JP3118580B2 - Pinhole inspection device for sealed packaging - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method in which a plurality of flexible sealed packages are pressed at one time and a test gas leaked from a pinhole is detected to make the plurality of sealed packages one unit. The present invention relates to a pinhole inspection device for inspecting the presence or absence of a pinhole, and in particular, a plurality of hermetically sealed packages can be pressed in a state where they are horizontally arranged on a member, and the member is freely movable in and out in a horizontal direction. The present invention relates to a pinhole inspection device for a sealed package body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art The present inventor has invented a pinhole inspection device for a flexible hermetically sealed package which has been considered difficult in the past. In this pinhole inspection apparatus, a plurality of variable-volume compartments are vertically connected, and a partition member that separates adjacent compartments is slidable in a vertical direction and is mounted on each partition member. The sealed packaging bags (with the inspection gas sealed therein) are sequentially pressed by the upper partition member to apply a pressing force, and further, the leaked inspection gas is supplied to the gas detection device. This is the pinhole inspection device for sealed packaging bags disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. 5-280566.

[0003]

However, in this inspection apparatus, it is necessary to manually put one sealed packaging bag on each of the three-dimensionally provided partition members and close the door on the front of the compartment. Therefore, there is a problem that it takes much time and a long inspection time, so that it is difficult to adopt it as an inspection device used on a mass production line. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a pinhole inspection apparatus that allows easy insertion and removal of a sealed package to be inspected.

[0004]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve such an object, and the present invention is configured as follows. A sealed package in which a plurality of flexible sealed packages in which a test gas is sealed are pressed at a time, and the test gas leaked from the sealed package by the pressing is collectively supplied to a gas detection device. The inspection object storage member provided with a plurality of hermetically sealed packages that can be placed side by side in the horizontal direction and that can be freely moved in and out of the base on the base, and the inspection object storage member And a pressing member which is capable of moving up and down while being pressed above and which is capable of pressing the hermetically sealed package on the inspection object storage member at the time of lowering. A plurality of partition portions having a height are arranged side by side and each partition portion has an interval at which at least one hermetically sealed package can be placed, and the pressing member has an inspection object storage member at a lower end thereof. Can fit with a predetermined gap It has a recess of a certain depth and
The predetermined gap is a slit-shaped gap, and the sealed package placed on the inspection object storage member can be pressed by the ceiling of the recess, and the ceiling is pressed from the sealed package by the ceiling. A plurality of holes are formed to allow a gas passage formed in the pressing member itself capable of guiding the leaked inspection gas to the outside and each of the compartments described below, and the height of the partition wall is an object to be inspected. The plate-shaped part and the
Form a compartment surrounded by the partition wall and the recess of the pressing member
And the height is lower than the upper surface of the sealed package before pressing accommodated between the partition walls , and the concave portion has a depth such that the ceiling thereof can be pressed by contacting the upper surface of the sealed package, Further, a pressing mechanism is provided that enables the pressing member to be pressed in the direction of the inspection object storage member. Further, the pressing mechanism is formed by being surrounded by a plate-like portion and each partition wall portion forming the inspection object storage member, and a recess of the pressing member. A pinhole inspection device for a hermetically sealed package provided with a suction pipe for sucking the inspection gas leaked into each compartment through the gas passages and supplying the gas to the gas detection device at a time. B In the pinhole inspection device for a hermetically sealed package according to the above A, the pressing member is a square frame-shaped skirt member having a space portion open at both upper and lower ends capable of surrounding the outside of the inspection object housing member, and a skirt member. And a perforated plate having a plurality of holes positioned above the perforated plate and serving as a ceiling of the recess, and a through hole serving as a gas passage positioned above the perforated plate has a corresponding position above each of the compartments. A gas passage plate formed on the gas passage plate, a suction port mounting plate provided above the gas path plate and provided with a suction port communicating with each of the through holes, and the suction port positioned above the suction port mounting plate. And a pressing plate provided with a through-hole for avoiding interference with the pressing member, and the pressing member is slidably fitted to a guide member erected on the base so as to be vertically movable. Of the pressing member against the inspection object storage member. A hermetic packaging with a stopper that regulates and lowers the lowermost position, and further has a gap between the inside of the skirt member and the inspection object storage member as an air intake slit through which air can pass when suctioned by the suction pipe. Body pinhole inspection device. C In the pinhole inspection device for a hermetically sealed package according to the above A or B, the inspection object storage member is connected and closed between both ends of each partition by a peripheral wall member having the same height as the partition. Pinhole inspection device for sealed packaging. D In the pinhole inspection device for a hermetically sealed package according to any one of the above items A to C, before scavenging and / or after the pinhole inspection, scavenging exhaust is performed from the suction pipe connected to the gas detection device. A pinhole inspection device for a hermetically sealed package, wherein air is sucked by a blower, and the suction pipe and each gas passage connected to the suction pipe can be scavenged. E The pinhole inspection device for a sealed package according to any one of the above items A to D, wherein a fluid pressure cylinder device is used as the pressing mechanism. Here, the “pinhole” is not limited to a fine hole, but also includes a part that is not completely sealed, such as a part with poor sealing, and a “sealed package” is not limited to a bag having flexibility. In addition, it includes a container that is deformed when a pressing force is applied, but may be restored to its original state when the pressing force is removed.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a base, and an air cylinder device 16 as a pressing mechanism is provided on each of the mounting members 14 provided so as to extend above guide members 12 erected on both sides of the base 10. Attached and guide member 1
2, the pressing member 18 is slidably supported in the vertical direction. Each air cylinder device 16 is attached to the pressing member 18.
Are connected so that the pressing member 18 can be pressed downward. The pressing member 18
A slide bearing (not shown) arranged in a boss portion 22 projecting downward from the four corners is fitted to the guide member 12 so that the slide bearing (not shown) can move lightly, and the boss portion 22 and the base can be moved. 10, a compression coil spring 24
Is provided in a state of being inserted through the guide member 12 so as to constantly urge the pressing member 18 upward. Also,
A stopper 26 composed of a bolt and a nut is provided at both ends of the pressing member 18 so that the lowermost position of the pressing member 18 can be regulated so as to be adjustable. Below the pressing member 18, the inspection object storage member 28 on the base 10.
Are horizontally movable in and out, and the position in the left-right direction is regulated by a pair of guide members 30 provided on the base 10 at predetermined intervals. The position in the depth direction is regulated by (not shown).

