JP2016069058A - Leakage detection device of soft packaging container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a leakage detection device of a soft packaging container accurately and quickly detecting leakage of a specified region having a three-dimensional molding portion or the like.SOLUTION: A leakage detection device of a soft packaging container includes: a chamber which is formed by a pair of chamber vessels and stores a region to be inspected of the soft packaging container therein; pressure adjustment means for sucking air in a space in the chamber; optical displacement sensors which are respectively provided outside the pair of chamber vessels so as to measure the displacement of the region to be inspected which is stored in the chamber; and leakage determination means for determining leakage of the region to be inspected from the displacement of the region to be inspected which is measured by the optical displacement sensors. Each of the pair of chamber vessels includes a transparent window transmitting light ray of the optical displacement sensors to a surface facing the optical displacement sensors.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a leak detection device for detecting a leak (opening) in a soft packaging container such as a pouch, and further, optical displacement is applied to the displacement of an inspected area of a soft packaging container accommodated in a pressure-adjusted chamber. The present invention relates to a leak detection device that detects a leak of a flexible packaging container by measuring with a sensor.

In daily life, contents such as seasonings and detergents, which are the main consumer products, are sold in plastic bottles. However, from the viewpoint of resource conservation and environmental protection, they can be refilled into plastic bottles after consumption. As a flexible packaging container that is easy to dispose of, the contents that are filled and sealed are refilled, and plastic bottles are repeatedly used.
In order to make it easier to pour the contents when refilling plastic bottles that are used repeatedly, as a soft packaging container for refilling, a pouch with a spout (pouring) with a three-dimensional spout (nozzle) formed on the pouch Functional packaging bags) are widely used. (Patent Document 1)

  On the other hand, after a flexible packaging body or a container having a deformable lid is accommodated inside the chamber and the pressure inside the chamber is reduced, the flexible packaging body swelling change amount or after pressurizing the inside of the chamber There is known an inspection apparatus that can detect the degree of sealing of a package or a container by measuring the displacement of the lid. (Patent Documents 2 and 3)

  In addition, the cap with lid of the film packaging body was hermetically surrounded by a pair of small chambers, and after the chamber was depressurized while the ship-shaped pedestal in the plug was clamped by the clamping body, the clamping pressure by the clamping body was relaxed A detection device that detects leakage of air between a cap with a lid provided on a film-made package and a film by detecting a change in pressure in the chamber is known. (Patent Document 4)

JP 2000-177756 A JP-A-60-202341 JP 2000-88694 A JP-A-2005-207806

  In a soft packaging container such as a pouch shown in Patent Document 1, by forming a predetermined region such as a spout part in a three-dimensional manner, a three-dimensionally molded part in the formation stage and the conveyance stage of the flexible packaging container, and its There is a possibility that a hole such as a pin pole or a crack such as a crack (hereinafter collectively referred to as a hole opening) may occur in the vicinity. For this reason, it is necessary to detect effectively the opening of the predetermined area | region which causes the content leakage of the soft packaging container with which the content was filled and sealed.

Moreover, since the inspection apparatus described in Patent Documents 2 and 3 contains the entire package or container to be inspected in a chamber and inspects the sealing degree, the overall sealing degree of the inspected object However, it was not intended to focus on a predetermined area where a hole such as a three-dimensional spout of a soft packaging container may be perforated. For this reason, the chamber is enlarged, and there is a problem that it takes time to depressurize the chamber.
In addition, it cannot cope with the measurement of the displacement of the object to be inspected, such as a flexible packaging container such as a pouch before filling and sealing the contents, which is easily deformed, and the displacement cannot be measured accurately.

  On the other hand, the inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 4 has a problem that the apparatus configuration has to be complicated because it is necessary to arrange the pressure sensor and the sandwiching body in the chamber.

  The present invention solves these problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a leak detection device for a flexible packaging container that accurately and quickly detects a leak in a specific region having a three-dimensionally shaped portion or the like. .

