JP7425029B2 - Solid filling manufacturing method and manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a technology for manufacturing solid fillers using a wet method.

Methods for producing solid cosmetics, which are a type of solid filler, are broadly divided into dry methods and wet methods. The dry method is, for example, a method in which a powder, which is a cosmetic component, and an oil agent are mixed, and the mixture is compression molded to obtain a solid cosmetic. In the wet method, for example, a volatile solvent such as water or alcohol is added to a cosmetic base material (filling base material) containing powder and oil to form a slurry, which is then filled into a container and the solvent is removed to form a solid cosmetic. This is a way to earn money. Solid cosmetics obtained by the wet method are one of the commonly used manufacturing methods because the powder and oil are uniformly dispersed through the slurry state, resulting in fine powder quality and a moist feel. It is one.

Patent Document 1 describes a wet method manufacturing technique in which a powdered cosmetic made into a viscous state with a solvent is press-fitted into a saucer 4 with an injection nozzle from the bottom side of a saucer 4 having an upper opening. With the exposed part from the upper opening covered with the net cloth 15, the exposed part is pressed together with the net cloth 15 with the absorber 8, and the solvent contained in the cosmetic 7 is suctioned and removed by the capillary action of the absorber 8. A method for solidifying the cosmetic material 7 is described. In the wet method, the mainstream method is to cover the exposed portion with a pressing aid such as the above-mentioned cloth, and then remove the solvent by suction from thereon.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 56-128107

The present inventors investigated a wet method using a solvent for solid cosmetics, and found that after filling the slurry, the solidified cosmetics may adhere to a pressing aid such as paper, cloth, or film. I discovered something. If the pressing aid adheres to solidified cosmetics, stable production will no longer be possible, so a solution is desired.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a technique that can stably produce solid fillers such as solid cosmetics even when using a pressing aid in a wet method.

The present invention includes a filling step of filling a container having an upper opening with a slurry containing raw materials for the solid filler and a solvent, and pressing the contents of the container with the upper opening covered with a pressing aid. This is a method for producing a solid filler, which includes a pressing step of pressing the entire auxiliary tool with a pressing tool.
One embodiment of the method for manufacturing a solid filling of the present invention includes, after the pressing step, releasing the pressing by the pressing tool and applying vibration to the pressing auxiliary tool while the container is fixed. .

The present invention also provides a solid filling manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing a solid filling using a slurry containing a raw material for the solid filling and a solvent, comprising: a nozzle for filling the slurry into a container having an upper opening; a pressing tool that presses the contents of the container from the upper opening side; a solvent removing means that removes a solvent from the contents of the container; and when pressing with the pressing tool, the pressing tool and the contents of the container This is an apparatus for manufacturing a solid filler, comprising: a pressing auxiliary tool disposed between the pressing auxiliary tools, a vibration applying means for applying vibration to the pressing auxiliary tool, and a control means for controlling the operation of each part of the manufacturing apparatus.
In one embodiment of the solid filling manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the control means includes a filling control section that fills the container with the slurry, and a filling control section that controls the container with the upper opening covered with the pressing aid. a pressing control unit that presses the contents of the container together with the pressing aid with the pressing tool; a solvent removal control unit that removes the solvent from the contents of the container; and a solvent removal control unit that releases the pressing by the pressing tool and fixes the container. and a vibration control unit that applies vibration to the pressing auxiliary tool by the vibration applying means in the state.
Other features, advantages and embodiments of the invention are described below.

According to the present invention, solid fillers can be stably produced even when a pressing aid is used in a wet method.

FIGS. 1(a) to 1(d) are schematic diagrams of a part of the steps in an example of a method for producing a solid cosmetic (solid filler) using a conventional wet method. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram (corresponding to FIG. 1(d)) of a state in which the problem to be solved by the present invention occurs. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a solid cosmetic manufacturing apparatus which is an embodiment of the solid filler manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

The solid filler, which is the object of production of the present invention, is produced using a slurry containing a filler base material and a solvent through a solidification process of the slurry, and is solid at room temperature and pressure. The solid filler may be a cosmetic, a food, a drug, etc., provided that it satisfies such conditions.
Hereinafter, the method for producing a solid filler of the present invention will be explained by taking as an example a method for producing a solid cosmetic, which is one embodiment thereof. The following description of the method for producing solid cosmetics applies as appropriate to methods for producing solid fillers other than solid cosmetics, unless otherwise specified.

The present invention relates to a manufacturing technology for solid cosmetics that is compatible with a wet method, in which solid cosmetics are manufactured using a slurry containing solid cosmetic raw materials and a solvent (hereinafter also simply referred to as "cosmetic slurry"). be. The "cosmetic slurry" referred to here typically consists of a cosmetic base material (filling base material) containing powder and oil, and a solvent such as water or an organic solvent that is a dispersion medium for the cosmetic base material. It has fluidity at normal temperature and pressure.