The pressing member 18 is, as shown in FIGS.
When ascending, the skirt member 32 provided at the lower end side rises until the skirt member 32 is fully separated from the inspection object storage member 28, and when descending, the inspection object storage member 28 fits into a space formed inside the skirt member 32. It is designed to descend. The lowermost position is adjusted by the stopper 26. Then, when the pressing member 18 is lowered, the sealed packaging bag 29 placed on the inspection object storage member 28 as a sealed packaging body in which the inspection gas is sealed is pressed. The pressing member 18 includes a skirt member 32, a perforated plate 34, a gas passage plate 36, a suction port mounting plate 38, and a pressing plate 40 shown in FIG. 4, which are integrally connected. A space is formed inside the skirt member 32 so that the inspection object storage member 28 can be fitted with a predetermined gap therebetween. The perforated plate 34 is a member having a large number of small holes, and the lower surface side is a concave portion. It serves as the ceiling of the building. The gas passage plate 36 is provided with a watermark hole 42 at a corresponding position above each of the below-described compartments formed below the gas passage plate 36, so that the gas for inspection leaked from the sealed packaging bag passes therethrough and temporarily. Stagnation is possible. Suction port mounting plate 38
A suction port 44 is attached at a position corresponding to the watermark hole 42, and a holding plate 40 is a member that holds down these members and is integrally attached together, and a pipe to the suction port 44 is provided at a central portion thereof. A large watermark hole is provided so as not to hinder connection. These members are integrally connected by screwing or the like, and packing (not shown) is arranged between the members as necessary. The holding plate 4
A boss 22 for projecting the guide member 12 is provided below the four corners of 0, but is not shown in FIG. The four corners of the perforated plate 34, the gas passage plate 36, and the suction port mounting plate 38 are cut out in an arc shape so as not to interfere with the boss portion 22, but are not shown in the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inspection object storage member 28 has a plurality of partition walls 48 arranged side by side on a rectangular plate-like member 46, and the interval between the partition walls 48 is set as a sealed package. The height of the partition wall portion 48 is made lower than the upper surface of the sealed packaging bag 29 before pressing, and the sealed packaging bag 29 is formed on the lower surface portion of the porous plate 34 when the pressing member 18 is lowered. Is determined to be able to be pressed. In the case where the sealed packaging bag is folded and placed, the partition is made higher than in the above-described case. In addition, between the outside of the inspection object storage member 28 and the inner wall surface of the space of the skirt member 32, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, a certain gap is formed. This gap forms an air intake slit 52 described later. The above-described compartment is constituted by the partition wall 48, the plate-like member 46, and the space surrounded by the inner wall surface of the space of the skirt member 32 and the porous plate 34.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a plurality of suction pipes 54 are connected to the outside of the suction port 44, and these suction pipes 54 are collected into one flow path by a flow path connecting member 56. And the connector 60 and the three-way solenoid valve 6
2 and connected to a gas detector 66 having a built-in vacuum pump 64. A scavenging blower 72 is connected to the other end of the connector 60 via an electromagnetic valve 70.

