FI60682B - ANORDNING FOER BEHANDLING AV DELAR AV EN FOERPACKNING - Google Patents

Description

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Patent-och regUterstyrcIsoi 7 Anteiun utltfd oeh utUkriftm publicund 30.11.81 (32) (33) (31) Requested «tuolkeui —Begird priority 07.06.76

England-England (GB) 23380/76 (71) Unilever N.V., Burgemeester s'Jacobplein 1, Rotterdam,

Netherlands-Netherlands (NL) (72) Jacob Zvanenburg, Vlaardingen, Harmen Veldhuizen, Vlaardingen,

Hollant i-Holland (NL) (7 ^) Leitzinger Oy (5 ^) Device for handling packaging parts - Anordning för behandling av delar av en förpackning

The present invention relates to a device for handling packaging parts which must be introduced successively into a treatment chamber or a similar space in which it must be possible to close the chamber at at least one end. These packaging parts are, in particular, preformed containers made of plastic, glass or metal, their lids or even smaller stacks of lids punched with a film. It may be necessary to subject such packages to a treatment in which they are cleaned, sterilized, deaerated, absorbed gases and condensates and filled with a shielding gas or, for example, provided with an antistatic agent which is sprayed on the surface. For such treatments, it is necessary to be able to partially or completely close the chamber with respect to the environment.

The treatment can be carried out in chambers which, after a certain number of containers have been introduced into them, can remain completely closed during the treatment. However, this method must be considered disadvantageous due to the space required by such a device. In some other methods, the containers are continuously passed through a sterilizing atmosphere by means of transport means. In these methods, the processing caramel is not hermetically sealed. The gas can thus mix with the ambient air.

2 60682

The object of the present invention is to provide a treatment chamber through which the packaging parts can be passed continuously in succession, but which can nevertheless be closed in such a way that the steam or gas atmosphere in the chamber cannot penetrate another chamber or the surrounding air.

According to the present invention, an elastic ring member is mounted in the treatment canister, which is approximately tubular and through which the packaging parts are passed successively and automatically, the cross-sectional shape of which can be changed by changing the pressure inside and the inner circumference can be changed in two positions. between one smaller and the other larger than the largest circumference of the packaging parts.

Expandable ring members are known per se. In the present invention, such an annular member acts both as a stopping member on the transfer path of the packaging members and together with the packaging part as a chamber closing member. The elastic inner circumference of the ring member can be pressed evenly and gently against the outer circumference of the packaging part or gripped by a protruding area with, for example, a flange edge. Because the ring members are elastically pressed against the packaging parts, they can also be used in connection with packaging parts which have deviations in shape and size or which can be damaged by mechanical transfer members. In this respect, the ring members are therefore more advantageous than, for example, mechanical stackers.

According to a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, the ring member is constructed and positioned in such a way that in its rest position it protrudes into the path of the packaging parts and can engage the packaging part. It can be reduced by applying a lower pressure than the atmosphere in the inner part of the ring member, so that the inner circumference is made larger, whereby a passage is released for one packaging part at a time. The ring member is connected to a vacuum system. The connection to the vacuum system is carried out by means of a suitable valve only when the ring member has to release the packaging part. During a failure of the vacuum system, the inner part of the ring member remains filled with air, and the inner surface of the ring member curves in the path of the packaging parts.

The ring member is best formed in such a way that at the internal pressure, at which the circumference is at its lowest or should be at least 3 60682 at all, it can be pressed tightly against the packaging part. If, for example, the containers are rectangular, the ring member must then be designed and installed in such a way that it can be squeezed into or gripped by this packaging part.

For treatments where the chamber does not need to be completely closed, the use of a ring member at the chamber outlet or inlet may be sufficient. For hermetically sealing the chamber, it is advantageous to connect to one locking device two or more ring members which are used alternately.

The ring members may be mounted in any desired position suitable for the feed direction of the packaging parts and their handling in the chambers. In a preferred embodiment of the device, the path of the packaging parts passes vertically through the ring members, and the ring members are mounted horizontally in this respect. The advantage of this is that the packaging parts can pass through the ring members and the processing chamber under their own weight.

In order for the ring members to close the chamber even if no new Packaging Parts are fed, it is preferable to install a monitoring member in the feed path of the packaging parts which stops the operation of the ring members when the Packing Parts no longer exist or is supported by the sealing ring member.

For practical reasons, the ring members are made of rubber or a similar material which is not damaged by the gases in the chamber with which the treatment is carried out. They are formed of a rigid outer ring and a flexible inner ring, the edges of which are attached to the outer side of the outer ring. Between the two rings is an inner part which can be evacuated or, if necessary, inflated through the many holes in the outer ring. In the preferred embodiment, i.e. in the evacuable embodiment, the attachment of the inner ring to the outer side of the outer ring results in that when the inner part is not evacuated, the inner ring curves in the path of the packaging parts. This curvature can be increased more by means of an annular member which is not only stretched along its circumference in its body, but which is also, for example, compressed from above and below by means of protruding parts of the body.

60682

Examples of an embodiment of the device according to the invention are schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a part of a device with a small processing chamber bound by two locking devices.

Figure 2 shows a locking device with two ring members.

The device shown is intended to handle, for example, plastic quick-release legs with a foot and a flange at the top. The goblets can be tinned inside each other and are fed more stacked into a column. For example, Figure 1 may show an initial arrangement of the device in which these cups are first sterilized and later filled and closed by means of a filling device.

