JPH0627521Y2 - Filling pipe for packaging machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is to form a packaging container blank in which a row of interconnected packaging containers is formed from at least one pair of material webs, and is filled and sealed with a content liquid. In a liquid food packaging machine designed to produce, for each of the packaging container blanks that move continuously, when the blanks are filled and sealed to complete the packaging container, deterioration of flavor due to residual air such as wine is avoided. The present invention relates to a filling pipe for a packaging container used for a packaging machine to completely fill a liquid content in a packaging container without a space above the liquid level (head space).

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, in a liquid food packaging machine, a series of interconnected cavities (packing container blanks) have been combined and joined to combine a first continuous web material and a second continuous web material in order to minimize waste of the packaging material. A machine for forming packaging, filling the liquid contents in the cavities and separating them into individual packaging containers is disclosed in Japanese Examined Patent Publication No.
No. 6-43926, a first continuous web of packaging material is folded to form a series of interconnected U's.
Forming a V-shaped segment and forming a series of opposing end flaps (ears) along the edges of the second continuous web material,
This is bent and overlapped on the edge of the first web material, and both sides are joined to form a series of cavities to fill the liquid contents. At this time, the liquid content to be filled is long and narrow with respect to the formed packaging container blank, which is arranged below the second web material and above the U-shaped mold in which the first web material is located. It is filled through an obliquely inclined filling tube having a flat cross section. After the filling, the central area of the second web material is flattened and sealed between the successive containers by the sealing device and the cutting device to be cut and separated into individual packaging containers. In the packaging machine described above, the fill pipe is suitable for highly viscous liquid contents or contents that do not form strong bubbles, with the bottom end cut out. Also, an improved fill tube for contents that tend to form bubbles is described in US Pat. No. 4,222,417. The filling pipe has a nozzle portion provided with a plurality of guide blades on the upper surface of an elongated substrate, and a distribution chamber is formed below the rectangular substrate, and has a large number of holes communicating between the distribution chamber and the injection path. Are provided in the plate, and guide vanes (guide plates) have a nozzle portion provided across both sides of the substrate across the substrate, so that any filling pipe is prevented from mixing bubbles during filling. It is a thing.

[Problems to be solved by the device]

In the filling pipe with the shape of which the bottom end is cut, as for the contents that tend to strongly form bubbles, the air bubbles mixed in the contents when the bubbles are formed prevent the complete filling, The problem of inaccurate quantities of material arises, which occurs especially at high speeds, and the aforesaid filling pipe with guide vanes on the substrate has been proposed to improve this. However, in any of the above filling pipes, in order to completely fill the liquid contents without any space above the liquid surface in the container when the packaging container is completed after filling and sealing, it is necessary to completely fill the continuous packaging container blank in the filling process. Must be filled and sealed. At this time, a predetermined flow rate is accurately supplied to the filling pipe from the storage tank by the metering pump to the packing container blank row which is a cavity that continuously moves diagonally downward, and slightly above the complete filling position into the container blank. The liquid level must be maintained constantly at the position of the blank row. When filling the container with some space above the liquid surface during filling, the error in the flow rate is absorbed for each container, so filling can be performed without problems within the error range of the flow rate set by the metering pump. However, in the case of complete filling without the upper space, it is necessary to accurately match the moving speed of the packaging container blank and the flow rate from the filling pipe, which is extremely difficult in reality, and the flow rate is less than the predetermined amount. Then, the filling of each container blank becomes incomplete, and when the flow rate is higher than a predetermined amount, an extra amount is accumulated, and there is a problem that the liquid level with respect to the sequence of container blanks sequentially rises and causes a trouble.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and stably maintains a liquid surface constantly at a predetermined position (a predetermined position upstream of a nozzle portion) with respect to a row of packaging container blanks that are continuously moving cavities. It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling pipe for a packaging machine that can perform complete filling.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

