SEALING DEVICE AND SEALING METHOD
An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing device and a sealing method with which oxygen substitution can be sufficiently carried out even in a bag-like container. The present invention is a sealing device for putting a content into a bag-like container and sealing the container, and includes a content supply portion that supplies the content to the container having an opening in an open state, an inert gas supply portion that supplies inert gas to the container, a liquefied inert gas supply portion that supplies liquefied inert gas to the container, and a sealing portion that seals the opening of the container after the liquefied inert gas is supplied.
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The present invention relates to a sealing device and a sealing method.
BACKGROUND ARTIf a container is filled with a content such as a food product and is then sealed, there is a possibility that oxygen existing in the container oxidizes the content. For this reason, conventionally, before the container filled with the content is sealed, inert gas is injected to substitute the inert gas for the oxygen. However, if inert gas is used, a problem arises in that the gas exchange takes time. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique of using liquefied inert gas, in place of inert gas. That is to say, liquefied inert gas is injected into the container and is evaporated within the container, thereby carrying out oxygen substitution.
CITATION LIST Patent LiteraturePatent Literature 1: JPS62-158626 A
SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical ProblemAs described above, in Patent Literature 1, oxygen substitution is carried out by injecting liquefied inert gas. However, with a bag-like container, if the liquefied inert gas is evaporated and permeates the container, a problem arises in that it becomes difficult to close an opening of the container, or in that it is difficult to control the amount of gas in the container, that is, the volume of the container. For this reason, the opening of the container needs to be closed as soon as possible after injecting the liquefied inert gas. However, if the opening of the container is thus closed at a short time after injection of the liquefied inert gas, another problem arises in that oxygen substitution cannot be sufficiently carried out.
The present invention has been made in order to solve the foregoing problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a sealing device and a sealing method with which oxygen substitution can be sufficiently carried out even in a bag-like container.
Solution to ProblemThe present invention is a sealing device for putting a content into a bag-like container and sealing the container, including: a content supply portion configured to supply the content to the container having an opening in an open state; an inert gas supply portion configured to supply inert gas to the container; a liquefied inert gas supply portion configured to supply liquefied inert gas to the container; and a sealing portion configured to seal the opening of the container after the liquefied inert gas is supplied.
With this configuration, the following effect can be achieved. With a bag-like container, if the liquefied inert gas is evaporated within the container, it becomes difficult to close the opening of the container, or it becomes difficult to adjust the amount of gas in the container. On the other hand, if the opening of the container is closed at a short time after injection of the liquefied inert gas, there is a possibility that oxygen substitution cannot be sufficiently carried out.
For this reason, by supplying the inert gas before supplying the liquefied inert gas as described above, oxygen substitution within the container can be sufficiently carried out. Consequently, the amount of oxygen remaining in the container can be reduced.
In the above-described device, it is possible that the inert gas supply portion supplies the inert gas to the container while the content is being supplied. With this configuration, the time taken until the opening of the container is sealed can be shortened.
In the above-described device, it is possible that the content supply portion includes at least one guide member that is inserted into the container from the opening thereof and guides the supply of the content. As a result of providing this guide member, supply of the content is facilitated even in the case of a soft container having a low rigidity, such as a bag-like container.
In the above-described device, it is possible that two of the guide members are provided, at least end portions of the two guide members on a side of being inserted into the opening of the container are configured to approach and separate from each other, and the content is supplied into the container from a gap between the two guide members.
With this configuration, the end portions of both guide members on the container opening side are brought close to each other and the overall thickness of these guide members thereby becomes small, and accordingly the guide members can be easily inserted into the opening of the container. Then, if a gap is formed by separating the guide members from each other after the guide members are inserted, this gap can be used as a passage for the content, and accordingly the content can be easily supplied.
In the above-described device, it is possible that the inert gas supply portion includes a gas supply pipe that is attached to the guide member. With this configuration, the gas supply pipe can be inserted together with the guide member into the container, and accordingly, even if the gas supply pipe has a low rigidity and is soft, for example, the gas supply pipe can be reliably inserted into the container. Furthermore, since the gas supply pipe can be inserted up to a deep position within the container, oxygen substitution at the deep position within the container can be reliably carried out, and the residual ratio of oxygen can be further reduced.
A sealing method according to the present invention is a method for supplying a content into a bag-like container and sealing the container, the method including: a step of supplying the content to the container having an opening in an open state; a step of supplying inert gas to the container; a step of supplying liquefied inert gas to the container after the inert gas is supplied; and a step of sealing the opening of the container after the liquefied inert gas is supplied.
