JPS6229285B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a sealing method and a sealing machine, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a sealing method and a sealing machine. When sealing is carried out by adhering a sheet-like film covering a tray, the sheet-like film is pressed against the adhesive surface of the edge of the tray by the pressing force of an elastic brush, etc., following the shape of the adhesive surface. The present invention relates to a sealing method and a sealing machine that can ensure reliable sealing.

When packaging meat, vegetables, mushrooms, etc., it is common practice to load them into a tray-shaped packaging container and seal the container by gluing a sheet-shaped film with adhesive applied to the rim of the tray. .

As a sealing machine that automatically performs this sealing,
As shown in Figure 1, using the suction power of the vacuum,
There is a method in which a sheet-like film is pressed against an adhesive surface (Utility Model Publication No. 49521/1983).

In other words, the outer wall surface of the tray 1 and the sheet film 2
The sheet film 2 is pressed against the adhesive surface by creating a negative pressure between the two and the suction holes 3.

However, devices that use negative pressure like this
Since no negative pressure is applied once the sheet-like film 2 contacts the adhesive surface, there is a problem in that the adhesion cannot be performed reliably due to insufficient pressing force, and complete seal packaging cannot be achieved. Furthermore, since it is difficult to apply negative pressure evenly to the outer periphery of the tray, there is also the problem that the adhesive force varies at various locations on the outer periphery of the tray. For this reason, conventionally, after sealing, the sheet-like film 2 had to be pressed again with a finger or the like to adhere, making the work cumbersome and inefficient.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional difficulties, and its purpose is to provide a sealing method and a sealing machine capable of sealing reliably and efficiently. In the sealing method, a tray coated with an adhesive is used, and a sheet-like film covering the opening of the tray filled with contents is adhered and sealed using the adhesive. A seal-like film is stretched with at least both sides supported by members, and tension is applied to the sheet-like film by pressing the opening edge of the tray filled with the contents onto the sheet-like film, and applying the tension. In this state, at least both sides of the tray are simultaneously pressed from the outside with a brush frame or an elastic member such as a sponge on the area corresponding to the adhesive on the outer periphery of the mouth edge of the sheet film tray to apply the adhesive to all of the areas. This is where it is glued to the outer periphery of the tray mouth. In addition, in a sealing machine that uses a tray coated with an adhesive on the outer periphery of the mouth, and uses the adhesive to adhere and seal a sheet-like film that covers the opening of the tray filled with contents, the tray is sealed. a tray holder that has a concave surface shaped like a lower part and holds the tray with at least its adhesive surface exposed; On the opposite side, a large number of elastic fibrous materials are arranged in multiple stages at appropriate intervals and are densely flocked inward over the entire circumference of the inner wall, and the shape of the space surrounded by the fibrous materials is The brush frame group is set to be smaller than the external shape of the mouth edge of the tray, and at least the adhesive surface of the tray held in the tray holder fits into the furthest brush frame of the brush frame group. The brush frame group and the tray holder are moved relative to each other in order to press and seal the sandwiched sheet-like film against the adhesive surface by the elastic force of the fibrous material of the brush frame group. The brush frame includes a contact/separate mechanism for moving the sheet film toward and away from the brush frame, and a means for pressing the sheet film on both sides of the brush frame so that the sheet film does not shift during the sealing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The method of the present invention and its apparatus will be explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the main parts of the sealing machine 10 according to the present invention.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a roll around which a sheet-like film is wound, and is rotatably supported by a machine frame 12. The sheet-like film 13 pulled out from the roll 11 is guided horizontally through a tension roller 14, and then pinched by discharge rollers 15a and 15b and led out to the outside. Discharge roller 15a, 1
5b is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). 16 is a brush frame, and discharge rollers 15a,
Four bolts 18a, 18b, 18c whose upper parts are fixed to the horizontal beam 17 of the machine frame 12 so as to be horizontally positioned above the sheet-like film 13 immediately in front of the frame 15b.
(one is invisible) fixed to the bottom edge (the third
(see figure).