Conventionally, in the wet method, from the viewpoint of uniformly dispersing powders and oil agents that are cosmetic base materials (raw materials) in slurry, and from the viewpoint of facilitating solvent removal, volatile solvents have been used as a solvent for dispersing cosmetic base materials. Hydrocarbons, low-boiling alcohols, and the like are commonly used, and in recent years, as environmental awareness has increased, products using water have also been proposed.

The present inventors investigated a wet method using a solvent and found that problems may occur as described below.

FIG. 1 shows a part of the manufacturing process of a solid cosmetic by a conventional wet method. The manufacturing apparatus used to carry out the manufacturing process shown in FIG. A container 1 that is housed and has an upper opening 1a, a receiving jig 2 that has a recess 20 for placing the container 1 on its upper surface, and a pressing tool 3 that is arranged above the recess 20 and is made of a rigid body such as metal or plastic. and a pressing auxiliary tool 4 disposed between the receiving jig 2 and the pressing tool 3. At the bottom of the recess 20, a nozzle 5 for injecting the slurry intermediate M into the container 1 placed in the recess 20 is arranged. The pressing auxiliary tool 4 is a continuous sheet in the form of a belt long in one direction, and is unwound from a raw material 40 wound into a roll, guided by a guide roll 41, and placed between the receiving jig 2 and the pressing tool 3. The winding device 42 travels through the winding device 42, and is wound up by a winding device 42. The pressing tool 3 and the pressing auxiliary tool 4 are arranged so as to be movable up and down, respectively, and can be freely moved toward and away from the receiving jig 2.

In the manufacturing process of solid cosmetics using the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 1(a), the container 1 is placed in the recess 20 of the receiving jig 2, and From the state in which the pressing tool 3 and the pressing auxiliary tool 4 are waiting at the standby position, the pressing tool 3 and the pressing auxiliary tool 4 are lowered, and as shown in FIG. The pressing aid 4 is brought into close contact with the container 1, and the upper opening 1a of the container 1 is closed by the pressing aid 4. In this state, the slurry intermediate M is injected from the nozzle 5 and filled into the container 1. The pressing tool 3 is equipped with a suction mechanism as a means for removing the solvent of the slurry-like intermediate M, and the suction mechanism is operated as shown in FIG. 1(c) during or after filling with the slurry-like intermediate M. The operation is performed, and the solvent of the intermediate M is suctioned and removed from the upper opening 1a via the pressing aid 4 to obtain a solid intermediate M (wet molding step). Thereafter, the pressing tool 3 and the pressing auxiliary tool 4 are moved to a predetermined standby position, and the container 1 containing the solid intermediate M is placed in the recess 20, as shown in FIG. 1(d). 1 is transported to the next step, for example, a step of further pressing and molding the solid intermediate M (additional wet molding step).

However, according to the studies of the present inventors, when removing the solvent from the slurry-like intermediate M, after the wet molding process is completed, as shown in FIG. When the pressing tool 3 and the pressing auxiliary tool 4 are moved upward and away from the receiving jig 2 from the state where they are in close contact with each other, the state shown in FIG. 1(d) is not achieved, but as shown in FIG. In addition, it has been found that a phenomenon may occur in which the solid intermediate M, together with the container 1, adheres to the pressing aid 4 and moves together with the pressing aid 4. If such a phenomenon occurs even if it is infrequent, the production line is temporarily stopped, the solid intermediate M and the container 1 are peeled off from the pressing aid 4, and placed in the recess 20 of the receiving jig 2. Since this requires additional work, productivity will be significantly reduced. It has also been found that the above phenomenon may occur frequently depending on the formulation of the cosmetic.

As a countermeasure to the above-mentioned "adhesion phenomenon of the solid intermediate to the pressing aid", it is possible to form the pressing aid 4 from a material with low adhesion of the solid intermediate M to prevent the occurrence of such a phenomenon. . However, the adhesion of the solid intermediate M changes depending on the composition of the solid cosmetic, and there are usually many types of solid cosmetic compositions available depending on the type of product. If the object M is to be formed from a material with low adhesion, it will be necessary to select many types of pressing aids 4 individually corresponding to many types of products through trial and error. Depending on the composition of the cosmetic, it may not be possible to prevent the above phenomenon from occurring. Furthermore, according to the findings of the present inventors, the presence of a large amount of oil agents that are usually blended into solid cosmetics is one of the factors that causes the above-mentioned phenomenon. Therefore, it is difficult to prevent the above phenomenon only by selecting the material of the pressing aid 4.

The present inventors have developed a method for manufacturing solid cosmetics using the conventional wet method described above. It has been found that the inconvenience (decreased productivity) caused by the above-mentioned "adhesion phenomenon of solid intermediate to the pressing aid" can be avoided without changing the composition or manufacturing equipment.

The present invention has been made based on the above findings. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the drawings.
The embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus for solid cosmetics of the present invention described below is provided with the basic configuration of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 (configuration essential for manufacturing solid cosmetics). The above description regarding the above applies to the embodiment as appropriate unless otherwise specified.
In the description of the drawings below, the same or similar parts are designated by the same or similar symbols. The drawings are basically schematic, and the ratio of each dimension may differ from the actual one.

