KR840002017B1 - Vaccum-packing apparatus for compressible commodities - Google Patents

Abstract

Appts. is for wrapping commodities, which may be compressible A commodity is conveyed along a fixed path, a pair of opposed langths of wrapping material and fed in an opposed relationship and in registry, the commodity is inserted between the opposed lengths of the wrapping material. A leading end is sealed to form an open-sided and open-trailing end envelop. The lateral sides of the wrapping material are then sealed, and a bag length is severed from the pair of lengths of wrapping material and sealed. Pref., the commodity is fed under compression in between the opposed lengths of wrapping material, maintained under compression while the wrapping material is side-sealed and is vacuum-packaged while also under compression.

Description

Compression vacuum packaging device for compressible goods

1 is a side view of the device of the present invention.

2 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG.

3 is a side view of the side seal of the device of the present invention.

4 is a cross-sectional view of the device of FIG.

5 is a plan view of the device of FIGS. 3 and 4;

6 is a side view of the vacuum seal device.

7 is a plan view of the device of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view of the vacuum packaging and sealing device shown along the line 8-8 of FIG.

9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 8 showing the vacuum packaging device in more detail.

10 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a packaging material advancement device used in the apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 11 is a partial detailed view of the forward device shown in FIG.

12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the 12-12 line of FIG.

13A-F are schematic diagrams showing the operating state of the device of the present invention in several stages.

14 is a schematic view of a sealing and cutting device.

15 is a cross-sectional view taken along the 15-15 line of FIG.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for packaging a product, and more particularly, to an apparatus for compressing and vacuum packing a compressible product.

Packaging of goods is essential in the manufacture and distribution of goods between the place of manufacture and the place of sale, or in some cases between the places of use. The handling cost as well as the transportation cost increases and decreases according to the weight of the product as well as the volume of space occupied by the product, so the concept of reducing the volume or volume of such a product for the purpose of transportation and handling is large. It has been recognized that costs can be reduced. Conventionally, various proposals have been made to reduce the volume of bulky goods. For example, US Pat. No. 3,511,012 describes that it is desirable to reduce the volume of bulky goods for transportation. However, while bulky products, such as insulating materials such as fiberglass cushions, can theoretically be reduced to much less than their initial volume after manufacture, such products have a volume reduction ratio compared to their original thickness. This is packed with relatively little compression.

The present invention provides an apparatus for compressing and vacuum-packing a compressible product which can solve the handling and transportation problem by compressing the product into a portion smaller than its original size.

In more detail, the device according to an embodiment of the present invention is a device for supplying a flexible packaging material of a predetermined length, the packaging material of a predetermined length by advancing the goods along a fixed passage

In more detail, the device for supplying a flexible packaging material of a predetermined length is preferably composed of a device for supplying a pair of opposing predetermined length packaging materials in a mating relationship as a whole. It is preferable to use a thermoplastic material such as airtight and heat sealable, such as polyethylene or its copolymer, polypropylene or its copolymer, resinous polyolefin, and the like.

A pair of opposing predetermined lengths of packaging material is preferably supplied from one continuous roll, and the opposing predetermined lengths are matched to each other at regular intervals to allow the supply of goods between opposing layers of the packaging material. Are supplied together. Prior to supplying the goods between the layers of opposing packaging material, the opposing layers may be sealed together at the leading end in the direction in which the goods run, to form a sealed tip. For example, a suitable device such as a heat seal device may be used.

Conveyors or movable belts may be used as suitable devices to transport goods along fixed guideways. The compressible product may be subjected to a compression step with a compression device upon supply to the packaging location. For example, by placing a pair of opposed conveyor belts converged to receive the desired degree of compression on the goods, and when compressed, the forwarding device of the goods

The product is then inserted between the opposing layers of packaging material, and when the product is advanced to the side seal, the product is compressed, the advancing device preferably comprising a device for holding the product in a compressed state while sealing the side edge. In a preferred embodiment, there is a device for engaging the sealed tip of the packaging material and advancing it in relation to the advancing device to engage or operate the article with the side sealing device. Such a device is preferably composed of a flexible gripping opening that engages an inner surface between a pair of packaging material layers and adjusts it to a sealed position and advances it. Such a gripper can reciprocate to advance the bag of a certain length in relation to the sealing operation and then to its original position to allow subsequent engagement of the other sealed tip.

