JP3964005B2 - Automatic tape joining device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an automatic tape splicing device for liquid food or fluid food packaging.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the technical field of packaging liquid foods or flowable foods, automatic tape joining devices are used to join tape sealed to one longitudinal edge of a packaging material web that is unwound from a supply roll. Yes. The packaging material is a laminate having an inner fiber layer and an outer thermoplastic layer. The first longitudinal edge of the packaging material web to which the tape is applied is brought into continuous proximity to the opposite longitudinal edge of the packaging material web by a plurality of guide rollers to form a tube. The tape is then hermetically sealed in a liquid tight manner to the opposite longitudinal edge of the tube defined by the packaging material web, thereby forming a longitudinally sealed tube. The tube is then filled with product and then laterally compressed and sealed at regular intervals. The packaging material is cut in its laterally sealed region, thereby providing a semi-molded liquid encapsulated package that encloses the liquid food product and is sealed in both longitudinal and lateral directions. Semi-molded liquid encapsulated packages can be molded by known means to provide packages of the desired contour, such as packages having a parallelepiped or “brick” shaped profile. Known machines for producing packages of the type described above include TBA 19 type machines manufactured and marketed by Tetra Brig Packaging Systems, Inc., Via Delfini, Modena, Italy.
[0003]
In order to provide a convenient method for opening packages manufactured in the manner described above, known packaging machines are often known as pull tab units, which are molded into a packaging material web. When installed, devices are provided that form openings at regular intervals in portions of the web that will form the top or top wall of the package. These devices are also pull-tab-type opening devices over the openings so that the user of the finished package can expose the openings simply by peeling the pull-tab opening device to inject the contents from the package. It also has means for attaching what can be taken out. Known pull tab units include, for example, PT19 type pull tab units manufactured by Tetra Brig Packaging Systems, Inc., Via Delfini, Modena, Italy.
[0004]
The thermoplastic tape used to seal the longitudinal joints on the paper web is supplied by a plurality of reels. Packaging machines of the type described above are designed for continuous operation or at least uninterrupted operation due to long operating cycles. Thus, the reel of tape will eventually be empty and must be replaced. In order to avoid having to stop the entire packaging machine to replace an empty reel of tape, a joining device has been devised. The joining device enables a new tape to be joined in an automatic manner to the far end of the tape exiting from the empty reel. This type of known automatic joining device includes devices of the type that are attached to a packaging machine and devices that are attached to a pull tab device. Typically, the splicer is located between a series of conventional dancer rollers that make up the tape magazine, so that the splicer exits from the empty reel to the far end of the used tape. A sufficient amount of tape can be supplied to the packaging machine to continue steady operation over the time required to perform the near end joining of the new or spare tape.
[0005]
A known type of commercial joining device used in liquid food packaging machines has an abutment block and a heat block. The contact block has a pressure surface and a plurality of small holes formed on the pressure surface and connected to a vacuum source. A full reel of tape is mounted rotatably next to the abutment block, and the proximal end of the tape is pulled out of the reel and pulled across the front of the abutment block in the tape advance direction. It is done. The spare tape is held on the contact surface by vacuum in a plurality of small holes. The tape drawn from the main reel in the same forward direction passes in front of the contact block. The main tape is separated from the end of the spare tape and the pressure surface by pins during use. The pin is fixedly coupled to the abutment block and is disposed upstream of the pressure surface with respect to the advancing direction of the main tape. The heat block is disposed in front of the abutment block at a certain distance, and the abutment block is coupled to the fluid operated cylinder so that it abuts and engages the heat block. Can be exercised.
[0006]
Conventional sensor devices are used to detect when the tape on the main reel is depleted during use and the far end of the tape exits the empty reel. With detection at this point, the sensor generates an enable signal to activate the fluid operated piston so that the abutment block is moved into abutment engagement with the thermal block. The heat block has a spring-loaded tape locking device. The locking device engages the locking pin of the abutment block simultaneously with the actuation of the fluid operated piston, thereby capturing the end portion of the main tape between them. At the same time, the spring-loaded portion of the heat block engages the pressure surface of the abutment block, thereby welding the proximal end of the main tape to the end of the spare tape. A knife device arranged under the tape locking device, i.e. upstream of the pressure surface with respect to the tape advance direction, cuts off the undesired remaining end portion of the main tape upstream of the weld formed in this way.
