JP2011073715A - Inert gas flush filling and packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To replace the interior of a bag with an inert gas by simple machine configuration in a gas flush filling and packaging machine including a plurality of hoppers provided in series for putting an article to be packaged into the bag. <P>SOLUTION: The gas flush filling and packaging machine 1 including a plurality of hoppers 31 provided in series for putting an article 2 to be packaged into the bag 12 is equipped with an inert gas blow nozzle 35 on each hopper 31 and with a gas passage opening end 37 communicating with the blow nozzle 35 on the outer wall 31c of each hopper 31. The gas flush filling and packaging machine 1 has a gas passage switch device 90 for sequentially connecting the gas passage opening end 37 of the hopper 31 with a gas supply source. The gas passage switch device 90 repeats reciprocal movement of moving in the same direction as the hopper 31 while connecting a gas supply port 91 of the gas passage switch device 90 with the gas passage opening end 37 by coming into contact with the hopper 31 so as to supply the inert gas to the gas passage opening end 37 and moving reversely to the hopper 31 away from the hopper 31 to return to a position before the contact. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging by replacing the inside of a bag filled with an article with an inert gas.

  As a gas replacement filling and packaging machine that fills a bag with a package and replaces the inside of the bag with an inert gas, a plurality of filling funnels that fill the bag with the package are arranged along the outer periphery of the rotating body. In the intermittent rotation type rotary filling and packaging machine, the side of each filling funnel with an inert gas blow nozzle fixed is used, the bag is filled with the article to be packed, and both ends of the bag mouth are pulled with grips. The outside air is prevented from entering into the bag, the inert gas is blown into the bag for a certain period of time, the blow nozzle is pulled up, and the bag mouth is top-sealed (Patent Document 1), Separately, an inert gas blow nozzle is provided to fill the bag with the inert gas before and after the bag is filled (Patent Document 2). Wear a pusher to push in, The pusher is passed through the blow nozzle of the inert gas, after having pushed the articles to be packaged with the pusher in the bag, an inert gas is intended to be supplied to the bag (Patent Document 3) or the like.

  Further, even in a direct-feed filling and packaging machine, a bag is filled with an article to be packaged and an inert gas is supplied to the bag from a blow nozzle (Patent Document 4).

  In these gas replacement filling and packaging machines, the supply of the inert gas from the supply source of the inert gas to the individual blow nozzles is switched using a rotary valve.

WO2007 / 029352 JP 2007-126208 A JP 2007-269408 A Patent 4156557

  However, if a rotary valve is used to supply an inert gas from an inert gas supply source to individual blow nozzles, the rotary valve itself is expensive and the apparatus becomes large.

  On the other hand, the present invention replaces the inside of the bag with an inert gas in a gas replacement filling and packaging machine in which a plurality of hoppers for putting an object to be packaged in the bag are continuously provided, without using a rotary valve, It is an object to switch the inert gas to individual blow nozzles provided in each hopper, to make the apparatus configuration compact, and to obtain a gas replacement filling and packaging machine at low cost.

  In the gas replacement filling and packaging machine in which a plurality of hoppers for charging an object to be packaged are provided in a bag, the inventor forms a gas flow path communicating with an inert gas blow nozzle in the hopper, and the gas flow A gas flow switching device provided with a gas supply port capable of coming into contact with the gas flow channel opening end of the hopper and a gas flow switching device provided in the outer wall of the hopper is synchronized with the movement of the hopper in the gas flow switching device. It has been found that when the reciprocating motion is performed, the gas flow path switching device can be used to supply an inert gas to the gas flow path opening end of the hopper that is sequentially transported, and thus a rotary valve is unnecessary.

That is, according to the present invention, a plurality of hoppers for introducing an article to be packaged are provided in a bag, each hopper is provided with an inert gas blow nozzle, and each gas channel opening end communicating with the blow nozzle is provided with A gas replacement filling and packaging machine provided on the outer wall of the hopper, each hopper moving in synchronization with the movement of the bag,
A gas flow path switching device for sequentially communicating the gas flow path opening end of each hopper and the inert gas supply source;
The gas flow path switching device moves in the same direction as the hopper while communicating with the gas supply port of the gas flow path switching device and the gas flow path opening end of the hopper by contacting the hopper to the gas flow path opening end. Provided is a gas replacement filling and packaging machine that repeats reciprocation of supplying an inert gas, moving away from the hopper, moving in the opposite direction of the hopper, and returning to the position before contact.

