초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for continuously and automatically packaging preferably particulate food in successive fixed amounts by using a ribbon-like film, preferably of a synthetic resin. The film is continuously payed out from a roll and is progressively wrapped around a cylindrical forming chute with

Method and apparatus for continuously and automatically packaging preferably particulate food in successive fixed amounts by using a ribbon-like film, preferably of a synthetic resin. The film is continuously payed out from a roll and is progressively wrapped around a cylindrical forming chute with the help of a plate, while longitudinally heat sealing the overlap of the opposite lateral edges of the wrapped film, to change it into a tubular form, charging the food thereinto from above the chute, heat sealing the top and bottom of a food receiving region of the tubular film, and cutting off that region from the continuous tubular film. The apparatus allows the continuous production of bags or enclosures, from the initial ribbon-like and later tubular film, charged with the food, in a simple cyclical operation.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of packaging particulate food into tubular bag-shaped enclosures formed during the performance of the method, comprising the steps of: paying out a ribbon-like, continuous film; transferring the same to forming means; imparting limited tension to the film; progressively cylindrically wra

1. A method of packaging particulate food into tubular bag-shaped enclosures formed during the performance of the method, comprising the steps of: paying out a ribbon-like, continuous film; transferring the same to forming means; imparting limited tension to the film; progressively cylindrically wrapping the continuous film about chute means for the food; vertically heat sealing an overlap on opposite lateral edges of the wrapped film, thereby finishing it into a still continuous but tubular form; downwardly feeding the tubular film, substantially concurrently with feeding and filling the food into a food receiving region of the tubular film; forming a pair of transverse heat seals on the tubular film above the region; downwardly inching the tubular film in synchronism with said transverse heat-seal forming step; and substantially simultaneously cutting the filled tubular film between the seals to form an end product constituted by the bag-shaped enclosure filled with the food. 2. The food packaging method as defined in claim 1, wherein said vertical heat-sealing step is effected after said transverse heat-seal forming step. 3. The food packaging method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of removing air from the filled tubular film before said transverse heat-seal forming and said cutting steps. 4. The food packaging method as defined in claim 3, wherein said air-removing step is performed by clamping the filled tubular film. 5. The food packaging method as defined in claim 4, further comprising the step of successively discharging the end product after said cutting step. 6. An apparatus for packaging particulate food into tubular, bag-shaped enclosures formed by the apparatus, comprising, in combination: means (A) for supplying a ribbon-like continuous film (10) from a roll (2); a chute (17) for the food and having a substantially cylindrical outer forming surface for the film; a forming plate (13) at least partly surrounding said chute and constituting means for wrapping the continuous film about said forming surface; means (D) for tensioning the film, disposed between said supplying means and said forming plate; means for determining desired lengths of the film, which will constitute the bag-shaped enclosures; means (E) in the path of film travel for detecting predetermined successive enclosure lengths of the film; hopper means (B) including means for detecting the charging of the food into said chute; first, vertical heat sealing means (28) disposed substantially midway of the height of said chute, to act on an overlap on opposite lateral edges of the wrapped film, thereby finishing it into a still continuous but tubular form; roll means (C), installed outside the lower end of said chute, for downwardly feeding the tubular film by one enclosure length; means for filling the food into a receiving region of the tubular film; second heat sealing means (58) below said lower end of the chute, to form a pair of transverse heat seals on the tubular film above the region, to constitute respective top and bottom seals for a presently and a subsequently processed enclosure; means (63) for cutting the filled tubular film between the seals to form an end product (70) constituted by the bag-shaped enclosure filled with the food; and means (59) for discharging the end product after the operation of said cutting means from a receiving table (57) substantially vertically aligned with and disposed below said second heat sealing means. 7. The food packaging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said discharging means (59) includes a pair of relatively movable support bars (71a, 71b) that constitute a gap through whichthe food receiving region of the tubular film passes, one (71a) of said bars carrying a push plate (68) while the other (71b) caries a resilient clamping body (69), the relative movement of said bars constituting means for removing air from the food receiving region before the operation of said second heat sealing means (58), said push plate performing during its forward movement the discharging of the end product (70) from said receiving table (57). 8. The food packaging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said supplying means (A) includes a pair of support rolls (3, 4) for the roll (2) of film (10), one (3) of said rolls being driven (9) so as to cause the film roll to be rotated to pay out the continuous film. 9. The food packaging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said tensioning means (D) includes a pair of substantially parallel guide rolls (11a, 11b), a dancer roller (12) resting on a portion of the film (10) passing between said guide rolls, and switch means (14) for detecting the descent of said dancer roller to its lowermost position when there is overfeed of the film, for controlling the operation of said supplying means (A). 