Package making – Progressively seamed cover web or web folds – With closing of web between package units
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-08
2001-07-17
Vo, Peter (Department: 3721)
Package making
Progressively seamed cover web or web folds
With closing of web between package units
C053S552000, C053S553000, C053S554000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260336
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine.
BACKGROUND ART
In a conventional filling machine, brick-shaped packaging containers filled with a liquid food such as milk or soft drink are produced in a manner in which a web-shaped packaging material made of flexible laminate is continuously formed into a tubular shape while being transported, and the liquid food is charged into the tubular packaging material.
To this end, a web-shaped packaging material set to the filling machine in the form of a reel is pulled out by drive mechanism disposed at a plurality of locations in the filling machine, so that the packaging material is transformed within the filling machine and sealed longitudinally into a tubular shape. In this case, the packaging material has a laminar structure composed of paper substrate, films covering both faces of the paper substrate, and aluminum foil optionally disposed between the paper substrate and the film.
While the tubular packaging material is transported downward, liquid food is charged into the packaging material from above. To tubular packaging material is then nipped from opposite lateral sides at a position below the surface of the liquid food, so that the tubular packaging material is sealed laterally at predetermined intervals. Thus, a series of original-shape packaging containers having a pillow-like shape, a bag-like shape, or any other shape are fabricated.
Subsequently, in order to separate the original-shape containers from each other, the tubular packaging material is cut, through use of a cutting knife, at each laterally sealed portion, i.e., at a position between two seal lines formed at each laterally sealed portion.
Each of the separated original-shape containers is folded along preset creases into a desired shape. Thus are completed a plurality of packaging containers, each containing the same amount of liquid food.
In the above-described conventional filling machine, when the laterally sealed portion is cut, the liquid food may adhere to the cutting knife, with the result that the adhered liquid from dirties the cut ends of the packaging material.
An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem of the conventional filling machine and to provide a cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine which prevents liquid food adhering to the cutting knife from dirtying cut ends of packaging material.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above object, in the cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine according to the present invention, a web-shaped packaging material is continuously sealed longitudinally to be formed into a tubular shape, a liquid food is charged into the tubular packaging material, the tubular packaging material is nipped from opposite lateral sides at a position below the surface of the liquid food, so that the tubular packaging material is laterally sealed, and the laterally sealed portion is cut in order to obtain an original-shape container.
The cutter cleaning apparatus includes a cutting knife for cutting the laterally sealed portion, and cleaning medium supply means for supplying a cleaning medium to the cutting knife.
When the laterally sealed portion is cut by the cutting knife, part of the liquid food remaining inside the tubular packaging material leaks out and adheres to the cutting knife. However, since the cleaning medium is supplied to the cutting knife by the cleaning medium supply means, the cutting knife is cleaned immediately.
Accordingly, the liquid food adhering to the cutting knife is prevented from dirtying cut ends of packaging material.
In another cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine according to the present invention, the cleaning medium supply means comprises a closed space that surrounds at least the tip end of the cutting knife, and a cleaning medium passage connected to the closed space and adapted to supply the cleaning medium to the closed space.
In still another cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine according to the present invention, the cutting knife is composed of a knife body and a knife holder for supporting the knife body, and the closed space surrounds the knife body and the knife holder.
In this case, the cutting knife is cleaned by the cleaning medium supplied to the closed space.
In still another cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine according to the present invention, the cutting knife is composed of a knife body, and a knife holder which is disposed to be slidable relative to the housing and which supports the knife body.
The cleaning medium supply means comprises a closed space that is formed on the rear side of a sliding portion between the knife holder and the housing, and a cleaning medium passage connected to the closed space and adapted to supply the cleaning medium to the closed space.
Further, a groove is formed in the knife holder to supply the cleaning medium from the closed space to the front side of the sliding portions.
In this case, since the space surrounding the cutting knife is not required to be filled with the cleaning medium, the amount of the cleaning medium to be used can be reduced. In addition, since the supply of the cleaning medium does not have to be controlled, the structure of the cutter cleaning apparatus can be simplified.
In still another cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine according to the present invention, the cleaning medium supply means comprises a cleaning medium jetting opening disposed in the vicinity of the tip end of the cutting knife, a cleaning medium passage connected to the cleaning medium jetting opening and adapted to supply the cleaning medium to the cleaning medium jetting opening, and a cleaning medium drain passage for draining the cleaning medium after cleaning.
In this case, the cutting knife is cleaned by the cleaning medium jetted from the cleaning medium jetting opening.
In still another cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine according to the present invention, the cleaning medium supply means comprises a main cleaning medium jetting opening disposed in the vicinity of the laterally sealed portion, and a sub cleaning medium jetting opening disposed in the vicinity of the cutting knife.
In this case, the cutting knife is cleaned by the cleaning medium jetted from the main and sub cleaning medium jetting openings.
In still another cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine according to the present invention, there are provided a seal block disposed in the vicinity of the laterally sealed portion, a pair of heating means disposed on the seal block, and a pair of dollies disposed to face the seal block and adapted to press the packaging material filled with the liquid food.
The cutting knife is disposed between the dollies such that are cutting knife can be advanced and retracted, and the cutting knife cuts the laterally sealed portion when advanced.
In this case, when the packaging material is nipped by the seal block and the dollies and is sealed by the heating means, a space is formed between two seal lines, and the liquid food remains within the space.
When the packaging material is cut by the cutting knife, the liquid food remaining within the space leaks out and adheres to the cutting knife. However, since the cleaning medium is supplied to the cutting knife by the cleaning medium supply means, the cutting knife is cleaned immediately.
Accordingly, the liquid food adhering to the cutting knife is prevented from dirtying the cut ends of packaging material.
In still another cutter cleaning apparatus for a filling machine according to the present invention, there are provided a seal block disposed in the vicinity of the laterally sealed portion, heating means disposed on the seal block, and a dolly disposed to face the seal block and adapted to press the packaging material filled with the liquid food.
The cutting knife is disposed to face the laterally sealed portion on the downstream side of the seal block with respect to the direction of transport of the packaging material.
In this case
Lorusso & Loud
Tawfik Sam
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
Vo Peter
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