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a leak detection apparatus for a flexible packaging container according to the present invention is formed by a pair of chamber containers, and contains a chamber for accommodating an inspected region of the flexible packaging container, and air in the space inside the chamber. Vacuum generating means for sucking, a pair of optical displacement sensors provided outside the pair of chamber containers, respectively, for measuring the displacement of the region to be inspected, and a target measured by the optical displacement sensor Leakage determining means for determining leakage of the region to be inspected from displacement of the inspection region, and the pair of chamber containers are provided with a transparent window that transmits the light beam of the optical displacement sensor on a surface facing the optical displacement sensor. It is what.

  Optical displacement sensors that measure the displacement of the inspected area of the flexible packaging container are respectively provided outside the pair of chamber containers forming the chamber, so that the displacement due to the expansion of the inspected area can be accurately measured. It is possible to accurately and quickly detect the presence or absence of leakage in the inspection area.

(A) is a schematic explanatory drawing of the leak detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (b) is a schematic explanatory drawing of the flexible packaging container used as the object of leak detection. (A) is a top view of the chamber of the leak detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (b) is the same side view. It is a figure explaining the leak detection process by the leak detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure explaining the state which arrange | positions a to-be-inspected area | region in a detection position. It is a figure explaining the leak detection process by the leak detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a figure explaining the state which measures the displacement of the to-be-inspected area | region accommodated in the inside of a chamber. It is a figure explaining the leak detection process by the leak detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, Comprising: After measuring the displacement of a to-be-inspected area | region, it is a figure explaining the state which releases the vacuum inside a chamber to atmospheric pressure. Of the vacuum electromagnetic valve related to the vacuum generating means and the vacuum breaking electromagnetic valve related to the vacuum breaking means of the leak detection device according to the embodiment of the present invention, the amount of change in the inspected area of the soft packaging container, and the pressure inside the chamber It is a graph which shows a relationship. It is a figure explaining the measurement state by the optical displacement sensor of the leak detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, (a) is the measurement state of the flexible packaging container in the normal time, (b) is bent to a flexible packaging container. It is a figure explaining the measurement state when this occurs. It is a figure explaining the determination method by the determination means of the leak detection apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

-Configuration of leak detection device-
(Overall configuration)
A leak detection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1A, a leak detection apparatus A according to the present invention includes a pair of chamber containers 11 and 12 that constitute a chamber 1 that houses a region to be inspected, and a vacuum that sucks air inside the chamber 1. A pair of optical displacement sensors 3a and 3b that are disposed outside the generating means 21 and the chamber containers 11 and 12 and measure the displacement of the region to be inspected contained in the chamber 1, and the optical displacement sensors 3a and 3a, It is comprised with the leak determination means (not shown) which determines a leak from the displacement of the to-be-inspected area | region measured by 3b.

  An example of the inspected area of the flexible packaging container, in which leakage is detected by the leak detection device of the present invention, will be described using a pouch 5 with a spout as shown in FIG. The pouch 5 with a spout is formed by heat-sealing a plastic film and is formed as a pouch 5 (packaging bag) having a spout 51. A notch or the like not shown is provided in the vicinity of the spout 51, and the spout is opened by tearing the tip of the spout from the cut, and a refill container such as a liquid detergent is poured into the spout. Can be refilled. The spout portion 51 is formed with a bulging three-dimensional molded portion 52 to secure a flow path so that the spout portion is not blocked when the contents are poured, and prevents the spout portion 51 from being bent. Thus, stable contents can be poured out. Then, the periphery of the spout 51 including the three-dimensionally shaped part 52 is the inspection area B in this embodiment.