As shown in FIG. 1, the manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment includes a receiving jig 2 having a recess 20 for placing a container 1 on an upper surface 2a, and a container 1 filled with cosmetic slurry (slurry-like intermediate M). A nozzle 5, a pressing tool 3 that presses the contents of the container 1, specifically, a slurry intermediate M or a solid intermediate M that is a solidified product thereof, from the upper opening 1a side of the container 1, and It includes a pressing auxiliary tool 4 disposed between the pressing tool 3 and the contents of the container 1, and a winding device 42 that functions as a traveling means for the pressing auxiliary tool 4. Note that the container 1 and the receiving jig 2 are not essential components of the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention.

The container 1 is a dish-shaped shallow container, and includes a bottom and a side wall that stands up from the periphery of the bottom, and has an upper opening 1a defined by the upper end of the side wall above the bottom. The shape of the container 1 is not particularly limited as long as it has an upper opening 1a. Further, the material of the container 1 is not particularly limited, and materials conventionally used as materials for cosmetic containers in the production of solid cosmetics by the wet method can be used without particular limitations, such as plastics and metals. .

The manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 employs a back filling method in which the slurry intermediate M is filled from the bottom of the container 1. Correspondingly, the bottom of the container 1 is filled with the slurry intermediate M. A filling hole 1b into which a nozzle 5 is inserted is bored. The nozzle 5 is connected to a pump (not shown) that discharges the slurry intermediate M through a tube (not shown). The mechanism for spraying the slurry-like intermediate M into the container 1, including the nozzle 5, is not particularly limited, and any mechanism conventionally used in the production of solid cosmetics by a wet method can be used without particular limitation.

The receiving jig 2 has a recess 20 for placing the container 1 on its upper surface 2a, which is the surface facing the pressing aid 4. The upper surface 2a is flat and horizontal except for the recess 20. The shape of the recess 20 in plan view is the same as that of the container 1, and the dimensions and depth (distance between the top surface 2a and the bottom of the recess 20) of the recess 20 in plan view are the same as the dimensions of the container 1 in plan view. It is almost the same height. By storing the container 1 in such a recess 20, the container 1 can be temporarily fixed in the recess 20, and the intermediate M inside the container 1 stored in the recess 20 can be subjected to suction, pressure, etc. The inconvenience of the container 1 moving during processing is effectively prevented.

Note that the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention includes a table that is slidable (for example, a turntable that is rotatable in the circumferential direction), and a plurality of receiving jigs 2 are disposed intermittently on the upper surface of the table in the sliding direction of the table. It may have a different configuration. In the manufacturing apparatus having such a configuration, each process constituting the method for manufacturing the solid cosmetic, for example, filling and filling of the slurry intermediate M corresponding to the first pressing process described later, is carried out along the sliding direction of the table. Equipment is installed to carry out a solvent suction removal process (wet molding process), a pressing/solvent suction removal process of the solid intermediate M (an additional wet molding process), which corresponds to the second pressing process described later, Each receiving jig 2 is provided for each process by sliding the table. According to the manufacturing apparatus having such a configuration, solid cosmetics can be manufactured continuously.

The pressing tool 3 is equipped with a suction mechanism as a means for removing the solvent of the contents of the container 1, specifically, the slurry-like intermediate M. As the suction mechanism, any conventionally known suction mechanism can be used without particular limitation. In the manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment, a plurality of suction holes 31 are provided on the pressing surface (the surface facing the pressing object) of the pressing tool 3, and each suction hole 31 is connected to a suction pump or the like through the internal space of the pressing tool 3. The suction hole 31 is connected to a suction source (not shown), and by activating the suction source and reducing the pressure in the internal space, suction through the suction hole 31 becomes possible. With the upper opening 1a of the container 1 covered with the pressing aid 4, when the contents of the container 1 to be pressed (slurry-like intermediate M) are pressed together with the pressing aid 4 with the pressing tool 3 in a suction capable state. The solvent oozed out from the contents due to the pressure is suctioned and removed from the suction hole 31 via the pressure aid 4.

The pressing tool 3 includes a holding member 32 that is arranged around the pressing surface and that receives the pressing auxiliary tool 4 and presses and holds it against the jig 2 during solvent suction, and an elastic member 33 that supports the holding member 32. . The elastic member 33 is fixed so as to be expandable and contractible in the pressing direction, and the holding member 32 is attached to the end opposite to the fixed end. When the elastic member 33 is in its natural state, the holding member 32 is located closer to the receiving jig 2 than the pressing surface, and when the pressing tool 3 is moved (lowered) toward the receiving jig 2, the pressing The holding member 32 contacts the upper surface 2a of the receiving jig 2 before the surface contacts the upper surface 2a of the receiving jig 2. The holding member 32 is configured to overlap the side wall of the container 1 placed in the recess 20 of the receiving jig 2 via the pressing auxiliary tool 4 when the pressing tool 3 presses the intermediate M. (See FIG. 1(c)), that is, the container 1 is pressed to the bottom side of the recess 20 by the pressing tool 3 without using the intermediate M. Thereby, the container 1 can be reliably fixed in the recess 20 when pressed by the pressing tool 3.

