JPH08133227A - Automatic packer for filling into bag - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To automate operations and improve operation efficiency and hygienic degree, by holding a bag in a first rotary table, by opening its bag to fill a product into it, by passing it to a second rotary table, by producing a tightly closed atmosphere, by giving the product a specified temperature with a chamber evacuated, and then releasing it from the vacuum to seal the bag. CONSTITUTION: Into a pack bag B whose mouth is open, a product A having a high temperature is filled by means of a filling mechanism 24. In a processing position P7, the prepared pack bag B is passed to a vacuum cooling packer 12 by means of a bag-delivering mechanism 25. In the places corresponding to the processing positions Q1-Q10 of a table 31 are vacuum chambers 32, and a hollow place is made by closing its cover chamber 42. In the processing positions Q3-Q6, the mouth of the pack bag B is opened, also a vacuum pump 46 is actuated to produce gradually a vacuum in the hollow place, and the product A is cooled to a target temperature. In the processing position Q7, the vacuum pump 46 is stopped, and air is introduced to release from the vacuum. The automation of the operations improves efficiency and also the higienic degree of the product.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic bagging machine for automatically filling a bag with high temperature products such as rice steamed for a predetermined time, so-called steamed rice, vacuum cooling and packaging.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, it has been widely practiced to vacuum-cool and package high-temperature products, for example, high-temperature products such as steamed rice after removal from cooking. Since water vaporizes at a low temperature in a vacuum, when a product containing water is exposed to a vacuum, moisture is vaporized from the product, and at the same time, heat is removed from the product and the product is cooled.

Bagging, cooling, and packaging of high-temperature products by utilizing such vacuum cooling are generally carried out in a so-called batch system in which each work is divided, not continuous. For example, in the case of using a vacuum cooler as shown in FIG. 13, the operation of filling the high temperature product A after cooking and taking out into the individual container 1, the container 1 filled with the product A is divided into the vacuum tank 2 in a plurality of stages. The work of storing, the work of closing the lid 3 and vacuum-cooling the inside of the vacuum tank 2 by the vacuum generation source 4, the work of opening the lid 3 and taking out the container 1 filled with the product A from the vacuum tank 2, and the product A filled Work such as carrying the container 1 to the packaging machine is performed manually.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional example, each work is complicated, and in addition, the work of filling the container 1 with the high temperature product A after cooking and taking out, the product A
In the work of storing the container 1 filled with the product in the vacuum tank 2, the work of transporting the cooled product A to the packaging machine, etc., the ratio of human beings or air contacting the product A is high, and there is a possibility that bacteria are mixed in the product. This is probably the case.

On the other hand, in order to prevent deterioration of quality due to mixed bacteria, the packaged product must be sterilized by heating or the like, which requires equipment for sterilization and installation space, and is time-consuming. There is a problem that

Further, the feature of vacuum cooling is that the whole product can be uniformly cooled in a short time, that is, the maximum temperature after cooking and removal can be rapidly passed to the target temperature by passing through the bacteria breeding temperature zone in a short time. In the above-mentioned conventional example, there is a considerable variation in the time from the maximum temperature after cooking removal to the target temperature after cooling, and there are variations in the moisture content, viscosity, etc. in product A as well. There is a problem that A becomes heterogeneous.

The object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to automatically perform the operations of bagging, cooling and packaging of high temperature products, thereby improving the work efficiency and the hygiene of the products. An object is to provide an automatic bagging and packaging machine.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention to achieve the above object, an automatic bagging and packaging machine has first and second rotating tables which are rotatably installed, and the first rotating machine. Bag holding and opening means that is provided around the moving table to hold the bag and opens the mouth of the bag, and product filling means for filling the bag with the product,
Chamber means for surrounding the second rotating table and for putting in and taking out the bag filled with the product and creating a closed atmosphere, the chamber means comprising bag holding means for holding the bag, and filling the bag. A vacuum creating means for creating a vacuum for vacuum cooling the formed product, a vacuum releasing means for releasing the vacuum, and a bag closing means for sealing the mouth portion of the bag. The bag holding means for transferring the bag held by the bag holding opening means to the bag holding means of the chamber means is provided between the rotating tables.

Also, the automatic bagging machine according to the second invention is
A rotary table that is rotatably installed; chamber means that surrounds the rotary table to create and close a bag and creates a closed atmosphere; bag supply means that supplies the bag to the chamber means; Product filling means for filling the supplied bag with a product, wherein the chamber means holds the bag supplied by the bag supplying means and opens a mouth thereof, and a filled product. It is characterized by comprising a vacuum forming means for creating a vacuum for vacuum cooling of the, a vacuum releasing means for releasing the vacuum, and a bag sealing means for sealing the mouth portion of the bag.

