U.S. patent application number 10/567031 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for packaging device, measuring and packaging device, and method of manufacturing packaged article.
Invention is credited to Yoshitugi Hashiba, Eisaku Takahashi, Hitoshi Takahashi.
Application Number | 20070199282 10/567031 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34113695 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070199282 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hashiba; Yoshitugi ; et
al. |
August 30, 2007 |
Packaging device, measuring and packaging device, and method of
manufacturing packaged article
Abstract
To provide a packaging apparatus for packaging a granular object
which can reduce the residual air in a package to prevent expansion
thereof with an increase in temperature after sealing. The
packaging apparatus comprises a charging device 30 for charging a
granular object having adsorption ability into a storage bag 90
having an open end, an air removing device 50 for expelling air
from the storage bag 90 into which the granular object has been
charged, and a sealing device 40 for sealing the open end of the
storage bag 90 from which air has been expelled, wherein the
sealing device 40 is actuated with a slight delay after air has
been expelled from the storage bag 90 by the air removing device
50.
Inventors: |
Hashiba; Yoshitugi;
(Fukushima, JP) ; Takahashi; Hitoshi; (Fukushima,
JP) ; Takahashi; Eisaku; (Fukushima, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
REED SMITH LLP
3110 FAIRVIEW PARK DRIVE
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22042
US
|
Family ID: |
34113695 |
Appl. No.: |
10/567031 |
Filed: |
August 5, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
August 5, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP04/11269 |
371 Date: |
September 26, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
53/469 ;
53/284.7; 53/502 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65B 9/207 20130101;
B65B 9/2007 20130101; B65B 9/213 20130101; B65B 63/08 20130101;
B65B 61/28 20130101; B65B 2220/18 20130101; B65B 2220/22
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
053/469 ;
053/502; 053/284.7 |
International
Class: |
B65B 1/32 20060101
B65B001/32 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 5, 2003 |
JP |
2003-205994 |
Claims
1. A packaging apparatus, comprising: a charging device for
charging a granular object having adsorption ability into a storage
bag having an open end; an air removing device for expelling air
from the storage bag into which the granular object has been
charged; and a sealing device for sealing the open end of the
storage bag from which the air has been expelled; wherein the
sealing device is actuated with a slight delay after the air has
been expelled from the storage bag by the air removing device.
2. The packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage bag is
formed by sealing a tube transversely.
3. The packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the air removing
device pinches the storage bag, into which the granular object has
been charged, to expel air therefrom.
4. The packaging apparatus of claim 1, wherein the granular object
having adsorption ability is spherical adsorptive carbon.
5. The packaging apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a heating
device for heating the granular object before the storage bag is
sealed.
6. A packaging apparatus, comprising: a sealing device for sealing
a tube transversely at a first position; a charging device for
charging a granular object into the tube sealed at the first
position; and a pinching device for pinching the tube into which
the granular object has been charged, wherein the tube is sealed
transversely at a second position opposite the first position with
respect to the pinched part; and wherein the sealing device is
actuated with a slight delay after the pinching device has been
actuated.
7. The packaging apparatus of claim 6, further comprising: a first
driving mechanism for driving the pinching device; a second driving
mechanism different from the first driving mechanism for driving
the sealing device; and a control unit for controlling the driving
of the first driving mechanism and the second driving
mechanism.
8. The packaging apparatus of claim 6, wherein a face for pinching
the tube is elastic and of a shape corresponding to a shape of tube
containing the granular object.
9. A measuring and packaging apparatus for measuring and packaging
a granular object comprising: a packaging apparatus of claim 1; and
a measuring device for measuring the granular object to be supplied
to the packaging apparatus.
10. A method for producing a package, comprising the steps of:
supplying a granular object to the measuring and packaging
apparatus according to claim 9; measuring the granular object with
the measuring device; and packaging the measured granular object
with the packaging apparatus.
11. The packaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the air removing
device pinches the storage bag, into which the granular object has
been charged, to expel air therefrom.
12. The packaging apparatus of claim 2, wherein the granular object
having adsorption ability is spherical adsorptive carbon.
13. The packaging apparatus of claim 3, wherein the granular object
having adsorption ability is spherical adsorptive carbon.