The main purpose of the pressing aid 4 is to prevent the powder from being suctioned and removed at the same time when the solvent is suctioned and removed from the suction hole 31 of the pressing tool 3, and to prevent powder from being sucked and removed from the pressing surface of the pressing tool 3. Prevents body adhesion. In addition, the pressing aid 4 comes into contact with the intermediate M through the upper opening 1a during the process in which the slurry-like intermediate M, which is the content of the container 1, solidifies and becomes the solid intermediate M. The surface shape of the surface facing the intermediate M in step 4 is transferred onto the surface of the solid cosmetic that is the object of manufacture, and this is used to apply the pressing aid 4 to pattern the surface of the solid cosmetic. Sometimes used.

In the manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment, the pressing auxiliary tool 4 is a belt-shaped continuous sheet long in one direction, and as shown in FIG. It is unwound and runs parallel to the recess 20 between the receiving jig 2 and the pressing tool 3. The winding device 42 is configured in the same manner as a conventionally known continuous sheet winding device, and typically includes a winding roll, a drive source for the winding roll, and the like.

The material of the pressing aid 4 is particularly limited as long as it is a liquid-permeable sheet, provided that it does not inhibit the suction removal of the solvent of the slurry-like intermediate M by the pressing tool 3 via the pressing aid 4. For example, paper, cloth, or film can be used. In the present invention, one of these may be used alone as the pressing aid 4, or a laminate of two or more of these may be used as the pressing aid 4.
The thickness of the pressing aid 4 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of strength, solvent permeability, etc., it is preferably 5 μm or more, more preferably 10 μm or more, and preferably 200 μm or less, more preferably 100 μm or less.

When using water as a solvent for the slurry-like intermediate M, if the pressing aid 4 is made of paper, the pressing aid 4 will absorb the water sucked from the slurry-like intermediate M when the pressing tool 3 sucks the solvent. , the strength of the pressing aid 4 may be reduced. Considering the permeability of the solvent, the resistance to the solvent, etc., it is preferable to use cloth as the pressing aid 4, and for example, a woven cloth or a non-woven cloth can be used. However, even paper can be used without any problem as long as it is highly water resistant. The material of the cloth constituting the pressing aid 4 is not particularly limited, but considering that it is resistant even when water is used as a solvent for the intermediate M, a hydrophobic material such as a synthetic resin can be used. It is preferable that the main component is Generally, cloth has a lower surface smoothness than a film, so if the pressing aid 4 includes cloth, there is a concern that the above-mentioned "adhesion phenomenon of solid intermediate to the pressing aid" will become apparent. Ru. However, in the present invention, by devising a method for moving the pressing aid 4, which will be described later, even if such a phenomenon occurs, it is not substantially affected by it, so water is used as a solvent for the slurry-like intermediate M. Even if the pressing aid 4 includes cloth, it is possible to stably produce solid cosmetics.

The pressing tool 3 and the pressing auxiliary tool 4 are individually arranged to be movable toward and away from the receiving jig 2, and specifically, they can be moved up and down by a vertical movement mechanism (not shown). It is arranged so that it can be moved in the direction. The pressing auxiliary tool 4 can be moved toward and away from the receiving jig 2 by the vertical movement mechanism as well as the traveling mechanism (guide roll 41, winding device 42, etc.) that causes it to travel in the horizontal direction. . As the vertical movement mechanism, conventionally known techniques can be used as appropriate.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram showing the functions of an embodiment of the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention. The manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment includes a control means 6 that controls the operation of each part of the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. ing. The control means 6 includes a filling control section 61 that fills the container 1 with the slurry intermediate M, and a pressing control section 62 that presses the contents of the container 1 (slurry intermediate M, solid intermediate M) with the pressing tool 3. , a solvent removal control section 63 that removes the solvent from the contents of the container 1, and a vibration control section 64 that applies vibration to the pressing aid 4 using a vibration application means 7, which will be described later.

The filling control unit 61 operates a supply mechanism for the slurry intermediate M including the nozzle 5 to fill the container 1 with the slurry intermediate M.
The pressing control unit 62 operates a moving mechanism that moves the pressing tool 3 and the pressing auxiliary tool 4 toward and away from the receiving jig 2, thereby covering the upper opening 1a of the container 1 with the pressing auxiliary tool 4. In this state, the contents of the container 1 are pressed together with the pressing aid 4 using the pressing tool 3 (see FIG. 1(c)).
The solvent removal control unit 63 operates the solvent removal means such as the suction mechanism included in the pressing tool 3 to suction and remove the solvent in the slurry intermediate M to form a solid intermediate M.

