JPH11178500A - Metal wire-ligating machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a metal wire-ligating machine that can prevent the wire- supporting wire-cutting part from abrading and avoid the wire from forming peeling powder particles, when the metal wire cut in a prescribed length is formed in a U-shape before wire ligation. SOLUTION: This wire-ligating machine is for bundling the tubes filled its hollow parts with a filling substance at a prescribed interval in the longitudinal direction and ligating the bundled parts with metal wires, and is composed of a pair of bundling parts and the cutting part for cutting the metal wires in a prescribed length, the pressing part for pressing the metal wire cut toward the space formed by the cutting part to a U-shaped form and a couple of ligating part in the form of a mold for collapsing the U-shaped wire to ligate the bundled parts. In this wire-ligating machine, the cutting part 1 is equipped with a movable guide 8 of which the point contacting with the metal wire deformed to the position supporting the metal wire moves together with the wire during the molding.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a metal wire ligating apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art There are widely known devices which form a focusing portion at predetermined intervals in a tube filled with contents and ligate the focusing portion with a metal wire. For example, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings, after feeding a tube made of a plastic film downward while filling the tube with a content such as viscous food, an ironing roller that operates intermittently at a position below the tube. A flat portion where no contents exist in the tube is formed by 51, and in the next step, the flat portion is converged in a string shape by a converging member 53 of a ligating / cutting unit 52 which intermittently descends at the same speed as the tube. Then, the convergence portion is ligated with a metal wire at two upper and lower portions by a ligating device 54, and a cutting blade 55 cuts between the two ligated portions. Thus, a product, for example, sausage, which has been separated into predetermined lengths is obtained.

[0003] The ligating / cutting unit 52 has a bundled member, a cutting member, and a ligating member which are often in the form as shown in FIG. FIG. 3A is a view of the cutting unit 52 of FIG. 2 as viewed from above, and shows the left half of the unit of FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the focusing member 53 has a plate shape extending in parallel with the plane of the drawing, and has a substantially V-shaped focusing groove 53A.
Are formed, and a deep U-shaped groove 53B is formed at the back of the focusing groove 53A.
It has become. A guide groove 53C is formed in the focusing member 53, and a ligating device 54 is slidably housed in the guide groove 53C. Another such focusing member 53 is provided so that the focusing grooves 53 face each other, and forms a pair.
Move in and out.

The ligating device 54 has a plate-shaped cutting member 56 slidably guided by the guide groove 53C of the focusing member 53, and a ligating member 57 slidably guided by the cutting member 56. ing. The cutting member 56 has a front end edge 56A which is supplied through a hole formed in the focusing member 53 and whose leading end contacts the metal wire M which contacts one side edge of the focusing groove 53C. Both ends (upper and lower ends in FIG. 3A) of the front end edge 56A cooperate with the side edge of the above-mentioned converging groove 53C when the cutting member 56 advances, to condense the metal wire M into the converging groove 5C.
A blade portion (blade surface) to be cut to a length of 3C is formed.
A U-shaped groove 56B corresponding to the U-shaped groove 53B of the focusing member 53 is formed at a front end edge 56A of the cutting member 56 at a position shown in the drawing. At a position on the opposite side of the U-shaped groove 56B with respect to the metal wire M, a pressing member 58 extending in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface so as to intersect with the metal wire M is provided so as to be freely protruded and retracted.
Further, the cutting member 56 has a hollow space 56C for receiving a metal wire bent and formed (deformed) into a U-shape when the pressing member 58 relatively enters the U-shaped groove 56B.
Are formed so as to open to the front edge.

The hollow space 56C extends in a groove shape.
The ligating member 57 is slidably housed in the back. The ligating member 57 has a U-shaped forming surface (mold surface) 57B having a smaller radius than the U-shaped metal wire formed into a U-shape by the pressing member 58 at the front end surface.
Similar to the focusing member 53, another ligating member (not shown) that forms a pair with the ligating member 57 is provided so as to form a pair. 57B
To form a U-shaped metal wire into an annular shape.

In the known apparatus shown in FIG. 3A, two focusing members 53 are placed in a state where the flat portion of the tube is located in the substantially V-shaped focusing groove 53A of the focusing member 53. Close together and converge the flat portion in a string shape. Next, the cutting member 56 moves forward as shown in FIG.
And the metal wire M is cut to the width dimension of the focusing groove 53 by a shearing force acting on a blade surface formed between both side edges of the cutting member 56 and the edge of the focusing groove 53A.

