JP6644644B2 - Vacuum packaging method and vacuum packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum packaging method and a vacuum packaging machine for performing vacuum processing of a packaging bag holding contents including a liquid.

  There is known a mechanism capable of continuously performing a series of processes including a process of filling contents into a packaging bag, a vacuum process of the packaging bag, and a sealing process of a mouth portion of the packaging bag.

  For example, Patent Document 1 discloses an automatic bagging and packaging machine including a product filling unit and a chamber unit. The chamber means has vacuum generating means for generating a vacuum, vacuum releasing means for releasing the vacuum, and bag closing means for sealing the mouth of the bag. These means are disposed around the rotary table, and the bag that moves with the rotation of the rotary table is sequentially subjected to a product filling process, a bag vacuum process, and a sealing process.

JP-A-8-133227

  A self-supporting packaging bag (hereinafter also referred to as a “self-supporting bag”) having a bottom portion (bag bottom) formed so as to be foldable is opened and expanded before filling with contents, and The internal volume required for filling is secured. Then, the contents are filled in the self-standing bag while the bottom surface portion is kept expanded, and then the vacuum processing in the bag and the sealing process of the bag mouth are performed in the vacuum processing chamber.

  The vacuum processing chamber can be constituted by a pair of opening and closing members at least one of which is movably provided. The self-supporting bag holding the contents is disposed between the pair of open / close members with the pair of open / close members opened, and then placed in the vacuum processing chamber by closing the pair of open / close members.

  By the way, the self-standing bag that holds the contents in a state where the bottom portion is expanded has a thickness in the expanding direction (particularly a thickness near the bottom portion) as compared with a general flat bag in which the folded portion is not formed on the bottom portion. Becomes larger. Therefore, when the pair of open / close members is closed in a state where such a self-standing bag is disposed between the pair of open / close members, the self-standing bag comes into contact with the inner surfaces of the pair of open / close members, and the self-standing bag (especially near the bottom portion) is closed. May be crushed. When the self-standing bag is crushed in the horizontal direction in a state where the bottom portion extends widely in the horizontal direction, a relatively large force is required to bend the bottom portion because the bottom portion serves as a tension. . Therefore, when the self-standing bag is crushed against such a tension force of the bottom portion, a relatively large force acts on the contents in the self-standing bag, and the contents are urged.

  When the contents are only solids or the amount of liquid contained in the contents is small, the influence of the momentum of the contents accompanying the crushing of the self-supporting bag is relatively small, and a problem hardly occurs. However, when a large amount of liquid is contained in the content, if the self-standing bag is crushed and the content is given a great momentum, the liquid may unintentionally jump out of the bag mouth. Also, even if the liquid does not fly out of the bag mouth, the liquid may vigorously rise in the self-standing bag and adhere to the portion to be sealed near the bag mouth, and in this case, a bad seal such as biting may occur. There is a problem that is brought.

  Even if a self-supporting bag of the same size is used and the amount of liquid filled in the self-supporting bag is the same, the flexibility of the self-supporting bag may cause the expanded state of the bottom portion or the holding state of the contents (for example, the inside of the self-standing bag). The actual thickness of the self-supporting bag varies depending on, for example, how the contents are stored. Therefore, the thickness of a plurality of self-supporting bags to be continuously processed is not constant, and the problem of spattering liquid from the bag mouth or adhering to the portion to be subjected to the sealing process sporadically occurs as described above.

  In order to solve these problems, it is conceivable to increase the volume of the vacuum processing chamber so that the self-standing bag does not contact the pair of opening and closing members when the pair of opening and closing members are closed. However, when the volume of the vacuum processing chamber is increased, the time required for depressurization becomes longer, so that the productivity is reduced.

  It is also conceivable that the volume of the vacuum processing chamber may be increased by replacing a small-sized vacuum processing chamber of an existing rotary vacuum packaging machine that is widely used with a new large-sized vacuum processing chamber. . However, since a rotary type vacuum packaging machine is generally equipped with a plurality of vacuum processing chambers, when replacing a vacuum processing chamber, it is necessary to replace all the vacuum processing chambers of the vacuum packaging machine. Inevitably, the cost increases.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and when a packaging bag holding contents including a liquid is accommodated in a vacuum processing chamber, the liquid is likely to jump out of the packaging bag or to an unintended location near the mouth of the bag. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum packaging method and a vacuum packaging machine that can prevent adhesion at low cost without lowering productivity.

  One embodiment of the present invention includes a first side surface and a second side surface, a bottom surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, and at least a first side surface, a second side surface, and a bottom surface. A vacuum packaging method comprising: a packaging bag having an inner space surrounded by a portion and a bag mouth portion capable of communicating with the outside, and performing vacuum processing of a packaging bag holding contents including a liquid in the inner space, Forming a fold on the bottom surface such that the bottom surface projects toward the inner space; and moving at least one of the first chamber member and the second chamber member constituting the vacuum processing chamber to form a fold A packaging bag formed with the first chamber member and the second chamber member, and a step of evacuating the inside of a vacuum processing chamber in which the packaging bag is arranged. To.

  Before forming a fold on the bottom surface portion, the first adjustment positioning member arranged at the first adjustment position is brought into contact with the first side surface portion, and the second adjustment positioning member arranged at the second adjustment position is moved to the second side surface. The method may further include a step of contacting the part.

  Before forming a fold on the bottom surface, the first adjustment positioning member, the second adjustment positioning member, and the first adjustment positioning member are arranged in a state where at least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is disposed at the retracted position. A packaging bag is arranged between the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member, and at least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is moved from the retracted position, and the first side surface portion is arranged at the first adjustment position. The second side portion may be contacted by a second adjustment positioning member arranged at the second adjustment position while being contacted by the adjustment positioning member.

  A fold is formed on the bottom surface by pressing a plate-shaped folding member extending from one side edge of the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion to the other side edge portion from the outside against the bottom surface portion. May be done.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, an inner space surrounded by at least a first side surface, a second side surface, and a bottom surface of a packaging bag is filled with a content containing a liquid via a bag opening provided in the packaging bag. It has a filling device and a movable foldable member, and presses the foldable member from the outside against the bottom surface of the packaging bag that holds the contents in the inner space to make the bottom surface protrude toward the inner space and fold the bottom surface. And a vacuum processing chamber configured by a first chamber member and a second chamber member, and moving at least one of the first chamber member and the second chamber member. After wrapping the fold-formed packaging bag with the first chamber member and the second chamber member, a vacuum is applied inside the vacuum processing chamber. A processing apparatus, a vacuum packaging machine having a.

  The vacuum packaging machine further includes a bottom portion positioning device having a first adjustment positioning member and a second adjustment positioning member, and the folding member contacts the first adjustment positioning member disposed at the first adjustment position with the first side surface portion. Alternatively, the second adjustment positioning member disposed at the second adjustment position may be pressed against the bottom surface while being in contact with the second side surface, and a fold may be formed on the bottom surface.

