Method for controlling oxygen concentration in packaging container and packaging machine

Abstract

To provide an oxygen concentration control method in a packaging container and a packaging machine to which the control method is applied, which can prevent a production of a large quantity of products in which an oxygen concentration remaining in a packaging container is out of specification.SOLUTION: An oxygen concentration control method in a packaging container H of the present invention includes steps of: sequentially measuring an oxygen concentration in the packaging container H produced through a packing process of a packaged object, a gas substitution process, and a seal process, and transmitting an oxygen concentration measurement value sequentially measured in the packaging container H to a control unit 70 (S1); determining by the control unit 70 whether the oxygen concentration measurement values are on a rising trend (S2); and, when the control unit 70 determines that the oxygen concentration measurement values are on a rising trend, reducing a remaining oxygen concentration in the packaging container H (S3 and S4).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container by feedback controlling the oxygen concentration in the packaging container, and to a packaging machine to which this control method is applied. [Background technology]

[0002] In order to extend the storage period and best-before date, particularly when the packaged item is a food product, gas replacement packaging is carried out in which the air (oxygen concentration is approximately 20.6%) remaining in the packaging container is removed during packaging and an inert gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide is filled in. Patent Document 1 discloses an inert gas filling method in which the packaged item is placed in the packaging container and an inert gas is filled in through a gas nozzle inserted into the packaging container, thereby replacing the air in the packaging container with the inert gas.

[0003] As a method for measuring the oxygen concentration remaining in a packaging container in which an item is packaged during product inspection, the applicant of the present application has proposed a measurement method using a laser-type oxygen concentration measuring device (Patent Document 2).

[0004] Incidentally, when filling inert gas, if the flow rate of the inert gas decreases due to some influence, such as accumulation of filling material inside the gas piping in the gas nozzle, the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container will increase, and there is a possibility that a large amount of products with residual oxygen concentrations outside the standard value (for example, an oxygen concentration of approximately 3%) will be produced and released. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3742042 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 5124719 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container that can prevent the mass production of products in which the concentration of oxygen remaining in the packaging container does not fall within the standard value, and a packaging machine that applies this control method. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The above problem is solved by a method comprising the steps of sequentially measuring the oxygen concentration in a packaging container of a product that has been produced through at least a filling process, a gas replacement process, and a sealing process of the packaged material, transmitting the sequentially measured oxygen concentration measurement values in the packaging container to a control unit, and a step in which the control unit determines whether the oxygen concentration measurement values are on an upward trend, and when the control unit determines that the oxygen concentration measurement values are on an upward trend, a step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container; The control unit determines whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend when the set plurality of oxygen concentration measurement values reach a set value that is lower than the shipping standard value, and if it determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, after the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container, the control unit performs a step of determining whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, and the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container is repeated as long as the control unit determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend. The present invention relates to a method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container (claim 1).

[0008] When the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container preferably includes a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas in the gas replacement step, and a step of increasing the flow rate of the replacement gas by a flow rate controller (see claim 1). 2 When the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container may include a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to lower the position of a gas nozzle in the packaging container in the gas replacement process, and a step of lowering the position of the gas nozzle in the packaging container (see claim 3 When the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container may include a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to reduce the rotation speed of the packaging machine, and a step of reducing the rotation speed of the packaging machine and increasing the time for filling the packaging container with replacement gas (see claim 4 ).

[0009] The above-mentioned problem is solved by a packaging machine having a filling device for filling a packaging container with an item to be packaged, a gas replacement device for replacing the air in the packaging container with an inert gas, a sealing device for sealing the packaging container, and an oxygen concentration measuring device for sequentially measuring the oxygen concentration in the packaging container of a product produced through a filling process, a gas replacement process, and a sealing process for the item to be packaged, the packaging machine having the steps of: transmitting the measured oxygen concentration values in the packaging container sequentially measured by the oxygen concentration measuring device to a control unit; a step in which the control unit determines whether the measured oxygen concentration values are on an increasing trend; and a step in which the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration values are on an increasing trend, and reduces the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container. The control unit determines whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend when the set plurality of oxygen concentration measurement values reach a set value that is lower than the shipping standard value, and if it determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, after the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container, the control unit performs a step of determining whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, and the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container is repeated as long as the control unit determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend. The packaging machine is characterized by the above (claim 5).

