JPH1143112A - Automatic connection device for tape - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic connection device for a tape, which is simple in the structure and reliable and which minimizes the movable parts and reduces necessity of maintenance works, by providing a release means connected to a heating block releasing the second thermoplastic tape from a latch structure simultaneously with transfer of a cutter cutting the first thermoplastic tape. SOLUTION: A release member 40 is connected to a heating block 16 and provided with a flat spring 41. A laterally deformable hook-shaped member 42 is formed to detachably fix to a deformable pin 32 for a tape of a latch structure 19. And hence, the deformable pin 32 holding a spair tape 8 in the receive seat 18 of a contact block is fixed by the hook-shaped member 42 constituted of the flat spring 41 to lock the main tape 7 together with the spair tape 8 on the contact face 17 of the contact block and weld them together. The connected tapes can be released because the deformable pin 32 for the tape is fixed to the hook-shaped member 42.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic tape splicing apparatus for packaging a liquid food or a flowable food.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the technical field of packaging liquid or flowable food products, an automatic tape joining apparatus joins a tape sealed to one longitudinal edge of a packaging material web unwound from a supply roll. Used to The packaging material is a laminate having an inner fiber layer and an outer thermoplastic layer. First of packaging material web with tape attached
Of the packaging material web are successively brought closer to the opposite longitudinal edge of the packaging material web by a plurality of guide rollers to form a tube. The tape is then hermetically bonded in a liquid-tight manner to the opposite longitudinal edge of the tube defined by the packaging material web, thereby forming a longitudinally sealed tube. The tube is then filled with the product, and then is laterally compressed and sealed at regular intervals. The packaging material is cut in its lateral sealing area,
As a result, a semi-molded liquid-enclosed package body in which the liquid food product is sealed and sealed in both the vertical and horizontal directions is obtained. The semi-shaped liquid-enclosed package can be formed by known means to provide a package having a desired profile, such as a package having a parallelepiped or "brick" shaped profile. Known machines for producing packages of the type described above include TBA1 manufactured and marketed by Tetra Brik Packaging Systems, Inc. of Via Delfini, Modena, Italy.
Type 9 machines are included.

[0003] To provide a convenient method of opening packages produced in the manner described above, known packaging machines are often devices known as pull-tab units, which include a web of packaging material. A device is provided for forming openings at regular intervals in a plurality of portions of the web that will form the top or top wall of the package when molded. These devices are also pull-tab-type opening devices over the opening so that the user of the finished package can peel off the pull-tab opening device to expose the opening and pour the contents from the package. There is also a means for attaching what can be delivered. Known pull tub units include, for example, PT1 manufactured by Tetra Brik Packaging Systems, Inc. of Via Delfini, Modena, Italy.
Includes 9-inch pull / tab unit.

[0004] The thermoplastic tape used to seal the longitudinal joints on the paper web is supplied by a plurality of reels. Packaging machines of the type described above are designed for continuous operation or at least for uninterrupted operation with long operating cycles. Thus, the reel of tape is finally empty and must be replaced. In order to avoid having to stop the entire packaging machine to replace empty reels of tape, splicing devices have been devised. The splicing device allows a new tape to be spliced in an automatic manner at the far end of the tape leaving the empty reel. Known automatic joining devices of this type include devices that are mounted on a packaging machine and devices that are mounted on a pull-tab device. Typically, the splicing device is located between a series of conventional dancer rollers that make up the tape magazine, so that the splicing device exits the empty reel at the far end of the exhausted tape. Over the time required to perform the splicing of the proximal end of the new or spare tape,
The packaging machine may be supplied with a sufficient amount of tape to maintain steady operation.

[0005] A commercially available joining device of a known type used in liquid food packaging machines has an abutment block and a heat block. The abutment block has a pressure surface and a plurality of small holes formed in the pressure surface and connected to a vacuum source. A full reel of tape is rotatably mounted immediately adjacent to the abutment block, and the proximal end of the tape is withdrawn from the reel and pulled in the tape advance direction across the front of the abutment block. Can be The spare tape is held on the contact surface by the vacuum in the plurality of small holes. The tape pulled out from the main reel in the same forward direction passes in front of the contact block. The main tape is separated by pins from the end of the spare tape and the pressure surface during use. The pin is fixedly connected to the abutment block and is located upstream of the pressure surface with respect to the direction of advance of the main tape. The heat block is located at a distance from and in front of the abutment block, and the abutment block is connected to the fluid-operated cylinder so that it is in abutting engagement with the heat block. Can be exercised.