In the present invention, an interconnected packaging blank (8) formed from at least one pair of webs (5), (6),
In order to completely fill the liquid content (40) without the space above the liquid surface when the packaging container is completed, the pipe (16) and the bottom surface are continuous with the delivery pipe (16) for sending the liquid content (40). The packaging container blank has a flat bottom surface and a wider width than the delivery pipe (16) for a predetermined length in the downstream direction by matching the central portion with the same surface.
Nozzle part that is in fluid communication with (8) and whose height gradually decreases
Form (17). On the other hand, in order to maintain the liquid level at a predetermined position of the filling pipe (15), a liquid level sensor that sends a signal to a control device that controls a metering pump (2) that increases or decreases the flow rate to be sent to the filling pipe (15). (23) in parallel with the delivery pipe (16),
In addition, the filling pipe for the packaging machine is constructed by mounting the detection unit (24) at the end so as to be located at a predetermined distance upstream from the outlet of the nozzle unit (17).

[Action]

In the filling pipe of the present invention, the liquid contents flowing from the nozzle part (7) into the row of packaging container blanks (8) through the delivery pipe (16) are stored in the lower portion of the row of packaging container blanks which is a kind of cylindrical shape. It flows into the sealed upper part and the liquid level of the contents rises,
When the detection part (24) of the liquid level sensor (23) provided in parallel with the delivery pipe (16) is immersed, it is connected to the liquid level sensor (23) equipped with the detection part (24). A signal is sent to a control device (not shown), and the control device controls the metering pump (2) to control the flow rate flowing into the filling pipe (15) to reduce or stop the flow rate.

When the liquid level drops as the filling work progresses, the detection unit (24) is unimmersed, and the control device operates in response to that signal to increase the inflow of the metering pump (2) into the filling pipe (15) to increase the liquid level. Works to maintain the level at a given position (range) at all times. In this way, the continuously moving packaging container blanks are completely filled and the spaces between the containers are sealed at the sealing portion, and the packaging container units are individually cut at the cutting portion and completely filled without the liquid level member space. (9) is completed.

〔Example〕

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a main part of an end of a filling pipe of the present invention, and the pipe is used in a molding / filling portion of a packaging container of a packaging machine body shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral (1) indicates a packaging machine main body frame provided with the molding / filling portion, which is used to form a container main body from a section of packaging material on the left side (not shown).
Homogeneous plastic strip material (7) as a material for the pair of packaging material webs (5), (6) and the lid (7a) for removal and removal of the mouth of the packaging container (see FIG. 6) are not shown respectively. It is derived from a storage roll supported by a plurality of so-called roller stands. The wrapping material webs (5), (6) are each made of, for example, a web of extruded foam plastic of polystyrene material whose both sides are coated with a layer of homogeneous polystyrene. In FIG. 6, the pair of packaging material webs (5), (6) and the strip material (7) are formed into a continuous hollow packaging container blank (8) and filled with contents, as shown in FIG. An arcuate side wall (5a) of the packaging container unit (9) from the first material web (5), upper and lower wall portions (6a) and flat side walls from the packaging material web (6) of FIG.
(6b) is formed, and the lid (7a) for the spout is formed from the strip material (7).

A rotating drum (10) is supported on the frame (1) of the packaging machine body, and the packaging material web (6) is guided on the rotating drum (10) by a guide roller (25) so that the working operation of the drum is performed. It takes place at stations along the periphery. Also, the frame
The mechanism (11) for molding the packaging material web (5) is provided in (1). The mechanism (11) has a movable mold (12) mounted on an endless chain, which mold moves in a clockwise direction at a constant speed in FIG. Further, in FIG. 3, the liquid content supply pipe is
(3), the content to be filled is controlled from a level tank (not shown) by a metering pump (2) so that the flow rate is controlled so as to correspond to complete filling, and the flow rate passes through the supply pipe (3) to the filling pipe (15). ), Continuously moving packaging blanks (8)
Is filled in. The cylinder (13) reciprocating guided by the slide bearing (14) fixed to the frame (1) is the web (6).
It has a folding device (30), a sealing part (31) and a cutting device (32), all of which move together with the cylinder by the reciprocating motion of the cylinder, and this cylinder moves during the downward motion of the mold (12). It moves synchronously with these, but the upward return movement is faster. A molding device (33) for the central region of the web (6) is provided in front of the sealing part (31). Above supply pipe (3)
The filling pipe (15) connected to the lower end of the is in contact with the lower surface of the continuously moving upper web (6) and extends obliquely downward to a predetermined position. The filling pipe will be described in detail later.

