Gas flush injector

Abstract

Packaging apparatus, such as a tray sealer, with a gas supply arrangement enabling a flushing gas to be conducted between a flushing gas outlet (26) and a flushing gas inlet (14) which are relatively moveable. The flushing gas inlet is positioned above the flushing gas outlet. The gas supply arrangement includes a barrel 15 connected to the inlet (14) and sliding in a sleeve connected to the outlet (26). In a first predetermined relative position of the flushing gas outlet and flushing gas inlet a fluid flow connection is established between the flushing gas outlet and flushing gas inlet. In a second predetermined relative position the flushing gas inlet and flushing gas outlet are disconnected and liquid may drain from the barrel 15.

Claims

1. A gas flush injector for a packaging apparatus having an upper tool and a lower tool, the injector comprising: a flushing gas outlet for connection to a gas supply, a flushing gas inlet in communication with the packaging apparatus lower tool, and a gas supply arrangement comprising a conduit enabling a flushing gas to be conducted through the conduit between the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet, wherein the flushing gas inlet is positioned above and is moveable relative to the flushing gas outlet, and wherein the gas supply arrangement is arranged such that when the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet are in a first predetermined relative position a fluid flow connection is established through the conduit between the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet, and such that when the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet are in a second predetermined relative position the flushing gas inlet and the flushing gas outlet are disconnected and the flushing gas inlet can drain through the conduit in a direction away from the flushing gas inlet.

2. The injector as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet are in the second predetermined relative position the flushing gas outlet is closed.

3. The injector as claimed in claim 1, wherein when the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet are in the first predetermined relative position the lower tool is in an upward position relative to the upper tool, and when the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet are in the second predetermined relative position the lower tool is in a downward position relative to the upper tool, so that no fluid flow connection is established between the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet.

4. The injector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the conduit is defined by a barrel and extends from an opening on the side of the barrel to connect with the flushing gas inlet.

5. The injector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the barrel is elongate and arranged to move along its long axis, the apparatus being arranged so that in use the long axis of the barrel extends substantially vertically.

6. The injector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the opening on the side of the barrel has a lower portion that is beveled in the radially outward direction relative to the long axis of the barrel.

7. The injector as claimed in claim 5, wherein the injector is separable from the lower tool by retracting the lower tool upwardly, thereby to expose the flushing gas inlet for access to cleaning.

8. The injector as claimed in claim 4 wherein a bore extends through the barrel to the opening in the side of the barrel in a smooth curve.

9. The injector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the barrel is substantially circular in cross-section.

10. The injector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cross-section of the barrel is substantially constant over a majority of a length of the barrel, but reduced in the region of the opening.

11. The injector as claimed in claim 4 wherein the barrel is movably mounted to a structure comprising the flushing gas outlet.

12. The injector as claimed in claim 11 wherein the structure defines a bore through which the barrel slidably extends, and the flushing gas outlet is in fluid connection with an opening into the bore between ends of the bore.

13. The injector as claimed in claim 12 wherein the structure comprises a sleeve which defines the bore.

14. The injector as claimed in claim 12 comprising one or more bushes slidably mounting the barrel relative to the bore.

15. The injector as claimed in claim 12 comprising a seal provided to effect a seal between the barrel and the bore through which the barrel extends at each side of the opening into the bore.

16. The injector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the opening on the side of the barrel establishes a fluid flow connection between the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet when the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet are in the first predetermined relative position, and disconnects the flushing gas outlet when the flushing gas outlet and flushing gas inlet are in the second predetermined relative position so that no fluid flow connection is established between the flushing gas outlet and the flushing gas inlet and the flushing gas inlet can drain through the conduit and out the opening on the side of the barrel.

17. The injector as claimed in claim 1 comprising a seal or seals arranged to effect a fluid flow connection between the flushing gas outlet and the conduit.

18. The injector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flushing gas inlet is provided on the lower tool of the packaging apparatus or a support for the lower tool of the packaging apparatus arranged to move up and down relative to the flushing gas outlet during operation of the packaging apparatus.

19. The injector as claimed in claim 18 wherein the gas supply apparatus establishes a fluid flow connection between the flushing gas inlet and the flushing gas outlet when the lower tool or the support for the lower tool is in an upper, gas flush, position.

20. The injector as claimed in claim 18 wherein the gas supply apparatus is arranged to disconnect the flushing gas inlet and the flushing gas outlet and allow the flushing gas inlet to drain through the gas supply apparatus when the lower tool or the support for the lower tool is in a lower, rest, position.

