JP6249437B2 - Sealability inspection device for seals - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for inspecting sealability of a seal portion in a product in which an insulating flexible container is filled with conductive contents and a seal portion is formed and sealed.

  After filling a conductive container with a flexible container such as a tube or bag made of an insulating resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, a sealed part is formed by a food product, It is used in many fields such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Such a product is manufactured by filling the container with the contents, and then sealing the filling port by heat fusion, ultrasonic welding, etc., but the container molding conditions and sealing conditions are poor, the content in the filling port For example, the thickness of the resin at the sealing part may become uneven due to things such as adhesion of objects or moisture, resulting in problems such as extremely thin parts or pin holes penetrating inside and outside the container, or insufficient sealing strength. May occur. Therefore, after the seal portion is formed, the sealability of the seal portion is inspected.

  As a method for continuously inspecting the sealing performance of the seal portions of a large number of products, a method has been proposed in which a predetermined pressing force is applied to a product filled with the contents and the contents leaked from the seal portions are directly detected. . For example, Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-26300) attaches a tube filled with contents at a predetermined interval to a conveyor that conveys a tube at a predetermined interval and a chain roller that circulates in synchronization with the conveyor. By directly contacting the seal part with an air cylinder having a tube pressurizing pusher, a puncture detection plate having a printed circuit board configured to short-circuit the electric circuit when the contents leaked from the seal part are attached An apparatus including a detection plate for detecting a small amount of leakage attached to the seal portion is proposed.

  In the apparatus of Patent Document 1, the printed circuit board of the puncture detection plate has a flat plate shape and is disposed below the conveyor. When a tube with pressure applied by the tube cylinder pressure pusher is punctured, a large amount of content leaks from the puncture and drops downward, and the fallen object adheres to the printed circuit board. Is short-circuited and a tube seal failure is detected. Further, when the content leaked from the seal portion is small and does not fall from the punctured seal portion, it is detected by a detection plate arranged on the downstream side of the puncture detection plate. The detection plate has a spatula-like shape, and one detection plate is attached to each end of the lever operated by the air cylinder. One detection plate is brought into contact with the tip of the seal portion of the tube. When a small amount of leakage adhering to the seal portion adheres to the detection plate, a tube seal failure is detected (see FIG. 1 of this document).

Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-26300

  According to the apparatus shown in Patent Document 1, it is possible to continuously inspect the leakage of a small amount of contents from the seal portions of many products, but this document has details such as the detection principle of the detection plate. Not listed. In addition, the seal portion is generally formed in a straight line shape, but recently, the shape of a curved seal portion such as an arc shape has increased due to a demand for improvement in design, and can be applied to such a seal portion shape. A seal inspection device is desired.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is not limited to a linear seal portion, but can be continuously inspected even for a curved seal portion, and the sealability inspection of a seal portion having a relatively simple structure. Is to provide a device.

The sealability inspection device for a seal part of the present invention that achieves the above-described problem is as follows.
An apparatus for inspecting the sealability of a seal part in a product in which an insulating flexible container is filled with a conductive content and a seal part is formed and sealed,
A transport means for transporting the product after a sufficient pressing force is applied to leak the contents from the seal portion with incomplete sealing performance;
Insulating cylindrical body, at least two annular electrodes fixed to the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body, and driving for rotating the cylindrical body in the transport direction at the same peripheral speed as the transport speed of the product by the transport means And the at least two annular electrodes are spaced apart so that the region between the electrodes at both ends thereof can come into contact with the seal portion of the product, and the annular electrode on the rotating cylindrical body Slidably contact the seal portion of the product conveyed by the conveying means, leakage detection means for detecting leakage from the seal portion due to the change in conductivity between the adjacent annular electrodes,
It is provided with.