[0010] When the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container preferably includes a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas in the gas replacement step, and a step of increasing the flow rate of the replacement gas by a flow rate controller (see claim 1). 6 When the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container may include a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to lower the position of a gas nozzle in the packaging container in the gas replacement process, and a step of lowering the position of the gas nozzle in the packaging container (see claim 7 When the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container may include a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to reduce the rotation speed of the packaging machine, and a step of reducing the rotation speed of the packaging machine and increasing the time for filling the packaging container with replacement gas (see claim 8 ). [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] According to the method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container as set forth in claim 1, it is possible to prevent the mass production of products in which the concentration of oxygen remaining in the packaging container falls outside the standard value. In addition, since the oxygen concentration control in the packaging container is performed before the measured oxygen concentration reaches the shipping standard value, it is possible to more effectively prevent the production of products in which the oxygen remaining in the packaging container falls outside the standard value. Furthermore, since the judgment is based on the multiple oxygen concentration measurements set, it is possible to more accurately determine whether the measured oxygen concentration is on an upward trend. Furthermore, as long as the measured oxygen concentration is on an upward trend, the oxygen concentration control is repeatedly performed, thereby reliably normalizing the oxygen concentration in the packaging container. According to the method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container set forth in claims 2 to 4, the effect of claim 1 can be achieved in a simple manner. Claim 5 According to the packaging machine described in the above, it is possible to prevent the mass production of products in which the concentration of oxygen remaining in the packaging container does not fall within the standard value. In addition, since the oxygen concentration control in the packaging container is performed before the measured oxygen concentration reaches the shipping standard value, it is possible to more effectively prevent the production of products in which the oxygen remaining in the packaging container falls outside the standard value. Furthermore, since the judgment is based on the multiple oxygen concentration measurements set, it is possible to more accurately determine whether the measured oxygen concentration is on an upward trend. Furthermore, as long as the measured oxygen concentration is on an upward trend, the oxygen concentration control is repeatedly performed, thereby reliably normalizing the oxygen concentration in the packaging container. Claim 6 Or 8 According to the packaging machine described in the claim 5 The above effect can be achieved with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0012] [Figure 1] 1 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for controlling an oxygen concentration in a packaging container according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a step in which a control unit determines whether or not a measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise in the method for controlling an oxygen concentration in a packaging container shown in FIG. 1. FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a packaging machine of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an oxygen concentration measuring device of the packaging machine shown in FIG. [Figure 5] 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the gas replacement device of the packaging machine shown in FIG. 3. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In the present invention, the oxygen concentration in a packaging container H of a product produced through the filling process, gas replacement process, and sealing process of the packaged material is sequentially measured, and the sequentially measured oxygen concentration measurement values in the packaging container H are transmitted to the control unit 70 in step S1, the control unit 70 determines whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, and steps S3 and S4, when the control unit 70 determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, reduce the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container H. This realizes a method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container H that can prevent the mass production of products in which the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container H is outside the standard value, and a packaging machine P that applies this control method. [Example]

[0014] The method for controlling oxygen concentration in a packaging container of the present invention will be described using an embodiment of the packaging machine of the present invention (a packaging machine to which the method for controlling oxygen concentration in a packaging container of the present invention is applied) shown in Figures 1 to 5.

