JP3945865B2 - Packaging bag shaping device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a shaping method and apparatus for supporting a packaging bag containing the contents in a state of being offset downward in the vertical direction, and shaping the front and back surfaces of the packaging bag between both sides with shaping plates to make them flat.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When both ends of the packaging bag are held with grippers and hung in the vertical direction and filled with contents such as green peas and a small amount of liquid, the contents are shifted downward in the bag. If this packaging bag is vacuum packed with the contents offset, it will look bad and hinder the boxing operation. Also, if this is a retort packaged product, the thickness of the bag will be uneven and the retort kettle In the treatment with, heating becomes non-uniform, resulting in inconveniences such as defective sterilization of the product and uneven taste due to uneven heating.
[0003]
In order to improve the displacement of the contents in such a bag, it is known that the front and rear surfaces of the packaging bag filled with the contents are shaped with a uniform thickness from both sides with a shaping plate.
For example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-35497, a filled packaging bag suspended in a vertical direction in a vacuum chamber is flattened by sandwiching it with a shaping plate and a base plate from the front and back, and then the bag mouth. Is described. However, this means that the entire surface of the packaging bag is clamped by the shaping plate, so that it contains no liquid or a small amount, if any, such as dried beans, hijiki, kinpira, boiled or green peas. In the case of an object, the content that is offset downward is difficult to move upward, and a large pressing force is required to shape it flat, so that there is a problem that the solid object is crushed during shaping.
[0004]
In JP-A-5-330513, the filled packaging bag received in the vacuum chamber in a suspended state is rotated to the horizontal position together with the vacuum chamber, and the inside of the chamber is evacuated to open the bag mouth. In addition to sealing, it is described that the front and back surfaces of the bag are sandwiched between the receiving plate and the oscillation plate from both sides, and shaped flat while applying vibration. This means applies vibration to the shaping plate, thereby facilitating the movement of the contents in the bag. However, because of the structure in which the entire surface of the packaging bag is clamped by the shaping plate, the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-35497 Even if it has the same problem as the means and is applied as it is, particularly when the packaging bag is hung vertically and shaped, a sufficient effect cannot be obtained.
[0005]
Further, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-98525, a filled packaging bag suspended in the vertical direction is sandwiched from both sides by a receiving plate and a push-up guide means, and is placed on the bag surface by a roller built inside the push-up guide means. It is described that a force that squeezes from the lower side to the upper side is applied, and the content that has been offset downward is spread over the entire bag. This means is not shaped by sandwiching the entire surface of the packaging bag with a shaping plate, but is pressed in order from the lowermost part where the contents are accumulated, so that the contents at that part can be easily pushed upward in the bag. In addition, since it is not necessary to increase the applied pressure so much, the solid matter is rarely crushed. However, this means is complicated in structure and has a problem that it is difficult to arrange in a vacuum chamber due to size. Therefore, the steps are as follows: shaping by shaping device-shaping device is detached from bag-vacuum chamber lid closed-evacuation-bag mouth seal-seal part cooling-atmosphere open (chamber lid open)-packaging bag discharge From the time it is released to the atmosphere (the flow of the contents becomes difficult when the atmosphere is released and the shaping state is maintained), the contents may fall under the bag under its own weight, resulting in poor shaping There is.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of such problems of the prior art, and in the case of shaping flatly by sandwiching the front and back surfaces of a packaging bag containing the contents in a state of being offset downward from both sides with a shaping plate. The object of the present invention is to realize a simple apparatus configuration without crushing the contents.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The packaging bag shaping method according to the present invention is a method of flatly shaping the front and rear surfaces of the packaging bag accommodated in a state where the contents are offset downward from both sides with a shaping plate from both sides. A plurality of shaping plates are arranged along the top and bottom of the packaging bag so as to face at least one of the surfaces, and are sequentially advanced forward from the shaping plate on the lower side, whereby the front and rear surfaces of the packaging bag are arranged on both sides. And is shaped sequentially from the lower side to the upper side. This invention is naturally applied when the packaging bag is shaped while being suspended in the vertical direction, but can also be applied when shaping the packaging bag in a horizontal or oblique state. (The bottom side of the packaging bag is down, and the bag mouth side is up).
[0008]
A shaping device for a packaging bag according to the present invention is a device for shaping flatly by sandwiching the front and back surfaces of a packaging bag containing contents in a state of being offset downward from both sides with a shaping plate, at least one of them The shaping plate arranged on the side is a plurality of shaping plates arranged along the top and bottom of the packaging bag, and driving means for sequentially operating these shaping plates is provided. The present invention is naturally applied to an apparatus for shaping a packaging bag in a state of being suspended in a vertical direction, but similarly to the above-described method, the invention is applied to an apparatus for shaping a packaging bag in a horizontal or oblique state. It is also possible.
The said shaping apparatus WHEREIN: The flexible board which covers the front surface of a multistage shaping board can be attached to the front surface of the lowermost shaping board among several shaping boards.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described more specifically with reference to FIGS.