  At least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is movably provided in connection with the positioning drive device, and the positioning drive device is provided with the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member. By moving at least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member, the state in which at least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is separated from the packaging bag is determined. The state in which both of the positioning members are in contact with the packaging bag may be switched.

  The bottom part folding device moves the folding member between a rising end position where the folding member is pressed against the bottom part and the bottom part protrudes toward the inner space, and a descending end position where the folding member is separated from the bottom part. And the folding member may have a plate shape extending from one side edge of the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion to the other side edge portion. .

  The vacuum packaging machine includes a first rotary having a plurality of first support devices for supporting the packaging bag, a second rotary having a plurality of second support devices for supporting the packaging bag, and a plurality of second rotary devices. Bag delivery that receives a packaging bag from a first support device located at a first delivery position of one support device and passes the packaging bag to a second support device located at a second delivery position among a plurality of second support devices And a filling device, wherein the filling device fills the contents into a packaging bag supported by at least one of the plurality of first support devices, a plurality of vacuum processing chambers are provided, and the plurality of vacuum processing chambers are provided. A plurality of second support devices may be assigned to each.

  The bottom part folding device presses the folding member against the bottom part of the packaging bag supported by the first support device located downstream of the position where the contents are filled in the packaging bag among the plurality of first support devices. Folds may be formed.

  According to the present invention, since the wrapped packaging bag is wrapped by the first chamber member and the second chamber member, the first chamber member and the second chamber member press the side portions of the packaging bag to press the packaging bag. The force required to bend the bottom of the slab is small. Therefore, the force of the force applied to the contents in the packaging bag when the bottom surface of the packaging bag is bent can be suppressed. Accordingly, when the packaging bag holding the contents containing the liquid is accommodated in the vacuum processing chamber, the liquid is unintentionally popped out of the packaging bag or attached to a portion near the bag mouth, thereby improving productivity. The cost can be prevented without lowering.

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an example of the vacuum packaging machine. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of the bottom folding device. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bottom folding device of FIG. 2 as viewed from above along the direction of arrow D1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the bottom folding device of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side along the direction of arrow D2 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the bottom folding device of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side along the direction of arrow D3 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the bottom folding device and the bottom positioning device in a state where the packaging bag is arranged in the station A6 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging bag, the bottom folding device, and the bottom positioning device along the section line VII-VII in FIG. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging bag, the bottom folding device, and the bottom positioning device in a state where the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member are disposed at the first adjustment position and the second adjustment position, respectively. is there. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging bag, the bottom folding device, and the bottom positioning device in a state where the folding member is pressed against the bottom of the packaging bag. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging bag, the bottom folding device, and the bottom positioning device after a fold is formed on the bottom surface of the packaging bag. FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a configuration example of the vacuum processing apparatus.

  An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view illustrating an example of the vacuum packaging machine 10. In the vacuum packaging machine 10 of the present embodiment, a process of filling the contents containing liquid into the packaging bag (content filling process; see station A4 and station A5), and a process of the packaging bag holding the contents in the inner space. A process of vacuuming the inner space (vacuum process; see stations B3 to B5), and a process of sealing the inner space of the vacuum-packed bag by sealing the bag mouth of the packaging bag holding the contents ( Sealing process; see station B6). Note that the terms “fill” and “fill” here are interpreted in a broad sense. For example, not only the case where the entire space in the packaging bag is filled with the contents but also a part of the space in the packaging bag This also refers to the case where the contents are supplied into the packaging bag such that the contents are located at the same time.

  In particular, in the vacuum packaging machine 10 of the present embodiment, a self-contained packaging bag is handled. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 described below, the self-standing packaging bag includes a first side surface portion 104 and a second side surface portion 105 forming the front and back surfaces, a first side surface portion 104 and a second side surface portion. A bottom portion 101 extending between the bottom surface portion 105 and a bag opening portion 103 capable of communicating an inside space S surrounded by at least the first side surface portion 104, the second side surface portion 105, and the bottom surface portion 101 with the outside.

  The vacuum packaging machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a so-called two-rotary type vacuum packaging machine, and includes two rotaryes called a filling rotary 11 (first rotary) and a vacuum rotary 12 (second rotary).

  The filling rotary 11 includes a first rotary table 13 provided on a machine base 24 and rotatable intermittently, and a plurality of gripper pairs (first support devices) 65 for supporting the packaging bag. Is intermittently transported along a predetermined circular orbit. A predetermined packaging process including a content filling process is performed on the packaging bag transferred by the filling rotary 11.

  The vacuum rotary 12 includes a second rotary table 29 provided on the machine base 24 and rotatable intermittently, and a plurality of vacuum grippers (second support device; reference numeral “120” in FIG. 11 described later) for supporting the packaging bag. ), And continuously or intermittently transports the packaging bags sent from the filling rotary 11 along a predetermined circular orbit. A predetermined packaging process including a vacuum process and a sealing process is performed on the packaging bag transferred by the vacuum rotary 12.

  A bag transfer device 28 is provided between the filling rotary 11 and the vacuum rotary 12. The bag delivery device 28 receives the packaging bags from the filling rotary 11 and delivers the packaging bags to the vacuum rotary 12.

  The filling rotary 11 of the present example is provided with eight stations A1 to A8, and the same number (eight sets in the example shown in FIG. 1) of the left and right gripper pairs 65 as the stations A1 to A8 includes the first rotary table 13. Are provided at equal intervals. Each gripper pair 65 sequentially stops at each of these stations A1 to A8 according to the intermittent rotation of the first turntable 13. Similarly, the vacuum rotary 12 is provided with ten stations B1 to B10, and the same number (ten sets in the example shown in FIG. 1) of the vacuum grippers and the vacuum processing chambers 130 (that is, the first chambers) as the stations B1 to B10 are provided. The member 31 and the second chamber member 32) are provided at equal intervals on the second turntable 29. A vacuum gripper is assigned to each of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers 130, and the vacuum processing chamber 130 and the vacuum gripper in this example correspond one-to-one. Each vacuum gripper and the assigned vacuum processing chamber 130 move integrally according to the intermittent rotation of the second turntable 29, and sequentially stop at each of the stations B1 to B10. The fact that the vacuum gripper and the vacuum processing chamber 130 move integrally means that the vacuum gripper and the vacuum processing chamber 130 move together, and the vacuum processing chamber 130 and the vacuum gripper that correspond to each other move the second rotary table 29. And are stopped intermittently in each of the stations B1 to B10.

  In the station A1 provided in the filling rotary 11, an empty bag supply step is performed, and an empty packaging bag held in the bag magazine 14 is supplied to the gripper pair 65. The gripper pair 65 sandwiches both side edges (see reference numeral “102” in FIG. 6 described later) of the packaging bag lifted by suction means such as a suction cup, so that the bag mouth of the packaging bag faces vertically upward. Then, the packaging bag is supported in a suspended state. The packaging bag of this example is housed in the bag magazine 14 in a state where the bag mouth is closed and the bottom is folded and the whole is thin and flat, and is supported by the gripper pair 65 in the station A1 in a flat state. The specific folded state of the bottom portion of the packaging bag is not particularly limited, but typically, a fold is formed from one side edge to the other side edge on the bottom portion, and the bottom portion is formed by the fold. Can be folded.

