JPH10291509A - Method and apparatus for filling container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a predetermined amount of contents to be rapidly and reliably filled in a container body by pressing the container body with a mouth member attached from which the contents can be freely taken out, which is formed of a flexible sheet into a bag to be flat for degassing and then by filling the contents from the mouth member into the container body. SOLUTION: A container body 1 is first pressed closely from both sides by both pressing bodies 42, 43. At this time, since an elastic body 46 is provided on each of the pressing bodies 42, 43, the elastic body 46 elastically deforms due to a form of the container body 1, so that the container body 1 can be flat without little space left inside. Immediately after the inside of the container body 1 is degassed, the nozzle 48 is lowered to be fitted over an attaching part 18 of a mouth 10 from upward, and liquid such as drink is filled in the container body 1 by a predetermined amount. At the time of filling the liquid in the container body 1, air in the container body 1 may not hinder since degassing has been done in advance, thereby allowing rapid filling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to beverages such as sports drinks and fruit juices, seasonings such as alcoholic beverages, sauces and dressings, various liquids such as shampoos, lotions and liquid detergents, and liquid materials having viscosity. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for filling a container which are optimal for filling the contents of the container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, a bag-like container called a standing pouch or a flexible pouch as described above, which is formed from a flexible sheet into a bag-like shape, comprises a container body; Some include a port member for taking out a liquid filled in the main body.

In manufacturing a container, first, after opening an upper edge portion of the container body, a mouth member is inserted into the container body, and the container body and the mouth member are heat-sealed to be integrated. To manufacture. Next, a container body with an integrated mouth member is attached to a filling device in another process, a nozzle is fitted to the mouth member, and the liquid is filled into the container body from the nozzle.

[0004]

However, since the above-mentioned container has a structure in which a mouth member is inserted into the opened upper edge portion of the container body and then the mouth member is heat-sealed and attached to the container body, the container is Air enters the body and remains.

When a liquid is filled from the mouth member into a container body in which air remains, there is a possibility that a predetermined amount of liquid cannot be filled due to the air. In addition, in order to fill a predetermined amount of liquid, a nozzle may be provided with a deaeration port to fill the liquid while naturally discharging air from the port member when filling the liquid. It is time-consuming and lacks speed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and allows a predetermined amount of contents to be quickly and reliably filled in a container body, and also facilitates automation of a series of operations. That is the task.

[0007]

The technical measures taken by the present invention to solve the above problems are as follows. In other words, the technical means as a method of filling the container is to press the container body 1, which is formed from a flexible sheet into a bag shape, with the mouth member 10 from which the contents can be taken out and attached, and press the pressing means 42, 43. After degassing by pressing flat with
It is to fill the contents into the container body 1 from the mouth member 10.

Further, as a technical means as a container filling device, a mouth member 10 from which contents can be taken out is attached to a container body 1 formed in a bag shape from a flexible sheet. In a container filling device provided with a filling means 48 for filling contents from the member 10 into the container main body 1, a holding means 26 for detachably holding the mouth member 10;
Before the contents are filled by the filling means 48, pressing means 42 and 43 for pressing the container body 1 to which the mouth member 10 is attached in a flat shape so as to degas are provided. is there.

Further, as a technical means as a method for filling the container, one end of a container body 1 formed in a bag shape from a flexible sheet is opened, and the contents are taken out to the container body 1. The container body 1 and the mouth member 10 are heat-sealed by relatively moving the free mouth member 10, and after the container body 1 is degassed by pressing the container body 1 in a flat shape by the pressing means 42 and 43, The content is filled from the mouth member 10, and thereafter, the cap 22 is attached to the mouth member 10.