Conventional sensor devices are used to detect when the tape on the main reel is exhausted during use and when the far end of the tape exits the empty reel. With this detection, the sensor generates an enable signal to activate the fluid-operated piston, so that the abutment block is moved into engagement with the heat block. The heat block has a spring-loaded tape locking device. The locking device engages the locking pin of the abutment block upon actuation of the fluid-operated piston, thereby capturing the end portion of the main tape therebetween. At the same time, the spring-loaded portion of the heat block engages the pressure surface of the abutment block, thereby welding the proximal end of the main tape to the end of the spare tape. A knife device arranged below the tape locking device, ie upstream of the pressure surface in the direction of tape advancement, cuts the undesired remaining end of the main tape upstream of the weld thus formed.

[0007] Throughout the entire time required to carry out the joining operation, the tape is arranged downstream of the joining device, ie, between the joining device and the packaging machine, a series of conventional dancer rollers. Pulled from between. When the joining operation is completed, the fluid operated piston is retracted and the abutment block is moved away from the heat block. The undesired cut end portion of the main tape is released from its locked position between the pin and the tape locking device, and the joining portion of the tape is locked between its spring-loaded displaceable heat block and the pressure surface. Released from position. The pulling action exerted on the tape by the wrapping machine overcomes the vacuum holding force exerted on the plurality of small holes formed in the pressure surface, so that the tape is pulled from the new reel. The new reel can in fact last approximately one hour or more, depending obviously on its size, so that the packaging machine operator can load a new reel of tape into the machine at the most suitable time according to the work schedule.

The joint thus achieved constitutes a joint where the two tapes joined form an angle of 180 ° with respect to each other. This means that when a force is applied to the tape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the tape, only a linear force acts on the joint, and the lateral force that tends to tear the joint is Means no action on the part.

Although a joining device of the type described above is very advantageous in many respects, it is not without its drawbacks. In particular, it is structurally complex, has many moving parts and forces the presence of relatively expensive vacuum equipment and associated control mechanisms. Further, the small holes provided in the pressure surface are liable to be clogged with foreign matter, thereby impairing the proper holding of the proximal end of the spare tape and increasing the need for maintenance.

[0010] Other known tape joining devices have a heat block and an abutment block, usually spaced at regular intervals. In use, the tape is pulled out of the main reel and passes between the contact block and the heat block in the tape advancing direction. The reel-wrapped spare tape sent through a series of dancer rollers, in the direction opposite to the forward direction,
The tape is passed over the abutment block and the proximal end of the tape is secured in a clamp located on the abutment block surface remote from the thermal block. Heat block
A heat pressure surface, a knife device located upstream of the heat pressure surface with respect to the tape advance direction, and two spring push pins projecting from the surface of the heat block and retracting into seats formed in the heat block. And a pin to obtain. The heat block is mounted on a fluid-operated piston. A plurality of conventional sensor devices are used to detect when the tape on the main reel is exhausted during use and when the distal end of the tape exits the empty reel. In this state,
The sensor provides an enable signal to actuate the fluid-operated piston and the heat block is moved into abutment with the abutment block. The pins recede into their seats formed in the thermal block, and the thermal pressure surface engages the abutment block, partially trapping the main and spare tape therebetween. At the same time, the knife connected to the heat block enters the seat formed in the abutment block and removes the unnecessary ends of the spare tape and the main tape at a position upstream of the heat pressure surface in the tape advance direction. Cut them together. With the fluid-operated piston retracted, the heat block moves away from the abutment block, and the proximal end of the spare tape and the distal end of the main tape joined together are released.

[0011]

The latter type of joining device is very advantageous from many points of view, but it is not without its drawbacks. In particular, the joint obtained in this way is such that the joined tapes are at zero degree (0
Construct a joint to form the angle of ゜). This means that when a force is applied to the tape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the tape, a lateral force is exerted on the joint that exhibits a tendency to tear off the joint. If the tape joining fails, the packaging machine must be shut down while the new joining takes place,
Thus, production is lost.

Therefore, generally in the art,
There is a need to provide an automatic tape joining apparatus for liquid or flowable food packaging machines that can overcome the disadvantages encountered when using prior art joining apparatuses.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide a joining apparatus which allows joining such that the joined tapes make an angle of 180 degrees with each other. This is because when a force is applied to the tape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the tape, only a linear force acts on the joint and the lateral force that exerts a tendency to tear the joint is:
It means that it has no effect on the joint.