  In the apparatus of the present invention, the product after a sufficient pressing force is applied to cause the contents to leak from the sealing portion with incomplete sealing performance is conveyed by the conveying means in the direction of the leakage detecting means. . The insulating cylindrical body in the leakage detection means is rotated toward the transport direction by the driving device at the same peripheral speed as the product transport speed by the transport means, so that the cylindrical body obstructs the transport of the product by the transport means. Rather, the product is transported in cooperation with the transport means. At least two annular electrodes fixed to the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body constitute at least one electrode pair for measuring a change in conductivity between adjacent annular electrodes. The at least two annular electrodes are arranged so that the region between the electrodes at both ends thereof can come into contact with the seal part of the product, so that the content leaks from any part of the seal part of the product. In this case, while the product passes through the leak detection means, the leaked matter adheres between any one of the electrode pairs. Therefore, it is possible to know whether the sealing performance of the seal portion was insufficient by measuring the change in conductivity between the electrode pairs. The apparatus of the present invention can detect a leaked substance with high accuracy even if the content leaked from a seal part with incomplete sealing is small. In addition, the apparatus of the present invention has a relatively simple structure because it uses at least two annular electrodes spaced apart and fixed to the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body as main components for leakage detection.

In the sealability inspection device according to the present invention, more annular electrodes (many electrode pairs) are fixed to the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body in the leak detection means, and the change in conductivity between the electrode pairs is measured. It is preferable to do so. That is, the leakage detection means includes an insulative cylinder, n pieces of annular electrodes (where n is an integer of 3 or more) fixed to the peripheral surface of the cylinder, and the ring. (N-1) measuring circuits for measuring a change in conductivity between adjacent electrodes among the electrodes and the cylindrical body in the transport direction at the same peripheral speed as the product transport speed by the transport means. And a drive device that rotates the motor. According to this preferable configuration, it is possible to detect both the presence / absence of leakage from the seal portion and the leakage occurrence region in the seal portion based on the measurement results of the (n−1) measurement circuits. For example, when three electrodes (two pairs of electrodes ; two measurement circuits ) are provided, the seal part of the product is divided into two regions, and the sealability of the seal part in any region is not good. If 6 electrodes (5 electrode pairs ; 5 measurement circuits ) are provided, the product seal can be divided into 5 areas, and any area can be identified. It is possible to know whether the sealing performance of the sealing portion of this was insufficient. Therefore, in the inspection of a product having a curved seal portion such as an arc shape and a wide seal portion, it is possible to use for product management by recording which region has a poor sealing performance. In addition, in such a suitable seal portion sealing property inspection device, it is of course possible to detect leakage of a product having a narrow seal portion that can be contacted only between some electrode pairs. Therefore, by fixing a large number of annular electrodes (many electrode pairs) over a wide area of the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body in advance, for example, the entire peripheral surface, it can also be applied to leakage detection of products having any shape of seal part. can do.

  According to the sealing part sealing device of the present invention, it is possible to continuously perform a sealing test on a curved sealing part without being limited to a linear sealing part, and the sealing performance is incomplete. Even if the content leaked from the proper seal portion is very small, the leaked material can be detected with high accuracy. In addition, the apparatus of the present invention has a relatively simple structure because it uses at least two annular electrodes spaced apart and fixed to the peripheral surface of the cylindrical body as main components for leakage detection.

It is a schematic plan view of the sealing property test | inspection apparatus of the seal part of embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of a leak detection means. It is explanatory drawing which shows the detection method of the leak from a seal | sticker part.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a sealability inspection apparatus 1 for a seal portion according to the present embodiment.

  The product 2 to be inspected by the sealing part sealing device 1 of the present embodiment is a product in which a flexible tubular container 3 made of an insulating resin is filled with a liquid content having conductivity. Yes, after sealing the mouth and neck of the tubular container 3 with the cap 4, the contents are filled from the bottom 3 a, and then the vicinity of the bottom 3 a is sealed in an arc shape by heat fusion, ultrasonic welding, etc. Manufactured by the forming process.

  The sealability inspection apparatus 1 for a seal portion according to the present embodiment includes a conveyor belt (conveying means) 12 and a leakage detection means 20 as essential components.