  According to the present invention, the gas supply port of the gas flow path switching device is sequentially brought into contact with the gas flow path opening ends of the plurality of hoppers arranged in series, so that the inert gas is supplied. Without any problem, it becomes possible to fill the continuous bags with the inert gas one after another.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a gas replacement filling and packaging machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory diagram of operations of the hopper, the preliminary pusher, the pusher, and the gas flow path switching device in the gas replacement filling and packaging machine. FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the hopper. FIG. 3B is a front view of the hopper. FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of the hopper taken along line AA. FIG. 3D is a BB cross-sectional view of the hopper. FIG. 4 is a timing chart of hopper movement and inert gas blowing. FIG. 5 is a timing chart of hopper movement, preliminary pushing, and pushing. FIG. 6A is a plan view of the vicinity of the gas flow path switching device and the top cover. 6B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in FIG. 6A, showing a contact state between the hopper and the gas flow path switching device. 6C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. 6A showing a contact state between the hopper and the gas flow path switching device. It is. 6D is a cross-sectional view taken along line EE of FIG. 6A, showing a cross-sectional view of the bag in the top cover. FIG. 7A is a plan view showing a state where the gas flow path switching device is in contact with the hopper. FIG. 7B is a plan view showing a state where the gas flow path switching device is separated from the hopper.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same numerals indicate the same or equivalent components.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 shows a hopper 31, a preliminary pusher 32, a pusher 33, and a gas flow path switching device 90 in the gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1. 3A is a perspective view of the hopper 31. FIG. 4 is a timing chart of the movement of the hopper 31, the movement of the side seal heat seal head, and the inert gas blow.

  This gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1 is a machine that individually wraps a package 2 such as a tetrahedral tea bag in a three-side sealed flat bag and fills the bag with an inert gas such as nitrogen. A film feeding means for continuously running in a state where the substantially long strip-shaped exterior film 11 is folded in two, a hopper 31 for supplying the package 2 between the opposing surfaces of the folded exterior film 11, and the exterior film 11 The side seal forming means 40 for forming the side seal 3, the gas flow path switching device 90 for filling the bag 12 of the exterior film 11 formed by the side seal 3 with the inert gas through the blow nozzle 35, and the top seal for the bag 12 4 for cutting off the continuous bag 12 by cutting the inside of the seal width of the side seal 3 and the top seal forming means 60 for forming 4. It is equipped with a 80.

  More specifically, on the upstream side of the gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1, an original fabric 10 around which a long strip-shaped exterior film 11 is wound is installed, and the exterior film 11 unwound from the original fabric 10 is caused to travel. On the other hand, a film guide 20 and a film alignment guide bar 21 are provided in order to be folded in two so that both side edges overlap. In this case, the exterior film 11 is folded in two so that the fold mountain is downward and the both side edges are upward.

  In addition, as the exterior film 11, various exterior films that are non-breathable and heat-sealable can be used, and for example, an aluminum laminate film or the like is used.

  Further, as the film feeding means, a feeding roller 22 and a pulling roller 23 driven by a servo motor (not shown) are provided. The exterior film 11 folded in half is fed out in the direction of arrow a by the feed roller 22 and travels substantially horizontally at a constant speed.

  On the downstream side of the feed roller 22, an opening guide 24 is provided between the opposing surfaces of the exterior film 11 that are overlapped by folding. The opening guide 24 is made of a rod-shaped member having a D-shaped cross section, and has a thin plate thickness on the upstream side and a plate thickness on the downstream side larger than the outer diameter of the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper 31 and is opposed to the exterior film 11. A gap is provided between the surfaces so that the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper 31 can be easily inserted.

  A plurality of hoppers 31 that move up and down while continuously turning the peripheral edge of the fixed cam 30 as indicated by an arrow b are provided downstream of the opening guide 24, and a cam mechanism using the fixed cam 30 is further provided. Is provided with a preliminary pusher 32 that moves up and down while horizontally traveling in the same direction as the exterior film 11 and performs a return traveling in the horizontal direction, and repeats this for each filling of the articles to be packaged 2, and downstream of the preliminary pusher 32. Similarly, a pusher 33 that repeats horizontal travel and return travel with vertical movement is provided by a cam mechanism.