Further, the technical means as a container filling device is to attach a mouth member 10 from which contents can be taken out to a container body 1 formed of a flexible sheet in a bag shape. A container filling device provided with a filling means 48 for filling the container body 1 with the contents from the container 10 and a closing means 51 for closing the mouth member 10 of the container body 1 filled with the contents with the cap 22. The holding means 26 for detachably holding the mouth member 10 and the holding means 26 for opening one side of the container body 1 and holding the mouth member 10 and moving the mouth member 10 relative to the container body Insertion means 31 for inserting into
A sealing device 41 for heat-sealing the mouth member 10 and the container body 1 is provided, and pressing means 42 and 43 for pressing the container body 1 with the heat-sealed mouth member 10 in a flat shape for degassing are provided. Is to become.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 11 shows a container as a self-supporting standing pouch according to an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 1 denotes a container body in which a flexible sheet 2 is formed in a bag shape. Are filled with various liquids such as sports drinks, fruit juice drinks, lotions, liquid detergents and the like.

The container body 1 comprises front and rear walls 3, 4 and both side walls 5, 5 which can be bent inward (gusset folded). The lower part of the front and rear walls 3, 4 is bent to form a bottom wall. Become.

The material of the sheet body 2 is not particularly limited as long as it is flexible. For example, a laminate of a synthetic resin film such as polyester or polyamide and a gas barrier sheet such as aluminum foil is used. A film is preferable because of excellent preservability of the content liquid. The innermost layer of the laminated film is formed of a known heat-fusible resin such as polyethylene or polypropylene.

Reference numeral 10 denotes a cylindrical mouth member for taking out the liquid from the container body 1, and the mouth member 10 seals the upper edges 12 of the front and rear walls 3, 4 of the container body 1 by heat sealing. A mounting portion 18 having a seal portion 18a and a port 18b through which a liquid is filled or discharged at the same time as being attached, and a conduit portion 19 extending from the mounting portion 18 into the container body 1 are made of polyethylene or the like. Is molded integrally with the synthetic resin. The upper part of the conduit part 19 faces the inside of the mounting part 18, and between them,
A gap 10a is provided. Further, a cap 22 is detachably screwed above the mounting portion 18. In addition, 11,
Reference numeral 11 denotes a pair of flange portions formed on the mounting portion 18.

The container according to the present embodiment has the above configuration. Next, a container filling device for filling the container body with a beverage will be described.

As shown in FIG. 10, the apparatus has an insertion step A for inserting the mouth member 10 into the container body 1 which is folded flat and has an upper edge unsealed, and A sealing process section B for heat-sealing, a degassing and filling process section C for evacuating the inside of the container body 1 and then filling the evacuated container body 1 with a beverage, and a cap 22 on the mouth member 10. And a closing step D to be attached.

Numeral 25 denotes a large number of mouth members 10 randomly inputted.
In a hopper supply device for a mouth member for aligning the pieces in a line, the mouth member 10 is conveyed to the mouth member supply device 29 in a state where the mouth members 10 are aligned by the alignment conveyance means 27.

Reference numeral 26 denotes holding means for holding each of the mouth members 10 supplied from the mouth member supply device 29.
Are arranged in the rotary device 28 so as to be freely circulated.

Each holding means 26 has a pair of claw portions 1 which are fitted between the flange portions 11 and 11 of the mouth member 10 and which can freely contact and separate from each other.
5 and 15, and the port member 10 is in a horizontal position in the insertion step A and the sealing step B, and the port member 10 is in the vertical position in the deaeration and filling step C and the closing step D. To be able to swing, it is provided by a means such as a cam mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 6, the insertion section A is provided with a storage case 22 in which a plurality of container bodies 1 folded in a flat shape are stored in two rows, and is formed at the tip of the storage case 22. The container body 1 can be taken out from each of the openings.

Numeral 30 is a container main body supply means for adsorbing the front part 3 or the rear part 4 of the container main body 1 in the front row in the storage case 22 and supplying it to the transfer device 24 arranged below. It is provided so as to be swingable between the transfer device 22 and the transfer device 24. The transfer device 24 is a container body 1 in which two sheets are arranged in parallel.
Can be conveyed from the position of the virtual line shown in the figure to the predetermined position shown by the solid line.