[0015] The packaging machine P of this embodiment includes a filling device 20 for filling packaging containers H with packaged materials, a gas replacement device 50 for replacing the air in the packaging containers H with an inert gas, a sealing device 60 for sealing the packaging containers H, and an oxygen concentration measuring device G for sequentially measuring the oxygen concentration in the packaging containers H for products produced through the filling, gas replacement, and sealing processes for the packaged materials. The packaging machine P is characterized by performing oxygen concentration control including step S1 of transmitting the oxygen concentration measurements in the packaging containers H sequentially measured by the oxygen concentration measuring device G to a control unit 70, step S2 of the control unit 70 determining whether the measured oxygen concentration is on an upward trend, step S3 of the control unit 70 instructing the gas replacement gas device 50 to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas if the control unit 70 determines that the measured oxygen concentration is on an upward trend, and step S4 of increasing the flow rate of the replacement gas using a flow rate controller. Each component will be described in detail below.

[0016] The packaging machine P of this embodiment is a device that opens the mouth of a packaging container (packaging bag) H, fills it with an item to be packaged, and seals it. As shown in FIG. 3, there are ten stations 1 to 10, , bao The station includes a bag feeding process (Station 1) in which the packaging containers (packaging bags) H are fed to a grip pair g that are conveyed sequentially (whether intermittently or continuously), a printing process (Station 2) in which expiration dates and the like are printed on the packaging containers (packaging bags) H, a print inspection process (Station 3) in which a print inspection is performed, a bag opening process (Station 4) in which the top opening of the packaging container (packaging bag) H is opened, a filling process (Station 5) in which the packaging container (packaging bag) H is filled with the packaged material by a filling device 20, and a gas replacement process (Station 6) in which the air in the packaging container H is replaced with an inert gas by a gas replacement device 50. This equipment mass-produces products filled with packaged materials by repeatedly carrying out 10 steps: a filling process (stations 6 and 7), a top sealing process (station 8) in which a sealing device 60 seals the top seal near the top opening of the packaging container (packaging bag) H horizontally, a seal cooling and oxygen concentration measuring process (station 9) in which the top seal is cooled (sealed) by a seal cooling device 80 and the oxygen concentration inside the packaging container H is measured by an oxygen concentration measuring device G, and a product discharge process (station 10) in which the packaged product is discharged outside the machine.

[0017] While this embodiment illustrates a gas-filled rotary packaging machine P that rotates a moving body (disk-shaped rotating body) 53, the packaging machine of the present invention is not limited to this and may also be a known linear-motion packaging machine or a track-type packaging machine. A linear-motion packaging machine refers to a structure in which a moving body that moves horizontally along a circular path consisting of a linear section and semicircular sections at both ends is provided with multiple grip pairs that can be freely changed between an upright and horizontal position, and packaging containers supplied in a bag-feeding process are supported by each grip pair, and the packaging containers are intermittently stopped at each process, such as the opening process, filling process, and bag-mouth sealing process, to bag the packaged items. Also included are bag-feeding packaging machines in which the bag gripping section is configured with something other than a grip pair. Furthermore, the content and number of packaging stations are not limited to this embodiment and can be appropriately modified in design depending on the packaging container or packaged items, etc.

[0018] Furthermore, the packaging machine of the present invention may be a vertical pillow packaging machine or a horizontal pillow packaging machine that forms bags from sheet-like film and fills and packages the packaged items into the bags, or other form-fill-seal machines, and may have an oxygen concentration measuring device G for the packaging container arranged in the product discharge path of the packaging machine or in the downstream outline of the packaging machine.

[0019] Furthermore, the packaging container may be a packaging bag as in this embodiment, or may be a bottle or a resin-molded container, and the packaging machine of the present invention may be a bottling packaging machine that fills and packages beverages and the like into bottles, and may have an oxygen concentration measuring device G for the packaging container located above a conveyor that passes upright bottles and near the product discharge path.

[0020] A stand that rotatably supports a vertically oriented intermittent rotation shaft (not shown) is provided on a machine base 51 of this packaging machine P, and 20 grip pairs g for gripping or releasing packaging containers H are provided on a disk-shaped rotating body (moving body) 53 attached to the intermittent rotation shaft so as to protrude radially at equal angular intervals. In the packaging machine P of this embodiment, the packaging oxygen concentration measuring device G is disposed in the seal cooling / oxygen concentration measuring process (station 9).

