JPH0369424A - Container filling apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit an efficient removal of air from a packaging container without causing damages thereto by providing a housing with the pressing arm having a guide roller attached to each end thereof. CONSTITUTION:The housing 52 of a deaerator 50 provided in a seal station 28 is rotated synchronously with a packaging container being fed into the seal station 28. Therefore, when the packaging container filled with its contents approaches the seal station 28, the guide rollers 57 attached to the ends of a pressing arm 54 come in contact with the side face of this packaging con tainer. When the container is brought into closer contact therewith, its side face is gradually pressed inwardly to expel air from its inside. When such container reaches the seal station 28, the top opening thereof is sealed in the evacuated condition. Since the pressing arm 54 is elastically urged against the housing 52 in the radially outward directions, it smoothly presses the side face of the packaging container toward its inside. This method permits the contents to be filled efficiently in the container without giving shocks thereto.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a container filling device that automatically fills a packaging container with a liquid material, such as alcoholic beverages or juice, and seals the opening of the container. .

[Prior Art] Container filling devices for filling alcoholic beverages, juices, etc. into multi-layered paper packaging containers generally referred to as paper packs,
A top shaking force temporarily folds the filling opening at the top of the packaging container filled with the material to be filled, a top heater that heats the peripheral edge of this opening, and a top heater that brings the heated peripheral edge into close contact with each other. and a top press that seals the upper opening. The packaging containers are sequentially transported to each of these stations by an intermittently driven transport conveyor.

Moreover, since this type of packaging container has flexibility, the Tfii of the stuff to be filled is 1. In order to prevent the sides from expanding and a large amount of air getting into the container, a deaerator is installed that presses the sides of the container to raise the liquid level. Some are sealed. This degassing device usually presses the packaging container at right angles to this side.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to conventional container filling apparatuses, the stopping time of packaging containers at each station is limited, and is extremely short, especially in the case of a filling apparatus with high throughput.

For this reason, the deaerator suddenly presses against the side of the packaging container. There is a problem in that the packaging container is subjected to impact by the deaeration device, causing the contents to be filled inside to leak out.

The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a container filling device capable of efficiently filling the inside of a packaging container with materials to be filled and sealing the container without impacting the container.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The container filling device of the present invention includes a filling station for filling a predetermined amount of material into a packaging container with a closed bottom and an open top, and a filling station for filling a packaging container with a predetermined amount of material to be filled, and a packaging container that is transported from the filling station. a sealing station for sealing the top; and at least one degassing device disposed in the sealing station for pressing the side of the packaging container inward to exhaust the air inside, the degassing device consists of a housing that rotates in synchronization with the conveyance of 2g of packaging, a pressing arm that is attached to the housing and elastically biased outward in the radial direction, and a housing that is attached to the tip of the pressing arm and that is close to the sealing station. and a guide roller that comes into contact with the side surface of the packaging container.

[Operation] According to the container filling apparatus of the present invention, the /% housing of the deaerator disposed in the sealing station is rotated in synchronization with the packaging containers fed into this sealing station.

Therefore, when the packaging container filled with the material to be filled approaches the sealing station, the guide roller attached to the tip of the pressing arm comes into contact with the side surface of the packaging container. As the packaging container approaches the sealing station further, these sides are gradually pressed inward and the air inside is expelled.

When the sealing station is reached, the upper opening is sealed with the internal air exhausted.

Since the pressing arm is resiliently biased radially outward of the housing, it smoothly presses the side surface of the packaging container inward.

[Embodiment] FIG. 1 shows a filling process of a container filling device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 to 4 show the overall structure thereof.

As shown in FIG.
After the bottom part 6 of a hollow prismatic paper packaging container 5 with both ends open is folded flat and sealed, a predetermined amount of the material to be filled, such as alcoholic beverages or juice, is filled through the opening in the top part 7.
Finally, the upper part 7 is folded and sealed to complete the packaging container 5 called a Goebel top. Each of these steps is performed in a sterile atmosphere. Moreover, this packaging container 5, hereinafter referred to as a carton, has a small hole 8 formed in the upper part, and a spout 4 is attached to this small hole 8 before filling with the material to be filled, so that the material to be filled can be poured out. has an easy structure.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, a turret 13 from which a plurality of mandrels 12 on which the carton 5 is mounted protrudes radially is disposed in a bottom molding station 11 that seals the bottom 6 of the carton 5. . This turret 13
is rotated intermittently in the direction of the arrow. At the periphery of the turret 13, a carton supply device 14 for placing a large number of cartons 5 in a folded state in order along the rotational direction of the turret, and a heater 5 for heating the periphery of the opening of the bottom 6 of the carton. , a folding device 16 for folding the bottom portion 6 along a predetermined bending line, and a press device 17 for sealing the bottom portion 6 that has been heated and folded into a predetermined shape. Incidentally, reference numeral 18 in FIG. 4 indicates a control panel of this container filling apparatus 10.

