JPH04102534A - Packing method by heat-shrinkable film - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily tear a heat-shrinkable film without lowering the strength of the film by covering a packing object moving on a carrier path with the heat-shrinkable film, by lapping a part of the heat-shrinkable film over another to hot-melt them in the traveling direction of the packing object and by making a cut in the direction perpendicularly intersecting to the traveling direction. CONSTITUTION:A packing object 14 moves from the left-hand side onto a carrier path 12, while a heat-shrinkable film 20 is sent in a flat state to a former 18. At the time of passing through the former 18, the heat-shrinkable film 20 is placed in the state where the packing object 14 is wrapped in the film 20. Then, when the heat-shrinkable film 20 moves in the direction of the arrow A, the overlapping parts 24 of the heat-shrinkable film 20 are hot-melted at a sealing part 28. When the packing object 14 reaches the vicinity of a proximity switch 30, an air cylinder 34 moves in response to the output of the switch 30 and a cutter 32 cuts the hot-melt part 25 of the heat-shrinkable film 20 to form a cut 40. After that, the film 20 is further sent to the downstream side by a roller 38.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention relates to a method for packaging packs of two to three beverages and other packaging objects with heat-shrinkable films.

[Prior Art] In order to facilitate handling during the distribution process, it is common practice to package two or three beverages and the like together with a film to form a pack.

Conventionally, when packaging with a film to form a pack, a heat-shrinkable film is used to wrap the packaged object (for example, a beverage) between two parts.
~ 3 pieces). After fusing a portion of the heat-shrinkable film, the entire film is heated to shrink the film and then packaged to form a pack.

If drinks, etc. are packaged in packs using heat-shrinkable film in units of two or three in this way, it will be much easier to handle them during the distribution process than when handling drinks, etc. individually. .

[Problem to be Solved by the Invention] Here, at the retail stage and/or at the stage when a consumer drinks the beverage, it is necessary to tear the pack wrapped with n;1 heat-shrinkable film and take out the beverage. There is. but,
Breaking this was a difficult task that required considerable effort, creating a sense of complication in the retail business and before consumption.

On the other hand, if the strength of the heat-shrinkable film is lowered, it will be easier to tear, but the film will be more likely to tear during the distribution process, which will defeat the original purpose of making it easier to handle during the distribution process. It becomes impossible to achieve it.

The present invention was proposed in view of the various problems of the prior art described above, and provides a packaging method using a heat-shrinkable film that does not reduce the strength of the film and allows the film to be easily torn. is intended to provide.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The packaging method using a heat-shrinkable film of the present invention includes a step of covering an object to be packaged moving on a conveyance track with a heat-shrinkable film, and a step of overlapping a part of the heat-shrinkable film. The method includes the steps of heat-sealing the packaged object in the direction of travel, and making cuts in a portion of the heat-shrinkable film in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel.

In this specification, the term "thermal fusion" refers to fill 1,
The concept is used not only when the film is attached in a molten state, but also when it is attached due to the adhesive effect between the film surfaces without being melted.

Here, the cut may be formed at the heat-sealed portion of the heat-shrinkable film, that is, at a location where the heat-shrinkable films are overlapped, or may be formed at another location. However, if the item to be packaged requires waterproof packaging,
It is preferable to form a cut in the heat-sealed portion. Also,
When forming a cut in a place other than the heat-fused part,
In order to prevent the opening resulting from heat shrinkage from becoming larger than necessary, it is preferred that the depth of the cut be very shallow.

In carrying out the present invention, the step of making the incision includes:
Preferably, the cutting is performed using a cutting means having a cutter attached to the table of the air cylinder.

Here, the air cylinder is configured to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the object to be packaged.

Preferably, the air cylinder is configured to operate in conjunction with a proximity switch and a solenoid valve provided on a conveyance track along which the object to be packaged moves.

Further, after the step of making the cuts is completed, a step of heating and shrinking the entire heat-shrinkable film is performed. This heat shrinking process is preferably carried out by installing various heaters, heating furnaces, and other heating means downstream of the cutting means.

