JP4554994B2 - Ultrasonic welding apparatus, packaging body manufacturing apparatus, and packaging body manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an ultrasonic welding apparatus, a packaging body manufacturing apparatus, and a packaging body manufacturing method, and in particular, an ultrasonic welding apparatus that facilitates cutting at a sealed portion while maintaining the pressure resistance of the sealed portion, The present invention relates to a package manufacturing apparatus and a package manufacturing method.

  As a sealing means when sealing cylindrical films filled with contents such as sausages and stick cheeses to obtain individual packages, a method of connecting the ends of the cylindrical films with metal wire clips is known. It has been. However, the method of connecting with a metal wire clip has the inconvenience of detecting the wire clip in the metal detection in the product inspection. Therefore, the method of focusing and sealing the end portion of the cylindrical film has been put into practical use. ing. In such a sealing method, there is a reduction in pressure resistance that pinholes are likely to occur at or near the sealed portion. Therefore, after converging the flattened portion of the cylindrical film, the reinforcing tape is applied from two opposite directions. A method has been proposed in which the converging part and the reinforcing tape are welded together (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent No. 2516885 (FIGS. 2, 4, and 7)

  However, in the package manufactured by the conventional means for sealing the end of the tubular film, the pressure resistance strength of the welded part against the increase in internal pressure due to heat treatment such as retort or boil is insufficient, and the welded part is torn and the sealing is insufficient. There was a risk that the contents would rot due to the inflow of outside air, and the surroundings of the sealed portion of the package could be soiled due to the leaching of moisture in the contents. In addition, if the package is torn during the retort process, it takes time to remove the dirt, which greatly reduces the production efficiency. On the other hand, in a package manufactured by filling a cylindrical film with the contents and sealing the ends, the package is cut at or near the sealed portion to form a final product as one package. Therefore, there are conflicting demands for facilitating cutting of the sealed portion and maintaining the pressure resistance of the package at or near the sealed portion.

  Therefore, the present invention provides an ultrasonic welding device that facilitates cutting of a sealed portion while maintaining the pressure strength of the sealed portion, a packaging body manufacturing apparatus using the ultrasonic welding device, and a sealed portion. It aims at providing the package manufacturing method which is easy to cut | disconnect, maintaining pressure-resistant intensity | strength.

  In order to achieve the above object, an ultrasonic welding apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention melts the object to be welded 115 by ultrasonic vibration energy, for example, as shown in FIG. An ultrasonic welding apparatus 100; an anvil having a horn 50 for applying ultrasonic vibration energy from a surface 51 to which a welded object 115 is pressure-bonded; and a surface 65 that faces the pressure-bonding surface 51 of the horn 50 and presses the material to be welded 115 60 is provided with a recess 63 for storing a melted material 115 to be bonded.

  If comprised in this way, a to-be-welded material will seal | stick by crimping | bonding in a part without a hollow, and the to-be-welded material (melted material) melt | dissolved when crimping will flow and accumulate in a hollow, and there, a melt will be welded And can be integrated. Therefore, the sealed portion of the object to be welded is reinforced by the portion formed thick by integrating the object to be welded and the melt, and the pressure resistance strength of the sealed portion is maintained large. In addition, the part of the object to be welded corresponding to the non-depressed part of one surface of the ultrasonic welding apparatus, that is, the sealed part, is formed thin as much as it melts and flows into the depressed part. Mechanical strength is reduced. Therefore, if the thin part is cut, it is easy to cut.

The ultrasonic welding apparatus according to the invention of claim 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, recess viewed 63 is formed on the anvil 60.

  If comprised in this way, since an anvil is a receiver of the ultrasonic energy added from a horn, it will become an ultrasonic welding apparatus which is easy to process and is easy to manufacture.

Also, the ultrasonic welding device according to the invention of claim 1, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the surface 65 of crimping of A Nbiru 60, a central transverse portion 61 which traverses the center of the central transverse portion 61 It is divided into both end portions 62 that escape from the center crossing portion 61 formed on both sides, and a recess 63 is formed between the center crossing portion 61 and both end portions 62.

If comprised in this way, a to-be-welded object will be sealed by crimping | bonding by a center crossing part, and the melt which flows at that time will accumulate in the hollow between a center crossing part and both ends. Therefore, when the melt is integrated with the object to be welded, both sides of the seal portion are formed thick by the melt accumulated in the depressions. That is, the portion sealed at the central transverse portion is reinforced by the portion formed thick at the depressions on both sides thereof. Accordingly, the pressure resistance of the sealed portion of the package is maintained. Moreover, since the sealed part is formed thinly by pressure bonding, it is easy to cut. In addition, since both ends are escaping from the center crossing part, the welding object is not crimped | bonded by both ends. Here, “both ends that escape from the central crossing portion” means that the central crossing portion presses the object to be welded when the horn and the anvil come close to each other for pressure bonding (contact with the object to be welded). On the other hand, the two end portions are not close enough to contact each other via the object to be welded, and both end portions are located slightly away from the crimping surface of the horn and are in a position pulled from the crimping surface.
Furthermore, the ultrasonic welding apparatus according to the invention of claim 1 is configured such that the central transverse portion receives the ultrasonic vibration energy of the horn and the pressure for pressurizing the object to be welded over the entire surface; The horn and the anvil are arranged so that the both end portions and the pressure-bonding surface of the horn face each other when the object to be welded is pressure-bonded.