The packaging machine with the filling pipe (15) of the present invention operates as follows. The folded first wrapping material web (5) is unwound from a storage roller in a wrapping material section (not shown) (left side in FIG. 3) while being unwound by a controlled amount, and heated by a heating device. It is guided to the molding / filling section of the packaging machine shown in FIG. 3 and brought into contact with the mold (12) by the molding machine (35) and folded to form an endless band of U-shaped parts. Etc. are moved diagonally downward at a constant speed by the forming mechanism (11). Second packaging material web
(6) is unwound from the storage roller of the packaging material section (not shown) in the same manner as described above, and is molded by the packaging machine shown in FIG.
It is guided to the filling section and passes over the guide roller (25) to feed the drum.
It will be put on (10). The rocker plate (26), which is the outer rim of the feeding drum (10) rotating at a constant speed, is like a punching and lid strip applicator (27), a forming and cutting device (28), and a heater (29). A processing means is attached and a driving reciprocating motion is made around the drum (10). The web (6) is provided with a spout hole on the web (6) while passing through the processing locations (27), (28), (29) by the feeding drum (10), and a lid strip is provided on the spout hole. Piece mounting, web heating and possible thermoforming, and cutting near the edges of the web at right angles to the length. Homogeneous plastic strip material (7) is unwound from a storage roll (not shown) and this strip is applied by the lid strip applicator (27) to the web (6).
It is applied to the pouring hole made in the above and is fixed to the web (6) so that the pouring is covered, and the lid part is separated from the strip (7). Web with pouring hole and opening device (lid)
The edge area of (6) is deformed by cutting to form a continuous tongue projecting on both sides of a length approximately corresponding to the height of the mold (12). The web (6) continues to advance at a speed exactly equal to the moving speed of the mold (12) by the feeding drum (10),
The area of the edge of the web, with its central portion located above the top of the mold (12) and deformed like a tongue or ear, protrudes, allowing the slot of the web to be removed by the help of a governor (not shown). The mold (12) is advanced so that it is positioned at a right angle to the lateral flange or partition wall. While the web (6) is advanced by the feed drum (10) in synchronism with the movement of the mold (12), the cylinder (13) reaches the upper position and the downward movement is synchronized with the movement of the mold (12). To start. The cylinder (13) has a heater (34) which can be connected to an air source by a pipe (36), which blows hot air onto the edge area of the web (6), i. The material softens and is activated for sealing and at the same time the exposed web (5) at the side edges of the mold (12)
The rim area of the web is also heated by blowing hot air and at the same time the protrusions or tongues of the web (6) which were already heated during the previous working step of the cylinder (13) are ) Of the web (5) folded over and pressed against the U-shaped edge area of the web (5) and overlapping portions of the web are fused together to form an effective mechanically durable seal. However, the sealing is stabilized because the sealing portion is cooled while the inserter (30) is engaged with the bent portion of the web (6). When the webs (5) and (6) are connected to each other by the lateral sealing as described above, the contents are supplied through the filling pipe (15). Filling pipe (15) is the second web (6)
Located below the top of the shape (12) and above the second web.
The partition-like space formed below (6) is filled with the intended contents. Subsequently, the webs (5) and (6) pass through the forming device (33) to flatten the central area of the web (6). The space is sealed in a closed unit by a closure (31) which is above the top of the upright part of the mold (12) for the first web.
The second web (6) is welded and sealed to the portion (5). The sealing part (31) is also attached to the column (13) and reciprocates following the column to perform sealing while the column (13) moves downward in synchronization with the mold (12). The sealed container formed is a cutting device (32) for the sealing area created by the sealing unit (31).
They are separated from each other by cutting with. The packaging container unit (9) filled with the contents and hermetically cut and separated is transferred to the conveyor (4) at the lower end of the endless chain-shaped mold (12) and carried to the next step.