  As shown in FIG. 3A, the hopper 31 includes a tapered portion 31b having a tapered receiver and a straight guide portion 31a below the tapered portion 31a so that the article 2 can be stably received on the discharge port. An inert gas blow nozzle 35 is provided outside the straight guide portion 31a, a gas flow path 36 communicating with the blow nozzle 35 is provided inside the taper portion 31b, and an open end 37 of the gas flow path 36 is tapered. What is provided in the outer wall 31c of the part 31b is preferable.

  As the outer shape of the straight guide portion 31 a, a cross-sectional shape having a cross-sectional shape is used from the viewpoint that wrinkles are not generated at the time of bag making due to the formation of the side seal 3, and the long diameter is parallel to the traveling direction of the exterior film 11. It is preferable to arrange in. It is preferable that the inner dimension of the straight guide portion 31a is set to such an extent that the article to be packaged 2 put into the hopper 31 does not fall in the straight guide portion 31a only by its own weight unless pushed by the pusher 33. As a result, the object to be packaged 2 can be dropped onto the exterior film 11 when it is pushed by the pusher 33 without providing a shutter in the hopper 31, so that the object to be packaged on the side seal 3 is not enlarged. Biting of the object 2 can be prevented.

  The blow nozzle 35, the gas flow path 36, and the gas flow path opening end 37 are characteristically provided in the hopper 31 of the gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the blow nozzle 35 is disposed on both side surfaces on the long diameter side of the straight guide portion 31a having a cross-sectional oval shape, and the opening end 35a of the blow nozzle 35 is a straight guide portion. It protrudes downward from the lower end of 31a. Moreover, the two gas flow path opening ends 37 are provided in parallel to a plane parallel to the major axis of the straight guide portion 31a in the outer wall 31c of the tapered portion 31b.

  The preliminary pusher 32 and the pusher 33 are each inserted into the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper, and are formed of a rod-like or cylindrical member having a size capable of moving up and down. A cylindrical knockout member 34 is attached to the outer periphery of the spare pusher 32 so that it can be moved up and down independently of the spare pusher 32. After the object to be packaged 2 is pushed into the straight guide portion 31a by the spare pusher 32, It is preferable to prevent the packaged item 2 from being lifted by the knockout member 34 when the pusher 32 is pulled up.

  Further, it is preferable to provide an inert gas pipe inside the pusher 33 and provide an inert gas discharge hole (not shown) at the tip of the pusher 33.

  In the traveling direction of the exterior film 11, side seal forming means 40 that forms the side seal 3 by pressing the heat seal head 41 against the exterior film 11 is provided between the preliminary pusher 32 and the pusher 33. On the downstream side, side seal cooling and pressing means 50 for improving the adhesive strength of the side seal 3 by pressing the side seal 3 formed by the side seal forming means 40 while cooling with the cooling plate 51 is provided. Also, below the pusher 33, a clamp device is provided that clamps the article 2 to be packaged 2 dropped on the bottom of the bag 12 formed by the side seal 3 from both outer sides of the bag 12 with clampers 45. The clamper 45 of this clamp device takes an open state and a state in which the clamper 45 is closed and clamped.

  Here, the cooling plate 51 can be formed from a low-temperature heater. The temperature of the cooling plate 51 is adjusted to be equal to or lower than the melting point of the plastic serving as the sealant of the exterior film 11.

  The heat seal head 41, the clamper 45, and the cooling plate 51 travel in the horizontal direction in the same direction as the exterior film 11 when the exterior film 11 is pressed, and travel back in the horizontal direction after the release of the press. And repeat driving.

  Downstream of the side seal cooling and pressing means 50, there are two pitches of gas flow path switching devices 90 (upstream gas flow path switching device 90a and downstream gas flow path switching device 90b) characteristic of this gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1. Minutes (two pieces of the individual package 5) are provided. An inert gas is fed into the gas flow path switching device 90 from an inert gas supply source (not shown), and the inert gas is supplied from the gas supply port 91 of the gas supply path switching device 90. As shown in FIGS. 4, 6 </ b> B, and 6 </ b> C, the gas supply port 91 is formed as a recess covering the gas flow path opening end 37, and the recess is larger than the opening diameter of the gas flow path opening end 37. It is formed in a long hole shape that is long in the vertical direction.

