JPS60158005A - Compressing packaging method and device with seal with no crease - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION FIELD OF INDUSTRIAL APPLICATION This invention relates to a novel method and apparatus for making sterile packages that allow the inclusions to be used in surgery without fear of contamination.

The importance of surgical sterile packaging has been successfully achieved. This invention is similar to U.S. Pat.
This makes a jewelry very similar to the one described in the specification.

Prior Art The prior art includes, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3.3 depicts a machine for forming and filling packages using two sheets of material that are sealed together along the side and edge edges.
! U.S. Pat. No. 3.3, which teaches a machine and method for making shaped packages such as those described in R.T., No. 44/9! Although No. 4179 generally describes packages of the type made in accordance with the present invention, the method of that patent differs from the production of a continuous series of packages that are actually cut into discrete units. It's different. This, along with other differences in process, does not allow the advantages of this invention of cutting the unmarried top and bottom sheets in advance to capture the compressible product in between. Also, prior U.S. Pat. J, ot No. 1 forms a package surrounding a continuously moving product with an outfit consisting of a top and bottom web. However, the wrapping is completed before it is cut from the continuous top-bottom web.

U.S. Patent No. 3. L; tde, 09/ issue, 1I, 01/,
Other prior techniques, such as No. 9 Dada, commonly provide means for the mating of a single web that is later made into a package, or for the common mating of top and bottom webs with product in between. These patents are primarily written to illustrate problems and solutions in matching pre-printed packages with each discrete package and its contents. However, the prior art described above can address the unique problems encountered when attempting to ensure that a wrinkle-free seal is achieved.

For example, U.S. Patent No. J, ! 0, t, No. 776, $
3.3! ! :l / In a packaging machine similar to the No. 9 one,
Wrinkles caused by forming, folding, cutting, embossing, etc., generally extend upstream due to the inherent web tension, often causing wrinkles in the transverse seals. In many packages, such fine wrinkles are undesirable, and sterilized materials actually make the finished package wrinkle-free prior to autoclaving.

A certain amount of tension is required to minimize wrinkling, but
Given that tension tends to cause wrinkles extending in the longitudinal direction, the tendency in conventional methods to create wrinkles in the machine and transverse directions based on the product itself trapped between the webs has led to the creation of wrinkle-free seals. Achievement is even more of a concern.

Since the sterile package must be easily opened, the choice of materials is somewhat limited, for example with an intermediate polyethylene film, as described in U.S. Pat. II OJ, 7? No. A ensures a sterile seal despite wrinkles, but the adhesion between the polyethylene and paper web makes opening the package difficult. This invention teaches a bonding method commonly described as conjugate bonding, which involves adhesive on and around the top and bottom sheets that are later brought together. Adhesives are selected for proper sealing and proper opening.

With the materials and adhesive methods described above, the present invention in turn minimizes the thickness of the interior of the compressible product when the seal is formed;
A novel method is taught to minimize web twisting that develops in side seals based on the thickness of the product being packaged.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention involves rolling out a single packaging sheet and continuously rolling it onto a vacuum roll in an overlapping relationship with a notch in the vacuum roll surface that conforms to the shape of the product to be packaged. By maintaining the sheet, the purpose of creating a package without wrinkles in the peripheral seal is achieved.

This is due to the continuous seal created between one pre-aligned section of the packaging material and is achieved in high speed rotational continuous operation.

The invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring first to FIG. 1 in the accompanying drawings, there is shown schematically a packaging apparatus io for carrying out the invention. 1st
In the figure, a normal side frame F installed in a high-speed rotating device
are omitted for ease of understanding. FIG. 1 shows the parts of the equipment associated with the packaging process, including a series of upper and lower roll sets arranged symmetrically with respect to each other. Therefore, the upper roll set will be explained, and the lower roll set will be shown with the same reference numeral followed by a "+" (dash).

The upper roll set handles the web W, while the lower roll set handles the web W1.