[0007]
Throughout the entire time required to perform the joining operation, the tape is located downstream of the joining device, i.e. between a conventional series of dancer rollers located between the joining device and the packaging machine. Be pulled. When the joining operation is complete, the fluid operated piston is retracted and the abutment block is moved away from the thermal block. The undesired cut end portion of the main tape is released from its locked position between the pin and the tape locking device, and the tape joining portion is its lock between the spring-loaded displaceable heat block and the pressure surface. Released from position. The tensioning action applied to the tape by the packaging machine overcomes the vacuum holding force exerted on the plurality of small holes formed in the pressure surface, so that the tape is withdrawn from the new reel. The new reel can in fact last approximately one hour or more, apparently depending on its size, so that the packaging machine operator can load the new reel of tape into the machine at the most suitable time according to the work schedule.
[0008]
The joining achieved in this way constitutes a joint where the joined tapes form an angle of 180 degrees with respect to each other. This means that when a force is applied to the tape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the tape, only a linear force will act on the joint, and a lateral force will tend to tear off the joint. It means that it does not act at all on the part.
[0009]
Although a joining device of the type described above is very advantageous from many points of view, it is not without any drawbacks. In particular, it compulsorily requires the presence of a vacuum apparatus and associated control mechanism that is structurally complex, has many moving parts, and is relatively expensive. Further, the plurality of small holes provided in the pressure surface are likely to be clogged with foreign substances, thereby impairing the correct holding of the proximal end of the spare tape and increasing the need for maintenance management.
[0010]
Other known tape joining devices typically have a thermal block and an abutment block located at regular intervals. In use, the tape is pulled out from the main reel and passes between the contact block and the heat block in the tape advance direction. A reel-wrapped preparatory tape fed through a series of dancer rollers is passed over the abutment block in a direction opposite to the forward direction, and the proximal end of the tape is positioned far from the heat block. Secured in a clamp placed on the contact block surface. The heat block includes a heat pressure surface, a knife device located upstream of the heat pressure surface with respect to the tape advance direction, and two spring push pins that protrude from the surface of the heat block and are formed on the heat block. And a pin that can be retracted in. The heat block is attached to the fluid operated piston. Conventional sensor devices are used to detect when the tape on the main reel is exhausted during use and the far end of the tape exits the empty reel. In this state, the sensor provides an enable signal for actuating the fluid operated piston and the thermal block is moved into abutting engagement with the abutting block. The pins are retracted into their seats formed in the thermal block, and the thermal pressure surface engages the abutment block and partially captures the main tape and the spare tape therebetween. At the same time, the knife coupled with the heat block enters the seat formed on the abutment block and removes the unnecessary end portions of the reserve tape and the main tape at a position upstream of the thermal pressure surface with respect to the tape advance direction. Cut both together. As the fluid-operated piston is retracted, the thermal block moves away from the abutment block, and the proximal end of the spare tape and the distal end of the main tape joined together are released.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The latter type of joining device is very advantageous from many points of view, but it is not without any drawbacks. In particular, the joints thus obtained constitute joint joints in which the joined tapes make an angle of zero degrees (0 °) with respect to each other. This means that when a force is applied to the tape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the tape, a lateral force exerting a tendency to peel off the joint joint is exerted on the joint. If the tape joining fails, the packaging machine must be shut down during the new joining, thus losing production.
[0012]
Accordingly, it is generally desired in the art to provide an automated tape joining device for liquid food or fluid food packaging machines that can overcome the disadvantages encountered when using prior art joining devices. Has been.
[0013]
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a joining device that allows joining such that the joined tapes are at an angle of 180 degrees relative to each other. This is because when a force is applied to the tape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal range of the tape, only a linear force acts on the joint, and a lateral force that tends to peel off the joint is It means that it does not work at all.
[0014]
A further object of the present invention is a joining device that is structurally simpler than currently available joining devices, has only a minimum number of moving parts, is reliable in operation, and requires very little maintenance. Is to provide.
[0015]
In addition, a further object of the present invention is to provide a joining device that is economically advantageous and simple to manufacture.