Reference numeral 31 denotes insertion means for inserting the mouth member 10 into the container body 1. The insertion means 31 includes a pair of upper and lower suction portions 33.
The suction portions 33 can be separated from each other so as to expand the front and rear wall portions 3 and 4 of the container body 1.
Of the mouth member 10 horizontally maintained by the holding means 26 from the standby position
Can be moved to the position where is inserted.

The sealing step B includes three sets of heating means for integrally heat sealing the container body 1 and the mouth member 10.
34a, 34b and 34c, and two sets of cooling means 37a and 37b for cooling the sealed portion between the container body 1 and the mouth member 10 are provided. The sealing device 41 is constituted by the heating means 34a, 34b, 34c and the cooling means 37a, 37b.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the heating means 34a, 34b and 34c includes a pair of upper and lower heating members 35 which can be freely contacted and separated so as to simultaneously hold the two container bodies 1 and the mouth member 10. I have two sets. The heating means 34a at the most upstream position is for temporary sealing and is provided at a position where the mouth member 10 is inserted into the container body 1, and the other downstream heating members 34b and 34c are for main sealing. . Further, each heating member 35 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that a heater is inserted inside.

In order to reliably seal the bulging seal portion 18a of the mouth member 10 and the container body 1, a concave portion matching the seal portion 18a is formed on the contact surface of each heating member 35 facing each other. 36 are formed respectively.

The cooling means 37a and 37b are provided with the heating member.
Two pairs of upper and lower cooling members (not shown) are provided at the downstream position of 34c and can be freely contacted and separated. Similarly to the heating member 35, concave portions are formed on the mutually facing surfaces. A cooling water passage is formed in each cooling member, so that cooling water is circulated and supplied.

The degassing and filling section C is provided with a degassing device 40 for pressing the container body 1 from both sides. That is, the deaerator 40 includes a pressing member 42 disposed inside the container body 1 and a pressing member 43 disposed outside the container main body 1 as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The reference numerals 43 are provided so as to be freely movable toward and away from each other by moving means such as a cylinder (not shown).

The length of each of the pressing members 42 and 43 in the lateral direction (the direction of conveyance of the mouth member 10) is, for example, such that the four container bodies 1 can be pressed simultaneously, and the length in the vertical direction Is approximately equal to or longer than the length of the container body 1 (for example, the container body 1
2/3 or more of the length). Each pressing body 42, 43 is composed of a metal main body 42a, 43a and the main body 42a, 43a.
And an elastic body 46 made of a synthetic resin, a rubber material, or the like, which is fixed to the inner surface of the base member.

A mouth member is provided above the pressing members 42 and 43 so as to fill the four deaerated container bodies 1 with liquid such as a beverage.
A nozzle 48 as a filling means to be fitted into the 10 from above,
At the same time, it is provided movably in the vertical direction. In addition, the deaerator 40 and the nozzle 48 are provided so as to be able to reciprocate in the horizontal direction at the same time so that four container bodies 1 conveyed intermittently can be simultaneously pressed.

As shown in FIG. 9, a cap supply means 50 which can be moved up and down and a cap supply means
A rotatable and vertically movable tightening means 51 for screwing the cap 22 supplied from the to the mouth member 10, a shrink device 54 for fitting a cylindrical cap seal 52 on the cap 22 and shrink-wrapping the cap 22. It has. In the closing step D, each step is performed by two container bodies 1.
Are performed simultaneously.

Next, a case where the container body is filled with a liquid using the above-described apparatus will be described. First, the mouth member 10 put into the hopper supply device 25 is sequentially conveyed in the direction of the arrow via the alignment conveyance means 27 and supplied to the mouth member supply device 29. The mouth member supply device 29 transfers the two mouth members 10 to each holding means 26 located in the front.

