JP2013018550A - Package filling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a package filling apparatus that does not damage an appearance surface of a package container, hardly fluctuates or oscillates a liquid surface level even if subjected to molding/lateral sealing in which rapid and strong pressure is applied from both sides, and readily controls a liquid surface.SOLUTION: The package filling apparatus includes steps of: forming a package material 1 into a tubular shape; longitudinally sealing both ends of the package material in a longitudinal line direction of the tube; filling liquid food into the tubular package material from filling pipes 7a, 7b to a liquid surface level; laterally sealing under the liquid surface in a tube transverse direction; and cutting the package material to manufacture a package container. The package filling apparatus includes a pressure flange 20 that is provided under the liquid surface in the tubular package material and above a laterally sealing position and constituted of a hollow tubular body and an upper end pressure buffering part.

Description

The present invention relates to a packaging and filling apparatus in which a tube packaging material filled with a fluid food or the like is laterally sealed for each container and cut into a container.

When manufacturing packaging containers that contain liquid foods such as milk, mineral water, tea, juice, soup, alcohol, etc., a web-like (band-like) packaging laminate material is used, and the packaging laminate material is heat sealed, ultrasonic By being sealed with a seal or the like, a packaging container is formed. For example, in a packaging filling device, a sealing tape is bonded in advance to the edge of a strip-shaped packaging laminate material, the packaging laminate material is formed into a tube shape, and both edges of the packaging laminate material are vertically sealed from the inside of the tube. After sealing with the sealing tape that protects the inner end face of the product and sealing it in the longitudinal direction (longitudinal direction) with a vertical sealing device, it fills the tube-shaped packaging laminate material with liquid food and laterally with the lateral sealing device Sealing and cutting are performed to form a pillow-shaped original container, and the original container is further formed into a predetermined shape to complete a packaging container.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a packaging and filling apparatus. The web-shaped packaging laminate material 1 is accommodated in a packaging filling apparatus in a reel state. The packaging laminate material 1 includes a paper base material and a flexible laminate in which polyethylene resin is laminated on both sides of the paper base material, and an aluminum foil or gas barrier is provided between the paper base material and the film as necessary. A barrier layer made of an adhesive resin or the like is formed, and exterior printing is performed in advance on a portion corresponding to the surface of the packaging container 14.

The delivered packaging laminate material 1 is continuously conveyed by the feeding device of the conveying means, is sent to the sealing tape adhering device 3 through the bending roller, the damper roller, etc., and the packaging laminate material 1 of the packaging laminate material 1 is obtained by the sealing tape adhering device. The sealing tape 2 is stuck along one edge.

As for the packaging laminated material 1, the pull tab is stuck by the pull tab sticking apparatus as needed. The packaging laminated material 1 is sent to the sterilization tank 4 and sterilized with a sterilization liquid such as hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization tank 4. The packaging laminate material 1 is sent to the air knife 5, dried by the air knife 5, and then sent into the aseptic room 40. The packaging laminated material 1 is gradually deformed by the molding ring 6 and other molding rings to form a tube shape.
The packaging laminate material 1 is preheated by hot air from the preheating means 8 of the longitudinal seal device and sealed in the longitudinal direction, and fluid food is filled into the tubular packaging laminate material 1 from the lower end of the filling pipe 7.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a form in which liquid food is filled into a tubular packaging material from a filling pipe to a predetermined liquid level and adjusted.
A vertical portion of the inverted L-shaped filling pipe 7 protrudes downward. The horizontal portion is connected to the control valve 32. A cylindrical float 34 is disposed around the outer periphery of the vertical portion of the filling pipe 7. The float 34 floating in the liquid is between the tube packaging material 1 and the filling pipe 7 and is fitted to the outer surface of the vertical portion of the filling pipe 7 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Non-detection means 35 (a magnet, a transmitter, a tag, or the like) is attached to the float 11. A detector 31 is disposed outside the tube 1. The detector 31 changes a signal strength change with respect to the non-detecting means into a current and outputs it as an electric signal. A stop signal is output to the control device 33 when it is at a predetermined level or higher, and an open signal is output when it is lower than the predetermined level. On the other hand, an electromagnetic flow control valve 32 is provided in the horizontal portion of the filling pipe 7, and the electromagnetic flow control valve 32 is controlled by the control device 33.
The liquid level of the liquid is adjusted to a predetermined level. (Reference Patent Document 1)

