JP2007285948A - Device for inspecting packaging material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily determine whether a most inner layer might be damaged, thus reducing costs of a packaging container. <P>SOLUTION: The device consists of a most outer layer 45, a paper base material 46, and a packaging material 41 comprising an electrically conductive barrier layer 48 and the most inner layer 49 and has a first electrode made to abut against a first electrically conductive part electrically connected to liquid food of the packing container housing the fluid food, a second electrode made to abut against a second electrically conductive part consisting of predetermined portions of the barrier layer 48 of the packaging container, and a damage determining/processing means which determines whether the most inner layer 49 might be damaged based on electric variable when applying a voltage between the first and second electrodes. Since it is determined whether the most inner layer 49 might be damaged based on the electric variable when the voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, it is not necessary to determine whether the most inner layer 49 might be damaged based on an operator's subject. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a packaging material inspection apparatus.

  Conventionally, when manufacturing a food having fluidity, such as tea, juice, soup, alcohol, etc., that is, a packaging container for containing fluid food, a web-like packaging material, a carton blank-like packaging material, etc. Is used, and a predetermined portion of each packaging material is sealed by a technique such as heat sealing or ultrasonic sealing, whereby a packaging container is formed. For example, when a web-like packaging material is used, the packaging material is made into a tube shape, sealed in the longitudinal direction by the first sealing device, and then filled with liquid food in the tube-like packaging material. At a predetermined interval, the second seal device seals and cuts in the horizontal direction to form an original container as a brick-shaped (brick-shaped) primary container, and further molds the original container to form the final container. A packaging container as a container is completed.

  By the way, the packaging material is the main body of the packaging container, that is, the innermost layer formed in order from the inner side to the outer side when the packaging container main body is formed, the barrier layer formed of aluminum foil, and the paper base material. The outermost layer and the outermost layer are made of, for example, polyethylene resin.

  In the middle of manufacturing the packaging container, for example, when a pinhole occurs in the innermost layer, or a roller constituting the first sealing device comes into contact with the innermost layer and damages the innermost layer, The fluid food in the packaging container comes into contact with aluminum in the aluminum foil, and the quality of the fluid food is degraded.

  Therefore, the operator appropriately removes the completed packaging container, discharges the fluid food from the packaging container, opens the empty packaging container, and visually inspects the state of the innermost layer from the inside of the packaging container. ing. However, since it is determined whether the innermost layer is damaged based on the subjectivity of the operator, the state of the innermost layer cannot be reliably inspected.

Therefore, a packaging material inspection apparatus is provided that electrically determines whether or not the innermost layer is damaged. The packaging material inspection apparatus includes a needle electrode that is inserted into a packaging container to be inspected and energized to flowable food, and an electrolytic solution that includes a conductive liquid in which the packaging container to be inspected is immersed. The electrode is inserted into the electrode, and it is electrically determined whether or not the innermost layer is damaged depending on whether the needle-like electrode is electrically connected (for example, refer to Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-326277 A

  However, in the conventional packaging material inspection apparatus, it cannot be determined whether or not the innermost layer is damaged on the production line, and the packaging container is immersed in the electrolytic solution, and the electrode is inserted into the electrolytic solution. Since it is necessary, it is troublesome to determine whether or not the innermost layer is damaged.

  Moreover, since it is necessary to pierce the acicular electrode into the packaging container to be inspected, it is not possible to use the packaging container after the inspection is completed, and the cost of the packaging container increases accordingly.

  The present invention solves the problems of the conventional packaging material inspection apparatus, can easily determine whether the innermost layer is damaged, and can reduce the cost of the packaging container. The purpose is to provide.

  Therefore, the packaging material inspection apparatus according to the present invention is applied to a packaging container that includes a packaging material including an outermost layer, a paper base material, a conductive barrier layer, and an innermost layer, and contains fluid food. It has become.

  And a second electrode comprising a first electrode brought into contact with a first conductive portion electrically connected to the fluid food of the packaging container, and a predetermined portion of the barrier layer of the packaging container. A second electrode brought into contact with the conducting portion, and a damage determination processing means for determining whether or not the innermost layer is damaged based on an electrical variable when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes. Have

  In another packaging material inspection apparatus of the present invention, the first conductive portion is formed by a conductive member exposed to the outside air.