[0021] The oxygen concentration measuring device (O2 laser sensor) G is an oxygen concentration measuring device for a packaging container that measures the oxygen concentration in a packaging container H (not limited to packaging containers filled with food, but also including packaging containers filled with items other than food, such as infusion bags filled with medical infusions) that has been filled with a packaged item and packaged by gas substitution. As shown in FIG. 4, the device is equipped with a laser generating unit 31 having a transmitter 30 that irradiates laser light of a specific wavelength, and a laser receiving unit 33 having a receiver 32 that receives the laser light oscillated from the transmitter 30. The laser gas concentration meter M has a laser gas concentration meter M in which a laser light receiving unit 33 and a laser light emitting unit 31 are arranged facing each other on both sides of a packaging container H, and by abutting the tip of the laser light emitting unit 33 and the tip of the laser light receiving unit 33 against the packaging container H, respectively, while maintaining a constant separation distance between the tip 31a of the laser light emitting unit 31 and the tip of the laser light receiving unit 33, the measurement distance of the packaging container H between the laser light emitting unit 31 and the laser light receiving unit 33 of the packaging container H that is measured sequentially is maintained constant, and the concentration of a specific gas in the packaging container H is measured.

[0022] In this embodiment, the oxygen concentration measuring device measures the oxygen concentration in a sealed packaging container H of a packaged item G, which has been gas-substituted with an inert gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, using a laser gas concentration meter M.

[0023] The laser gas concentration meter M uses infrared absorption spectroscopy with a semiconductor laser as a light source. When light of a specific frequency is applied to the molecules to be measured, the molecules absorb the light energy and measure this to display the gas concentration.

[0024] Specifically, the laser light emitted from the transmitter 30 of the laser generating unit 31 passes through the tip of the laser generating unit 31, enters the packaging container H, and is received by the receiver 32 of the laser receiving unit 33. The laser light of a specific wavelength emitted from the transmitter 30 is selected from a wavelength (natural frequency) range of 760 to 770 nm in the case of oxygen gas. When the laser light of the specific wavelength is absorbed by the oxygen gas remaining in the packaging container H, the gas concentration of the oxygen gas remaining in the packaging H is measured based on the absorbance of the laser light received by the receiver 32 of the laser receiving unit 33.

[0025] In the oxygen concentration measuring device G for packaging containers of this embodiment, the distance between the tip of the laser emitting unit 31 and the tip of the laser receiving unit 33 is maintained at a constant distance, and the tip of the laser emitting unit 31 and the tip of the laser receiving unit 33 are abutted against the packaging container H, respectively, so that the measurement distance between the laser emitting unit 31 and the laser receiving unit 33 of the packaging container H is maintained constant for the packaging containers H that are measured sequentially, and the concentration of a specific gas in the packaging container H is measured.

[0026] In this embodiment, the tip of the laser emitter 31 and the tip of the laser receiver 33 are configured to be able to move closer to and farther away from each other. Specifically, the laser emitter 31 in this embodiment is fixed to a cylinder base 34, and a cylinder 35 is disposed below the cylinder base 34, allowing the cylinder base 34 and the tip of the laser emitter 31 to move back and forth left and right in Fig. 4 by means of this cylinder 35. On the other hand, the laser receiver 33 in this embodiment is fixed to a cylinder base 36, and a cylinder 37 is disposed below the cylinder base 36, allowing the cylinder base 36 and the tip of the laser receiver 33 to move back and forth left and right in Fig. 4 by means of this cylinder 37.

[0027] As described above, the tip of laser emitter 31 and the tip of laser receiver 33 in this embodiment are configured to be able to move closer to and farther apart relative to each other due to the action of cylinders 35 and 37, and these actions enable the separation distance between the tip of laser emitter 31 and the tip of laser receiver 33 to be maintained at a set constant distance. However, oxygen concentration measuring device G in the present invention is not limited to this, and the positions of the tip of the laser emitter and the tip of the laser receiver may be fixed so that the separation distance between the tip of the laser emitter and the tip of the laser receiver is maintained at a constant distance.

