JP2020132185A - Container shape restriction mechanism and plugging device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a container shape restriction mechanism and a plugging device which, with simple structures, can restrict shapes of containers.SOLUTION: A container shape restriction mechanism 1 is arranged concentrically and rotatable with respect to the up-down direction and each of multiple container holding means 21 provided on a rotating body 10, has a pair of restriction members 42 that can open and close freely a restriction position that presses a body 3c of a container 3 filled with contents and restricts the shape of the body 3c and a separation position that is separated from the main body 3c and an opening-closing means 45 that opens and closes each restriction member 42. A plugging device 4 has the container shape restriction mechanism 1.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a container shape regulating mechanism and a sealing device, and when filling a fluid content from the mouth of a container having a bag-shaped body and sealing the mouth, the head space in the container The present invention relates to a container shape regulating mechanism suitable for adjusting the amount of gas remaining in the container and regulating the finished shape of the container, particularly the thickness dimension of the bag body, and a sealing device provided with this device.

In the filling and packaging industry, a container having a bag-shaped main body called a pouch is transported on a series of transport routes, and the main body is filled with contents such as food, beverage, cosmetics, and medicine. A device that seals the mouth of the main body is used. Specifically, in a bag-shaped container provided with a mouth portion called a spout, a cap is attached to the tip portion of the spout after filling the main body with the contents.

Then, when the bag-shaped container is filled with food or the like, it is located above the contents filled in the main body in order to prevent deterioration of the contents before sealing (capping) the mouth of the main body. The space, that is, the head space is reduced to reduce the volume of unnecessary gas inside the main body as much as possible.

As a mechanism for reducing the head space, for example, the container transport device is provided with two rotary wheels provided with holding means for holding the mouth of the bag-shaped container, and each rotary wheel is provided with the holding means. A pressing member located at the height of the body of the held container is provided, and the pressing members are brought close to each other at positions where the rotating wheels are adjacent to each other, and a bag shape is formed from one rotating wheel to the other rotating wheel. It has been proposed to reduce the head space located above the fluid filled in the body by pressing the body from both sides when delivering the container (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-206079

However, the conventional mechanism for pressing the main body by a pair of pressing members is configured to press the main body only at the moment when the bag-shaped container is handed over from one rotating wheel to the other rotating wheel to regulate the shape of the main body. Therefore, there is a problem that the rising speed of the liquid level in the main body cannot be controlled, the contents are ejected and spilled, and the container needs to be cleaned.

In addition, it is necessary to dispose the pressing members that act in pairs on different rotating wheels, and the time until the container body is pressed and the moving distance of the pressing members are optimally set at the contact points when the container is delivered. It was difficult to do.

As another problem, the contents filled in the bag-shaped main body composed of a single layer or multiple layers of a thin and soft resin material are transported with the bag-shaped main body suspended. During this process, the weight of the bag may cause it to accumulate in the lower part of the main body, expand the outer shape of the bag-shaped main body, and destroy the finished shape of the container. In mass-produced products, it is often not desirable for transport packaging and product display, in particular, to have a different finished shape after filling and sealing.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of such problems, and has a simple structure, such as a bulging shape of the main body of a bag-shaped container at the time of filling and a finished shape of the container after filling and sealing, particularly. It is an object of the present invention to provide a container shape regulating mechanism suitable for regulating the thickness dimension of the bag body and a sealing device provided with this device.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the container shape regulating mechanism of the present invention is a container shape regulating mechanism that regulates the shape of a container in which a main body formed in a bag shape is filled with contents, and extends in the vertical direction. A plurality of containers that are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating body that can be rotated by the rotating shaft that is ejected, and that can hold and transport the container with the mouth portion formed in the main body positioned upward. The holding means and the container holding means, which are rotatable coaxially with the rotating body and are provided as a pair with the container holding means, come into contact with the outer surface of the main body on the transport path of the container formed in the circumferential direction of the rotating body. The restricted position that regulates the shape of the main body in the transport direction of the container and the separated position that separates from the main body are arranged so as to be openable and closable, and the container held by the container holding means is interposed at the restricted position. It is characterized by having a plurality of regulating means composed of a pair of regulating members having facing surfaces thereof, and an opening / closing means for opening and closing each of the regulating members.