In the side seal operation, the packaging material is in the sealed position. The sealing device may be of any suitable type and is preferably operated in connection with the device for cutting the length of the pavement. Therefore, the device for cutting the length of the package is preferably placed between the compression device and the sealing device, where the goods of the predetermined length are moved to the cutting position when the goods are moved to the sealing position. At the same time, it is desirable to install a device that seals the width of the packaging material to form a tip seal for the next operation. They are located below the cutting device, so that the cutting / sealing operation forms a packing stand for the goods first placed between the opposing layers of the packaging material and a sealed packing stand for the packaging into which the goods are to be inserted thereafter.

In a preferred variant of the sealing device, control of the goods between the opposing layers of packaging material

After completion of sealing of the free side edges of the packaging material, a packing stand having a sealed leading end and an open rear end (after cutting of the packing stand) is obtained. It is then desirable to provide an apparatus for advancing the product to the final sealing position to seal the open rear end of the package, preferably a vacuum packaging and sealing device operating in relation to each other. The vacuum packaging apparatus has a fixed surface and a movable surface opposite thereto, and a vacuum chamber is formed between the two surfaces or alternatively in a housing which surrounds these two surfaces. In the latter example, the sealing device is preferably installed in a vacuum chamber, which is provided with a device for advancing the product from the side sealing operation position to the vacuum chamber and discharging the packaged product from the vacuum chamber. In a preferred embodiment, a device is provided for engaging and separating at least one of the surfaces from the other surface, which device can operate to engage the non-fixed surface with the fixed surface.

The non-fixed surface is preferably a flexible hermetic film of suitable rubber or thermoplastic material, which is flexible and compresses and discharges air from the package containing the product when a vacuum is created between the opposing surfaces. It is sized to be in contact so that the product is packaged under vacuum. Appropriate devices for vacuum generation may be provided.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the device may have a modified sealing device, the "" "" "" "" "

Such a variant includes a sealing device for sealing the open rear end instead of the side sealing device as described above.

Another variant of the invention includes a device in which a pair of thermoplastic sheet materials continuous in length or a "C" or "U" shaped film in continuous length can be used, which may be used to The goods are fed from the side to the "C" film so that the goods or goods can be spaced from each other as needed. In such a device, the "U" type film is "" for the goods when supplied in the sealed position.

Sealing of the open side in the vacuum packaging process can be performed as described above. Other suitable feeders for supplying the goods to the "U" or "C" film can be used, such devices comprising a conveyor for supplying goods between the separated film layers in the forward passage of the "C" film. The same device may be included.

It has been found that the device of the present invention described in detail below with the accompanying drawings and examples is very useful for packaging goods under compression. Insulating materials, such as fiberglass batts and cushions, can be compressed to be part of their original volume.

Various components of the device of the present invention can be operated in a time-dependent manner. Thus, for example, one product can be supplied between a pair of layers of packaging material of a predetermined length, while already inserted products can be side-sealed a predetermined length of the packaging material, while other products can be subjected to vacuum packaging operations. have. Thus, a suitable control device for operating the device of the present invention in chronological order can be installed.

Referring to the present invention in more detail by the drawings as follows.

13 shows a compression and goods supply device 10, a side seal and seal device 12 and a vacuum packaging and seal device 14. The supply device 10 for packaging materials and goods is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and has a frame member F. As shown in FIG. [All frame members are marked with reference F]. A pair of rolls of suitable packaging material (20) (22)

Guide rollers 32 and 34, which are arranged on shafts 36 and 38, between opposing frame members, are arranged to provide a path of movement of the web W from a source to a pavement forming position. As shown in FIG. 1, at the bottom of the device, an idler and a tensioning arm 40 supported by an arm 42 extending from the frame F are installed and the web W ) Passes through contact with this tension arm (40). A web W released from the upper roll 22 of the packaging material passes over a guide roller 46 built on the shaft 48 between the opposing frame members and connected by a rotatable arm 50. An idling arm 52 is provided in the moving passage of the web W, which is moved out of the guide roller 46. The web W then passes over another guide roller 58 mounted on a shaft 60 rotatably installed between a pair of opposed frame members.

The driving device for advancing the upper and lower webs W is mounted on the shaft 66 as a pair of driving rollers 62 and 64, and at least one of the driving rollers 62 and 64 is connected to the shaft 72. It is driven by a motor 68 connected to the gear box 70 through.