  In the station A2, a printing process is performed, and various information such as the date of manufacture and the expiration date are printed on the packaging bag supported by the gripper pair 65.

  In the station A3, an opening process and a bottom portion expanding process are performed, and the bag opening portion of the packaging bag is opened by the follow-up type opening guide device 16, and the bottom portion (bag bottom portion) of the packaging bag is expanded by the expanding device 18. In other words, the packaging bag is transported by the gripper pair 65 in a flat state with the bottom folded from station A1 to station A3, but the bag mouth is opened and the bottom is expanded at station A3 to reduce the thickness. It is increased. After the station A3, the packaging bag is basically transported with the bottom portion expanded.

  At the station A4, a solid filling step is performed, and the solid among the contents is filled into the packaging bag from the filling funnel 20 through the bag mouth. If the contents to be filled in the packaging bag do not contain solid matter, the solid matter filling step in this station A4 is omitted, and the packaging bag supported by the gripper pair 65 is transferred to the subsequent station A5. Is done.

  In the station A5, a liquid filling step is performed, and the liquid (liquid substance) among the contents is filled into the packaging bag by the filling nozzle 22 and the filling pump 23 through the bag mouth. The liquid referred to here can be interpreted in a broad sense, and is a concept that can include an object whose shape can change fluidly when a force such as an impact is applied. For example, a gel-like object may be filled in the packaging bag at the station A5.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the filling device 19 is constituted by the filling funnel 20, the filling nozzle 22, and the filling pump 23. The filling device 19 passes the contents containing the liquid through the bag mouth provided in the packing bag. Fill the space inside. In this example, the liquid and the solid of the contents are filled in the packaging bag in different stations at different stations, but substances other than liquid and liquid (including solids and gases) are filled in the same station at the same step. It may be filled in a packaging bag. Further, another station for injecting another substance (for example, gas) constituting the contents into the packaging bag may be provided separately.

  At the station A6, a bag mouth portion tensioning process, a bottom portion positioning process, and a bottom portion folding process are performed. In the bag mouth portion tensioning step, the grippers forming the gripper pair 65 are moved so as to be separated from each other, and the bag mouth portion of the packaging bag is closed and placed in a tension state. The bag mouth portion tensioning step may be performed at the preceding station A5, or may be performed between the station A5 and the station A6. That is, the bag mouth portion tensioning step can be performed after the filling of the contents into the packaging bag is completed, and particularly when a gas is injected into the packaging bag, in order to prevent diffusion of the gas, It is preferable that the bag mouth portion tensioning step is performed immediately before or immediately after gas injection, or during the gas injection.

  In the bottom portion positioning step, a pair of positioning members (reference numerals “55” and “56” in FIG. 2) are attached to the front and back surfaces of the packaging bag (that is, the first side portion 104 and the second side portion 105 (see FIGS. 6 and 7)). ) Is abutted to position the bottom surface portion 101 of the packaging bag in the thickness direction. In the bottom part folding step, the folding member (see reference numeral “59” in FIG. 2) of the bottom part folding device 26 is pressed from below onto the bottom part of the package bag in the opened state, and the bottom part is raised vertically. Fold a predetermined amount toward the inside of the packaging bag. After the folding of the bottom portion of the packaging bag is completed, the folding member is lowered to the retracted position, and one of the positioning members is also moved to the retracted position. As described above, the bottom folding device 26 is provided downstream of the filling device 19 with respect to the transport direction of the packaging bag (that is, the rotation direction of the first rotary table 13), and is located at a position lower than the position where the contents are filled in the packaging bag. The folding member is pressed against the bottom surface of the packaging bag supported by the pair of grippers 65 located downstream to form a fold.

  The details of the bottom portion positioning step and the bottom portion folding step performed in the station A6 and the specific configuration of the bottom portion folding device 26 will be described later.

  In the station A7, a delivery process is performed, and the bag delivery device 28 includes a gripper pair disposed at the station A7 (first delivery position) among a plurality of gripper pairs 65 (first support devices) provided on the first turntable 13. Receive the packaging bag from 65. The bag delivery device 28 arranges the packaging bag received from the gripper pair 65 of the filling rotary 11 at the station B1 (second delivery position) among a plurality of vacuum grippers provided on the second rotary table 29 of the vacuum rotary 12. Transfer to vacuum gripper. The specific configuration of the bag transfer device 28 is not particularly limited, and the bag may be formed by an arbitrary configuration corresponding to the configuration of the gripper pair 65 provided on the first rotary table 13 and the configuration of the vacuum gripper provided on the second rotary table 29. A transfer device 28 can be provided. For example, if the gripper pair 65 is configured to grip both side edges of the packaging bag and the vacuum gripper is configured to sandwich a portion of the packaging bag below the upper edge, the bag delivery device 28 It is possible to adopt a configuration in which the upper edge of the bag is gripped.

  In the station A8 of this example, the gripper pair 65 is sent from the station A8 to the subsequent station A1 without performing any special processing, but a specific processing may be performed in the station A8.

  On the other hand, in the station B1 provided in the vacuum rotary 12, a bag receiving step and a bag holding step are performed. That is, the vacuum gripper (chamber side gripper) provided inside the first chamber member (main body side chamber) 31 fixedly provided to the second rotary table 29 is packed from the bag transfer device 28 at the station B1. Receive and support the bag. Specifically, the vacuum gripper supports the packaging bag in a suspended state by sandwiching a portion below the upper edge of the packaging bag so that the bag opening of the packaging bag faces upward in the vertical direction. The specific configuration of the vacuum gripper is not particularly limited. For example, as in a gripping device disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2538473, the width direction of the packaging bag (that is, the direction from one side edge to the other side edge). A gripper capable of supporting the packaging bag by sandwiching the packaging bag into ()) can be suitably used as the vacuum gripper.

  In the station B2, a shaping process is performed, and prior to the subsequent vacuum processing, the shape of the packaging bag supported by the vacuum gripper is adjusted by a shaping device (not shown).

  In the station B3, a chamber sealing step and a preliminary vacuum step are performed. In the chamber sealing step, the movable second chamber member (lid-side chamber) 32 moves toward the fixed first chamber member 31, and a vacuum formed by the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32. The processing chamber 130 is closed and hermetically closed. In the pre-vacuum step, preparatory vacuum processing is performed on the packaging bag, and the inside of the sealed vacuum processing chamber 130 is depressurized to a predetermined pressure by a vacuum processing apparatus (see reference numeral “115” in FIG. 11 described later) to form a vacuum state. To be. Here, the vacuum state refers to a state where the pressure is lower than the standard atmospheric pressure.