  In the gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1 of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, two gas supply ports 91 are formed in the horizontal direction per pitch, and as shown in FIGS. 6B and 6C. Each gas supply port 91 is divided into two chambers, upper chambers 91a-1 and 91b-1, and lower chambers 91a-2 and 91b-2. As shown in FIG. 4, a fluctuation width h <b> 1 in which the hopper 31 moves up and down while supplying an inert gas to the gas flow path opening end 37 of the hopper 31 is a tapered portion 31 b in which the gas flow path opening end 37 is formed. When the gas supply port 91 is divided into two upper and lower chambers, the inert gas flow can be reduced without moving the gas flow switching device 90 up and down. Leakage can be prevented.

  Further, the gas flow path switching device 90 moves toward the hopper 31 in synchronization with the heat seal head 41 of the side seal forming means 40 and the cooling plate 51 of the side seal cooling and pressing means 50, as indicated by arrows in FIG. 6A. The forward movement, the movement in the same direction as the exterior film 11 in contact with the hopper 31, and the movement in the reverse direction away from the hopper 31 are repeated. In order to repeat such reciprocating movements in the same direction as the exterior film 11 and in the opposite direction, the gas flow path switching device 90 is reciprocated in common with the side seal forming means 40 and the side seal cooling pressing means 50. What is necessary is just to mount in an operation unit.

  Downstream of the gas flow path switching device 90, the bag 12 is filled with an inert gas until the top seal is formed on the opening end of the bag 12 by the top seal forming means 60. A top cover 100 that is maintained in an inert gas atmosphere and a bag mouth guide 101 that presses the bag 12 from both the front and back surfaces so that the mouth of the bag 12 does not open are provided. As shown in FIG. 6D, the top cover 100 has a saddle shape with an inverted U-shaped cross section covering the open end of the bag 12, and discharges inert gas from the top surface to the inside.

  In the gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1, the hopper 31, the preliminary pusher 32, the pusher 33, the side seal forming means 40, the clamper 45, the side seal cooling and pressing means 50 and the gas flow path switching device 90 described above are shown in FIGS. It operates as shown in 4 mainly shows the operation of the hopper 31 and the gas flow path switching device 90, and FIG. 5 mainly shows the operation of the auxiliary pusher 32 and the pusher 33. 4 and 5, the reference numeral 31r represents the locus of the central portion of the lower end of the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper. In FIG. 5, the reference numerals 32r, 34r, and 33r represent the preliminary pusher 32, the knockout member 34, and the pusher 33, respectively. The reference numerals 41r and 51r represent the trajectories of the heat seal head 41 and the cooling plate 51, respectively. In FIG. 5, the vertical axis represents the height (mm) based on the lowest end of the exterior film 11, and the horizontal axis represents the distance (mm) from the hopper reference position.

  First, the hopper 31 is swung as shown by an arrow b in FIG. 1, and when the article 2 to be packaged is inserted into the hopper 31 at a predetermined position, the article 2 falls onto the exterior film 11. And remains on the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper 31. The preliminary pusher 32 descends with respect to the packaged object 2 as indicated by the arrow of the locus 32r in FIG. 5, and pushes the packaged object 2 toward the discharge port of the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper.

  In this case, it is preferable that the preliminary pusher 32 pushes the article to be packaged 2 into the straight guide portion 31a step by step while repeating a plurality of vertical movements as indicated by a locus 32r in FIG. Thereby, even if the to-be-packaged object 2 is a thing which is easy to break a bag such as a tea bag, it is possible to prevent the to-be-packaged object 2 from being sandwiched between the straight guide portion 31a and the auxiliary pusher 32 and broken.