21. The injector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the packaging apparatus comprises a heat sealing apparatus.

22. The injector as claimed in claim 21 wherein the packaging apparatus comprises a tray sealer.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) In order that the invention may be more clearly understood one or more embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic, part cut away, diagram of a tray sealing machine;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of the gas supply arrangement of the machine of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 is a partial enlargement of FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows part of the machine of FIG. 1 with the lower tool in a rest position;

(6) FIG. 5 corresponds to FIG. 4, but with the lower tool removed; and

(7) FIG. 6 corresponds to FIG. 4 but with the lower tool in a gas flush position.

(8) References to upper and lower and like terms refer to the apparatus when oriented as shown in the drawings (which is the orientation in which it is normally intended to be used) but should not be otherwise taken as limiting.

(9) Referring to the drawings there is shown a tray sealing machine 1. The machine is of a largely conventional type except as explained below and is therefore not described in detail. Briefly, the machine is for sealing trays and comprises infeed 2 and outfeed 3 conveyors under protective guards for feeding unsealed trays towards and sealed trays away from a sealing station 4. Trays are carried into the sealing station 4 from the infeed conveyor 2 and out of the sealing station 4 to the outfeed conveyor 3 by transfer arms (not shown).

(10) The sealing station 4 comprises a lower tool 5 and an upper tool 6.

(11) The lower tool 5 is supported on a platform 7. The platform 7 is mounted to an actuator 8 operable to raise and lower the platform 7 and thus the lower tool 5 relative to the rest of the machine. The lower tool 5 is arranged to receive trays to be sealed, and includes gas outlet ports 9 via which a flushing gas can be directed into trays received in the tool and gas inlet ports 10 through which gas flushed from trays can escape to the atmosphere. The gas outlet ports 9 are connected, via a manifold 11, to a flushing gas inlet in the lower tool 5 to which is connected a gas supply pipe 12.

(12) The upper tool 6 is positioned above the lower tool 5 in a fixed position. The upper tool 6 is heated and in use a sealing film (not shown) extends between the two tools adjacent the upper tool 6.

(13) In use, trays containing product to be packaged, typically a foodstuff, are transferred into the lower tool 5 with the lower tool 5 being in a rest position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

(14) The actuator 8 then raises the platform 7 and thus the lower tool 5 to a gas flushing position, as shown in FIG. 6. In this position rims of the trays are just in contact or nearly in contact with the sealing film, which substantially closes the trays. A flushing gas is then introduced under pressure via the gas outlet ports 9 in the lower tool 5 which displaces air in the trays out of the inlet ports 10 in the lower tool 5.

(15) After a predetermined time the gas flow is stopped and the actuator 8 raises the lower tool 5 further to a sealing position in which the rims of the trays are urged into contact with the upper tool 6, sandwiching the sealing film between the rims and the heated upper tool 6 and cutting the sealing film around each tray. This seals film to each tray, closing the tray and trapping the flushing gas inside.

(16) The actuator 8 then lowers the platform 7 to return the lower tool 5 to the rest position and the sealed trays are transferred to the outfeed conveyor 3.

(17) A programmable electronic controller 13 automatically controls operation of the machine 1.

(18) These features of a tray sealing machine will be well understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. Where the machine differs from a conventional machine, though, is the manner in which the gas supply pipe of the lower tool is connected to a gas supply.

(19) The gas supply pipe 12 is connected via an elbow 14, which forms a flushing gas inlet to the lower tool, to a barrel 15.

(20) The barrel 15 is formed from a cylindrical, elongate rod 16. Over the majority of its length the rod 16 has a substantially constant external diameter. At the top of the rod 16 there is a short section with an increased diameter which terminates with a projecting shoulder 17, beyond which the diameter is reduced. The region of increased diameter is received into an aperture in the platform 7 of the lower tool 5 with a close fit such that the projecting shoulder 17 abuts the platform 7 and the top end of the rod 16 protrudes slightly from the surface of the platform 7.

(21) A substantially cylindrical bore 19 is formed in the rod 16 from the top of the rod 16 and extends over most but not all the length of the rod 16, about ⅛ of the length of the rod 16 from its lower end being solid. Just above the solid portion an opening 20 is formed in the side of the rod 16 into the bore 19. The inside walls of the bore 19 approach the opening in a smooth concave curve 28 so that when the rod 16 is upright any liquid in the bore 19 can drain out of the opening 20 and not become trapped in the bore 19. In the region 21 around the opening 20 the external diameter of the rod is decreased, transitioning from the diameter of the majority of the length of the rod 16 in a smooth curve.