(Chamber)
The chamber containers 11 and 12 that form the chamber 1 have a shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the inspection area B of the pouch 5 (for example, the inspection area B). The light beam of the optical displacement sensor is transmitted to the surfaces (the upper side of the wall member 11a in FIG. 1 and the lower side of the wall member 12a) on the side where the wall members 11a and 12a are separated from each other (the shape along the outer periphery). By fixing the transparent plates 11b and 12b made of synthetic resin such as acrylic or glass or the like, it is formed in a box shape having a transparent window at the bottom. And the surface (the lower side of the wall member 11a of FIG. 1 and the upper side of the wall member 12a) of the side which wall members 11a and 12a oppose is comprised as contact part 11c, 12c. In order to improve the sealing performance when the chamber 1 is formed, and to prevent the pouch 5 from being damaged when the pouch 5 is sandwiched, at least one of the contact portions 11c and 12c (in the present embodiment, the contact portion 11c). The part 11c) is provided with an elastic material 11d such as urethane rubber. Note that the elastic material 11d is not necessarily required when the sealing property of the chamber 1 can be maintained.

  Since the inner edges of the contact portions 11c and 12c of the wall members 11a and 12a of the chamber containers 11 and 12 have a shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the inspection area B, there is little wasted space inside the chamber 1, and the chamber described later 1 The internal pressure can be quickly adjusted. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the contact portions 11 c and 12 c of the chamber containers 11 and 12 are directly contacted, or the outer periphery of the inspection region B of the pouch is sandwiched and sealed to place the inspection region B inside the chamber 1. By accommodating, it is possible to specify and inspect a region where it is desired to inspect the three-dimensionally shaped portion 52 of the pouch 5 and its peripheral portion.

The pair of chamber containers 11 and 12 are in a sealed state in which the contact portions 11c and 12c are in contact with each other by the power of an actuator (not shown), or are sandwiched and sealed together with the outer periphery of the inspection region B of the pouch, and The abutting portions 11c and 12c are configured to be movable in an open state in which the abutting portions 11c and 12c are separated from each other, and the chamber 1 having a sealed space inside is formed by sealing the abutting portions 11c and 12c of the chamber containers 11 and 12. Composed.
If there is no problem in the placement operation of the inspection region B of the pouch 5 with respect to the leak detection device A, one of the chamber containers 11 and 12 is fixed and only the other is movable, so that the sealed state and the open state are maintained. And may be switched.

(Vacuum generation means)
The vacuum generating means 21 sucks air inside the chamber 1 and vacuums the inside of the chamber 1, and a vacuum pressure adjusting device that is connected to the vacuum generating device 21 a and adjusts the negative pressure state inside the chamber 1. 21b, and a vacuum electromagnetic valve 21c that is connected to the vacuum pressure adjusting device 21b and switches between opening and closing between the vacuum generating device 21a and the inside of the chamber 1.

(Vacuum breaking means)
The vacuum breaker 22 generates a compressed air having a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure (gauge pressure 0 kPa, absolute pressure 101.3 kPa) and sends the compressed air to the compressed air generator 22a. From a vacuum breaking pressure adjusting device 22b for adjusting the pressure of air, and a vacuum breaking electromagnetic valve 22c connected to the vacuum breaking pressure adjusting device 22b and switching between opening and closing between the vacuum breaking pressure adjusting device 22b and the inside of the chamber 1 Become.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the output pipe 21d of the vacuum electromagnetic valve 21c and the output pipe 22d of the vacuum breaking electromagnetic valve 22c merge and are connected to the communication pipe 23. The communication pipe 23 is connected to the inside of the chamber 1, and the pouch 5 A pipe is connected to and communicated with the opening 23a outside the inspection area B. Therefore, since the vacuum generating means 21 can prevent the bending of the inspected area B and the vibration due to the air flow accompanying the suction of the air inside the chamber 1 and the vacuum breaking means 22 to the air inside the chamber 1, Measurement of the displacement of the region B can be performed in a stable state.