Further, the opening / closing means is rotatably and vertically hung on the shaft support member provided on the rotating body and vertically parallel to each other, and each of the pair of regulation members is connected to the regulation support. It is characterized by including a shaft and a cam mechanism that controls opening and closing so that the pair of regulating members are brought into contact with each other in the horizontal direction by rotating the regulating support shaft.

According to such a configuration, a pair of regulating members can be opened and closed in synchronization with each other on the transport path of the container by the opening / closing mechanism, and the timing of pressing the main body for regulating the shape of the main body and the pair of restrictions The moving distance of the member can be set regardless of the conventional delivery time. Further, when the shape of the main body of the container is regulated by the pair of restricting members closing with the restricting support shaft as the rotation center, the pair of restricting members rotate the rotating body with respect to the main body. It can be gradually brought into contact from the center to the counter-rotation center. In this way, by gently pressing the container instead of momentarily, it is possible to prevent the contents from being ejected from the mouth of the container and spilling out, and it is possible to easily reduce the size of the device. ..

Further, the sealing device of the present invention is provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating body which is made rotatable by a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction, and the mouth portion formed in the main body is positioned upward. The container is provided with a plurality of container holding means capable of holding and transporting the container in a state of being in a state of being in the state of the container at a sealing working position arranged on the transport path of the container formed in the circumferential direction of the rotating body. A sealing device that seals the mouth portion, which shares the container holding means, and the pair of regulating members of the regulating means are closed before the sealing working position on the transport path of the container and face each other at the restricted position. However, it is characterized by including the above-mentioned container shape regulating mechanism whose opening and closing is controlled so that the pair of regulating members are opened after the mouth of the container is sealed.

The pair of regulating members is characterized in that the distance between the pair of regulating members when they face each other at the regulated position is set to the thickness dimension in the finished shape of the container after filling and sealing.

According to the sealing device having such a configuration, since the container shape regulating mechanism can be incorporated into the sealing device, the size of the device can be easily reduced as compared with the configuration in which the container shape regulating mechanism is provided independently. .. Then, before the sealing work position, when closing the pair of regulating members of the regulating means, the main body of the container is pressed to reduce the volume of unnecessary gas inside the main body of the container as much as possible, and the head space is reduced. Further, by sealing the mouth of the container with the pair of regulating members closed and facing each other at the restricted position, the bulging shape of the main body of the bag-shaped container at the time of filling and after filling and sealing. The finished shape of the container can be adjusted to a desired shape (particularly, the thickness dimension of the bag body).

As described above, according to the container shape regulating mechanism of the present invention, the pair of regulating members can be opened and closed in synchronization with the opening / closing mechanism, so that the timing of pressing the main body for regulating the shape of the main body, the pair The moving distance of the regulating member can be set regardless of the conventional delivery time. As a result, it is possible to prevent the contents from being ejected from the mouth of the container and spilling out, and it is possible to easily reduce the size of the device.

Further, according to the sealing device of the present invention, the volume of unnecessary gas inside the main body of the container can be reduced as much as possible by pressing the main body of the container before attaching the cap in the sealing device, and the head space can be reduced. Further, by attaching a cap and sealing the inside of the container, the finished shape of the container after filling and sealing can be adjusted to a desired shape (particularly, the thickness dimension of the bag body). Further, since the container shape regulating mechanism can be integrally provided, the device can be easily miniaturized as compared with the conventional configuration in which the container shape regulating mechanism is individually provided.

Longitudinal side view showing a main part of an embodiment of a sealing device to which a container shape regulating mechanism according to the present invention is attached. Side view of the main part of FIG. Top view of the main part of FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the container shape regulating mechanism 1 according to the present invention and the sealing device 2 to which the container shape regulating mechanism 1 is attached will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional side view showing a main part of the sealing device 2 of the present embodiment. The container 3 shown in FIG. 1 is a pouch with a spout having a thin and soft resin main body 3c, and has a mouth portion 3a made of a spout having an upper opening located and a fluid beverage, food, or the like. It is formed by a lower bag-shaped main body 3c for accommodating the contents of the above, and a neck portion 3b located on the main body 3c side of the mouth portion 3a made of a spout and having a relatively high rigidity.