From the point of starting packaging, the upper roll set consists of a vacuum roll/I, a cutting roll/I, a pulling roll/3. It has /da. Web W is retractable roll/3. /4A through vacuum roll l
into the nip between the lumber and the cutting roll saw.

The vacuum roll l/ has an outer surface consisting of either a strong material such as the steel from which the roll is usually made, or an elastic material such as neoprene or rubber, or a solid material reinforced by elastic wedges as shown in Figure 7. /j. In either case,
The outer surface is is provided with a plurality of pockets or notches/6 provided at intervals in the circumferential direction. It is preferable that the pockets or notches/6 are larger than the dimensions of the article to be packaged. be.

The vacuum roll // also has a vacuum hole communicating with the vacuum hole /l in the outer surface 15 and extending around the pocket or cutout /j.

The vacuum roll l/ extends axially and has an outer surface l! It has a plurality of anvils 19 provided at the interrupted portions. These anvils/9 are blades JO extending from the cutting roll/J.
cooperate with For example, the cooperating blade 20 and anvil 19 cut a defined section from the web W as it passes between the vacuum roll // and the nip of a cutting roll saw. The cutting roll saw is sized such that the circumferential length between the blades is equal to the cut length L of the web section or completed package seen in the center right-hand portion of FIG.

In FIG. 1, the cutting roll 12 is shown as a double diameter vacuum roll having two anvils equally spaced circumferentially. The anvil 19 is equally spaced from the pocket or notch 16.

However, the anvil 19 may be used, for example, in U.S. Pat.
, ? As shown in Specification No. 76, there are 1. If t4 taps are required, they can be spaced unevenly from notch 16.

Briefly, the continuous web W is moved by a drawing roll/3. IQ
and the nip between the vacuum roll//and cutting roll 72. The web W is an anvil 19 and a blade 20 that cooperate.
cut into defined sections by vacuum roll // two successive anvils l? It has a length equal to the interval between.

Determined sections of the sheet are cut out by a series of vacuum holes/grooves.
External surface adjacent to B! It is held firmly against the In FIG. 1, a similar roll configuration //'~ko01 is configured to coincide with the web section of the upper web W and operate synchronously with the lower web W1.

The various conveyors for the incoming product/outgoing packages, 2λ, 23, as seen in Figure 1, are omitted in Figure 1 for clarity, but the folded sterile It will be appreciated that a compressible pile 21, such as gauze, tissue or non-woven fabric, is conveyed forward between the vacuum rolls //, //' until it is clamped at 24I. Vacuum roll //, /
The special nature of the cooperating pockets or notches for compressible articles and individual webs vacuum-held thereon will become clear below. However, in order to provide a complete description of the general operation, reference will first be made to a side view of the wrinkle-free compression packaging apparatus 10 shown in FIG.

Therefore, the web W is continuously supplied from the parent roll j by the action of the constant speed belt drive roller. Preferably, the web W is preprinted with a repeating peripheral pattern of adhesive, and the adhesive is rolled! When it comes into contact with a co-adhesive printed similarly to No. 1, only the adhesive is sensitive to pressure.

The tension of the upper web W is controlled by a constant tension device. The web W runs under the guide roll AI, then over the pivoting dancer roll 49, and then over the retraction roll/3. /4I
It passes under the guide roll 30 before passing through the nip. The web loop formed between the guide rolls Ag, 30 can be varied by a preloaded dancer roll 9 in a pivotable position, controlled by a photo eye 31 acting on pre-printed mating spots on the web W and separately Variable speed retraction roll driven by an electric motor /3
．． /4! The dancer roll 9 is pivoted upwards or downwards depending on the amount of web W of packaging material drawn into the packaging device by.

