JP2013039926A - Sealing device for cup-shaped container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent sealing from being incomplete due to a difference between levels of paired holding members 14A and 14B when sealing an opening portion in a process for holding and conveying a cup-shaped container 2 by the holding members 14A and 14B.SOLUTION: At a sealing position C for sealing a flange-shaped seal section 2a provided at a peripheral edge of the opening portion of the cup-shaped container 2 intermittently conveyed by a container conveying conveyor 4 including a large number of container holding means 14 with the pairs of holding members 14A and 14B by welding a film 60 to be a lid 64 to the seal section 2a, a container elevating/lowering means 76 for lifting the container 2, a container support means 38 for supporting a lower surface of the seal section 2a in the lifted container 2 by bringing a pair of support members 38A and 38B close to each other from both sides, and a seal head 54 for pressing and welding a film sheet on the seal section 2a of the container 2 are provided. Further, a receiving member 72 for receiving each of the pair of holding members 14A and 14B pushed down via the pair of support members 38A and 38B pushed by the seal head 54 is provided to be buffered.

Description

  The present invention relates to a hermetically sealing device for a cup-shaped container in which an opening is sealed with a lid material such as a film after the cup-shaped container is filled with contents such as a liquid.

  Cup-shaped containers with flange-shaped seals formed on the periphery of the opening are transported intermittently by the container transport conveyor, and sequentially to the processing positions such as the filling position and seal position provided in the transport path of these containers. 2. Description of the Related Art Filling and sealing devices for cup-shaped containers that are stopped and each processing is performed by filling means, sealing means, and the like provided at each processing position are widely known.

  The container-conveying conveyor provided in the cup-shaped container filling and sealing device has a large number of cup-shaped containers having flange-shaped sealing portions on the periphery of the opening at the upper end, and spanned between endless chains arranged on both sides. One by one is inserted into a container holding hole formed in the plate (container holding member), and the seal part is supported and conveyed from the lower surface side (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the filling and sealing device, each process is performed at each processing position, and at the seal position, a lid made of a film sheet is supplied onto the opening of the cup-shaped container held by the container holding member. Then, by lowering and pressing the seal head installed above the stop position of the cup-shaped container, the lid member is welded to the flange part (seal part) of the container to seal the opening of the container Yes.

  In the sealing position, when the processing is performed by lowering the seal head and pressing the lid and the container from above, there is a problem that a load is applied to the plate of the holding member and the plate is bent downward. Therefore, in the invention described in Patent Document 1, members are provided on both sides of each container holding hole formed in the plate so as to abut from the lower surface side to support the plate, and when pressed by the seal head. The member to be supported is kept horizontal.

  In the invention described in Patent Document 1, a plurality of circular container holding holes are formed in a holding member made of a single plate, and cup-shaped containers are respectively accommodated in the container holding holes and transported. Therefore, in the case where the container is also used as a container having a different size, the plate in which the container holding hole is formed must be exchanged according to the size of the container. Therefore, a cup-shaped container sealing device is used in which each container holding member is composed of a pair of holding plates, and when the size of the container is changed, the distance between the both holding plates is adjusted so that they can be used together. (See Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3).

  When the container holding member (referred to as a holder plate in Patent Document 2 and a cup holding member in Patent Document 3) is divided as in the inventions described in Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, a gap is formed between the two holding members. Therefore, there is a problem that the gap cannot be sufficiently sealed even when pressed by the seal head. Therefore, another support member is arranged above the position where the container holding member at the seal position stops, and the seal head is received by this support member so that the entire circumference of the seal portion of the cup-shaped container can be completely sealed. ing.

Japanese Patent No. 4356387 Utility Model Registration No. 2541918 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 63-38177

