Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi – Container making – Rigid container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-18
2001-08-07
Lazarus, Ira S. (Department: 3721)
Manufacturing container or tube from paper; or other manufacturi
Container making
Rigid container
C493S059000, C493S073000, C493S165000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06270451
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a package manufacturing apparatus.
BACKGROUND ART
Conventionally, packages containing drinks such as milk, juice, tea, and the like are formed from packaging paper materials laminated with plastic film, in view of reduced weight and prices of packages. In a package manufacturing apparatus for manufacturing such packages, a packaging paper material is fed longitudinally and undergoes longitudinal sealing so as to be formed into a tube, and the thus-formed tube is filled with contents. Subsequently, the tube undergoes lateral sealing and cutting, whereby a package in process of forming, i.e. a semi-finished package, is formed.
Then, when the semi-finished package is to be formed into a finished package, i.e. a final package, a portion-to-be-processed of the semi-finished package, for example, a sealed portion is folded onto the end face of the semi-finished package. Subsequently, a pair of flaps are formed at the folded sealed portion and folded onto the end face. Then, the shape of the tube is formed into a polygonal prism such as a hexagonal or octagonal prism.
In this case, the sealed portion of a semi-finished package must be favorably folded. To attain this end, a folding line is formed in the sealed portion of a semi-finished package through use of a dedicated folding-line-forming apparatus, and subsequently the sealed portion is folded along the folding line through use of a folding machine disposed separately from the folding-line-forming apparatus.
However, in the above conventional package manufacturing apparatus, the folding-line-forming apparatus is used to form a folding line, and the folding machine is used to fold the sealed portion. As a result, an actual fold may not be aligned with the formed folding line; i.e., the sealed portion may not be accurately folded along the formed folding line.
To solve the problem, the sealed portion can conceivably be folded while the folding line is being formed in the sealed portion. However, when a thick packaging material, a highly rigid packaging material, or a like packaging material is used, folding induces a large reaction force. This reaction force is apt to cause the misalignment between the folding line and an actual fold. As a result, not only does the sealed portion fail to be accurately folded, but also the sealed portion fails to be sufficiently folded, resulting in impaired appearance of a package.
An object of the present invention is to solve the problems involved in the conventional package manufacturing apparatus and to provide a package manufacturing apparatus capable of folding a portion-to-be-processed accurately along a folding line without misalignment between the folding line and an actual fold, to thereby improve the appearance of a package.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the above object, a package manufacturing apparatus of the present invention comprises a pair of arm means swingably disposed opposite to each other; folding-line applicators which nip a portion-to-be-processed of a package in process of forming, form a predetermined folding line in the portion-to-be-processed, and temporarily fold the portion-to-be-processed along the folding line while each of the arm means turns; and elastic contact means disposed between one of the folding-line applicators and the corresponding arm means in order to elastically bring the folding-line applicator into contact with the portion-to-be-processed.
In this case, while the arm means turns, the folding-line applicator nips the portion-to-be-processed of a package in process of forming, forms a predetermined folding line in the portion-to-be-processed, and temporarily folds the portion-to-be-processed along the folding line.
Since the temporary folding is performed in a state in which the portion-to-be-processed is nipped to form the folding line, the portion-to-be-processed can be folded accurately along the folding line without misalignment between the folding line and an actual fold.
Also, since the folding-line applicator is elastically brought into contact with the portion-to-be-processed, even when a reaction force induced from temporary folding is imposed on the folding-line applicator, the reaction force can be absorbed by the elastic contact means. Accordingly, a package in process of forming is free of any displacement which would otherwise occur due to the reaction force. Thus, an actual fold is aligned with the folding line; i.e., the portion-to-be-processed can be folded accurately along the folding line.
In another package manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the elastic contact means comprises a bending arm which is disposed swingably in relation to the arm means and on the tip end portion of which is fixed the folding-line applicator, and urging means which is disposed between the arm means and the bending arm and urges the folding-line applicator toward the portion-to-be-processed.
In this case, since the folding-line applicator is urged toward the portion-to-be-process, a reaction force induced by a package in process of forming can be absorbed by the urging means. Accordingly, the package is free of any displacement which would otherwise occur due to the reaction force, and thus a folding line can be formed accurately.
Also, since the bending arm and urging means constitute the elastic contact means, the structure of the package manufacturing apparatus can be simplified, resulting in a reduction in price.
In still another package manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, each of the arm means comprises two turnable arms that are disposed to face both widthwise end portions of the portion-to-be-processed.
In this case, since the folding-line applicators nip a package at four positions of the portions-to-be-processed of the package, even when the package has a polygonal prism shape, a folding line can be formed in the portions-to-be-processed, and the portions-to-be-processed can be temporarily folded along the respective folding lines.
In a further package manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, each of the bending arms is independently supported by the corresponding turnable arm, and the urging means is disposed between the turnable arm and the bending arm.
In this case, since each bending arm is independently supported by the corresponding turnable arm, a package can be reliably nipped at four positions of the portions-to-be-processed of the package by the folding-line applicators.
A still further package manufacturing apparatus of the present invention comprises a guide block disposed in correspondence with a portion-to-be-processed of a package in process of forming, and moving means for moving the package relative to the guide block.
The guide block has a groove portion formed therein for the purpose of folding the portion-to-be-processed to thereby form a flap.
In this case, since folding the portion-to-be-processed and positioning the package can be performed merely through use of the groove portion, the is no need for disposing a separate package-positioning mechanism. Thus, the apparatus becomes not only simple in structure but also easy to control. Also, since the package can be positioned while the portion-to-be-processed is being folded, positioning can be performed at high precision.
In a still further package manufacturing apparatus of the present invention, the portion-to-be-processed is a sealed portion, and the moving means moves the package in a direction perpendicular to the sealed surface of the sealed portion.
In this case, merely through movement of the package in a direction perpendicular to the sealed surface of the sealed portion, the portion-to-be-processed can be folded and the package can be positioned. Thus, there is no need for preparing a wide operation area for folding and positioning.
In a still further package manufacturing apparatus of the present invention the groove portion includes a leading portion for leading the portion-to-be-processed into the groove portion, and one of two wall portions at the leading portion is
Palm Magnus
Paltrinieri Roberto
Desai Hemant M.
Lazarus Ira S.
Lorusso & Loud
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
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