[0010]

In the automatic bag filling machine according to the first aspect of the present invention having the above-mentioned structure, the bag holding and opening means provided around the first rotating table holds the bag and opens the mouth, and the product is placed in the bag. The filling means fills the product. The bag-filling means transfers the bag filled with the product to the chamber means provided around the second rotating table, and the chamber means creates a closed atmosphere after the bag-holding means grips the bag filled with the product and forms a vacuum. When the means creates a vacuum in the chamber means, water in the product is vaporized and the temperature of the product is reduced. After the predetermined product temperature is obtained, the vacuum releasing means releases the vacuum in the chamber means and the bag sealing means seals the mouth of the bag.

Also, in the bag-filling automatic packaging machine according to the second aspect of the invention, the bag-supplying means supplies the bag to the chamber means provided around the rotary table, and the bag-holding opening means grips the bag to open the mouth thereof. Open the department. The chamber means creates a closed atmosphere after the product filling means fills the product in the bag with the open mouth, and when the vacuum forming means creates a vacuum in the chamber means, moisture is vaporized from the product and the temperature of the product decreases. . After the predetermined product temperature is obtained, the vacuum releasing means releases the vacuum in the chamber means and the bag sealing means seals the mouth of the bag.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiments shown in FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the first embodiment. For example, a product filling machine 11 that sequentially fills a packaging bag B with a fixed amount of high-temperature products A such as steamed rice, and a vacuum for packaging the products A by vacuum cooling. The cooling and packaging machine 12 is connected and arranged. A table 21 that intermittently rotates in the direction C is installed in the product filling machine 11, and the table 21 has, for example, 8
The process positions P1 to P8 are set.

Bag holding and opening mechanisms 22 are attached to positions corresponding to the respective process positions P1 to P8 on the table 21, and the bag holding and opening mechanisms 22 hold gripping portions 22a and 22b for holding the packing bag B, and the packing bag. Sucker part 22 that opens the mouth of B
c and 22d are provided, and the table 21 is conveyed to the next position by intermittent rotation. Also,
A bag storage machine 23 for storing the packaging bag B is provided near the process position P1, and a filling mechanism 24 for filling the packaging bag B with the product A is provided near the process position P4. Also, the process position
In the vicinity of P7, a bag-passing mechanism 25 for delivering the packaging bag B filled with the product A to the vacuum cooling packaging machine 12 side is provided.

The process positions P1 to P8 are positions corresponding to the respective processes S1 to S8 shown in the flow chart of FIG. That is, the process position P1 is set to the position of the bag supply process S1, and the bag storage machine 23
From the packaging bag B to the gripping portions 22a, 2 of the bag gripping opening mechanism 22.
It is gripped by 2b. The process position P2 is the position of the printing process S2, and for example, the manufacturing date is printed on the packaging bag B. The process position P3 is the position of the opening process S3, and the bag grip opening mechanism 22
The mouth of the packaging bag B is opened by the suction cups 22c and 22d. The process position P4 is set to the position of the filling process S4, and the packaging bag B whose mouth is opened is filled with the measured high-temperature product A, for example, by the filling mechanism 24.

The process positions P5 and P6 are positions of the bag adjusting processes S5 and S6, and the appearance and posture of the packaging bag B filled with the product A is adjusted by a bag adjusting mechanism (not shown). Further, the process position P7 is set to the position of the bag delivering process S7, and the packaged bag B which has been prepared is delivered by the bag delivering mechanism 25 to the vacuum cooling packaging machine 12 side. The process position P8 is the position of the preparation process S8 for the next packaging bag B.

On the other hand, the vacuum cooling packaging machine 12 is provided with a table 31 which rotates in the direction D, and the table 31 is set with, for example, 10 process positions Q1 to Q10. A vacuum chamber 32 is attached to the table 31 at positions corresponding to the process positions Q1 to Q10.
2 has a fixed chamber 41 fixed to the table 31 and a lid chamber 42 openably and closably attached to the fixed chamber 41. As shown in the partial sectional views of FIG. 3 and FIG. Room 4 by closing to E
3 is formed.

In the chamber 43, the product A
A bag closing mechanism 45 including a bag holding and opening mechanism 44 that receives and holds the packaging bag B filled with the same and opens its mouth, and heaters 45a and 45b for closing the mouth of the packaging bag B.
Are provided. A vacuum pump 4 for creating a vacuum in the chamber 43 is provided above the fixed chamber 41.
6 is connected via a valve 47, and a filter 48 communicating with the outside air for releasing the vacuum in the chamber 43 is connected via a valve 49 to the lower portion of the fixed chamber 41.