  In the container conveyor, a large number of container holding members are provided between the endless chains on both sides, and there are manufacturing errors in the thickness of each member. When the sealing is performed by arranging (the support rail 62 of Patent Document 1), due to the error in the thickness of the holding member, the height of the upper surface (support surface) of the support member disposed above the support member is front and rear. There is a problem that the support surface is not the same plane and the seal becomes incomplete on the entire circumference.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and includes a container transport unit that transports the cup-shaped container between a pair of holding members divided in the transport direction, and at a predetermined transport stop position, In the sealing and sealing device for a cup-shaped container that seals the cup-shaped container by sealing a sheet-like lid material to a seal portion that is formed to protrude to the periphery of the opening of the cup-shaped container, the predetermined conveyance stop position is A container elevating means for lifting the cup-shaped container from between the pair of holding members, and a pair of support members approaching from the front and rear in the transport direction of the raised cup-shaped container, surrounding the cup-shaped container, Container support means for supporting the seal portion from below, and a lid seal that seals the opening by pressing the sheet-like lid material against the seal portion of the cup-shaped container supported by the container support means A step and a receiving member disposed below the pair of holding members and receiving from below the holding member that is pushed down together with the supporting member by pressing the cup-shaped container by the lid sealing means, and the receiving member is divided The holding member is provided corresponding to each holding member, and at least one of the receiving members is provided with a repulsive force generating means for generating a repulsive force against the pressing force through the holding member. It is.

  In addition, according to a second invention, in the first invention, the predetermined transport stop position for sealing the opening of the cup-shaped container with a sheet-like lid member is provided at two locations before and after the transport direction, and the stop In the two sets of container support means provided at the positions, the positions of the mating surfaces of the support member on the front side in the transport direction and the support member on the rear side in the transport direction are shifted forward and backward in the transport direction. .

  The cup-shaped container hermetically sealing device of the present invention is provided with a receiving member corresponding to each of the pair of divided holding members, and at least one of these receiving members has a repulsive force against a pressing force from above. Since the repulsive force generating means for generating the pressure is provided, the step in the vertical direction due to the production error of the pair of holding members can be absorbed, and uniform sealing is possible over the entire circumference of the seal portion of the cup-shaped container. .

FIG. 1 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a cup-shaped container filling and sealing apparatus. Example 1 FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view crossing the conveying direction of the seal position. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the conveying direction of the seal position. FIG. 4 is a plan view for comparing two seal positions. The lower part shows the first seal position and the upper part shows the second seal position.

  In the container conveyor, endless chains are wound around sprockets arranged on the left and right sides of the upstream side and the downstream side, and a number of container holding means are attached between the left and right endless chains. Each container holding means is composed of two holding members divided before and after the conveying direction, and the cup-shaped container is held in a recess formed in the pair of holding members. The container transporting conveyor runs intermittently, and the cup-shaped containers held by the container holding means are sequentially stopped at processing positions such as a filling position and a sealing position to receive various processes. At the seal position, the container supporting means and the lifting means for pushing up the cup-shaped container held by the container holding means and delivering it to the upper container supporting means are arranged above the position where the container holding means of the container transport conveyor stops. Has been. The container support means has a pair of support members provided with arc-shaped recesses for receiving the cup-shaped container, and these support members can be opened and closed. The two support members are brought close to each other and pushed up by the elevating means. The cup-shaped container is surrounded by the recess, and a flange-shaped seal portion formed on the outer periphery of the upper end opening of the cup-shaped container is supported from the lower surface. A seal head that presses and welds the film supplied on the opening of the cup-shaped container to the seal portion above each cup-shaped container supported by the container support means, and the container support means pushed down by the seal head A receiving member for receiving each holding member of the container holding means pushed down via the spring by a repulsive force by a spring is arranged, and the sealing head is lowered to press the film for the lid material against the sealing portion of the cup-shaped container and weld it. In this case, by receiving the pair of holding members by the receiving members, the object of achieving a complete seal over the entire circumference by absorbing a step due to a manufacturing error or the like of the both holding members.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. The hermetically sealing device for cup-shaped containers according to this embodiment intermittently conveys the cup-shaped container 2 having a shape having a large diameter at the upper part and gradually becoming smaller toward the lower part by container conveying means (container conveying conveyor 4). The respective processing is performed by sequentially stopping at each container processing position such as the filling position and the sealing position. In the container conveyor 4, endless chains 12 are respectively wound around sprockets 8 and 10 disposed on both sides of the upstream portion and downstream portion in the machine frame 6, and a large number of containers are held between the both side chains 12. Means 14 are attached.