  The conveyor belt 12 is attached to the base 11 so that the product 2 on the conveyor belt 12 is conveyed in the direction of arrow A and reaches the leakage detection means 20. Before the product 2 is placed on the conveyor belt 12, the pressing force application device 30 is sufficient to cause the contents to leak from the sealing portion with incomplete sealing performance by the pressing means 31 such as an air cylinder. A predetermined pressing force is applied. The value of the pressing force for this can be obtained by a simple preliminary experiment on the product 2. As a result of pressing by the pressing means 31, the product 2 in which the seal portion has been punctured and a large amount of contents has leaked is extracted before being placed on the conveyor belt 12.

  The leak detection means 20 includes a cylindrical body 21, an annular electrode 22 disposed on the circumferential surface of the cylindrical body 21, and a motor 26 (drive device) for rotating the cylindrical body 21.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing the structure of the leak detection means 20. The cylindrical body 21 is made of an insulating resin such as monocast nylon or polyacetal, and is arranged so that its central axis is orthogonal to the extending direction of the conveyor belt 12. Conductive annular electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e made of copper or the like are fixed to the circumferential surface 21s of the cylindrical body 21 apart from each other. The distance between the annular electrodes 22a and 22e at both ends is set to be longer than the lengths of the cap-side end and the bottom-side end of the arc-shaped seal portion 3b of the product 2, and the entire arc-shaped seal portion 3b is at both ends. The region between the annular electrodes 22a and 22e can be contacted. In addition, the number of the annular electrodes 22 is only an example.

  An electrode pair is constituted by electrodes adjacent to the annular electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e. That is, the electrode pair p1 is constituted by the annular electrodes 22a and 22b, the electrode pair p2 is constituted by the annular electrodes 22b and 22c, the electrode pair p3 is constituted by the annular electrodes 22c and 22d, and the electrode pair p4 is constituted by the annular electrodes 22d and 22e. . Leads 23aa, 23ba, 23ca, 23da, and 23ea connected to the annular electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e are holes 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d, and 21e provided in the cylindrical body 21, and the cylindrical body. Leads 23ab, 23bb, and 23cb that pass through the internal hole 21v of 21 and are connected to a connection terminal (not shown) of a slip ring 24 fixed to the cylinder 21 and led to the outside of the cylinder 21. , 23db, 23eb and the slip ring 24, respectively. The electrode pairs p1, p2, p3, p4 are leads 23aa, 23ba, 23ca, 23da, 23ea and leads 23ab, 23bb, 23cb, 23db, 23eb (in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the leads are collectively represented by the symbol 23). Are connected to a power source (not shown) to form a closed circuit. Each circuit is also connected to an ammeter (not shown) for measuring the current flowing through the circuit. Since there is only an insulating resin between the adjacent electrodes of the annular electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e, unless a conductive substance adheres between the electrode pairs p1, p2, p3, and p4, No current flows.

  The cylindrical body 21 and the motor 26 are connected to each other via a shaft 25 concentric with the cylindrical body 21 that is rotatably attached to a support base 14 disposed on an elevator 13 attached to the base 11. (See FIG. 3). The motor 26 rotates the cylindrical body 21 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1, that is, in the conveyance direction A of the product 2 by the conveyor belt 12. The circumferential speed of the cylindrical body 21 is set to be the same as the conveying speed of the product 2 by the conveyor belt 12. The conveyance speed of the product 2 is appropriately selected depending on the number of products 2 to be inspected per unit time. The elevator 13 plays a role of adjusting the annular electrodes 22 a, 22 b, 22 c, 22 d, and 22 e on the rotating cylindrical body 21 to a height that allows sliding contact with the seal portion 3 b of the product 2 conveyed by the conveyor belt 12. . In the sealability inspection device 1 for the seal portion of the present embodiment, adjustment is made so that the annular electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e are in contact with the upper surface of the seal portion 3b of the product 2 (see FIG. 3).