(Optical displacement sensor)
The optical displacement sensors 3a and 3b are disposed outside the pair of chamber containers 11 and 12, respectively, and are irradiated with light beams such as laser beams emitted from the light projecting unit through the transparent windows of the chamber containers 11 and 12, respectively. By projecting light to a measurement location in the inspection area B and receiving reflected light reflected from the measurement location, the displacement of the measurement location in the inspection area B is measured.

-Displacement measurement method using leak detector-
With reference to FIG. 3 thru | or 6, the measuring method of the displacement of the to-be-inspected area | region B by the leak detection apparatus A of this invention is demonstrated.
As shown in FIG. 3, for example, the pouch 5 manufactured by the manufacturing line is transported in the direction indicated by the arrow A by a transport means (not shown), and the inspection area B including the spout 51 is moved to a separated state. Positioned between the paired upper and lower chamber containers 11 and 12.

  When the inspection area B of the pouch 5 is positioned at a predetermined position between the chamber containers 11 and 12, the pair of upper and lower chamber containers 11 and 12 are moved in the directions shown by arrows a and c by an actuator (not shown), The abutting portions 11 c and 12 c of the chamber containers 11 and 12 sandwich the inspected area B and are in a sealed state, so that the inspected area B of the pouch 5 is accommodated in the sealed space inside the chamber 1.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the inspection area B of the pouch 5 is accommodated in the chamber 1, the optical displacement sensors 3 a and 3 b use the optical displacement sensors 3 a and 3 b to set a predetermined portion of the inspection area B in the initial state, for example, the center of the three-dimensional molding unit 52. Measure the displacement (initial value). Then, the values a0 and b0 respectively measured by the optical displacement sensors 3a and 3b are transmitted to a determination unit (not shown) and stored as an initial value in a storage unit of the determination unit (t0 in FIG. 6).

Here, FIG. 6 will also be described. The solid line represents the case where the atmosphere is released into the chamber after decompression by natural atmospheric pressure (outside air) (case 1). A broken line indicates a case (case 2) in which release of the atmosphere in case 1 is performed by a vacuum break in which compressed air is sent instead of natural atmospheric pressure, and the atmospheric pressure release time can be shortened by time t. In the same manner as in Case 2, the one-dot chain line releases the atmosphere by vacuum break. However, when the shortened atmosphere release time t is used for the inspection time, the vacuum break electromagnetic valve 22c is turned on by delaying the time t. (Case 3).
It should be noted that the ON time of the vacuum electromagnetic valve 21c, the time when the internal pressure of the chamber 1 starts to be sucked and the internal pressure starts to decrease, the time when the internal pressure of the chamber 1 starts to decrease and the time when the inspection area B starts to expand, There is a slight time difference (response time) between the time and the time when the inside of the chamber 1 starts to release and the internal pressure starts to rise, the time when the internal pressure of the chamber 1 starts to rise and the time when the region B to be inspected starts to shrink, etc. Each response time is ignored for easy understanding.

  Then, after the initial values a0 and b0 are measured, the vacuum electromagnetic valve 21c of the vacuum generating means 21 is opened, and suction of the air inside the chamber 1 is started by the vacuum generating device 21a (t1). When the air inside the chamber 1 is sucked and the pressure inside the chamber 1 is reduced, the inspection region B of the pouch 5 is expanded by the pressure difference between the air existing inside the pouch and the inside of the chamber 1. Next, the pressure inside the chamber 1 is reduced to a vacuum (a predetermined negative pressure, for example, a gauge pressure of −80 kPa) by the vacuum pressure adjusting device 21b, and the inspection area B of the pouch 5 is further expanded (t2). Then, the vacuum electromagnetic valve 21c is opened for a predetermined time, and the pressure inside the chamber 1 is maintained in a vacuum for a predetermined time required for leak detection.