Here, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 5 and the side view of FIG. 6, the bag grip opening mechanism 44 is provided with clamps 44a, 44b for gripping the packaging bag B. 44b is configured to grip both side edges of the mouth of the packaging bag B and to be displaced in the direction F. This allows the clamps 44a, 44b to be cooled during vacuum cooling.
By repeatedly displacing, the mouth and body of the packaging bag B are deformed, the product A inside flows, and the product A is rapidly and uniformly cooled.

The vacuum cooling and packaging machine 12 thus constructed
In, product A is vacuum cooled and packaged as shown in the flow chart of FIG. 7 and the process diagram of FIG. That is, the process position Q1 is the position of the bag receiving process T1 following the bag passing process S7 of the product filling machine 11, and as shown in FIG. 8 (a), when the lid chamber 42 is completely opened, the bag grip opening mechanism. 44 holds the packaging bag B with the mouth closed. The process position Q2 is the position of the lid closing process T2, the lid chamber 42 is closed in the direction E as shown in FIG. 8 (b), and the chamber 43 is sealed as shown in FIG. 8 (c).

The process positions Q3 to Q6 are positions of the first to fourth vacuum cooling processes T3 to T6, and the mouth of the packaging bag B is opened as shown in FIGS. By operating the vacuum pump 46 and opening the valve 47, a vacuum is gradually created in the chamber 43, and the product A is cooled to the target temperature. At this time, the bag grip opening mechanism 44 is repeatedly displaced in the direction F shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the mouth of the packaging bag B and the bulge of the main body are displaced, and the product A inside flows, and the product A quickly And it is cooled uniformly.

The process position Q7 is the position of the vacuum releasing process T7, and after the vacuum pump 46 is stopped and the valve 47 is closed, the valve 49 on the filter 48 side is opened as shown in FIG. 8 (g). . As a result, the atmosphere G is introduced into the chamber 43 through the filter 48 and the valve 49, and the vacuum in the chamber 43 is released.

The process position Q8 is the position of the sealing process T8, and the mouth of the packaging bag B is sealed by the heaters 45a and 45b as shown in FIG. 8 (h). The process position Q9 is the position of the discharging process T9, and as shown in FIG. 8 (i), the lid chamber 42 moves in the direction H.
, The bag gripping opening mechanism 44 is opened, and the packaged product A falls in the direction I. Then, the process position Q10 is the position of the preparation process T10, the lid chamber 42 is completely opened, and the bag grip opening mechanism 44 is the product filling machine 1 as shown in FIG. 8 (j).
The process returns to the bag receiving step T1 in which the packaging bag B is received from 1.

In the first embodiment, the bag feeding step S1
Since everything from the preparation process T10 to the preparation process T10 is automatically performed, the work efficiency can be improved and the hygiene degree can be improved because human hands do not come into contact with the product A. In addition, bacteria are less likely to be mixed in the product A, and equipment for sterilization can be omitted.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the second embodiment.
The product filling machine 11 and the vacuum cooling packaging machine 12 in the first embodiment are installed in a clean booth 51 which is a sterile room, and the filling mechanism 24 is directly connected to the cooking machine 52. The second embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, and in addition, since the bag supply step S1 to the preparation step T10 are performed in the clean booth 51, bacteria may be mixed in the product A. It completely disappears and the hygiene level can be completely maintained.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the third embodiment, in which the product filling machine 11 and the vacuum cooling packaging machine 12 in the first embodiment are combined. That is, for example, eight process positions are provided on the table 61 that rotates in the direction J.
R1 to R8 are provided, and a vacuum chamber 62 is attached to the table 61 at a position corresponding to each process position R1 to R8. The vacuum chamber 62 includes a fixed chamber 63 fixed to the table 61, a lid chamber 64 openably and closably attached to the fixed chamber 63, and a suction cup 65 a attached to the fixed chamber 63 and the lid chamber 64.
And a bag grasping and opening mechanism 65 having a bag holding mechanism and a vacuum forming mechanism, a vacuum releasing mechanism, and a bag sealing mechanism, which are not shown. The table 61 is driven by a drive mechanism 66 via an arm 67. Also,
A bag storage device 68 and a bag feeding mechanism 69 are provided near the process position R1, and a filling mechanism 70 is provided near the process position R2.