[0028] Furthermore, the tip surfaces of the laser emitting unit 31 and the laser receiving unit 33 are open, and it is preferable that a suction mechanism (not shown) is provided so that the inside of the laser path (not shown) of the laser emitting unit 31 and the laser receiving unit 33 is in a vacuum atmosphere after contact with the packaging container H and before laser irradiation. Furthermore, a tank (not shown) filled with nitrogen gas may be attached to the laser path via a flow control valve (not shown) and a flow meter (not shown) to supply nitrogen gas, thereby reducing the residual oxygen rate in the laser path to nearly 0% and further improving measurement accuracy.

[0029] The pair of clamping bodies 38, 39 are used to bring the tip of the laser emitting unit 31 and the tip of the laser receiving unit 33 into contact with the packaging container H, respectively, and in this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, they are arranged below the laser emitting unit 31 or the laser receiving unit 33 on either side of the packaging container H. The clamping body 39 is configured to be able to reciprocate left and right in Fig. 4 by a cylinder 40, and when the clamping body 39 moves leftward in Fig. 4, both sides near the bottom of the packaging container H are clamped by the clamping bodies 38, 39, and as a result of this action, the upper part of the packaging container H expands left and right, and the tip of the laser emitting unit 31 and the tip of the laser receiving unit 33 come into contact with the packaging container H, respectively.

[0030] As described above, by clamping the packaging container H with the pair of clamping bodies 38, 39 while maintaining a constant separation distance between the tip of the laser emitting unit 31 and the tip of the laser receiving unit 33, the tip of the laser emitting unit 31 and the tip of the laser receiving unit 33 come into contact with the packaging container H, respectively, and the measurement distance of the packaging container H between the laser emitting unit 31 and the laser receiving unit 33 of the packaging container H that is measured sequentially is maintained constant. This eliminates fluctuations in the distance of the object to be measured between the laser emitting unit 31 and the laser receiving unit 33, improving measurement accuracy.

[0031] 3, the gas replacement device 50 of this embodiment is provided near the station 7 and replaces the air inside the packaging container H with an inert gas. As shown in FIG. 3 or 5, the inert gas flows in from the outside through an inert gas inlet port 54, and under flow rate adjustment by a flow rate controller 52, the inert gas flows through a gas nozzle 55 into the packaging containers H that are supported in a suspended state by grip pairs g and are fed sequentially, so that the air inside the packaging containers H is replaced with the inert gas.

[0032] Next, a characteristic function of the packaging machine P of the present invention (one embodiment of the method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container of the present invention) will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging machine P of the present invention performs oxygen concentration control including step S1 of transmitting the oxygen concentration measurement values in the packaging container H sequentially measured by the oxygen concentration measuring device G to the control unit 70, step S2 of the control unit 70 determining whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, step S3 of the control unit 70 instructing the gas replacement gas device 50 to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas if the control unit 70 determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, and step S4 of increasing the flow rate of the replacement gas by the flow rate controller 52.

[0033] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, when the packaging machine P of this embodiment is started, the oxygen concentration measuring device G sequentially measures the oxygen concentration in the packaging container H of the product that has been produced through the filling process of the packaged item, the gas replacement process, and the sealing process, and the measured oxygen concentration value in the packaging container H is transmitted to and stored in the control unit (PLC in this embodiment) 70 (step S1).