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the brush frame 16 is made by folding a fiber material 19 that is elastic and has a strong restoring force in the bending direction in half with a wire material 19', and attaching it to the frame plate 20.
It is crimped and formed so that the shape formed by the tip of the fiber material 19 is smaller than the external dimension of the rim of the tray 21 (see FIG. 6) to be sealed.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, reference numeral 22 denotes a guide frame disposed below the brush frame 16 and between the brush frame 16 and the sheet film 13, and the space formed by the inner surface of the guide frame 22 is located below the brush frame 16. fiber material 1
The shape is slightly larger than that formed by the 9 tips. The guide frame 22 guides the sheet-like film 13 on its lower surface.

Air cylinders 23a and 23b are fixed to the machine frame 12 by fixing devices 24 so as to be located between the discharge roller 15 and the brush frame 16 and on both side edges of the sheet film 13 to be fed. ing. The rods 25a and 25b are adapted to clamp the edge of the fed sheet film 13 between the rods 26a and 26b disposed below. Sheet film 13
is guided on both of these plates.

27 is the sheet-like film 13 of the brush frame 16
Sheet film 1 is placed at the front position in the feeding direction.
This is a heater plate located slightly below and parallel to the sheet film 13, and is used to preheat the sheet film 13 and soften it.

28 is a cylinder device for transporting the sheet film 13 (see FIG. 4). Cylinder device 28
, four air cylinders 29, 30, 31, 32 located above the edge of the sheet-like film 13 surround the heater plate 27, and the plate bodies 33, 3
4, and the rod of the air cylinder and the contact plate 3
5, 36, 37, 38 to form a sheet-like film 13
It is now possible to squeeze.

The plates 33 and 34 are guided along the inner wall of the machine frame 12 while holding the sheet film 13 between them, and are configured to move reciprocally in conjunction with each other from the position above the heater plate 27 to the position of the brush frame 16. . This reciprocating mechanism can be constructed by a link mechanism 34' (see FIG. 4) or the like.

In FIGS. 2 and 3, 39 is the brush frame 16
This is a tray holder placed below, which is attached to the tip of the rod 41 of the air cylinder 40, and moves up and down when the air cylinder 40 is driven. 4
2 is a limit switch (not shown) for regulating the upper limit position and lower limit position of the tray receiver 39.
43 is a guide rod. 4
Reference numeral 4 denotes a swinging body, which is provided in a space below the brush frame 16 so as to be swingable between two positions around a shaft 45 . This oscillating body 44 is provided with two sets of the above-mentioned tray holder and air cylinder mechanism, and at one oscillating position, one tray holder is located below the brush frame 16, and at this time, the other tray holder is positioned below the brush frame 16. It is located outside the machine frame 12 so that tray attachment/detachment work can be performed. At the other swing position, the other tray holder is located below the brush frame 16, and one tray holder is located outside the machine frame 12.

As shown in FIG. 7, the tray receiver 39 has an inner wall recessed to follow the outer shape of the tray 21 to stably receive the tray 21, and has a through hole 46 formed in the center. A suction cup 47 connected to a negative pressure source is disposed within the tray holder 39 as appropriate.
The bottom surface of the tray 21 received above is sucked and the tray 21 is reliably moved up and down together with the tray receiver 39.

When the tray 21 is received in the tray receiver 39, the outer periphery of the mouth edge of the tray 21 coated with adhesive is exposed above the tray receiver 39. Further, the outer wall of the tray receiver 39 is reduced in diameter at the lower part, and the uppermost edge of the tray receiver 39 projects outward. Reference numeral 48 denotes a resistance wire provided around the outermost edge of the sheet film 1 after sealing.
The extra hem part of 3 can be cut off by melting. The resistance wire 48 may be a nichrome wire, an iron chrome wire, a tungsten wire, a molybdenum wire, or the like. The resistance wire 48 is provided insulated from the tray support 39. If necessary, the tray support 39 is supported and stretched with an appropriate member with a slight distance from the outer wall.

The present invention is configured as described above. Next, its operation will be explained.