  From the start of preliminary pushing by the preliminary pusher 32 until the lower end surface of the preliminary pusher 32 reaches the lowest point (i.e., until the preliminary pusher 32 pushes the article to be packed 2 deepest), the lower end surface of the knockout member 34 has a locus. 34r, the knockout member 34 is lowered from the outside of the preliminary pusher 32 until the lower end surface of the preliminary pusher 32 reaches the lowest point. Immediately after the lower end surface reaches the lowest point and starts to rise, the lower end surface of the knockout member 34 is positioned below the lower end surface of the auxiliary pusher 32. Then, it rises later than the preliminary pusher 32. Thereby, the to-be-packaged object 2 is prevented from being lifted when the preliminary pusher 32 is pulled up from the straight guide portion 31a. Thus, the article to be packaged 2 is pushed into the intermediate position in the vertical direction of the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper.

  Thereafter, the preliminary pusher 32 and the knockout member 34 are completely lifted from the hopper 31, the hopper 31 is lowered, and the straight guide portion 31a is inserted between the facing surfaces of the folded outer film 11 to form a side seal. The heat seal head 41 of the means 40 is approached.

  When the hopper 31 approaches a predetermined position with respect to the heat seal head 41 of the side seal forming means 40, the heat seal head 41 of the side seal forming means 40 is inserted between the opposing surfaces of the exterior film 11. The side seal 3 is formed on the exterior film 11 by being pressed against the exterior film 11 along the straight guide portion 31 a.

  The side seal 3 formed by the side seal forming means 40 is preferably pressed by the cooling plate 51 of the side seal cooling pressing means 50. Thereby, the adhesive strength of a side seal can be improved. The pressing of the side seal 3 by the cooling plate 51 is preferably performed simultaneously with the pressing of the exterior film 11 by the heat seal head 41 for forming the side seal upstream of the side seal 3. Thereby, the exterior film 11 can be pressed on both sides of the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper using the cooling plate 51 and the heat seal head 41, and the exterior film 11 can be prevented from being distorted when the hopper 31 is subsequently pulled up. .

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, while the outer film 11 is being pressed by the heat seal head 41 and the cooling plate 51, the pusher 33 descends according to the trajectory 33 r, and the package in the straight guide portion 31 a of the hopper 31 is placed. The object 2 is pushed into the bag 12 formed by the side seal 3 and dropped onto the bottom of the bag 12. During this pushing, the straight guide portion 31a of the hopper is raised, and the package 2 at the bottom of the bag 12 is clamped from the front and back of the bag 12 by the clamper 45, and the pusher is pushed while the package 2 is clamped. Start raising 33. Thereby, it can prevent that the to-be-packaged item 2 slides up from the bottom part of the bag 12 with the raising of the hopper 31. The pusher 33 moves up so as to rise even after the pressing by the clamper 45 is released and to return to the position before the pressing.

  In this gas replacement filling and packaging machine, the inert gas is filled into the bag 12 from the blow nozzle 35 by using the gas flow path switching device 90, but the inert gas is filled at the tip of the pusher 33 as necessary. An inert gas is discharged from the filling gas discharge hole into the bag 12 from when the pusher 33 is provided and the pusher 33 is inserted into the bag 12 until the pusher 33 is pulled up and completely removed from the bag 12, and the atmosphere in the bag May be replaced with an inert gas in advance. This is preferable because the gas replacement efficiency can be increased.

  As described above, the gas flow path switching device 90 moves in the same direction as the exterior film 11 in contact with the hopper 31 as shown in FIG. 7A, and moves away from the exterior film 11 as shown in FIG. 7B. When the reverse movement in the state is repeated, the filling of the inert gas from the blow nozzle 35 into the bag 12 is shown in FIG. 6A while the hopper 31 is being lifted after being pushed by the pusher 33. As described above, by bringing the gas flow path switching device 90 into contact with the hopper 31, the gas supply ports 91 (91 a-1 (2) and 91 b-1 (2)) of the gas flow path switching device 90 and the gas in the hopper 31 are used. The flow path opening end 37 is communicated, and the inert gas is supplied from the gas supply port 91 and moved in the same direction as the hopper 31.