The tube-shaped packaging laminate material 1 is guided by a roller, sent to a lateral seal device 10, sandwiched and sealed in the lateral direction, and the laterally sealed packaging laminate material is cut with a knife or the like to be a pillow-shaped prototype container 13 is formed.
FIG. 5 shows a detailed partial cross-sectional view of the horizontal sealing device 10. In this embodiment, the tube-shaped packaging material 1 filled with food is sent downward by a length corresponding to one packaging container, and is sandwiched between two pairs of molded flaps 41 and 41 to obtain an approximate container shape. Molded, sandwiched between two pairs of seal jaws 10a and 10a and opposing jaws 11 and 11, and transversely sealed in the transverse direction to form two transverse seal zones, and the middle of the seal zones of the connected pillow-shaped preforms Is cut with a knife 42 and separated into individual pillow-shaped preforms 13.

The original container 13 is transported by the final molding and transporting device 15 and formed into a final shape, and the packaging container 14 for storing the fluid food is completed.
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-82102 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-049105 JP 59-084707 A

  However, in the lateral sealing device, while the tubular packaging material is sent downward, it is sandwiched by two pairs of molded flaps and formed into an approximate container shape, sandwiched by a sealing jaw and an opposing jaw, and laterally sealed in the transverse direction. In this case, it is necessary to strongly hold the packaging material with the molding flap, the seal jaw, and the opposing jaw. When the contents are liquid, but the liquid level is set at a position considerably higher than that of the lateral sealing device, the liquid water pressure (pressure) becomes high, which becomes the resistance (drag) of the molding and lateral sealing operation. The surface of the packaging material (the exterior surface of the container product) can be damaged by rigid molded flaps, seal jaws and opposing jaws that operate at high speed and strike strongly.

In addition, the molded flap, seal jaw and opposing jaw press the contents liquid at high speed and strongly from both sides via the packaging material, so that the contents liquid is pushed upward and flows backward to fluctuate or vibrate. Liquid level control becomes difficult.
According to the present invention, the liquid level is changed even in the case of molding / lateral seal that does not damage the outer surface of the packaging container and is strongly pressed from both sides by a molding device or a lateral seal device that operates at high speed. An object of the present invention is to provide a packaging and filling apparatus that is less likely to vibrate and easy to control the liquid level.

The packaging and filling apparatus of the present invention forms a web-shaped packaging material into a tube shape, vertically seals the both ends of the packaging material in the vertical line direction of the tube, and liquid food is fed into the tubular packaging material from a filling pipe into a predetermined liquid A packaging and filling device that fills to the surface level, laterally seals under the liquid level in the tube transverse direction, and cuts to produce a packaging container,
It has a pressure flange which is provided below the liquid level in the tubular packaging material and above the horizontal seal position, and is composed of a hollow cylindrical main body and an upper end pressure buffering portion.

In the packaging and filling apparatus of the present invention, the pressure flange is provided on the outer periphery of the filling pipe.

In an embodiment that is excluded from the invention according to the present application but is referred to for understanding of the present invention (hereinafter referred to as a reference embodiment), the upper end pressure buffering portion includes an elastic membrane disposed under the ceiling of the main body, and a ceiling And a sterile gas filled in a space formed between the elastic film and the elastic membrane.

In the features of the packaging and filling apparatus according to the present invention, the upper end pressure buffering portion includes an elastic bag disposed under the ceiling of the main body and an aseptic gas filled in the elastic bag.

The packaging and filling apparatus according to the present invention forms a web-shaped packaging material into a tube shape, vertically seals the longitudinal direction of the tube at both ends of the packaging material, and supplies liquid food from the filling pipe into the tube-shaped packaging material. Fill to surface level, transversely seal under liquid level in tube transverse direction, cut and manufacture packaging container.
Since the web-like packaging material filled with liquid food is sealed horizontally under the liquid level, unnecessary air does not remain in the container and contributes to quality maintenance. Is pressed from both sides at high speed, the liquid inside is pushed upward and tries to flow backward.