The ultrasonic welding apparatus according to the invention of claim 2, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasonic welding device according to claim 1, a groove 63 recesses along the central transverse portion.

  If comprised in this way, since the part which reinforces the sealed part crimped | bonded is formed along the both sides of a sealed part over the length of the sealed part, the pressure-resistant strength of the sealed part of a package body Is securely reinforced.

Moreover, in order to achieve the said objective, the package body manufacturing apparatus 1 which concerns on invention of Claim 3 is a raw fabric supply apparatus which supplies a strip | belt-shaped film, for example, as shown in FIG. Vertical sealing devices 11 to 13 that form a cylindrical film F1 by overlapping and sealing the parts; a filling device 30 that fills the cylindrical film F1 with the contents C; and a cylindrical film 15a that is filled with the contents C On the other hand, the ironing device 40 that flatly forms the absent portions 15b of the contents at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the tubular film 15a; and the absent portion 15b formed flat by the ironing device 40 on the flat surface. a focusing device 70 for focusing in the transverse direction along; tubular film F1 as the weld deposit, the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 according to claim 1 or claim 2 for sealing across the focused absent portion 15b In central transverse portion in the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100, and a cutting device 80 for cutting the tubular film. Further, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the anvil 60 of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 includes a tubular film F <b> 1 in which the central transverse portion 61 extends in the width direction of the absent portion 15 b and the recess 63 is cut. It is the depth which can form the thickness of the cylindrical film F1 between an inside and the sealed part in the thickness which can endure the pressure by the content C with which the cylindrical film F1 is filled.

  With this configuration, the pressure resistance strength of the sealed portion of the package is maintained high, but the mechanical strength of the portion sealed by pressure bonding is thin, so the package manufacturing apparatus is small and easy to cut. It becomes.

Moreover, in order to achieve the said objective, the package manufacturing method which concerns on invention of Claim 6 manufactures a package using the package manufacturing apparatus of Claim 3 , as shown, for example in FIG. A vertical sealing process St1 and St2 in which the side edges of the belt-like film are overlapped and sealed to form a tubular film by a vertical sealing device 13 (see, for example, FIG. 4) ; and a filling device 30 (see, for example, FIG. 4) ) And filling step St3 for filling the cylindrical film with the contents; by the squeezing device 40 (see, for example, FIG. 4), the cylindrical film filled with the contents is spaced at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical film. ironing step St4 of flattened form absent portion of the contents of the; focusing device 70 (e.g., see FIG. 4) by a focusing step St5 focusing in the transverse direction along the absent portion in a flat plane; ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 By example, refer to FIG. 4), across the focused absent portion ultrasonically welded seal and thin as to form, pooled melt flows during the ultrasonic welding seal to reservoir fluid, cylinder the melt And a cutting step St7 for cutting the tubular film at a portion where the ultrasonic welding is sealed by the cutting device 80 (see, for example, FIG. 4) .

  With this configuration, the welded part is ultrasonically welded in the absence of the contents of the tubular film, and the melted material that has flowed at the time of welding is attached to the tubular film to form a thicker, so the sealed part is reinforced. As a result, the pressure resistance of the package is largely maintained. In addition, since the sealed portion, that is, the thinly formed portion is cut, it is easy to cut and the package manufacturing method cuts reliably.

  According to the present invention, the object to be welded is sealed by pressure bonding at a portion of the pressure bonding surface of the horn or anvil that is not depressed. The welded material (melted material) melted at the time of pressure bonding flows and accumulates in the depression, and is integrated with the welded material there. Therefore, the welded material and the melted material are integrated to form a thick film. Therefore, the sealed portion is reinforced with the thick portion. On the other hand, the sealed portion is formed as thin as the melt flows. Therefore, there is provided an ultrasonic welding apparatus that can easily cut a sealed portion while maintaining a high pressure strength of the sealed portion. In addition, by using the ultrasonic welding apparatus, a package manufacturing apparatus that can easily cut the sealed portion while maintaining the strength of the sealed portion is provided. Furthermore, the welded part is ultrasonically welded in the absence of the contents of the tubular film, and the melted material that has flowed during welding is adhered to the tubular film to form a thicker portion, so that the sealed portion of the package is reinforced. The pressure strength is kept large. At the same time, since the sealed portion is formed thin, the mechanical strength of the sealed portion is reduced, and a package manufacturing method is provided in which the sealed portion is easy to cut.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or equivalent devices are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a horn 50 and an anvil 60 of an ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention (FIG. 1A), and a side view of welding a tubular film 115 (FIG. 1B). )) And an enlarged view (FIG. 1 (c)) of the welded portion. In FIG. 1, an object to be welded 115 is long in the vertical direction (z direction) and is pressed in the flattened and focused direction (x direction) to form a seal in the horizontal transverse direction (y direction). The ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 applies pressure to the object to be welded by the horn and the anvil while applying ultrasonic vibration energy of the horn 50 that vibrates ultrasonically (20 kHz or more, for example, 20 kHz or 35 kHz) to the object to be welded. In addition, it is a device that seals an object to be welded melted by frictional heat due to vibration. The horn 50 incorporates a converter (not shown) that converts an electrical signal into ultrasonic mechanical vibration energy, and amplifies it in resonance with the vibration of the converter. In addition, it is good also as a structure which transmits the vibration of a converter to a booster and amplifies with the horn the amplitude increased / decreased by the booster. The horn 50 preferably has a simple shape such as a rectangular parallelepiped so as to resonate with ultrasonic vibrations, and the pressure-bonding surface 51 for pressure-bonding an object to be welded is formed as a flat surface.