Thus, a predetermined time set to include the time during which the inside of the chamber 1 is maintained in a vacuum state (ta to tb in cases 1 and 2, that is, inspection section A, and ta to tb ′ in case 3) That is, in the inspection section A ′), the displacement of the inspection area B is measured for a predetermined time. The values measured for a predetermined time are transmitted to the determination means as needed, and the measured values a1, a2,... Of the optical displacement sensor 3a and the measured values b1, b2,. Remember as.
When the initial thickness of the measurement location is known in advance, the initial values a0 and b0 are not required to be measured. However, by measuring the initial values, the initial state of the region B to be inspected can be obtained. An error due to deflection or the like can be grasped and appropriately corrected, and an accurate expansion (a deformation amount of the inspection area) before and after the expansion of the inspection area B can be obtained.

Then, the measured values a1, a2,..., B1, b2... Are measured, and when the leak determination described later is completed, the vacuum electromagnetic valve 21c of the vacuum generating means 21 is closed as shown in FIG. The vacuum breaking electromagnetic valve 22c is opened, and the atmosphere inside the chamber 1 is released. In the cases 2 and 3 described above, the compressed air generated by the compressed air generating device 22a and the vacuum breaking pressure adjusting device 22b is released into the chamber 1 by opening the vacuum breaking electromagnetic valve 22c. (In FIG. 6, t3 in cases 1 and 2 and t3 ′ in case 3).
Next, the pressure inside the chamber 1 is increased and released to near atmospheric pressure, and the inspection area B of the pouch 5 is restored to the initial shape (in FIG. 6, t4 in cases 1 and 3 and t4 ′ in case 2). ).
In cases 2 and 3, the compressed air is forcibly sent into the chamber 1 by the vacuum breaker 22, so that the pressure inside the chamber 1 is quickly raised and released to near atmospheric pressure. Then, the chamber containers 11 and 12 having the inside of the chamber 1 released to the atmospheric pressure are moved in the directions indicated by arrows D and E to open the chamber 1, and the pouch 5 is moved outside the inspection apparatus by a conveying means (not shown). The series of leak detection steps is completed.

As can be seen from FIG. 6, there is no compressed air generator 22a and vacuum break pressure regulator 22b, and the vacuum break electromagnetic valve 22c is opened to increase the pressure to the atmospheric pressure inside the chamber 1 and release. Compared with the pressure increase / release time to atmospheric pressure (t3 to t4 in case 1 in FIG. 6) when the pressure is released by the vacuum pressure, the vacuum break means 22 forcibly supplies compressed air into the chamber 1 The pressure increase / release time to the atmospheric pressure (t3 to t4 ′ in case 2 and t3 ′ to t4 in case 3 in FIG. 6) is shortened by time t.
Then, by measuring the shortened time t as the time for measuring the displacement (in FIG. 6, ta to tb ′ in case 3), the time required for the entire series of detection process time is the atmosphere using natural atmospheric pressure. Even if it is the same as the case of release, the leak can be detected more accurately by the leak case method described later (case 3 in FIG. 6). Further, by reducing the time t for reducing the air release time as it is, the entire series of detection process time can be shortened (case 2 shown by a broken line in FIG. 6).

Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the measuring method of the displacement of the pouch 5 which has the three-dimensional shaping | molding part 52 in the spout part 51 in the chamber 1 is further demonstrated.
In the initial state, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 7A, in the inspection area B of the pouch 5, air remains in the three-dimensional molded portion 52, and the other is the inside of the chamber 1 with the plastic film being in close contact therewith. Is housed in. In this state, the optical displacement sensors 3a and 3b measure the displacement of the measurement location in the inspection area B in the initial state, thereby obtaining initial values a0 and b0 as the displacement of the inspection area B (initial state), respectively. It is done.