Hereinafter, a filling pipe according to the present invention, that is, a filling pipe for completely filling a liquid content without a space above the liquid surface in the container when the packaging container is completed, for example, in the case of wine in which the liquid content does not hurt the flavor due to residual air explain.

In FIG. 2, a part of the mold (12) arranged on the mold chain, the end of the filling pipe (15) having the nozzle part (17),
Packaging blank formed from two material webs (5), (6)
(8) A cross-sectional view of the movable molding device (33a) and the sealing part (31) is shown.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a filling pipe (15) of the present invention, wherein the filling pipe (15) has a nozzle portion (17) formed continuously with the end portion of a delivery pipe (16) having a predetermined diameter. There is.

The nozzle part (17) has at least a flow passage section formed from the nozzle part to the packaging container blank row in the downstream direction when the central portions of the bottom surfaces of the delivery pipe (16) and the respective bottom surfaces are in the same plane. It is provided over a length not less than the length of two continuous packaging container blanks (8). The nozzle part (17) has a cylindrical distribution chamber (20) with a flat cross section having a flat bottom part and an upper substrate (18) having a large number of small holes (21) formed therein. A plurality of transverse partition walls (22) are provided as guide members across the both side edges of the substrate (18) in the longitudinal direction so as to form a flow path to the container blank (8). It is provided at both ends and in the middle, and is formed by expanding the outlet of the delivery pipe (16) in the width direction and connecting it to the distribution chamber (20) so as to match its cross-sectional shape (Fig. 1, Fig. 1, Second
(See Fig. 5). The delivery pipe (16) has a stay (23a) in which a liquid level sensor (23) is vertically arranged in parallel with the delivery pipe (16) at a side portion in the width direction (see the drawing). Is only supported by the lower stay)
The liquid level sensor (23), together with the delivery pipe (16),
Both webs are located below the continuously moving upper web (6) from before the tubular row of the packaging container flanks (8) formed by welding (5) and (6) to each other. After the rows of packaging containers are formed by welding (5) and (6), both webs (above the upper web (6) are slightly spaced above the top of the lower web (5). 5), in a state surrounded by (6) (see FIG. 4), at a predetermined position set in the packaging container blank row, that is, at the liquid surface position to be maintained in the blank row,
The detector (24) at the end of the sensor (23) extends so as to be located. That is, the detection portion (24) is an end portion on the upstream side of the substrate (18) having a plurality of small holes (21) which are outlets forming the most upstream flow passage of the nozzle portion (17). Is located at a predetermined distance from the transverse partition wall, and the liquid level is maintained in the vicinity of the detection part (24), so that the packaging container blank (8) is completely 100% filled in the sealing part on the downstream side. It is sealed in the closed unit by (31). The maintenance of the liquid level is performed as follows. That is, in the filling pipe (15), the wine, which is the liquid content (40) to be filled from the level tank (not shown), is used to maintain the liquid level by the metering pump (2) controlled by the control device (not shown). It is supplied to the filling pipe (15) through the supply pipe (3) at a flow rate, and its delivery pipe (16)
A plurality of guide members (22) formed as transverse partition walls on the upper surface of the substrate, passing through a large number of small holes (21) of the upper substrate (18) from the distribution chamber (20) of the terminal nozzle part (17). With liquid contents (40)
Is guided between the substrate (18) and the upper web (6),
Pass both sides of the base plate (18) while suppressing bubble formation 2
~ 3 into continuous, unsealed container blanks.
In this case, a plurality of container blanks are simultaneously filled over the filling section to efficiently and smoothly fill them. In this way, when the wine, which is the liquid content, is filled, the column of the packaging container blank (8) that moves in a tubular shape with a large flow rate at the beginning of filling is completely filled from below and the liquid level is When the detection part (24) at the end of the liquid level sensor (23) is soaked and the detection part (24) senses this, a signal is output from the detection part (24) and a control device (not shown) The control device controls the flow rate of the metering pump (2) to decrease or stop the flow rate and lower the liquid level. When the liquid level drops due to a decrease in the flow rate, the immersion of the liquid level detection unit (24) is released, and the signal from the detection unit (24) that senses this causes the control device to operate and the flow rate from the metering pump (2). When the detection part (24) is immersed, the flow rate decreases or stops as described above, and the liquid level is detected by repeating this before and after the predetermined flow rate (24). To keep before and after. At the time of holding the liquid surface, since the delivery pipe (16) has a circular cross-section and the both sides of the delivery pipe (16) are widened, when the row of packaging container blanks (8) moves diagonally downward, The contents can easily flow from one chamber to the next. In this way, packaging container blanks that move continuously
The row of (8) is sealed and cut in the state of being completely filled, and the packaging container unit is completely filled with no space above the liquid level (9)
Is completed.