14. The packaging apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a
heating device for heating the granular object before the storage
bag is sealed.
15. The packaging apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a
heating device for heating the granular object before the storage
bag is sealed.
16. The packaging apparatus of claim 7, wherein a face for pinching
the tube is elastic and of a shape corresponding to a shape of tube
containing the granular object.
17. A measuring and packaging apparatus for measuring and packaging
a granular object comprising: a packaging apparatus of claim 4; and
a measuring device for measuring the granular object to be supplied
to the packaging apparatus.
18. A measuring and packaging apparatus for measuring and packaging
a granular object comprising: a packaging apparatus of claim 6; and
a measuring device for measuring the granular object to be supplied
to the packaging apparatus.
19. A method for producing a package, comprising the steps of:
supplying a granular object to the measuring and packaging
apparatus according to claim 17; measuring the granular object with
the measuring device; and packaging the measured granular object
with the packaging apparatus.
20. A method for producing a package, comprising the steps of:
supplying a granular object to the measuring and packaging
apparatus according to claim 18; measuring the granular object with
the measuring device; and packaging the measured granular object
with the packaging apparatus.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a packaging apparatus, a
measuring and packaging apparatus, and a method for producing a
package of a granular object having adsorption ability, and, more
particularly, to a packaging apparatus, a measuring and packaging
apparatus, and a method for producing a package of a granular
object by which the residual air in the package can be reduced.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A granular object having adsorption ability such as
spherical adsorptive carbon contains a large amount of air, and the
amount of air varies tremendously depending on temperature.
Therefore, when air is emitted from the granular object with an
increase in temperature after packaging, the package is swollen and
cause problems during encasement, storage, transportation and so
on. Especially, since spherical adsorptive carbon has a granule
shape close on a perfect sphere, it has high fluidity. Thus, when
air remains in the package, spherical adsorptive carbon granules
move in the package. After that, when the air in the package
disappears with a decrease in temperature of the package, the
package is shrunk. Then, when the package being shrunk is torn to
open, the spherical adsorptive carbon granules spill out of the
package.
[0003] Therefore, various measures have been taken, including a
measure to charge spherical adsorptive carbon into a package at a
high temperature or to seal a package under a pressure lower than
atmospheric pressure (see Patent Document 1).
[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Registration No.
JP2607422B (pp. 3-4)
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problem to be Solved by the Invention
[0005] However, in some cases, when the air in the package cannot
be expelled completely before sealing, the package can be expanded
by the residual air with an increase in temperature after sealing.
Also, when the air in the package is tried to be expelled
completely therefrom, the granular object to be packaged may be
scattered. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide an apparatus for packaging a granular object which can
reduce the residual air in the package to prevent expansion of the
package with an increase in temperature after sealing.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
[0006] In order to accomplish the object, a packaging apparatus
according to the present invention, comprises as shown in FIG. 1
for example: a charging device 30 for charging a granular object
having adsorption ability into a storage bag 90 having an open end;
an air removing device 50 for expelling air from the storage bag 90
into which the granular object has been charged; and a sealing
device 40 for sealing the open end of the storage bag 90 from which
the air has been expelled; wherein the sealing device 40 is
actuated with a slight delay after the air has been expelled from
the storage bag 90 by the air removing device 50.
[0007] In this configuration, since the open end of the storage bag
into which the granular object having adsorption ability has been
charged is sealed after air has been expelled from the storage bag,
the amount of residual air in the packages can be made small. Since
the amount of residual air in the packages is small, the packages
are not swollen after sealing. To have "adsorption ability" means
to have an ability to retain gas such as air therein like spherical
adsorptive carbon or activated carbon. The term "storage bags"
means bags for containing a granular object. The bags may be
separated individually or a plurality of bags may be joined
together.
[0008] The packaging apparatus according to the present invention
is, as shown in FIG. 1 for example, the packaging apparatus 100 as
described above, wherein the storage bag 90 may be formed by
sealing a tube transversely.
[0009] In this configuration, since the storage bags are formed by
sealing the tube transversely, the storage bags can be continuously
supplied. Therefore, a packaging apparatus with high operating
efficiency can be obtained.