The sheet-like film 13 is pulled out from the roll 11, passes through the tension roller 14, over the heater plate 27, passes under the brush frame 16 and the guide frame 22, and is led out to the outside of the discharge rollers 15a, 15b. As described above, the tray 21 is set on the tray receiver 39, and the swinging body 44 is swung to release the tray 21.
1 is positioned below the brush frame 16. Since the heater plate 27 is heated to a constant temperature of about 100° C. to 150° C., the sheet-like film 13 on the heater plate 27 is softened. In this state, the air cylinders 29, 30, 3 of the cylinder device 38
1 and 32 are driven, and the rod and backing plate 35,
The sheet-like film 13 is pinched between 36, 37, and 38 at four corners of the periphery of the softened portion. Next, the link mechanism 34' is operated, and the plates 33 and 34 move to a position corresponding to the brush frame 16 while holding the film sheet 13, and transport the film sheet 13 a predetermined distance. That is, the softened portion of the sheet-like film 13 is located below the brush frame 16 and the guide frame 22. When the softened portion is moved, the periphery of the softened portion is moved while being clamped by the four fixed cylinders, so no tension is applied to the softened portion and no deformation occurs. Further, in synchronization with this, the discharge rollers 15a and 15b are driven, and the portion of the sheet-like film 13 located below the brush frame 16 is conveyed without sagging, and is led out to the outside of the discharge roller 15.

Next, the drive of the air cylinders 29, 30, 31, and 32 is released, and each of their rods rises, and the plates 33 and 34 retreat to a position above the heater plate 27, leaving the sheet film 13, and at the retreated position. Air cylinders 29, 30, 31, 32 are driven again,
The sheet-like film 13 is pinched and pressed. At the same time, the air cylinders 23a and 23b are also driven to clamp the sheet film 13. Therefore, the sheet-like film 13 is clamped and fixed on both sides of the brush frame 16.

Next, the air cylinder 40 is driven and the tray receiver 3
9 is raised. The tray receiver 39 is raised until the upper part of the reduced diameter portion of the tray receiver 39 is at the level of the fiber material 19 of the brush frame 16. Therefore, the tray 21 placed on the tray receiver 39 presses and stretches the softened sheet-like film 13 with its upper edge and rises, and the sheet-like film 13 goes around to the adhesive surface of the tray 21. is fiber material 19
is pressed against the adhesive surface by the elastic force of. In this case, the sheet-like film 13 is restrained by the inner wall of the guide frame 22 and its periphery is pressed before it is pressed against the fiber material 19, so that the sheet-like film 13 rises up into a trapezoidal shape and causes the fiber material 19 to be unduly deformed. It never occurs.

Next, the tray receiver 39 is lowered while holding the tray 21 until the adhesive surface of the tray 21 is slightly below the brush frame 16, and then raised again to the above position. The reason why the tray receiver 39 is moved up and down twice in this way is to more reliably adhere the sheet-like film 13 to the adhesive surface. That is, during the first ascent, the sheet-like film 13 is stretched and pressed against the adhesive surface, so that adhesion is not reliable. And on the first descent,
The fiber material 19 located above the reduced diameter part of the tray receiver 39 turns over and presses the sheet film 13 onto the adhesive surface again, and when it moves up and down for the second time, it has already been stretched tightly. The sheet-like film 13 is further pressed onto the adhesive surface, thereby ensuring that the sheet-like film 13 is sealed to the adhesive surface. Note that during the second descent, the resistance wire 48 is energized and the excess sheet-like film 13 is fused. At this time of fusing, the sheet-like film 13 is pressed by the elastic force of the fiber material 19, and the resistance wire 48
Since it is in contact with the metal, it will surely be fused. The sealed tray 21 is taken out to the outside of the machine frame 12 by swinging the swinging body 44. Then, the tray 21 placed on another tray holder 39 is placed in a corresponding position below the brush frame 16, and by repeating each of the above operations, the sealing work can be performed continuously.