Here, the sealing device 2 has a tubular rotating body 10 to which the rotation of the drive source M is transmitted and is made rotatable by a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction, and the sealing device 2 has a cylindrical rotating body 10 in the circumferential direction thereof. A plurality of container holding means 21 for grasping the neck portion 3b of the container 3 whose contents are filled in the main body 3c and transporting the container 3 with the mouth portion 3c positioned upward are provided at equal intervals. It can rotate integrally with the rotating body 10.

Each container holding means 21 includes a pair of grippers 24 (only one of which is shown) that moves to open and close for gripping the neck portion 3b of the container 3. Each gripper 24 is attached to a rotatably supported gripper support shaft 27 that constitutes a part of the gripping opening / closing mechanism 26 via a mounting member 25, and is engaged with each other by rotation of the rotating body 10. Using a cam mechanism (not shown), the gripper support shafts 27 are configured to open and close by rotating them in opposite directions. A known configuration can be used as the configuration of the gripping cam mechanism, and the description of the configuration will be omitted.

One place on the transport path (movement path) of the container 3 formed in the circumferential direction by the rotation of the rotating body 10 is set as a sealing work position, and the sealing means 30 for winding the cap 4 around the mouth portion 3a is provided. It is fixedly arranged.

The sealing means 30 shown in FIG. 1 includes a chuck 31 for gripping the cap 4, and the chuck 31 rotates the cap 4 gripped by the chuck 31 together with an opening / closing mechanism 32 for opening and closing the chuck 31 to open the mouth. It is a cap winding device having a known configuration attached to a spindle 33 for attaching to the portion 3a.

The sealing device 2 of the present embodiment includes a container shape regulating mechanism 1 that shares the container holding means 21, and the container shape regulating device 1 can rotate coaxially with the container holding means 21 and the rotating body. A plurality of regulating means 41 provided in pairs with the container holding means 21 at the lower portion of each container holding means 21 of the rotating body 10 and a pair of regulating members 42 constituting each regulating means 41 are pressed to open and close. It has an opening / closing means 45 for use.

More specifically, each regulating means 41 of the container shape regulating mechanism 1 regulates the shape of the main body 3c so as to press and hold the main body 3c filled with the contents of the container 3, as shown in FIG. It has a pair of restricting members 42 that can open and close the position and the separated position separated from the main body 3c shown by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG.

Each regulating member 42 includes a pressing plate 42a formed in a substantially flat plate shape, and each pressing plate 42a is arranged so as to face each other in parallel with each other at a preset interval at a restricting position. That is, the restricted position is such that the container held by the container holding means is interposed between the pressing plates 42a on the transport path of the container 3 formed in the circumferential direction of the rotating body 10, and the pressing plates 42a face each other. This is a position where the surface is brought into contact with the outer surface of the main body 3c to regulate the shape of the main body 3c in the transport direction of the container 3. Further, the separation position is a position where the facing surfaces of the pressing plates 42a are separated from the main body 3c. In the present embodiment, the dimension between the facing surfaces when the pair of pressing plates 42a face each other at the regulation position is set to the thickness dimension in the finished shape of the container 3 after filling and sealing.

A mounting portion 43 extending in the horizontal direction is provided at the lower end portion of each pressing plate 42a, and each regulating member 42 is formed so as to have an L-shaped cross section as a whole. As the facing surface shape for pressing the main body 3c of the container 3 of the pressing plate 42a of each regulating member 42, various shapes such as a concave surface and a concave curved surface can be used. Further, a cushioning material such as felt or sponge may be arranged on the surface of the facing surface.

The mounting portions 43 of the regulating members 42 are mounted via brackets 44 on the regulating support shafts 46 arranged in parallel with each other, which form a part of the pressing opening / closing means 45. Each of the regulatory support shafts 46 is rotatably attached to a table-shaped shaft support member 47 provided on the rotating body 10 at a substantially central portion in the axial direction with the axial direction in the vertical direction.

By changing the bracket 44 to which the regulation member 41 is attached to one having a different attachment position of the regulation member 41, the spacing between the regulation members 41 at the regulation position can be easily changed. Of course, the restricting member 41 may be changed to a member having a different mounting position from the bracket 44. That is, the spacing between the regulating members 41 at the regulated position can be easily changed by changing the regulating member 41 and / or the bracket 44.