[0034] The control unit 70 then determines whether the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise based on the oxygen concentration measured values in the packaging containers H that are sequentially sent (step S2). Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 70 of the packaging machine P in this embodiment determines whether the measured oxygen concentration value is equal to or lower than the shipping standard value (the desired oxygen concentration, for example, 3%). )Yo When the oxygen concentration reaches a preset value that is lower than the preset value (for example, an oxygen concentration of 2.7%), it is determined that the oxygen concentration is on an upward trend. This allows the oxygen concentration in the packaging container H to be controlled before the measured oxygen concentration reaches the shipping standard value, making it possible to more effectively prevent the production of products in which the concentration of oxygen remaining in the packaging container H falls outside the standard value.

[0035] Furthermore, the determination by the control unit 70 of whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend is preferably made based on a plurality of set oxygen concentration measurement values. Specifically, in this embodiment, the control unit 70 determines that there is an upward trend if the oxygen concentration measurement value for 10 consecutive products increases. This allows for a more accurate determination of whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend by not performing oxygen concentration control as shown in the flowchart in this figure if, for some reason, the oxygen concentration measurement value for only one product (a single increase) suddenly increases. The number of multiple oxygen concentration measurement values can be set as appropriate, and although it is not necessarily necessary to exclude multiple discontinuous increases (e.g., multiple values every other product), it is preferable to set the number of consecutive oxygen concentration measurement values to multiple products from the perspective of accuracy.

[0036] When the control unit 70 determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the control unit 70 instructs the gas replacement gas device 50 to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas (step S3). As a result, the flow rate controller 52 performs oxygen concentration control to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas, and a larger amount of inert gas flows into the packaging container H, thereby decreasing the oxygen concentration (step S4).

[0037] On the other hand, if the control unit 70 does not determine that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the operation continues without performing the steps after step S3 described above.

[0038] Furthermore, even after step S4 in which the flow rate of the replacement gas is increased by the flow rate controller 52, the oxygen concentration measurement in the product packaging container H continues, and step S5 in which the control unit 70 determines whether the measured oxygen concentration value is on an upward trend is performed. In step S5, the control unit 70 makes the same determination as in step S2, and as long as it determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on an upward trend, step S3 in which the control unit 70 instructs the control unit 70 to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas in the gas replacement process and step S4 in which the flow rate controller 52 increases the flow rate of the replacement gas are repeated. In this way, oxygen concentration control is repeatedly performed while the measured oxygen concentration value is on an upward trend, thereby ensuring that the oxygen concentration in the packaging container H is normalized.

[0039] As described above, according to the packaging machine P of the present invention, feedback control (residual oxygen concentration control) is performed based on the oxygen concentration measurement value, thereby preventing the mass production of products in which the concentration of oxygen remaining in the packaging container H is outside the standard value.

[0040] In the feedback control (residual oxygen concentration control) based on the oxygen concentration measurement value in the packaging machine P of one embodiment of the present invention described above or one embodiment of the method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container of the present invention, the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container H when the control unit 70 determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend includes a step in which the control unit 70 instructs the control unit 70 to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas in the gas replacement process, and a step in which the flow rate controller 52 increases the flow rate of the replacement gas, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0041] For example, when the control unit 70 determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on the rise, the step of lowering the remaining oxygen concentration in the packaging container H may include a step in which the control unit 70 instructs the control unit 70 to lower the position of the gas nozzle 55 in the packaging container H during the gas replacement process, and a step in which the position of the gas nozzle 55 in the packaging container H is lowered, and such steps are also included in the scope of the present invention.

[0042] Specifically, the gas nozzle 55 of the gas replacement device 50 is provided on a nozzle lifting unit (not shown) so that it can be raised and lowered, and when the control unit 70 determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, it controls the nozzle lifting unit to lower the gas nozzle 55 deeper into the packaging container H. This causes gas replacement to be carried out up to the oxygen at the bottom of the packaging container H, thereby reducing the remaining oxygen concentration.

