Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
  • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
  • B65B31/025—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers
  • B65B31/028—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas specially adapted for rigid or semi-rigid containers closed by a lid sealed to the upper rim of the container, e.g. tray-like container
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
  • B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers
  • B65B7/2878—Securing closures on containers by heat-sealing
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
  • B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
  • B65B7/2807—Feeding closures

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method and to a device for the sealing of a container in accordance with the preambles of the independent claims 1 and 10.
• the foil gets warm it will curl so that if on the foil, e.g., the layer with the greatest coefficient of linear expansion faces the container opening, the circumferential outer edge of the foil will be raised, whereas on opposite placing of the layer the outer edge is displaced downwards.
• the sealing of the container takes place while an outer sealing means, in leakproof manner, delimits a space which accomodates the edge zone and the storage space of the container, the space being evacuated and, whilst maintaining a vacuum, the edge zone of the wafer being fixed in leakproof manner to the joining means.
• the invention also comprises embodiments where for the formation of the joint between the wafer and the actual joining means, a fixing agent (bonding layer) is applied to the underside of the wafer. exclusively to the bonding surface of the opening part or to the underside of the wafer as well as to the bonding surface of the opening part. It is obvious that in certain applications such an agent is applied exclusively to the bonding surface of the opening part. It is obvious that in certain appliations the agent is coated exclusively onto the underside of the outer edge zone of the wafer.
• a fixing agent bonding layer
• Fig. 1 shows a section through a wafer
• Figs 2-4 are axial sectional views of a device for the sealing of a container showing successive sealing stages
• Fig. 5 shows the retaining means of the device seen from below.
• the wafer comprises two layers 24, 25.
• the upper side of the wafer has the reference number 23 and its underside the reference number 22.
• the wafer 20 is defined by an outer edge zone 21 closed in the peripheral direction of the wafer, as a rule adjoining the edge or edges of the wafer.
• the upper layer consists of a metallic material, e.g. aluminium, and the lower layer of a plastic material.
• the lower layer in turn is coated with an adhesive layer 26, e.g.
• a glue layer is included in addition to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the invention is applicable to wafers made up of layers which deviate as to number and type from what has been specified above. In certain embodiments are included, e.g. layers exclusively of metal foils or exclusively of plastic material whilst. as a rule, at least one layer of barrier material is also included.
• Figs. 2-4 is to be found a container 10 with a sealed bottom part 28, a container wall 11 and an opening part 13. The opening part is provided with joining means 14, 16 to cooperate with outer sealing means 40 - described further below - and/or with fixing means 50 by which the wafer is fixed to the opening part of the container.
• the joining means in the embodiment of the container shown are in the form of an upper flange 14 and a shoulder 16 arranged underneath it. Reference numbers 15 and 17 respectively relate to an upper boundary surface on the flange and on the shoulder respectively.
• the container has a storage space 13 which in the figures is shown as filled with goods 19.
• the opening part 13 of the container rests on a supporting means 29 which sustains the container in connection with it being sealed.
• the wafer 20 is held (see e.g. Fig. 2) by a retaining means 30 shown in an embodiment with a lower part 34 and an upper part 36 and with an insulation 35 present between these two parts.
• ducts 33 for adjustment of the temperature.
• the lower part has a lower surface 32 which constitutes the contact surface for the wafer.
• the retaining means is provided with a duct 31 which is connected to a first source of vacuum 71 via a. generally, flexible pipeline 31a.
• the duct is finished off by one or more openings 31c (see Fig. 5) which are located in the contact surface 32 of the retaining means and which as a rule are placed centrally.
• the upper part 36 of the retaining means is connected to a first guiding and transfer means 37 which is provided with one or more projections 38 directed away from the centre having a striking surface 39 facing downwards in the figure.
• An outer sealing means 40 has a contact part 41 intended to be moved to and from a position wherein, according to the embodiment shown, the contact part rests with a sealing surface 49 against the opening part 13 and, in particular, against the upper boundary surface 15 of the flange 14 of the opening part.
• the pressing surface 49 of the outer sealing means 40 is adapted to the shape and structure of the opening part 13 in the region where the pressing surface cooperates with the opening part, e.g. adapted to the upper boundary surface 15 of the flange so that, on resting against the same in a substantially leakproof manner, it permits means 40 to form a delimited closed space 70, hereinafter referred to also as first space 70 (see Fig. 3), which accomodates the retaining means 30, the wafer 20 and also the storage space 18 of the container.
