Seal device

Abstract

To provide a seal device capable of maintaining the state of holding an object by a pair of holding parts.SOLUTION: A seal device includes: a lower holding part and an upper holding part for holding an object from above and below and sealing the same; and a movement mechanism for moving the lower holding part and the upper holding part between an open position where they are separated from each other and a closed position where they come close to each other by moving the lower holding part downward, and an object is held. The movement mechanism can hold the lower holding part and the upper holding part at the closed position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a sealing device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a sealing device that includes a pair of pressure contact parts (hereinafter also referred to as a pair of clamping parts) that clamps and seals an object from above and below (for example, see Patent Document 1 below).

[0003] The sealing device according to Patent Document 1 moves a table connected to a lower clamping section downward, whereby the pair of clamping sections clamps an object and seals the object by heat fusing.

[0004] However, since there is no mechanism for holding the object between the pair of clamps, it is necessary to continue holding the table by hand until the thermal fusion is completed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-99940 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a sealing device that can hold an object between a pair of clamping parts. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The sealing device of the present invention includes a lower clamping portion and an upper clamping portion that clamp an object from above and below to seal it, a moving mechanism that moves the lower clamping portion and the upper clamping portion to an open position where they are spaced apart from each other, and to a closed position where they approach each other and clamp the object by moving the lower clamping portion downward; The moving mechanism is capable of holding the lower clamping portion and the upper clamping portion in the closed position. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a sealing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a sealing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a sealing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a sealing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a side view showing an internal configuration of a sealing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a sealing device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a side view showing an internal configuration of a sealing device according to another embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing an internal configuration of a sealing device according to another embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the sealing device will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that in each drawing, the dimensional ratios of the drawings do not necessarily match the actual dimensional ratios, and the dimensional ratios between the drawings do not necessarily match.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of the sealing device 1. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the internal configuration of the sealing device 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the sealing device 1.

[0011] The sealing device 1 comprises a rectangular plate-shaped base 1a and a main body 1b provided on the upper part of the base 1a. The main body 1b comprises a cover 1c. Fig. 2 shows the state with the cover 1c removed, and the main body 1b comprises a bracket 1d with a U-shaped cross section that is fixed to the upper surface of the base 1a.

[0012] The main body 1b has a pair of clamping sections 2, 3 that clamp and seal an object. The object is, for example, the opening of a packaging bag made of synthetic resin such as polyethylene. The pair of clamping sections 2, 3 has a lower clamping section 2 and an upper clamping section 3 that face each other. A table 2t on which the object is placed is connected to the lower clamping section 2.

[0013] 1 to 3, the direction in which the pair of clamping parts 2, 3 face each other is referred to as the up-down direction, the direction in which the pair of clamping parts 2, 3 extend is referred to as the left-right direction, and the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the left-right direction is referred to as the front-rear direction. Furthermore, based on the pair of clamping parts 2, 3, the side on which the table 2t is placed is referred to as the front side, and the opposite side is referred to as the rear side.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 3, the lower clamping part 2 has a linear heater 2a built in its upper part, and its surface part is covered with a fluororesin sheet. The sealing device 1 is equipped with a control device 1e that controls the supply of electricity to the linear heater 2a, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper clamping part 3 is formed of, for example, silicone rubber.

[0015] The lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 move between an open position in which they are spaced apart as shown in Fig. 3 and a closed position in which they approach each other and clamp an object as shown in Fig. 4. The main body 1b is provided with a movement mechanism 4 that moves the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 between the open position and the closed position.

[0016] The movement mechanism 4 includes a link mechanism consisting of four links: a first link 41, a second link 42, a third link 43, and a fourth link 44.

[0017] The first link 41 extends in the front-rear direction. The first link 41 includes a pair of left and right arm members 41a. The rear end of the arm members 41a is fixed to a fixed shaft 45 provided on the bracket 1d so as to be rotatable in the up-down direction. The lower clamping part 2 is fixed to the front end of the arm members 41a.