  In still another packaging material inspection apparatus of the present invention, the second conductive portion is formed by an end portion of the barrier layer exposed to the outside air at the seal portion.

  In still another packaging material inspection apparatus of the present invention, the first electrode is a needle electrode.

  In still another packaging material inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the second electrode further includes a plurality of fibers planted with the tip opposed to the seal portion.

  According to the present invention, the packaging material inspection apparatus is applied to a packaging container comprising a packaging material having an outermost layer, a paper base material, a conductive barrier layer and an innermost layer, and containing fluid food. It has become.

  And a second electrode comprising a first electrode brought into contact with a first conductive portion electrically connected to the fluid food of the packaging container, and a predetermined portion of the barrier layer of the packaging container. A second electrode brought into contact with the conducting portion, and a damage determination processing means for determining whether or not the innermost layer is damaged based on an electrical variable when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes. Have

  In this case, the first electrode is brought into contact with the first conduction part, the second electrode is brought into contact with the second conduction part, and a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes. Since it is determined whether or not the innermost layer has been damaged based on the electric variable, it is not necessary to determine whether or not the innermost layer has been damaged based on the subjectivity of the operator. Therefore, the state of the innermost layer can be reliably inspected.

  In addition, since it is not necessary to insert the first electrode into the packaging container, the packaging container after the inspection is completed can be used, and the cost of the packaging container can be reduced accordingly.

  It is possible to determine whether or not the innermost layer is damaged on the production line, and it is not necessary to immerse the packaging container in the electrolytic solution or insert the second electrode into the electrolytic solution. The operation for determining whether the inner layer is damaged can be simplified.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In this case, a brick-type packaging container formed using a web-like packaging material will be described.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the packaging container according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, 11 is a packaging container, 12 is a packaging container body, and 13 is a straw package. The packaging container body 12 includes a front wall 15, a rear wall 16, side walls 17, 18, a top wall 19, a bottom wall 20, and the like. A wall and ear pieces 21 are provided. In the top wall 19, a lateral seal portion 22 is formed at the center, and a straw hole 23 is formed at a predetermined corner portion.

  In this case, the said packaging container main body 12 is formed by sealing the predetermined location of a web-like packaging material by methods, such as heat sealing and ultrasonic sealing. That is, after the packaging material is tube-shaped and sealed in the longitudinal direction by a first sealing device (not shown), liquid food is filled in the tubular packaging material at a predetermined interval by a second sealing device. Sealing and cutting in the horizontal direction to form a prototype container as a container by brick-shaped primary molding, further molding the prototype container to form a packaging container body 12 as a container by final molding, the packaging container The packaging container 11 is completed by fusing the straw package 13 to the main body 12. In a state where the packaging container 11 is completed, the fluid food is sealed and accommodated in the packaging container body 12 in a negative pressure state, and no space is formed between the fluid food and the top wall 19. If necessary, a spout (not shown) is formed in the top wall 19, and the spout is opened by covering the spout with a pull tab and peeling off the pull tab. it can.

  The packaging material is formed by laminating an outermost layer, a paper base material, an adhesive layer, a barrier layer, and an innermost layer in order from the outer side to the inner side of the packaging container body 12, and the outer surface of the outermost layer or the paper base The outer surface of the material is subjected to predetermined printing as required. And the said straw hole 23 forms a predetermined punch hole in a paper base material, an adhesive layer, a barrier layer, and an adhesive layer beforehand, and plugs up this punch hole with the conductive film as a conduction member, It is formed.

  The conductive film is exposed to the outside air through the straw hole 23 and is electrically connected to the fluid food contained in the packaging container 11. In the present embodiment, the conductive film is formed of a film having a square or diameter of about 10 [mm] so that the punch hole can be sufficiently closed in order to seal the packaging container body 12.

  Note that the outermost layer, the adhesive layer, and the innermost layer are usually formed of a resin such as polyethylene (PE) or an ethylene copolymer. The outermost layer and the innermost layer are preferably formed of low density polyethylene (LDPE). The barrier layer is formed of a material having conductivity and gas barrier property, in this embodiment, aluminum foil. If necessary, an adhesive layer can be disposed between the barrier layer and the innermost layer.