The control circuits and components for the interaction of the photoeye and the variable speed driven pull-in roll are well known, and the control device has to synchronize the alignment of the upper web W and the registration spot of the lower web W'. I will not explain this in detail except to show that it is possible. Photo eye 3i,,y
i' act synchronously, and when each of them looks at the alignment spot at the same time, the circumferential speed of the pull-in rolls /J and /4' becomes the same as the circumferential speed of the set of lower pull-in rolls /3' and III'. When there is a time delay between checking the top spot against the bottom matching spot, the dancer roll, position 29 or limit switch 3
λ, 3. ? ,3λl, ,731 based on the position close to it or vice versa. The speed of the /41 set is increased relative to the lower pull-in rolls /, 7', and /41'. The weight-based lower power transmission connection of the dancer roll 9 can be counterbalanced by a weight 3, and thus the variable speed driven lower pull-in roll/3. The magnitude of the tension of the web W at all web speeds is controlled as controlled by I'1 width. Similar controls, actions and operations apply to the devices acting on the lower web W'. This ensures that the periphery of the pressure sensitive adhesive and therefore the periphery for each product 2/ will be properly aligned.

In Figure 1, bending device 3! , 3! ' is the product of this product/a
, λ/1) t-supplied and horizontally inserted in a flat position and transferred from the belt device 3t and the plate 3 to the transfer belt device f.
Supplied in 13g. Notched roll,? ? , J? ' are driven at a constant speed, and the guide rolls 41o, IIi are driven at a constant speed so that the belt is properly conveyed around the pulley 39 without slipping.
is in deep contact with the inner belt surface by proper placement of the

The lower running portion of the belt arrangement Δ moves in the direction of the arrow 3 and passes around the nose plate 41+ in close proximity to the nip between the rolls / / , / /'. The nose plate 44F is a product,
The leading edge of the deposit in 2/ is a roll.

/ /' It is designed and arranged so that it is under the control of 4t belts and 4t belts 1 which are held in between and cooperate with each other. The special interaction between the folding vacuum rolls /l, /1 and the product to be packaged, 2/, and the division of the upper web W and the division of the lower web W' will be explained later. After the packaging is completed, the package transported between the upper belt assembly 6 and the lower belt is released by the belt assembly II3.
As explained above for g, guide roll daza, l
The upper belt lI6 is held in a strong slip-free relationship with the score roll 4 (co) by the lower belt l
I&' is similarly arranged.

The completed package-1, 3 has an upper web section and a lower web section placed in unison, and arrows for the next downstream collation, boxing, etc. An intermediate compressed product is released in the direction 0.

FIG. 3 is a typical compressed tlA diagram for sanitary paper, nonwovens and other highly compressible materials. The solid line 5IiiiR curved Webco/a, -1 shows the typical compressibility in surgical wipes and pads made from the nonwoven fabric shown in Figure 1.

In accordance with a typical embodiment of the invention, the double-folded surgical wipes are folded longitudinally and then transversely into a roll for packaging by the conveying device 3 of FIG.
1. It is produced by feeding the product into l/'.

The compaction diagram shows that the compaction force is relatively small to reduce the uncompacted pile height to about 10% of the original height. For example, solid line! -, the uncompacted stack height of each q-fold wiper is reduced to 1. the law of nature! 1, tIlII (0,0
The height of the compacted pile (finches) is reduced. Since the ultimate goal is to create a wrinkle-free package, the effect of the stack product height on the packaging web of the packaging wrapper is evenly distributed to affect each top and bottom web equally.

In the illustrated graph of FIG. 3, one is chosen to further compress the product with a large compression force beyond a compression rate of approximately 60%, and the required force increases rapidly, and the compressed product itself now acts as a solid object, with cooperating rolls/
The impact load can be reduced when passing through the common nip between / # / /'.

Since the effect of the compression height is equally distributed, the pockets it, it' each have a depth of l of the height to be compressed, and the nip gap between the rolls is the width of the packaging web w,
w' is several tenths/inch less than the combined thickness of one section.

In the described embodiment, the folded product is /#t
myx (<7-(acinch)), so the notch/6./4' is 0.9 m (0, OJ!r inch) deep. The gap between the rolls is 0.0!rats (
0,00-inch), without any particular limitation, a minimum gap is maintained between the rolls, with the ultimate goal of a wrinkle-free seal along the periphery, while some gap is found as required. It is shown that.

