JPH07291206A - Production apparatus for multi-connection cup container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate necessity for changing or adjusting a retainer sustaining cup containers at their flanges when producing the cup containers in different number of connections, and to improve production capacity for a production apparatus that produces multiconnection cup containers that are made by connecting a plurality of cup containers and by covering such cup containers with a paper board. CONSTITUTION:Holes 2a for a retainer 2 are provided to the retainer at regular intervals in numbers corresponding to a common multiple to the number of containers for multi-connection cup containers in a plurality of kinds, and a plate 21 of one kind out of the plates 21 in a plurality of kinds each having an opening 21a for guiding a retainer corresponding to each of the numbers of connection to the holes 21a of the retainer 21 is detachably attached to the surface of the retainer 2. In the case where production is made for a specified number of connections, operation can be made with the cup containers put in all of the holes 2a of the retainer 2, and a holder corresponding to the specified numbers of connection can be mounted correctly on flanges of the cup containers with guiding made by the opening 21a of the plate 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a multiple cup container in which a plurality of cup containers are put together for sale.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, food such as yogurt, pudding, and natto is often sold in a cup container with one serving. For convenience of bulk buying, for example, as shown in FIG. A multiple type in which two to three are collectively bundled by a holder H is used. As the cup container C, a plastic one or a paper cup is used, and as the holder H, a paperboard one is used. Then, as an apparatus for manufacturing such a multiple cup container, a plurality of retainers provided with a plurality of holes for mounting the flange portion of the cup container in a row are intermittently provided in a multi-row state laterally with respect to the traveling direction. While transporting, the cup containers are sequentially supplied to each of these retainers, the contents are filled into the cup containers that are placed on each retainer, and then the holder is supplied so that the inner surface of the holder is the flange of the cup container. It is known that a predetermined number of cup containers are covered at the same time by being heat-sealed to the portion so as to be connected.

[0003]

By the way, when a multiple cup container having a different number of connections is manufactured by the above manufacturing apparatus, the number of cup containers supplied to the retainer may be changed according to the number of connections, or The retainer is replaced and adjusted. However, in the former case, the retainer has holes that are not used, and thus the production equipment cannot be fully utilized. In the latter case, it takes time to replace and adjust the retainer, resulting in poor production efficiency. There is a problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to replace or adjust a retainer when manufacturing multiple cup containers having different numbers of connections. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for manufacturing a multiple cup container that is not necessary and that can fully exhibit its production capacity.

[0005]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a multi-row retainer having a plurality of holes for mounting the flange portion of the cup container in a row in a lateral direction with respect to the traveling direction. With a retainer conveyor that conveys each retainer in a state of being attached with, a cup supply unit that supplies a cup container to each retainer that is conveyed, a filling unit that fills the contents into a cup container that moves on each retainer, and The lid material supply unit that supplies the holder made of paperboard to the cup container that moves on the retainer, and presses the holder against the cup container that moves on each retainer and heats the inner surface of the holder to the flange part of the cup container. In a manufacturing apparatus for a multiple cup container having a sealing portion for sealing, the holes in the retainer are equally spaced by a common multiple of the number of connections of multiple types of multiple cup containers. One plate out of a plurality of types of plates, each of which has an opening for guiding a holder corresponding to a predetermined number of the plurality of types of multiple cup containers above the retainer hole, is provided. It is characterized by being detachably attached to the upper surface of the retainer.

[0006]

In the apparatus for manufacturing a multiple cup container having the above-mentioned structure, the cup container is supplied to all the holes in the retainer in the cup supply section. Next, after the contents are filled in these cup containers in the filling section, the holders of the size corresponding to the predetermined number of connections are supplied side by side on the flange section of the cup container in the lid material supply section. It In this case, a plate mounted on the upper surface of the retainer acts by its opening to guide the individual holders to rest exactly on the flange of the cup container. Then, the holder is bonded to the flange portion of the cup container at the seal portion, and a predetermined number of cup containers are connected by the holder. As a result, the multiple cup container having a predetermined number of connections (including the case where the number of connections is one) is manufactured.