  The straw package 13 is fused to the packaging container main body 12 with the straw 25 accommodated in the package main body 26. The package body 26 is formed by sealing the outer peripheral edges of upper and lower sheets made of a thermoplastic resin, for example, polyethylene, with heat or glue, and when the straw 25 is used, the package body 26 may be torn with a finger. Alternatively, the straw 25 can be removed by shifting the straw 25 in the vertical direction and tearing the package body 26 at the tip of the straw 25 to open it.

  The straw 25 is made of a predetermined resin as a molding material, in the present embodiment, a polypropylene resin, is made into a double tube type, and is stretchable. For this purpose, the straw 25 includes an outer tube 32 and an inner tube 33 that is slidably fitted into the outer tube 32.

  By the way, for example, if for some reason a pinhole occurs in the innermost layer or a roller or the like constituting the first sealing device comes into contact and damages the innermost layer, the innermost layer is damaged. The fluid food inside comes into contact with aluminum of the aluminum foil, and the quality of the fluid food is deteriorated.

  In view of this, a packaging material inspection apparatus is provided that electrically determines whether or not the innermost layer is damaged.

  FIG. 1 is a view showing the operation of the packaging material inspection apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a first view for forming a straw hole according to the first embodiment of the present invention. These are 2nd figures for forming the straw hole in the 1st Embodiment of this invention.

  In the figure, 12 is a packaging container body, 19 is a top wall, 20 is a bottom wall, 23 is a straw hole, 41 is a packaging material, and S1 is a portion sealed laterally by a second sealing device, that is, the first It is a horizontal seal part as a seal part. The packaging material 41 is formed by laminating an outermost layer 45, a paper base 46, a barrier layer 48, and an innermost layer 50 in order from the outside to the inside of the packaging container body 12. In FIG. 1, for convenience of explanation, the adhesive layer disposed between the paper base 46 and the barrier layer 48 is not shown.

  The straw hole 23 is formed with a punch hole 44 at a predetermined position of the packaging material 41 as shown in FIG. 3, and the punch hole 44 is closed with a conductive film 43 as shown in FIG. It is formed by doing. In a state where the fluid food is stored in the packaging container body 12, the conductive film 43 and the fluid food are electrically connected. The punch hole 44 is formed through the outermost layer 45, the paper base 46, the adhesive layer 47, the barrier layer 48 and the innermost layer 50, and the conductive film 43 is punched from the inside of the packaging material 41. The barrier layer 48 is disposed via the innermost layer 49 and is electrically insulated from the barrier layer 48.

  Further, as the conductive film 43, a conductive film, for example, a film formed of a conductive polymer is used. As the conductive material polymer, poly (anilines), poly (pyrroles), poly (acetylenes) and the like can be used.

  By the way, as described above, a pinhole is generated in the innermost layer 49, or the inner layer 49 is damaged by contact with a roller or the like constituting the lateral seal portion S1, so that the innermost layer 49 is damaged. Then, the barrier layer 48 is exposed to the fluid food, and the barrier layer 48 and the fluid food are electrically connected. In addition, p1 is a site where the innermost layer 49 is damaged, that is, a damaged site p1. In this case, as described above, since the conductive film 43 and the fluid food are electrically connected, the conductive film 43 and the barrier layer 48 are electrically connected. On the other hand, when the innermost layer 49 is not damaged, since the barrier layer 48 and the fluid food are electrically insulated, the conductive film 43 and the barrier layer 48 are electrically insulated.

  Therefore, the needle electrode 51 as the first electrode and the ground electrode 52 as the second electrode are provided, the positive terminal of the power source 53 and the needle electrode 51 are connected via the resistor r1, and the power source 53 Are connected to the ground electrode 52, the tip of the needle electrode 51 is brought into contact with the conductive film 43, and the ground electrode 52 is brought into contact with the end face of the lateral seal portion S 1. A circuit is formed.