  In this embodiment, each container holding means 14 is composed of a pair of holding members (holding plates 14A and 14B) arranged before and after in the conveying direction, and the interval between both holding plates 14A and 14B is adjusted. A plurality of types of cup-shaped containers 2 can be accommodated. Therefore, two sprockets 8 on the upstream side and two sprockets 10 on the downstream side are arranged on both sides, respectively, and endless chains 12 are respectively wound around the sprockets 8 and 10 on the upstream side and the downstream side. That is, two endless chains 12 are arranged on both the left and right sides (two chains 12A and 12B on one side of the container transport conveyor 4 are shown in FIG. 2). One holding plate 14A is attached between the two outer chains 12 (one is 12A), and the other holding plate 14B is attached between the two inner chains (one is 12B). The phase between the pair of outer endless chains 12A and the pair of inner endless chains 12B can be changed, and the distance between the pair of front and rear holding plates 14A and 14B is changed according to the size of the cup-shaped container 2. To do.

  The pair of front and rear holding plates 14A and 14B constituting the container holding means 14 are formed with recesses 14Aa and 14Ba (see FIG. 3) for holding the cup-shaped container 2 on the surfaces facing each other. The cup-shaped container 2 is held by the recesses 14Aa and 14Ba. The cup-shaped container 2 held by the container holding means 14 is formed with a flange portion (a seal portion 2a to be described later) projecting outward at the periphery of the opening at the upper end. The holding plates 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B are held on the peripheral portions of the recesses 14 </ b> Aa and 14 </ b> Ba.

  Each endless chain 12 (12A, 12B) arranged on both sides is supported by support rails 16A, 16B (see FIG. 2), respectively. These support rails 16 </ b> A and 16 </ b> B are supported by a support body 20 fixed to columns (not shown) arranged on the base 18 at a predetermined interval. Each of the support rails 16A and 16B is fixed to the lower surface of the attachment body 22 to which the rails 16A and 16B are attached, and is supported via a pin 24 penetrating the support body 20. A spring 26 disposed between the body 20 and the body 20 is always urged upward. Therefore, when a load acts on the endless chains 12A and 12B from above via the holding plates 14A and 14B, the spring 26 is bent and the endless chains 12A and 12B are lowered to absorb the loads.

  A container supply device 28 for supplying the cup-shaped container 2 to the container holding means 14 having the pair of holding plates 14A and 14B is provided above the upstream end (the right end in FIG. 1) of the container transport conveyor 4. A predetermined number of cup-shaped containers 2 are supplied from the container supply device 28 to the container holding means 14 when the container holding means 14 is rotated horizontally from below to around the upstream sprocket 8. . The container transport conveyor 4 to which the cup-shaped containers 2 are supplied to the container holding means 14 intermittently advances and stops, and sequentially stops the cup-shaped containers 2 at the respective container processing positions.

  Filling positions (first filling position A and second filling position B) are arranged on the downstream side of the container supply device 28. In the filling positions A and B, liquid or the like is transferred into the cup-shaped container 2 that has been conveyed. Filling devices (first filling device 30 and second filling device 32) for filling the contents are provided. In this embodiment, the filling of the contents is performed in two steps, and the two filling devices 30 and 32 are provided at intervals of one pitch of the cup-shaped container 2 that is intermittently conveyed. Although arranged, the number is not necessarily limited to two.

  A first seal position C is disposed downstream of the filling devices 30 and 32. Further, a second seal position D is arranged downstream from the first seal position C by two pitches of the cup-shaped container 2 that is intermittently conveyed. A first sealing device 34 and a second sealing device 36 are provided at the first and second sealing positions C and D as lid material sealing means for sealing by attaching a lid material to the cup-shaped container 2. These sealing devices 34 and 36 will be described with reference to FIGS. Since the first sealing device 34 and the second sealing device 36 have the same basic configuration, the entire configuration will be described with respect to the first sealing device 34. The second sealing device 36 is different from the first sealing device 34. I will explain only.