Next, when the inside of the sealed chamber 1 is adjusted to a vacuum state by the vacuum generating means 21, if the pouch 5 is a non-defective product, it remains in the three-dimensional molding portion 52 or the like of the inspection area B of the pouch 5. Air increases the pressure in the pouch 5 relative to the pressure in the chamber 1. As a result, the inspection area B of the pouch 5 expands as shown by the solid line in FIG. Then, by measuring the displacement of a predetermined portion of the inspection area B with the optical displacement sensors 3a and 3b, the measured values ai and bi (i is an integer from 1 to n. N is a measurement time) as the position at the time of expansion. The number of times during which displacement is measured).
In addition, the measurement of the displacement is measured over a predetermined time (in FIG. 6, in the case of Cases 1 and 2, in the inspection section A, in the case of Case 3, the inspection section A ′) in a state where the inside of the chamber 1 is decompressed, It is preferable to obtain a plurality of measured values a1, a2, ..., ai, ... an, b1, b2, ..., bi, ..., bn.
Then, using the measured values ai, bi and the initial values a0, b0, it is possible to calculate the expansion of the inspection area B (the amount of change in the inspection area).

By the way, in the case where the object to be inspected is a pouch 5 having flexibility as in the present invention, it does not always maintain a stable shape in the displacement measurement process. For example, as shown in FIG. As indicated by the solid line, there may be a case where the inspection area B is bent due to the suction of air inside the chamber 1 or the weight of the pouch 5. Even in such a state, the leak detection apparatus A of the present invention can accurately calculate the amount of change in the region B to be inspected.
That is, since the leak detection apparatus A of the present invention measures the displacement of the region B to be inspected by the pair of optical displacement sensors 3a and 3b provided outside the chamber 1, as shown in FIG. In one optical displacement sensor 3a, the initial value a0 and the measured value ai are substantially equal due to the deflection of the pouch 5, and the amount of change in the inspected area B is not calculated from only one optical displacement sensor 3a. However, the measurement value bi obtained by adding the deformation due to the deflection of the inspection area B to the other optical displacement sensor 3b is measured, and the deflection of the pouch 5 is taken into consideration from the initial values a0, b0 and the measurement values ai, bi. The amount of change of the inspection area B can be calculated accurately.

As a method for calculating the amount of change in the inspected area B from the initial values a0, b0 and the measured values ai, bi, it is obtained from the measured values ai, bi and the initial values a0, b0 by, for example, ai−a0 + bi−b0. What is necessary is just to set suitably, such as calculating the changed amount.
In addition, the detection sensitivity can be increased by calculating the amount of change in the inspection region B as a value obtained by combining the measurement values ai and bi of the pair of optical displacement sensors 3a and 3b.

-Leakage determination method-
With reference to FIG. 8, the leak determination method by a leak determination means is demonstrated.
When there is no hole in the inspected area B, that is, when the pouch 5 is a non-defective product, the air remaining in the three-dimensional molded portion 52 of the inspected area B of the pouch 5 and the like in the inspected area B Since the pressure is relatively high with respect to the pressure inside the chamber 1 that is in a vacuum state due to the suction of air, the inspection area B expands (non-defective product in FIG. 8a).

  On the other hand, when a relatively large hole is present in the inspection area B, even if the air inside the chamber 1 is sucked by the vacuum generating means 21, it remains in the three-dimensional molding portion 52 of the inspection area B or the like. The air being discharged is released and diffused into the chamber 1 through the perforated portion of the inspection area B, and is sucked together with the air inside the chamber 1, so that the pressure in the inspection area B becomes relatively high. Does not expand. Even if the air is inflated due to the sudden pressure difference at the initial stage of air suction, the air in the inspected area B is immediately sucked by the vacuum generating means 21 through the perforated portion. Cannot be maintained, and is restored to the initial state by the elasticity of the pouch 5 (FIG. 8a, large hole opening).

  Therefore, the amount of change in the inspection area B in the inspection section A set appropriately so as to include the time during which the chamber 1 is in a vacuum state is calculated, the calculated displacement amount is compared with a predetermined threshold value 1, and the displacement is calculated. When the amount is larger (ai−a0 + Bi−B0> threshold 1), it can be determined that the pouch 5 is a non-defective product (no leak).