The output shaft of the gearbox 70 includes a drive shaft 74 carrying a sprocket 76, and the sprocket has another sprocket connected to one or both shafts 66 of the drive rollers 64 and 62. The drive chain 78 which rotates around the 80 is connected. On the shaft (66)

The supply passages of the two webs are formed by opposing rotation rollers 90 and 92 at a pair of regular intervals, and the rotation rollers 90 and 92 are installed between the opposing frame members F of the apparatus. Connected to the shaft 94. As shown in FIG. 1, two webs of packaging material are fed between rollers 90 and 92 which are spaced at regular intervals to form a plurality of guide rollers and "entrances."

The apparatus has a compression section having frame members 100, 102 extending upwardly at a pair of constant intervals connected to the frame member F. These frame members 100 and 102 support the upper shaft movable belt 106 which rotates in series. The movable belt 106 rotates between a pair of spaced rollers 108 and 110, respectively arranged on the shaft 112. The roller 108 is installed higher than the roller 110, so that the movable belt 106 checks the angle toward the discharge end in the frame member 102 adjacent to the inlet M formed between the web (W). Form to shrink.

The lower goods advancing device operating in relation to the movable valve 106 is formed on the shaft 122 at the front end roller 116 built on the shaft 118 and on the opposite end (discharge end) adjacent to the inlet M. The other roller 120 located below the roller 110 is provided. The continuous belt 124 extends between the rollers 116 and 120. The drive device of the upper and lower rotatable belt is a motor 130 connected to the gearbox 134 by the drive shaft 132

In this way, the upper and lower belts are rotated at the same time and the product C placed on the belt 124 is advanced to engage with the movable belt 106 to compress the product as the product advances toward the inlet M of the discharge end. .

1, 2 and 10 show that a pair of "U" shaped guideways 150 are provided on both sides of the belts 106 and 124, and the guideways 150 are brackets. It is fixed to the frame member F by 152. Each guide path 150 is provided with an elongated movable member 154 to be reciprocated. The movable member 154 has, at its protruding end, a grip portion 156 which is recessed with this as described later with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. Movable member 154 is to be reciprocated in the guideway 150, the movement is made by a motor 158 for driving the shaft 160 and the shaft 160 is connected to the gearbox 162 It is. The output shaft 164 of the gearbox carries the sprocket 166, and a chain drive belt 168 is provided around the sprocket 166. The chain drive belt is connected to the sprocket 170 mounted on the shaft 172, which is supported between the frame members (F). The shaft 172 carries a pair of different sprockets 174 on each shaft, the chain 176 is connected to the sprocket 174, the chain 176 is different

As shown in FIG. 11, the gripping portion 156 is rotatably connected to the movable member 154 on the shaft 192. The gripping portion 156 is provided at a position biased to the movable member 154 so that the gripping portion 156 is horizontally cleaned with the movable member 154. For this purpose, the gripping portion 156 includes a pin or bolt 194 for fixing one side and a portion of the spring 196, and an opposite end of the spring 196 is gripped to the movable member 154. It is firmly fixed to the shaft 192 connecting the.

Pavement forming, side sealing and advancing device 12 are shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 14 and 15. The device 12 includes guide rollers 204, 206 and 208 that form a guide path in which the belt rotates. The rollers 204, 206 and 208 are provided on suitable shafts extending between opposing frame members. It is possible to install another roller 210 for forming a tension roller for each upper and lower belt device (see FIG. 5). The roller 210 is installed on the shaft 212, which is supported by an adjusting block 214 attached to the frame member. And by this adjusting block 214

According to an additional feature of the invention, the support of the belt 200 can vary its width, for which the device comprises a mechanism as shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. The spaced plurality of rods 250 fixed to the frame member 252 are adapted to operate in conjunction with another frame member 254 having a plurality of holes sized to accommodate the rod 250. have. As shown in FIG. 5, the rod 250 preferably extends over the full width of the belt 200 and, if necessary, can be adjusted to allow a larger article to be processed in the apparatus 12. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper and lower sides of the device include a rod 250 to provide an extension for the upper and lower belts. The frame member 252 is movable by the screw mechanism 256 installed in the frame member F, and can be manually rotated by the handle 258. Opposite end of the screw mechanism 256 is connected to the frame member 260, the screw 262 is screwed with the support plate 264, the support plate 264 is the screw mechanism (256) as the screw mechanism 256 is rotated ( Transverse along the screw axis of 256)

The device 12 consists of a sealing device 280 having a sealing head disposed at a predetermined interval, each of which is installed on a plate 282, each plate 282 being connected to an air piston assembly 286. It is mounted on the connected piston shaft 284.

