METHOD FOR FORMING EASILY SEPARABLE PORTION IN PACKAGING FILM, PACKAGE BAG HAVING EASILY SEPARABLE PORTION, AND FILLING-PACKING MACHINE

Abstract

[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED]

To provide a method for readily forming an easily separable portion having an adhesive strength that is required as a package bag on packaging film, a package bag having an easily separable portion formed by this method, and a filling-packing machine utilizing this method.

[SOLUTION]

A method forming an easily separable portion in packaging film by interposing at least two packaging films between a horn emitting ultrasonic waves and an anvil oppositely disposed to the horn, and vibrating the packaging films by the ultrasonic waves, in which a vibratable layer is provided on the packaging film in at least one of the horn side and the anvil side.

Claims

1. A method for forming an easily separable portion in packaging film by interposing at least two packaging films between a horn emitting ultrasonic waves and an anvil oppositely disposed to the horn, and vibrating the packaging films by the ultrasonic waves, characterized in that a vibratable layer made from a laminate of plural materials and preferentially receiving vibrations caused by the ultrasonic waves emitted from the horn as compared to the packaging film is provided on the packaging film in at least one of a horn side and an anvil side, and the vibrations of the ultrasonic waves are concentrated on the vibratable layer to reduce an amount of the vibrations transferred to the packaging film, thereby decreasing a fusion joint strength between the packaging films to form an easily separable portion.

2. (canceled)

3. The method for forming the easily separable portion in packaging film according to claim 1, wherein the material of the vibratable layer is any one selected from office paper, heat resistant paper, glass cloth, cardboard, a Teflon sheet, a polyethylene terephthalate sheet, a veneer sheet and bamboo, or a combination thereof.

4. A package bag having an easily separable portion formed by decreasing a fusion joint strength between packaging films by preferential concentration of the vibrations to a vibratable layer which is provided on the at least two packaging films in at least one of a horn side and an anvil side interposed between a horn emitting ultrasonic waves and an anvil oppositely disposed to the horn, and made from a laminate of plural materials and preferentially receiving the vibrations caused by the ultrasonic waves emitted from the horn as compared to the packaging film.

5. A filling-packing machine comprising: vertical sealing means for folding packaging film fed out and traveled in a longitudinal direction at a center thereof in such a manner that adhesive layers or sealant layers oppose each other and forming vertical sealed portions at side edge portions of the packaging film in the longitudinal direction so as to form the packaging film into a cylindrical shape; and lateral sealing means for subjecting the packaging film to lateral sealing in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the packaging film over the full width at intervals in the longitudinal direction of the packaging film while filling a liquid packing material into the packaging film of the cylindrical shape so as to form package bag bodies, characterized in that the vertical sealing means comprises a horn emitting ultrasonic waves and an anvil oppositely disposed to the horn, which are located so as to sandwich the side edge portions of the packaging film therebetween, and further provides a vibratable layer located on at least one of the horn side and the anvil side of the side edge portions, and made from a laminate of plural materials and preferentially receiving the vibrations caused by the ultrasonic waves emitted from the horn as compared to the packaging film.

6. The filling-packing machine according to claim 5, wherein the vertical sealing means includes means for feeding out the vibratable layer in accordance with a given vertical sealing position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 is an explanatory drawing showing one embodiment of a method for forming an easily separable portion in packaging film of this invention.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a drawing showing one embodiment of a liquid package bag in which an easily separable portion is formed.

[0023] FIG. 3 is a drawing explaining a feed-out method of a vibratable layer for traveling packaging film.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a drawing showing a configuration of a vertical filling-packing machine as one embodiment of a filling-packing machine of this invention.

EMBODIMENTS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0025] A method for forming an easily separable portion in packaging film of this invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings. An ultrasonic sealing machine 1 in FIG. 1 mainly includes a horn 2 emitting ultrasonic waves generated by an ultrasonic oscillator 4, and an anvil 3 oppositely disposed to this horn 2.

[0026] This ultrasonic oscillator 4 includes a pressure cylinder 6 for pressing a front end of the horn 2 that emits ultrasonic waves onto packaging film 5 that is an adhesion object.

[0027] When the packaging film 5 is subjected to ultrasonic sealing by using the aforementioned ultrasonic sealing machine 1, two packaging films 5 overlaid with each other are disposed between the horn 2 and the anvil 3, the packaging films 5 are held with pressure between the front end of the horn 2 and the anvil 3, and ultrasonic waves are emitted from the front end of the horn 2 so that the two packaging films 5 are rubbed together and generate heat due to fine vibrations caused by the ultrasonic waves, and heated portions of the packaging films 5 become melted and adhere to each other.

[0028] This invention is characterized in that, in the above sealing method using ultrasonic waves, a vibratable layer 7 is provided on the packaging film 5 in at least one of a horn 2 side (FIG. 1(a)) and an anvil 3 side (FIG. 1(b)) as shown in FIG. 1. The vibratable layer 7 is a layer that can freely vibrate due to the ultrasonic waves emitted from the horn 2, and can preferentially concentrate vibrations caused by the ultrasonic waves thereon as compared to the packaging film 5.