The method of using the embodiment apparatus constructed as described above is as follows, for example. First, the gas detection device 66
Is started, the inspection object storage member 28 is pulled out, the sealed packaging bag to be inspected is placed, then put back, and preliminarily pressed by the air cylinder device 16, so-called pre-pressurization. Start. This pressurization is continued until the end of the inspection. In addition, the lowest position of the pressing member 18 is adjusted by adjusting the stopper 26, and a predetermined pressing amount is set in advance. Next, simultaneously with the completion of the pre-pressurization, the flow path of the three-way solenoid valve 62 is automatically switched from open to the atmosphere to the inspection compartment,
Start pinhole inspection. The gas to be inspected including air in the compartment is sucked by the vacuum pump 64 in the gas detector 66. Since the air corresponding to the suction flows from the air intake slit 52, the inside of the compartment or the gas passage is not depressurized, and the suction can be performed easily and quickly. In the present embodiment, when the gas to be inspected sent to the gas detecting device 66 includes a gas for inspection (He gas), the gas to be inspected is detected, and the He gas signal input is set to NG of the gas detecting device 66.
When the signal is reached, the inspection is terminated, the flow path of the three-way solenoid valve 62 is automatically switched from the inspection compartment to the atmosphere,
When the solenoid valve 70 is opened, the scavenging blower 72 starts, and He gas in the gas passage in the compartment and the pressing member 18 and in the suction pipe 54 and other gas passages is sucked and released into the atmosphere, that is, scavenging. Have been. However, He
If the gas output signal does not reach the set NG signal, the inspection is continued until the predetermined inspection time expires, and then the He gas is purged. After scavenging for a predetermined time, the scavenging solenoid valve 70 is closed, the flow path of the three-way solenoid valve 62 is automatically switched from open to the atmosphere to the inspection compartment, and the inspection is performed again. This is to confirm the scavenging effect. The result of the above inspection is recorded by a recorder (not shown) connected to the gas detector. The above series of operations are all performed automatically, and each time of the pressurization inspection and the scavenging can be arbitrarily set.

When the inspection gas is detected by the above inspection, a pinhole is present in any of the sealed packaging bags. Therefore, the sealed packaging bags are inspected by being divided into smaller groups, or each of the sealed packaging bags is inspected. If inspected, it is possible to find out which sealed packaging bag has a pinhole. Pursuing a sealed packaging bag with such pinholes may seem cumbersome, but the incidence of pinholes is very low, so even if the whole group is accepted or rejected as in the above inspection, No problem in practical use.