[0018] The second link 42 extends in the front-rear direction. The second link 42 is formed in a substantially T-shape. The rear end of the second link 42 is fixed to a fixed shaft 45 provided on the bracket 1d so as to be rotatable in the up-down direction. The upper clamping part 3 is attached to the front end of the second link 42.

[0019] The upper clamping portion 3 is attached so as to be slidable in the up and down direction relative to the second link 42. A first spring 46 is disposed between the front end of the second link 42 and the upper clamping portion 3, and the upper clamping portion 3 is biased downward relative to the second link 42.

[0020] The third link 43 extends in the up-down direction. The third link 43 includes a first rotating shaft 43a extending in the left-right direction, a second rotating shaft 43b extending in the left-right direction, and a bolt 43c connecting the first rotating shaft 43a and the second rotating shaft 43b. The first rotating shaft 43a is rotatably connected to a middle portion of the second link 42. The second rotating shaft 43b is rotatably connected to an upper end of the fourth link 44.

[0021] The fourth link 44 extends in the vertical direction. The fourth link 44 includes a pair of left and right dogleg-shaped link members 44a and a third rotating shaft 44b connecting the pair of left and right link members 44a. The third rotating shaft 44b is rotatably connected to the middle of the first link 41. The upper end of the fourth link 44 is rotatably connected to the upper end of the third link 43. The fourth link 44 includes a roller 44c rotatably fixed to the lower end of the link member 44a. This allows the lower end of the fourth link 44 to move in the front-rear direction along the upper surface of the base 1a.

[0022] The movement mechanism 4 includes a second spring 47 whose upper end is connected to the fourth link 44 and which biases the fourth link 44 diagonally downward and rearward. The lower end of the second spring 47 is connected to the bracket 1d.

[0023] The movement mechanism 4 also includes an air damper 48 provided between the upper end of the fourth link 44 and the rear part of the second link 42. The air damper 48 absorbs shocks generated when the movement mechanism 4 moves between the open position and the closed position.

[0024] The movement mechanism 4 also includes a restricting portion 49 that restricts the lower end of the fourth link 44 from moving upward when in the closed position. The restricting portion 49 is a member formed in a substantially Z-shape in side view, and is fixed to the upper surface of the base 1a. The restricting portion 49 comes into contact with the upper end of the roller 44c to restrict the roller 44c from moving upward.

[0025] As described above, the moving mechanism 4 includes the first link 41 to which the lower clamping portion 2 is fixed at the front end, the second link 42 to which the upper clamping portion 3 is attached at the front end, the first spring 46 disposed between the front end of the second link 42 and the upper clamping portion 3, the fixed shaft 45 which fixes the rear ends of the first link 41 and the second link 42 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction, the third link 43 whose lower end is rotatably connected to the middle portion of the second link 42 via the first rotating shaft 43a, the fourth link 44 whose upper end is rotatably connected to the upper end of the third link 43 via the second rotating shaft 43b and whose middle portion is rotatably connected to the middle portion of the first link 41 via the third rotating shaft 44b, and the second spring 47 whose upper end is connected to a portion of the fourth link 44 above the third rotating shaft 44b and which urges the fourth link 44 diagonally downward and rearward.

[0026] In the open position shown in FIG. 3, the first rotating shaft 43a is located forward of a plane P including the second rotating shaft 43b and the third rotating shaft 44b. In this specification, the "plane P including the second rotating shaft 43b and the third rotating shaft 44b" refers to a plane including the axial center of the second rotating shaft 43b and the axial center of the third rotating shaft 44b, and the "first rotating shaft 43a is located forward (or rearward) of the plane P" means that the axial center of the first rotating shaft 43a is located forward (or rearward) of the plane P. When the first rotating shaft 43a is located forward of the plane P including the second rotating shaft 43b and the third rotating shaft 44b, the lower clamping part 2 and the upper clamping part 3 are biased by the second spring 47 in directions away from each other and are held in the open position.