[0010] The packaging apparatus according to the present invention
is, as shown in FIG. 1 for example, anyone of the above packaging
apparatuses 100, wherein the air removing device 50 may pinch the
storage bag 90, into which the granular object has been charged, to
expel air from the storage bag 90.
[0011] In this configuration, since the air in the storage bag is
expelled by pinching the storage bag, the granular object can be
prevented from being scattered when the air is expelled from the
storage bag.
[0012] The packaging apparatus according to the present invention
is any one of the above packaging apparatuses 100, wherein the
granular object having adsorption ability may be spherical
adsorptive carbon.
[0013] In this configuration, since an amount of residual air in
the package can be made small, expansion of the package after
packaging can be prevented. Therefore, even spherical adsorptive
carbon having high adsorption ability can be packaged.
[0014] The packaging apparatus according to the present invention
is, as shown in FIG. 2 for example, any one of the above packaging
apparatuses, which may further comprise a heating device 12 for
heating the granular object before the storage bag 90 is
sealed.
[0015] In this configuration, since the granular object is heated
before being charged into the storage bag and the storage bag is
sealed after expelling the air in the storage bag, the sealed
package is not expanded even if the temperature is increased after
sealing.
[0016] In order to accomplish the above object, a packaging
apparatus according to the present invention comprises, as shown in
FIG. 1 for example: a sealing device 40 for sealing a tube 90
transversely at a first position; a charging device 30 for charging
a granular object into the tube 90 sealed at the first position;
and a pinching device 50 for pinching the tube into which the
granular object has been charged; wherein the tube 90 is sealed
transversely at a second position opposite the first position with
respect to the pinched part; and wherein the sealing device 40 is
actuated with a slight delay after the pinching device 50 has been
actuated.
[0017] In this configuration, the tube into which the granular
object has been charged is pinched to expel air therefrom before
being sealed, the produced package contains only a small amount of
residual air.
[0018] The packaging apparatus according to the present invention
is, as shown in FIG. 1 for example, the packaging apparatus 100 as
described above, which may further comprises: a first driving
mechanism 52 for driving the pinching device 50; a second driving
mechanism 42 different from the first driving mechanism 52 for
driving the sealing device 40; and a control unit 46 for
controlling the driving of the first driving mechanism 52 and the
second driving mechanism 42.
[0019] In this configuration, since the actuations of the pinching
device and the sealing device are controlled by the control unit,
both the devices can be actuated at appropriate timing.
[0020] The packaging apparatus according to the present invention
is, as shown in FIG. 1 for example, any one of the above packaging
apparatuses 100, wherein the face for pinching the tube 90 is
elastic and of a shape corresponding to the shape of tube 90
containing the granular object.
[0021] In this configuration, the tube is pinched and sealed with
the granular object being gathered at a prescribed position.
[0022] In order to accomplish the above object, a measuring and
packaging apparatus according to the present invention, comprises,
as show in FIG. 2 for example: any one of the above packaging
apparatuses 100; and a measuring device 20 for measuring the
granular object to be supplied to the packaging apparatus 100.
[0023] In this configuration, there is provided a measuring and
packaging apparatus in which a granular object can be supplied
quantitatively and which can produce a package containing only a
small amount of residual air.
[0024] In order to accomplish the above object, a method for
producing a package according to the present invention comprises,
as shown in FIG. 2 for example, the steps of: supplying a granular
object to the measuring and packaging apparatus described above;
measuring the granular object with the measuring device 20; and
packaging the measured granular object with the packaging apparatus
100.
[0025] In this configuration, since a granular object having
adsorption ability can be supplied to a measuring and packaging
apparatus which can produce a package containing only a small
amount of residual air and packaged by the measuring and packaging
apparatus, there is provided a packaging method suitable to produce
a package containing a granular object.
[0026] The basic Japanese Patent Application No. 2003-205994 filed
on Aug. 5, 2003 is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference
into the present application.
[0027] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow. However, the detailed
description and the specific embodiment are illustrated of desired
embodiments of the present invention and are described only for the
purpose of explanation. Various changes and modifications will be
apparent to those ordinary skilled in the art within the spirit and
scope of the present invention on the basis of the detailed
description.