  The anvil 60 is a metal fitting that receives the ultrasonic vibration energy of the horn 50 and the pressure that pressurizes the object to be welded. The anvil 60 faces the pressure-bonding surface 51 of the horn 50 and has a pressure-bonding surface 65 having the same size. Note that the pressure-bonding surface 65 of the anvil 60 may be larger than the pressure-bonding surface 51 of the horn 50. The crimping surface 65 is formed between a central transverse portion 61 that crosses the central portion, both end portions 62 that are formed on both sides of the central transverse portion and escape from the central transverse portion, and the central transverse portion 61 and both end portions 62. When viewed from the side (in the y direction), or the cross section is shaped like a Chinese character “mountain” placed sideways.

  The central transverse portion 61 protrudes most toward the horn 50 side on the crimping surface 65, is a surface that actually pressurizes the crimping surface 51 of the horn 50 and the welded object 115, flat, and the crimping surface of the horn 50. 51 is formed in parallel. The width (length in the z direction) of the central transverse portion 61 is not less than 0.3 times and not more than 0.8 times, preferably 0.35 times or more, more preferably the width of the crimping surface 65 (length in the z direction). Is 0.4 times or more, preferably 0.6 times or less, more preferably 0.5 times or less. If the width of the central transverse portion 61 is too small, the pressure resistance strength of the sealed portion (hereinafter also referred to as a seal portion) becomes small. If the width of the central transverse portion 61 is too large, the width of the recess 63 is relatively small, that is, the width of the reinforcement portion by the melt 116 is narrowed. As a result, the effect of reinforcement is small, and the pressure resistance strength of the seal portion is reduced. Get smaller. Further, the amount of the melt 116 is so large that it cannot be stored in the recess 63 and overflows and adheres to the welded object 115, so that the aesthetic appearance of the sealed portion may be impaired. By being formed flat and in parallel, the pressure applied during pressure bonding becomes uniform, and the ultrasonic vibration energy of the horn 50 is uniformly applied to the object to be welded 115. The central transverse portion 61 is long in the transverse direction (y direction) of the welded object 115 and crosses the crimping surface 65 of the anvil 60. By having such a shape, the welding object 115 can be sealed. Here, the term “seal” means that the material to be welded 115 is welded in the transverse direction, and the contents of the material to be welded, water, air, and the like are prevented from flowing. In addition, a vertical seal | sticker is adhesion | attachment for forming the strip | belt-shaped film F in the cylindrical film F1, and differs from a seal | sticker.

  The dents 63 are two grooves 63 formed on both sides of the central transverse portion 61 in parallel with the central transverse portion 61. The width of one groove 63 is not less than 0.05 times and not more than 0.3 times the width of the crimping surface 65, preferably not less than 0.1 times, more preferably not less than 0.15 times, and preferably not more than 0.1. 25 times or less, more preferably 0.2 times or less. Even if the width of the groove 63 is increased too much, the pressure strength of the seal portion is only slightly improved. If the width of the groove 63 is too small, the width of the reinforced portion by the melt 116 is narrowed. As a result, the effect of reinforcement is small and the pressure resistance strength of the seal portion is reduced. The depth of the groove 63 is changed in accordance with the melted object 115, that is, the amount of accumulated melt. If the groove 63 is too deep, the melt 116 continues to flow into the groove 63 without resistance. In this case, since it flows in a direction that is easy to flow even a little, so-called single flow occurs, and it does not flow evenly in the grooves 63 on both sides, and the melt 116 may not be integrated with the welded object 115. On the other hand, if the groove 63 is too shallow, the melt 116 overflows from the groove 63, and the appearance of the welded surface and its surroundings may deteriorate.