  At the station B4, a primary vacuum process is performed, and at the station B5, a secondary vacuum process is performed. In each of the primary vacuum process and the secondary vacuum process, the inside of the vacuum processing chamber 130 is depressurized to a predetermined pressure by the vacuum processing apparatus, and the vacuum processing of the packaging bag is performed. It is adjusted to.

  At the station B6, a bag mouth sealing process is performed, and the bag mouth of the packaging bag is sealed by a seal processing unit (see reference numerals “156” and “157” in FIG. 11) disposed in the vacuum processing chamber 130, and the packaging is performed. The bag is sealed.

  In the station B7, a sealing part cooling step is performed, and in the station B8, a sealing part cooling step and an atmosphere opening step are performed. In the sealing portion cooling step performed in these stations B7 and B8, the sealing portion of the packaging bag can be cooled by an arbitrary method. For example, the temperature of the seal portion is reduced by pressing the cooling tool against the seal portion or blowing cooling air on the seal portion. In the open-to-atmosphere step, the inside of the vacuum processing chamber 130 is opened to the atmosphere, and the inside of the vacuum processing chamber 130 is returned to the atmospheric pressure.

  In the station B9, a chamber opening step and a product bag discharging step are performed, the second chamber member 32 performs an opening operation to expose the packaging bag supported by the vacuum gripper, and the packaging bag is opened from the vacuum gripper to “contents”. , And a vacuum-processed packaging bag (that is, a product bag) "is discharged onto the carry-out conveyor 36. The packaging bags discharged onto the unloading conveyor 36 are sent to the subsequent stage by the unloading conveyor 36.

  As described above, in the vacuum packaging machine 10 of the present example, various processes are continuously performed in the filling rotary 11 (stations A1 to A8) and the vacuum rotary 12 (stations B1 to B10). For example, the filling device 19 (the filling funnel 20, the filling nozzle 22, and the filling pump 23) is provided with a packaging bag (in the illustrated example, at the stations A4 and A5) supported by at least one of the plurality of gripper pairs 65 of the filling rotary 11. The contents are filled into a packaging bag supported by the pair of grippers 65 to be arranged. In addition, the vacuum processing device 115 converts a packaging bag supported by at least one of the plurality of vacuum grippers of the vacuum rotary 12 (in the illustrated example, a packaging bag supported by the vacuum grippers disposed in the stations B3 to B5). While being wrapped by the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32, the inside of the vacuum processing chamber 130 in which the packaging bag is arranged is evacuated.

  Further, in the vacuum packaging machine 10 of the present embodiment, after filling the contents containing the liquid into the packaging bag, and before the packaging bag holding the contents is wrapped by the vacuum processing chamber 130, the bottom surface folding device 26 is used. As a result, a fold is formed on the bottom of the packaging bag, and the bottom is slightly folded toward the inner space S of the packaging bag 100. Thereby, the force from the side of the packaging bag required to fold the bottom of the packaging bag can be reduced, and the force applied to the contents in the packaging bag by the force from the side of the packaging bag can be effectively reduced. Can be suppressed. Therefore, even when the packaging bag holding the contents containing the liquid is accommodated in the vacuum processing chamber 130 and the packaging bag is pressed, the liquid is prevented from jumping out of the packaging bag or adhering to the vicinity of the bag mouth. be able to.

  The devices constituting the vacuum packaging machine 10 are controlled by a control panel 34. Under the control of the control panel 34, the devices constituting the filling rotary 11 and the devices constituting the vacuum rotary 12 operate in conjunction.

  Next, a specific configuration example of the bottom folding device 26 will be described.

<Positioning process and bottom surface folding process>
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an example of the bottom folding device 26. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the bottom folding device 26 of FIG. 2 as viewed from above along the direction of the arrow D1 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the bottom folding device 26 of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side along the direction of arrow D2 shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view of the bottom folding device 26 of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side along the direction of arrow D3 shown in FIG.

  The bottom folding device 26 of the present embodiment is provided together with the bottom positioning device 54. With respect to the packaging bag 100 supported by the gripper pair 65 arranged at the station A6 (that is, the packaging bag 100 arranged at the same position), the bottom surface folding step 26 and the bottom surface positioning device 54 perform a bottom surface positioning step and a bottom surface positioning step. A folding step is performed.

  The illustrated bottom part folding device 26 includes a base 41 fixed to the machine base 24 (see FIG. 1) of the vacuum packaging machine 10, and a first mounting plate 43 fixed to the base 41. The first mounting plate 43 has a vertical member extending vertically upward from the base 41 and a horizontal member extending horizontally from an upper portion of the vertical member. A first air cylinder 45 is fixed to a horizontal member of the first mounting plate 43, and a first air cylinder shaft 46 of the first air cylinder 45 passes through a hole formed in the horizontal member and is vertically downward (arrow). (See "D1"). An elevating plate 48 is fixed to the tip of the first air cylinder shaft 46, and the elevating plate 48 moves up and down with a change in the amount of protrusion of the first air cylinder shaft 46 from the main body of the first air cylinder 45.

  An L-shaped block 57 and a second mounting plate 50 are fixedly arranged on the elevating plate 48. The L-shaped block 57 has a horizontal member extending horizontally along the upper surface of the elevating plate 48, and a vertical member extending vertically upward from one end of the horizontal member.

  A folding member 59 is fixed to the vertical member of the L-shaped block 57, and the folding member 59 protrudes above the vertical member of the L-shaped block 57 on the upper side in the vertical direction. The folding member 59 has a plate shape, and the front and back surfaces of the packaging bag (that is, the first side surface portion 104 and the second side surface portion 105 (see FIG. 1) supported by the pair of grippers 65 arranged at the station A6 (see FIG. 1). 6) and 7) are arranged so as to extend from one side edge to the other side edge. The vertically upper end of the folding member 59 is rounded to prevent damage to the bottom when the tip of the folding member 59 is pressed against the bottom of the packaging bag.

  The second adjustment positioning member 56 is fixed to the horizontal member of the L-shaped block 57. The second adjustment positioning member 56 includes a vertical portion extending vertically upward from the horizontal member of the L-shaped block 57, and a horizontal portion fixed to the vertically upper end of the vertical portion and extending horizontally. Including. Note that the second adjustment positioning member 56 of the present example is fixedly provided, and the horizontal portion of the second adjustment positioning member 56 mainly functions as a member that supports one side surface of the packaging bag.

  On the other hand, the second air cylinder 52 is fixed to the second mounting plate 50, and the second air cylinder shaft 53 projects from the main body of the second air cylinder 52 in a horizontal direction (see the arrow “D2”) so as to be able to advance and retreat. A first adjustment positioning member 55 is fixed to a tip of the second air cylinder shaft 53. The first adjustment positioning member 55 includes a vertical portion extending vertically upward from the tip of the second air cylinder shaft 53, and a horizontal portion extending horizontally (see arrow "D3") from above the vertical portion. including.