In the above embodiment, since the liquid content is wine, in order to maintain the quality, the cross section of the delivery pipe (16) is circular in order to reduce the contact area with the pipe wall surface for the same flow rate, Flat pipes can be used for other liquid contents. Further, as the nozzle part (17), any suitable one can be used regardless of the above embodiment.

[Effect of device]

As will be apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, a packaging machine of this type formed from at least one pair of webs can be filled with liquid contents without a space above the liquid level in a packaging machine. It is possible to reliably maintain the liquid surface at a predetermined position for a continuously moving hollow packaging container blank row, prevent problems from occurring, and manufacture a stable and completely filled packaging container. Because of this, there is great benefit to the manufacture of this type of packaging when full filling is desired.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the main part of the end of the filling pipe according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a packaging machine of FIG. 3 for the filling pipe according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the center line showing a side view of a part of the filling pipe showing the usage state in Fig. 3, Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a main body having a filling / packing section of a packaging machine equipped with the filling pipe according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the filling pipe of FIG. 1 and the packaging container blank taken along line AA, and FIG. 5 is a packaging container blank of the filling pipe shown in FIG. 1 taken along line B-B. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship of FIG. 6, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a packaging container unit manufactured by the packaging machine body of FIG. (1) …… Frame of packaging machine, (5), (6) …… Web, (8)
…… Packing container blank, (12) …… Mold, (15) …… Filling pipe, (16) …… Sending pipe, (17) …… Nozzle part, (18) ……
Substrate, (20) …… Distribution chamber, (21) …… Small hole, (22) …… Guide member (transverse bulkhead), (23) …… Liquid level sensor, (24) …… Detector, (40 ) …… Liquid contents.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A packaging container blank (8) consisting of at least one pair of webs (5), (6) interconnected with a liquid content (40) without a space above the liquid surface upon completion of the packaging container. In order to completely fill, the pipe (16) for feeding the liquid content (40) is continuous with the pipe (16) in the same plane as the center of the bottom face, and for a predetermined length in the downstream direction, The bottom is flat and the width is wider than the delivery pipe (16) to communicate with the packaging container blank (8) and form the nozzle part (17) whose height is gradually reduced while filling the liquid surface. A liquid level sensor (2) that sends a signal to a controller that controls a metering pump (2) that increases or decreases the flow rate delivered to the filling pipe (15) to maintain the pipe (15) in place.
3) is provided in parallel with the delivery pipe (16), and the detection unit (24) at the end is located at a predetermined distance upstream from the outlet of the nozzle unit (17). Filling pipe for packaging machine.