First, FIG. 5 shows an intermittent rotation type vacuum packaging machine for vacuum packaging green peas, for example, and a plurality of base plates 1 are arranged at regular intervals around the rotor, and each base plate has a packaging bag. A gripper 2 for gripping both sides of W, a shaping plate for shaping the packaging bag flatly, a sealing device for sealing the bag mouth, etc. (these are not shown) are installed, and each base plate 1 rotates intermittently once. In addition, steps {circle around (1)} to {circle around (6)} such as supply of packaging bags, filling of contents, vacuum shaping and sealing described below are performed.
[0010]
(1) Packaging bag supply process When the base plate 1 stops at the position (1), the packaging bag W is supplied from the bag feeder 3 to the gripper 2 and is held in the vertical direction by being gripped on both sides.
(2) Printing and bag opening process Next, when the base plate 1 stops at the position (2), printing is performed on the surface of the packaging bag W by the printing device 4, and then the vacuum suction device 5 is placed on both sides of the packaging bag W. At the same time, the grippers 2 move toward each other and air is blown into the bag by the air blowing device 6, and the spatula 7a of the opening holding device 7 is inserted into the opened bag mouth. The opening holding device 7 reciprocates between the positions (2) and (3).
[0011]
(3) Solid matter filling step Next, when the rotor is rotated, the opening holding device 7 is also rotated together with the base plate 1 and stopped at the (3) position, and then the tip of the hopper 8a of the solid matter filling device 8 is inserted into the bag. The bag is filled with solid matter. After the hopper 8a is inserted, the opening holding device 7 leaves the bag mouth, rotates in the opposite direction before the rotor starts to rotate to the next position, and returns to the original (2) position.
(4) Liquid Material Filling Process When the base plate 1 stops at the position (4), the nozzle of the liquid material filling device 9 is inserted into the bag mouth of the packaging bag W to fill the liquid material.
[0012]
(5) Vacuum shaping and sealing process Next, when the rotor rotates and the base plate 1 stops at the (5) position, the grippers 2 move away from each other to reduce the looseness of the bag mouth (the bag mouth is slightly loosened). The chamber lid 10 that has been waiting at a position where it does not interfere proceeds toward the base plate 1, and constitutes a vacuum chamber (chamber lid 10 + base plate 1). Subsequently, vacuum is applied, and the packaging bag W is shaped flat with a shaping plate in the procedure described in detail later. The grippers 2 move away from each other until the bag mouth side is taut, and the sealing device opens the bag mouth. To seal.
(6) When the sealing of the discharge process bag mouth is completed, air is introduced into the vacuum chamber, the chamber lid 10 is moved back to the original position, and the rotor rotates to bring the base plate 1 to the position (6). Then, the gripper 2 is opened to open the packaging bag W, dropped onto the lower belt conveyor 11 and discharged outside the machine.
[0013]
Next, vacuum shaping of the packaging bag and sealing of the bag mouth (step (5)) will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 1, the base plate 1 is provided with a base-side shaping plate 13 that has a vertical pressing surface and is advanced and retracted horizontally by a mechanism (not shown). The three-stage shaping plates 14a to 14c are horizontally provided so as to be able to advance and retreat horizontally, and the packaging bag W which accommodates the contents in the downward direction is hung vertically by the gripper 2 between them. Yes. Each of the shaping plates 14a to 14c has a vertical pressing surface and is independently driven by a cylinder 15 installed outside the chamber lid 10 via a piston rod 16, a connecting plate 17, a driving rod 18, and the like. It is like that. Reference numeral 19 denotes a stopper that defines the most advanced position of the shaping plate 14a.
The base plate 1 is provided with a cylinder-side base-side sealing device 21, and the chamber lid 10 is provided with a fixed lid-side sealing device 22.
[0014]
4A to 4E are diagrams for explaining an example of the operation of the shaped plates 13 and 14a to 14c. FIG. 4A is a diagram in which the chamber lid 10 is brought into contact with the base plate 1 and evacuation is performed. Shows how it is. Subsequently, the shaping plate 13 is advanced forward (b), and the lower shaping plate 14c is also advanced forward, both of which are stopped at a position that gives the packaging bag W a predetermined thickness (c). At this time, since the intermediate portion and the upper portion of the packaging bag W are not pressed by the shaping plate, the contents easily move upward in the bag, and the pressing area of the shaping plate 14c is small, so even with a small pressing force. The contents can be moved, and the contents are not easily damaged (collapsed).
[0015]
Next, when the shaping plate 14b is advanced forward, the upper portion of the packaging bag W is not pressed by the shaping plate, so that the contents easily move upward in the bag, and the contents are moved even with a small pressing force. (D). Finally, the shaping plate 14a is advanced forward, the remaining portion is shaped flat (e), and the sealing device 21 is activated to seal the bag mouth. .
In this way, one shaping plate has a plurality of upper and lower stages, and the packaging bag is shaped by proceeding forward from the lower shaping plate in order, so that the contents can easily move upward at any stage. Since one pressing area is small, it can be shaped even with a small pressing force, the contents are not easily damaged, and there is an advantage that the apparatus can be configured simply.