  When sealing the opening of the cup-shaped container 2 with the film for the lid above the position where the container holding means 14 of the container conveyor 4 that intermittently travels and stops stops at the first sealing position C, Container support means 38 for supporting the cup-shaped container 2 is disposed. The container support means 38 has a pair of support members (support plates) 38A and 38B arranged in the front and rear in the transport direction of the container transport conveyor 4 so that the support plates 38A and 38B approach and separate from each other. It has become. A large number of container holding means 14 attached to the container conveying conveyor 4 have a pair of holding plates 14A and 14B, respectively, and cup-shaped holding on the mutually facing surfaces of the pair of holding plates 14A and 14B. As many recesses 14Aa and 14Ba as the number of containers 2 are formed at equal intervals. Arc-shaped concave portions 38Aa and 38Ba surrounding the upper outer periphery of the cup-shaped container 2 are formed at positions corresponding to the upper and lower portions of the concave portions 14Aa and 14Ba of the holding plates 14A and 14B of the pair of support plates 38A and 38B. (See FIG. 3). When both support plates 38A and 38B are brought closest to each other, a circle having an inner diameter that is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the outer diameter of the upper end portion of the cup-shaped container 2 (the portion where the flange-shaped seal portion 2a is formed on the outer periphery) is formed. Is done.

  A pair of left and right support columns 40 are fixed upright on the base 18 outside the container transport conveyor 4 at the first seal position C. Each of the pair of columns 40 is arranged along the conveying direction of the container conveying conveyor 4, and a horizontal guide rod 46 is placed on both columns 40 via a buffering spring 42 and a guide rod support member 44. 4 is arranged in parallel with the transport direction. Two sliders 48 are slidably fitted to the guide rod 46. The pair of support plates 38A and 38B are connected to the sliders 48, respectively. A direction in which two horizontal rotating shafts 50 rotatably supported on the side walls of the machine frame 6 are arranged on the outer sides of the pair of support columns 40 arranged on both sides of the container transport conveyor 4 and perpendicular to the transport direction. It is arranged facing.

  Gears (not shown) are respectively fixed to the two parallel rotating shafts 50 arranged on the left and right sides of the container transport conveyor 4 and mesh with each other. Accordingly, when one of the rotation shafts 50 is rotated in one direction by a driving means such as a motor, the other rotation shaft 50 rotates in the opposite direction by the same rotation angle. Downward levers 52 are connected to the rotation shafts 50, respectively, and swing in the reverse direction as the rotation shafts 50 rotate. Long holes 52a are formed near the lower portions of the levers 52, and shafts 38Ab and 38Bb connected to the ends of the support plates 38A and 38B pass through the long holes 52a. Thus, the shaft portions 38Ab and 38Bb can move relatively. When one of the rotating shafts 50 is rotated, both rotating shafts 50 rotate in opposite directions, and the lever 52 swings along with this rotation, so that the pair of support plates 38A and 38B approach. Separate.

  When the support plates 38A, 38B provided at the first seal position C approach each other, the plurality of arc-shaped recesses 38Aa, 38Ba and the holding plates 14A, 14B of the container holding means 14 stopped below the concave portions 38Aa, 38Ba are provided. The seal heads 54 are respectively provided so as to be movable up and down above the positions where the container holding recesses 14Aa and 14Ba overlap each other. These seal heads 54 are moved up and down by the operation of the air cylinder 56. Each of the seal heads 54 includes an annular seal portion 54a having substantially the same diameter as the flange-shaped seal portion 2a formed around the upper end opening of the cup-shaped container 2, and supports the container as will be described later. A film 60 as a lid material is pressed and welded to the seal portion 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 supported by the means 38. Further, a trimming cutter 62 (see FIG. 3) capable of moving up and down relatively with respect to the annular seal portion 54a is provided inside the seal head 54 at the first seal position C, and the annular seal portion 54a. After the lid material film 60 is welded to the flange-shaped seal portion 2a of the cup-shaped container 2, the outer peripheral portion is cut into the shape of the lid 64 (see FIG. 4). In this embodiment, the shape of the lid 64 includes a circular portion 64a that covers the circular opening of the cup-shaped container 2 and a tongue-shaped portion 64b that serves as an operation portion when the lid 62 is peeled off. It is not limited to this shape.

  The seal head 54 at the first seal position C includes a trimming cutter 62 for cutting the periphery of the lid material film 60 welded to the seal portion 2a of the cup-shaped container 2, but the second seal position D The sealing head 58 provided in the above is transported with the lid 64 having the lid material film 60 already cut mounted thereon, so that no trimming cutter is provided.