[0028] The applicant has no intention to give to public any
disclosed embodiments. Among the disclosed changes and
modifications, those which may not literally fall within the scope
of the present claims constitute, therefore, a part of the present
invention in the sense of doctrine of equivalents.
[0029] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar
referents in the specification and claims are to be construed to
cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated
herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all
examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein,
is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not
pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise
claimed.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0030] As described previously, according to the present invention,
the air in the storage bag into which the granular object has been
charged is expelled before the storage bag is sealed. Therefore,
there is provided a packaging apparatus and a measuring and
packaging apparatus for a granular object which can reduce the
amount of residual air in the packages to prevent expansion of the
packages with an increase in temperature after sealing. Since
expansion of the package with an increase in temperature can be
prevented, the package can be easily handled during encasement,
storage, and distribution, including transport. In addition, the
granular object does not spill out of the package when it is
opened.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0031] The embodiments of the present invention are hereinafter
described with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding
devices are denoted in all the drawings with the same reference
numerals, and the repeated description is omitted.
[0032] A separately packaging apparatus 100 for spherical
adsorptive carbon as a packaging apparatus according to a first
embodiment of the present invention is first described with
reference to the schematic view of FIG. 1. The separately packaging
apparatus 100 has a charging device 30, a sealing device 40 and a
pinching device 50 as an air removing device.
[0033] The charging device 30 has a chute pipe 31. The chute pipe
31 has the shape of a funnel with a wide opening at the top so that
it can receive spherical adsorptive carbon measured in an amount to
be packaged separately from a measuring or metering device (not
shown). The lower part of the chute pipe 31 is in the form of a
thin pipe so that the spherical adsorptive carbon can be fed into a
tube 90. The lower end of the chute pipe 31 is opened. The
spherical adsorptive carbon falls through the chute pipe 31 by
gravity.
[0034] The sealing device 40 is disposed below the lower end of the
chute pipe 31. The sealing device 40 has top seal bars 41 for
heat-sealing the tube 90. The top seal bars 41, which are two metal
blocks with flat ends, are heated by a heater and pinch the tube 90
from both sides to heat-seal the tube 90. The timing at which the
top seal bars 41 pinch the tube 90 is controlled by a sequencer 46
as a control unit. A signal from the sequencer 46 is transmitted to
a sealing device driving mechanism 42 through a cable. The sealing
device driving mechanism 42 uses the signal to move the two top
seal bars 41 toward each other until they press against each other.
The top seal bars 41 can move up and down by a distance equal to
the length of individual packets.
[0035] The pinching device 50 is disposed right below the sealing
device 40. The pinching device 50 has two air expel guides 51 for
pinching the tube 90 containing spherical adsorptive carbon and a
pinching device driving mechanism 52. The two air expel guides 51
are paired with each other. The faces of the air expel guides 51
for pinching the tube 90 are formed by elastic bodies 51a. The
elastic bodies 51a are made of rubber or sponge. The elastic bodies
51a may be made of another elastic object such as a synthetic
resin. Alternatively, the entire air expel guides 51 may be made of
a metal such as a stainless steel without the elastic bodies 51a.
In this case, elastic deformation of the pinching faces cannot be
expected but the air expel guides 51 have high durability. Each of
the tube pinching faces of the air expel guides 51 has a bulged
upper portion and a recessed lower portion.
[0036] The timing at which the air expel guides 51 pinch the tube
90 is controlled by the sequencer 46. A signal from the sequencer
46 is transmitted to the pinching device driving mechanism 52
through a cable. The pinching device driving mechanism 52 uses the
signal to move the two air expel guides 52 toward each other until
their upper portions press against each other. The air expel guides
51 also can move up and down together with the top seal bars
41.
[0037] The operation of the separately packaging apparatus is next
described with reference to FIG. 1. The tube 90 is produced by
forming a flat tape into a tubular shape around the lower end of
the chute pipe 31 and heat sealing the overlapped portions thereof.