  In order to prevent the side surface of the needle electrode 51 from contacting the barrier layer 48 when the tip of the needle electrode 51 is brought into contact with the conductive film 43, the side surface of the needle electrode 51 is insulated. Material can be coated. The ground electrode 52 is implanted in the holding portion 55 and the holding portion 55 with the tip thereof facing upward, that is, facing the lateral seal portion S1, and has conductivity, flexibility, and flexibility. A plurality of fibers 56 having properties are provided. In the present embodiment, a metal fiber, particularly an amorphous metal fiber is used as the fiber 56.

  In this case, the conductive film 43 is exposed to the outside air, is electrically connected to the fluid food, and the first conductive portion for conducting the needle-shaped electrode 51 and the fluid food is a lateral seal portion. The end portion of the barrier layer 48 in S1 is exposed to the outside air, and is constituted by a predetermined portion of the barrier layer 48, thereby constituting a second conducting portion for conducting the ground electrode 52 and the barrier layer 48.

  Then, a voltmeter (V) 54 as an electric variable detector is connected between the needle electrode 51 and the earth electrode 52, and the needle electrode 51 and the earth electrode 52 as electric variables are connected by the voltmeter 54. The voltage applied between the first and second voltages is detected, and based on the detected voltage vs, it is determined whether or not the barrier layer 48 is damaged.

  That is, when the innermost layer 49 has no damaged portion p 1, the conductive film 43 and the barrier layer 48 are electrically insulated, so that the voltage vs becomes equal to the voltage ve of the power source 53. On the other hand, when the innermost layer 49 has the damaged portion p1, the conductive film 43 and the barrier layer 48 are electrically connected by the fluid food, so that the gap between the needle electrode 51 and the ground electrode 52 is The current flows as shown by the dashed arrow.

In this case, when the resistance between the needle electrode 51 and the ground electrode 52 is r2, and the current flowing between the needle electrode 51 and the ground electrode 52 is ia, the voltage vs is
vs = ia · r2
And becomes lower than the voltage ve. Therefore, a damage determination processing unit (not shown) of the control unit 58 performs a damage determination process, and the voltage vs is set in advance for each packaging container 11 transported by a conveyor as a transport device (not shown) on the production line. It is determined whether or not the innermost layer 49 is damaged by determining whether or not the threshold value has changed. In this case, since the fiber 56 has flexibility and flexibility, the barrier layer 48 on the end face of the lateral seal portion S1 and the fiber 56 can be brought into good contact and can be electrically connected.

  In the present embodiment, the voltmeter 54 detects the voltage vs between the needle electrode 51 and the earth electrode 52, but can detect the voltage between both terminals of the resistor r1. it can. In the present embodiment, the voltage vs is detected as an electric variable, but an ammeter as an electric variable detector is disposed at a predetermined position on the packaging inspection circuit. The current ia as an electric variable can be detected by the ammeter. In that case, the electric variable acquisition processing means of the damage determination processing means performs electric variable acquisition processing and reads the current ia, and the electric variable determination processing means of the damage determination processing means performs electric variable determination processing and the current ia Whether or not the innermost layer 49 is damaged is determined based on whether or not has changed by a predetermined threshold value or more.

  In the present embodiment, the end face of the lateral seal portion S1 disposed on the bottom wall 20 and the ground electrode 52 are brought into contact with each other. However, the second seal disposed on the bottom wall 20 is used. The end face of the vertical seal portion as a portion can be brought into contact with the ground electrode 52. Furthermore, the end surface of the seal portion formed on an arbitrary wall of the packaging container body 12 can be brought into contact with the ground electrode 52.

  In the present embodiment, the conductive film 43 is formed by the conductive member, but instead of the conductive film 43, for example, each metal such as copper, aluminum, silver, gold, and tin is used. A foil can be used, or a foil made of an alloy of each of the above metals can be used.

  In addition, it is not necessary to use a conductive member as a whole as the conductive member, and the outermost surface, that is, the surface to be fused with the inner peripheral surface of the packaging material 41 is coated with a conductive material. Can be used. In that case, the current flows along the surface to be fused with the inner peripheral surface of the packaging material 41 and flows from the end surface of the composite material film to the fluid food. Then, when coating a conductive material, a conductive film is coated, a conductive metal is plated, a conductive material is applied, or a conductive material is printed. Can be.

  Furthermore, as the conductive member, a member through which a conductive material passes from the outermost surface to the innermost surface can be used.