[0016]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In view of the above objects of the present invention as well as other objects that will become apparent hereinafter, an automatic joining device for a longitudinal seal tape in a liquid food or flowable food packaging machine comprising: An abutment block and a heating block that are movable to abut and engage with each other to apply heat and pressure to superimpose a portion of the thermoplastic tape and bond the first and second tapes together at the weld surface; A cutter coupled to one block for movement to the welding surface to cut the first thermoplastic tape, and a latch mechanism for holding the second thermoplastic tape in place on the abutment block The apparatus further comprises release means coupled to the heating block for releasing the second thermoplastic tape from the latch mechanism upon movement of the cutter. Automatic bonding apparatus is provided that.
[0017]
Some preferred embodiments of the joining device according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
1 to 4 illustrate an automatic joining device 1 for a longitudinal sealing tape for use in a liquid food or flowable food packaging machine according to the present invention. The joining apparatus 1 includes a contact block 15 and a heating block 16. The contact block 15 has a contact surface 17 facing the heating block 16 and a seat 18 formed on the contact surface 17. A spring-loaded latch mechanism 19 is coupled to the abutment block 15 or to a fixed part adjacent to the abutment block 15 of the packaging machine. The latch mechanism 19 is advantageously arranged to reduce the length of the free spare tape relative to the completed splice. In use, the spare tape 8 is passed across the abutment surface 17 and the proximal end of the spare tape 8 is passed under the latch mechanism.
[0019]
Two pins 21, 22 that are spring-loaded are coupled to the heating block 16, and these pins 21, 22 protrude perpendicularly from the surface of the heating block 16 and extend toward the contact block 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the pins 21 and 22 are each received in a receiving seat 23 that defines an abutting portion 23 a, and the head 24 of the pin abuts against the abutting portion 23. Engagement is maintained while maintaining the engagement relationship. The spring 25 biases the pin head 24 so as to abut and engage with the abutment 23 a defined by the seat 23. Obviously, any other suitable means may be used to hold the retractable spring push pin within the heating block 16. A knife or cutter 27 is coupled to the heating block 16 between the pins 21 and 22, facing a seat 18 formed in the abutment block 15. A heating pressure member 28 having a pressure surface 29 is attached to the heating block 16 in proximity to the cutter 27. Although the heating pressure member 28 is heated by the electrical resistance heater 30, it will be apparent that any other suitable heating means may be used. The heating block 16 is preferably heated to a temperature between 150 ° C and 230 ° C, and most preferably heated to a temperature on the order of 190 ° C.
[0020]
According to the present invention, the latch mechanism 19 has a spring biasing arm 31 that supports the tape displacement pin 32. The spring biasing arm 31 is biased so that the tape displacement pin 32 holds the backup tape 8 in the receiving seat 18 formed in the contact block 15. A release member 40 is coupled to the heating block 16 and has a leaf spring 41. The leaf spring 41 is formed so as to constitute a hook-like member 42 that can be displaced in the lateral direction in order to releasably engage with the tape displacement pin 32.
[0021]
The joining device 1 is mounted on the plate bracket 36 by the following method. The contact block 15 is fixed to the plate bracket 36. The heating block 16 has a guide rod 37 fixedly coupled thereto, and a support block 38 is coupled to the plate bracket 36 to slidably receive the guide rod 37. In addition, the heating block 16 is coupled to a shaft 39 of a fluid-actuated piston 40. The piston 40 is preferably a compressed air piston and has an end opposite the shaft 39 that is journal supported by a suitable support member by means of a pivot coupling means 40a.
[0022]
The operation of the joining apparatus according to the present invention is as follows.
[0023]
Referring to FIGS. 1-4, a main tape 7 is shown being pulled during operation by the packaging machine in the forward direction indicated by arrow 6. The spare tape 8 is passed past the front of the abutment block 15 in the forward direction 6 and the proximal end 8a of the spare tape 8 is clamped under the spring-loaded latch mechanism 19. Will be recognized.
[0024]
The operation of the compressed air piston 40 is enabled by a signal provided by a conventional sensor device that detects that the distal end of the main tape 7 is leaving the empty main tape reel. This starts the compressed air piston 40 and pushes the shaft 39 out of the piston 40. Therefore, the shaft 39 propels the heating block 16 and the guide rod 37 in a direction extending toward the abutment block 15 with respect to the support block 38, ie in the direction of the arrow 42. The recess of the contact block 15, that is, the tape displacement pin 32 that holds the preliminary tape 8 in the seat 18 is engaged by a hook-like member 42 constituted by a leaf spring 41. The spring-loaded pins 21 and 22 abut against the main tape 7, thereby locking the main tape 7 and the auxiliary tape 8 together with the abutment surface 17 of the abutment block 15.