  The horizontal portion of the first adjustment positioning member 55, the horizontal portion of the second adjustment positioning member 56, and the folding member 59 are arranged parallel to each other, and their extending directions are the grippers arranged at the station A6 (see FIG. 1). The direction substantially coincides with the direction from one side edge to the other side edge of the front and back surfaces (that is, the first side surface portion 104 and the second side surface portion 105) of the packaging bag supported by the pair 65.

  In the bottom folding device 26 having the above configuration, the folding member 59 is provided so as to be able to move up and down in the vertical direction. That is, the vertical position of the elevating plate 48 and the L-shaped block 57 is determined according to the amount of protrusion of the first air cylinder shaft 46 in the vertical direction, and the folding member 59 works together with the elevating plate 48 and the L-shaped block 57. Move up and down in the vertical direction. Therefore, the first air cylinder 45 has a rising end position (first elevating position) where the folding member 59 is pressed against the bottom surface of the packaging bag and a descending end position (second elevating position) where the folding member 59 is separated from the bottom surface. ) Functions as the elevation drive device 44 for moving the folding member 59. As described above, the bottom folding device 26 drives the folding member 59 by the first air cylinder 45, and is supported by at least one of the plurality of gripper pairs 65 "the packaging bag holding the contents in the inner space". The folding member 59 is pressed against the bottom of the packaging bag (the packaging bag arranged in the station A6 in the example shown in FIG. 1) from the outside. Thereby, the bottom portion of the packaging bag is projected toward the inner space, and a fold is formed on the bottom portion.

  The bottom folding device 26 of the present embodiment is provided integrally with a bottom positioning device 54 including a first adjustment positioning member 55 and a second adjustment positioning member 56. At least one of the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56 (the first adjustment positioning member 55 in the illustrated example) is a second air cylinder of the second air cylinder 52 functioning as the positioning drive device 51. It is connected to the shaft 53 and movably provided. The second air cylinder 52 is positioned at a position where the first adjustment positioning member 55 is in contact with the first side surface portion 104 (a first adjustment position (reference numeral “P1” in FIG. )) And a position separated from the first side surface portion 104 (a retracted position (refer to a reference numeral “P3” in FIG. 7 described later)). Thus, the second air cylinder 52 is in a state in which at least one of the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56 (the first adjustment positioning member 55 in this example) is separated from the packaging bag. The state in which both the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56 are in contact with the packaging bag can be switched.

  Then, the first adjustment positioning member 55 arranged at the first adjustment position is in contact with the first side surface of the packaging bag, and the second adjustment positioning member 56 arranged at the second adjustment position is the second adjustment positioning member 56 of the packaging bag. The folding member 59 is pressed against the bottom surface of the packaging bag while being in contact with the side surface, and a fold is formed on the bottom surface. By pressing the folding member 59 against the bottom surface of the packaging bag in a state where the position of the packaging bag is adjusted by the bottom surface positioning device 54 in this manner, it is possible to accurately form a fold at a desired position on the bottom surface of the packaging bag. Can be.

  Next, specific operations of the bottom folding device 26 and the bottom positioning device 54 shown in FIGS. 2 to 5 will be described.

  In this example, prior to the bottom part positioning step and the bottom part folding step performed by the bottom part positioning device 54 and the bottom part folding device 26, a bag mouth tensioning step of closing the bag mouth of the packaging bag is performed. While the bottom part positioning step and the bottom part folding step are performed, the bag mouth part 103 of the packaging bag is kept closed. Then, a bottom portion positioning step is performed prior to the bottom portion folding step, and a pair of positioning members (that is, the first adjustment positioning member 55) are provided on the front and back surfaces of the packaging bag 100 (that is, the first side surface portion 104 and the second side surface portion 105). And the second adjustment positioning member 56) is pressed to position the bottom surface portion 101 (particularly a portion where the folding member 59 is pressed) in the thickness direction of the packaging bag 100.

  6 to 10 show the behavior of the bottom surface folding device 26 and the bottom surface positioning device 54 in the bottom surface positioning step and the bottom surface folding step. FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the bottom folding device 26 and the bottom positioning device 54 in a state where the packaging bag 100 is arranged in the station A6 shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging bag 100, the bottom folding device 26, and the bottom positioning device 54 along the section line VII-VII of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 shows the packaging bag 100, the bottom folding device 26, and the bottom portion in a state where the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56 are disposed at the first adjustment position P1 and the second adjustment position P2, respectively. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the positioning device. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging bag 100, the bottom folding device 26, and the bottom positioning device 54 in a state where the folding member 59 is pressed against the bottom 101 of the packaging bag 100. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the packaging bag 100, the bottom folding device 26, and the bottom positioning device 54 after the fold 110 is formed on the bottom 101 of the packaging bag 100.

  7 to 10 show an example in which the content 63 accommodated in the inner space S of the packaging bag 100 is composed of only a liquid, but the content 63 is formed of a solid material other than the liquid. Also in the case where it is included, the bottom portion positioning step and the bottom portion folding step described below are performed in the same manner.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the contents 63 are stored in the inner space S of the packaging bag 100 sent to the station A6. Has a state of being spread substantially horizontally by the weight of.

  Further, when the packaging bag 100 whose both side edges 102 are supported by the gripper pair 65 is sent from the station A5 (see FIG. 1) to the station A6, the second air cylinder shaft 53 is relatively large in the horizontal direction. The first adjustment positioning member 55 protrudes and is disposed at the retracted position P3 (see FIG. 7). In a state where the first adjustment positioning member 55 is arranged at the retreat position P3, the distance larger than the thickness of the packaging bag 100 in the state where the bottom surface portion 101 is expanded is equal to the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56. Is formed between Thereby, the packaging bag 100 can be arranged at a predetermined processing position of the station A6 without causing interference with the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56.

  The second adjustment positioning member 56 fixedly provided guides the movement of the packaging bag 100 transferred from the station A5 to the station A6. In particular, the end (the right end of the second adjustment positioning member 56 in the example shown in FIG. 6) of the second adjustment positioning member 56 on the front stage side (that is, the station A5 side) of the horizontal portion is an arc-shaped conveyance of the packaging bag 100. Arranged at an angle corresponding to the track, the interference between the second adjustment positioning member 56 and the packaging bag 100 is effectively prevented. Then, the second adjustment positioning member 56 contacts the second side surface portion 105 (particularly, the region near the bottom surface portion 101) of the packaging bag 100 arranged in the station A6. Thus, the packaging bag 100 is supported by the second adjustment positioning member 56, and unintended movement of the packaging bag 100 in the thickness direction is prevented.