[0027] When the lower clamping portion 2 is pushed down from the open position, the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 are moved to the closed position shown in FIG. 4 by a link mechanism consisting of the first to fourth links 41 to 44. In the closed position, the first rotating shaft 43a is located on a plane P including the second rotating shaft 43b and the third rotating shaft 44b or rearward of the plane P. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the first rotating shaft 43a is located on a plane P including the second rotating shaft 43b and the third rotating shaft 44b. When the first rotating shaft 43a is located on a plane P including the second rotating shaft 43b and the third rotating shaft 44b or rearward of the plane P, the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 are held in the closed position against the biasing force of the second spring 47. When the lower clamping portion 2 is lifted from the closed position, it is released from the closed position, and then the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 move to the open position shown in FIG.

[0028] The moving mechanism 4 preferably includes a switching mechanism 5 that switches between holding the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position or not by changing the fixed height of the lower end of the second spring 47. Fig. 5 is a side view of the sealing device 1 including the switching mechanism 5, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the sealing device 1 including the switching mechanism 5.

[0029] The switching mechanism 5 includes a knob portion 51 and a guide hole 52 that guides the knob portion 51. The second spring 47 has an upper end engaged with a screw 44d protruding from a side surface of the fourth link 44, and a lower end engaged with the knob portion 51.

[0030] The guide hole 52 is formed in the bracket 1d. The guide hole 52 is formed in an arc shape. The knob portion 51 has a neck portion that is narrower than the width of the guide hole 52, and this neck portion is guided by the guide hole 52.

[0031] Both ends 52a, 52b of the guide hole 52 are cut out toward the front side. As a result, the knob portion 51 is locked to both ends 52a, 52b by the biasing force of the second spring 47.

[0032] When the gripping portion 51 is engaged with the first end 52a of the guide hole 52, i.e., when the lower end of the second spring 47 is fixed at the height of the first end 52a of the guide hole 52, the moving mechanism 4 can hold the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position.

[0033] On the other hand, when the gripping portion 51 is engaged with the second end 52b of the guide hole 52, i.e., when the lower end of the second spring 47 is fixed at the height of the second end 52b of the guide hole 52 (when the second spring 47 is in the position shown by the dotted line in Figure 5), the force with which the second spring 47 urges the fourth link 44 backward becomes large, and the moving mechanism 4 cannot hold the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position.

[0034] Therefore, the switching mechanism 5 can switch between holding the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position or not by moving and fixing the lower end of the second spring 47 to the height of the first end 52a or the height of the second end 52b.

[0035] [1] As described above, the sealing device 1 comprises a lower clamping portion 2 and an upper clamping portion 3 which clamp the object from above and below to seal it, and a moving mechanism 4 which moves the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 to an open position where they are separated from each other and a closed position where they move closer to each other and clamp the object by moving the lower clamping portion 2 downward, and the moving mechanism 4 is capable of holding the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position.

[0036] With this configuration, the moving mechanism 4 can bring the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 close to each other and hold them in a closed position in which they clamp the object, thereby keeping the object clamped between the pair of clamping portions 2, 3.

[0037] [2] In addition, in the sealing device 1 of [1] above, the moving mechanism 4 includes a first link 41 to which the lower clamping portion 2 is fixed at the front end and which extends in the front-rear direction, a second link 42 to which the upper clamping portion 3 is attached at the front end and which extends in the front-rear direction, a first spring 46 disposed between the front end of the second link 42 and the upper clamping portion 3 and which biases the upper clamping portion 3 downward relative to the second link 42, a fixed shaft 45 which fixes the rear ends of the first link 41 and the second link 42 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction, a third link 43 whose lower end is rotatably connected to the middle portion of the second link 42 via a first rotating shaft 43a and which extends in the vertical direction, and a second rotating shaft 43b connected to the upper end of the third link 43. and a fourth link 44 extending in the vertical direction, the upper end of which is rotatably connected to a middle portion of the first link 41 via a third pivot shaft 44b and the middle portion of which is rotatably connected to a middle portion of the first link 41 via a third pivot shaft 44b, and a second spring 47 whose upper end is connected to a portion of the fourth link 44 above the third pivot shaft 44b and which urges the fourth link 44 diagonally downward and rearward, wherein, in the open position, the first pivot shaft 43a is located forward of a plane P which includes the second pivot shaft 43b and the third pivot shaft 44b, and, in the closed position, the first pivot shaft 43a is located on or rear of the plane P which includes the second pivot shaft 43b and the third pivot shaft 44b.