  Both end portions 62 are surfaces that escape from the central crossing portion 61 formed on the outer sides (sides away from the central crossing portion) of the two grooves 63. Both end portions 62 do not press the welded object 115 between the horn 50 and the pressure-bonding surface 51, and function as a bank to stop the outflow of the melt 116 accumulated in the groove 63. As will be described later, since both end portions 62 are not crimped, the portion to be welded corresponding to both end portions 62 is not formed thin, and the strength is maintained, but the degree of thinning affects the strength. The both ends 62 may press-bond the welded object 115 with a slight force so as not to occur. Therefore, the width (the length in the z direction) may be arbitrary, and the height may be sufficient if the melt 116 can be stored in the groove 63 and escape from the central transverse portion 61. Actually, it is preferable to first determine the amount of escape from the central transverse portion 61 of the both ends 62, and to determine the depth of the groove 63 from the height of both ends 62 and the amount of the melt 116 accumulated. Here, the escape amount varies depending on the size, thickness, material, and the like of the welded object 115, but is 0.1 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less, preferably 0.2 mm or more, more preferably 0.25 mm or more. And preferably 0.4 mm or less, more preferably 0.35 mm or less.

  Note that the shape of the pressure-bonding surface 65 of the anvil 60 is not limited to the above, and various shapes are possible, for example, as shown in FIG. Like the anvil 160 shown in FIG. 2A, a plurality of rectangular depressions 163 may be formed on a flat crimping surface 165, and crimped on a surface 161 having no depressions, and the melt may be accumulated in the depressions. Alternatively, like the anvil 260 shown in FIG. 2B, both end portions 262 that escape from the center crossing portion 261 are formed on both sides of the center crossing portion 261, and a plurality of rectangular depressions 263 are formed on both end portions 262. Also good. Alternatively, like the anvil 360 shown in FIG. 2C, grooves 363 that are smoothly recessed on both sides of the central transverse portion 361 and both ends 362 that protrude smoothly from the depression are formed, and there is no flat surface at both ends. May be.

  Subsequently, the welding of the object to be welded 115 using the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1B and 1C. Typically, the adherend 115 is a cylindrical film filled with the contents. Further, typically, the welding forms a flat content absent portion formed in the tubular film 115, and seals the converging portion 115a focused in the transverse direction along the flat surface in the transverse direction of the film. It is welding. However, the material to be welded 115 is not limited to a cylindrical film, and may be two films or a thin plate. The material is generally made of a thermoplastic resin that can be melted and crimped. Alternatively, it may be made of metal. Since the converging part 115a flattened the cylindrical film 115, the two films are folded and in contact with each other.

  Between the horn 50 of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 and the anvil 60, the converging portion 115a of the tubular film 115 is a surface on which the converging part 115a is not a surface over which the creases overlap. It is referred to as a surface 51.) Or, it is inserted parallel to the central transverse portion 61 of the anvil 60. When the converging part 115 a of the tubular film 115 is inserted, the horn 50 and the anvil 60 approach each other, and the converging part 115 a is sandwiched between the horn crimping surface 51 and the central transverse part 61. The ultrasonic vibration energy of the horn 50 is transmitted to the converging part 115a by the horn crimping surface 51 coming into contact with the converging part 115a. When the ultrasonic vibration energy is transmitted, the frictional heat due to the ultrasonic vibration is greatly generated on the surface where the folded film of the converging portion 115a comes into contact, and the temperature becomes high. Since the converging part 115a is formed of a thermoplastic resin film or a metal film, it starts to melt.

  Furthermore, the horn 50 and the anvil 60 are close to each other and pressurize the converging part 115a. Here, the converging part 115a is pressurized in order to press the contact surface, and the thickness of the converging part 115a after welding does not approach until the horn crimping surface 51 and the central transverse part 61 are completely in contact with each other. The horn crimping surface 51 and the central crossing portion 61 are close to a position with a certain gap. The folded film is sealed together by being pressed in a molten state.

  By applying pressure, that is, when the horn crimping surface 51 and the central transverse portion 61 approach each other at a distance narrower than the thickness of the film as folded, the melt 116 is formed on both sides of the central transverse portion 61. It is washed away into the groove 63. Although it is also swept away on the central transverse portion 61 (y direction in the normal direction of the paper surface), the melt 116 does not flow easily in the central transverse portion 61 because the distance from the horn pressure-bonding surface 51 is narrow, so that it is often swept into the groove 63. The melt 116 that has flowed into the groove 63 accumulates in the groove 63. When the melt 116 accumulates in a part of the groove 63, it is highly resistant to push the accumulated melt 116 and flow, so the melt 116 does not flow in the accumulated part, and the other part of the groove 63 does not flow. It begins to flow. In this way, the melt 116 flows uniformly into the groove 63 without flowing in one place.

  Since both end portions 62 escape from the central transverse portion 61, the converging portion 115a is not sandwiched between the horn crimping surface 51, and the ultrasonic vibration energy of the horn 50 is not transmitted to the film. Does not melt. Therefore, the film is not formed thin at positions corresponding to both end portions 62. Further, the film is not sealed at a position corresponding to both end portions 62. Therefore, the film at the position corresponding to both ends 62 does not become weak in strength, and a large force (due to the internal pressure P of the contents) acts on the film at the position corresponding to both ends 62. Absent. In addition, even when it is slightly crimped at both end portions 62, the seal is easily peeled off, and is almost the same as when it is not crimped.