  However, for example, when a very small hole is present in the inspection area B, the inspection area B is temporarily expanded due to the reduced pressure inside the chamber 1, and then a very small opening is detected from within the expanded inspection area B. Since air gradually passes through the chamber 1 and is diffused, the amount of change in the inspected area B may not be less than or equal to the threshold value 1 in the inspection section and may be judged as a non-defective product. (FIG. 8a small hole opening).

Therefore, in the present invention, as a method for detecting a hole in the inspection area B, in addition to a determination method (FIG. 8 a) for comparing the amount of change in the inspection section with the threshold value 1, A discriminating method for detecting a change and detecting the presence or absence of leakage is further employed (FIG. 8b).
In this method, the maximum change amount (first change amount ai _B −a0 + bi _B −b0) in the inspection section B of the time set so that the inside of the chamber 1 includes the initial time t2 in the vacuum state, and the inspection section B A change amount (second change amount ai _C −a0 + bi _C −b0) in the inspection C after a predetermined time has elapsed (for example, the trigger timing t3 or t3 ′ of the vacuum break electromagnetic valve 22c) is compared. When the difference between the first change amount and the second change amount is equal to or greater than a predetermined value (threshold value 2) (ai _B −ai _C + bi _B −bi _C ≧ threshold value 2), After the inspection area B has once expanded, it is determined that air gradually leaked from the expanded inspection area B through a very small hole location and contracted, and there is a hole in the pouch 5 (leak). Can be determined (FIG. 8b small hole opening).

  By adopting this determination method, it is possible to accurately determine the presence or absence of a very small hole in the pouch 5. However, only with a determination method for detecting the presence or absence of a hole by obtaining a change in the amount of change at two points apart in the inspection section, if there is a very large hole in the region B to be inspected, the negative pressure inside the chamber 1 In the state, there is almost no expansion (FIG. 8b, oversized hole), and the difference between the first change amount and the second change amount is not detected, so that the presence of the hole cannot be detected.

For this reason, in the leak determination means of the leak detection apparatus A of the present invention, the determination method shown in FIG. 8a for comparing all the variation amounts of the inspection section with the threshold 1, and the inspection section shown in FIG. It is preferable to use the difference between the two-point change amount and the determination method for comparing the threshold value 2 in order to detect various hole openings.
In the determination method for comparing with the threshold value in the examination section, all of the plurality of change amounts measured / calculated in the examination section may be a condition that is greater than or equal to the threshold value, and the average value of the plurality of change quantities It is good also as a condition that is more than a threshold.
Further, in order to mitigate the influence of noise in reading the optical displacement sensor, for the i-th displacement, for example, the amount of change calculated from the value obtained by taking the moving average of the i-1th, i-th and i + 1-th displacements. You may judge by.
In the above-described embodiment, the initial values a0 and b0 are measured, the amount of change in the inspected region B is obtained from the measured values ai and bi, and the amount of change is compared with a threshold value to determine leakage. Instead of a0 and b0, determination may be made from a preset threshold and measured values ai and bi. For example, the determination may be made by comparing the sum of the measured values ai and bi, ai + bi, with the set threshold value 1 ′, and based on the displacement measurement result of the present embodiment, for the examination section A, ai + bi> The threshold value 1 ′ is satisfied, and if necessary, the difference between the maximum value of ai _B + bi _B at an arbitrary time in the initial examination section B and ai _C + bi _C in the examination C is expressed as ai _B + bi _B − ( ai _C + bi _C ) (= ai _B −ai _C + bi _B −bi _C ) <If threshold value 2 is also satisfied, a determination condition may be set such that no hole is present (no leakage).
Further, in the determination method for comparing the difference between two points in the inspection section, the displacement amount in the inspection section B may be an average value of a plurality of displacement amounts that can be calculated in the inspection section B.
Further, the leakage determination means may be set to a determination condition that there is no leakage when the amount of change in the inspected area or the measured values ai and bi are within a predetermined threshold range.
Furthermore, the measurement is performed for each of the front and back sides of the pouch 5 using a pair of optical displacement sensors. However, the measurement may be performed for a plurality of locations as appropriate, and individual values may be determined or averaged for determination.