(22) The major axis of the rod 16 extends substantially vertically.

(23) Whilst described as a bored rod 16, the barrel 15 could of course be constructed using any suitable technique. For example, it could be fabricated from a length of pipe.

(24) The barrel 15 extends through an aperture in the sealing station floor 30 into a region below the sealing station 4 and through a sleeve 22 mounted to the machine 1. The sleeve 22 is fixed relative to the machine 1 so that as the lower tool 5 is raised and lowered by the actuator 8 and platform the rod 16 slides within the sleeve 22.

(25) The sleeve 22 defines a cylindrical bore 32 through which the barrel 15 extends. The bore is of a greater diameter than the barrel 15. A lip seal 23 and guide bush 24 is fitted into a counter bore at each opposite end of the sleeve, the bushes 24 holding the seals 23 in place. The bushes 24 and seals 23 centre the barrel 15 within the sleeve 22 so that there is a clearance all around the barrel 15 within the sleeve 22, allow for the smooth running of the barrel 15 through the sleeve 22 and form a substantially gas tight seal between the barrel 15 and the sleeve 22.

(26) A radial bore 25 is formed in the sleeve 22 and connects to a fitting 26 enabling connection, in use, to a gas supply and so forming a flushing gas outlet on the machine.

(27) The barrel 15 and sleeve 22 are arranged so that the radial opening 20 in the barrel 15 faces the radial bore 25 in the sleeve 22 when the two are aligned.

(28) The length of the barrel 15 is such that when the upper tool 6 is in the gas flush position the radial opening 20 in the barrel 15 faces the radial bore 25 in the sleeve 22, or is at least between the lip seals 23 in the top and bottom of the sleeve 22. In this position gas introduced from a supply through the fitting 26 into the radial bore 25 in the sleeve 22 will flow into the bore 19 in the barrel 15 and via the supply pipe 12 into the lower tool 5. Although preferred, it is not essential that the radial opening 20 of the barrel faces the radial bore 25 in the sleeve 22 as the reduced outside diameter of the barrel 21 in the region of the radial opening 20 provides for an increased clearance around the barrel 15 in the sleeve 22 for gas to flow around the barrel 15 and into the opening 20. Some tolerance over vertical positioning of the barrel 15 in the sleeve 22 is also afforded as the region of reduced diameter 21 is shorter than the distance between the lip seals 23. Also, as the barrel moves through the sleeve 22 the reduction in diameter where the aperture 20 is formed is sufficient to prevent edges of the aperture 20 catching on the lip seals 23 thereby preventing damage and degradation over time.

(29) When the upper tool 6 is lowered from the gas flush position, and in particular when it is in the rest position, the part of the barrel 15 in which the radial opening 20 is formed is below the sleeve 22 and material may drain from the barrel 15 via the radial aperture 20.

(30) This feature is advantageous when cleaning the machine 1 with the lower tool 5 removed, as shown in FIG. 5, or indeed just with the pipe connection to the lower tool 5 removed from the top of the barrel 15, as water or another cleaning liquid may be flushed through the barrel 15, draining freely from the radial opening 20.

(31) In all positions the barrel 15 extends through the sleeve 22 and so the lip seals 23 help prevent contamination of the interior of the sleeve 22.

(32) It is envisaged that the supply of gas to the sleeve 22 is controlled by the machine 1, as with conventional machines. This may be effected by a machine controlled gas valve disposed in a conduit running from a supply of gas to the fitting 26 on the sleeve. Alternatively, gas could be continuously supplied, but will only flow to the lower tool 5 when the radial opening 20 in the barrel 15 is at least partially between the lip seals 23 of the sleeve 22. Otherwise flow of gas from the supply will be substantially prevented by the lip seals 23.

(33) The gas supply arrangement replaces the flexible hose of conventional machines and thus overcomes the problems of such hoses harbouring moisture and other contaminants in a u-bend, allowing contaminants to be blown into the lower tool and being difficult to clean. It also enables the gas outlet to be positioned closer to the inlet and reduces the volume of gas in the supply arrangement in between the two as compared to a conventional flexible hose.

(34) The above embodiment is described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.