  More specifically, in the upstream gas flow path switching device 90a, first, as shown in FIG. 6B, the gas flow path opening end 37 of the hopper 31 and the lower chamber 91a-2 of the gas supply port abut. Since the gas flow switching device neither the upstream device 90a nor the downstream device 90b moves in the vertical direction, the hopper 31 and the upstream gas flow switching device 90a are different while the hopper 31 is being lifted. Slides up and down. Since the gas supply port 91 is formed in two long chambers 91a-1 and 91a-2 which are vertically aligned in parallel, the hopper 31 and the upstream gas flow path switching device 90a slide in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 6B, the lower chamber 91 a-2 of the gas supply port and the gas flow path opening end 37 communicated with each other before the ascent of the hopper 31. The gas supply port upper chamber 91a-1 and the gas flow path opening end 37 communicate with each other, and eventually the upstream gas flow path switching is performed while the upstream gas flow path switching device 90a and the hopper 31 are in contact with each other. The inert gas is supplied from the device 90a to the gas flow path opening end 37 of the hopper 31, and the bag 12 is filled with the inert gas from the blow nozzle 35 (first inert gas blow in FIGS. 4 and 5). In addition, while the gas supply port 91 communicating with the gas flow path opening end 37 is switched from the lower chamber 91a-2 to the upper chamber 91a-1, the inert gas is not supplied from the gas supply port 91, and the gas flow path opening end 37. However, the gas flow path switching device 90 opens and closes the gas flow path so that the inert gas is supplied only during effective communication with the lower chamber 91a-2 or the upper chamber 91a-1 of the gas supply port. It is preferable to provide a solenoid valve.

  As described above, the upstream-side gas flow path switching device 90a that supplies the gas into the hopper 31 once moves away from the hopper 31 and moves in the opposite direction to the hopper 31 as shown in FIG. 7B. At this time, the downstream gas flow path switching device 90b similarly moves in the opposite direction to the hopper. On the other hand, the hopper 31 previously supplied with the inert gas by the upstream gas flow switching device 90a continues to rise, and the lower end of the straight guide portion 31a is located above the upper end of the bag 12, but the blow nozzle With the open end 35a in the bag 12, the horizontal movement starts. Further, the upstream and downstream gas flow path switching devices 90a and 90b start to move in the same direction as the hopper 31 again. The gas supply port 91b-1 of the downstream gas flow path switching device 90b is in contact with the gas flow path opening end 37 of the hopper to which the inert gas has been previously supplied, and moves in the same direction as the hopper 31. While supplying the inert gas (second inert gas blow in FIGS. 4 and 5). Thereby, since the inert gas can be further filled into the bag 12 from the blow nozzle 35 with the bag 12 almost closed, the gas replacement efficiency in the bag 12 can be increased. On the other hand, the upstream gas flow path switching device 90a is brought into contact with the hopper 31 following the hopper 31 to which the inert gas has been previously supplied, and is supplied with the inert gas.

  Thus, according to the gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1, the gas flow path switching device 90 that repeats the movement in the same direction as the hopper 31 and the movement in the opposite direction and supplies the inert gas while contacting the hopper 31 is provided. By using it, it becomes possible to fill the bag 12 which is sequentially conveyed with an inert gas with a compact apparatus configuration without using a rotary valve.

  The operation of the hopper 31, the preliminary pusher 32, the knockout member 34 and the pusher 33 by the cam mechanism using the fixed cam 30, the pressing operation of the heat seal head 41 of the side seal forming means 40, the clamping operation of the clamper 45, the side seal The pressing operation of the cooling plate 51 of the cooling pressing means 50 and the gas flow path switching device 90 can be driven by a single servo motor.

  After filling with the inert gas, until the top seal is formed on the bag 12 by the top seal forming means 60, the bag 12 passes under the top cover 100 and near the opening of the bag 12, as shown in FIG. 6D. Therefore, the inert gas atmosphere in the bag 12 is maintained well. Therefore, according to this gas replacement filling and packaging machine 1, the oxygen concentration in the bag 12 can be reduced from about 10% to about 1 to 3%.

  As the top seal forming means 60 for forming the top seal 4 on the bag 12, for example, a heat welding device including a heat seal head having a horizontal seal width can be used. In this case, the heat seal head presses the exterior film 11 while horizontally traveling in the same direction as the exterior film 11, and returns to the horizontal direction and travels after the pressing.