  The horn 50 and the anvil 60 retreat from each other after the horn crimping surface 51 and the central crossing portion 61 approach a predetermined position, and the horn crimping surface 51 and the crimping surface 65 of the anvil 60 are separated from the converging portion 115a. Crimping ends.

  FIG. 3A shows a cross-sectional view of the converging portion 115a after welding. The converging part 115a corresponds to the sealed part S which is pressed and sealed by the central transverse part 61 of the anvil 60, the reinforcing part T to which the melt 116 accumulated in the groove 63 is attached, the both end parts 62, or the horn 50 and It is a portion corresponding to the outside of the anvil 60 and is divided into an invariable portion N that has not been changed by the ultrasonic pressure bonding.

  FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of a seal portion that receives pressure P by the contents of the tubular film 115 and the vicinity thereof. The seal portion and the adjacent film show the positions of the seal portion S, the reinforcing portion T, and the invariable portion N when ultrasonic welding is performed. By receiving the pressure P of the contents, the film tries to open from the end of the seal portion S. However, since the thickness of the reinforcing portion T adjacent to the seal portion S is formed thick, the deformation at that portion Is suppressed. Therefore, although the seal portion S is thinned by welding, since the force due to the pressure P is suppressed by the adjacent reinforcing portion T, the force acting on the seal portion S is small, and sealing is caused by pinholes or tears that occur on the side of the seal portion S. There will be no shortage or defective products. That is, the pressure resistance of the package is large.

  As the seal portion S becomes thinner, the mechanical strength becomes smaller. In the cylindrical film that cuts the sealed portion (seal portion S) after the sealing by the impact pressing of the push cutter blade, the mechanical strength of the seal portion S is small, so that the force applied to the seal portion S is reduced. Thus, pinholes and tears in the vicinity of the seal portion S can be suppressed. That is, by cutting the thinly formed seal portion S, it is easy to cut, and damage in the vicinity of the seal portion S can be prevented.

  In the description so far, the welding of the film of the flattened and focused portion of the cylindrical film has been described, but the same applies to other films or thin plates. In addition, when a reinforcing tape is applied to the film and ultrasonic welding is performed from above the reinforcing tape, a thick reinforcing portion is formed adjacent to the sealed portion. can get.

  In the above description, the ultrasonic vibration energy is transmitted only from the horn 50. However, the ultrasonic vibration energy may be transmitted from the anvil 60. It may be one that reflects 50 ultrasonic vibration energy, or one that includes a converter in the anvil 60.

  In the above description, the depression 63 is formed only on the crimping surface 65 of the anvil 60. However, the depression may be formed on the horn crimping surface 51. Alternatively, recesses may be formed in both the horn crimping surface 51 and the crimping surface 65. By forming depressions in both the horn crimping surface 51 and the crimping surface 65, the reinforcing portion T is symmetric with the two films, so that a reinforcing structure without a weak portion is easily obtained.

  Then, with reference to the block diagram of Fig.4 (a), the package manufacturing apparatus 1 provided with the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 4A is a configuration diagram showing the overall configuration of the packaging body manufacturing apparatus 1. 4A corresponds to the actual vertical direction, and a tubular film F1 described later travels so as to flow from top to bottom in the figure. That is, the upper side is the upstream side in the traveling direction of the tubular film F1 in the filling and packaging operation, and the lower side is the downstream side in the traveling direction. A strip-shaped film F wound in a roll shape is supported as an original fabric 21 so as to be freely rotatable. The belt-like film F drawn out from the original fabric 21 travels while being guided by the guide rollers 22 </ b> A and 22 </ b> B and is guided to the forming plate 11. The original fabric supply device 20 is configured by the original fabric 21 and the guide rollers 22A and 22B. The material of the strip film is preferably vinylidene chloride resin for ultrasonic welding, and may be other olefin resin. The belt-like film may be a single layer or a multilayer.

  The forming plate 11 has a cylindrical shape that opens up and down. In addition, there is a circumferential gap extending in the longitudinal direction at one place in the circumferential direction. The upper edge of the forming plate 11 is curved and inclined, and the belt-like film F is formed into a continuous cylindrical film F1 having an overlapping portion at the side edge by being guided along the inner surface thereof. A guide tube 12 is suspended below the forming plate 11 on the downstream side, and the tubular film F1 is guided to travel downstream while maintaining its tubular shape.

  The overlapping portion of the tubular film F1 guided by the guide tube 12 is welded while being pressed by the vertical sealing device 13 and is vertically sealed. Ultrasonic welding is preferable as the welding means by the vertical seal device 13, but other than this, resistance heating welding, high frequency dielectric heating welding, laser heating welding, molten resin droplet welding, and other various welding means can be used. . In addition, the vertical seal may be a so-called jointed sticker or an envelope sticker.