In this bottom molding station], when the turret 13 is stopped, cartons 5 with open ends are pulled out one by one from the carton supply device 14 and loaded onto the mandrel 12 with the upper part 7 first. When the turret 13 rotates and reaches a position aligned with the heater 15, the car!・Hot air blows at the required location at the bottom of the unit.
- The resin layer of the carton is heated. When it is further rotated and aligned with the folding device 16, the bottom portion 6 is bent along a predetermined bending line, and while this state is maintained by a guide rail (not shown), it is rotated to a position aligned with the folding device 17. be done.

The bottom part 6 of the carton 5 is firmly compressed between the tip of the mandrel 12 and the press device 17, and is sealed into a shape suitable for a car.

The carton 5 with its bottom 6 sealed is then sent to the filling and sealing section 20 of the container filling device.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, in this filling kz'L seal section 20, each carton 5 is intermittently moved in a linearly aligned state by an appropriate conveyance chain.

This filling sealing section 20 includes a spout installation station 21 that attaches the spout 4 to the small hole 8 of the carton in order along the transfer path of the carton 5, and a welding station that welds the spout 4 to the carton 5. 22 are arranged. Furthermore, on the downstream side of the conveyance path, there are a cleaning station 23 for removing foreign matter in the carton 5, a first temporary prayer station 24 for folding the upper part 7 of the carton into a roof shape, and a filling station for injecting a predetermined amount of material to be filled. 25, a second Vi folding station 26 for temporarily folding the upper part 7 again, a heating stage 2f for heating a predetermined part of the upper part 7, and a sealing station 28 for sealing the upper part 7, and two ejection stations. The completed carton 5 is discharged from there.

(2) A plug supply rail 30 that sequentially supplies nm4 is arranged in the plug mounting station 21.

The spout 4 to be sent from now on is attached to the small hole 8 from the inside of the carton by appropriate means when the carton 5 is stopped, and is welded to the carton 5 at a welding station 22.

The welding station 22 is equipped with a conventional ultrasonic welding device. This ultrasonic vibration horn 3] is fitted into a spout 4 attached to the carton 5, vibrates the spout 4,
The frictional heat generated at this time bonds the spout 4 and the carton 5 in a liquid-tight manner.

Since the spout 4 is vibrated at the welding station 22, there is a risk that foreign matter such as chips may enter the inside of the carton 5. In order to remove this foreign material, the cleaning station 23
is located.

The cleaning station 22 has a cleaning pipe 32 with a double pipe structure.
The inner passageway 32a is connected to a source of sterile compressed air and the outer passageway 32b is connected to a source of vacuum. This cleaning pipe 32 is moved up and down by a drive shaft of a turret in the bottom molding station 11 via a suitable cam or the like.

The carton and the cleaning pipe 32 are pushed into the carton 5 while blowing out sterile air from the periphery thereof. Therefore, foreign matter adhering to the inner circumferential surface of the carton 5 floats up from the inner circumferential surface and is discharged from the outer passage 32b.

The carton 5 from which foreign matter has been removed is sent to the first temporary folding station 24, where the upper part of the carton 5 is folded into a roof shape.

Temporary folding device 3 located at first temporary folding station 24
4 has a frame 35 and a block 36 connected to the frame and moved up and down by an appropriate driving means such as an air cylinder. A pair of triangular folding plates 37 are pivotally attached to the lower end of the frame 35 to fold inward the side surfaces of the carton 5 adjacent to the spout. This folding plate 37 is connected to the block 36 via an appropriate link 36a.
This block 36 and frame 35
When the carton 5 is lowered, it falls inward, temporarily folding the upper part of the carton 5 into a roof shape.

The carton 5 whose upper part has been temporarily folded gradually returns to its original shape due to its elasticity and returns to the filling station 2.
Moved to 5.

The filling station 25 includes a tank 3 that accommodates the material to be filled.
7 is arranged, and a filling pipe 37a extends from this tank. In this embodiment, two filling pipes are extended from the tank 37, and by sequentially filling from each filling pipe, the required amount of material to be filled can be poured into the carton 5 even in a short stopping time. Also, one filling pipe 37a
By using this, even small capacity cartons can be filled.

The carton filled with the required amount of material is sent to a sealing station 28 via a temporary folding station 26 and a heating station 27.

A folding device 38 having three frames, a block 4o, a folding plate 41, and a link 40a similar to the folding device in the first (52 folding station) is arranged in the second temporary folding station 26. The upper part of the reskinned carton 5 is temporarily folded.A heating device 42 disposed in the heating station 2 is pushed into the inside of the carton 5, and a heating unit 42a that blows out hot air from the periphery of the carton 5 is inserted into the carton 5.
and heats the resin layer of the carton 5.

A sealing device 43 that seals the top of the carton 5 in a roof-like manner is disposed at the sealing station 28. This sealing device 43 includes a pair of clamp plates 44 that press the top end of the carton 5, and a pair of claw members 45 that presses inward the side surface of the top of the carton adjacent to the spout. When the carton is lowered, the claw members 45 press the side walls of the upper part of the carton inwardly, and at the same time, the clamp plates 44 firmly press the upper ends of the carton together. For this reason, the carton 5 whose upper part has been temporarily folded into a roof shape and which has been heated is completely sealed at this sealing station 28, and after the material to be filled is completely sealed inside,
It is carried out from the discharge station 29.