The apparatus of this embodiment may be configured as an inline apparatus incorporated in a production line for soft packaging containers such as pouches, or may be configured as an independent off-line apparatus.
In addition, the inspection target is not limited to a pouch with a spout provided with a three-dimensionally shaped part in the spout part, but, for example, a form of a soft packaging container or a three-dimensionally shaped product such as a three-dimensionally formed part formed at the center of a simple rectangular pouch. The formation position and shape of the part are not particularly limited.

A Leak Detection Device B Inspected Area 1 Chamber 11 Chamber Container 11a Wall Member 11b Transparent Plate 11c Abutting Part 11d Elastic Material 12 Chamber Container 12a Wall Member 12b Transparent Plate 12c Abutting Part 2 Pressure Adjusting Means 21 Vacuum Generating Means 21a Vacuum Generation Device 21b Vacuum pressure adjusting device 21c Vacuum solenoid valve 21d Output tube 22 Vacuum breaker 22a Compressed air generator 22b Vacuum break pressure adjusting device 22c Vacuum break solenoid valve 22d Output tube 23 Communication tube 23a Opening 3a Optical displacement sensor 3b Optical displacement Sensor 5 Pouch with spout (soft packaging container)
51 Outlet part 52 Solid molding part

Claims (8)

A chamber that is formed by a pair of chamber containers, and accommodates an inspected area of the flexible packaging container inside;
Vacuum generating means for sucking air in the space inside the chamber;
An optical displacement sensor that is provided outside each of the pair of chamber containers and measures the displacement of the region to be inspected contained in the chamber;
Leak determination means for determining leakage of the inspection area from the displacement of the inspection area measured by the optical displacement sensor,
The pair of chamber containers is provided with a transparent window that transmits light beams of the optical displacement sensor on a surface facing the optical displacement sensor. The chamber is formed by abutting the abutting portions provided in a pair of chamber containers, or the abutting portion and the outer periphery of the inspected region of the flexible packaging container,
The inner edge of the contact portion has a shape corresponding to the outer periphery of the area to be inspected,
The leak detection device for a soft packaging container according to claim 1, wherein the contact area is pressed to seal an outer periphery of the inspection area and accommodate the inspection area in the chamber. Comprising vacuum breaking means for sending compressed air into the space inside the chamber;
The apparatus for detecting leakage of a flexible packaging container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vacuum breaking means sends in compressed air after measuring the displacement of the region to be inspected by the optical displacement sensor. The leak detection apparatus for a flexible packaging container according to claim 3, wherein the vacuum breaker has a communication port that communicates with the inside of the chamber outside an inspection area accommodated in the chamber. The flexible packaging container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vacuum generating means is provided with a communication port communicating with the inside of the chamber outside an inspection region accommodated in the chamber. Leak detection device. The optical displacement sensor is used as a reference when measuring the displacement of the region to be inspected before adjusting the pressure inside the chamber by the pressure adjusting means and calculating the amount of displacement of the region to be inspected. Item 6. The flexible packaging container leak detection device according to any one of Items 1 to 5. The said leak determination means determines that there is no leak when the displacement amount calculated | required by the measured value measured with the said optical displacement sensor is more than predetermined value. The one in any one of Claim 1 thru | or 6 characterized by the above-mentioned. Leak detection device for flexible packaging containers. The leakage determination means determines that there is no leakage when the amount of displacement obtained from the measured value measured by the optical displacement sensor is equal to or greater than a predetermined value and the displacement does not change more than the predetermined value within a predetermined time. The leak detection device for a soft packaging container according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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