The web section is supported by surface portions along the periphery corresponding to the front, lateral and rear sealing areas.

As previously noted, each web section is peripherally printed with an adhesive that bonds together when joined through the nip. It will be clear that the web portion covers each cutout /A, /A' and is suspended until the compressed product is introduced in line with the cutout. At this time, each web portion is deflected into a notch so as to engage against the bottom resilient surface of the notch. Only o, y +u (o, o3
z inches), and considering that the packaging material itself is stretched somewhat, this distortion has no effect on the flatness of the peripheral edge held to the face portion by the vacuum holes/g. It is also noted that the peripheral edges to be sealed are held compressed by the nip between the rolls / / , / /'. Additionally, side seals are progressively created as the leading edge seal is completed and the intervening product is sequentially compressed.

This unique compression-sealing configuration is clearly illustrated in FIG. 1, with the height of the uncompacted stack being exaggerated for illustration. Cooperative roles / /.

/ /' is the same as the anvil l, notch /6, and vacuum hole 17'
is shown. Vacuum hole 17 has multiple passages! 3°! Da, 3
It communicates with the vacuum hole it via 5, the corresponding one being marked with a dash.

aisle! r3 are arranged in the horizontal direction and communicate with vacuum holes located in front of each notch on the distal end side.

Other passages can connect one or more vacuum holes it with vacuum hole /7 along the side edges. Passage, t4! connects the intermediate hole with the circumferentially aligned vacuum holes /l, and passage 3 connects the vacuum holes it, which are laterally aligned and follow the notches l of the roll ll, with the associated vacuum holes 17. (Figure 1).

Vacuum hole /1 is effective because it holds the web portion firmly against the face portion of roll 11 as it rotates from the cutting position to the nip position. When the web sections meet and overlap in the nip between the rolls, they are synchronously held securely by the nip spacing Sa of FIG. The gap C in the sealed peripheral portion is typically less than a few thousandths of an inch less than the combined thickness of the web portions from the web w,'tr. However, the gap C between the pedestal of the upper notch/6 and the pedestal of the lower notch/A'' is equal to the compressed thickness of the article plus a few thousandths of an inch of the minimum gap. It's the same as digging.

For example, 0. between rolls / / , / /'. Orm(
0,002 inch) gap is used for the peripheral seal, and the gap between the cooperating notches /4, /6' is approximately 0.0! r
A nip gap of w (0,00-in.) is
, oto inches) for a total of 1.13 m (0,0'
72 inches).

It will be appreciated that because the notch gap is preselected based on the compressed thickness of the article, different thickness notches may be required for articles having different compressed thicknesses. Similarly,
When packaging dimensions change, the roll diameter and circumference of the folding roll or cutting roll must be changed, and an unspecified mounting structure is provided to allow minimum clearance settings for different roll diameters and notch depths. .

- Figure 5 is a side sectional view of the end of the vacuum roll // rotating counterclockwise. Multiple aisles! 3. ! 44. ! r!
Connect the vacuum hole to the vacuum hole it in the land surrounding the recessed notch lB (see Figure 1).

When the anvil /fa reaches the point /Wb, the anvil Qa
cuts the web and the part of the web behind the cut is ironed against the land of the roll// and the vacuum hole// is ironed against the land of the roll//.
It is held firmly in place by t'. In this state, the leading edge of the web W is held firmly against the surface of the roll until the leading edge reaches the nip gap C.

The vacuum valve S6 seen in the lower pressure hand portion of FIG. 3 is a groove cavity, that is, a vacuum chamber, which is evacuated by a pipe 5t leading to a vacuum pump (not shown). It has properties. A vacuum valve S6 is cooperatively attached to the end face of the vacuum roll ii. Vacuum plug! 9 is the vacuum chamber! A movable adjustment is achieved over the entire length of the tube, in which case the vacuum is at point/? It is adjusted so that it starts just before tl and ends at point C.