  When the packaging bag 100 is transferred from the station A5 to the station A6, the first air cylinder shaft 46 protrudes relatively vertically downward so that the folding member 59 does not interfere with the packaging bag 100. Is disposed at a position separated from the packaging bag 100 (particularly, the bottom surface portion 101) in the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, at least one of the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56 is formed before the fold is formed on the bottom surface portion 101 of the packaging bag 100 by the folding member 59. On the other hand, the packaging bag 100 is arranged between the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56 with the one (the first adjustment positioning member 55 in this example) arranged at the retreat position P3.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 8, before forming a fold on the bottom surface portion 101 of the packaging bag 100 by the folding member 59, at least one of the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56 (in this example, By moving the first adjustment positioning member 55) from the retreat position P3, the first side surface portion 104 of the packaging bag 100 is contacted and supported by the first adjustment positioning member 55 arranged at the first adjustment position P1, and The two side portions 105 are contacted and supported by the second adjustment positioning member 56 arranged at the second adjustment position P2.

  Specifically, the first adjustment positioning member 55 is moved toward the first side surface 104 of the packaging bag 100 by reducing the amount of protrusion of the second air cylinder shaft 53 from the main body of the second air cylinder 52. Let it. As a result, the packaging bag 100 (particularly, the portion near the bottom surface portion 101) is sandwiched between the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment positioning member 56, and is placed in the thickness direction of the packaging bag 100 (see the arrow “D4” in FIG. 8). The center region in the thickness direction of the bottom surface portion 101 can be accurately arranged almost directly above the folding member 59 while preventing the displacement.

  As shown in FIG. 9, a direction from one side edge 102 of the first side surface 104 and the second side surface 105 of the packaging bag 100 toward the other side edge 102 (that is, a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 9). ) Is pressed against the bottom 101 of the packaging bag 100 from the outside, so that the fold 110 is formed on the bottom 101. Specifically, by reducing the amount of protrusion of the first air cylinder shaft 46 from the main body of the first air cylinder 45, the lifting plate 48, the L-shaped block 57, and the folding member 59 are connected to the bottom surface 101 of the packaging bag 100. Move toward. As a result, the folding member 59 presses the substantially central portion of the bottom surface portion 101 of the packaging bag 100, and a fold 110 is formed on the bottom surface portion 101 so that the bottom surface portion 101 projects toward the inner space S of the packaging bag 100. .

  When the folding member 59 presses the bottom surface portion 101 of the packaging bag 100, the first side surface portion 104 and the second side surface portion 105 of the packaging bag 100 adjust the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the second adjustment portion in accordance with the bending of the bottom surface portion 101. It moves in the direction away from the positioning member 56 (that is, inward direction), and the volume of the inner space S of the packaging bag 100 decreases. Therefore, the liquid level of the liquid of the contents 63 rises in the inner space S (see the liquid levels L1 and L2 shown in FIG. 9). In some cases, the liquid may adhere to an unintended portion to be sealed near the bag opening 103, or the liquid may jump out of the bag opening 103. If the liquid adheres to the portion to be subjected to the sealing process, the subsequent sealing process cannot be performed properly, which may lead to poor sealing such as insufficient sealing strength. In addition, when the liquid spills out of the bag mouth 103, not only the device is contaminated, but also the packaging bag 100 itself may have to be treated as a defective product. For this reason, it is preferable that the folding member 59 gently contact the bottom surface 101 of the packaging bag 100 and that the speed of lifting the bottom surface 101 is not excessively high.

  Then, when the desired fold 110 is formed on the bottom surface 101 of the packaging bag 100 by the folding member 59, the folding member 59 is lowered and separated from the bottom surface 101 as shown in FIG. Specifically, by increasing the amount of projection of the first air cylinder shaft 46 from the main body of the first air cylinder 45, the lifting plate 48, the L-shaped block 57, and the folding member 59 are moved vertically downward.

  Even if the folding member 59 is separated from the bottom surface 101 of the packaging bag 100, the fold 110 formed on the bottom surface 101 does not disappear, and the state in which the bottom surface 101 protrudes toward the inner space S is maintained.

  The packaging bag 100 having the fold 110 formed on the bottom surface 101 in this manner is thereafter sent to the subsequent station A7, and is transferred to the vacuum rotary 12 by the bag transfer device 28.

  Note that the bottom folding device 26 and the bottom positioning device 54 in the above-described example are located at a position closer to the filling rotary 11 than the contents 63 are filled in the packaging bag 100 (see the difference between the stations A4 and A5 in FIG. 1). Although installed at a downstream position (see station A6 in FIG. 1), it may be provided at another position. That is, the bottom portion is located at an arbitrary position after the packaging bag 100 is filled with the contents 63 and before the packaging bag 100 is wrapped by the vacuum processing chamber 130 (that is, the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32). The folding process and the positioning process can be performed. For example, on the vacuum rotary 12 side, the bottom folding device 26 and the bottom positioning device 54 may be provided on the upstream side of the stations where the vacuum processing is performed (stations B3 to B5 in this example), or the filling rotary may be provided. A bottom folding unit 26 and a bottom positioning device 54 may be provided between the vacuum rotary 11 and the vacuum rotary 12.

<Vacuum processing and sealing processing>
Next, a specific example of the vacuum processing and the sealing processing in the vacuum rotary 12 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing a configuration example of the vacuum processing device 115 provided in the vacuum rotary 12.

  The vacuum processing apparatus 115 of the present example includes a vacuum processing chamber 130 including a first chamber member 31 and a second chamber member 32, a pressure adjustment unit 135 for adjusting the pressure (atmospheric pressure) in the vacuum processing chamber 130, and a vacuum. A vacuum gripper 120 (an in-chamber gripper) that holds the packaging bag 100 disposed in the processing chamber 130.

  The vacuum processing chamber 130 includes a first chamber member 31 fixed to the second turntable 29, a second chamber member 32 provided to be relatively movable with respect to the first chamber member 31, and a first chamber member 31. And a chamber packing 133 disposed between the first chamber member 32 and the second chamber member 32. The chamber packing 133 of this example is attached to the outer edge of the second chamber member 32. When the outer edge of the second chamber member 32 provided to be openable and closable is pressed against the outer edge of the first chamber member 31, the space between the second chamber member 32 and the first chamber member 31 is sealed by the chamber packing 133. Is stopped.

  The bottom portion 101 of the packaging bag 100 is provided with a fold 110 formed by the above-described bottom portion folding device 26 (see FIGS. 2 to 10), and the bottom portion 101 is bent toward the inner space S. The packaging bag 100 is disposed in the vacuum processing chamber 130.

  Although the specific configuration is not particularly limited, the vacuum gripper 120 is disposed in the vacuum processing chamber 130 and grips the packaging bag 100 so as not to cover the entire opening 103 of the packaging bag 100. Therefore, the vacuum gripper 120 is provided with the packaging bag 100 in which the contents 63 are arranged in the inner space S such that the inside of the packaging bag 100 communicates with the outside of the packaging bag 100 via the bag opening 103 in the vacuum processing chamber 130. Is held in a suspended state.

  In the vacuum processing chamber 130, a seal heater section 156 and a seal pedestal 157 constituting a seal processing section are arranged.