[0043] Furthermore, when the control unit 70 determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on the rise, the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container H may include a step in which the control unit 70 instructs the packaging machine P to reduce its rotation speed (for example, the rotation speed of the moving body 53 per unit time (packaging capacity [bpm: number of bags produced per minute])), and a step in which the rotation speed of the packaging machine P is reduced and the replacement gas filling time in the packaging container H is increased, and such steps are also included in the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] G. Oxygen concentration measuring device M Laser Gas Concentration Meter P packaging machine H Packaging container g Grip vs. Packaging stations 1-10 20 Filling equipment 30 Transmitter 31 Laser transmitter 32 Receiver 33 Laser receiver 34 Cylinder base 35 cylinders 36 Cylinder base 37 cylinders 38,39 Pair of clamps 40 cylinders 50 Gas replacement device 51 machine 52 Flow Controller 53 Rotating disk (moving object) 54 Inert gas inlet 55 Gas Nozzle 60 Sealing device 70 Control Unit 80 Seal cooling device

Claims

1. A step of sequentially measuring the oxygen concentration in a packaging container of a product that has been produced through at least a process of filling the packaging material, a gas replacement process, and a sealing process, and transmitting the sequentially measured oxygen concentration measurement values in the packaging container to a control unit; a step of the control unit determining whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend; When the control unit determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an increasing trend, the control unit reduces the remaining oxygen concentration in the packaging container, The determination by the control unit as to whether the oxygen concentration measurement values are on an upward trend is made when the set plurality of oxygen concentration measurement values reach a set value that is set to a value lower than a shipping reference value, Furthermore, when it is determined that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, after the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container, a step is performed in which the control unit determines whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, and the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container is repeated as long as the control unit determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend.

2. 2. The method for controlling an oxygen concentration in a packaging container according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on an upward trend, the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container includes a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas in the gas replacement process, and a step of increasing the flow rate of the replacement gas by a flow rate controller.

3. 2. The method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container includes a step in which the control unit instructs the control unit to lower the position of the gas nozzle in the packaging container during the gas replacement process, and a step in which the position of the gas nozzle in the packaging container is lowered.

4. 2. The method for controlling the oxygen concentration in a packaging container according to claim 1, wherein when the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on an upward trend, the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container includes a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to reduce the rotation speed of the packaging machine, and a step of reducing the rotation speed of the packaging machine and increasing the replacement gas filling time in the packaging container.

5. A packaging machine having a filling device for filling a packaging container with an item to be packaged, a gas replacement device for replacing the air in the packaging container with an inert gas, a sealing device for sealing the packaging container, and an oxygen concentration measuring device for sequentially measuring the oxygen concentration in the packaging container of a product produced through a filling process, a gas replacement process, and a sealing process for the item to be packaged, the packaging machine includes a step of transmitting the measured oxygen concentration values in the packaging container sequentially measured by the oxygen concentration measuring device to a control unit; a step of the control unit determining whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend; and a step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container when the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on an increasing trend, The determination by the control unit as to whether the oxygen concentration measurement values are on an upward trend is made when the set plurality of oxygen concentration measurement values reach a set value that is set to a value lower than a shipping reference value, Furthermore, when it is determined that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, after the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container, a step is performed in which the control unit determines whether the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, and the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container is repeated as long as the control unit determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend.

6. 6. The packaging machine according to claim 5, wherein when the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on an increasing trend, the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container includes a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to increase the flow rate of the replacement gas in the gas replacement process, and a step of increasing the flow rate of the replacement gas by a flow rate controller.

7. 6. The packaging machine of claim 5, wherein when the control unit determines that the oxygen concentration measurement value is on an upward trend, the step of lowering the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container includes a step in which the control unit instructs the control unit to lower the position of the gas nozzle in the packaging container during the gas replacement process, and a step in which the position of the gas nozzle in the packaging container is lowered.

8. 6. The packaging machine according to claim 5, wherein when the control unit determines that the measured oxygen concentration value is on an increasing trend, the step of reducing the residual oxygen concentration in the packaging container includes a step of the control unit instructing the control unit to reduce the rotation speed of the packaging machine, and a step of reducing the rotation speed of the packaging machine and increasing the time for filling the packaging container with replacement gas.

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