10. The food packaging apparatus as defined in claim 9, further comprising means whereby said switch means (14) at least temporarily stops said supplying means (A) when said dancer roll (12) is at the lowermost position. 11. The food packaging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the ribbon-like continuous film (10) used in the apparatus has substantially equidistant marks therealong, corresponding to the successive enclosure lengths, and said length detecting means (E) includes electrical means (51) for successively sensing the marks. 12. The food packaging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said forming plate (13) consists of a skirt plate (13a) obliquely disposed outside said chute (17), the upper surface of said skirt plate constituting a slide surface for the film (10) and being gradually curved such that it approaches the contours of said outer surface of the chute, and the upper end of said skirt plate defines a small clearance (13b) with said chute for the passage of the film. 13. The food packaging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said first heat sealing means (28) includes a sealing block (52) secured to said outer surface of the chute (17), a heating plate (53) mounted on said block and being movable with respect thereto, and solenoid means (55) for bringing said heating plate into operative contact with said block. 14. The food packaging apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said second heat sealing means (58) includes a pair of support bars (65a, 65b) that are relatively movable, the film (10) passing between them, one (65a) of said bars carrying a pair of heating plates (61, 62), said cutting means (63) being positioned between said heating plates, while the other (65b) of said bars carries a sealing block (64). 15. An apparatus for packaging particulate food into tubular, bag-shaped enclosures formed by the apparatus, comprising, in combination: means (A) for supplying a ribbon-like continuous film (10) from a roll (2); a chute (17) for the food and having a substantially cylindrical outer forming surface for the film; a forming plate (13) at least partly surrounding said chute and constituting means for wrapping the continuous film about said forming surface; means (D) for tensioning the film, disposed between said supplying means and said forming plate; means for determining desired lengths of the film, which will constitute the bag-shaped enclosures; means (E) in the path of film travel for detecting predetermined successive enclosure lengths of the film; hopper means (B) including means for detecting the charging of the food into said chute; first, vertical heat sealing means (28) disposed substantially midway of the height of said chute, to act on an overlap on opposite lateral edges of the wrapped film, thereby finishing it into a still continuous but tubular form; roll means (C), installed outside the lower end of said chute, for downwardly feeding the tubular film by one enclosure length; means for filling the food into a receiving region of the tubular film; second heat sealing means (58) below said lower end of the chute, to form a pair of transverse heat seals on the tubular film above the region, to constitute respective top and bottom seals for a presently and a subsequently processed enclosure; and means (63) for cutting the filled tubular film between the seals to form an end product (70) constituted by the bag-shaped enclosure filled with the food; wherein said hopper means includes a shutter plate (21) and means for urging the latter into a normal, horizontal position, but being adapted to be partly swung downward; means for retaining said shutter plate in the horizontal position until a predetermined amount of food is accumulated thereon; and switch means (27) for detecting the downward movement of said shutter plate. 16. An apparatus for packaging particulate food into tubular, bag-shaped enclosures formed by the apparatus, comprising, in combination: means (A) for supplying a ribbon-like continuous film (10) from a roll (2); a chute (17) for the food and having a substantially cylindrical outer forming surface for the film; a forming plate (13) at least partly surrounding said chute and constituting means for wrapping the continuous film about said forming surface; means (D) for tensioning the film, disposed between said supplying means and said forming plate; means for determining desired lengths of the film, which will constitute the bag-shaped enclosures; means (E) in the path of film travel for detecting predetermined successive enclosure lengths of the film; hopper means (B) including means for detecting the charging of the food into said chute; first, vertical heat sealing means (28) disposed substantially midway of the height of said chute, to act on an overlap on opposite lateral edges of the wrapped film, thereby finishing it into a still continuous but tubular form; roll means (C), installed outside the lower end of said chute, for downwardly feeding the tubular film by one enclosure length; means for filling the food into a receiving region of the tubular film; second heat sealing means (58) below said lower end of the chute, to form a pair of transverse heat seals on the tubular film above the region, to constitute respective top and bottom seals for a presently and a subsequently processed enclosure; and means (63) for cutting the filled tubular film between the seals to form an end product (70) constituted by the bag-shaped enclosure filled with the food; wherein said roll means includes small rolls (35, 36) journaled on an outer peripheral surface of said chute; feed rolls (15, 16) resiliently urged against said small rolls, for nipping the film between said small rolls and said feed rolls; and means for driving said rolls by a signal derived from said charge detecting means.