The control means 6 is typically configured to include an arithmetic processing section and a storage section. The arithmetic processing unit includes a microprocessor such as a CPU or an MPU. The storage unit includes a ROM and a RAM, and the ROM and RAM store programs and various data for causing the arithmetic processing unit to perform predetermined processing. Each step of the method for producing a solid cosmetic of the present invention is stored in advance in the storage section, and the arithmetic processing section refers to the stored information in the storage section and calculates information necessary to carry out each step. Operate each part of the manufacturing equipment.

The manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment operates each part under the control of the control means 6 to carry out the manufacturing method of the invention. Specifically, under the control of the filling control section 61, the pressing control section 62, and the solvent removal control section 63, as described above, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c), the upper opening 1a is formed. A "filling step" in which the container 1 is filled with the slurry-like intermediate M, and a "filling step" in which the contents of the container 1 are pressed together with the pressing aid 4 with the pressing tool 3 while the upper opening 1a is covered with the pressing aid 4. "pressing process" is carried out. The filling step and the pressing step can basically be performed according to a conventional method.

In one embodiment of the manufacturing method of the present invention, the pressing step includes a first pressing step performed in parallel with or after the filling step, and a second pressing step performed after the first pressing step. and a pressing step.
In the first pressing step, in parallel with the pressing by the pressing tool 3, the solvent removing means such as the suction mechanism included in the pressing tool 3 removes the contents from the contents of the container 1 through the upper opening 1a. Remove the solvent by suction. That is, in the first pressing step, the contents of the container 1 (specifically, the slurry intermediate M) are pressed together with the pressing aid 4 with the pressing tool 3 while the upper opening 1a is covered with the pressing aid 4. At the same time, the solvent in the contents is removed by suction through the upper opening 1a to form a solid intermediate M (see FIG. 1(c)).
In the second pressing step as well, the solvent is removed by suction to further remove and reduce the solvent from the solid intermediate M. That is, in the second pressing step, the contents of the container 1 (specifically, the solid intermediate M) are pressed together with the pressing auxiliary tool 4 with the pressing tool 3 while the upper opening 1a is covered with the pressing auxiliary tool 4. Remove the solvent while

In the manufacturing method of the present invention, in order to prevent a decrease in productivity due to the above-mentioned "adhesion phenomenon of solid intermediates to the pressing auxiliary tool" (see FIG. 2), "after the pressing step with the pressing tool 3, the pressing tool 3 and applying vibration to the pressing aid 4 with the container 1 fixed (hereinafter also referred to as the "vibration applying step"). Further, the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention is characterized in that it includes a vibration applying means 7 and a vibration control section 64 that controls the operation thereof, as shown in FIG. 3, as a means for implementing the vibration applying step. . In the vibration imparting step, the pressing auxiliary tool 4 is not moved (not wound up by the winding device 42), and vibration is applied to the pressing auxiliary tool 4 by, for example, blowing gas onto the pressing auxiliary tool 4 in a stationary state. .

In the manufacturing apparatus of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. By spraying, vibration is imparted to the pressing auxiliary tool 4. That is, in the method for manufacturing a solid cosmetic using the manufacturing apparatus of the present embodiment, vibrations are applied to the pressing auxiliary tool 4 by blowing gas onto the pressing auxiliary tool 4.

By employing the vibration applying step and applying vibration to the pressing aid 4 with the container 1 fixed, as shown in FIG. If the intermediate M is attached, the vibration of the solid intermediate M physically destroys the bonded portion with the pressing aid 4, and the solid intermediate M is peeled off from the pressing aid 4. Therefore, according to the present invention in which the vibration imparting step is carried out, manufacturing conditions are adopted such that the solid intermediate M, which is a dry solidified product, easily adheres to the pressing aid 4, such as by formulating the slurry intermediate M. Even in such cases, solid cosmetics can be stably produced.

As mentioned above, the manufacturing method of the present invention includes the pressing step, that is, "pressing the contents of the container 1 together with the pressing auxiliary tool 4 with the pressing tool 3 while the upper opening 1a is covered with the pressing auxiliary tool 4". "Step" includes a form having a first pressing step carried out in parallel with the filling step or after the filling step, and a second pressing step carried out after the first pressing step, In such a form, the vibration applying step may be performed only after performing either one of the first pressing step and the second pressing step, or may be performed after each of both. From the viewpoint of more reliably achieving the predetermined effects of the present invention, the latter is preferable. It is preferable to carry out the vibration applying step after the first pressing step in which the phenomenon of adhesion to the auxiliary tool is likely to occur.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, in the vibration imparting step, gas is injected from the upper surface of the pressing auxiliary tool 4 (the surface facing the pressing tool 3) by the gas injection means 71, and the pressure auxiliary tool 4 is The gas is injected from the lower surface (the surface facing the receiving jig 2) by the gas injection means 72, but in the present invention, either one of the gas injection means may be used.
As the gas injection means 71 and 72, any known device capable of injecting gas can be used without any particular restriction, and the type of gas is not particularly limited either, and compressed air or the like can be used as appropriate. Further, the gas injection conditions (position of the gas injection means, injection angle, injection pressure, injection time, etc.) can be appropriately set depending on the type of the pressing aid 4 to which vibration is applied.
As the vibration imparting means 7, any means capable of imparting vibration to the pressing auxiliary tool 4 with or without contact can be employed, and is not limited to the gas injection means 71, 72.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the vibration applying step, the pressing tool 3 is raised in order to release the pressing by the pressing tool 3, but in the present invention, the method for releasing the pressing by the pressing tool 3 is limited to this. First, any method can be adopted provided that the predetermined effects of the present invention are achieved. For example, the pressing by the pressing tool 3 may be released by lowering the receiving jig 2 and the pressing auxiliary tool 4 together and separating them from the pressing tool 3 without moving the pressing tool 3.