[0007]

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

2 and 3 show an apparatus for manufacturing a multiple cup container as an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the whole and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a retainer conveyor made up of a chain. In the state where retainers 2 whose plan view and side view are respectively shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are attached in multiple rows laterally with respect to the traveling direction. Each retainer 2 is intermittently conveyed.
As shown in the figure, the retainer 2 is a long plate-like member having six holes 2a for mounting the flange portion of the cup container in a row at equal intervals, and holes 2b are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction. The retainer 2 is attached to the chain of the conveyor 1 by an L-shaped member or the like using the hole 2b. Further, supporting rods 2c are screwed near both ends, and the supporting rods 2c are brought into contact with the frame of a filling machine or a sealer at a filling portion or a sealing portion, which will be described later, to stably perform a filling operation or a sealing operation. It is for making it.

Plates 21 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, for example, are attached to the retainers 2 in the states shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively. This plate 2
Reference numeral 1 has an opening 21a for guiding two holders (described later) having three connected pieces on the hole 2a of the retainer 2 in a state of being aligned with each other, and the opening 21a conforms to the planar shape of the holder. A tapered surface 21c is formed on the both sides of the tapered surface 21c. The tapered surface 21c extends outward from the lower end edge 21b toward the upper side. The tapered surface 21c has arcuate projections 21d on both sides which correspond to the notches (described later) provided at the four corners of the holder. There are three of each. Further, fixing holes 21e for inserting a stopper or the like for fixing to the retainer 2 are provided at the opposite positions of both ends. In this embodiment, a spring 15a is provided on the shaft portion and a lateral pin 15b is provided at the tip. The stopper 15 and the fixing hole 21
By inserting the plate 21 on the retainer 2 and stacking the plate 21 on the retainer 2 and then pressing and turning the stopper 15, the lateral pin 1
The retainer 2 is fixed by being fitted into the groove 2d on the bottom surface of the retainer 2. The plate 21 is fixed to the retainer 2 by any means such as screwing, but it is desirable to adopt a means for easily attaching and detaching the plate 21.

Reference numeral 3 denotes a cup supply unit, which supplies cup containers, which are stacked in a stocker 4 and set in six rows, to a retainer 2 by a cup feeder 5. That is, after the group of 6 cup containers at the forefront of the stocker 4 is transferred from the stocker 4 to the cup feeder 5 by the swinging arm member 5a,
Six holes 2a in each retainer 2 conveyed intermittently
On the other hand, one cup container is sucked and dropped from the cup feeder in order from the bottom, so that the flange portion of the cup container is placed on the edge of the hole 2a. When the cup container in the cup feeder 5 is used up, the sensor detects it and the next cup container group is transferred from the stocker 4 by the swing arm 5a.

Reference numeral 6 denotes a detector equipped with a photoelectric sensor or a proximity switch for confirming whether or not a cup container is placed in each hole 2a of the retainer 2.
When the detector 6 determines that there is no cup container in a, it is controlled to interlock with a filling unit, a take-out device, and the like, which will be described later, to stop the filling of the empty retainer, and to sort good and defective products.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a dust removing device for removing dust by blowing air to a cup container that moves on each retainer 2.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a filling section for filling the cup containers moving on the respective retainers 2 with the contents, and 9 denotes a lid material supplying section for supplying a holder on the filled cup containers moving on the respective retainers 2 and moving.

7 and 8 show a side view and a front view of the lid material supplying section 9, respectively. In the figure, 91 is a paper feeding device,
As shown by the dotted line position in FIG. 7, the support rod 91b is extended by the air cylinder 91a, the lowermost one of the holders H set in the stocker 92 is suction-held by the six tachos 91c, and the support rod 91b is supported by the air cylinder 91a. After pulling out the holder H from the stocker 92 by contracting, the turning shaft 91d is turned to bring the holder H downward, and in this state, the support rod 91b is supported by the air cylinder 91a.
Is extended to release the suction of the octopus 91c to supply the holder H onto the flange portion of the cup container C on the retainer 2.

As shown in FIG. 9, the stocker 92 is provided with guides 92a on both sides of a space for setting a bundle of holders H and a plurality of rails 92b on the lower side thereof, and an outlet 92.
A plurality of claws 92d are provided above and below c. The rail 92b guides the cutout portion of the holder H. In addition, the claw 92d holds the holder H in the stocker 92
It is held inside, and after the octopus 91c of the sheet feeding device 91 adsorbs the lowermost holder H, the holder H goes over the claw 92d and is pulled out. A circle A indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 9 indicates a position where the six octopuses 91c of the sheet feeding device 91 attract the holder H.