[Experimental Example] In order to confirm the function of the apparatus of the above embodiment, the following experiment was conducted. The experiment was performed in a state where a gap was formed between the lower surface of the pressing member 18 and the upper surface of the partition 48 as shown in FIG. Helium leak detector DLMS-SF manufactured by Japan Vacuum Engineering Co., Ltd. was used as a gas detector. Examples of the material of the sample 76 of the sealed packaging bag made of a gas barrier film include an aluminum (Al) laminated film, a laminated film provided with an aluminum vapor deposition layer and a silicon oxide vapor deposition layer, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polyvinylidene chloride (PVD).
C), polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH), ethylene
A multilayer film combining materials such as a vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) is exemplified. In this experiment, the thickness 2
A multi-layer film of a 0 μM PET film and a 50 μM-thick PE (polyethylene) film is employed, and the sample 76 is a gas barrier resin film 78 that is formed into two sheets as shown in FIGS. Seal on three sides,
In addition, the wire 80 is sandwiched between the unsealed portions, the gas is evacuated with a pipe 82 using a He gas filling device, and He gas is immediately blown with a pipe 83.
After removing 83 and sealing, unnecessary portions were deleted. 81
Is a pinhole formed by removing the wire 80 after the sealing. The He gas blowing conditions were a blowing pressure of 0.05 kg / cm 2 and a blowing time of 0.02 seconds. Under these conditions, about 10 to 15 cc of He gas was sealed. The wire 80 has a diameter of 30, 50 and 9
Three types of 0 μm were used. The outline of the experimental process is shown in FIG. The experimental results are as shown in FIG. The numbers of the broken lines are the experiment numbers.
The case where a sample in which a pinhole is formed by using 0, 50, and 90 μm wires is shown. In each case, it was confirmed that pinhole inspection was practically possible.

In the above-described embodiment, the inspection object housing member 28 having both ends of the partition 48 shown in FIG. 5 opened is used. However, as shown in FIG. It is also possible to use an inspection object housing member 86 closed by a peripheral portion 88 having the same height as the partition wall portion.
In this case, as shown in FIG. 12, the amount of protrusion of the stopper 26 is reduced so that the upper end of the partition wall 84 and the lower surface of the pressing member 18 are in close contact with each other. Since the air intake slit does not work, the pressure in the compartment is reduced during gas suction, and the inspection time is slightly longer. In addition, since the front and back of the inspection object storage member 28 are open, it is easy to put the sealing packaging bag in and out, and it is easy to automate the insertion and extraction. However, since the inspection object storage member 86 is closed front and rear, , And must be lifted in and out, making automation somewhat more difficult than in the case of the inspection object storage member 28. However, if the sealed packaging bag is sucked and lifted by vacuum, the above-mentioned insufficient point can be solved.

In the above embodiment, an air cylinder device is used as a pressing mechanism for pressing the pressing member 18, but a hydraulic cylinder device or another known pressing mechanism may be used instead. In the above embodiment, the pressing member 1
8 is a skirt member 32, a perforated plate 34, a gas passage plate 3
6. The suction port mounting plate 38 and the holding plate 40 are integrally connected by screwing or the like, but all of them may be integrally formed, or two or more of these members may be integrally formed. It is also possible. Further, instead of He gas, Freon gas, carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas, and other various gases can be used as the inspection gas.
Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to such embodiment at all, and it goes without saying that the present invention can be implemented in various modes without departing from the gist of the present invention.

[0014]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. The inspection object storage member is provided on the base so as to be freely taken in and out in the horizontal direction, and the sealed packaging bodies can be stored in the inspection object storage member in a state of being arranged in a horizontal direction. Can be easily performed, the time required for the inspection can be shortened, the mechanization can be achieved, and the inspection can be easily automated. Further, since a plurality of hermetically sealed packages can be collectively subjected to the pinhole inspection at a time, the inspection time can be reduced. Further, by allowing the gas passage including the compartment to be scavenged, the inspection gas remaining in the gas passage is removed, and the inspection accuracy is improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing one operation state of the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing another operation state of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a member used in the embodiment.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a plan view and a front view of other parts used in the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of the configuration of the embodiment.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are explanatory diagrams of a sample used in an experimental example of the embodiment. FIGS.