[0029] In this manner, if the vibratable layer 7 together with the packaging films 5 are provided between the horn 2 and the anvil 3, the vibrations of the ultrasonic waves emitted from the horn 2 are preferentially concentrated particularly to a center in the thickness direction of the vibratable layer 7, as shown by arrows in FIG. 1, and thus amount of ultrasonic vibration transferred to the packaging films 5 decreases. Hence, heat (frictional heat) generated due to vibrations of the ultrasonic waves between the two packaging films 5 becomes extremely smaller compared with the case of interposing no vibratable layer 7; therefore, a adhesion joint strength between the packaging films 5 becomes smaller, and thus an easily separable portion 8 is formed at the portion.

[0030] As shown in FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b), even if the vibratable layer 7 is provided on the packaging film 5 in either the horn 2 side or the anvil 3 side, it is possible to exert the effect to preferentially concentrate the vibrations of the ultrasonic waves thereon in the above manner.

[0031] In order to form the easily separable portion 8 (e.g., a joint strength of 13N/15 mm or less) at a part of a butt-seamed joint portion 20 of a liquid package bag of a three-side-sealed type as shown in FIG. 2 by the method for forming the easily separable portion in the present invention, for example, both side edges of the packaging film 5 are overlaid with each other, the vibratable layer 7 is provided on at least the side edge portions, and the ultrasonic sealing is carried out by the ultrasonic sealing machine 1, thereby first carrying out an easily separable sealing around a full length of the side edges of the packaging film 5. Subsequently, normal press-heat sealing is carried out at a part other than a given opening position in the easily separable sealed portion, thereby forming the butt-seamed joint portion 20 having high bag breakage strength, and also readily forming the easily separable portion 8 to become the opening at the portion.

[0032] The joint strength of the easily separable portion 8 might be different depending on the application, such as one easily separable by being pulled with fingers and one separable by increasing inner pressure of a package bag like a package bag for a microwave oven. The joint strength is preferably set to be not less than 2% but not more than 30% of the joint strength of the sealed portion that defines the package bag. This is because if the joint strength is more than 30%, the bag might not be easily separable by force with fingers or by inner pressure of the bag; and if the joint strength is less than 2%, the bag might be opened by mistake while being transported or stored.

[0033] The joint strength of the easily separable portion can be adjusted by selecting a frequency of the ultrasonic waves emitted to or a pressure applied to the packaging film 5 of the ultrasonic sealing machine 1, and also by selecting a type and a thickness of the vibratable layer 7, etc.

[0034] The vibratable layer 7 is preferably any one selected from, for example, office paper, heat resistant paper, glass cloth, cardboard, a Teflon (registered trademark) sheet, a polyethylene terephthalate sheet, a veneer sheet and bamboo, or a combination thereof, and in particular, one made from a laminate plural thin layers is preferable because this can flexibly vibrate, and thus vibrations of ultrasonic waves can be easily concentrated.

[0035] Since the vibratable layer 7 preferentially concentrates vibrations of the ultrasonic waves emitted from the horn 2 thereon as aforementioned, scorching or melting is likely to be caused, and thus the vibratable layer 7 is required to be appropriately replaced before scorching or melting is caused.

[0036] Hence, in the case of forming the easily separable portion in the packaging film 5 travelling through an automated filling machine or the like, for example, as shown in FIG. 3, there is provided feed-out means configured by a feed roll 9 and a wind-up roll 10 of the vibratable layer 7, and the vibratable layer 7 is fed out from the feed roll 9 continuously or intermittently, preferably at a traveling speed equal to or less than the traveling speed of the packaging film 5; after the vibratable layer 7 is overlaid with the packaging film 5, and is subjected to the ultrasonic sealing by the ultrasonic sealing machine 1. The vibratable layer 7 is wound up and collected by the wind-up roll 10. The vibratable layer 7 may be formed in an endless annular shape wound around the feed roll 9 and the wind-up roll 10 so as to be circulated between these rolls.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing a configuration of a vertical filling-packing machine as one embodiment of the filling-packing machine utilizing the aforementioned method for forming the easily separable portion. The filling-packing machine of the present invention is not limited to such a vertical filling-packing machine, but may be applicable to various packing machines, such as a lateral filling-packing machine, a vertical pillow filling-packing machine, a lateral pillow filling-packing machine, a multi-row filling-packing machine.

[0038] In the vertical filling-packing machine in FIG. 4, while continuously delivering a single long sheet of packaging film made of laminated film formed by laminating a base film layer formed of a nylon film, a polyethylene terephthalate film, or the like that is biaxially stretched and a sealant layer formed of, for example, various polyethylene resins or the like in the longitudinal direction, the vertical filling-packing machine folds back the packaging film in the width direction thereof such that both side edge portions of the packaging film are overlaid with each other so as to arrange the sealant layers to face each other, continuously forms this packaging film into a number of package bags, and automatically fills a packing material made of a fluid substance, such as food and drink, seasonings, medicaments, cosmetics, or other liquid, viscous, or jelly substances, in each bag. As illustrated, the vertical filling-packing machine mainly comprises: a film guiding section 11; a film folding-back section 12; a vertical-sealed-portion forming section 13; a packing-material supplying section 14; a first lateral-sealed-portion forming section 15a and a second lateral-sealed-portion forming section 15b as a lateral-sealed-portion forming section; and a cutting section 16 cutting a package bag W into each single bag or plural bags. The first lateral-sealed-portion forming section 15a and the second lateral-sealed-portion forming section 15b may be configured by a pair of sealing rolls or sealing plates, or the like.