In FIG. 7, 93 is a pressing member for pushing the bundle of holders H set in the stocker 92 from the rear, and 94 is a suction duct for sucking and removing the paper dust from the holder H. In this way, the holder H is supplied from the side opposite to the direction in which the retainer 2 moves, and the dust duct suction duct 94 is provided, so that dust is not contained in the cup container C before the holder H is covered. I try to prevent it from entering as much as possible.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 95 denotes an anti-blocking device, which is an air cylinder 95b attached to the rotary shaft 95a via an L-shaped member, and an octopus 95c attached to the air cylinder 95b so as to move back and forth. It is configured with. The blocking prevention device 95 is arranged so as not to interfere with the paper feeding device 91, and is rotated toward the stocker 92 while the holder H is placed on the cup container C as described above. The octopus 95c sucks the lowermost holder H and pulls it out slightly forward. When the holder H is pulled out from the stocker 92 without causing blocking by the paper feeding device 91 alone, it is not necessary to use the blocking prevention device 95.

In the lid material supply unit 9, a holder having a length corresponding to the number of connected cups is supplied onto the flange portion of the cup container. That is, when the plates 21 are attached to the respective retainers 2 to operate, two holders H ₃ corresponding to the number of connections of ₃ are placed as shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 11A and 11B, the number of connections is two.
The plate 22 used in the case of producing a multiple cup cup container is shown. This plate 22 is a hole 2 of the retainer 2 in a state where three holders corresponding to the number of two connections are arranged side by side.
There is an opening 22a for guiding above the a, and the opening 22a has a tapered surface 22c that spreads outward from the lower end edge portion 22b that matches the planar shape of the holder.
It is the same as the plate 21 in that it is provided with, but the tapered surface 22c has four arc-shaped projections 22d on both sides which match the notches (described later) provided at the four corners of the holder. Are provided one by one. Further, fixing holes 21e for inserting a stopper or the like for fixing to the retainer 2 are provided at opposing positions of both ends of the plate 2
In the same manner as 1, the stopper 15 is attached to the upper surface of each plate 2 as shown in FIGS.
When this plate 22 is attached to each retainer 2 for operation, three holders H ₂ corresponding to the number of connections of ₂ are placed in the lid material supply section 9 as shown in FIG.

In FIGS. 14A and 14B, the number of connections is 1.
The plate 23 used when manufacturing an individual multiple cup container is shown. This plate 23 is a retainer 2 with six holders for covering individual cup containers arranged side by side.
Has an opening 23a for guiding it above the hole 2a, and the opening 23a is provided with a tapered surface 23c which spreads outward from a lower end edge 23b conforming to the planar shape of the holder. Although it is the same as the plate 21 in terms of points, the tapered surface 23c is provided with seven arc-shaped convex portions 23d on both sides which correspond to the notches (described later) provided at the four corners of the holder. Further, fixing holes 21e into which stoppers and the like for fixing to the retainer 2 are inserted are provided at opposing positions of both ends, and similar to the plate 21 shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b). As described above, the stopper 15 is attached to the upper surface of each plate 2. When the plate 23 is attached to each retainer 2 to operate, the lid member supply unit 9 is operated as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6, six holders H ₁ that cover the individual cup containers are placed.

According to the present invention, the holes 2a in the retainer 2 are provided at equal intervals by a common multiple of the number of connections of the multiple types of multiple cup containers to be produced. In the present embodiment, the multiple types to be produced are formed. Since the number of connected cup containers is one, two, and three, the retainer 2 is provided with six holes 2a, which is the least common multiple thereof. As a result, even if the number of connected multiple cup containers to be manufactured is different, it is possible to manufacture a desired number of multiple cups without leaving a hole in the hole 2a of the retainer 2. In consideration of the size of the entire apparatus, the number of holes 2a provided in the retainer 2 is particularly preferably the lowest common multiple among the common multiples of the respective connection numbers of multiple types of multiple cup containers. Then, attach the holder to the hole 2a of the retainer 2.
For accurate positioning on the top of the retainer, prepare a plurality of types of plates having openings for guiding the holders corresponding to the predetermined number of connections, and place one of these plates on the upper surface of each retainer. It is detachably attached and operates.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a seal portion for pressing the holder against the cup container moving on each retainer 2 and heat-sealing the inner surface of the holder to the flange portion of the cup container.
The seal portion 10 of the present embodiment includes the first to fourth sealers 10a to 10a.
10d and coolers 10e and 10f, and each sealer 10a to 10d provided with a ring-shaped seal head.
After applying heat pressure to the holder on the flange portion of the cup container by means of a solid plate or ring-shaped cooler 10e, 10
The holder is completely hermetically sealed to the cup container by cooling at f. That is, since the holder is made of paperboard and heat is not easily transferred, it is preheated by the first sealer 10a, then heat-sealed by the second sealer 10b, preheated again by the third sealer 10c, and heat-sealed again by the fourth sealer 10d. By doing so, they are completely fused and sealed. According to this method, even if the cup container is a paper cup, a sealed state can be obtained without forming a gap in the step portion of the flange portion. In addition, the sealers 10a to 10
The heads of d and the coolers 10e and 10f enter into the space surrounded by the tapered surface of the plate to perform heat sealing and cooling.