The tube 90 is sealed transversely at a prescribed position by the
sealing device 40 as described later. The tube 90 is formed into a
bag shape having a sealed bottom and an open end and placed with
its opening facing the lower opening of the chute pipe 31. The
storage bags for the spherical adsorptive carbon are preferably
produced from the tube 90 since the storage bags can be supplied
continuously. The storage bags are not necessarily joined as a tube
but may be separated individually, though. For example, the storage
bags may be in the shape of a circular cylinder, quadratic prism,
tetrahedron, or hemisphere.
[0038] The spherical adsorptive carbon measured by a measuring
device (not shown) is poured into the bag-shaped part of the tube
90 through the chute pipe 31 and is heaped up in the lower part of
the bag-shaped part. Since each spherical adsorptive carbon granule
is almost perfectly spherical and has high fluidity, those granules
must be gathered in the lower portion of the bag and the upper
portion of the bag must be empty. Otherwise, the spherical
adsorptive carbon granules spill out when the bag is opened.
Therefore, the spherical adsorptive carbon has to be heaped up in
the lower portion of the bag-shaped part and the upper portion of
the bag-shaped part must be empty.
[0039] When spherical adsorptive carbon is charged in the tube 90,
the pinching device driving mechanism 52 is actuated by a signal
from the sequencer 46, and the air expel guides 51 pinch the
bag-shaped part of the tube 90 from both sides. When the bag-shaped
part of the tube 90 is pinched by the air expel guides 51, the air
in the bag-shaped part is expelled. Since the pinching device
driving mechanism 52 has a servomotor, the speed of the air expel
guides 51 is so controlled that the air expel guides 51 can pinch
the tube 90 at such a speed that the air can be expelled quickly
without causing the spherical adsorptive carbon to leap in the tube
90. Also, the servomotor controls the air expel guides 51 to pinch
the tube 90 at an appropriate pressure to expel the air in the tube
90.
[0040] Since the faces of the air expel guides 51 for pinching the
tube 90 have a bulged upper portion and a recessed lower portion,
the spherical adsorptive carbon is placed in the gap between the
lower portions of the paired air expel guides 51. When the air
expel guides 51 for pinching the tube 90 have a flat face with a
recessed lower portion, they can be produced easily. The air expel
guides 51 may have a curved face corresponding to the shape of the
sealed packets, through. Since the upper portions of the air expel
guides 51 are moved toward each other until they contact, no
spherical adsorptive carbon can stay in the upper portion of the
tube 90.
[0041] Since the faces of the air expel guides 51 for pinching the
tube 90 are formed by the elastic bodies 51a made of rubber or
sponge, they can be deformed even if the shape of the part of the
tube 90 containing the spherical adsorptive carbon is slightly
changed when they pinch the tube 90. Therefore, the air can be
expelled reliably without damaging the tube.
[0042] In addition, it is advantageous that, since the faces of the
air expel guides 51 for pinching the tube 90 are formed by elastic
bodies 51a, the apparatus can be used by replacing only the elastic
bodies 51a even if the amount of spherical adsorptive carbon to be
packaged in individual packets is changed or the type of granular
object to be packaged is changed.
[0043] Almost as soon as the air expel guides 51 complete to
pinching the tube 90, a signal from the sequencer 46 actuates the
sealing device driving mechanism 42 and the top seal bars 41 pinch
transversely the part of the tube 90 immediately above the part
from which air has been expelled by the air expel guides 51. The
top seal bars 41 are driven by the sealing device driving mechanism
42 separately from the air expel guides 51. Since the sealing
device driving mechanism 42 has a servomotor, the top seal bars 41
pinch the tube 90 at an appropriate pressure to seal the tube 90.
Since the air expel guides 51 and the top seal bars 41 are driven
by different driving mechanisms, both the air expel guides 51 and
the top seal bars 41 can pinch the tube 90 at appropriate timing,
speed, and pressure. Since the top seal bars 41 are heated by a
heater (not shown), the tube 90 is sealed transversely and closed
when pinched by the top seal bars 41. The tube 90 is made of a
multi-layer film having an inner layer of a heat-sealable plastic
film and can be sealed when pinched by heated top seal bars 41. The
top seal bars 41 may seal the tube 90 by means other than heat
sealing, such as ultrasonic sealing.
[0044] Since the top seal bars 41 pinch the tube 90 to seal it
slightly after the pinching device 50 has been actuated and the air
expel guides 51 have pinched the tube 90 to expel the air in the
tube 90, the air in the tube 90 can be expelled reliably.