Next, the cut metal wire M is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3 (A) with the focusing member 53 omitted, the cutting member 56 moves forward, and the pressing member 58 presses the metal wire M relatively while the U-shaped groove 56 is pressed.
Enter into B. The metal wire M is supported on both sides of the front end edge of the cutting member 56. When pressed by the pressing member 58, the metal wire M is deformed into a U-shape and the hollow space 5 of the cutting member 56 is deformed.
Get inside 6C.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3 (C), the pair of ligating members 57 come close to each other, and the molding surfaces 57 at the front ends of both members.
The U-shaped metal wire M is further crushed between B to form an annular shape, and the tube T is ligated.

[0010]

In such a known device,
The metal wire M cut to a predetermined length is supported by both sides of the front edge of the cutting member 56, and the pressing member 58 is provided at the intermediate portion.
To form a U-shape. At this time, the front edge of the cutting member 56 and the edge forming the hollow space generate a strong frictional force between the metal wire moving while rubbing the edge during molding, and as a result, the cutting member 56 The front edge of 56 and the edge of the hollow space are worn, and a metal wire of a material (usually aluminum) softer than the cutting member 56 made of steel material is peeled off on the surface to generate peeling powder.

Abrasion means shorter life for the cutting member, and peeling powder is not preferable for this device having many sliding parts.

It is an object of the present invention to improve such a point and to provide a metal wire ligating apparatus which sharply reduces the above-mentioned abrasion in forming a metal wire and does not generate peeling powder.

[0013]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An apparatus according to the present invention is a metal wire ligating apparatus for ligating a tube filled with contents at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction and then ligating the convergence portion with a metal wire. It is.

Such an apparatus includes the following focusing member, cutting member, pressing member, and ligating member.

The converging portions are provided with a pair of substantially V-shaped converging grooves which are opposed to each other and come into contact with and separate from the converging portions. The cutting member is slidably guided by the guide groove of the focusing member, and is provided so as to be able to advance toward the focusing portion. The cutting member has a blade portion for cutting the metal wire into a predetermined length in cooperation with the side surface of the guide groove of the converging member while supporting the metal wire at the front edge. The pressing member presses the cut metal wire toward a forming space formed in the cutting member to form a U-shaped metal wire. Also, the ligating portions are provided in pairs, are slidably guided by the cutting member, move forward and move toward the one ligating member, and move toward the one ligating member to receive the U-shaped metal wire. And a second die-shaped ligating member for crushing the U-shaped metal wire to ligate the above-mentioned convergence portion.

In the above apparatus, in the present invention, the cutting member is provided with a movable member in which a contact portion with the deformable metal wire moves with the metal wire during molding in the molding space to a position supporting the metal wire in the molding process. Have been.

In the apparatus of the present invention configured as described above, when the metal wire cut to a predetermined length by the cutting member is bent into a U-shape by the front edge of the cutting member and the pressing member, the metal wire is bent. It comes into contact with the edge of the cutting member under high contact pressure and is deformed into a U-shape to enter the molding space of the cutting member. At this time, the metal wire comes into contact with the movable guide member provided on the cutting member, and even if the contact pressure is high, the contact portion of the movable guide member moves together with the metal wire, so that little friction occurs. As a result, there is no wear on the movable guide member,
The metal wire does not peel.

In the present invention, the movable guide member may be a rotating body rotatably supported by the body of the cutting member. The rotating body may be supported by the main body of the cutting member via a bearing.

In order to make the movement of the movable guide member smoother, it is preferable that at least one of the movable guide member and the bearing is impregnated with a lubricant.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIG.

The metal wire ligating device of this embodiment has the same convergence member 53, ligating member 57 and pressing member 58 as the known device shown in FIG. 3, and is shown in FIGS. 1 (A) and 1 (B). In the illustrated embodiment apparatus, these members are not shown. Note that FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view taken along a line BB in FIG.

In FIG. 1, the cutting member 1 has a plate-like shape extending in the left-right direction in FIG. 1 (A) parallel to the plane of the drawing, and has a hollow molding space 2 extending in the left-right direction. The height of the molding space 2 in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1A is set substantially equal to the diameter of the metal wire M to be molded. The front edge 3 of the cutting member 1 is provided with a slight inclination so as to sink inward from both ends (upper and lower ends in FIG. 1A). A groove 3A having a semicircular cross section substantially equal to the radius of the metal wire is formed on the inclined front end edge 3 so as to extend to the entrance of the molding space 2 and serves to guide the metal wire M.

In the center of the front part of the cutting member 1, a U-shaped groove 3
B is formed to allow a pressing member (not shown) for forming the metal wire M to enter at the time of forming.

In this embodiment, the side 4 of the cutting member 1 is
As shown in FIG. 1 (B), a step 6A is formed on the lower side at the front, and a pressing member 5 is attached to the step 6A by a screw 7 at the step 6A, and a rolling element as a movable guide member is provided. 8 is supported.