[0025]
In this position, the retractable spring-loaded pins 21, 22 are retracted into their respective seats 23, and the pressure surface 29 of the heating block 16 is engaged with the abutment surface 17, thereby Heat and pressure are supplied to the part of the main tape 7 and the part of the auxiliary tape 8 trapped between them, and thus the welding surface corresponding to the contact surface 17, ie, the compressed and heated tape 7. , 8 are welded together in a plane containing 8. At the same time, the cutter 27 enters the receiving seat 18 and cuts the main tape 7. The auxiliary tape 8 is displaced laterally away from the welding surface by the tape displacement pin 32 and is held at a position away from the cutter 27.
[0026]
Release of the newly joined tape reverses the movement of the fluid actuated piston 40, thereby retracting the shaft 39 and sliding the heating block 16 and guide rod 37 in the direction indicated by arrow 43 with respect to the support block 38. This is accomplished by moving and stretching away from the abutment block. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the tape displacing pin 32 is engaged with the hook-like member 42 to allow the joined tape to be released.
[0027]
After that, the empty tape reel is replaced with a new tape reel wound with a full tape, and its proximal end abuts between the tape displacement member and the abutment block in the forward direction defined by the joining tape. Pulled on the block surface. The proximal end of the new tape is then held in a spring-loaded latch mechanism 19 and waits for a new bond to form.
[0028]
The invention described above overcomes the disadvantages encountered when using prior art joining devices. In particular, the abutment block 15 is configured such that the spare tape 8 extends on the abutment block 15 in the forward direction defined by the main tape 7, so that the joining device is configured so that the joined tapes are 180 degrees relative to each other. Form a joint of the type that forms an angle of degrees. This means that when a force is applied to the tape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the tape, only a linear force will act on the joint, while a lateral force that tends to tear the joint will not work at all. It means not to come.
[0029]
Furthermore, the joining device according to the invention is structurally reliable in its operation, requires very little maintenance, is economically advantageous and simple to manufacture.
[0030]
The invention described above can be modified without departing from the scope of the appended claims.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a top view of a joining apparatus according to the present invention, showing a joining apparatus in a non-operating state in which a prepared tape is waiting for joining.
2 is a top view of the joining device of FIG. 1 showing the joining device during operation for joining two tapes together and a release member for releasing the second tape from the latch mechanism. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a top view of the joining apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the joining apparatus after performing the joining operation, together with a newly joined tape during operation.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a release member arranged to move simultaneously with the cutting member to release the latch mechanism.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Joining apparatus 7 Main tape 8 Spare tape 15 Contact block 16 Heating block 17 Contact surface 18 Seat 19 Latch mechanism 21 Pin 22 Pin 27 Cutter 28 Heating pressure member 30 Electric resistance heater 31 Spring pressure arm 36 Plate bracket 37 Guide Rod 38 Support block 39 Shaft 40 Fluid operation piston 41 Leaf spring 42 Hook-like member

Claims (5)

An automatic welding device for the longitudinal sealing tape that put into the liquid food or flowable food packaging machine, the first and the first superposing each other a portion of the second thermoplastic tape and the second tape A contact block and a heating block that can move to abut and engage with each other to apply heat and pressure to adhere to each other on the welding surface, and to move to the welding surface to cut the first thermoplastic tape. And a latch mechanism for holding the second thermoplastic tape in place on the abutting block, the device being moved simultaneously with the movement of the cutter. have a release member coupled to the heating block in order to release the second thermoplastic tape from the latch mechanism,該釈release member, to its longitudinal extending direction Automatic welding apparatus characterized that it is displaceable in the direction.   2. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact block defines a seat for receiving at least a part of the latch mechanism and at least a part of the cutter. apparatus.   3. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contact block is a fixed block, and further, the heating block is substantially parallel to the longitudinal direction of the release member toward the contact block. An automatic joining apparatus comprising a fluid operated cylinder for moving in a direction. 2. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the latch mechanism is capable of accommodating the second thermoplastic tape to be joined in the recess so as to be held in the recess formed in the contact block. An automatic joining apparatus comprising: one pin; and the release member having at least one hook-like member for engaging with the pin. 3. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the seat formed on the contact block is positioned to face the cutter.

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