[0039] In such a vertical filling-packing machine, the vertical-sealed-portion forming section 13 includes, for example: an easily-separable-portion forming section 13a that utilizes the ultrasonic sealing method, continuously presses and holds the folded and overlaid both side edge portions of the packaging film 5 between the horn 2 and the anvil 3, and emits ultrasonic waves from the front end of the horn 2; and a normal vertical sealing roll 13b. First, the easily separable sealing is continuously carried out by the easily-separable-portion forming section 13a on the folded and overlaid both side edge portions of the packaging film 5 in the width direction by the film folding-back section 12, and subsequently, the part in the easily separable sealed portion except for the planned forming position of the easily separable portion 8 is heat-sealed by the vertical sealing roll 13b, thereby forming vertical sealed portions 17 having the easily separable portion 8.

[0040] At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the vibratable layer 7 is fed out by the feed roll 9 at a speed in accordance with the traveling speed of the packaging film 5 so that the vibratable layer 7 is overlaid with the both side edge portions of the packaging film 5, thereby suppressing vibrations due to the ultrasonic waves of the packaging film 5 at the position, and thus appropriately decreasing the joint strength of the easily separable portion 8.

EXAMPLES

[0041] Various materials were used as the vibratable layer, and a sealed state of each easily separable portion was also evaluated at the same time. Results thereof are shown in Table 1. Conditions of packaging film and an ultrasonic sealing machine that were used, and evaluation criteria are as follows.

<Packaging Film>

[0042] Biaxially stretched nylon film (15 μm)/linear low-density polyethylene film (40 μm)

<Ultrasonic Sealing Machine>

[0043] “ULTRASONIC WELDER SONOPET345D” manufactured by Seidensha Electronic Co., Ltd.

[0044] Oscillating frequency: 48.5 kHz

[0045] Variable amplitude: 20 to 100%

[0046] Sealing width: 1.5 mm

<Evaluation Criteria>

[0047] O: 2 to 10 N/15 mm (easily separable)

[0048] Δ: 10 to 13 N/15 mm (separable with a great resistance)

[0049] x: inseparable

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Sealed Number state of of easily Thickness layers separable Vibratable layer material (per sheet) (layers) portion Office paper 80 μm 2 Δ Office paper 80 μm 4 ◯ Flame retardant paper 180 μm 4 ◯ Glass cloth 70 μm 4 ◯ Teflon sheet 80 μm 4 ◯ Cardboard 620 μm 1 Δ Cardboard 320 μm 2 ◯ Veneer sheet 5 mm 1 Δ Bamboo 5 mm 1 Δ Metallic plate 100 μm 2 X Metallic plate 100 μm 4 X Bakelite 1 mm 1 X Glass epoxy plate 1 mm 1 X MC nylon 1 mm 1 X Polyimide 200 μm 1 X PET 100 μm 1 Δ PET/Teflon (registered 100/80 μm 1 Δ trademark) PET/Teflon/PET/Teflon 100/80/100/80 μm 1 ◯ PET/PET/Teflon/Teflon 100/100/80/80 μm 1 ◯ Office paper/PET 80/100 μm 1 X Office paper/Office paper/ 80/80/100/100 μm 1 X PET/PET Office paper/PET/Office 80/100/80/100 μm 1 X paper/PET

[0050] According to the results of Table 1, in the case of using plural overlaid sheets of office paper as the vibratable layer, it was possible to form an easily separable portion that could be separated with fingers without resistance, and easy separability was enhanced more than that in the case of using less sheets of office paper; therefore, it is found that as the number of layers becomes increased, it becomes easier to concentrate the vibrations.

[0051] In addition, each of the office paper and PET effectively exerted the effect as the vibratable layer if they were used alone, but the case of combining them into composite layers brought a result that no easily separable portion was formed.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0052] 1 ultrasonic sealing machine [0053] 2 horn [0054] 3 anvil [0055] 4 ultrasonic vibrator [0056] 5 packaging film [0057] 6 pressure cylinder [0058] 7 vibratable layer [0059] 8 easily separable portion (opening) [0060] 9 feed roll [0061] 10 wind-up roll [0062] 11 film guiding section [0063] 12 film folding-back section [0064] 13 vertical-sealed-portion forming section [0065] 13a easily-separable-portion forming section [0066] 13b vertical sealing roll [0067] 14 packing-material supplying section [0068] 15a first lateral-sealed-portion forming section [0069] 15b second lateral-sealed-portion forming section [0070] 16 cutting section [0071] 17 vertical sealed portion [0072] 20 joint portion [0073] W package bag