In the above embodiment, the reason why the sheet-like film 13 is preheated and softened by the heater plate 27 is because, for example, in the sealed packaging of mushrooms such as real shimeji mushrooms, the umbrella part of the real shimeji mushrooms protrudes into the upper space of the tray 21. This is to prevent the umbrella portion from being crushed by the pressing force from the sheet-like film 13. In addition, since the sheet-like film 13 shrinks due to heat contraction after sealing is completed, beautiful sealing without wrinkles can be achieved.

Note that preheating using the heater plate may not be performed depending on the contents to be packaged.

Further, the sheet film 1 is
3 on both sides of the brush frame 16.
This is to prevent the sheet-like film 13 from shifting laterally during sealing. It goes without saying that this holding mechanism is not limited to an air cylinder.
Furthermore, for example, in the case of a shallow tray with a narrow adhesive surface, the amount of movement during sealing is small, so the displacement of the sheet film 13 is small, and therefore, when packaging such items, A holding mechanism is not necessarily required.

In the present invention, a plurality of brush frames 16 are arranged in a row in the longitudinal direction or width direction of the sheet-like film 13, and a tray receiver 39 is provided below each brush frame 16.
It is also possible to seal a plurality of pieces at the same time by arranging them.

Further, in the above embodiment, the tray receiver 39 is provided to move up and down, but the brush frame 16 may be provided so as to move toward and away from the tray receiver 39.
The brush frame 16 and the tray holder 39 only have to move toward and away from each other.

FIG. 8 shows another embodiment.

In the figure, 50 is an upper frame having a plurality of brush frames 16 arranged in the same manner as described above, for example, arranged in a grid pattern;
Reference numeral 51 denotes a lower frame in which a number of tray holders 39 corresponding to the number of brush frames 16 are disposed in positions corresponding to the brush frames 16. The upper frame 50 and the lower frame 51 are the rotation axis 5
The brush frame 16 and the tray holder 39 are set to overlap each other at the rotating position. At the time of sealing, a tray loaded with contents is placed on the tray holder 39, and a sheet-like film is placed over the tray. Next, the upper frame 50 is rotated about the rotation shaft 52 and lowered, and the brush frame 16 presses and seals the sheet-like film onto the adhesive surface of the tray in the same manner as described above.

The sheet-like film after sealing can be separated by cutting with a resistance wire provided around the outer periphery of the tray holder 39, or by cutting with another suitable cutter, as in the above embodiment. can.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the brush. In this embodiment, the brush is not formed into a continuous frame,
The brush is divided into four brush pieces facing each side of the mouth edge of the tray. In this case, the two opposing brush pieces 55a and 55b are placed at the same horizontal height position,
Another two opposing brush pieces 56a, 56
If b is set at the same horizontal height position different from the above-mentioned horizontal height position, the sheet-like film 13 is pressed simultaneously from both sides by sandwiching the tray during sealing, so that the film does not shift.
By varying the horizontal height positions of the brush pieces in this way, it is possible to deal with the sealing of various deformed trays in which the height of the tray mouth edge differs on each side.

FIG. 10 shows another embodiment. In the figure, 57
is a tray holder, which is provided so as to be movable up and down in the same way as above. 58 is a resistance wire, 13 is a sheet-like film fed in the same manner as described above, and 22 is a guide frame similar to that described above. Reference numeral 59 denotes a brush frame configured in the same manner as described above, and in this embodiment, it is provided in two stages above the guide frame 22 at an appropriate interval. It is configured as described above, and the tray tray 5
7 rises together with the tray 21, the upper edge of the tray 21 pushes up the sheet-like film 13. The sheet-like film 13 is regulated by the inner circumferential wall of the guide frame 22 and its periphery is held down, and as the tray receiver 57 continues to rise, the central portion is stretched (the sheet-like film is held down by the heater plate 27). tray 2 with the lower brush frame 59
Pressed onto the adhesive side of 1. Next, power is supplied to the resistance wire 58, and the excess sheet-like film below the adhesive surface is cut off by melting. At this stage, the sheet-like film 13 is not completely adhered to the adhesive surface because it is stretched and pressed in the same manner as described above. Then, as the tray receiver 57 continues to rise, the upper brush frame 59 again presses the film from the outside against the adhesive surface, thereby completely adhering it. In this embodiment, the tray 21 after sealing is the brush frame 5.
9. It becomes possible to take it out upwards. This removal can be done manually, but for example, two arm members (not shown) are provided to hold the reduced diameter part of the outer periphery of the mouth of the tray 21 after sealing, and the tray 21 is held and removed after the tray receiver 57 is lowered. For example, it is possible to automate the transfer onto a conveyor (not shown).