  Receiving members 66 are arranged at the left and right sides of each cup-shaped container 2 held by the stopped container holding means 14 at the first and second seal positions C and D, respectively. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, these receiving members 66 are arranged on top of an upright plate-like member 68 via a spring 70. In this embodiment, two receiving members 66 are provided in correspondence with the pair of holding plates 14A and 14B located in the front and rear in the transport direction. These receiving members 66 are always urged upward by a spring 70 and the raised position is restricted by a stopper 74. When the receiving member 66 is pushed from above, the spring 70 is bent and lowered to allow a change in height. Since the set of two receiving members 66 are arranged on both sides of each cup-shaped container 2 held by the container holding means 14, a number one place larger than the number of containers 2 is arranged (for example, In the case where the number of cup-shaped containers 2 is six, a total of seven receiving members 66 are arranged on both sides of each cup-shaped container 2). The spring 70 for urging the receiving member 66 upward constitutes a repulsive force generating means described in claim 1.

  An elevating member 76 as a container elevating means is disposed below each cup-like container 2 held by the stopped container holding means 14 at the seal positions C and D. The elevating member 76 includes a circular dish-shaped portion 76a that receives the bottom 2b of the cup-shaped container 2, and an elevating shaft 76b that is supported at the upper end and is supported so as to be movable up and down. It is moved up and down by driving means 78 (see FIG. 1) such as a servo cylinder.

  The container support means 38 of the first seal device 34 disposed at the first seal position C and the container support means 80 of the second seal device 36 disposed at the second seal position D basically have the same structure. In this embodiment, however, the position of the mating surface F1 when the two support plates 38A and 38B of the container support means 38 are approached and the support plates 80a and 80b before and after the container support means 80 are approached. The position of the mating surface F <b> 2 is made different from the center of the cup-shaped container 2.

  4 is a plan view showing the cup-like container 2 supported by the container support means 38 at the first seal position C, and the figure shown at the top is the container support means 80 at the second seal position D. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the cup-shaped container 2 supported by the support plate 38A, 80A on the front side in the transport direction and the support plate 38B on the rear side in the transport direction of the container support means 38, 80 provided at two places. The positions of the mating surfaces F1 and F2 with 80B are changed. That is, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 4, at the first seal position C, the cup-shaped container 2 that supports the mating surface F1 between the support plate 38A on the front side in the transport direction and the support plate 38B on the rear side in the transport direction. The center line O1 in the direction crossing the transport direction (see arrow P) is shifted rearward in the transport direction. On the other hand, as shown in the upper part of FIG. The mating surface F2 of the support plates 80A and 80B is shifted forward in the transport direction with respect to the center line O2 in the direction crossing the transport direction P of the cup-shaped container 2. In this case, if the overall width (length before and after the transport direction) of the container support means 38 at the first seal position C and the container support means 80 at the second seal position D is the same, the first seal position The length L1 of the support plate 38A on the front side in the transport direction before and after the transport direction in C is longer than the length L3 of the second seal position D on the front side in the transport direction of the support plate 80A in the transport direction. The length L2 of the first seal position C before and after the conveyance direction of the support plate 38B on the rear side in the conveyance direction is shorter than the length L4 of the second seal position D before and after the conveyance direction of the support plate 80B on the rear side in the conveyance direction. doing. Since the mating surfaces F1 and F2 of the support plates 38A, 38B, 80A, and 80B before and after the two container support means 38 and 80 are completely in close contact with each other, a gap is formed, and sealing is performed by the seal heads 54 and 58. At this time, there is a possibility that the sealing at the mating surfaces F1 and F2 may be incomplete, but by performing the two sealing processes in which the positions of the mating surfaces F1 and F2 are changed in this way, a perfect seal can be obtained. Is possible.

  A film 60 as a lid material is supplied between the upper part of the cup-shaped container 2 being conveyed by the container conveying conveyor 4 and the lower surface of the seal head 54 of the first sealing device 34. The lid material film 60 is drawn from a roll-shaped film installed outside the hermetic seal device according to this embodiment, and is introduced into this hermetic seal device via an introduction roller (not shown). The lid material film 60 introduced into the hermetic seal device is directed in the direction opposite to the transport direction P of the container transport conveyor 4 by the direction changing roller 82, and then the container transport conveyor via the drive roller 84, the idle roller 86, and the like. After being pulled down to the conveying surface 4, it is supplied below the first sealing device 34.

  The lid material film 60 is welded to the flange-like seal portion 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 by the lowered seal head 54 in the first sealing device 34, cut out by the trimming cutter 62, and the lid 64 from the main body portion of the film 60. Separated as. The remaining part of the film 60 from which the lid 64 has been cut off is taken up by a roll 90 via a discharge roller 88 and the like.