[0045] The slight time difference can be adjusted to a proper value
by the sequencer 46. For example, when 40 packets are produced per
minute, that is, the pinching and sealing is conducted 40 times per
minute, the time difference is 0.05 to 0.15 seconds, preferably
0.07 to 0.12 seconds.
[0046] The sequencer 46 may control not only the operation of the
top seal bars 41 and the air expel guides 51 but also the entire
operation of the apparatus as described later.
[0047] The top seal bars 41 move down a distance equal to the
length of a packet while pinching the tube 90. By this movement,
the sealed part made to close the packet containing spherical
adsorptive carbon becomes the bottom of the next bag-shaped part of
the tube 90. The top seal bars 41 and the air expel guides 51 are
supported by the same beam (not shown). The air expel guides 51
move in synchronization with the movement of the top seal bars
41.
[0048] As described above, the packets produced by the separately
packaging apparatus 100 for spherical adsorptive carbon according
to the first embodiment of the present invention are suitable for
packaging spherical adsorptive carbon since they contain a small
amount of residual air. It is preferred to heat the spherical
adsorptive carbon before sealing with the sealing device 40 since
expansion of air in the packets with an increase in temperature
after packaging can be prevented more reliably. For that purpose,
there may be provided, for example, a heating device for heating
the spherical adsorptive carbon in the chute pipe 31 or a heating
device for heating the spherical adsorptive carbon charged in the
tube 90. Alternatively, the hopper for receiving the spherical
adsorptive carbon to be packaged may be provided with a heating
device as described later. In this case, the hopper constitutes a
part of the separately packaging apparatus. The heating with a
heating device must be conducted before sealing, preferably before
expelling air. More preferably, the spherical adsorptive carbon is
heated in the hopper in which it stays for a long time.
[0049] Here, the term "packet" means each of the sealed bags
containing a granular object measured by the measuring device, and
the term "package" means each packet or set of packets cut at the
sealed parts and discharged from the packaging apparatus.
[0050] Although the sealing device 40 pulls down the tube 90 while
pinching it and the tube 90 is intermittently transported in the
above embodiment, the tube 90 may be continuously transported by
another device and the sealing device 40 and the pinching device 50
may be moved up and down in synchronization with the movement of
the tube 90. Alternatively, the tube 90 may be transported
sequentially by another device but the sealing device 40 and the
pinching device 50 do not move up and down, and the transport of
the tube 90 may be stopped while it is pinched and sealed.
[0051] A measuring and packaging apparatus according to a second
embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to
the schematic view of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a measuring and
packaging apparatus for spherical adsorptive carbon provided with a
separately packaging apparatus 100 according to the first
embodiment of the present invention.
[0052] A hopper 10 and a measuring device 20 are disposed above a
separately packaging apparatus 100. The hopper 10 is a container
having a wide upper opening and narrowing gradually toward the
lower end. The lower end of the hopper 10 is opened and
communicated with a filling nozzle 16. The hopper 10 has a heater
12, and the spherical adsorptive carbon in the hopper is heated at
60 to 80.degree. C. Alternatively, hot air from a heater may be
passed through the hopper to heat the spherical adsorptive carbon
at 60 to 80.degree. C.
[0053] The filling nozzle 16 under the hopper 10 is a thin pipe so
that the spherical adsorptive carbon in the hopper can be
discharged little by little. The filling nozzle 16 may have a flow
control valve (not shown) the opening and closing of which is
controlled by the sequencer 46. The lower end of the filling nozzle
16 is located and opened in a through hole 22a of a holder 22.
[0054] The holder 22 is combined with a measuring vessel 21
reciprocating horizontally under the holder 22, a shutter 24 placed
under the measuring vessel 21, and springs 23 for pressing the
holder 22 against the measuring vessel 21 under the holder 22 to
constitute the measuring device 20. The springs 23 are provided to
keep the holder 22 in close contact with the measuring vessel 21 so
that the spherical adsorptive carbon granules cannot be caught
between them and cannot scratch the surfaces thereof. The springs
23 may not be provided.