Here, the process position R1 is set to the position of the bag opening process U1 as shown in FIG. 11, and the packaging bag B is sucked up from the bag storage machine 68 by the suction cup 69a of the bag supply mechanism 69, and the inside of the vacuum chamber 62 is closed. Of the suction cup 65
The mouth is opened by a. The process position R2 is the position of the filling process U2, and the product is filled in the packaging bag B by the filling mechanism 70. The process position R3 is the position of the lid closing process U3, the lid chamber 64 is closed to the fixed chamber 63 side, and the vacuum chamber 62 is sealed.

Process positions R4 to R5 are primary to secondary vacuum cooling processes.
At the positions of U4 to U5, a vacuum is gradually created in the vacuum chamber 62 to cool the product. The process position R6 is the position of the vacuum releasing process U6, and the atmosphere is introduced into the vacuum chamber 62. The process position R7 is the position of the sealing process U7 and is the packaging bag B.
The mouth is sealed. The process position R8 is the discharge process U8.
And the packaging bag B with the sealed mouth is discharged to the outside of the vacuum chamber 62.

The third embodiment has the same effects as the first embodiment, and the installation space can be reduced. Further, if it is installed in a sterile room as in the second embodiment, the hygiene level can be completely maintained as in the second embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of the fourth embodiment. In the above-mentioned first to third embodiments, the atmosphere is introduced when the vacuum in the vacuum chamber is released. However, here, a cylinder 72 containing an inert gas such as nitrogen gas is provided in the vacuum chamber 71 with a valve 73.
And other configurations are similar to those of the above-described embodiment.

In the fourth embodiment, the same action and effect as those of the above-described embodiment are obtained, and the vacuum chamber 71 is used.
Since the aseptic gas is introduced into the vacuum chamber 71 when the internal vacuum is released, the atmosphere is not mixed into the product after vacuum cooling, which is more than in the first to third embodiments described above. The hygiene degree can be further improved.

[0031]

As described above, since the automatic bagging machine according to the first aspect of the present invention can automatically perform each work, manpower can be reduced and work efficiency can be improved. , The hygiene and uniformity of the product can be improved. Further, since no human intervention is required after vacuum cooling, equipment for sterilization and sterilization work can be omitted.

Also, the automatic bagging machine according to the second invention is
Since each work can be performed automatically, it is possible to reduce manpower and improve hygiene and uniformity of the product. Moreover, since no human intervention is required after vacuum cooling, sterilization equipment and sterilization work can be omitted. Furthermore, since the bag supply means and the bag grip opening means are integrally provided, the installation space can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a work process.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of chamber means.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of chamber means.

FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating the operation of the bag grip opening mechanism.

FIG. 6 is a side view illustrating the operation of the bag grip opening mechanism.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a work process.

FIG. 8 is a work process diagram.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the third embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a work process.

FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a conventional vacuum cooler.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 product filling machine 12 vacuum cooling and packaging machine 21, 31, 61 table 22, 65 bag gripping opening mechanism 23, 68 bag storing machine 24, 70 filling mechanism 25 transfer bag mechanism 32, 62, 71 vacuum chamber 41, 63 fixed chamber 42 , 64 lid chamber 43 chamber part 44 bag gripping mechanism 45 bag sealing mechanism 46 vacuum pump 47, 49, 73 valve 48 filter 51 clean booth 72 gas cylinder

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A first and a second rotating table rotatably installed, bag holding and opening means provided around the first rotating table for holding a bag and opening a mouth of the bag. The apparatus further comprises a product filling means for filling a bag with a product, and a chamber means provided around the second rotary table for taking in and out the bag filled with the product and creating a closed atmosphere, the chamber means comprising: Bag gripping means for gripping the bag, vacuum creating means for creating a vacuum for vacuum cooling the filled product, vacuum releasing means for releasing the vacuum, and bag sealing means for sealing the mouth of the bag. And a bag-passing means for transferring the bag held by the bag-holding opening means to the bag-holding means of the chamber means between the first and second rotating tables. Automatic packing machine. 2. A rotatable table which is rotatably installed, chamber means which is installed around the rotatable table to create a closed atmosphere while a bag is taken in and out, and a bag supplying means for supplying a bag to the chamber means. A product filling means for filling the bag supplied with the chamber means with a product, the chamber means for holding the bag supplied by the bag supply means and opening a mouth portion of the bag holding opening means, Vacuum forming means for creating a vacuum to vacuum cool the filled product,
An automatic bagging packaging machine, comprising: a vacuum releasing means for releasing a vacuum and a bag sealing means for sealing the mouth portion of the bag. 3. The automatic bagging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vacuum releasing means is a means for introducing outside air into the chamber means or a means for introducing an inert gas filled in a cylinder into the chamber means. Wrapping machine. 4. The automatic bagging packaging machine according to claim 1, further comprising means for displacing the bag gripping portion of the bag gripping opening means.