  In the present embodiment, the straw hole 23 is used to contact the needle-like electrode 51, but instead of the straw hole 23, a large opening for a cap and a small for air venting are used. A conductive film or the like can be provided as a conductive member in the hole or the like, and the conductive film or the like can be electrically connected to the fluid food. In the present embodiment, the lateral seal portion S1 is used to contact the ground electrode 52. However, instead of the lateral seal portion S1, a portion where the barrier layer 48 is exposed to the outside air is used. Can be used.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, when the innermost layer 49 is broken, the voltage vs applied between the needle electrode 51 and the ground electrode 52 changes, and based on the change of the voltage vs, the innermost layer 49 changes. Since it is determined whether or not 49 is damaged, it is not necessary to determine whether or not the innermost layer 49 is damaged based on the subjectivity of the operator. Therefore, the state of the innermost layer 49 can be reliably inspected.

  Moreover, since it is not necessary to insert the needle-shaped electrode 51 in the packaging container 11, the packaging container 11 after an inspection can be utilized, and the cost of the packaging container 11 can be lowered by that much.

  Then, it is possible to determine whether or not the innermost layer 49 is damaged on the production line, and it is not necessary to immerse the packaging container 11 in the electrolytic solution or insert the ground electrode 52 into the electrolytic solution. The operation for determining whether or not the innermost layer 49 is damaged can be simplified.

  By the way, when the conductive film 43 is formed of a metal, an alloy or the like and the fluid food is acidic, the fluid food discolors and deteriorates when the conductive film 43 is dissolved in a predetermined amount or more. End up. Therefore, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described in which the metal, alloy, etc. constituting the conducting member are prevented from coming into contact with the fluid food.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a conductive sheet according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a plan view of the conductive sheet according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

  In the figure, reference numeral 60 denotes a conductive sheet as a conductive member. The conductive sheet 60 is made of a predetermined metal, for example, a conductive foil 61 formed of silver, and screen printing or the like on the foil 61. It consists of a resin film 62 as a protective film formed in a lattice shape.

  In this case, since the foil 61 is exposed to the fluid food in a portion where the film 62 is not formed, the current flows to the fluid food through the foil 61.

  In addition, if the portion where the foil 61 is exposed has a size of about 15 [μm] or a diameter at one place, the current can be sufficiently passed, so whether the innermost layer 49 (FIG. 1) is damaged. Whether it is possible to judge accurately. Further, when the foil 61 having a size of about 15 [μm] square or a diameter is exposed, silver is not eluted, and there is no fear that the fluid food is deteriorated.

  In the present embodiment, a brick-type packaging container formed using a web-like packaging material has been described, but the present invention is a gable-top packaging formed using a carton blank-like packaging material. Can be applied to containers.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can change variously based on the meaning of this invention, and does not exclude them from the scope of the present invention.

It is a figure which shows operation | movement of the packaging material test | inspection apparatus in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the packaging container in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a 1st figure for forming a straw hole in a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is a 2nd figure for forming the straw hole in the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the electroconductive sheet in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view of the electroconductive sheet in the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Packaging container 41 Packaging material 43 Conductive film 45 Outermost layer 46 Paper base material 48 Barrier layer 49 Inner layer 51 Needle electrode 52 Ground electrode 56 Fiber 58 Control part 60 Conductive sheet S1 Horizontal seal part

Claims (5)

In a packaging material inspection apparatus for a packaging container containing a flowable food, comprising a packaging material comprising an outermost layer, a paper base material, a conductive barrier layer and an innermost layer,
(A) a first electrode brought into contact with a first conducting portion electrically connected to the fluid food of the packaging container;
(B) a second electrode brought into contact with a second conducting portion of the packaging container, which is a predetermined portion of the barrier layer;
(C) a packaging material inspection comprising: a damage determination processing means for determining whether the innermost layer is damaged based on an electric variable when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes. apparatus.   The packaging material inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first conduction part is formed by a conduction member exposed to outside air.   The packaging material inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second conductive portion is formed by an end portion of the barrier layer exposed to the outside air at the seal portion.   The packaging material inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first electrode is a needle-like electrode. The packaging material inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second electrode includes a plurality of fibers planted with a tip thereof facing the seal portion.

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