It is possible that the step of supplying the inert gas is performed during the step of supplying the content.
It is possible that the step of supplying the inert gas includes: a sub-step of inserting a gas supply pipe for supplying the inert gas into the container; and a sub-step of discharging the inert gas from the gas supply pipe.
Advantageous Effects of InventionAccording to the present invention, oxygen substitution can be sufficiently carried out even in a bag-like container.
An embodiment of a sealing device according to the present invention will be hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.
As shown in
1. Schematic Configuration of Sealing Device
Next, a schematic configuration of the sealing device will be described. As shown in
A container supply unit 4, a content conveyance unit 5, and a conveyance unit for sealing 6 are adjacent to the support 1. The container supply unit 4 is configured to supply the container 100 to each container holder 2 on the support 1 at a receiving position in a peripheral portion of the support 1. That is to say, since the support 1 rotates, the container supply unit 4 supplies the container 100 to each of the container holders 2 that sequentially pass through the receiving position. The container 100 held by each container holder 2 is filled with the content and inert gas as described later, thereafter separates from the container holder 2 at a separation position, and is delivered to the conveyance unit for sealing 6. The separation position is provided on the side opposite to the receiving position across the support 1. That is to say, the container 100 delivered to each container holder 2 at the receiving position rotates with the support 1 by about 180 degrees, and is thereafter delivered from the container holder 2 to the conveyance unit for sealing 6 at the separation position.
The content conveyance unit 5 is for conveying a plurality of content supply devices 51, and has a conveyance path 52 that approaches the support 1 from a position separated from the support 1, extends along the circumference of the support 1, and thereafter separates from the support 1. The content supply devices 51 are conveyed along the conveyance path 52 at predetermined intervals. Each content supply device 51 faces a corresponding filling auxiliary device 3 on the support 1, and is conveyed along the support 1 so as to maintain this facing state. That is to say, the content conveyance unit 5 conveys the content supply devices 51 in synchronization with the filling auxiliary devices 3.
The conveyance unit for sealing 6 has a conveyance path 61 extending from the aforementioned separation position, and a plurality of container support devices 62 move at predetermined intervals on this conveyance path 61. Each container support device 62 conveys the container 100 delivered from the support 1 at the separation position while holding the container 100. Furthermore, a liquefied inert gas supply portion 63 that injects liquefied inert gas into the container 100, and a sealing portion 64 that seals the upper opening of the container are provided on the conveyance path 61 of the conveyance unit for sealing 6.
2. Support
Next, the support 1 will be described in detail with reference to
As shown in
A gas supply pipe 7 that supplies inert gas is attached to each filling auxiliary device 3. Inert gas such as nitrogen is supplied to this gas supply pipe 7 from a gas supply source (not shown). Each gas supply pipe 7 is attached to the outer face of one of the guide members 31, and extends from the upper part toward the lower part of the guide member 31. The gas supply pipe 7 is open near the lower part of the guide member 31, and ejects the inert gas.
3. Container Supply Unit
Next, the container supply unit 4 will be described. The container supply unit 4 has a conveyance path 41 extending up to the aforementioned receiving position, and is provided with a pair of suction members 42 that open the upper opening of the container 100, near the receiving position. The suction members 42 are configured to approach and separate from each other, and expand the upper opening of the container 100 by suctioning the respective side face portions of the conveyed container 100 and thereafter separating from each other. The attachment members 42 are configured to then deliver the container 100 to the container holder 2 of the support 1, in the state where the upper opening of the container 100 is expanded.
4. Content Conveyance Unit
Next, the content conveyance unit 5 will be described in detail with reference also to
5. Conveyance Unit for Sealing
Subsequently, the conveyance unit for sealing 6 will be described in detail. As shown in
6. Process of Sealing by Sealing Device
Subsequently, a sealing process in the sealing device configured as described above will be described with reference also to
The corresponding containing device 52 filled with the content is also conveyed in parallel therewith, by the content conveyance unit 5. The containing device 52 is conveyed along the circumference of the support 1 so as to face the corresponding filling auxiliary device 3. While the container 100 moves from the receiving position to the separation position, the containing device 52 inclines, and causes the content to fall as shown in
Upon the content being thus put in the container 100, as shown in
In a specific example of the above process, for example, assuming that the amount of injected inert gas is about 200 to 250 mL, the amount of injected liquefied inert gas is about 1 to 2 g, and the time taken from injection of the liquefied inert gas until sealing of the container opening is about 0.3 to 3 seconds when the volume of the container is 1000 mL and the amount of the content is about 200 to 250 mL in terms of volume, the residual ratio of oxygen can be 8% or smaller. Furthermore, the container can be bulged to the extent that, even if the container is pressed from the outside, the force is not exerted on the content. However, the above is only an example, and the present invention is not limited thereto.