  The seal heater 156 is attached to the second chamber member 32 and generates heat. The seal receiver 157 is attached to the first chamber member 31, is driven by a receiver air cylinder 158 provided outside the vacuum processing chamber 130, and is provided movably in a direction approaching and away from the seal heater unit 156. Have been. When the seal receiving unit 157 is driven and pressed against the seal heater unit 156 via the bag opening 103 of the packaging bag 100, the packaging bag 100 sandwiched between the seal heater unit 156 and the seal receiving unit 157 melts. The bag mouth 103 is sealed (heat-welded). As described above, in this example, the seal heater unit 156, the seal receiver 157, and the receiver air cylinder 158 function as a “seal processing unit that seals the bag mouth portion 103 of the packaging bag 100”. After a negative pressure is applied to the inside of the bag 100, the bag mouth 103 is sealed.

  The pressure adjusting unit 135 is attached to the first chamber member 31 and communicates with the inside of the vacuum processing chamber 130 (that is, a space surrounded by the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32). For example, via a rotary valve, a pipe having an internal flow path formed to penetrate the first chamber member 31 and provided so that the internal flow path communicates with the inside of the vacuum processing chamber 130. The pressure adjusting unit 135 can also be configured by the connected vacuum pump. The pressure adjusting unit 135 is controlled by the control panel 34.

  The second chamber member 32 is attached to an opening / closing arm 138 via a connection link 137, and the opening / closing arm 138 is attached to an elevating shaft 143 via a connection link 142. A cover support member 139 is attached to the opening / closing arm 138 via an arm opening / closing shaft 141, and the second chamber member 32 is attached to the cover support member 139 via a cover opening / closing fulcrum shaft 140.

  The elevating shaft 143 is fixed to the elevating shaft connecting portion 145, and is held by the elevating shaft support portion 144 provided on the second rotary table 29 so as to be able to move up and down. By moving up and down, it moves up and down together with the elevating shaft connecting portion 145. When the elevating shaft 143 is located at the highest position (up end position), the second chamber member 32 is pressed against the first chamber member 31 via the chamber packing 133 to close the vacuum processing chamber 130. Become.

  The first chamber member 31 is fixedly attached to the second turntable 29, and the second chamber member 32 is also connected to the second rotary table 29 via a lifting shaft 143, a connection link 142, an opening / closing arm 138 and a connection link 137. Therefore, when the second rotary table 29 is intermittently rotated by being driven by a drive source (not shown), the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32 also intermittently rotate together with the second rotary table 29.

  Although the packaging bag 100 is wrapped in the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32 in FIG. 11, the state before the vacuum processing chamber 130 is adjusted to the negative pressure (ie, the state of the atmospheric pressure) )It is shown.

  In the vacuum packaging method performed by the above-described vacuum processing device 115, at least one of the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32 (the second chamber member 32 in this example) constituting the vacuum processing chamber 130 is used. Moving, wrapping the packaging bag 100 with the fold 110 formed therein with the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32, and wrapping the packaging bag 100 with the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32; Depressurizing the inside of the vacuum processing chamber 130 in which the packaging bag 100 is disposed to make it vacuum.

  That is, at the station B3 of the vacuum rotary 12 (see FIG. 1), in a state where the packaging bag 100 is supported by the vacuum gripper 120 and the second chamber member 32 is opened, the elevating shaft drive unit 146 connects the elevating shaft connecting unit 145. When driven, the elevating shaft connecting portion 145 is moved upward in the vertical direction. The elevating shaft 143, the connecting link 142, the opening / closing arm 138, the connecting link 137, and the lid support member 139 move in conjunction with the ascent / descent movement of the elevating shaft connecting portion 145, and the second chamber member 32 is closed.

  At this time, the side surface portion (the second side surface portion 105 in the example shown in FIG. 11) of the packaging bag 100 supported by the vacuum gripper 120 on the side of the second chamber member 32 collides with the second chamber member 32 performing the closing operation. , And a force may be applied to the contents 63. However, according to the present embodiment, the second side surface portion 105 of the packaging bag 100 in which the fold 110 is formed on the bottom surface portion 101 is pressed by the second chamber member 32. For this reason, the second chamber member 32 can press the side portion without substantially receiving the resistance from the bottom portion 101, and an excessively large force is not applied to the packaging bag 100 from the second chamber member 32, The packaging bag 100 can be wrapped by the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32.

  Therefore, when the packaging bag 100 is wrapped by the first chamber member 31 and the second chamber member 32, the water level of the liquid of the contents 63 in the packaging bag 100 can be gradually raised. As a result, it is possible to prevent the liquid from adhering to an unintended portion such as a portion to be subjected to the sealing process, and to prevent the liquid from jumping out of the bag mouth portion 103.

  Note that the sealing process is performed at the station B6 after the vacuum process is performed at the stations B3 to B5, and the bag mouth portion 103 (that is, the first side surface portion 104 and the first side portion 104) of the packaging bag 100 supported by the vacuum gripper 120. The second side portion 105) is heated by being sandwiched between the seal heater portion 156 and the seal receiving base 157.

  As described above, according to the vacuum packaging method and the vacuum packaging machine 10 of the present embodiment, after filling the contents 63 into the packaging bag 100 and before closing the vacuum processing chamber 130, the packaging bag 100 The folding member 59 is pressed against the expanded bottom portion 101 from below, and the bottom portion 101 is folded upward by a predetermined amount (a small amount) toward the inner space S, so that a fold 110 is formed in the bottom portion 101. Thereby, the resistance force from the bottom surface portion 101 when the pressing force is applied from the front surface and the back surface (that is, the first side surface portion 104 and the second side surface portion 105) of the packaging bag 100 is weakened, and the contents in the packaging bag 100 are reduced. The momentum of the force applied to the object 63 can be suppressed. Further, by forming the fold 110 on the bottom surface portion 101 of the packaging bag 100, the size (thickness) of the packaging bag 100 in the thickness direction (see the arrow “D4” in FIG. 8) can be reduced. Thereby, the possibility that the second chamber member 32 contacts the packaging bag 100 when the second chamber member 32 performs the closing operation can be reduced. Can be reduced from the second chamber member 32. Thus, the force of the force applied to the contents 63 in the packaging bag 100 with the closing operation of the second chamber member 32 can be suppressed.

  By suppressing the force of the force applied to the contents 63 in the packaging bag 100 in this manner, when the packaging bag 100 holding the contents 63 containing the liquid is accommodated in the vacuum processing chamber 130, the liquid is It can be prevented from jumping out of 100 or sticking to an unintended location near the bag mouth.

  In particular, according to the vacuum packaging machine 10 of the present embodiment, the above-described problem can be solved by a very simple method of pressing the folding member 59 against the expanded bottom surface portion 101 of the packaging bag 100 from below. . Therefore, as compared with the case where all the vacuum processing chambers 130 are replaced with a large-volume vacuum processing chamber, the above-described problem can be solved at low cost without lowering the productivity, and damage to the packaging bag 100 can be reduced. Almost no.