[0016]
The operation procedure of the shaping plate has been described as shaping during or after evacuation, but it can be shaped in an atmospheric pressure state before evacuation. In this case, the operation sequence of the shaping plates 13 and 14a to 14c is the same as that shown in FIGS. 4A to 4E, but the bag mouth side is loosened by slightly reducing the distance between the left and right grippers 2 during shaping. If it is made, it will become easier for the contents to move upward. After flattening, the gap between the left and right grippers 2 is widened, the bag mouth side is tightened, a vacuum is drawn, and then the bag mouth is sealed.
[0017]
Moreover, about the frequency | count of pressing of each shaping board 14a-14c, you may make it press repeatedly several times depending on the contents not only once, but in that case, initially, pressing force and a pressing distance are made small, The pressing conditions can be changed, for example, gradually increasing after the second time. The shaping timing can be appropriately selected before evacuation, after evacuation, before vacuum sealing, after vacuum sealing, and the like.
[0018]
In addition, various modifications can be made to the shaping plate exemplified above. For example, in the above example, only one side of the shaping plates sandwiching the packaging bag is multistaged up and down, but the shaping plates on both sides may be multistaged, and each may be operated sequentially from the lower shaping plate.
Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the angle of any or all of the shaping plates can be made variable so as to make contact with the packaging bag W in an inclined state and to move up the contents. In the example of FIG. 6, two rods 18 a and 18 b are attached to the lower shaping plate 14 c up and down, and a drive source such as a cylinder is attached to each of them, and the movement timing is changed and tilted. Of course, it is also possible to give different timings to the two rods 18a and 18b with one driving source.
[0019]
The shaping plate shown in FIG. 7 is obtained by attaching a flexible plate 25 covering the entire front surface of the plurality of shaping plates to the front surface of the lowermost shaping plate 24c among the plurality of shaping plates 24a to 24c. . The flexible plate may be a flexible plastic plate such as polyethylene. In the example shown in FIG. 1, since there is a gap between the respective shaping plates 14 a to 14 c, the surface of the packaging bag W after shaping is marked and the appearance deteriorates, but the shaping plates 24 a to 24 c shown in FIG. 7. Has a flexible plate 25 on the front surface, and therefore has an advantage that no such mark is left. FIGS. 8A to 8E show how the shaping plates 24a to 24c are used.
[0020]
In the examples so far, all of the multi-stage shaping plates have the same width (vertical width), but by making the width of the bottom shaping plate smaller than the width of the other shaping plates, the contents are most offset. The pressing area of the shaping plate in the area where the resistance to the upward movement of the contents is large is reduced, and the contents that are offset to the lower side of the packaging bag with a small number of shaping boards are efficiently and with a small pressing force. It can be moved upward. At this time, it is preferable that the width of the shaping plate at the other stage is increased as it goes up. Figure 9 shows an example of a fairing 34a~34c which most reduce the width w _c of the lowermost fairing was increase the width toward the top. Reference numeral 35 denotes a flexible plate attached to the front surface of the lowermost shaping plate 34c.
[0021]
The present invention has been specifically described above by taking a vacuum packaging machine as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to a packaging machine that is shaped and sealed in a vacuum, but a packaging machine that is shaped and sealed in an atmospheric pressure, or has been sealed. The present invention can also be applied to a shaping machine for the purpose of flatly shaping the packaging bag. Further, the present invention can be applied not only to a packaging bag that is gripped by a gripper and suspended vertically in a vertical direction, but also to a packaging bag that is suspended obliquely or a packaging bag that is horizontally placed. In any case, if the travel distance, travel speed, pressing force, etc. of the shaping plate can be adjusted, the shaping can be performed under conditions suitable for the contents.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in the case of flatly shaping a packaging bag that contains the contents in a state of being offset downward, the contents can be moved upward with a small pressing force, and the contents are crushed. The cost can be reduced because the apparatus can be configured with a simple device.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum chamber in which a shaping device according to the present invention is installed.
FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view for explaining a driving mechanism of the shaping plate.
FIG. 3 is a side view for explaining the arrangement of the drive mechanism.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for sequentially explaining the operation of the shaping device.
FIG. 5 is an overall view of an intermittent rotation type vacuum packaging machine provided with the shaping device.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing another example of the shaping device according to the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing still another example of the shaping device according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic view for sequentially explaining the operation of the shaping device.
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing still another example of the shaping device according to the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Base plate 2 Gripper 10 Chamber lid 13 Base side shaping board 14a-14c, 24a-24c, 34a-34c Shaping board 21,22 Sealing device 25,35 Flexible board W Packaging bag

Claims (2)

A device for flatly shaping the front and back surfaces of a packaging bag containing the contents in a state of being offset downward from both sides with a shaping plate, with the shaping plates arranged on at least one side of the packaging bag A plurality of step shaping plates arranged along the surface , provided with a drive means for sequentially operating these shaping plates , and the front of the plurality of step shaping plates on the front of the lowermost shaping plate among the plurality of step shaping plates An apparatus for shaping a packaging bag, comprising a flexible plate for covering . 2. The packaging bag shaping apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the packaging bag is shaped while being suspended in a vertical direction.

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