  In the upper part of the package manufacturing apparatus 1, a filling apparatus 30 including a pump 31 and a nozzle 32 for filling the vertically sealed cylindrical film F1 with the contents C is provided. The nozzle 32 is connected to a pump 31 installed above the forming plate 11, and the tip is introduced into the guide tube 12. The tip of the nozzle 32 opens on the downstream side of the vertical sealing device 13. The pump 31 may be installed not in the upper part of the forming plate 11 but in another position where the contents are easily replenished, and connected to the nozzle 32 by piping. In particular, when filling a relatively heavy content such as kneaded food, the kneaded food stored in a container installed on the ground is pumped to the position of the nozzle 32 by a pump and supplied. Is good.

  A feed roller 14 that is a feed device is provided on the downstream side of the guide tube 12 and the nozzle 32. In the feed roller 14, the cylindrical body 15a in which the vertically sealed cylindrical film F1 is filled with the contents C is continuously moved downward with the pair of cylindrical feed rollers 14 pressing the contents C. Then, it is conveyed with narrow pressure.

  An ironing device 40 is provided on the downstream side of the feed roller 14. The ironing roller 41 of the ironing device 40 has a cylindrical outer surface extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 4, and the length in the perpendicular direction is at least longer than the folding width, and is supported by the arm body 42. The “folding width” refers to the width when the cylindrical body 15a is flattened, in other words, the half length of the circumferential length of the cylindrical body 15a. The arm body 42 can swing around its one end 42a, and a lateral member 43 is connected to the middle part via a pin or the like. When the pair of lateral members 43 move in the proximity direction, the cylindrical body 15 a is narrowed by the pair of squeezing rollers 41. When the horizontal member 43 moves backward in the separation direction, the squeezing roller 41 does not narrow the cylindrical body 15a. Thus, the absent portion 15b of the contents C is formed in the traveling cylindrical body 15a by a predetermined distance in the traveling direction. The ironing device 40 is not limited to a roller as long as the absent portion 15b of the contents C can be formed flat on the tubular film 15a, and for example, the tubular film 15a is crushed from both sides with a flat member, and the contents are distributed up and down. It may be something like this. Such crushing is also included in the concept of “squeezing” here.

  An ultrasonic welding device 100 is installed on the downstream side of the ironing device 40. Further, a focusing device 70 having two sets of focusing plates 71 a, 72 a, 71 b and 72 b above and below the ultrasonic welding device 100 is installed together with the ultrasonic welding device 100.

  As shown in the detailed perspective view of FIG. 4B, the converging device 70 includes converging plates 71 and 72 (71a and b are collectively referred to as 71 and 72a and b are collectively referred to as 72). The film is sandwiched in the width direction of the flat film. The opposing focusing plates 71a (b) and 72a (b) reciprocate close to each other and then away from each other. This reciprocation is performed in a direction orthogonal to the reciprocation of the ironing device 40. That is, in FIG. 4A, the converging device 70 is also drawn so as to reciprocate on the paper surface, but actually reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface. In the converging plates 71 and 72, V-shaped converging grooves are formed at opposing edges on the film side. When the opposing focusing plates 71 and 72 are close to each other, the left and right focusing plates 71 and 72 overlap to form one small space between the groove bottoms of the respective V-shaped grooves. If a U-shaped notch is formed in the groove bottom of the V-shaped groove, a circular space is formed between the U-shaped bottoms when the focusing plates 71 and 72 are close to each other, which is preferable.

  In the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100, a horn 50 and an anvil 60 are arranged to face each other with a film interposed therebetween. The ultrasonic horn 50 and the anvil 60 reciprocate in the same direction as the reciprocating movement of the focusing plates 71 and 72. That is, it reciprocates in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. When the focusing plates 71 and 72 of the focusing device 70 are close to each other, the horn 50 and the anvil 60 are also close to each other. The horn 50 and the anvil 60 seal the absent portion 15b focused by the focusing plates 71 and 72 while narrowing the absent portion 15b and welding the film.

  A cutting device 80 is provided downstream from the ultrasonic welding device 100 and the focusing device 70 by a predetermined interval in which the absent portion 15b is formed, that is, by the length of one package. The cutting device 80 includes a cutter 81. The cutter 81 is plate-shaped, and a sharp blade portion is provided on the side where the film to be cut (absent portion 15b) is present. The cutter 81 also reciprocates similarly to the ultrasonic welding device 100 and the focusing device 71. The reciprocating motion of the cutter 81 also reciprocates in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 4A, similarly to the ultrasonic welding device 100 and the focusing device 70. Accordingly, it is preferable to use a common drive device (not shown) for the configuration because the configuration is simplified.

  Further, the ultrasonic welding device 100, the focusing device 70, and the cutting device 80 converge, seal and cut the absent portion 15b while moving downward at the same speed as the cylindrical body 15a is sent downward. After cutting, it is preferable to perform a so-called “worship motion (box motion)” in which the absent portion 15b is opened and returned to the upper position. Therefore, when the ultrasonic welding device 100, the focusing device 70, and the cutting device 80 are installed on a common gantry (not shown), the configuration is simplified.