  In addition, in the shape of the bag 12 after being filled with the article to be packaged 2, since the bottom of the bag 12 is filled with the article to be packaged 2, the net bag width is taken at the bag bottom, so the bag top part The bag width in a plan view is shorter than that in FIG. Therefore, the bag continuum is gradually bent downward as shown in FIG. 2, and the position of the bag top is gradually lowered and tilted from the horizontal. Therefore, in the region where the heat seal head is pressed in the travel path of the exterior film 11, the top seal forming means 60 is traveled with an R as shown in FIG. 4 is preferably aligned with the upper end of the outer film 11.

  Further, when a heat welding device is used as the top seal forming means 60, a top seal cooling pressing means 70 for pressing the top seal 4 while cooling the top seal 4 is provided on the downstream side, thereby improving the adhesive strength of the top seal 4. Is preferred. As the top seal cooling and pressing means 70, one provided with a cooling plate similar to the side seal cooling and pressing means 50 can be used.

  In the present embodiment, as the cutter 80 downstream of the top seal forming means 60, individual packaged products formed continuously in the running direction of the exterior film 11 are cut one by one within the seal width of the side seal 3. A so-called guillotine cutter is provided to separate the individual packaged product 5. This guillotine cutter reciprocates by a cam mechanism.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was concretely demonstrated based on the individual packaging machine 1 shown in FIG. 1, this invention can take a various aspect. For example, the filling of the inert gas using the gas flow path switching device 1 may be performed only while the hopper 31 is moving horizontally. In this case, it is not necessary to supply an inert gas to the gas flow path opening end 37 of the hopper 31 while the hopper 31 and the gas flow path switching device 1 are in sliding contact with each other in the vertical direction. One gas supply port 91 may not be a long hole.

  Further, an inert gas may be supplied from one of the two gas flow path opening ends 37 provided in one hopper 31, and the gas in the bag 12 may be sucked from the other. Thereby, the substitution rate of the inert gas in a bag can be improved.

  Further, one hopper 31 may have one blow nozzle 35 and one gas flow path opening end 37.

  As the side seal forming means and the top seal forming means, a heat welding apparatus having a rotary seal head may be used. Further, an ultrasonic welding apparatus may be used instead of the heat welding apparatus.

  Also for the cutter 80, a rotary cutter may be used instead of the guillotine cutter.

  As the inert gas, nitrogen gas, carbon dioxide, a mixed gas thereof or the like can be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Gas replacement filling packaging machine 2 Packaged thing 3 Side seal 4 Top seal 5 Packaged goods 10 Original fabric 11 Exterior film 12 Bag 20 Film guide 21 Film shift guide bar 22 Feed roller 23 Pull roller 24 Opening guide 30 Fixed cam 31 Hopper 31a Straight guide portion 31b Taper portion 31c Outer wall 32 Preliminary pusher 33 Pusher 35 Blow nozzle 35a Open end 36 Gas flow path 37 Gas flow path open end 40 Side seal forming means 41 Heat seal head 45 Clamper 50 Side seal cooling and pressing means 51 Cooling plate 60 Top seal forming means 70 Top seal cooling and pressing means 80 Cutter 90 Gas flow path switching device 90a Upstream gas flow path switching device 90b Downstream gas flow path switching device 91, 91a, 91b Gas supply port 100 Top cover 101 bag mouth guide

Claims (3)

A plurality of hoppers for placing an article to be packaged in the bag are provided in series. Each hopper is provided with a blow nozzle for an inert gas, and an end of a gas flow passage communicating with the blow nozzle is provided on an outer wall of each hopper A gas replacement filling and packaging machine in which each hopper moves in synchronization with the movement of the bag,
A gas flow path switching device for sequentially communicating the gas flow path opening end of each hopper and the inert gas supply source;
The gas flow path switching device moves in the same direction as the hopper while communicating with the gas supply port of the gas flow path switching device and the gas flow path opening end of the hopper by contacting the hopper to the gas flow path opening end. A gas replacement filling and packaging machine that repeats a reciprocating motion of supplying an inert gas, moving away from the hopper in the opposite direction to the hopper, and returning to the position before contact.   The gas supply port is formed in a long hole-like recess so that the gas supply port of the gas flow channel switching device and the gas flow channel opening end of the hopper communicate with each other in the range of vertical movement of the gas flow channel switching device. Item 2. A gas replacement filling and packaging machine according to item 1.   The gas replacement filling and packaging machine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blow nozzles are respectively formed on both outer side portions of the straight guide portion of the hopper.

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