When the cup container is a paper cup,
By providing discontinuous projections in the seal heads of the second sealer 10b and the fourth sealer 10d in a shape that presses the flange portion of the cup container at alternate positions, surely even at the stepped portion of the flange portion. It may be heat-sealed to obtain a sealed state. Alternatively, the entire flange portion of the cup container may be heat-sealed as a whole by heat-sealing using a plurality of sealers each having a seal head having a projection having a small width formed in the circumferential direction.

The cup container, which is covered by the holder at the seal portion 10 and is in a state where a plurality of cup containers are connected at the same time or one by one, is sucked up by the take-out device 11 to be lifted and discharged. It is transferred onto the conveyor 12. And the discharged multiple cup container or 1
In the subsequent step, the cup container with a lid is in a state in which the hot melt adhesive is applied to the upper side surfaces of the cup container which face each other, and both sides of the holder are bent to be adhered to both side faces of the cup container. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 13 denotes a cleaning tank, which is cleaned by an appropriate means when each retainer 2 conveyed by the retainer conveyor 1 passes therethrough.

FIG. 17 shows the product manufactured as described above.
~ 19. 17 and 18 are three,
A multi-cup type cup container in which two cup containers C are connected by holders H ₃ and H ₂ , respectively, and is provided with perforations a for separating, and notches b are provided at four positions on both ends of the holder.
Will be equipped with. Further, in FIG. 19, one cup container C is covered with a holder H ₁ , and the notches b are also provided at four places on both ends of the holder.

In the above embodiment, the notch b of the holder is arcuate in conformity with the shape of the protrusions 21d, 22d and 23d provided on the tapered surface of the plate.
The shape of the notch b may be triangular or angular as long as it is not displaced with respect to d, 22d and 23d. Further, the protrusions 21d, 22d, 23d of the plate may be displaced from the positions shown in the above embodiment, and it goes without saying that the position of the notch of the holder used in this case is adjusted to that. Since the holder is guided by the tapered surfaces 21c, 22c and 23c of the plate as a whole, the holder can be positioned even if the protrusions 21d, 22d and 23d are provided only on one side in the longitudinal direction.

It is also possible to manufacture a multiple cup container having three or two connections using the plate 23 mentioned in the above embodiment. The holder used in this case is
The perforations a for separation are provided with notches b for positioning at both ends.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the shape of the cup container is premised on that the body portion and the flange portion are circular, but it may be, for example, a quadrangular shape with rounded corners. In this case, it goes without saying that the shape of the hole of the retainer and the shape of the seal head of the sealer are adapted to this.

According to the manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the lid material S with tabs as shown in FIG. 20 is used as the holder, and each of them is attached to one cup container C, which is good in appearance and easy to open. It is also possible to manufacture individual packs (Fig. 21). That is, the plate 24 shown in (a) and (b) of FIG. 22 is used, and this is operated by attaching it to the upper surface of each retainer 2 as shown in (a) and (b) of FIG.

This plate 24 is provided with an opening 24a having a shape in which six cover materials S are arranged in a row, and the opening 24a outwardly extends from a lower end edge portion 24b conforming to the planar shape of the cover material S. Is provided with a tapered surface 24c. Further, fixing holes 24e for inserting a stopper or the like for fixing to the retainer 2 are provided at opposite positions of both ends, and similar to the plate 21 described above, FIG.
And as shown in (b), it is attached to the upper surface of each plate 2 by a stopper 15.