[0038] According to such a configuration, the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 can be easily held in the closed position by the action of pushing down the lower clamping portion 2.

[0039] [3] In addition, in the sealing device 1 of [2] above, it is preferable that the moving mechanism 4 is provided with a regulating portion 49 that regulates the upward movement of the lower end (in this embodiment, roller 44c) of the fourth link 44 in the closed position.

[0040] According to this configuration, when the fourth link 44 is moved to the closed position, the lower end of the fourth link 44 can be prevented from rotating upward too much, causing the fourth link 44 to fall forward.

[0041] [4] In addition, in the sealing device 1 of [2] or [3] above, it is preferable that the moving mechanism 4 is provided with a switching mechanism 5 which switches between holding the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position or not by changing the fixed height of the lower end of the second spring 47.

[0042] According to such a configuration, the user can select whether or not to hold the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position.

[0043] [5] In addition, in the sealing device 1 of [4] above, it is preferable that the switching mechanism 5 is configured to move the lower end of the second spring 47 between a first height (in this embodiment, the height of the first end 52a of the guide hole 52) and a second height higher than the first height (in this embodiment, the height of the second end 52b of the guide hole 52), and fix it at the first height or the second height.

[0044] According to such a configuration, it is possible to easily switch between holding the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position or not.

[0045] Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above based on the drawings, the specific configurations should not be considered to be limited to these embodiments. The scope of the present disclosure is indicated not only by the description of the above-mentioned embodiments but also by the claims, and further includes all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0046] The structures employed in the above-described embodiments may be employed in any other embodiment. The specific configurations of the components are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

[0047] In the sealing device 1 according to the above embodiment, the moving mechanism 4 includes a first link 41 having the lower clamping portion 2 fixed to its front end and extending in the front-rear direction, a second link 42 having the upper clamping portion 3 attached to its front end and extending in the front-rear direction, a first spring 46 disposed between the front end of the second link 42 and the upper clamping portion 3 and biasing the upper clamping portion 3 downward relative to the second link 42, a fixed shaft 45 which fixes the rear ends of the first link 41 and the second link 42 so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction, a third link 43 having a lower end rotatably connected to a middle portion of the second link 42 via a first rotating shaft 43a and extending in the vertical direction, and a second rotating shaft 43a connected to the upper end of the third link 43. The fourth link 44 extends in the vertical direction, and the upper end of the fourth link 44 is rotatably connected to the middle of the first link 41 via the third rotating shaft 44b, and the middle part of the fourth link 44 is rotatably connected to the middle part of the first link 41 via the third rotating shaft 44b. The second spring 47 is connected to the upper end of the fourth link 44 above the third rotating shaft 44b and biases the fourth link 44 diagonally downward toward the rear. In the open position, the first rotating shaft 43a is located in front of a plane P including the second rotating shaft 43b and the third rotating shaft 44b, and in the closed position, the first rotating shaft 43a is located on the plane P including the second rotating shaft 43b and the third rotating shaft 44b or behind the plane P. That is, the moving mechanism 4 holds the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position by a link mechanism consisting of four links 41 to 44. However, the sealing device 1 is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the moving mechanism 4 may be configured to include a first link 41 having the lower clamping portion 2 fixed to its front end and extending in the front-rear direction, a second link 42 having the upper clamping portion 3 attached to its front end and extending in the front-rear direction, a first spring 46 that urges the upper clamping portion 3 downward relative to the second link 42, a motor (not shown) that rotates the second link 42 in the vertical direction, and a control device 1e that controls the motor, and the motor stops the second link 42 at a predetermined angle at which the second link 42 is in the closed position, thereby holding the lower clamping portion 2 and the upper clamping portion 3 in the closed position. The moving mechanism 4 may also be configured to include a sensor (not shown) that detects that the first link 41 has moved to the closed position, and a fixing mechanism that fixes the first link 41 based on a detection signal from the sensor.