From the viewpoint of ensuring the effects of the vibration applying step, the distance L between the pressing auxiliary tool 4 and the outer periphery of the upper opening 1a when applying vibration to the pressing auxiliary tool 4, i.e. The contact between the pressing auxiliary tool 4 and the peripheral area of the upper opening 1a on the upper surface 2a of the receiving jig 2 (specifically, the area within 5 mm from the upper opening 1a) immediately before applying vibration (gas injection in the illustrated embodiment) The separation distance L (not shown) is preferably 0.1 mm or more and less than the height h of the container 1 (see FIG. 1(a)).
The above-mentioned size relationship "0.1 mm≦separation distance L<container height h" means that the ratio between the container height h and the depth of the recess 20 (distance between the upper surface 2a and the bottom of the recess 20) is the former / More preferably, the latter holds true when the value is in the range of 0.8 to 1.2.
The lower limit of the separation distance L is preferably 0.5 mm or more, more preferably 1.0 mm or more. The upper limit of the separation distance L is preferably 5.0 mm or less, more preferably 4.5 mm or less, still more preferably 4.0 mm or less, provided that it is shorter than the container height h.
The container height h is preferably 3.0 mm or more, more preferably 3.5 mm or more, and preferably 10 mm or less, more preferably 8 mm or less, provided that it is longer than the separation distance L.

The filling conditions for the slurry intermediate M in the filling process, the pressing conditions for the contents of the container 1 (slurry intermediate M or solid intermediate M) in the pressing process (first pressing process, second pressing process), etc. may be set as appropriate depending on the type of solid cosmetic to be manufactured, and is not particularly limited, but may be set as follows, for example.
The pressure at the time of filling the slurry intermediate M is preferably 0.1 MPa or more, more preferably 0.15 MPa or more, still more preferably 0.2 MPa or more, from the viewpoint of balance between improving filling performance and reducing equipment load. , preferably 1 MPa or less, more preferably 0.8 MPa or less, still more preferably 0.6 MPa or less.
The flow rate during filling of the slurry-like intermediate M is preferably 30 ml/min or more, more preferably 60 ml/min or more, and even more preferably 90 ml/min or more, from the viewpoint of a balance between improving productivity and reducing equipment load. , preferably 1000 ml/min or less, more preferably 800 ml/min or less, even more preferably 600 ml/min or less.
The suction pressure of the solvent in the slurry intermediate M by the pressing tool 3 is preferably -90 kPa or more, more preferably -80 kPa or more, still more preferably -70 kPa or more, from the viewpoint of balance between equipment load reduction and solvent removal. The pressure is preferably -5 kPa or less, more preferably -10 kPa or less, and still more preferably -20 kPa or less.
The pressure when the contents of the container 1 are pressed by the pressing tool 3 is different between the first pressing step and the second pressing step. In the first pressing step, the position of the pressing tool 3 is fixed, the holding member 32 presses the container 1, and the container 1 is filled with the cosmetic slurry, so that the pressure is generated in the contents of the container 1. . The stress with which the holding member 32 presses the outer periphery of the container 1 in the first pressing step is preferably 0.005 MPa or more from the viewpoint of the balance between the moldability and impact resistance of the solid cosmetic and the feeling of use of the solid cosmetic. , more preferably 0.01 MPa or more, still more preferably 0.015 MPa or more, and preferably 0.2 MPa or less, more preferably 0.15 MPa or less, still more preferably 0.1 MPa or less. In addition, the pressure when pressing the contents of the container 1 with the pressing tool 3 in the second pressing step is preferably 1.5 m from the viewpoint of the balance between the moldability and impact resistance of the solid cosmetic and the feeling of use of the solid cosmetic. 0 MPa or more, more preferably 1.25 MPa or more, even more preferably 1.5 MPa or more, and preferably 5.0 MPa or less, more preferably 4.5 MPa or less, still more preferably 4.0 MPa or less.
The pressing time of the contents of the container 1 by the pressing tool 3 is preferably 0.5 seconds or more, more preferably 1 second or more, from the viewpoint of the balance between moldability and impact resistance of the solid cosmetic and productivity improvement. More preferably, the time is 1.5 seconds or more, and preferably 20 seconds or less, more preferably 15 seconds or less, and still more preferably 10 seconds or less.

