JPH082593B2 - Beverage straw stopper forming device - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a stopper forming device for a beverage straw.

(Prior Art) The straw attached to the beverage container needs to be longer than the depth of the container so as not to fall into the container during drinking. With a known single straw, even if the straw is pierced into the container, the portion that comes out of the container is small, so that it is difficult to drink the beverage in the container. In order to solve this difficulty, there is a double-stretchable straw that is short when the straw is attached to the container, long when piercing the container, and lengthening the part protruding from the container when pierced. It has been developed.

That is, this double straw has a thin inner straw 1 and a thick outer straw 2 as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, and the inner straw 1 is inserted into the outer straw 2 and the inner straw 1 is outside. The inner straw 1 is made longer than the outer straw 2 so as to protrude from the tip of the straw 2. The tip of the inner straw 1 is obliquely cut into a sharpened portion 3 so that it can be easily pierced into a container. When the inner straw 1 is pulled out from the outer straw 2 and extended, the inner straw 1 is prevented from coming out of the outer straw 2, so that the outer straw 2
The diameter-decreased portion 4 is formed at the tip of the inner straw 1, while the diameter-increased portion 5 is formed at the base end side of the inner straw 1 so that the diameter-decreased portion 4 and the diameter-increased portion 5 are engaged with each other. Further, a tapered portion 6 is formed at the tip of the reduced diameter portion 4 to prevent wobbling at the engaging portion when the straw is extended. Further, as shown in the drawing, a reduced diameter portion 7 is also formed on the base end side of the outer straw 2 so as to prevent the inner straw 1 from coming out from the base end side of the outer straw 2 and the outer straw 2 A stopper 8 projecting inward is formed in the vicinity of the reduced diameter portion 4 of the inner straw 1, and the stopper 8 and the enlarged diameter portion 5 of the inner straw 1 engage with each other when the double straw is extended,
Are prevented from contracting into the outer straw 2 again.

Although it is easy to make a double straw having the above-mentioned structure by hand, it is extremely difficult to mechanically mass-produce and double-produce it.

However, the applicant has developed a basic manufacturing apparatus for a double straw which makes it possible to mechanically automate the production of this double straw, and has already proposed it as JP-A-59-197215.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) With the above-mentioned known double straw manufacturing apparatus, it is possible to mechanically and automatically produce a large amount of double expanding and contracting straws. Stopper molding to prevent shrinkage into the outer straw cannot be done by automated machinery. And if the stopper cannot be mechanically automatically molded, it is impossible to mass-produce the double-expansion straws with a stopper.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a novel stopper molding apparatus that automates the molding of a stopper.

(Means for Solving Problems) For this reason, in the present invention, a holding member that holds and moves the straw, and a straw end that moves in synchronization with the holding member that faces the straw held by the holding member A pair of edge-shaped heat-molding molds, each of which has a holding cylinder and a pair of edge-shaped heat-molding molds, which are located between the holding member and the straw-end holding cylinder and are fixedly provided at an interval through which a straw can pass. The space between the straws is gradually narrowed from a space larger than the straw diameter to a space slightly smaller, and the straw end holding cylinder is also used as an outer straw end diameter reducing type. is there.

(Examples) Details of the present invention will be described below with reference to examples shown in the drawings.

A basic explanatory view of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the figure, 10 and 10 are a pair of heated edge-shaped forming dies opposed to each other, and these have an interval 11 that allows the straw 2 to pass.
It is fixed at. The distance 11 is such that an entrance side 12 through which the straw 2 is guided, that is, the distance D on the right side in FIG. 1 is made larger than the diameter of the straw 2, and the exit side 13 through which the straw 2 passes and exits. That is, the distance d on the left side in FIG. 1 is made smaller than the diameter of the straw 2, and the distance is gradually reduced from the inlet side 12 to the outlet side 13.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the straw 2 is placed on the right entrance side.
By guiding from 12 to the outlet side 13 on the left side and passing through the gap 11, the edge part of the edge-shaped forming die presses the stopper forming part of the straw 2 and heats it to deform it into a dent, thereby forming the stoppers 8 and 8. It is formed.

As shown in FIG. 2, the edge portions of these edge-shaped molds 10 and 10 are formed into plate-like edges near the inlet side 12, but as they approach the outlet side 13, as shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the edges of the stoppers 8 of the straw 2 are sharpened so that the tip ends of the stoppers 8 are substantially perpendicular to the wall surface of the straw.

7 to 11 show a straw end forming device 20 including the stopper forming device of the present invention in a state of being incorporated in a double straw assembling machine.
As shown in the figure, it is arranged in the middle of the straw conveyor 21. The straw carrier 21 is composed of a plurality of spiral rods 22 provided in parallel. A spiral groove 23 is formed in the spiral rod body 22, straws 1 and 2 are positioned in the spiral groove 23, and the straw is sent by the rotation of the spiral rod body 22.

In FIG. 9, reference numerals 24 and 25 denote guide plates which are erected parallel to the spiral rod 22 and above the straw conveying surface.
And 2 in parallel with the conveying device 21, and the guide plate 25 keeps the inner straw 1 slightly inserted into the outer straw 2 so that the outer straw 2 can be fed to the end forming device 20. It will be sent to.