Then, the pressing opening / closing means 45 acts at a predetermined position on the transport path by the rotation of the rotating body 10, rotates the regulating support shaft 46, and brings the pair of regulating members 42 into contact with each other in the horizontal direction. It has a cam mechanism that controls opening and closing. Specifically, the pressing opening / closing means 45 has each regulatory support shaft 46 and a driven gear 48 attached to the lower end of each regulatory support shaft 46 (only one is shown). The driven gears 48 are meshed with each other to rotate the driven gears 48 in opposite directions. One end of the drive lever (not shown) is attached to one of the driven gears 48, and a rotary roller 49 (not shown) as a cam follower is attached to the other end of the drive lever. Then, the rotating roller 49 rotates the regulating means 41 together with the rotating body 10 via the shaft support member 46, and is brought into contact with and separated from the regulating cam arranged on the fixed side frame (not shown), so that each regulating member 41 Is formed to open and close. As a configuration in which the driven gears 48 are rotated in opposite directions to each other, the driven gears 48 may be separated from each other and an intermediate gear may be connected to the driven gears 48. Configurations can be used.

Therefore, the rotating body 10 on which the shaft support member 47 is arranged is rotated, and the rotating roller 49 is brought into contact with the regulating cam to move the pair of regulating members 41 from the separated position to the regulated position, and then the rotating roller. By separating the 49 from the regulation cam, the pair of regulation members 41 can be moved from the regulation position to the separation position.

Then, the movement time (speed), timing, holding time at the regulation position, and the like for moving the pair of regulation members 42 from the separation position to the regulation position are controlled by the contact position and contact time between the rotating roller 49 and the regulation cam. In the present embodiment, the timing from when the gripper 24 of the sealing device 2 grips the container 3 to before attaching the cap 4 to the mouth portion 2a of the container 3, that is, before the sealing work position on the transport path of the container. Move the pair of restricting members 41 from the separated position to the regulated position, attach the cap 4 to the mouth portion 2a of the container 3, and then pass the container 3 to the subsequent process from the regulated position. The contact position and contact time between the rotating roller 49 and the regulation cam are set so as to return to the separated position. The pressing opening / closing means 45 is configured so that each regulating member 41 always holds a separated position. Further, each regulation member 41 opens and closes like a door around the axis of each regulation support shaft 46.

Next, the operation of the sealing device 2 to which the container shape regulating mechanism 1 of the present embodiment is attached will be described.

The container shape regulating device 1 includes a plurality of regulating means 41 concentrically and rotatably provided in a lower portion of each container holding means 21 of the rotating body 10 in pairs with the container holding means 21, and a sealing device 2. With the gripper 24 of the container holding means 21 gripping the neck portion 3b of the container 3 filled with the contents, the gripper 24 rotates at a timing before reaching the sealing work position where the cap 4 is attached to the mouth portion 3a of the container 3. As the body 10 rotates, the rotating roller 49 of the pressing opening / closing means 45 comes into contact with the regulating cam provided on the fixed side frame. Then, the pressing opening / closing means 45 is activated, the regulating support shaft 46 is synchronously rotated in a predetermined angle in opposite directions, and each regulating member 41 moves from the separated position to the regulated position (FIG. 1). As a result, each regulating member 41 sequentially contacts the main body 3c filled with the contents from the regulating support shaft 46 side toward the outside in the horizontal direction, and presses the main body 3c of the container 3 at a preset interval.

Then, with the unnecessary gas in the head space removed, the sealing device 2 attaches the cap 4 to the mouth portion 3a of the container 3. Then, the rotating roller 49 is separated from the regulating cam as the rotating body 10 rotates at the timing until the container 3 is passed to the subsequent process. As a result, the pair of regulating members 42 returns from the regulating position to the separated position. After that, the gripper 24 of the container holding means 21 opens the sealed container 3 at an appropriate position and sends it to a subsequent process.