• the sealing means 40 has an upper part 47, hereinafter as a rule referred to as a coupling plate 47, for the connection of the sealing means to a top plate 60.
• a coupling plate 47 for the connection of the sealing means to a top plate 60.
• spring mountings 61 and 48 respectively are provided which cooperate with springs 62 adapted to transfer the movement of the top plate to the coupling plate.
• the top plate is connected by a coupling means 51 via one or more coupling bolts 63 to a fixing means 50, finished off by a pressing surface 56, which in the figure is directed downwards, that is to say towards the edge zone 21 of the wafer.
• the coupling bolts and the coupling means thus constitute the means of connection and transfer for the cooperation of the top plate with the fixing means 50.
• the fixing means is provided with heating means 52 which may be constituted e.g. of electric heating wires or ducts for a heating medium.
• An insulation 53 prevents heat transfer between the fixing means and the coupling means 51.
• the coupling means 51 is provided with one or more projections 54, directed towards the centre of the device with a striking surface 55, directed upwards in the figure, intended to cooperate with the striking surface 39 of the projections 38 of the first guiding and transfer means 37.
• a passage is formed, shown in the figures in an embodiment where it contitutes a gap 42, this passage connecting via a duct 43 and a, gererally flexible, pipeline 43a connected thereto, the space 70 enclosed by the sealing means 40 to a second source of vacuum 72.
• a corresponding passage to the second source of vacuum 72 is obtained in that the duct 43 opens out in a region close to the fixing means 50, that is to say in a region close to the opening part of the container, whereas in other embodiments the fixing means and/or its coupling means 51 are provided with passages which connect the space 70 to the duct 43 and/or the source of vacuum.
• the coupling plate 47 of the outer delimiting means 40 is provided with bearings 46 for bearing sleeves 45 which enclose the connecting bolts 63.
• the bearing sleeves are displaceable in the bearings 48.
• Seals 44 preferably designed as O-rings, are provided in the bearings 46 so as to prevent a passage of gas into the space 70 which is delimited by the sealing means 40 when it rests against the opening part 13 of the container.
• the device in accordance with the invention also includes a lower delimiting means 80 which is joined in a leakproof manner to the supporting means 29 so as to form a second closed space 82 which is delimited by the lower delimiting means and by the supporting means 29.
• a lower delimiting means 80 which is joined in a leakproof manner to the supporting means 29 so as to form a second closed space 82 which is delimited by the lower delimiting means and by the supporting means 29.
• the lower delimiting means is provided with a passage 84 which via a connection 84a, e.g. a, generally flexible, pipe or a duct, connects to a third source of vacuum 73.
• a connection 84a e.g. a, generally flexible, pipe or a duct
• the lower delimiting means is adapted so as to be movable in relation to the supporting means 29 in order to make it possible to displace the supporting means and the delimiting means from one another in conjunction with the conveying of the container to and from the sealing station. In this manner an improved accessibility is also obtained to the region underneath the container 10 when it rests against the supporting means 29.
• Valve elements 74a-c are provided in the conduits 31a, 43a, 84a to the sources of vacuum 71,72,73.
• control means not shown in the figures, an individually controlled opening or closing of the connections between the sources of vacuum and the ducts 31,43 and 34 respectively by means of the valve elements is made possible.
• one single source of vacuum common to all ducts is used or, as an alternative, the sources of vacuum are joined to one another by means of a conduit 75 indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 5 is shown in detail an example of an embodiment of the contact surface 32 of the retaining means.
• the surface is provided with grooves 31b which are connected to the opening 31c of the vacuum duct 31. These grooves are distributed over the contact surface 32 inside a closed boundary zone 32a located in the circumferential direction of the contact surface.
• the grooves When the wafer rests against the contact surface, the grooves, owing to the connection of the grooves to the source of vacuum, form vacuum ducts which hold the wafer tightly on the retaining means 30.
• Fig. 2 shows the wafer 20 resting against the retaining means 30 owing to the partial vacuum prevailing in the grooves 31b of the contact surface.
• the wafer 20 has been placed in a position directly above the opening part 15 of the container 10.
• the wafer is kept at the desired temperature, as a rule a low temperature, by a medium, which generally for the cooling of the lower part
• the top plate 60 By driving means, not shown in the figures, the top plate 60 is moved downwards in the direction towards the container 10 (see Fig. 3), the retaining means 30 moving the wafer 2 until it rests against the shoulder 16 of the opening part.
• the outer sealing means 40 and the fixing means 50 with its coupling means 51 also follow the downward movement.