The embodiment shown in the drawings shows the stopper forming apparatus of the present invention incorporated in the end forming apparatus 20.
The end forming device 20 includes a holding member 26 that holds a straw.
A straw holding drum 26 as the above, an end diameter reducing die 27 of the outer straw 2 constituting the straw end holding cylinder 27 of the apparatus of the present invention, an end diameter expanding die 28 of the inner straw 1, and the straw as described above. It comprises a rubber belt 29 for fixing it to the holding drum 26. The end forming device 20 is held by a rotary shaft 31 that is supported by a stationary machine frame 30.

The outer straw end part diameter reducing mold 27 and the inner straw end part diameter expanding mold 28 that also serve as the straw end holding cylinder 27 of the device of the present invention are provided on the rotating plates 32 and 33 fixed to the rotating shaft 31 with the holding drum 26 interposed therebetween. It is held in and out. And these reduced diameter types
The expansion die 28 and the diameter-expanding die 28 are opposed to a holding groove formed in the straw holding drum 26 for holding the straw, and are rotated in synchronization with the rotation of the straw holding drum 26. Further, the diameter-reducing die 27 and the diameter-expanding die 28 are heated by an electric heater in order to facilitate the forming of the straw.

In FIG. 11, reference numerals 34 and 34 denote immovable cam members, and cam followers 36 of actuating pieces 35 for straw forming molds 27 and 28 are provided on the cam surfaces thereof.
The straw forming molds 27 and 28 are pressed against each other and rotated so that they are disengaged from the ends of the straws 1 and 2 inside and outside. That is, the ends of the straws 1 and 2 inside and outside are molded at the time of engagement, and the straws are opened at the time of disengagement.

A straw end contracting die 27, which constitutes an embodiment of the straw end holding cylinder 27 of the device of the present invention, has a hollow female die 37 at the end portion opposed to the straw, and a part of the hollow female die 37 contracts the outer straw 2. Inclined or stepped shape 38 corresponding to the inclination of the diameter portion 4,
The inner back portion connected to this is formed into a substantially straight cylindrical shape 39 so as to correspond to the shape of the tapered portion 6 of the outer straw 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the core 40 is provided in the hollow portion of the hollow female die 37.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 to 11, the edge forming molds 10 forming the essential part of the device of the present invention are provided with a straw holding member 26.
The straw end holding cylinder 27 is fixed between the straw end holding cylinder 27 and the straw end holding cylinder 27, and is heated by the electric heaters 41, 41. The edge forming dies 10, 10 are fixed to the machine frame 30 as shown in FIG.

In addition, in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, 42 is an inner straw supply device, 43 is an outer straw supply device, and 44 is a straw delivery device.

In the apparatus configured as described above, the inner straw 1 and the outer straw 2 are transferred from the transport device 21 to the straw holding drum 26, respectively. Therefore, these straws move along with the rotation of the holding drum 26, and are pressed by the rubber belt 29 from the middle of the straw to prevent them from moving. At the same time, as the holding drum 26 rotates, the rotating plate 32 that holds the straw end holding cylinder 27 that also functions as the end diameter reducing type of the straw forming the stopper forming device of the present invention also rotates, and the straw end holding cylinder 27 By the cam action of the cam member 34 and the operating piece 35
It operates sequentially as shown in FIGS.

That is, the straw end holding cylinder 27 receives the end of the outer straw 2 and holds it. (In the illustrated embodiment, since the straw end holding cylinder 27 is configured as the straw end reducing diameter type 27, this receiving end is used. At this time, the tapered portion 6 of the outer straw 2 and the reduced diameter portion 4 are formed.) The upper arc position of the holding member 26 is moved from the right side to the left side shown in FIG. Since the edge forming molds 10, 10 are fixedly installed in this moving area, they pass through the space 10 and the space gradually becomes narrower, so stoppers 8, 8 are attached to the straw 2 at the edge portion. It will be molded. In this embodiment, the rotary drum type is used, but it is also possible to move linearly.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, the device of the present invention has a pair of opposing edge-shaped molds, and the interval between the edge-shaped molds is gradually changed from a size larger than the diameter of the straw to a small size. The stopper is formed by passing the straw through this space so that the stopper can be easily formed on the straw, and its mechanization can be achieved. This has a great effect that the structure of the device can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 to 3 show the basic configuration of the device of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view thereof, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are lines II-II and III-III in FIG. 1, respectively. It is sectional drawing which follows the line. 4 to 11 show an embodiment in which the stopper forming apparatus of the present invention is incorporated in a straw end forming apparatus, and FIGS. 4 to 6 are partially cut front views showing the order of operation. . FIG. 7 is a front view of a double straw assembly machine incorporating the device of the present invention, FIG. 8 is a plan view of the same, and FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the device part of the present invention of the assembly machine. Is also a front view showing the device part of the present invention, and FIG. 11 is a sectional view thereof. 12 and 13 show an example of the double straws stopper-molded by the method and apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 12 is a contracted state, and FIG. 13 is an expanded sectional view. is there. 10 …… Edge-shaped mold, 11 …… Spacing 12 …… Inlet side, 13 …… Outlet side 26 …… Holding member 27 …… Straw end holding tube

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A holding member for holding and moving a straw,
The straw end holding cylinder, which moves in synchronism with the holding member facing the straw held by the holding member, is located between the holding member and the straw end holding cylinder, and is fixed at an interval through which the straw can pass. A pair of edge-shaped heat forming dies provided, and a gap between the pair of edge-shaped heat forming dies is gradually narrowed from an interval larger than the diameter of the straw to a slightly smaller interval. An apparatus for forming a stopper for a beverage straw, wherein the end holding tube is also used as an outer straw end diameter reducing type.