[Function] According to the present invention having the above-described configuration, when an incision is made in the heat-sealed portion in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction of the packaged object, the entire heat-shrinkable filter t is When heated and shrunk, the cut becomes a square notch. Then, when tearing the packaging of the pack, the retailer and/or consumer can easily tear the film through the square notch.

Here, since the cut and the square notch are attached to the heat-sealed portion of the film, that is, the portion where the heat-shrinkable films are overlapped, the heat-shrinkable packaging will not be damaged. Therefore, in a pack packaged according to the present invention, there is no possibility that the package will be accidentally torn during the distribution process. Furthermore, as a result of making cuts in the heat-sealed areas, cracks and openings are less likely to occur in the packaging surrounding the pack, and the contents of the pack are not directly exposed to the outside air even after heat shrinkage. As a result, it is particularly suitable for packaging products that require waterproofing.

On the other hand, if a cut is formed in a part other than the heat-sealed part,
As a result of heat shrinkage, the cut portion expands and becomes an open portion. The retailer and/or consumer can then insert their finger into this opening and tear the packaging very easily. In this case, since the contents of the pack are exposed to the outside air at the opening L1, the pack is suitable for packaging products that do not require waterproofing.

Furthermore, since the incisions are formed before heating and shrinking, there is a sufficient gap between the product and the film.

Therefore, the product will not be damaged by the cutting means.

In addition, the present invention can be carried out very easily by installing the above-mentioned cutting means in the existing packaging line using heat-shrinkable films, so that the equipment investment cost is extremely low.

[Embodiments] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same members in the accompanying drawings.

In FIG. 1, a packaging mechanism implementing the method of the invention is indicated generally at 10. This packaging mechanism 10 includes a conveyance track 12, on which an object to be packaged 14 moves in the direction of movement shown by arrow A. In this embodiment, the packaging object 14 is such that three beverages 16 are combined into one package.

The former 1 is located at the most upstream side of the conveyance track 12 (the left end in Fig. 1).
8 is provided. Here, the reference numeral 20 indicates a heat-shrinkable film.

The former 18 and the conveyance track 12 are formed continuously, and the conveyance track 12 has a groove 2 in the center as shown in FIG.
2 is formed. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the groove 2
2, an overlapping portion 24 of the heat-shrinkable film 20 (a portion to be heat-sealed) is inserted.

The former 18 is folded into a heat-shrinkable film 20 so as to wrap around the object 14.
It acts as a guide member to guide the second
As best shown in the figure, the heat-shrinkable film 20 that is sent in a flat state in the direction of arrow A and passes through the former 18 is bent by the former 18, and as a result, the heat-shrinkable film 20 is bent on the downstream side (in the direction of the arrow). side) encloses the packaging object 14.

In FIG. 1 again, the first
A guide 26 for guiding the overlapping portions 24 of the heat-shrinkable film 20 and a sealing portion 28 consisting of means for heat-sealing the portions 24 are provided at the lower side in the figure. In FIG. 1, the overlapping portion of the heat-shrinkable film 20 and the portion that is heat-sealed by the seal portion 28 is indicated by the reference numeral 25. The guide 26 is composed of a pinch roller.

Further, a proximity switch 3o is provided downstream of the conveyance track 12 to detect the approach of the object to be packaged 14, and below the proximity switch 3o there is an air cylinder 34 with a cutter 32 attached thereto and a pedestal 36 attached thereto. It is provided. This air cylinder 34 etc. are best shown in FIG.
It moves back and forth in the direction shown by arrow B. Here, the near cylinder 34 itself may be a commercially available product, and for example, the product name rsUPJ manufactured by Koganei Co., Ltd. can be used. Then, it is reciprocated (arrow B) by the output of the proximity switch 30 via a solenoid valve (not shown).

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 38 indicates a roller for advancing the packaged object 14 wrapped in the heat-shrinkable film 20, and reference numeral 40 indicates a cut formed in the heat-sealed portion 25 by the cutter 32. Here, the rollers 38 are a pair of upper and lower rollers that sandwich the object to be packaged 14, but the lower roller is not shown in FIG. 1.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be explained.