  The operation of the cup-shaped container hermetically sealing device according to the above configuration will be described. The container transport conveyor 4 is provided with a large number of container holding means 14 between the endless chains 12 on both sides, and runs intermittently in the direction of arrow P in FIG. When the container holding means 14 of the container transport conveyor 4 rotates around the upstream sprocket 8 and appears on the upper surface side, each container holding means is provided from the container supply device 28 provided at the upstream end of the hermetic seal device. The cup-shaped container 2 is supplied to 14. Each container holding means 14 is formed with recesses 14Aa and 14Ba for holding a plurality of cup-shaped containers 2, and a predetermined number of cup-shaped containers 2 are supplied simultaneously. The cup-shaped container 2 is formed with a flange-shaped seal portion 2a (see FIG. 2) at the periphery of the upper end opening, and this seal portion 2a is formed on both holding plates 14A and 14B of the container holding means 14. The recesses 14 </ b> Aa and 14 </ b> Ba are engaged with each other and held, and are conveyed while being suspended from the container holding means 14.

  The cup-like container 2 supplied from the container supply device 28 is repeatedly advanced and stopped by intermittent travel of the container conveyor 4, and when stopped at the first filling position A which is the first processing position, A predetermined amount of liquid or other content is filled from the first filling device 30 provided in the container. After the first filling of the cup-shaped container 2 is performed, the container 2 further advances by one pitch and stops below the second filling device 32 provided at the second filling position B, and the second time. Is filled. In the second filling, the cup-shaped container 2 is filled with a predetermined amount of content such as a liquid.

  The cup-shaped container 2 filled at the first and second filling positions A and B is intermittently conveyed and stopped at the first sealing position C. At the first seal position C, the container support means 38 is disposed above the stopped container holding means 14, and both support plates 38 </ b> A and 38 </ b> B of the container support means 38 are opposite to the two rotation shafts 50. The lower portions of both levers 52 are separated from each other by swinging outward by rotation of the lever 52. In this state, the elevating member 76 disposed below the cup-shaped container 2 held by the container holding means 14 is raised by the operation of the servo cylinder 78. As shown in FIG. 3, the elevating member 76 rises from the position shown by the solid line to the position shown by the imaginary line, lifts the cup-like container 2 and places the flange-like seal portion 2a on the container support means 38 disposed above. The upper and lower support plates 38A and 38B protrude slightly upward.

  After the cup-shaped container 2 is lifted by the elevating member 76, both the rotating shafts 50 are rotated in the reverse direction so that the both support plates 38A and 38B are brought close to each other and surrounded by both arc-shaped concave portions 38Aa and 38Ba. The seal portion 2a is supported from the lower surface. Thereafter, the seal head 54 of the first seal device 34 is lowered by the operation of the air cylinder 56. At the first seal position C, a film 60 as a lid material is supplied between the container support means 38 and the seal head 54. The seal head 54 is lowered and between the annular seal portion 54a and the upper surface of the container support member 38 (the peripheral portions of the arc-shaped recesses 38Aa and 38Ba supporting the lower surface side of the seal portion 2a of the cup-shaped container 2). Then, the seal part 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 and the lid material film 60 are sandwiched and pressed, and both the parts 2a and 60 are welded. Thereafter, the film 60 is cut into the shape of the lid 64 by the trimming cutter 62 provided on the seal head 54 of the first sealing device 34.

  When the seal head 54 is lowered and pressed, the container support means 38 is pressed downward and pressed against the container holding means 14 positioned below the container support means 38. The container support means 38 includes a pair of support plates 38 A and 38 B, and both the support plates 38 A and 38 B are fitted to the guide rod 46 via the slider 48. Both ends of the guide rod 46 are supported on the support column 40 via springs 42, and the downward load applied to the support plates 38A and 38B is absorbed by the springs 42.