It is a further object of the present invention that it is structurally simpler than currently available joining devices, has only minimal moving parts, is reliable in operation, and requires very little maintenance. It is to provide a low joining device.

In addition, a further object of the present invention is to provide a joining device that is economically advantageous and simple to manufacture.

[0016]

In view of the above objects of the present invention and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter,
An automatic joining device for a longitudinal sealing tape in a liquid food or flowable food packaging machine, comprising a first and a second.
An abutment block and a heating block operable to abut one another to apply heat and pressure to overlap the first and second tapes at the welding surface so that portions of the thermoplastic tapes overlap each other. A cutter coupled to one of the blocks so as to be movable to a welding surface for cutting the first thermoplastic tape, and a latch mechanism for holding the second thermoplastic tape in place on the abutment block. An automatic joining apparatus is provided, further comprising release means coupled to the heating block to release the second thermoplastic tape from the latch mechanism upon movement of the cutter.

Some preferred embodiments of the joining device according to the invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0018]

1 to 4 illustrate an automatic joining device 1 for a longitudinal sealing tape for use in a liquid or fluid food packaging machine according to the invention. The joining device 1 has a contact block 15 and a heating block 16. The contact block 15 has a contact surface 17 facing the heating block 16 and a seat 18 formed on the contact surface 17. A spring-loaded latching mechanism 19 is connected to the stop block 15 or to a fixed part adjacent to the stop block 15 of the packaging machine. Latch mechanism 19
Are advantageously arranged to reduce the length of the free reserve tape relative to the completed splice.
In use, the spare tape 8 is passed across the abutment surface 17 and the proximal end of the spare tape 8 is passed under the latch mechanism.

The heating block 16 has a spring-pressed 2
Pins 21 and 22 are connected, and these pins 2
Reference numerals 1 and 22 project perpendicularly from the surface of the heating block 16 and extend toward the contact block 15. As shown in FIG. 3, the pins 21 and 22 each have a contact portion 23a.
And the pin head 2
4 is engaged with the contact portion 23 while maintaining the contact engagement relationship. A spring 25 biases the pin head 24 into abutting engagement with an abutment 23 a defined by the seat 23. Obviously, any other suitable means may be used to hold the retractable spring push pin within the heating block 16. Knife or cutter 27 is pin 2
Between 1 and 22, it is connected to a heating block 16 opposite a seat 18 formed in the abutment block 15.
A heating pressure member 28 having a pressure surface 29 is mounted on the heating block 16 proximate to the cutter 27. Heating pressure member 28 is heated by electrical resistance heater 30, but it will be apparent that any other suitable heating means may be used. Heating block 16 is 150 ° C
Preferably, it is heated to a temperature of between about 300 ° C and 230 ° C, and most preferably to a temperature on the order of 190 ° C.

According to the present invention, the latch mechanism 19 has a spring biasing arm 31 that supports a tape displacement pin 32. The spring biasing arm 31 is biased so that the tape displacement pin 32 holds the spare tape 8 in the receiving seat 18 formed in the contact block 15. A release member 40 is connected to the heating block 16 and has a leaf spring 41. The leaf spring 41 is formed so as to form a hook-like member 42 that can be displaced in the lateral direction so as to releasably engage with the tape displacement pin 32.

The joining device 1 is a plate bracket 3 in the following manner.
6 mounted. The contact block 15 is fixed to the plate bracket 36. The heating block 16 has a guide rod 37 fixedly connected thereto, and a support block 38 is connected to the plate bracket 36 to slidably receive the guide rod 37. Further, the heating block 16 is coupled to a shaft 39 of a piston 40 that is fluid operated. The piston 40 is preferably a compressed air piston and the pivot coupling means 40
a has an end journaled to a suitable support member at a position opposite the shaft 39.

The operation of the joining apparatus according to the present invention is as follows.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, there is shown a main tape 7 being pulled during operation by the wrapping machine in a forward direction indicated by arrow 6. The spare tape 8 is passed past the front of the abutment block 15 in the forward direction 6 and the proximal end 8a of the spare tape 8 is clamped under a spring-loaded latch mechanism 19. Will be recognized.

The operation of the compressed air piston 40 is enabled by a signal provided by a conventional sensor device that detects that the distal end of the main tape 7 is leaving the empty main tape reel. This starts the compressed air piston 40 and the shaft 39 is pushed out of the piston 40. Therefore, the shaft 39 connects the heating block 16 and the guide rod 37 with respect to the support block 38 in the contact block 1.
5 in the direction extending towards 5, ie in the direction of arrow 42. The recess of the contact block 15, that is, the seat 1
8, a tape displacement pin 32 for holding the spare tape 8 in
It is engaged by a hook-shaped member 42 constituted by a leaf spring 41. The spring-pressed pins 21, 22 abut against the main tape 7, whereby the abutment block 1
The main tape 7 and the spare tape 8 are locked together with respect to the contact surface 17.