The holding means 26 conveys the mouth member 10 to the insertion step A. In the process, the holding member 26 swings to change the mouth member 10 from a vertical position to a horizontal position in which the conduit portion 19 faces outward. Then, when the holding means 26 reaches the insertion step A, it stops together with the mouth member 10.

On the other hand, the flat container body 1 housed in the housing case 22 is adsorbed by the supply means 30 and, after being taken out, is conveyed so that the upper edge opened is forward.
Placed on 24. When the transport device 24 advances the container body 1 to a predetermined position, the suction part 33 of the insertion means 31 sucks the front and rear surface portions of the container body 1, and the insertion means 31 opens the container body 1 while opening the container body 1. It is transported to the member 10.

When the mouth member 10 is inserted into the opened container body 1, the suction by the insertion means 31 is released, and at the same time, the heating members 35 of the heating means 34a approach each other, and the upper edge of the container body 1 The sealing member 18a of the mouth member 10 is temporarily press-bonded with a predetermined pressure to position the mouth member 10 with respect to the container body 1.

Next, the holding means 26 connects the mouth member 10 together with the container body 1 to the heating means 34b for the main sealing in the sealing step B,
The sheet is sequentially conveyed to 34c, and the sealing operation is performed as described above. In the concave portion 36 of each heating member 35, the sealing portion 18 of the mouth member 10 is provided.
a can enter the container body 1 to ensure close contact over the entire width of the upper edge. However, since the container body 1 is once opened, air often enters the interior.

Next, the cooling means 37a and 37b press the sealing portions of the container body 1 and the mouth member 10 to reliably perform cooling over the whole.

The holding means 26 conveys the mouth member 10 sealed with the container body 1 while swinging the container body 1 and the mouth member 10 so as to bring the container body 1 and the mouth member 10 up and down. When the holding means 26 reaches the deaeration and filling step C (in the present embodiment, the container body 1
Holding means 26 for holding the mouth member 10 with
Are aligned to correspond to the pressing body 43. First, both the pressing members 42 and 43 press the container body 1 approaching from both sides.

At this time, each of the pressing members 42 and 43 is provided with an elastic member 46.
Are provided, even when the mouth member 10 is inserted into the container body 1 and the side walls 5, 5 of the container body 1 are folded in a gusset shape, Since the elastic body 46 is elastically deformed, the container body 1 can be flattened with little space left therein,
The air that has entered the container body 1 is forcibly discharged to the outside through the mouth member 10. In particular, deaeration can be smoothly performed from the gap 10 of the mouth member 10 located at the upper part inside the container body 1.

Immediately after the inside of the container body 1 is degassed, the nozzles 48 are lowered and fitted into the mounting portions 18 of the mouth members 10 from above, so that a predetermined amount of liquid such as beverage can be supplied to the container body 1. Is filled in. When filling the container body 1 with the liquid, since the deaeration process has been performed in advance, the air can be quickly filled without hindering the air in the container body 1.

The container body 1 in which the liquid has been filled is conveyed to the closing step D, and the cap supply means 50 supplies the cap.
After 22 is fitted in the mounting portion 18 of the mouth member 10, the cap
22 is screwed with a predetermined torque by fastening means 51.

Further, after the cap seal 52 is fitted on the cap 22, the cap seal 52 is heated and shrunk (heat shrunk) by the heating device of the shrink device 54. Then, the container body 1 in which the cap 22 is closed is supplied to the next step (for example, a box packing step).

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. In the above embodiment, the insertion step A, the sealing step B, and the closing step D are performed with respect to the two container bodies 1. In the deaeration and filling process section C, the respective operations were simultaneously performed on the four container bodies 1, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the container body 1 may be a single body or a plurality of cases other than the above. May be.

The mouth member 10 is formed of a single cylinder in addition to the gap 10a as shown in FIG. 12, and a plurality of openings 10b are formed in the conduit portion 19 in order to smoothly perform deaeration. Or a conduit portion inserted into the container body 1
A configuration without 19 may be used. Moreover, the holding means 26 may be moved to fix the insertion means 31, or both may be moved.