Also, as mentioned above, the tray 2 is placed in the tray tray 57.
Since the loading and unloading of trays 1 and 1 are carried out at separate locations, a space can be secured to incorporate an automatic device (not shown) for loading the tray into the tray receiver 57, and complete automation can be achieved.

This automatic device includes, for example, an incoming conveyor and a tray receiver 5 that receives trays from the leading end of the incoming conveyor.
7. It may consist of something like a rail that slides into the recess on the top surface. Note that the above-mentioned brush frame may be set to three or more brush frames.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing the function of the guide frame in each of the embodiments described above. As shown in the figure, the periphery of the sheet-like film 13 is pressed by the guide frame 22, and the center is raised in a trapezoidal shape. This guide frame 22 is the first
As shown in Figure 2, four slide pieces 22a, 22
It is convenient to assemble b, 22c, and 22d in a square shape so that each piece can slide inwardly and outwardly relative to each other, so that the space surrounded by each piece can expand and contract. That is, as shown in FIG. 13, after the tray 21 passes the guide frame 22, the slide pieces 22a, 22b, 22c, 22 move in the direction in which the space surrounded by each piece is reduced.
By sliding d, the sheet-like film 3 approaches or is pressed in the direction of the adhesive surface, and is further pressed against the fiber material of the brush frame 16 from above, thereby being more reliably bonded. .
At this time, the brush frame 1 is also attached to the sheet film 13.
No excessive force is applied from 6, and the seal is beautifully sealed. The reciprocating movement of each slide piece can be driven and controlled by, for example, air cylinders 60a, 60b.

FIG. 14 shows another means for pressing the sheet film 13 onto the adhesive surface of the tray 21.

In this embodiment, elastic members such as sponges are pasted at positions facing the four sides of the tray 21.
Idling book rollers 61a, 61b, 6c, and 6d are arranged. In this embodiment as well, when the tray 21 moves up (or down) with the sheet film 13, each idle roller rotates and uses the elastic force of its outer surface to move the sheet film 13
is pressed onto the adhesive surface of the tray 21 to ensure a secure seal.

FIG. 15 shows still another embodiment of the pressing means. In the figure, 22 is a guide frame, and 62 is an air nozzle frame arranged above this guide frame 22. The air nozzle frame 62 has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer periphery of the mouth edge of the tray 21, and is provided with a compressed air passage 63 inside.
A large number of small holes 64 are formed at predetermined intervals and communicate with each other, so that compressed air is blown inward from the small holes. Therefore, when the tray 21 rises and pushes up the sheet-like film 13, compressed air is blown out from the small holes 64 and presses the sheet-like film 13 against the adhesive surface of the tray 21, making it possible to perform a suitable seal. can. In this embodiment, since there is no contact, sealing can be performed without damaging the sheet film 13.

As described above, according to the method of the present invention, unlike the conventional method of adhering a sheet-like film to an adhesive surface using negative pressure caused by suction, the sheet-like film is pressed from the outside to the adhesive surface. Because of this, it is possible to apply a pressing force at all times during sealing, which is very effective in ensuring reliable sealing.

Because the sheet-like film is supported and stretched on at least both sides, it does not shift even when the tray is pressed, and a predetermined tension is applied to seal in the stretched state, making it possible to create an extremely beautiful seal. becomes.

Further, according to the device of the present invention, in addition to the above-mentioned effects, the sheet-like film is pressed against the adhesive surface of the tray by the elastic force of the fiber material of the brush frame, as if rubbing with a finger. Seal packaging can be carried out extremely reliably. In addition, even if the shape of the rim of each tray is slightly uneven, or there are irregularities such as ribs on the outer periphery of the rim, the fiber material will bend to follow these changes in shape, so it will not be difficult to notice the details. A reliable pressing force is generated over time, making it possible to seal packaging with excellent airtightness.