Regarding the "cosmetic slurry" (slurry intermediate M) used in the present invention, the composition of the slurry is not particularly limited and can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the type of solid cosmetic to be manufactured. Solid cosmetics to which the present invention can be applied are not particularly limited, and include, for example, foundations, eye shadows, cheeks, and face powders.

Cosmetic slurry typically contains at least a cosmetic base material (filling base material) and a solvent, and further contains preservatives, antioxidants, pigments, thickeners, pH adjusters, and fragrances as necessary. Contains ultraviolet absorbers, humectants, blood circulation promoters, cooling agents, antiperspirants, bactericidal agents, skin activators, etc.
The cosmetic base material typically includes powder such as an extender pigment, a coloring pigment, a glittering pigment, and an oil agent. As powders and oils, those commonly used in solid cosmetics can be used without particular limitation.
As the solvent, those conventionally used in the production of solid cosmetics by a wet method can be used without particular restriction, and organic solvents such as volatile hydrocarbons and low boiling point alcohols, which are conventionally frequently used, can also be used. Water may also be used. When water is used as a solvent, a highly adhesive oil agent tends to remain even in the cosmetic base material after the solvent is removed by the pressing tool 3, resulting in the "adhesion phenomenon of solid intermediates to the pressing aid" as shown in FIG. However, according to the present invention, even if such a phenomenon occurs, it is substantially unaffected by the devised method of moving the pressing aid, so water is used as the solvent. It is possible to enjoy the benefits.

The content of the solvent in the cosmetic slurry is preferably 30 parts by mass or more, based on 100 parts by mass of the cosmetic base material (filling base material) in the slurry, from the viewpoint of improving filling properties into the container 1. More preferably, it is 40 parts by mass or more. On the other hand, from the viewpoint of removal efficiency from the slurry, the lower limit of the content of the solvent in the solid cosmetic slurry is preferably 120 parts by mass or less, more preferably 120 parts by mass or less, based on 100 parts by mass of the cosmetic base material in the slurry. is 100 parts by mass or less.

The viscosity of the cosmetic slurry before it is filled into the container 1 is not particularly limited, but from the viewpoint of the balance between improving the stability of the slurry and improving the filling properties, it is preferably 100 mPa·s or more, more preferably 500 mPa·s. s or more, more preferably 1000 mPa·s or more, and preferably 30000 mPa·s or less, more preferably 20000 mPa·s or less, and still more preferably 10000 mPa·s or less.
In this specification, "viscosity" refers to a value measured at 25° C. using a B-type viscometer (TVB-10 type viscometer) manufactured by Toki Sangyo Co., Ltd.

Although the present invention has been described above based on its preferred embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, although the embodiment described above is a back filling method in which the cosmetic slurry is filled from the bottom of the container 1, the present invention can also be applied to a front method in which the slurry is filled from the upper opening 1a side of the container 1.
Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the pressing aid 4 was able to move up and down and was able to freely approach and separate from the receiving jig 2, but in the present invention, the pressing aid 4 does not move up and down and is always at a predetermined position. , for example, it may be placed at a position where it can come into contact with the upper surface 2a of the receiving jig 2.

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to Examples, but the present invention is not limited to these Examples.

[Example 1]
A solid cosmetic was manufactured by a wet method using a back-filling manufacturing apparatus having the same configuration as the manufacturing apparatus shown in FIG. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1(a) to 1(c), a dish-shaped container 1 having an upper opening 1a is placed in the recess 20 of the receiving jig 2, and the upper opening 1a is pressed. A filling process is carried out in which the slurry-like intermediate M (slurry of solid cosmetics) is filled into the inside of the container 1 using the nozzle 5 while the container 1 is covered with the auxiliary tool 4 . , a first pressing step is carried out in which the solvent in the slurry intermediate M is suctioned and removed through the upper opening 1a, and the intermediate M is pressed together with the pressing aid 4 to the bottom side of the recess 20. Intermediate M (solidified product of cosmetic slurry) was obtained. Next, using equipment similar to that used in the first pressing step, a second pressing step was carried out in which the solid intermediate M was pressed in the thickness direction along with the container 1 while further removing the solvent by suction. In this way, the desired solid cosmetic was produced.
After each of the first pressing step and the second pressing step is completed, as shown in FIG. By injecting gas to the upper surface of the tool 4 (the surface facing the pressing tool 3), vibrations were applied to the pressing auxiliary tool 4 (vibration imparting step). As a result, solid cosmetics could be stably produced without stopping the production line midway.