7. Features
As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inert gas is supplied, in addition to the liquefied inert gas, into the container 100, and accordingly oxygen substitution within the container 100 can be sufficiently carried out. Consequently, the amount of oxygen remaining in the container 100 can be reduced. In particular, as a result of injecting the inert gas, control of the amount of oxygen substitution does not need to be adjusted only at the time of the injection of the liquefied inert gas, and accordingly, the time taken from the injection of the liquefied inert gas until sealing and the dripping amount of the liquefied inert gas can be adjusted with a weight on the adjustment of the container volume. Accordingly, the amount of oxygen substitution and the container volume can be controlled with accuracy.
8. Modifications
Although an embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be modified in various manners within the gist of the present invention. For example, although the filling of the container with the content and the inert gas is performed while rotating the container holders with the support in the above embodiment, the conveyance path used in the sealing process is not limited thereto, and for example, a linear conveyance path may be used.
The container supply unit 4, the content conveyance unit 5, and the conveyance unit for sealing 6 do not need to be provided individually, and there is no particular limitation as long as the sealing device is an device with which, during a series of processes, the upper opening of the container is brought into an open state, the content and the inert gas are injected, the liquefied inert gas is thereafter injected, and the opening is sealed.
Although the container is a stand-up pouch in the above embodiment, the present invention is also applicable to a container having an opening in a horizontal direction. The content to be put in the container may be a food product in grain, chip, or bean form, or a solid food product, or may also be a fragile content.
In the above embodiment, regarding the gas supply pipe 7 attached to the guide members 31, the position of an outlet port of the gas supply pipe 7 does not have to be in the lower part of the guide members 31, and may be changed as appropriate depending on the amount of the content, the form of the container, or the like. Furthermore, it is also possible that the gas supply pipe is not attached to the guide members but is inserted individually into the container. Note that the form of the guide members is not particularly limited either, and is not particularly limited as long as the guide members can guide the supply of the content. For example, although both guide members 31 are pivotably supported and the lower end portions thereof approach and separate from each other in the above embodiment, the guide members 31 can be configured such that the entire faces thereof approach and separate from each other.
The form of the container is not limited to the above-described one either, and the device according to the present invention is applicable to any bag-like container having an opening in the upper part thereof.
Reference Signs List31: Guide members (content supply portion)
5: Content conveyance portion (content supply portion)
63: Liquefied inert gas supply portion
64: Sealing portion
7: Gas supply pipe (inert gas supply portion)
Claims
1. A sealing device for putting a content into a bag-like container and sealing the container, comprising:
- a content supply portion configured to supply the content to the container having an opening in an open state;
- an inert gas supply portion configured to supply inert gas to the container;
- a liquefied inert gas supply portion configured to supply liquefied inert gas to the container; and
- a sealing portion configured to seal the opening of the container after the liquefied inert gas is supplied.
2. The sealing device according to claim 1,
- wherein the inert gas supply portion supplies the inert gas to the container while the content is being supplied.
3. The sealing device according to claim 1,
- wherein the content supply portion includes at least one guide member that is inserted into the container from the opening thereof and guides the supply of the content.
4. The sealing device according to claim 3,
- wherein two of the guide members are provided,
- at least end portions of the two guide members on a side of being inserted into the opening of the container are configured to approach and separate from each other, and
- the content is supplied into the container from a gap between the two guide members.
5. The sealing device according to claim 3,
- wherein the inert gas supply portion includes a gas supply pipe that is attached to the guide member.
6. A method for supplying a content into a bag-like container and sealing the container, the method comprising:
- a step of supplying the content to the container having an opening in an open state;
- a step of supplying inert gas to the container;
- a step of supplying liquefied inert gas to the container after the inert gas is supplied; and
- a step of sealing the opening of the container after the liquefied inert gas is supplied.
7. The sealing method according to claim 6,
- wherein the step of supplying the inert gas is performed during the step of supplying the content.
8. The sealing method according to claim 6,
- wherein the step of supplying the inert gas comprising:
- a sub-step of inserting a gas supply pipe for injecting the inert gas into the container; and
- a sub-step of discharging the inert gas from the gas supply pipe.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 21, 2013
Publication Date: Mar 26, 2015
Applicant: OTSUKA PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD. (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Inventors: Takashi Harashima (Osaka), Yoshihiko Asai (Osaka)
Application Number: 14/391,350
International Classification: B65B 31/02 (20060101);