[0055] The measuring vessel 21 has a space 21a with a capacity
equal to the volume of spherical adsorptive carbon to be measured.
The space 21a is communicable with the through hole 22a of the
holder 22. When the measuring vessel 21 moves horizontally, the
space 21a is communicated with a through hole 24a of a shutter 24.
The through hole 24a of the shutter 24 has a lower opening
connected to a chute pipe 31.
[0056] The sealing device 40 and the pinching device 50 described
before are disposed below the opening of the chute pipe 31.
[0057] A cutting device 60 is disposed below the pinching device 50
for cutting the packets 91 containing spherical adsorptive carbon
by each or by a plurality of packets 91 to produce a package 92.
The cutting device 60 has two blades which pinch and cut the tube
90. The package 92 of a plurality of packets 91 joined end to end
may be perforated at the sealed parts left uncut so that packets 91
can be easily separated by hand. Therefore, the cutting device 60
may also have blades each of which has an edge with notches at
equal intervals and which are operated at different timing from the
cutting blades. The operation of the cutting device 60 is also
controlled by the sequencer 46.
[0058] A receiving table 61 is located below the cutting device 60.
The receiving table 61 is a tilted plate that allows the cut
package 92 to fall obliquely to reduce the impact of the fall. The
receiving table 61 has a shock absorbing roller 62 for further
reducing the falling speed of the packages 92. The shock absorbing
roller 62 is located in such a position that the package 92 passes
between two cylindrical rollers of the shock absorbing roller 62
while sliding down on the receiving table 61. Since the package 92
rotate the rollers when passing therebetween, the falling speed of
the package 92 is reduced. The shock absorbing roller 62 may have
only one roller. Another means for reducing the falling speed of
the package 92 may be provided instead of the shock absorbing
roller 62. For example, some means for increasing friction may be
provided on the receiving table 61.
[0059] A cooling device 70 is disposed downstream of the receiving
table 61. The cooling device 70 has a conveyor 71 and supports 72
for supporting the package 92 in an obliquely upstanding position
arranged on the conveyor 71 and moving together with the conveyor
71. The supports 72 are plates or rods obliquely extending from the
conveyor 71. The supports 72 support the package 92 such that the
short sides of the package 92 are perpendicular to the transporting
direction. Then, a larger number of package 92 can be supported on
the conveyor 71 with the same length. At the end opposite the
receiving table 61 where the conveyer 71 turns around, the package
92 fall by gravity. The package 92 falls into a container for
packing the package 92, and the package 92 is packed and
shipped.
[0060] The method of producing the package 92 of spherical
adsorptive carbon is next described with reference to FIG. 2.
Spherical adsorptive carbon is supplied into the hopper 10 through
the upper opening thereof and temporally stored in the hopper 10.
The spherical adsorptive carbon is heated at 60 to 80.degree. C. by
the heater 12 while being stored in the hopper 10. This is to
package spherical adsorptive carbon at the possible highest
temperature so that the packets cannot be expanded by air emitted
from the spherical adsorptive carbon with an increase in
temperature after packaging.
[0061] The spherical adsorptive carbon gradually descends in the
hopper 10 and flows into the filling nozzle 16 from the lower end
of the hopper 10. A flow control valve to adjust the flow of
discharged spherical adsorptive carbon is provided in the filling
nozzle 16 so that the appropriate amount of spherical adsorptive
carbon is discharged.
[0062] The spherical adsorptive carbon is supplied from the filling
nozzle 16 into the space 21a of the measuring vessel 21 through the
holder 22. When the space 21a is filled with spherical adsorptive
carbon, the measuring vessel 21 moves horizontally. Then, the
spherical adsorptive carbon in the space 21a is fed into the chute
pipe 31 through the through hole 24a of the shutter 24. Spherical
adsorptive carbon in an amount equal to the capacity of the space
21a is measured by a measuring device 20.
[0063] Each clump of spherical adsorptive carbon measured as
described above is supplied into the tube 90 through the chute pipe
31. Air is expelled out of the tube 90 containing spherical
adsorptive carbon by the pinching device 50 as described before,
and the tube 90 is sealed to form packets 91 by the sealing device
40.