A degassing device 50 for discharging air from the carton 5 is further disposed at the sealing station 28 .

2 As shown in detail in FIG.
They are placed on both sides of the conveyance path of the carton 5 and press the sides of the carton 5 conveyed to the sill station inward to raise the liquid level inside, thereby minimizing the air inside the carton 5.

Each of these deaerators 50 is driven in opposite directions in synchronization with each other by two conveyor chains 48 arranged on both sides of the carton conveyance path in the filling and sealing section. These conveyance chains 48 are rotated in opposite directions on both sides of the conveyance path, and intermittently convey each carton 5 from the kadomatsu mounting station 21 to the discharge station 29.

The deaerator 50 has a housing 52 rotatably supported by an upright column 51. A sprocket 53 that engages with the conveyor chain 48 is provided around the periphery of the housing 52, and a pair of press arms 54 are attached to the upper part of the housing 52 by a mounting plate 55. are mounted in opposite directions, and are urged outward by a pressing spring 56 interposed between the two.
A guide roller 57 that contacts the side surface of the carton 5 is attached to the tip of each presser arm 54 by a pin 58. code 5
4a is a stopper that restricts the amount of protrusion of the pressing arm.

With reference to FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, and FIG. 6C, the deaerator 5
0 differential will be explained.

As shown in FIG. 6A, 71 Uging 5 of the deaerator 50
2 is driven by the conveyor chain 48 via the sprocket 53, so that the pressing arm 54 is rotated in synchronization with the carton 5. Therefore, when the carton 5 approaches the sealing station, the guide roller 57 comes into contact with the side surface of the carton 5.

Since the pressing arm 54 is biased by the pressing spring 56,
The impact when the carton 5 and the guide roller 57 come into contact is absorbed by the rotation of the guide roller 57 and the buffering action of the pressure spring 56.

When the carton 5 is further moved, the pressing arm 57 is also rotated to follow this while keeping the guide roller 57 in contact with the side surface of the carton. Due to the biasing force of the pressing spring 56, the sides of the carton 5 are gradually pressed inward 4, and the packed goods stored inside the carton 5 are pressed inwards.
ifj will rise. When the liquid reaches the sealing station as shown in FIG. 6B, the liquid level reaches the uppermost level, at which time the upper end of the cathode 5 is sealed by the sealing device 43 as described above.

When the carton 5 is moved further toward the exit station t, II as shown in FIG. Then, when the next carton 5 approaches the sealing station, the pressing arm 54 on the opposite side abuts the side surface of the carton 5 in the same manner as described above and presses it inward.

Therefore, since the deaerator 50 is driven by the carton conveying chain 48 in the filling seal section 20, the overall structure of the container filling device 10 is simplified and its control becomes easy. Further, since the pressing arm 54 of the deaerator smoothly contacts the side surface of the carton 5 via the guide roller 57 at the tip and presses it with a force of 41 it by the pressing spring 56, no unreasonable force is applied. Therefore, the objects to be filled in the carton 5 will not break or wrinkles will be formed on the sides of the carton 5.

[Effects of the Invention] As is clear from the above, according to the container filling device of the present invention,
The simple structure of the degassing device provided in the sealing station makes it possible to manufacture a packaging container from which air is exhausted extremely efficiently without causing leakage of the filling material or damage to the packaging container.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a packaging and filling device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view showing its overall structure, FIG. 3 is a plan view taken along the line ■-■ in FIG. Figure 4 is IV of Figure 2.
FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the deaerator in the packaging and filling apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C are diagrams illustrating the operation of the deaerator. 5...Carton, 6...Bottom, 7...Top, 8...
...Small hole, 10...Packaging and filling device, 1]...Bottom forming station, 20...Filling and sealing part, 21...
Filling station, 28... Seal station,
6 50... Deaerator, 52... Housing, 53...
Sprocket l-154...71+1 pressure arm, 56.
...Press spring, 57...Guide roller.

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A filling station that fills a predetermined amount of material into a packaging container with a closed bottom and an open top; a sealing station that seals the top of the packaging container transported from the filling station; ,
at least one degassing device that presses the side of the packaging container inward to discharge the air inside; the degassing device includes a housing that rotates in synchronization with the conveyance of the packaging container; Container filling comprising: a pressing arm mounted on the housing and resiliently biased radially outward; and a guide roller mounted on the tip of the pressing arm and contacting the side of the packaging container proximate to the sealing station. Device. (2) The housing has a driving sprocket formed on its outer periphery, and the driving sprocket is driven by a conveying chain that moves the packaging container intermittently in the direction from the filling station to the sealing station. The container filling device described. (3) The container filling device according to claim 2, wherein a pair of said deaerators are disposed facing each other on both sides of a transportation path for packaging containers, and each housing is rotated in opposite directions in synchronization with each other. (4) The container filling device according to claim 3, wherein the pressing arms are arranged as a pair in opposite directions, and are urged in opposite directions by springs arranged between the pressing arms.