Abstract: A laminated packaging material is composed of a thermoplastic material outermost layer, a paper base material layer, a conductive barrier layer and a heat sealing innermost layer. An apparatus inspects an opening section, which is formed by at least partly eliminating the thermoplastic material outermost layer and the paper base material layer and by being sealed to be easily opened. In the apparatus, a probe electrode and a grounding electrode are arranged on the outer side and the inner side of the opening section, a current flowing between the probe electrode and the grounding electrode is detected by using the conductive barrier layer, and the sealing status of the opening section is inspected by a judging mechanism.

Abstract: A filling machine and a filling monitoring method monitor the condition of a pressure roller and do not harm the quality of fluid food. The filling machine includes a first rotary member inside of the joining surface of a longitudinally sealed portion of a packaging material being fed; a second rotary member disposed in opposition to the first rotary member with the packaging material pinched therebetween; a rotation detection signal generator for generating a rotation detection signal in association with rotation of at least one of the first and second rotary members; and a monitoring processor for reading the rotation detection signal and detecting abnormality of rotation of at least one of the first and second rotary members. Damage to the inner surfaces of the packaging material or to the strip tape, and dropping of a sticking resin piece into fluid food contained in the packaging material are prevented.

Abstract: [Problems] To provide a sealing status inspecting apparatus and a sealing status inspecting method, by which nondestructive inspection is facilitated without requiring cutting nor opening of a paper container nor cutting of a container wall for making a sample, and all the products are inspected on a manufacturing line. [Means For Solving Probiems] A laminated packaging material is composed of a thermoplastic material outermost layer, a paper base material layer, a conductive barrier layer and a heat sealing innermost layer. An apparatus inspects an opening section, which is formed by at least partly eliminating the thermoplastic material outermost layer and the paper base material layer and by being sealed to be easily opened.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a filling apparatus capable of reliably correcting the position of an overlap portion. The filling apparatus includes a forming ring including a plurality of forming rollers and disposed at a predetermined position along the traveling direction of a packaging material (11) in order to deform the packaging material (11) from a web-like shape to a tubular shape, and a longitudinal sealing device (41) for longitudinally sealing opposite side edges of the tubular packaging material (11). One of the forming rollers includes a flange (71 or 84) which is moved axially by means of a moving mechanism section (72). In this case, even when, within the forming ring, a side edge portion of the packaging material (11) of a certain size impinges on the flange (71 or 84), the flange (71 or 84) is caused to move accordingly to thereby avoid interfering with correction on the position of the overlap portion (LP).

Abstract: A filling machine and a filling monitoring method are provided which can monitor the condition of a pressure roller and do not deteriorate the quality of fluid food. The filling machine includes a first rotary member rotatably disposed at the inside of the joining surface of a longitudinally sealed portion of a packaging material (11) being fed; a second rotary member rotatably disposed in opposition to the first rotary member with the packaging material (11) pinched therebetween; a rotation detection signal generator for generating a rotation detection signal in association with rotation of at least one of the first and second rotary members; and monitoring processing means for reading the rotation detection signal and detecting abnormality of rotation of at least one of the first and second rotary members.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a container inspection method and a container inspection device which is not container quality inspection by individual and operator's empirical approach, not influenced by operator's skillfulness, can eliminate human error such as missing when recording and error in writing, not based on operator's subjective judgment, whose result is objective, and easily and statistically stores objective data. The container inspection method and container inspection device comprises an inspection for a container formed of a web-like packaging laminated material, which includes peeling flaps from the container wall by a pre-processing unit, cutting the container wall to prepare a sampled body by a sampled body preparing unit, inspecting seal quality by a seal quality unit, inspecting seal zone by an image processing unit, and inspecting damage on the seal zone by a seal damage inspection unit.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a container inspection method and a container inspection device which is not container quality inspection by individual and operator's empirical approach, not influenced by operator's skillfulness, can eliminate human error such as missing when recording and error in writing, not based on operator's subjective judgment, whose result is objective, and easily and statistically stores objective data. The container inspection method and container inspection device comprises an inspection for a container formed of a web-like packaging laminated material, which includes peeling flaps from the container wall by a pre-processing unit, cutting the container wall to prepare a sampled body by a sampled body preparing unit, inspecting seal quality by a seal quality unit, inspecting seal zone by an image processing unit, and inspecting damage on the seal zone by a seal damage inspection unit.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a filling apparatus capable of reliably correcting the position of an overlap portion. The filling apparatus includes a forming ring including a plurality of forming rollers and disposed at a predetermined position along the traveling direction of a packaging material (11) in order to deform the packaging material (11) from a web-like shape to a tubular shape, and a longitudinal sealing device (41) for longitudinally sealing opposite side edges of the tubular packaging material (11). One of the forming rollers includes a flange (71 or 84) which is moved axially by means of a moving mechanism section (72). In this case, even when, within the forming ring, a side edge portion of the packaging material (11) of a certain size impinges on the flange (71 or 84), the flange (71 or 84) is caused to move accordingly to thereby avoid interfering with correction on the position of the overlap portion (LP).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a filling apparatus capable of reliably correcting the position of an overlap portion. The filling apparatus includes a forming ring including a plurality of forming rollers and disposed at a predetermined position along the traveling direction of a packaging material (11) in order to deform the packaging material (11) from a web-like shape to a tubular shape, and a longitudinal sealing device (41) for longitudinally sealing opposite side edges of the tubular packaging material (11). One of the forming rollers includes a flange (71 or 84) which is moved axially by means of a moving mechanism section (72). In this case, even when, within the forming ring, a side edge portion of the packaging material (11) of a certain size impinges on the flange (71 or 84), the flange (71 or 84) is caused to move accordingly to thereby avoid interfering with correction on the position of the overlap portion (LP).