The goblets 1 first come from above along the feed path 6 to the first small processing chamber 7 and from there to the second processing chamber 8. The processing chamber 7 can be closed both at the top and at the bottom by means of a locking device 11. Each of these locking devices consists of two ring members 12 and 13. The ring members are located inside a common body 21 and can be held in this body by means of rings 22 and 23. The body has air ducts 14 and 15 by means of which air is removed from or supplied to the ring members 12, 13.

The treatment chamber 7 is surrounded by a wall 8 in which the treatment gas inlet 16 and the outlet 17 are located. For example, the air accompanying the vessel in the chamber 7 can be exchanged for a gas atmosphere having a certain humidity. Furthermore, it is possible to remove a considerable amount of air from the vessel by evacuating and / or injecting a shielding gas. Only the inlet 24 of the treatment gas is shown in the second chamber 8. For example, the chamber 8 may be surrounded by an outer chamber 19 which can be used to heat the chamber 8 to a certain temperature. Only the inlet or outlet pipe 20 of the chamber 18 is shown in the drawing.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the locking device 11 between the two treatment chambers 9 and 10. The ring member 12 is filled with air. It curves inwards into the tubular path of the goblets. The largest circumference of the goblet 2, which here is the upper flange, is located on the inner circumference of the ring member 12. The ring member 13 has been shrunk to a possible inner circumference of 5,60682 man by evacuating its inner part, whereby the goblet 3 can fall until its foot rests on the bottom of the goblet 2. The following cups 4 and 5 have also been counted together with cup 3.

The next step in the operation of the device is the supply of air to the ring member 13. This now presses against the cup 3 or supports the flange of this cup, partially gripping it, whereby it acts as a stop member as well as a seal. The ring member 12 is then evacuated, releasing the goblet 2, which can slide into the treatment chamber 10. Air is then supplied to the ring member 12 again, and after the ring member 13 is then evacuated, the goblet 3 falls so that its flange is against the ring member 12. When air is supplied to the ring member 13, the ring member 13 can retain the flange of the cup 4 tightly.

As shown in Figure 2, each ring member is formed by an outer ring 27 and an inner ring 25. The edges of the inner ring 25 are attached to the outer side of the outer ring 27. The body 21 is provided with annular grooves 29 as air ducts connected to the air connections 14 and 15. The outer ring 27 has a plurality of holes 26 which communicate with the inner portion 28 between the outer and inner rings and through which air can be supplied or removed through ducts 29.

If the largest cross-section of the containers is circular, the handling chamber and the passage through the locking devices must also be made circular in cross-section. In this case, the diameter of the body parts of the treatment chamber and the locking device may be a and the diameter of the flange of the cups may be b. The ring members, their inner circumference, must then be made and placed in the body in such a way that after evacuation 28 the inner part 28 is filled with air, the inner ring 25 having the smallest diameter c curves forward into the tubular path of the cups, whereby c must obviously be less than b. However, when the diameter is c or somewhat smaller, the diameter must be less than b, the ring member retains the containers tightly and at the same time the chamber is closed.

Since the locking devices formed by the ring members can be closed only if the package part is inside them, it is advantageous, at least for the first part when there are several locks, to install a 660682 monitoring member, e.g. a photocell 30, which stops more valves not shown in the drawing. , when there are no more dishes.

Instead of passing only one package part through the locking device at a time, as in the example shown, the locking device can also be used to remove a small stack corresponding to the distance between the two ring members from the larger stack. In this way, for example, the lids struck from the films could be divided into separate small stacks of up to 100 lids and introduced into the treatment chamber via locking devices. In doing so, the ring members may retain the membranes so gently that this action does not alter their shape.

When, by shrinking the ring member, such a separate small stack is allowed to fall until the next locking device or other retaining device, as a result, some loosening occurs in the stack, which is sufficient for the penetration of the gas with which the treatment is performed.

By dividing the flat plates or deep-drawn lids into smaller stacks of at least two pieces, these can be led to or removed from the processing chamber via a locking device. In the case of packaging parts with a large surface area but only a small weight, there is a risk that they will tilt in their tubular path as soon as a gap is formed between the packaging parts. Transporting such packaging parts in small stacks prevents tilting, but ensures that the packaging parts are separated from each other to such an extent that the penetration of the gases with which the treatment is carried out is sufficient, even during a relatively short fall.

Although the device has been described in connection with the transfer and handling of packaging parts, it can also be used in connection with other parts of similar shape.

Claims (6)

7 Claims 60682 Device, in particular for handling packaging parts, consisting of a tubular processing chamber which can be closed at at least one end, characterized in that an elastic ring member (12, 13) is mounted on the path of the packaging parts (1) to change the cross-sectional shape. the pressure prevailing in its inner part (28), and the inner circumference of which can be changed between two positions, one smaller and the other larger than the largest circumference of the packaging parts, due to this pressure change. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that in its pulling position the annular member (12, 13) protrudes into the path of the packaging parts (1) and that by means of a lower atmospheric pressure it can be reduced larger than its inner circumference so that a path is released. Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at an internal pressure, the inner circumference being at its smallest, the annular element (12, 13) hermetically surrounds the packaging part (1). Device according to Claim 3, characterized in that the at least two ring members (12, 13), which are used alternately together, form a locking device. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the annular members (12, 13) are mounted in a horizontal plane and in that the path of the packaging parts (1) passes vertically through the annular members. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a monitoring element (3) is mounted on the path of the packaging parts, which, in the absence of other packaging parts (1), stops the ring members (12, 13) in such a position that the closing ring member (12) , 13) the packaging part (1) is still adhered.