A pair of sealing heads shown on the left side of FIG. 4 is indicated by reference numeral 290 as a pair of adjustable sealing heads, each of which is installed by a pair of piston rods 292 mounted at a fixed interval. The piston rod is operated by the air cylinder 294. The air cylinder 294 is attached to the support plate 264 by the bracket 296. In this way, the sealing head can be adjusted in different widths by the movements so far known.

Apparatus 12, operating in conjunction with apparatus 10, seals and cuts the device to seal the pair of web W ends and to cut the sealed web prior to advancing the web to apparatus 12. It is included. To this end, a pair of sealing heads 300 are provided at fixed intervals, each of which is secured to a frame member 302 extending transversely across the web W. The frame member 302 is connected to the vertical guide rod 306 by a bushing 304, the guide rod 306 being secured by another bushing 308 in the middle thereof. Movement of the frame member 302, that is, movement of the sealing head, is made by the air cylinder 310 to which the piston rod 312 is connected, and the piston rod is pressurized as shown in FIG.

The cutting device (FIGS. 4, 14 and 15) preferably consists of a device referred to in the art as an "orega" device, in which an air duct with a slit 322 is formed. The hoop 320 is mounted by a suitable bracket connected to the lower frame member 302 of the seal head. The piston member 324 is built in the inner portion of the air tube 320, and the cutting device 326 is protruded through the slits 322. The piston member 324 can freely slide between opposite ends in the air tube 320. An apparatus is provided for cutting the web by selectively introducing pressurized air at each end of the tub (not shown) to drive the piston longitudinally in the tub.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the device 12 can be modified such that the belts 200 and 202 operate in conjunction with a compression device opposing the precompression device 10. For this purpose, a compression plate can be installed on the upper surface of the lower surface of the belt 200 (that is, within the area defined by the belt 200) to compress the belt 200 downward and to compress the goods in the packaging film. have. Furthermore, such a compression plate may be, for example, a rectangular free floating plate, whose width matches the width of the product in contact with the belts 200 and 202 as much as possible. When the compression plate is operated by proper fixing, the product is compressed between the belts 200 and 202 because the compression plate is brought into contact with the upper surface of the belt 200 at the point where the belt 200 comes into contact with the goods. Alternatively, the compression plate may be secured to an axis on the side adjacent to the roller 208 and the inlet of the device 12

As already explained, a "C" film, which is in fact a "U" shaped film, can be used for the packaging of goods, in which case the device 12 does not have to be used with any of the side seals, because "C" This is because the film does not need sealing along the side of one side. The " C " film can be supplied by sealing the leading end, and within the sealing device 12, the trailing end can be sealed to form a package before, during or after insertion of the product into the " C " film. The packaged goods are then supplied to a vacuum packaging position under compression and

In another embodiment described above, the preliminary compression process does not have to be used when the goods do not need to be precompressed, and the bottom of the device for supplying the goods shown in FIG. It may be provided on the side with respect to the sealing device so that goods can be inserted into the sealing device between the "C" film layers.

Moreover, in another variant of the invention, an apparatus as described above is used but a continuous pair of layered films or "C" films as described above are fed continuously or endlessly through several apparatuses. Thus, in general, instead of using a cutting device for cutting into individual packages as described above, the packages can seal between the leading or trailing ends of the packaging material and then perforate between adjacent commodities in the film layer. The individual packages are then diagnosed via the sealing device 12 and the vacuum packaging device described below. The perforations can then be used to separate one package from another package after vacuum packaging or when the end consumer wants to separate one product from the series of goods. In addition, the perforated portion can be adopted even when the shaft is sealed by installing a suitable punching device such as a hot needle, so that the excess packaging material can be easily removed as necessary.

The vacuum packaging and sealing device is shown in detail in FIGS. 6-9, and has a movable belt for conveying goods conveyed from the device 12 between a pair of opposed webs. The belt is indicated by reference numeral 400 and guides the belt around and below the upper guide roller 402, the lower guide roller 404 and the sealing head described below.