In the present invention, the pressure flange is provided below the liquid level in the tubular packaging material and above the lateral seal position. From the lower end to the upper part is a hollow cylindrical main body, and the liquid or pressure extruded from the lower side moves or propagates in the hollow.
Since the pressure flange has a pressure buffer at the upper end, the extruded liquid or pressure from below is absorbed or buffered by this pressure buffer.
The liquid or pressure extruded from below is not transmitted above the pressure flange, and the liquid level can be easily controlled without fluctuation or vibration of the liquid level.

In addition, since there is a buffer region at a position below the liquid level and close to the lateral seal position, the resistance (drag) of the molding and lateral seal operation can be reduced, and the molding flap, seal jaw and Even if the opposing jaw hits, the surface of the packaging material is not damaged.

In this invention, a pressure flange is provided on the outer periphery of the filling pipe. The pressure flange can effectively utilize the space in the tubular packaging material without disturbing the arrangement of the filling pipe.

In the reference embodiment, the upper end pressure buffering portion is composed of an elastic film disposed under the ceiling of the main body and a sterilized gas filled in a space formed between the ceiling and the elastic film. When the buffer member is an aseptic gas, the gas is easily compressed / expanded and exhibits a buffering action. The vibration / flow of the liquid may cause gas loss due to loss or divergence, or increase in gas due to trapping of bubbles / dissolved gas accompanying the filled liquid. Can be kept constant.

In the feature of the present invention, the upper end pressure buffering portion is composed of an elastic bag disposed under the ceiling of the main body, and a sterile gas filled in the elastic bag. When the buffer member is an aseptic gas, the gas is easily compressed / expanded and exhibits a buffering action. There is a risk of gas increase due to loss or divergence due to vibration / flow of the liquid, or a bubble / dissolved gas trap with the filled liquid. The gas amount can be kept constant.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a sectional front view of a pressure flange of a packaging and filling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front view of the pressure flange of the packaging and filling apparatus according to the reference embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing an example of a packaging and filling apparatus that can be used in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional front view for explaining the liquid level control of the packaging and filling apparatus.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view for explaining the lateral sealing device of the packaging and filling device.

As shown in FIG. 3, the strip-shaped packaging laminate material 1 is accommodated in a packaging and filling apparatus in a reel state. The packaging laminate material 1 is composed of a flexible laminate in which a paper base material, a polyethylene resin outermost layer and a polyethylene resin innermost layer are laminated, an aluminum foil barrier layer is formed, and a character pattern or the like is printed.
The drawn packaging laminate material 1 is continuously conveyed by a conveying means, passed through a bending roller, a damper roller, etc., and sent to the sealing tape adhering device 3, and the sealing tape along one edge of the packaging laminate material 1. 2 is stuck.

The packaging laminated material 1 is sent to the sterilization tank 4 and sterilized with a sterilization liquid such as hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization tank 4. The packaging laminate material 1 is sent to the air knife 5 and sent to the sterilization chamber 40. The packaging laminated material 1 is gradually deformed by the molding ring 6 and other molding rings to form a tube shape. The packaging laminate material 1 is preheated by hot air from the preheating means 8 of the longitudinal seal device and sealed in the longitudinal direction, and fluid food is filled into the tubular packaging laminate material 1 from the lower end of the filling pipe 7.

The tube-shaped packaging material 1 is filled with liquid food from the filling pipe 7 to a predetermined liquid level, and is horizontally sealed below the liquid level in the tube transverse direction.
In the feature of this embodiment, a pressure flange is provided below the liquid level in the tubular packaging material and above the lateral seal position.

In FIG. 1, the cross-sectional front view of the pressure flange 20 of the packaging filling apparatus of an Example is shown.
In this embodiment, the upper end pressure buffering portion is composed of an elastic bag 21 disposed below the ceiling of the main body and a sterile gas 22 filled in the elastic bag. Since the buffer member 22 is a sterile gas, the gas is easily compressed / expanded and exhibits a buffering action. Since the amount of sterilized gas is kept constant by the balloon-shaped elastic bag, the gas does not decrease due to runoff or divergence due to vibration / flow of the liquid. In addition, there is a risk that gas may accumulate on the ceiling of the pressure flange 20 due to the trap of bubbles / dissolved gas accompanying the filled liquid, but in this example, a small hole 23 is provided in the ceiling so that it can escape.