  Prior to folding of the bottom surface portion 101 of the packaging bag 100, a pair of positioning members (that is, the first adjustment positioning member 55 and the first The bottom surface portion 101 is positioned in its thickness direction (see the arrow “D4” in FIG. 8). Thereby, the folding member 59 can be accurately brought into contact with and pressed against a predetermined portion (a fold portion) of the bottom portion 101, and the fold 110 of the bottom portion 101 can be stably formed at a desired position.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, but may include various aspects in which various modifications conceivable to those skilled in the art are added, and the effects achieved by the present invention are also described above. It is not limited to the matter of. Therefore, various additions, changes, and partial deletions can be made to the elements described in the claims and the specification without departing from the technical idea and spirit of the present invention.

  For example, in the above-described example, the present invention is applied to the two-rotary type vacuum packaging machine 10, but the present invention may be applied to other types of vacuum packaging machines 10, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-1211. The present invention may be applied to a one-rotary vacuum packaging machine as disclosed in the gazette.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Vacuum packaging machine 11 Filling rotary 12 Vacuum rotary 13 First rotary table 14 Bag magazine 16 Follow-up opening guide device 18 Expansion device 19 Filling device 20 Filling funnel 22 Filling nozzle 23 Filling pump 24 Machine base 26 Bottom part folding device 28 Bag delivery Device 29 Second rotary table 31 First chamber member 32 Second chamber member 34 Control panel 36 Unloading conveyor 41 Base 43 First mounting plate 44 Elevating drive device 45 First air cylinder 46 First air cylinder shaft 48 Elevating plate 50 Second Mounting plate 51 Positioning drive device 52 Second air cylinder 53 Second air cylinder shaft 54 Bottom portion positioning device 55 First adjustment positioning member 56 Second adjustment positioning member 57 L-shaped block 59 Folding member 63 Contents 65 Gripper pair 100 Packaging bag 1 01 Bottom part 102 Side edge 103 Bag opening 104 First side part 105 Second side part 110 Fold 115 Vacuum processing unit 120 Vacuum gripper 130 Vacuum processing chamber 133 Chamber packing 135 Pressure adjusting unit 137 Connecting link 138 Opening / closing arm 139 Cover Supporting member 140 Lid opening / closing fulcrum shaft 141 Arm opening / closing shaft 142 Connecting link 143 Elevating shaft 144 Elevating shaft supporting portion 145 Elevating shaft connecting portion 146 Elevating shaft driving portion 156 Seal heater portion 157 Seal receiving stand 158 Receiving air cylinder P1 First adjustment Position P2 Second adjustment position P3 Retreat position S Inner space

Claims (10)

A first side surface, a second side surface, a bottom surface extending between the first side surface and the second side surface, and at least the first side surface, the second side surface, and the bottom surface; A vacuum packaging method comprising: a packaging bag having an enclosed inner space and a bag opening capable of communicating with the outside, and performing vacuum processing of a packaging bag holding contents including a liquid in the inner space,
Forming a fold in the bottom portion so that the bottom portion protrudes toward the inner space;
By moving at least one of the first chamber member and the second chamber member that constitute the vacuum processing chamber, the packaging bag in which the fold is formed is wrapped by the first chamber member and the second chamber member. Process and
Vacuuming the inside of the vacuum processing chamber in which the packaging bag is arranged.   Before forming the fold on the bottom surface portion, the first adjustment positioning member arranged at the first adjustment position is brought into contact with the first side surface portion, and the second adjustment positioning member arranged at the second adjustment position is removed. The vacuum packaging method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of contacting the second side surface part. Before forming the fold on the bottom part,
The packaging bag is disposed between the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member in a state where at least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is disposed at the retracted position. Is placed,
The first adjustment positioning member in which at least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is moved from the retracted position, and the first side surface portion is disposed at the first adjustment position. 3. The vacuum packaging method according to claim 2, wherein the second side surface portion is contacted by the second adjustment positioning member arranged at the second adjustment position.   By pressing a plate-shaped folding member extending from one side edge of the first side surface portion and the second side surface portion to the other side edge portion from the outside against the bottom surface portion, the fold is formed. The vacuum packaging method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vacuum packaging method is formed on the bottom surface portion. A filling device that fills an inner space surrounded by at least a first side surface portion, a second side surface portion, and a bottom surface portion of the packaging bag, via a bag mouth portion provided in the packaging bag, with a content containing a liquid,
Having a movable folding member, pressing the folding member from the outside against the bottom portion of the packaging bag holding the contents in the inside space, and projecting the bottom portion toward the inside space, A bottom part folding device that forms a fold on the bottom part,
A vacuum processing chamber configured by a first chamber member and a second chamber member, wherein at least one of the first chamber member and the second chamber member is moved to form the fold; A vacuum processing apparatus comprising: a vacuum processing device that wraps a packaging bag with the first chamber member and the second chamber member and then vacuums the inside of the vacuum processing chamber. A bottom positioning device having a first adjustment positioning member and a second adjustment positioning member,
The folding member is configured such that the first adjustment positioning member arranged at a first adjustment position is in contact with the first side surface portion and the second adjustment positioning member arranged at a second adjustment position is the second side surface. The vacuum packaging machine according to claim 5, wherein the fold is formed on the bottom portion while being pressed against the bottom portion in a state of being in contact with the portion. At least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is movably provided in connection with a positioning drive device,
The positioning drive device moves at least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member, and thereby moves at least one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member. The vacuum according to claim 6, wherein a state in which one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is in contact with the packaging bag can be switched between a state in which one of the first adjustment positioning member and the second adjustment positioning member is in contact with the packaging bag. Packaging machine. The bottom part folding device, the folding member, the folding member is pressed against the bottom part, the bottom part is raised toward the inner space, the rising end position, the folding member is from the bottom part Further comprising an elevating drive device for moving between the separated lower end position,
The said folding member has a plate-shaped extending from one side edge part of the said 1st side surface part and the said 2nd side surface part toward the other side edge part. Vacuum packaging machine. A first rotary including a plurality of first support devices for supporting the packaging bag,
A second rotary comprising a plurality of second support devices for supporting the packaging bag,
The packaging bag is received from a first support device located at a first delivery position among the plurality of first support devices, and the packaging bag is received by a second support device located at a second delivery position among the plurality of second support devices. A bag delivery device for delivering the packaging bag,
The filling device fills the contents into the packaging bag supported by at least one of the plurality of first support devices,
The vacuum packaging machine according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein a plurality of the vacuum processing chambers are provided, and the plurality of second support devices are assigned to each of the plurality of vacuum processing chambers.   The bottom part folding device is configured such that, of the plurality of first support devices, the bottom part of the packaging bag supported by a first support device located downstream from a position where the contents are filled in the packaging bag. The vacuum packaging machine according to claim 9, wherein the fold is formed by pressing the fold member against the fold member.

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