As described above, according to the container shape regulating mechanism 1 of the present embodiment, the pair of regulating members 42 can be opened and closed in synchronization with the pressing opening / closing means 45, and the main body 3c for regulating the shape of the main body 3c can be moved. The timing of pressing and the moving distance of the pair of regulating members 41 can be freely set. Further, each regulating member 42 sequentially contacts the main body 3c filled with the contents from the regulating support shaft 46 side toward the outside in the horizontal direction, and presses the main body 3c of the container 3 at a preset interval. As a result, the rising position of the liquid level in the main body 3c is controlled, the contents can be surely prevented from being ejected and spilled, and the volume of unnecessary gas inside the main body 3c is reduced as much as possible. Headspace can be reduced.

Further, according to the sealing device 2 of the present embodiment, the pair of regulating members 42 are closed to preset dimensions, the head space is reduced, and the mouth of the container is sealed while facing the regulated position. By doing so, it is possible to prevent the container 3 from swelling and its shape to exceed the set dimension, and to adjust the finished shape of the container after filling and sealing to a desired shape (for example, the thickness dimension of the bag body). The filling work can be completed.

Further, the sealing device 2 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which a container holding means (gripper) and a regulating means (regulating member) are arranged on the same rotating body rotated by the drive source M, and the transport mechanism of the container 3 is shared. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the size and parts of the device. Note that the rotating bodies on which the container holding means (gripper) and the regulating means (regulating member) are arranged do not necessarily have to be the same rotating body, and can be provided on separate rotating bodies that rotate coaxially. is there.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made as long as the features of the present invention are not impaired. For example, with respect to a container, the container shape regulating mechanism of the present invention can be satisfactorily applied to a pouch having no mouth, which is used for retort foods and the like. In this case, it is advisable to attach a container shape regulating mechanism to the sealing device that seals the bag mouth of the main body filled with the contents.

1 Container shape regulation mechanism 2 Sealing device 3 Container 3a Mouth 3b Neck 3c Main body 4 Cap 10 Rotating body M Drive source (motor)
21 Container holding means 24 Gripper 25 Mounting member 26 Gripping opening / closing means 27 Gripper support shaft 30 Sealing means (cap tightening device)
31 Chuck 32 Gripping opening / closing means 33 Spindle 41 Regulatoring means 42 Pair of regulating members 42a Pressing plate 43 Mounting part 44 Bracket 45 Pressing opening / closing means 46 Regulatory support shaft 47 Shaft support member 48 Driven gear 49 Rotating roller

Claims (4)

A container shape regulation mechanism that regulates the shape of a container in which the contents are filled in a bag-shaped body, and in the circumferential direction of a rotating body that is rotatable by a rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction. A plurality of container holding means provided at equal intervals and capable of holding and transporting a container with the mouth portion formed in the main body positioned upward, and a container holding means that is rotatable coaxially with the rotating body and can hold each container. A regulated position provided as a pair with the means and abutting on the outer surface of the main body on the transport path of the container formed in the circumferential direction of the rotating body to regulate the shape of the main body in the transport direction of the container. A plurality of regulating means composed of a pair of regulating members that are arranged so as to be openable and closable from the separated position separated from the main body and have facing surfaces with the container held by the container holding means interposed therebetween at the regulating position. , A container shape regulating mechanism characterized by having an opening / closing means for opening / closing each of the regulating members. The opening / closing means includes a shaft support member provided on the rotating body and a regulation support shaft rotatably and vertically hung on the shaft support member in parallel with each other and in which each of the pair of regulation members is connected. The container shape regulating mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a cam mechanism that rotates the regulating support shaft and controls opening and closing so that the pair of regulating members are brought into contact with each other in the horizontal direction. .. It is provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the rotating body that can be rotated by the rotating shaft extending in the vertical direction, and the container can be held and transported with the mouth portion formed in the main body positioned upward. A sealing device having a plurality of container holding means and sealing the mouth of the container at a sealing working position arranged on the transport path of the container formed in the circumferential direction of the rotating body. The container holding means is shared, and the pair of regulating members of the regulating means are closed and opposed to each other at the regulating position before the sealing work position on the transport path of the container, and the mouth of the container is sealed. The sealing device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opening / closing is controlled so that the pair of regulating members is opened later. The sealing device according to claim 3, wherein the pair of regulating members are set to a thickness dimension in the finished shape of the container after filling and sealing at intervals when they face each other at the regulated position. ..

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