The rolling element 8 is in the form of a roller,
As shown in FIG. 1 (B), a lower portion has a flange portion 8A, and an upper portion than the flange portion 8A has a side portion 6 of the cutting member 1.
The flange 8A is locked to the step 6A to prevent the rolling element 8 from falling off in the vertical direction in cooperation with the pressing member 5. I have.
The holding portion 3C is set to have a shape and dimensions that can accommodate the rolling element 8 rotatably and prevent the rolling element 8 from falling off in the radial direction. A part of the rolling element 8 rotatably housed in the holding portion 3C protrudes from the concave holding portion 3C in the radial direction, and is in contact with and supports the metal wire M in the bending process. Acts as a die for bending.

It is preferable that the surface of the rolling element 8 and the concave holding portion 3B which holds the rolling element 8 and guides the rotation is made of a material having abrasion resistance or is subjected to a surface treatment therefor. Usually, since the metal wire is aluminum,
A steel material having a higher hardness is sufficient.

In the apparatus of this embodiment, a metal wire M cut to a predetermined size is applied with a force F by a pressing member at a central portion while both ends are supported by a front edge 3 of the cutting member 1. Then, it is bent in a U-shape (see FIG. 1A). At this time, the metal wire M is subjected to bending while being strongly pressed against the rolling elements 8 at both ends, and is pushed into the forming space 2. Since the rolling element 8 rotates so that the contact portion moves with the movement of the metal wire M, relative rubbing between the two does not occur due to friction. Therefore, there is no wear on the rolling elements 8 and no surface separation on the metal wires M.

In the illustrated embodiment, the movable guide member is formed as a roller-shaped rolling element. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and can be variously modified. For example, the shape of the rolling element may be formed by forming a circumferential groove following the groove 3A,
Further, the number of rolling elements may be plural. Alternatively, instead of taking the form of a rolling element, a member such as a chain that can orbit one track may be provided, a part of which contacts the metal wire, and the contact portion may move together with the metal wire. Furthermore, a reciprocating member that moves together with the metal wire during molding and returns to the original position before the next molding by, for example, the urging force of a spring member may be provided. In short, it is only necessary to support the metal wire that moves during molding and to move the contact portion thereof together with the metal wire.

Furthermore, in order to smooth the movement of the movable guide member, it is one measure to supply a lubricant to the movable surface. The surfaces of the rolling elements and other forms of the movable guide and the surfaces of the members that movably support them can be made of a material impregnated with a lubricant. Alternatively, a bearing may be interposed in the rolling portion.

[0030]

As described above, according to the present invention, when a metal wire cut to a predetermined length is formed into a U-shape in preparation for ligation, a cutting member supporting both ends of the metal wire is provided between the metal wire and the cutting member. Since the movable guide member that reduces the friction of the cutting member is arranged, the wear of the cutting member at the part supporting and forming the metal wire is significantly reduced, the service life of the cutting member is extended, and surface peeling powder is generated from the metal wire. Thus, there is obtained an effect that no trouble occurs in the sliding portion of the device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1A and 1B show a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 1A is a partially cutaway plan view, and FIG.
It is B sectional drawing.

FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing an example of a filling and packaging device that employs a cutting device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a conventional cutting member. FIG. 1A shows a state before cutting a metal wire, and FIG.
FIG. 3C shows the state at the time of ligation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cutting member 2 Forming space 8 Movable guide member (rolling element)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A device for ligating a tube filled with contents after a tube is filled at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction with a metal wire, wherein the tube is opposed to each other with respect to the bundle. A pair of convergence members having a substantially V-shaped convergence groove formed therein and coming and coming away from the convergence member. A cutting member having a blade portion for cutting the metal wire into a predetermined length in cooperation with the side surface of the guide groove of the focusing member in the state, and cutting the metal wire toward a molding space formed in the cutting member. A pressing member for pushing and forming into a U-shaped metal wire, a mold-shaped ligating member which slides and is guided by a cutting member to advance and accommodates the U-shaped metal wire, and To move the U-shaped metal wire and ligate the focused part In the apparatus having the other ligating member having a mold shape, the cutting member is a movable guide in which a contact portion with a metal wire deformed to a position for supporting a metal wire in a molding process in a molding space moves together with the metal wire during molding. A metal wire ligating device, wherein a member is provided. 2. The metal wire ligating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the movable guide member is a rolling element rotatably supported by a main body of the cutting member. 3. The metal wire ligating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rolling element is supported by a main body of the cutting member via a bearing. 4. The metal wire ligating device according to claim 1, wherein the movable guide portion is impregnated with an oil lubricant. 5. The metal wire ligating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the movable guide member and the bearing is impregnated with a lubricant.