  Then, manufacture of the package using the package manufacturing apparatus 1 which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention shown in FIG. 4 is demonstrated. The belt-like film F is pulled out from the original fabric 21 at a predetermined speed, is applied with a predetermined tension by the guide rollers 22A and 22B, is travel-guided, and reaches the forming plate 11.

  The belt-like film F that has reached the forming plate 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape having overlapping portions at the side edges, and the overlapping portions are welded by the vertical sealing device 13. In this way, the vertically sealed tubular film F1 is formed. The cylindrical film F1 is filled with the contents C from the pump 31 through the nozzle 32. The cylindrical body 15 a filled with the contents C is conveyed downstream by the feed roller 14. The pair of feed rollers 14 is transported with a narrow pressure so that the cylindrical body 15a is locally crushed, but the crushed cylindrical body 15a passes through the position of the feed roller 14 due to the internal pressure of the contents C. Return to the original cylindrical shape.

  The cylindrical body 15a is intermittently compressed over a predetermined length by the pair of squeezing rollers 41, and the absent portion 15b without the contents C is formed at a predetermined interval.

  The absent portion 15 b is sent downstream and reaches the position of the focusing device 70. In the focusing device 70, first, the absent portion 15b is finely focused on the bottom of the focusing groove by the opposing focusing plates 71 and 72. Next, the converged absent portion 15b is sandwiched between the crimping surface 51 of the horn 50 of the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100 and the central crossing portion 61 of the anvil 60, and is sealed while being thinly formed. Both sides of the sealed portion are reinforced by the melt stored in the groove 63.

  After sealing, it is cut at the portion sealed by the cutting device 80. By cutting at the sealed portion, one package is formed. This package is taken out from the package manufacturing apparatus 1 and supplied to the next step.

  As described above, the ultrasonic welding device 100, the focusing device 70, and the cutting device 80 are focused, sealed, and cut while moving downward at the same speed as the absence portion 15b is sent vertically downward. . Thereafter, the opposing parts of these devices are separated from each other and moved upward to prepare for the next absent portion 15b. Thus, the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100, the focusing apparatus 70, and the cutting apparatus 80 operate while moving at the same speed as the speed at which the tubular film F1 is fed. Therefore, since the packaging body can be continuously manufactured without stopping the feeding of the film, the working speed of the packaging body can be increased. However, the ultrasonic welding device 100, the converging device 70, and the cutting device 80 are not structured to move up and down, and the cylindrical film F1 is intermittently fed and the absent portion 15b is converged while the feeding is stopped. Further, a configuration may be adopted in which sealing is performed and cutting is performed. If comprised in this way, the structure of the package body manufacturing apparatus 1 will become simple, and a magnitude | size and a weight can be reduced.

  As described above, according to the packaging body manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention, the sealed portion is reinforced by adhesion of the melt to the adjacent portion, and the sealed portion of the packaging body. The pressure strength of the is increased. Therefore, even if a heat treatment such as retort or boiling is performed in a later process and the film is thermally contracted, the seal portion of the package is prevented from being broken. In addition, the sealing portion is formed thin by the ultrasonic welding apparatus 100, and the sealed portion is cut by the cutting device 80. Therefore, cutting becomes easy, and each package is manufactured by reliable cutting. At the same time, since the pressing force applied for cutting is reduced, damage in the vicinity of the sealed portion can be prevented.

  Then, with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5, the manufacturing method of the package which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated. Here, the packaging body is not limited to the packaging body manufacturing apparatus 1 (see FIG. 1) according to the second embodiment of the present invention, and the packaging body may be manufactured by any manufacturing apparatus. First, a belt-like film is formed into a cylindrical shape by overlapping side edges with a forming plate or the like to form a cylindrical film (step St1). By vertically sealing the overlapping portion of the side edges of the tubular film, a vertically sealed tubular body is formed (step St2). Then, the cylindrical body is filled with the contents from the nozzle inserted into the cylindrical body (step St3).

  By squeezing the cylindrical body filled with the contents, an absent portion having a predetermined length and having no contents is flattened at a predetermined interval (step St4). The absent part formed flat is converged in the transverse direction along the flat surface (step St5).

  The focused spot is sealed with ultrasonic welding. Since pressure is applied at the time of ultrasonic welding and sealing, the converged portion is formed thin. In addition, the melted melt is accumulated in a liquid pool when performing ultrasonic welding sealing. The liquid pool is preferably provided adjacent to the portion to be sealed. The molten material stored in the liquid pool is attached to the film (step St6). It is preferable to form a puddle at an appropriate depth so that the accumulated melt is in contact with the film and adheres to the film as the melt solidifies as the temperature decreases. And it cut | disconnects in the part currently sealed and thinly formed, and one package body is manufactured (step St7). During the above operation (steps St1 to St7), the film is continuously fed (step St8). By continuing to feed the film continuously, the production efficiency is improved, but it is also possible to stop the film feeding and perform the steps of filling the contents, forming the absent part, converging, ultrasonic welding sealing, cutting, etc. Good.