Furthermore, it is highly effective in automating the loading and unloading of trays.

The present invention has been variously explained above with reference to preferred embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and it goes without saying that many modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. be.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a conventional sealing machine. FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing a sealing machine according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a front view thereof. Fig. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the relationship between the cylinder device and the brush frame, Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the brush frame, Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of the tray, Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the tray holder, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment. FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the brush, and FIG.
The figure is an explanatory diagram showing another embodiment of the seal mechanism, the first
Figure 1 is an explanatory diagram showing the action of the guide frame, Figure 12 is an explanatory diagram showing the guide frame provided so that it can be expanded and contracted, Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the action when the guide frame is contracted, and Figures 14 and 15. The figures are explanatory diagrams showing other embodiments of the pressing means. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Tray, 2... Sheet-like film, 3... Suction hole, 10... Sealing machine, 12... Roll, 13... Sheet-like film, 14... Tension roller, 15
a, 15b... Drain roller, 16... Brush frame, 17
...Horizontal beam, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d...Bolt, 19...Fiber material, 19'...Wire material, 20...Frame plate, 21...Tray, 22...Guide frame, 23a, 23
b...Air cylinder, 24...Fixing tool, 25a, 25
b... Rod, 26a, 26b... Contact plate, 27... Heater plate, 28... Cylinder device, 29, 30, 31,
32...Air cylinder, 33, 34...Plate body, 34'
...Link mechanism, 35, 36, 37, 38...Plate,
39...Tray holder, 40...Air cylinder, 42...
Regulation rod, 43... Guide rod, 44... Rocking body, 45...
Shaft, 46...Through hole, 47...Sucker, 48...Resistance wire, 5
0...Upper frame, 51...Lower frame, 52...Rotation axis, 55a,
55b, 56a, 56b...Brush piece, 57...Tray holder, 58...Resistance wire, 59...Brush frame, 60
a, 60b...Air cylinder, 61a, 61b, 6
1c, 61d... Idle roller, 62... Air nozzle frame, 63... Compressed air passage, 64... Small hole.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. Using a tray with adhesive applied to the outer periphery of the mouth,
In the sealing method in which a sheet-like film covering an opening of a tray filled with contents is adhered and sealed with an adhesive, at least both sides of the tray are supported by appropriate members above the opening of the tray. A sealing film is stretched, and tension is applied to the sheet film by pressing the opening edge of the tray filled with the contents onto the sheet film, and in a state where the tension is applied, the tray of the sheet film is A feature of the method is that at least both sides of the tray are simultaneously pressed from the outside with an elastic member such as a brush or sponge on the area corresponding to the adhesive on the outer periphery of the mouth edge, so that all of the areas are adhered to the outer periphery of the tray mouth edge with the adhesive. and the sealing method. 2 Using a tray with adhesive applied to the outer rim of the mouth,
In a sealing machine that uses the adhesive to adhere and seal a sheet-like film that covers the opening of a tray filled with contents, the tray has a concave surface that follows the shape of the lower part of the tray. a tray holder that holds the adhesive surface exposed; and the tray holder is arranged in multiple stages at appropriate intervals on the opposite side with the sheet-like film inserted by an appropriate mechanism, and is placed on the inner wall. A large number of elastic fibrous materials are densely flocked inward over the entire circumference, and the shape of the space surrounded by the fibrous materials is set to be smaller than the outer shape of the mouth edge of the tray. move the brush frame group held by the tray holder until at least the adhesive side of the tray is fitted into the farthest brush frame of the brush frame group, and transfer the sandwiched sheet-like film to the brush frame group. a contact/separation mechanism for relatively moving the brush frame group and the tray receiver toward and away from each other so as to press the brush frame group and the tray holder into sealing contact with the adhesive surface by the elastic force of the fibrous material of the frame group; A sealing machine characterized by comprising pressing means for pressing the sheet-like film on both sides of the brush frame so that the sheet-like film does not shift.