The vacuum hole 10 at the tip is indicated by a dotted line, and the vacuum plug S9 at the bottom
When the vacuum hole i is cut off from the vacuum source and the vacuum action at the vacuum hole ig on the surface is stopped, the vacuum chamber 3 is communicated with the vacuum hole 61 to begin evacuation. With this, 2
The two heavy web sections are rolled/rolled as shown in Figure 9.
/ , / /' are held firmly by the nip.

Similar vacuum valves and timing devices are provided on the vacuum roll //.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cooperating arrangement between the upper web section W and the lower web section W1, with the products compressed at the leading edge and the final package 2J leaving the packaging process all visible.

Notch /A, /A' and vacuum hole /t, /
t' is blocked in the figure by the upper and lower web portions 6 and 6 and is indicated by a dotted line. Nevertheless, the vacuum holes maintain the web in a curved facing peripheral holding orientation until the web reaches and is held fixed between the cooperating elastic surfaces of the vacuum rolls //, 11'. When the product roll reaches the nip between the vacuum rolls /l, //', the notches /A,
The central portions of the upper and lower webs supported on /4' are distorted and slightly tensioned to create a chamber for the compressed article between them.

FIG. 7 shows a modified form of the vacuum roll ///, which is substantially different from the previously described vacuum roll //, / door, which uses elastic shims /43 in each notch ilt. In this case, the vacuum roll /// has a stay core ItlI superimposed on the elastic circumferential surface /4. This surface /Aj is delimited by a spaced circumferential section and is provided with a cutout /6 based on an elastic shim /63.

In this case, it may be advantageous to vary the depth of the notch by introducing a strong elastic shim under the base of the notch. In either case, the use of elastic shims increases the variation to the operation of a given device by being able to vary the depth of the notch.

OPERATION This invention includes the provision of a parent rollco S, -31, as seen in the right-hand portion of FIG.

Preferably, each parent roll 23' is preprinted with a circumferential rectangular pattern of adhesive on longitudinally spaced apart portions. The adhesive is a pressure-sensitive co-adhesive type, and a given adhesive cannot have any adhesive effect without a partner. Therefore, parent rollco! One pattern is provided on the parent rollco 31, and another pattern is provided on the parent rollco 31, respectively. Then the web #! The packaging device shown in FIG. 1 is fed via a tensioning device in the central part of FIG. When the web W reaches the packaging part of the packaging device shown in FIG.
These adhesive patterns are provided so that they match when they meet the nip C between them.

When each web 'w, w' engages each vacuum roll II, //', the web W is in a position to be engaged with the blade -0 of the cutting rownow acting against the anvil 19 of the vacuum roll. Wl is located. This sets each web to the 4th
It is divided into sections as shown in Figure I.6. The vacuum rolls / / , / /' are preferably provided with elastic surfaces and the nip O is generally thinner than the combined thickness of the two web sections passing between them. The web is held on the vacuum rolls //, //' by means of a circumferential number and provided vacuum holes /1 and covers a notch 16 formed to receive the product col as shown in Figure M1.

As the vacuum rolls 11, 11' rotate, the leading edge of each section 6, 61 enters nip 0 and adhesive bonding occurs along the leading edge. When this bonding occurs, the product col is introduced between the web sections clamped in synchronous relationship with the roll face notches and the subsequent vacuum rolls / / , t / /'
The successive rotations of produce progressive compression of the product and progressive compression sealing of the congruent and opposing adhesive edges, ultimately producing a sealed, wrinkle-free package.