The cosmetic slurry used in Example 1 was prepared by the following method. First, 13.3% by mass of an oil agent and 1.6% by mass of a surfactant were weighed out and heated to 60° C. to form a uniform oil phase. Next, 0.2% by mass of a preservative was added to 33.3% by mass of water heated to 60° C. to obtain an aqueous phase, which was then added to the oil phase and mixed for 5 minutes at 6,000 rpm in a homomixer. Thereafter, the mixture was cooled with water while stirring with a spatula to obtain an emulsion. A cosmetic slurry was prepared by adding 51.6% by mass of pigment-containing powder to the obtained emulsion and kneading it for 5 minutes with a disper mixer. The viscosity of the obtained cosmetic slurry was 4130 mPa·s at 25°C.

Details of the manufacturing conditions for the solid cosmetic of Example 1 are as follows.
・Material of pressing aid: 80% by mass rayon ・20% by mass polypropylene polyethylene nonwoven fabric (thickness 420μm)
・The separation distance L: 1.0mm
・Container height h (see Figure 1(a)): 4.0mm
・Pressure when filling cosmetic slurry: 0.4MPa
・Flow rate when filling cosmetic slurry: 290ml/min
・Suction pressure of solvent in cosmetic slurry: -50kPa
・Pressure when pressing the contents of the container in the first pressing step: 0.01 to 0.03 MPa
- Pressing time of the contents of the container in the first pressing step: 4 seconds - Pressure when pressing the contents of the container in the second pressing step: 2.5 MPa
- Pressing time of the contents of the container in the second pressing step: 2 seconds

[Comparative example 1]
A solid cosmetic was produced in the same manner as in Example 1 except that the vibration imparting step was not carried out. However, after each of the first pressing step and the second pressing step is completed, a phenomenon occurs in which the solid intermediate M adheres to the container 1 together with the pressing aid 4 that has been moved to a predetermined standby position (see FIG. 2). , the production line was forced to stop.

1 Container 1a Upper opening 2 Receiving jig 20 Concave part for container placement 3 Pressing tool 31 Suction hole 32 Holding member 33 Elastic member 4 Pressing aid 40 Original fabric 41 Guide roll 42 Winding device (traveling means for pressing aid)
5 Nozzle 6 Control means 61 Filling control section 62 Pressure control section 63 Solvent removal control section 64 Vibration control section 7 Vibration applying means 71, 72 Gas injection means M Solid cosmetic intermediate

Claims (9)

a filling step of filling a container having an upper opening with a slurry containing raw materials for the solid filling and a solvent;
A method for manufacturing a solid filler, comprising a pressing step of pressing the contents of the container together with the pressing auxiliary tool with a pressing tool while the upper opening is covered with the pressing auxiliary tool,
After the pressing step, the pressing by the pressing tool is released, and with the container fixed , the distance between the pressing auxiliary tool and the outer peripheral part of the upper opening is 0.1 mm or more, and the height of the container is A method for producing a solid filler, comprising the step of applying vibration to the pressing aid. 2. The method for producing a solid filler according to claim 1, wherein the application of vibration to the pressing auxiliary tool is performed by blowing gas onto the pressing auxiliary tool. The pressing step includes a first pressing step that is performed in parallel with or after the filling step, and a second pressing step that is performed after the first pressing step,
In the first and second pressing steps, in parallel with the pressing by the pressing tool, a suction mechanism included in the pressing tool sucks the solvent in the contents of the container through the upper opening. remove,
The method for producing a solid filler according to claim 1, wherein vibration is applied to the pressing aid at least after the first pressing step. The method for producing a solid filler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressing aid is a sheet having liquid permeability. The method for producing a solid filler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the separation distance is 0.5 mm or more . The method for producing a solid filler according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the slurry contains 30 parts by mass or more of a solvent based on 100 parts by mass of the filling base material. The method for producing a solid filler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the solvent is water. A solid filling manufacturing apparatus that manufactures a solid filling using a slurry containing solid filling raw materials and a solvent,
a nozzle for filling the slurry into a container having an upper opening;
a pressing tool that presses the contents of the container from the upper opening side;
a solvent removing means for removing the solvent from the contents of the container;
a pressing auxiliary tool disposed between the pressing tool and the contents of the container when pressing with the pressing tool;
a vibration imparting means for imparting vibration to the pressing aid;
and a control means for controlling the operation of each part of the manufacturing apparatus,
The control means includes:
a filling control unit that fills the container with the slurry;
a pressing control unit that presses the contents of the container together with the pressing auxiliary tool with the pressing tool while the upper opening is covered with the pressing auxiliary tool;
a solvent removal control unit that removes the solvent from the contents of the container;
With the pressing tool released and the container fixed, the distance between the pressing auxiliary tool and the outer periphery of the upper opening is set to 0.1 mm or more and less than the height of the container, and the vibration A device for manufacturing a solid filler, comprising: a vibration control section that applies vibration to the pressing aid by means of an application means. The vibration imparting means includes a gas injection means,
9. The solid filling manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the vibration control section applies vibration to the pressing auxiliary tool by spraying gas onto the pressing auxiliary tool using the gas injection means.

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