One side of the side wall 432 communicates with the vacuum chamber 446 through the through hole 444, and the vacuum chamber 446 is connected to the vacuum pump 450 by a conduit 452.

The housing 430 is adapted to be moved vertically from an upward position to a closed position. For this purpose, a housing 430 is provided on the shaft 460 by a bushing 464. Each end of the shaft 460 is fixed to the support member 466, the support member 466 is fixed to the frame member (F) so that the housing 430 is free to slide up and down on the shaft 460

As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, there is a sealing device for sealing the rear end of the packaged goods accommodated in the device 14. For this purpose, a pair of sealing heads 480 and 482 spaced apart from each other is provided. The lower one is fixed to the frame member, and the upper one is movable. As can be seen from FIG. 8, the lower sealing head is installed between the opposite portions of the belt 400, which form part of the vacuum chamber at the point extending downward as shown in FIG. It is. The upper sealing head 482 is movable and is configured to engage the lower sealing head 480 by a pair of piston devices 484, and is connected by a piston rod 486.

The structure of the seal head is shown in more detail in FIG. The sealing head has a supporting member 500 formed of a suitable material. The elastic support member 502 is partially embedded in the support member 500, and the wire mesh layer 504 surrounding the elastic support member 502 is covered thereon. The wire mesh acts as a heat radiating member and is covered with a support layer 506 of a suitable material. The heating member 508 is provided on the support layer 506 above the elastic support member 502 and wrapped with a design material of a suitable material as indicated by reference numeral 510. Layers of various materials may be secured to the support member 500 with a suitable tape 512 or the like.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 13A-13F as follows. First, in FIG. 13A, the goods C are supplied on the belt 124 for processing.

At the start of operation, the grip 156 is interposed between the pair of webs W to engage the seal 540. In relation to the advancement of the discharged goods C through the discharge end of the belts 106 and 124, the movable member 154, the device operates to move forward with the gripping portion 156, thus providing a sealed web. Advances between the belts 200 and 202 of (12). These belts then control the goods in a partially formed packaging. As shown in FIG. 13B, the goods are advanced into the device 12, and the product advances under the control of the belts 200, 202 of the device 12. The gripping portion 156 is moved from the engagement by the reverse movement of the movable member 154 and from the adjustment of the partially packaged product so that the gripping portion, which is biased forward, drops away from the product and returns to the initial position to continue the next operation. At this time, the side seal devices 280 and 290 are operated to seal the side portions of the web to form the side-sealed pavement, which is shown well in FIG. 13C, and the side seals are indicated by reference numeral 542. .

Thereafter, the sealing member 300 is operated to form another sealing portion 540 'for the next operation, and at the same time the web is cut from the front (the direction of the web's running) (see also FIG. 13d).

After sealing and cutting operation, the cut packing table into which the goods are inserted as shown in FIG.

The flexible membrane then comes into contact with the packaged product, which is further compressed at the same time and air is removed from the package. A final seal is then made between the seal heads 480 and 482 as shown in FIG. 13F.

The devices, indicated by reference numerals 10, 12 and 14, seal the other side in the device 12 while keeping the goods supplied through the device 10 in contact with the web W of packaging material. And another product may be intermittently operated to be vacuum packed in the device 14. As such, each device may be operated in a timely manner by a suitable control device that controls the operation of these three devices.

Various modifications may be made to the above embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention may be used in connection with a manufacturing operation such that goods manufactured from other operations, such as manufacturing operations, are automatically supplied and packaged in the apparatus of the present invention. In some cases it is not necessary to compress or vacuum pack the goods, but this is very desirable for most products, for example insulation products and garments.

Claims (1)

In an apparatus for wrapping a product between two layers of packaging material, a packaging material supply roller (20) (22) consisting of a pair of web (W) is provided, and the web (W) is adjacent to its guide roller (32) ( When the guide rollers are connected to the drive rollers 62 and 64 to advance through the 34, 46 and 58, the goods C are discharged between the webs W by the belt 124 and the webs W A part of the passage located together with) is provided with a sealing device (280, 290) for sealing the separated portion of the web (W) overlapping the passage, and the cutting device for separating the rear end of the web (W) 326 is disposed on the frame member 302, and the housing 430 for receiving the packaged goods and the upper and lower sealing heads 482 and 480 for sealing the remaining unsealed portion of the web W are installed. Compressed vacuum packaging device for compressible goods characterized in that.

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