• the sealing means in fact is moved down to rest against the opening part 13 and, in the embodiment shown, to rest against the upper boundary surface 15 of the flange 14.
• the first space 79 which is now delimited by the sealing means 40 is connected thereafter to the second source of vacuum 72 by means of the duct 42. As a result a vacuum is created in the whole of the enclosed region which also includes the storage space 18 of the container.
• the vacuum entails that air and/or other gases, which are present underneath the wafer 20, are sucked out from the space underneath it and pass between the edge zone 21 of the wafer and the opening part 13, as a rule the upper boundary surface 17 of the shoulder.
• the pressure in the first space 70 is adjusted as a rule to a value which is higher than the pressure which prevails in the grooves 31b of the retaining means 30. thus ensuring that the wafer is not detached from the retaining means.
• a reduction of the pressure generally takes place also in the second (lower) space 82 at the same time as the pressure in the first space 79 above the contents is reduced. It is obvious that this simultaneous reduction of pressure is achieved through opening of the valves 74b, 74c in the pipeline or pipelines connected to the source of vacuum. The reduction of pressure in the lower space 92 is performed, when there is a danger that the pressure difference across the container wall might cause a deformation of the container.
• the top plate 60 thereafter is moved by its driving means further downwards towards the container 10 (see Fig. 4). Since the sealing means 40 already rests against the flange 14, the bolts 22 and the bearing sleeves 45 are displaced in the bearings 46, with simultaneous compression of the spring 62. In the course of this the fixing means 50 is moved to rest against the edge zone 21 of the wafer and the latter is pressed by the pressing surface 56 of the fixing means against the shoulder 16.
• the width of the edge zone 21 of the wafer is adapted to the rise in temperature occurring in the wafer material end the characteristics of the wafer material, so as to prevent the movement (curling) upwards or downwards of the edge region from becoming so great that the correct contact of the edge region with the shoulder 12 might be jeopardized.
• the fixing means is adjusted by the heating means 52, e.g. ducts or electric heating wires, to a predetermined temperature adapted to the type of joint by means of which the wafer is to he attached to the container 13.
• the top plate, and so the fixing means, are maintained in their lower position for a sufficiently long period to allow the joint or joints 12 to be formed and the wafer be fixed to the container e.g. through the supply of the required amount of energy to the connecting region.
• the connection to the respective source of vacuum is cut off end the driving means for the top plate moves the latter in the direction away from the container (upwards in the figure).
• the movement takes place in that the connection of the driving means to the top plate is interrupted and the springs 62 move the top plate to the position shown in Fig. 3.
• the driving means the top plate thereafter is moved to the position shown in Fig.
• the retaining means 30 has been shown in Fig. 5 in an embodument where it has a mainly circular cross-section. It will be obvious to those versed in the art that the invention is applicable to any arbitrary cross-section, end thus also to polygonal ones.
• the flexibility in the wafer material makes it possible, in this embodiment of the invention too, for the air and/or other gas to be sucked out from the region existing underneath the wafer 2 .
• the free space between the goods (the liquid) and the wafer should be as small as possible.
• the heat effect of the goods upon the wafer is very strong. In such applications there is a risk of an undesirable curling taking place in the edge zone.
• the wafer is ultrasonically welded to the opening part of the container by means of a sonotrode which, constitutes the fixing means 50 and which supplies the required energy to the fixing region in order to form joints 12.
• a sonotrode which, constitutes the fixing means 50 and which supplies the required energy to the fixing region in order to form joints 12.
• the fixing means 53 is adapted so that on sealing of the container it attaches the wafer by providing more than one joint 12.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
• Container, Conveyance, Adherence, Positioning, Of Wafer (AREA)
• Closing Of Containers (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Lining Or Joining Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=20369918

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (35)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (15)

• 1987
  • 1987-10-15 SE SE8704048A patent/SE467619B/sv not_active Application Discontinuation
• 1988
  • 1988-10-14 US US07/378,196 patent/US4982555A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1988-10-14 KR KR1019890701080A patent/KR890701421A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1988-10-14 WO PCT/SE1988/000538 patent/WO1989003344A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1988-10-14 EP EP88909234A patent/EP0421995A1/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 1988-10-14 JP JP63508463A patent/JPH02501653A/ja active Pending
• 1989
  • 1989-06-09 FI FI892845A patent/FI86980C/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1989-06-14 DK DK290889A patent/DK290889A/da not_active Application Discontinuation

Patent Citations (2)

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