  According to the manufacturing method of the package which is the above-mentioned third embodiment of the present invention, the ultrasonic welded and sealed portion is formed thin, and the adjacent portion to which the melt is attached is formed. Therefore, although the sealed part becomes thin, it is reinforced by the part to which the adjacent melt adheres, so that the pressure-resistant strength of the sealed part of the package is kept large. Moreover, since the sealed part is formed thinly, the cutting in the cutting process is facilitated and the cutting is reliably performed.

The perspective view (FIG.1 (a)) and side view (FIG.1 (b)) explaining the ultrasonic welding apparatus which is the 1st Embodiment of this invention, and the enlarged view of the to-be-welded object ultrasonically welded ( FIG. 1 (c)). It is a perspective view which shows the modification of the shape of an anvil. It is an expanded sectional view of the part welded ultrasonically. FIG. 3A shows a state after ultrasonic welding, and FIG. 3B shows a cross section in a state where the cylindrical film is subjected to internal pressure. Fig.4 (a) is a block diagram explaining the whole structure of the package body manufacturing apparatus which is the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating the focusing device. It is a flowchart which shows the manufacturing method of the package which is the 3rd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Package manufacturing apparatus 11 Forming plate 12 Guide cylinder 13 Vertical seal apparatus 14 Feed roller 15a Cylindrical film 15b with which the contents were filled Contents 20 absence part 20 Material feed apparatus 21 Material 22A, 22B Guide roller 30 Filling apparatus 31 Pump 32 Nozzle 40 Ironing device 41 Ironing roller 42 Arm body 43 Horizontal member 50 Horn 51 Pressure bonding surface of horn 60 Anvil 61 Central transverse portion 62 Both ends 63 Groove (dent)
65 Crimping surface 70 of anvil Focusing device 71, 72 Focusing plate 80 Cutting device 81 Cutter 100 Ultrasonic welding device 115 Welding object 115a Converging part 116 Melt (molten welded material)
160, 260, 360 Anvil 161 Surface 261, 361 without depression Central crossing part 262, 362 Both ends 163, 263, 363 Groove (dent)
C Contents F Strip film F1 Cylindrical film N Unchanged part P Pressure of contents S Sealing part T Reinforcing part

Claims (4)

An ultrasonic welding apparatus that melts an object to be welded by ultrasonic vibration energy and presses the object to be welded;
A horn for applying ultrasonic vibration energy from the surface to which the object to be welded is bonded;
An anvil having a surface facing the pressure-bonding surface of the horn and pressing the object to be welded;
The crimping surfaces of the anvil, Ri Na and depression storing the object to be welded was formed that the melted;
The surface of the anvil to be crimped is
A central crossing that crosses the center,
Divided into both ends formed by escaping from the central transverse part formed on both sides of the central transverse part,
The recess is formed between the central transverse portion and the ends ;
The central transverse portion is configured to receive the ultrasonic vibration energy of the horn and the pressure for pressurizing the object to be welded over the entire surface;
The horn and the anvil are arranged so that the both ends and the crimping surface of the horn face each other when the object to be welded is crimped;
Ultrasonic welding equipment. The indentation is a groove along the central transverse;
The ultrasonic welding apparatus according to claim 1 . A raw material supply device for supplying a strip film;
A vertical sealing device for forming a tubular film by overlapping and sealing the side edges of the belt-shaped film;
A filling device for filling the cylindrical film with contents;
An ironing device for flatly forming a non-existing portion of the content at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the tubular film with respect to the tubular film filled with the content;
A focusing device for focusing the absent portion formed flat by the ironing device in a transverse direction along the flat surface;
The ultrasonic welding apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the tubular film is used as the object to be welded, and sealing is performed across the converged absent portion;
Wherein at central transverse portion in an ultrasonic welding device, e Bei and a cutting device for cutting the tubular film;
The anvil of the ultrasonic welding apparatus has the central transverse portion extending in the width direction of the absent portion, and the recess is formed between the inside of the cut tubular film and the sealed portion. A depth that allows the thickness of the tubular film to be formed to a thickness that can withstand the pressure by the contents filled in the tubular film;
Package manufacturing equipment. A method for producing a package using the package production apparatus according to claim 3;
A vertical sealing step of forming a tubular film by overlapping and sealing the side edges of the belt-like film by the vertical sealing device ;
A filling step of filling the cylindrical film with the contents by the filling device ;
An ironing step of flatly forming a non-existing portion of the contents at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction of the tubular film with respect to the tubular film filled with the contents by the ironing device ;
A focusing step of focusing the absent portion in a transverse direction along a flat surface by the focusing device ;
The ultrasonic welding apparatus performs ultrasonic welding sealing across the converged absent portion and forms a thin film, and stores the melt that has flowed during ultrasonic welding sealing in a liquid pool, A welding step to adhere to the tubular film;
A cutting step of cutting the cylindrical film at the ultrasonic welded and sealed portion by the cutting device ;
Packaging manufacturing method.

Images