In FIG. 1, the packaging object 14 moves onto the conveyance track 12 from the left side of the figure, while the heat-shrinkable film 20 is sent to the former 18 in a flat state. and forma 1
8, the heat-shrinkable film 20 wraps around the packaging object 14, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Then, it moves in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1, and at that time, the overlapping portions 24 of the heat-shrinkable films 20 are heat-sealed at the sealing portion 28.

Packaging object 14 moving on the conveyance track 12 in the direction of the arrow
arrives near the proximity switch 30, the switch 30
The air cylinder 34 moves in response to the output of the cutter 3.
2 cuts the heat-sealed portion 25 of the heat-shrinkable film 20 to form a cut 40 (FIGS. 1 and 3). Thereafter, it is sent further downstream by rollers 38.

Although not shown in the figure, in actual line, after forming the notch 40 in the heat-sealing portion 25, the heat-sealing portion 25 is
is bent by a lower roller (not shown) and placed in a "laying" state on the bottom of the packaging object 14. Then, it is sent to a heating means (not shown), and the heat-shrinkable film 20 is heated and shrunk to complete a three-pack.

At this time, the notch 40 becomes a V-shaped notch as a result of heat shrinkage, but since it is formed in the heat-sealed portion 25, the packaging itself may become strained due to the presence of the notch 40.
There will be no damage.

When opening the pack, the package can be torn from the V-shaped notch.

Here, since the packaging using the heat-shrinkable film 20 carried out in the above-described embodiment covers the entire object to be packaged, it becomes easy to handle products that require waterproofing. On the other hand, if the product does not require waterproofing, an embodiment as shown in FIG. 4 can also be used.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 4 is substantially the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but the arrangement of the cutter 32, air cylinder 34, and pedestal 36 is different. That is, in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the cutter 32 is disposed below the conveyance track 12, but in the case of FIG. 4, it is disposed above it. As a result of arranging the cutter 32 above the conveyance track 12, the cutter 32
The cut 40 formed by 2 is formed not in the heat-sealed portion 25 but on the upper side of the packaged object 14.

Here, the notch is not shown in FIG. 4.

In the case of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, if the entire package is heated and shrunk, the cut will widen to form an opening, so if the cut is made larger, the opening will become too wide and may no longer function as a package. Therefore, the incision must be extremely shallow and must be formed only in an extremely narrow range.

To open the pack, just insert your finger into the opening and tear it to enlarge it. The other configurations are substantially the same as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

In the accompanying drawings, the object to be packaged is shown as a collection of three beverage products, but the present invention is not limited to this in terms of product type, number, etc.

[Effect of the invention] The effects of the present invention are listed below.

(1) When the heat-shrinkable film is heat-shrinked, a V-shaped notch or opening L1 is formed, so when tearing the packaging of the pack, retailers and/or consumers should remove the film from the V-shaped notch or opening. It can be easily broken.

(2) When forming a V-shaped notch, it is attached to the heat-sealed part of the film, that is, the part where the heat-shrinkable films are overlapped, so that the heat-shrinkable packaging will not be damaged. Therefore, the packaging will not be accidentally torn during the distribution process.

(3) When a V-shaped notch is formed, the packaging surrounding the pack is less likely to crack or open, and the contents of the pack are not directly exposed to the outside air even after heat shrinkage. As a result, it is particularly suitable for packaging products that require waterproofing.

(4) Since the incisions are formed before heating and shrinking, there is a sufficient gap between the product and the film, and the product will not be damaged by the incision means.

(5) This can be carried out very easily by installing the above-mentioned incision means on the existing packaging line using heat-shrinkable films, so the equipment investment cost is extremely low.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a simplified main part of a line to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part thereof.
3 is a view taken along the line l1l-II+ in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a side view showing a simplified main part of a line to which another embodiment of the present invention is applied.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A step of covering a packaged object moving on a transport track with a heat-shrinkable film, a step of overlapping a part of the heat-shrinkable film and heat-sealing it in the traveling direction of the packaged object, and a part of the heat-shrinkable film. A packaging method using a heat-shrinkable film, comprising the step of: making a cut in a direction perpendicular to the traveling direction.