In the foregoing description, detailed descriptions of embodiments of the invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but many modifications to the details described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an apparatus for carrying out the present invention, Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus that develops the operation schematically shown in Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a diagram of folded sanitary tissues and non-woven fabric materials. A graph showing the relationship between the compression force and the height of the compressed product in various pile bodies, Figure 7 is a graph showing the relationship between the compression force and the height of the compressed product in various pile bodies. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing details of the vacuum equipment associated with one of the vacuum rolls; FIG. 6 is a partial view of FIG. 7;
A schematic diagram similar to the one shown in Figure 7, and Figure 7 is a cross section of a modified example of the vacuum roll.
This is a diagram. In the figure, /l. lll: Vacuum roll, l-cutting roll, is. l tick retraction roll, 16: notch, /7. It: vacuum hole, lde: anvil, 20=blade, col: product, -1,
λJ: envelope fc4L koS: parent role, ko1. , 3θ: Guide roll, Ko? : Dancer roll, J, 2. ,? , 7: limit switch, 3g, 3g': bending device, 36: belt device, 3g=transfer belt device, dao, dal2 guide roll, dako: belt, tatami nose plate, 41t: belt device,! 3. ;l. ! Yo2 path, 5t: vacuum valve, 60: vacuum hole, t//
': Vacuum roll, //4: Notch, /1,3: Elastic shim, /441: Stale core, /bs: Elastic curve.

Claims (1)

[Claims] l Printing each of one web with a joining periphery of each web suitable for forming one half of a packaging seal, feeding the webs so that the joining peripheries of each web are in co-operation; cutting the web segment from the web and feeding the web segment onto the circumferential portion of one cooperating spaced roll having a gap narrower than the combined thickness of one web segment passing therebetween; , each web segment is held by a vacuum against a circumferential portion of the roll such that each web segment is supported in a notched portion of the roll, and a joining leading edge portion of the periphery of each web is in the nip between the rolls. rotating the roll elongation and the web sections until they are joined, and introducing the product between the web sections clamped in synchronous relationship with the roll face cutouts to form a compression-sealed package with the compressed product. A method of making a leak-proof sealed sterile package comprising rotating the roll, web section, and product so as to effect a compression seal around the interview area consistent with a gradual compression of the product to create a leak-proof sealed sterile package. The method according to claim 1, wherein printing of the joint periphery is performed in a separate previous step. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the periphery of the web section is maintained in a non-coincident relationship with the roll face cutout. 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the periphery is not centered with respect to the web section. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the depth of the cutout in one roll face is different from the depth of the cutout in another cooperating roll. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein cooperative synchronization of the web sections is achieved by varying the advancement speed of one web relative to the other before cutting into sections. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the notched portion of the roll surface is varied by providing an elastic shim in the core notch. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the shim is inelastic and inserted beneath the outwardly facing resilient portion of the notch. A method according to claim 1, wherein the depth of the cutout of each roll is equal to half the compressed height of the product to be packaged. IQ advancing a pair of webs, each printed with a series of peripheral cooperative adhesive patterns, down a separate path toward a product packaging location, orienting each web in the path so that the adhesive patterns match at the packaging location; A vacuum roll having a notch on its surface sized to receive half the thickness of the product and having a vacuum hole provided around each notch is provided in each passage, and the vacuum roll is in an overlapping relationship with the notch. Sections are cut from each web to provide a web section of 1,000 mm, and product is continuously introduced into the notch when the web section overlaps the notch, so that the product is continuously wrapped between the peripheral patterns. A leak-proof wrinkle-free packaging method for medical web products and the like consisting of rotating vacuum rolls. l/, a frame, a packaging location on the frame, a pair of web roll unwinding stands associated with the frame on which each web roll is provided with a peripheral pattern of conjugated pressure sensitive adhesive, a peripheral pattern associated with the frame and at the packaging location; a roll arrangement interposed between the unwind stand and the wrapping station to maintain the alignment of the web rolls; a pair of vacuum roll devices disposed in close relation, each vacuum roll device having a notch that conforms to the shape of the product to be packaged and holding the web sections in close relationship in the notch; each vacuum roll device further includes a cutting roll for successively unrolling web segments from each web and in synchronous alignment with the notch into the nip, packaging A device for making leak-proof sealed sterile packages with a device for continuously introducing the product to be processed.