  When the container support means 38 is pushed down from above by the seal head 54, the container holding means 14 located below the container support means 38 are pushed down together, and the receiving members 66 arranged on both sides of each cup-shaped container 2. Pressed against. Two each of these receiving members 66 are provided on the plate-like member 68 via springs 70, respectively. These two receiving members 66 are arranged corresponding to the holding plates 14A and 14B, and even if there is a step in the pair of holding plates 14A and 14B, the step can be absorbed. Sealing by the seal head 54 can be performed with the support plates 38A and 38B in a flat state. The receiving member 66 receives a force by which the container holding means 14 is pushed downward by the pressing force from above by the seal head 54 via the container support means 38, and the container holding means 14 is connected at both ends thereof. The endless chain 12 is supported by a spring 26 that urges the support rails 16A and 16B upward, and the downward movement is absorbed. Further, the container support means 38 is supported by a spring 42 on a guide rod 46 slidably fitted with sliders 48 fixed to both ends thereof, and the spring 42 absorbs downward displacement. .

  The cup-shaped container 2 to which the lid 64 is welded at the first seal position C is intermittently conveyed by two pitches and sent to the second seal position D. Even at the second seal position D, the seal member 2a of the cup-shaped container 2 is moved up above the upper surfaces of the support plates 80A and 80B by the elevating member 76 raised by the air cylinder 78 as in the first seal position C. Pushed up. At this position, the two support plates 80A and 80B are approached to surround the cup-shaped container 2 with the arc-shaped concave portions 80Aa and 80Ba, and the lower surface of the seal portion 2a is supported. In this state, the seal head 58 is lowered by the air cylinder 56 and the second sealing step is performed. At the second seal position D, the position of the mating surface F2 of the front and rear support plates 80A and 80B of the container support means 80 disposed above the position where the container holding means 14 is stopped is provided at the first seal position C. The position of the mating surface F1 of the support plates 38A and 38B before and after the container support means 38 is shifted. Therefore, even if the seal is incomplete due to the gap between the mating surfaces F1 of the two support plates 38A and 38B at the first seal position C, the second seal process completes the entire circumference of the seal portion 2a. Sealing can be performed.

  The cup-shaped container 2 that is completely adhered and sealed over the entire circumference of the lid 64 by the two sealing steps is further intermittently transported and sent to a discharge position (not shown). It is discharged from the sealing device. In the above-described embodiment, the receiving member 68 is urged upward by the spring 70 to generate a repulsive force with respect to the holding plates 14A and 14B in the front and rear directions, respectively. It can also be set as the structure which produces a repulsive force only to a holding plate. In this case, it is necessary to set the receiving member on the side that generates the repulsive force at a higher position than the other receiving member.

2 Cup-shaped container 2a Sealing part of cup-shaped container 4 Container transport means (container transport conveyor)
14A Holding member (holding plate)
14B Holding member (holding plate)
34 Lid material sealing means (first sealing device)
36 Lid material sealing means (second sealing device)
38 Container support means 38A Support member (support plate)
38B Support member (support plate)
66 Receiving member 76 Container elevating means (elevating member)

Claims (2)

A seal unit that includes container transport means for holding and transporting the cup-shaped container between a pair of holding members divided in the transport direction, and is formed to protrude from the periphery of the opening of the cup-shaped container at a predetermined transport stop position. Further, in a sealing device for a cup-shaped container that seals a cup-shaped container by sealing a sheet-like lid material,
A container lifting / lowering means for lifting the cup-shaped container from between the pair of holding members and the pair of support members from the front and rear in the transport direction of the raised cup-shaped container are brought close to the predetermined transport stop position to surround the cup-shaped container. A container support means for supporting the seal part of the cup-shaped container from below, and a lid for pressing the sheet-like lid material against the seal part of the cup-shaped container supported by the container support means to seal the opening A material sealing means, and a receiving member that is disposed below the pair of holding members and receives a holding member that is pushed down together with the supporting member by pressing the cup-shaped container by the lid sealing means from below,
The receiving member is provided corresponding to each of the divided holding members, and at least one of the receiving members is provided with repulsive force generating means for generating a repulsive force against the pressing force through the holding member. A cup-shaped container hermetically sealing device characterized by the above. The predetermined transport stop position for sealing the opening of the cup-shaped container with a sheet-like lid material is provided at two locations before and after the transport direction,
The two sets of container support means provided at the stop position are configured such that the positions of the mating surfaces of the support member on the front side in the transport direction and the support member on the rear side in the transport direction are shifted back and forth in the transport direction. Item 2. A cup-shaped container hermetically sealing device according to Item 1.

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