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a filling apparatus capable of reliably correcting the position of an overlap portion. The filling apparatus includes a forming ring including a plurality of forming rollers and disposed at a predetermined position along the traveling direction of a packaging material (11) in order to deform the packaging material (11) from a web-like shape to a tubular shape, and a longitudinal sealing device (41) for longitudinally sealing opposite side edges of the tubular packaging material (11). One of the forming rollers includes a flange (71 or 84) which is moved axially by means of a moving mechanism section (72). In this case, even when, within the forming ring, a side edge portion of the packaging material (11) of a certain size impinges on the flange (71 or 84), the flange (71 or 84) is caused to move accordingly to thereby avoid interfering with correction on the position of the overlap portion (LP).

Abstract: The present invention provides a filling apparatus establishing positional coincidence between creases preformed in a packaging material and actual creases to thereby improve the appearance of a packaging container. A light source irradiates a portion of the outer circumferential surface of a packaging material tube which includes an overlap. A sensor receives light emitted from the light source and reflected from the outer circumferential surface of the tube. The overlap is detected as a peak in the sensor output. Light reflected from an edge portion of the packaging material exhibits greater intensity and is seen as a peak in the sensor output indicating position of the overlap.

Abstract: The combination of a carrier for a container, a squaring plate, a drive for the squaring plate, and a sealing assembly. The carrier accepts a container having first and second spaced flat walls that are substantially parallel to each other with the container in an erected state and third and fourth walls each connecting between the first and second flat walls. The carrier has a first edge against which the first wall of the container can be abutted so that the first wall is thereby supported in a first orientation with the container operatively held by the carrier. The squaring plate is guided in movement relative to the carrier towards the first edge.

Abstract: A linear drive apparatus for moving a canon in a packaging machine from a first position to a second position is set forth. The apparatus includes first and second spaced apart guide rods and an engagement assembly that is disposed between and slidably engages the first and second guide rods. The engagement assembly is adapted to engage one or more cartons for movement between the first and second positions. The apparatus further includes a drive shall onto which a drive roller is disposed for co-rotation. A first drive belt is connected to the drive roller and disposed about the drive roller in a clockwise direction at a first end thereof while a second end of the first drive belt is connected to a first portion of the engagement assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing a fin at a gabled end of a carton is disclosed. The apparatus includes a longitudinal force mechanism for applying a sealing force to a first pair of opposed flaps of the gabled end of the carton. The longitudinal force mechanism is movable from a first position in which the gabled end of the carton is in a generally open condition to a second position at which the fin of the gabled end is sealed. A transverse force mechanism applies oppositely directed transverse forces to a second pair of opposed flaps of the gabled end of the carton as the longitudinal force mechanism moves from the first position to the second position. The transverse force mechanism urges the second pair of opposed flaps toward one another during movement of the longitudinal force mechanism. The second pair of opposed flaps are thus urged inward toward one another as the longitudinal force mechanism moves to form and seal the fin thereby preventing "duckbilling".

Abstract: A gable-bottom carton gripper is disclosed for lifting and transporting container blanks between various positions within a packaging machine. Container blanks are sealed in a gable-bottom configuration using predesigned sealing jaws. The sealing jaws feature strategically placed ribs which, during ultrasonic sealing of the container bottoms, cause the formation of a longitudinal bubble disposed along a bottom fin of each gable-bottom container. A carton gripper is adapted to grip the bottom fin while supporting the bottom panels of the container. The gripper includes a rigid member bent to conform to the shape of a gable-bottom container, with a gripping edge defining a fin channel to secure the bottom fin within a fin chamber. The longitudinal bubble prevents the fin from being displaced from the fin chamber during the lifting and transporting process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting the breakage of an electrically conductive drive band are disclosed. The apparatus includes an electrically conductive probe that is disposed proximate of the electrically conductive band. The probe is spaced from the electrically conductive drive band to allow the probe to contact the band upon its breakage. The band is connected to electrical ground potential. The apparatus also includes a continuity checking circuit that is connected to the electrically conductive drive band and the probe. The continuity checking circuit is designed so that the electrically conductive probe does not have a voltage potential thereon during normal operation of the apparatus. When the band breaks, it contacts the probe and thereby establishes an electrical continuity between the band and the probe. This electrical continuity is detected by the continuity checking circuit to provide a signal output indicative of the breakage of the band.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring biopermeability is disclosed. The apparatus includes a frame, a light source, a light-receiving element, a pre-amplifier, an off-set adjustment amplifier and a DC volt meter. The light source and light-receiving element are secured to the frame such that they face each other while keeping a gap therebetween such that an organism under measurement can be received in the gap without being urged. The pre-amplifier is connected to the light-receiving element and has a gain switching function. The summing amplifier is connected for zero adjustment and gain adjustment to the output side of the pre-amplifier and has an output terminal from which a DC data representing biopermeability is provided. Between the output terminal and ground the DC volt meter is connected.