FIGS. 9A to 9D are schematic explanatory views showing steps of an experimental example using the same example.

FIG. 10 is a graph showing experimental results of the example.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are a plan view and a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the component used in the embodiment.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing an operation state when the components of the modification are used.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 16 air cylinder device 18 pressing member 26 stopper 28 inspection object storage member 32 skirt member (skirt portion) 48 partition wall 66 gas detector 72 scavenging blower (scavenging exhaust fan) 84 partition wall portion 86 inspection target storage member

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of flexible hermetically sealed packages containing a test gas are pressed at a time, and test gases leaked from the hermetically sealed packages by the pressing are collectively supplied to a gas detection device. A pinhole inspection device for a sealed package, comprising: a plurality of sealed packages that can be placed side by side in a horizontal direction, and which is provided on a base so as to be freely taken in and out in a horizontal direction; A pressing member which is located above the object storage member and is capable of ascending and descending, and which is capable of pressing the hermetically sealed package on the inspection object storage member at the time of descending; and furthermore, the inspection object storage member has a plate shape. A plurality of partition portions having a predetermined height are arranged side by side on the portion, and there is an interval between the partition portions at which at least one hermetically sealed package can be placed, and the pressing member is provided at its lower end portion with the inspection object at its lower end. The object storage member It has a predetermined depth recess of obtaining fit Te, moreover
The predetermined gap is a slit-shaped gap, and the sealed package placed on the inspection object storage member can be pressed by the ceiling of the recess, and the ceiling is pressed from the sealed package by pressing. A plurality of holes are formed to allow a gas passage formed in the pressing member itself capable of guiding the leaked inspection gas to the outside and each of the compartments described below, and the height of the partition wall is an object to be inspected. A plate-shaped part constituting an object storage member;
A cell is enclosed by each partition and the recess of the pressing member.
And a height lower than the upper surface of the hermetically sealed package housed between the partition portions before being pressed , and the concave portion has a depth such that the ceiling portion can be pressed by contacting the upper surface of the hermetically sealed package body. Further, a pressing mechanism capable of pressing the pressing member in the direction of the inspection object storage member is provided, and furthermore, the pressing member is surrounded by a plate-like portion and each partition portion constituting the inspection object storage member, and a concave portion of the pressing member. A pinhole inspection device for a hermetically sealed package provided with a suction pipe for sucking the inspection gas leaked into each formed compartment through the gas passages and collectively supplying the gas to the gas detection device. 2. The square-frame-shaped skirt member according to claim 1, wherein the pressing member has a space that is open at both upper and lower ends so as to surround the outside of the inspection object housing member. A perforated plate having a plurality of holes located above the skirt member and serving as a ceiling of the concave portion; and a through hole serving as a gas passage located above the perforated plate is provided in each of the compartments. A gas passage plate formed at a corresponding position above, and a suction port mounting plate provided with a suction port located above the gas passage plate and communicating with each of the see-through holes,
A holding plate located above the suction port mounting plate and provided with a through hole to avoid interference with the suction port,
The pressing member is slidably fitted to a guide member erected on the base so as to be able to move up and down, and furthermore, it is possible to regulate and adjust the lowest position of the pressing member with respect to the inspection object housing member. A pinhole inspection device for a hermetically sealed package, wherein a stopper is provided, and a gap between the inside of the skirt member and the inspection object storage member is an air intake slit through which air can pass when suctioned by the suction pipe. 3. The pinhole inspection device for a sealed package according to claim 1, wherein the inspection object storage member is connected between both ends of each partition by a peripheral wall member having the same height as the partition. A pinhole inspection device for hermetically sealed packages that is closed and closed. 4. The pinhole inspection device for a sealed package according to claim 1, wherein the suction pipe is connected to a gas detection device before and / or after the pinhole inspection. A pinhole inspection device for a hermetically sealed package, in which air is sucked by a scavenging exhaust fan, and the suction pipe and each gas passage connected to the suction pipe can be scavenged. 5. The pinhole inspection device for a sealed package according to claim 1, wherein the pinhole inspection device uses a fluid pressure cylinder device as the pressing mechanism.