In this embodiment, the pressure flange 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower filling pipe 7a. The pressure flange 20 can effectively use the space in the tubular packaging material without obstructing the arrangement of the filling pipe 7a. Further, when the lower filling pipe 7a is washed, it can be removed, washed and attached as a whole.

In FIG. 2, the cross-sectional front view of the pressure flange 20 of the packaging filling apparatus of a reference aspect is shown.
In the reference mode, the upper end pressure buffering portion includes an elastic film 26 disposed under the ceiling of the main body and an aseptic gas 22 filled in a space formed between the ceiling and the elastic film.
Since the buffer member 22 is a sterile gas, it is easily compressed / expanded and buffered. Since the sterilized gas is sealed by the elastic membrane 26 and the amount thereof is kept constant, the gas is not lost by flowing or diverging due to the vibration / flow of the liquid. Further, there is a possibility that gas may be accumulated on the upper portion of the pressure flange 20 due to the trap of bubbles / dissolved gas accompanying the filled liquid, but in this example, a small hole 25 is provided on the upper portion and can escape.

Also in this aspect, the pressure flange 20 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower filling pipe 7a. The pressure flange 20 can effectively use the space in the tubular packaging material without obstructing the arrangement of the filling pipe 7a. Further, when the lower filling pipe 7a is removed from the upper filling pipe 7b and washed, it can be removed, washed and attached as a whole.

As shown in the example of FIG. 4, liquid food is filled into a tubular packaging material from a filling pipe to a predetermined liquid level and adjusted.
A cylindrical float 34 is disposed around the outer periphery of the vertical portion of the filling pipe 7. The float 34 floating in the liquid is between the tube packaging material 1 and the filling pipe 7 and is fitted to the outer surface of the vertical portion of the filling pipe 7 so as to be movable in the vertical direction. Non-detecting means 35 is attached to the float 11. A detector 31 is disposed outside the tube 1. Thereby, the liquid level of the liquid is adjusted to a predetermined level.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tube-shaped packaging laminate material 1 includes two pairs of molded flaps 41 while the tube-shaped packaging material 1 filled with food is sent downward by a length corresponding to one packaging container. , 41 and formed into an approximate container shape, sandwiched by two pairs of sealing jaws 10a and 10a and opposing jaws 11 and 11, and laterally sealed in the transverse direction to form two lateral sealing zones. The intermediate part of the sealing band of the pillow-shaped preform is cut with a knife 42 and separated into individual pillow-shaped preforms 13.

The original container 13 is transported by the final molding and transporting device 15 and formed into a final shape, and the packaging container 14 for storing the fluid food is completed.

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.

By the packaging and filling apparatus of the present invention, packaging containers for beverages such as milk, juice and mineral water, and liquid foods can be produced.

It is a cross-sectional front view of the pressure flange of the packaging filling apparatus of the Example by this invention. It is a section front view of the pressure flange of the packing filling device of a reference mode. It is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the packaging filling apparatus which can be used for this invention. It is a section front view explaining the liquid level control of a packaging filling device. It is a section front view explaining the transverse seal device of a packing filling device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Packaging material 7 Filling pipe 20 Pressure flange 21 Elastic bag 22 Aseptic gas 22 Elastic membrane

Claims (1)

The web-shaped packaging material is formed into a tube shape, vertically sealed in the longitudinal direction of the tube at both ends of the packaging material, and filled with liquid food from the filling pipe into the tubular packaging material to a predetermined liquid level, A packaging and filling device for producing a packaging container by transversely sealing under the liquid level in the transverse direction of the tube and cutting it,
A pressure flange that is provided below the liquid level in the tubular packaging material and above the lateral seal position, and includes a hollow cylindrical main body and an upper end pressure buffering portion;
The pressure flange is provided on an outer periphery of the filling pipe;
The upper end pressure buffering portion is composed of an elastic bag disposed under the ceiling of the main body, and a sterile gas filled in the elastic bag.
A packaging and filling apparatus.