[0048] In the sealing device 1 according to the above embodiment, the switching mechanism 5 is configured to include a knob portion 51 to which the lower end of the second spring 47 is engaged, and a guide hole 52 to guide the knob portion 51 in the up-down direction. However, the sealing device 1 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the switching mechanism 5 may be configured to include a plurality of engaging portions (e.g., engaging projections protruding from the side surface of the bracket 1d, or engaging holes formed in the side surface of the bracket 1d) that are spaced apart in the up-down direction and to which the lower end of the second spring 47 is engaged.

[0049] 7 and 8, the switching mechanism 5 may be configured to include a knob 51 to which the lower end of the second spring 47 is engaged, and a lever 53 to rotate the knob 51 in the vertical direction. In this case, two through holes 54 spaced apart in the vertical direction are formed in the bracket 1d, and the fixing height of the lower end of the second spring 47 can be changed by rotating the knob 51 and inserting the tip of the knob 51 into one of the through holes 54. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1...sealing device, 1a...base, 1b...main body, 1c...cover, 1d...bracket, 1e...control device, 2...lower clamping portion, 2a...linear heater, 2t...table, 3...upper clamping portion, 4...movement mechanism, 5...switching mechanism, 41...first link, 41a...arm member, 42...second link, 43...third link, 43a...first rotating shaft, 43b...second rotating shaft, 43c...bolt, 44...fourth link, 44a...link member, 44b...third rotating shaft, 44c...roller, 44d...screw, 45...fixed shaft, 46...first spring, 47...second spring, 48...air damper, 49...regulating portion, 51...grip portion, 52...guide hole, 52a...first end, 52b...second end, 53...lever, 54...through hole, P...plane

Claims

1. A lower clamping part and an upper clamping part that clamp and seal an object from above and below; a moving mechanism that moves the lower clamping portion and the upper clamping portion to an open position where they are spaced apart from each other, and to a closed position where they approach each other and clamp the object by moving the lower clamping portion downward; A sealing device, wherein the moving mechanism is capable of holding the lower clamping portion and the upper clamping portion in the closed position.

2. The moving mechanism includes: a first link having a front end fixed to the lower clamping portion and extending in the front-rear direction; a second link having a front end attached to the upper clamping portion and extending in the front-rear direction; a first spring disposed between a front end of the second link and the upper clamping portion and biasing the upper clamping portion downward with respect to the second link; a fixed shaft that fixes rear ends of the first link and the second link so as to be rotatable in the vertical direction; a third link whose lower end is rotatably connected to a middle portion of the second link via a first rotation shaft and extends in the vertical direction; a fourth link having an upper end rotatably connected to an upper end of the third link via a second rotating shaft and an intermediate portion rotatably connected to an intermediate portion of the first link via a third rotating shaft, the fourth link extending in the vertical direction; a second spring, an upper end of which is connected to a portion of the fourth link above the third rotating shaft and which biases the fourth link diagonally downward and rearward; In the open position, the first rotation shaft is located forward of a plane including the second rotation shaft and the third rotation shaft, The seal device according to claim 1 , wherein in the closed position, the first rotation shaft is located on a plane including the second rotation shaft and the third rotation shaft or rearward of the plane.

3. The sealing device according to claim 2 , wherein the movement mechanism includes a restricting portion that restricts an upward movement of a lower end of the fourth link in the closed position.

4. The sealing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the moving mechanism includes a switching mechanism that switches between holding the lower clamping portion and the upper clamping portion in the closed position or not by changing the fixed height of the lower end of the second spring.

5. The sealing device according to claim 4 , wherein the switching mechanism moves the lower end of the second spring between a first height and a second height higher than the first height, and fixes the lower end of the second spring at the first height or the second height.

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