[0044]

As described above, according to the present invention, the container body, which is formed in a bag shape from a flexible sheet, to which the mouth member from which the contents can be taken out is attached, is pressed flat by the pressing means. After the degassing is performed, the contents are filled into the container main body from the mouth member, so that the container main body can be forcibly degassed before the container body is filled with the internal solution. There is an advantage that a predetermined amount of contents can be quickly filled in the inside, and that a high-speed operation can be easily achieved.

Further, in the container filling apparatus, the holding means for detachably holding the mouth member, and the holding means for opening one of the bag-shaped container bodies and holding the mouth member, are relatively moved. Insertion means for inserting the mouth member into the container body, a sealing device for heat-sealing the mouth member and the container body, and pressing for pressing the heat-sealed container body in a flat shape to degas the mouth member. Means, when the mouth member is attached to the container body, even if air enters the container body by once opening the container body, the degassing in the container body can be forcibly performed by the pressing means, A series of operations including the filling operation can be performed automatically.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional front view of an embodiment of the present invention, in which the inside of a container body has been degassed by pressing means.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing the same portion broken.

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view showing a main part at the time of degassing.

FIG. 4 is a sectional plan view showing a main part before degassing.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional front view showing a filling state after the deaeration.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of an insertion step.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view showing a state in which the mouth member is heat-sealed to the container body.

FIG. 8 is a sectional front view of the same.

FIGS. 9A to 9C are schematic cross-sectional views showing schematic diagrams of a closing step part, respectively.

FIG. 10 is an overall schematic plan view.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a partially broken view of the container.

FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway perspective view of a container according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Container main body, 10 ... Mouth member, 41 ... Sealing device, 42, 43 ...
Pressing means, 48 ... Nozzle (filling means), 22 ... Cap,
51 ... closing means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A container body (1) formed with a flexible sheet and attached to a mouth member (10) from which contents can be taken out, and formed into a bag-like shape by pressing means (42), (43). And filling the container body (1) from the mouth member (10) into the container body (1) after degassing by pressing the container flat. 2. A container body (1) formed of a flexible sheet in a bag shape is provided with a mouth member (10) from which contents can be taken out, and the container member body is opened from the mouth member (10). (1) A container filling device provided with a filling means (48) for filling contents therein, a holding means (26) for detachably holding the mouth member (10), and a filling means ( Before filling the contents according to 48), said mouth member (10)
A container filling device characterized by comprising pressing means (42) and (43) for pressing the container body (1) to which the is attached in a flat shape for degassing. 3. A container member (1) formed of a flexible sheet into a bag shape, one end of which is opened, and a mouth member (10) from which contents can be taken out into the container body (1). The container body (1) and the mouth member (10) are relatively moved and inserted.
Are heat-sealed, and furthermore, the container body (1) is degassed by pressing the container body (1) in a flat shape by the pressing means (42), (43), and then the contents are filled from the port member (10). And a cap (22) attached to the mouth member (10). 4. A container body (1) formed from a flexible sheet in a bag shape is provided with a mouth member (10) from which contents can be taken out, and the container member (10) is inserted from the mouth member (10). Filling means (48) for filling the contents into 1);
In a container filling device provided with a closing means (51) for closing a mouth member (10) of a container body (1) filled with contents with a cap (22), the mouth member (10) is detachable. Holding means (26) for holding the mouth member (1), and opening one of the container body (1), and moving relative to the holding means (26) for holding the mouth member (10) to hold the mouth member (10) in the container. Insertion means (31) for insertion into the main body (1), and a sealing device (41) for heat sealing the mouth member (10) and the container main body (1).
And the container body (1) in which the mouth member (10) is heat-sealed,
A container filling device, comprising: pressing means (42) and (43) for pressing flat to degas.