In this position, the retractable spring-pressed pins 21, 22 are retracted into their respective seats 23, and the pressure surface 29 of the heating block 16 is
7 to thereby apply heat and pressure to the portion of the main tape 7 and the portion of the spare tape 8 captured between them, thus forming a welding surface which coincides with the abutment surface 17; That is, they are welded together in a plane containing the compressed and heated tapes 7,8. At the same time,
The cutter 27 enters the seat 18 and cuts the main tape 7. The spare tape 8 is displaced laterally away from the welding surface by the tape displacement pins 32 and is held away from the cutter 27.

The release of the newly joined tape reverses the movement of the fluid-operated piston 40, whereby the shaft 3
9 is retracted and the heating block 16 and the guide rod 37 are slid with respect to the support block 38 in the direction indicated by the arrow 43 to extend away from the abutment block. In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the tape displacement pin 32 is engaged with the hook-shaped member 42 to enable release of the joined tape.

Thereafter, the empty tape reel is replaced with a new tape reel in which the tape is fully wound, and the proximal end thereof is moved between the tape displacement member and the contact block in the forward direction defined by the joining tape. To pull on the contact block surface. The proximal end of the new tape is then held by the spring-loaded latch mechanism 19 and waits for the formation of a new joint.

The present invention as described above overcomes the disadvantages encountered when using prior art bonding equipment. Especially,
Since the abutment block 15 is configured such that the spare tape 8 extends on the abutment block 15 in the forward direction defined by the main tape 7, the joining device requires the joined tapes to be at 180 ° relative to each other. Form an angled joint. This means that when a force is applied to the tape in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extent of the tape, only linear forces will act on the joint, while any lateral forces that tend to tear the joint will act. Means not to get rid of.

Furthermore, the joining device according to the invention is structurally reliable in its operation, requires very little maintenance, is economically advantageous and is simple to manufacture.

[0030] The invention described above can be modified without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view of a joining apparatus according to the present invention, showing the joining apparatus in a non-operation state in which a prepared tape is waiting for joining.

2 is a top view of the bonding apparatus of FIG. 1, with the bonding apparatus during an operation for bonding two tapes together;
FIG. 6 is a view showing a release member that releases a second tape from a latch mechanism.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the joining apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the joining apparatus after performing the joining operation together with the tape newly joined during operation.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the release member arranged to move simultaneously with the cutting member to release the latch mechanism.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 joining device 7 main tape 8 spare tape 15 contact block 16 heating block 17 contact surface 18 seat 19 latch mechanism 21 pin 22 pin 27 cutter 28 heating pressure member 30 electric resistance heater 31 spring biasing arm 36 plate bracket 37 guide Rod 38 Support block 39 Shaft 40 Fluid operated piston 41 Leaf spring 42 Hook-shaped member

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An automatic joining apparatus for a longitudinal sealing tape in a liquid food or flowable food packaging machine, wherein said first and second thermoplastic tapes are partially overlapped with each other. An abutment block and a heating block that can move into abutting engagement with each other to apply heat and pressure to bond the two tapes together at the welding surface;
A cutter coupled to one of the blocks so as to be movable to the welding surface for cutting the first thermoplastic tape, and a cutter for holding the second thermoplastic tape in place on the abutment block. An automatic joining device, wherein the device comprises a release member coupled to the heating block to release the second thermoplastic tape from the latch mechanism upon movement of the cutter. . 2. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the contact block defines a seat for receiving at least a part of the latch mechanism and at least a part of the cutter. Automatic joining equipment. 3. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the contact block is a fixed block, and further moves the heating block toward the contact block in a longitudinal direction of the release member. An automatic joining device having a fluid-operated cylinder for movement in a substantially parallel direction. 4. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the release member is displaceable in a lateral direction with respect to a longitudinal extension direction. 5. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the latch mechanism can accommodate at least one thermoplastic tape to be joined in the recess for holding the thermoplastic tape in the recess formed in the contact block. An automatic joining device comprising: a pin; and the release member has at least one hook-shaped member for engaging the pin. 6. The automatic joining apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the seat formed on the contact block is located to face the cutter.