[0064] The packets 91 are cut at the sealed parts into individual
packets or packages of, for example, three packets by the cutting
device 60. When the packets 91 are cut into packages of a plurality
of packets, the packages may be perforated at the sealed parts
between the packets 91 by being pinched between blades each having
an edge with notches at equal intervals so that the individual
packets can be easily separated by hand.
[0065] The package 92 cut by the cutting device 60 slides down on
the receiving table 61, is reduced in falling speed by the shock
absorbing roller 62 and falls down onto the cooling device 70.
Since the package 92 falls onto the cooling device 70 at a low
speed, the seals at the bottoms of the package 92 are not damaged
by the impact of the fall. The package 92 fed onto the cooling
device 70 is held in an obliquely upstanding position by the
supports 72 and transported on the conveyor 71 of the cooling
device for one to five minutes. The package 92 may be transported
on the conveyor 71 at room temperature or exposed to cool air while
being transported. During this time, the spherical adsorptive
carbon heated to 55 to 80.degree. C. in the hopper 10 and still
keeping the temperature is cooled to almost room temperature. When
cooled, the package shrinks and the spherical adsorptive carbon
cannot move any more in the lower portion of packets 91.
[0066] When the package 92 is transported to an end of the conveyer
71, the conveyor 71 turns downward and the package 92 falls by
gravity. A packing box is placed at the position where the package
92 falls. When a predetermined number of packages 92 are put in the
box, the box is carried away.
[0067] Here, spherical adsorptive carbon to be packaged by the
separately packaging apparatus according to the first embodiment of
the present invention or packaged by the measuring and packaging
apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present
invention is described. The spherical adsorptive carbon granule is
of porous spherical carbon object with granule size between 0.05
and 1 mm in diameter and a bulk density of 0.51.+-.0.04 g/ml. Since
the spherical adsorptive carbon granule is of a perfect spherical
shape and has high fluidity, it is likely to be scattered in
opening a packet. Also, spherical adsorptive carbon contains a
large amount of air, and the amount of air tremendously varies
depending on temperature. For example, when spherical adsorptive
carbon is heated from zero to 30.degree. C., it emits 1.46 ml of
air per gram. Since spherical adsorptive carbon is heated at 60 to
80.degree. C. to fully expel air therefrom and cooled after being
sealed in the packets, a vacuum is established in the packets.
Therefore, the packets do not expand even if the temperature
increases in ordinary circumstances.
[0068] Although spherical adsorptive carbon is taken as an example
of the granular object to be measured and packaged, the present
invention is suitably applicable to any granular objects having
adsorption ability and a perfect spherical shape. The packaging
apparatus, the measuring and packaging apparatus, and the method
for producing a package according to the present invention are
applicable to other granular objects, especially to granular
objects having adsorption ability. Any device for expelling the air
in the storage bags can be used instead of the pinching device as
the air expelling device. For example, a decompressor may be used.
When a decompressor is used, the open end of the storage bag is
preferably covered with a screen so that the granular object cannot
scatter when the pressure in the storage bag is reduced. The mesh
size of the screen must be smaller than the granule size of the
granular object so that the granular object cannot pass through the
screen even when the screen is deformed. The pressure does not have
to be reduced to a high vacuum as long as the pressure can be
reduced to such a degree that the air in the storage bag can be
expelled. Although the present invention is described as a
separately packaging apparatus for packaging spherical adsorptive
carbon into packets, the present invention is applicable to
ordinary packaging.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0069] FIG. 1 is a schematic view, illustrating a packaging
apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0070] FIG. 2 is a schematic view, illustrating a measuring and
packaging apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0071] 10: hopper [0072] 12: heating device [0073] 20: measuring
device [0074] 30: charging device [0075] 31: chute pipe [0076] 40:
sealing device [0077] 41: top seal bar [0078] 42: sealing device
driving mechanism (first driving mechanism) [0079] 46: sequencer
(control unit) [0080] 50: pinching device (air removing device)
[0081] 51: air expel guide [0082] 52: pinching device driving
mechanism (second driving mechanism) [0083] 60: cutting device
[0084] 61: receiving table [0085] 62: shock absorbing roller [0086]
100: separately packaging apparatus (packaging apparatus)
* * * * *