  Next, operation | movement of the sealing performance test | inspection apparatus 1 of the seal part of this Embodiment is demonstrated. FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing a method for detecting leakage from the seal portion 3b of the product 2. As shown in FIG. When the product 2 conveyed by the conveyor belt 12 approaches the leakage detection means 20, an annular electrode 22 a disposed on the peripheral surface 21 s of the cylindrical body 21 in which the seal portion 3 b of the product 2 is rotated by the motor 26, While being in contact with 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e, it is further conveyed downstream. Since the cylindrical body 21 is rotated toward the transport direction by the motor 26 at the same peripheral speed as the transport speed of the product 2 by the conveyor belt 12, the cylindrical body 21 obstructs the transport of the product 2 by the conveyor belt 12. Rather, the product 2 is conveyed in cooperation with the conveyor belt 12.

  When the conductive content leaks from any location of the seal portion 3b of the product 2, the annular electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e fixed to the rotating cylindrical body 21 become the product 2 While being in sliding contact with the seal portion 3b, leaked material adheres between the electrodes adjacent to the annular electrodes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, and 22e (between the electrode pairs p1, p2, p3, and p4). When the conductive leaking matter adheres, even if the amount of the deposit is small, the electrodes adjacent to the deposit are short-circuited or the conductivity between the electrodes is increased. Therefore, it is possible to accurately inspect for the presence or absence of leakage, in other words, the sealing performance of the seal portion. In the sealability inspection device 1 of the seal part, the electrode part p1, p2, p3, p4 is included because the seal part 3b of the product 2 is detected by being divided into four regions by the electrode pairs p1, p2, p3, p4. By measuring the current flowing through the electric circuit, it is possible to determine in which region of the seal portion 3b of the product 2 the leakage has occurred. By recording the area where leakage has occurred for each product 2, it is possible to know in which area leakage is likely to occur, which can be used for quality control of the product 2.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the seal portion sealability inspection apparatus 1 further includes a roller that rotates in the conveying direction in synchronization with the cylindrical body 21 in the leak detection means 20, and the seal of the product 2 is provided between the roller and the cylindrical body 21. It is preferable to introduce the portion 3b because the annular electrode 22 can be stably brought into sliding contact with the seal portion 3b of the product 2. It is preferable to arrange a cylindrical body 21 provided with another annular electrode 22 in place of this roller because both surfaces of the seal portion 3b of the product 2 can be inspected at a time. Moreover, if it further comprises the wiping means which contacts the peripheral surface 21s of the cylindrical body 21 and wipes off the leaked substance adhering to the peripheral surface 21s, continuous inspection will become still easier.

  With the sealing portion inspection device of the present invention, it is possible to continuously perform a sealing inspection on a curved seal portion without being limited to a linear seal portion.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sealing property test | inspection apparatus of a seal part 2 Product 3b Seal part 12 Conveyor belt (conveyance means)
20 Leakage detection means
21 cylinder
22 (22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e) annular electrode
26 Motor (drive device)

Claims (1)

An apparatus for inspecting the sealability of a seal part in a product in which an insulating flexible container is filled with a conductive content and a seal part is formed and sealed,
A transport means for transporting the product after a sufficient pressing force is applied to leak the contents from the seal portion with incomplete sealing performance;
An insulating cylinder, n pieces fixed at a distance from each other in the circumferential surface of the circular column body (where, n is an integer of 3 or more.) And the annular electrode, between adjacent electrodes of the annular electrode (N-1) measuring circuits for measuring the change in conductivity of the motor, and a driving device for rotating the cylindrical body in the conveying direction at the same peripheral speed as the conveying speed of the product by the conveying means. The n number of annular electrodes are arranged so that the electrode regions at both ends thereof are in contact with the whole seal portion to be inspected of the product, and the annular electrodes on the rotating cylindrical body Slidably contact the seal portion of the product transported by the transport means, and according to the measurement results of the (n-1) measurement circuits, the presence or absence of leakage from the seal portion, and the leakage occurrence area in the seal portion, Leak detection means for detecting both ,
An apparatus for inspecting sealability of a seal part, comprising:

Images