination angle of the slit to 40 to 50 ° and arranging a plurality of the slits in parallel are very effective for increasing the removal efficiency of the heat-shrinkable film 2 by hot air cutting. is there. In particular, in consideration of a decrease in hot air pressure associated with an increase in the number of the slits 7 and simplification of the configuration of the nozzles 8, a configuration in which the slits 7 are provided in two rows in parallel is more preferable.

It is a perspective view of the removal apparatus of the heat-shrinkable film which concerns on embodiment of this invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a structure explanatory drawing of the removal apparatus of the heat-shrinkable film which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is a top view, (b) is a front view. It is composition explanatory drawing of a nozzle, (a) is a perspective view, (b) is a front view, (c) is XX sectional drawing. It is explanatory drawing of the arrangement | positioning which makes the slit of a nozzle incline a predetermined angle from a perpendicular direction. It is a flowchart which shows the removal operation | movement of a heat-shrinkable film.

Explanation of symbols

1 Empty container (returnable container)
2 Heat-shrinkable film 3 Conveyor 4 Air supply means 5 Heating means 6 Air outlet 7 heated by the heating means 7 Slit 8 Nozzle 9 Guide bar 10 Temperature controller 11 First sensor 12 Second sensor 13 Dust collection duct

Claims (6)

A heat-shrinkable film removing device that melts a heat-shrinkable film that is tightly coated on the outer periphery of a container that is reused after use with hot air,
A conveyor for transporting the used containers;
An air supply means for supplying air to the heating means;
A slit is formed as a spout for ejecting hot air in a horizontal direction substantially orthogonal to the transport direction of the container toward the heat-shrinkable film, and is connected to a discharge port for air heated by the heating means. A nozzle,
An apparatus for removing a heat-shrinkable film, wherein the nozzle is disposed by rotating a predetermined angle around the horizontal axis, and the slit is inclined by a predetermined angle from the vertical direction.   The heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined inclination angle of the slit is 40 to 50 °.   The heat shrinkable film removing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the slits are arranged side by side.   The heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the slits are provided in two rows in parallel.   A sensor for detecting the container is provided at a predetermined position on the upstream side of the nozzle in the transport direction, and when the sensor detects the container, the heating means and the air supply means are activated, and the sensor The heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heating unit and the air supply unit are brought into a non-operating state after a lapse of a predetermined time from the detection of the above. Sensors for detecting the container are provided at predetermined positions on the upstream side and the downstream side of the nozzle in the transport direction, and the heating unit and the air supply unit are activated when the upstream sensor detects the container. The heat-shrinkable film removing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the downstream sensor detects the container, the heating means and the air supply means are deactivated.

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