When the plate 24 is attached to the retainer 2 to operate, it is necessary to replace the stocker 92 in the lid material supplying section 9 of the above embodiment with that shown in FIG.
This stocker 92 is provided with seven rails 92a and a gutter member 92b between them so that the bundle of tabbed lid materials S can be arranged in six rows adjacent to each other with the tab portion on the lower side. The mouth 92c is provided with a claw 92d that supports the lid material S at three points. 24, the circle A indicated by a dotted line indicates the position where the six octopuses 91c of the sheet feeding device 91 adsorb the lid member S.

When the tabbed lid material S is supplied from the stocker 92 onto the retainer 2 by the sheet feeding device 91, the lid material S is
Is the tapered surface 24 of the plate 24 on the retainer 2.
It is guided by c and fits into the lower edge portion 24b, and is accurately placed on the flange portion of the cup container C. And
In the seal portion 10, the heads of the sealers 10a to 10d and the coolers 10e and 10f enter into the space surrounded by the tapered surface 24c of the plate 24 to perform heat sealing and cooling. The cup container C thus attached with the lid material S is transferred to the discharge conveyor 12 by the take-out device 11 and sent out as a product as it is.

[0033]

As described above, according to the multiple cup container manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, when a multiple cup container having a different number of connections is manufactured, one of a plurality of types of plates is used. By selecting and attaching to the upper surface of the retainer, it is possible to manufacture a multiple cup container with a predetermined number of connections in a state where the cup container is put in all the holes of the retainer,
Therefore, it is not necessary to replace or adjust the retainer as in the conventional case, and the production capacity can be fully exerted. Further, the lid material can be individually sealed and attached to the cup container.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a multiple cup container.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an apparatus for manufacturing a multiple cup container as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of FIG.

4A is a plan view of the retainer, and FIG. 4B is a side view of the same.

5A is a plan view of a plate used in the case where the number of connections is 3, and FIG. 5B is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

6A is a plan view showing a state where the plate shown in FIG. 5 is attached to a retainer, and FIG. 6B is a side view of the same.

FIG. 7 is a side view of a lid material supply unit.

FIG. 8 is a front view of a lid material supply unit.

FIG. 9 is a view showing a stocker take-out port in the lid material supply unit.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing a mounted state of a holder when the number of connections is three.

11A is a plan view of a plate used in the case where the number of connections is two, and FIG. 11B is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

12A is a plan view showing a state in which the plate shown in FIG. 11 is attached to a retainer, and FIG. 12B is a side view of the same.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a mounted state of a holder when the number of connections is two.

14A is a plan view of a plate used when the number of connections is one, and FIG. 14B is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

15A is a plan view showing a state in which the plate shown in FIG. 14 is attached to a retainer, and FIG. 15B is a side view of the same.

FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a mounted state of a holder when the number of connections is one.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a multiple cup container having three connected cups.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a multiple cup container having two connected cups.

FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing a cup container with an individual lid.

FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a lid member with a tab.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a cup container to which a lid member with a tab is attached.

22A is a plan view of a plate used when the lid member shown in FIG. 20 is attached to each cup container, and FIG. 22B is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG.

23A is a plan view showing a state in which the plate shown in FIG. 22 is attached to a retainer, and FIG. 23B is a side view of the same.

FIG. 24 is a view showing a stocker take-out port in the lid material supply unit when the lid material shown in FIG. 20 is used.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Retainer Conveyor 2 Retainer 2a Holes 21, 22, 23, 24 Plates 21a, 22a, 23a, 24a Openings 3 Cup Supply Section 8 Filling Section 9 Lid Supply Section 10 Seal Section C Cup Container H (H ₁ , H ₂ , H) ₃ ) Holder

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A retainer conveyor that conveys each retainer in a state where a plurality of retainers, each having a plurality of holes for mounting a flange portion of a cup container, are provided in a row in a horizontal direction with respect to a traveling direction, and a retainer conveyor that conveys the retainers. A cup supply unit that supplies a cup container to each retainer, a filling unit that fills the content of the cup container that moves on each retainer, and a paperboard holder that supplies the cup container that moves on each retainer. Apparatus for manufacturing a multiple cup container having a lid material supply part and a seal part for pressing the holder against the cup container moving on each retainer and thermally sealing the inner surface of the holder to the flange part of the cup container In the above, the holes in the retainer are provided at equal intervals by a common multiple of the connection numbers of the multiple types of multiple cup containers, and among the multiple types of multiple cup containers. One of a plurality of types of plates each having an opening for guiding a holder corresponding to a predetermined number of connections above the hole of the retainer is detachably attached to the upper surface of each retainer. Equipment for manufacturing multiple cup containers.