JPH03302B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Application of the Invention) The present invention relates to the technical field of pleating and compressing flexible cylindrical materials. In particular, this invention relates to a method of creasing and compacting tubular material that provides a unique crimp pattern and allows for the production of high density, commercially acceptable pleated tubular products.

(Prior Art) In the manufacture and use of flexible tubular materials, particularly those used in the food industry to contain food products,
In order to facilitate subsequent handling, it is becoming increasingly necessary to shirt and compress such tubular materials along their longitudinal axis. Shirt compression is the process by which a hollow passageway is maintained inside the cylinder along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder, allowing the handling size of long lengths of the cylinder without detrimentally compromising the passageway within the cylinder. means a process involving pleating in such a way as to significantly reduce the

In the food industry, the pleating of tubular materials used to contain meat, cheese, and other processed foods is particularly important in the production of tubular products containing meat, such as sausages such as frankfurters and pork sausages. This is especially necessary for convenience. Food packaging materials, especially pleated cylindrical materials such as sausage wrappers, are commercially used based on the ratio of the length of the pleat-stretched packaging material to the length of the pleated compression packaging material (pleat compression density).
It is desirable that the diameter of the tube be as large as possible without causing pinholes or other forms of damage to the barrel. The length of the pleated compaction wrapper (pleat compaction stake) should be as straight as possible to resist bending and breakage. The internal bore of the pleated compression stake should be of maximum diameter and should be easily and easily removable from the square stuffing container.

For example, the best pleated compression technology, such as U.S. Pat.
Can be pleated to produce pleated compression wrapper stakes with a minimum length of ~16 inches (10.2 to 40.6 cm). 8 feet/inch (0.96
At high densities (m/cm) or higher, defects such as pinholes are not uncommon. The pleated and compressed packaging stakes are manually or automatically filled with meat or other food products. In general filling work,
A stake is attached to a square stuffing container connected to a stuffing source. As the stuffing is then pressure injected into the pleat compression stake through the stuffing prismatic container, the stake expands and fills the barrel with stuffing to the initial pleat extension length. For reasons of economy and speeding up the packing process,
It is commercially desirable to have a self-supporting pleat compression stake that is highly compressed in length, uniformly straight, and has a large internal diameter. The durability of the staples is necessary to ensure trouble-free operation; the high density allows more product to be packed in one filling operation; and to ensure proper loading operation into square containers. Straightness is required; and pore size is important in maximizing packing speed. Each of these factors is important in increasing the efficiency of the packing process and is required in industry to offset increases in labor and machinery costs.

The crimping of sausage packaging skins is generally carried out in the usual manner by crimping the packaging skins on guide elements (shirring mandrels) extending longitudinally through holes in the packaging skins. In general, the packaging skin is placed around the packaging skin on a shirring mandrel, which grips the outer circumference of the packaging skin and conveys it axially against a controlled flexible buffer to pleat the packaging skin. It is compressed in the axial direction by the element. US Patent No.
In No. 2010626, creasing compression fingers arranged one after the other move in the axial direction of the sausage wrapping skin, and perform creasing compression almost in the same way as fingers in hand creasing and compression work, thereby compressing the crimp. A method of pleating compaction to form an article is disclosed. Also, US patent no. granted to Blizzard et al.
No. 2722714, No. 2722715 and No. 2723201 disclose a shirring compression process by expanding the packaging skin onto a hollow shirring mandrel and shirring it by contact with shirring projections on an endless belt. is being improved. The shirring projections are arranged in a zigzag pattern so that no shirring force is applied to the space facing any of the shirring projections that come into contact with the shirring projections. U.S. Pat. No. 3,461,484 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,454,982 disclose that a rotating shirring ring having a shirring projection cut in a helical curve acts as a crimping finger that contacts the outer periphery of an inflated packaging skin in a substantially helical shape. A process is disclosed in which the skin is textured in a spiral pattern and formed into continuous spiral pleats. In other words, these patents disclose a process in which a shirring force is continuously applied to the outer periphery of the packaging skin and progresses along a helical line in the longitudinal direction of the packaging skin.

The pleating and compaction of packaging material sequentially along a helical line has proven to be of great commercial importance to the industry and has been the subject of numerous patents. U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,284 consists of a method for obtaining a single left-handed helical pleat pattern, which includes a counter in which adjacent zones preceding adjacent zones of the pleat by a single helical line undergo rotational displacement. However, this left-handed helical pleating process has not met with great commercial success.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,885 describes a shaftless gear device used in axial spin pleating of synthetic resin tubular packaging to obtain a helical line pleating pattern. This apparatus is particularly suitable for forming continuous helical pleats and pleating compaction according to the process of US Pat. No. 3,461,481.
In the shaftless gear system, a shirring roll including a plurality of shirring teeth is arranged in an assembly of at least four rolls. The rolls are distributed equiangularly in a plane transverse to the mandrel axis around a central opening that receives the circumferential mandrel. The shirring roll is installed so that when the inflated cylindrical packaging material is attached to the cylindrical mandrel, the shirring teeth mesh alternately and sequentially engage the packaging material within the common meshing zone. It is being The entire apparatus rotates and the teeth of the shirring rolls successively engage the bulging packaging material to successively recess and shirt the packaging material into a single continuous helical line.

(Objects and Arrangements of the Invention) The object of the present invention is to provide a novel pleated cylindrical structure with high pleat compaction density with low defect frequency, self-sustaining durability, end-to-end straightness, and large internal holes. The aim is to provide materials. The purpose of this is to allow the packaging material to be conveyed along its longitudinal axis and shirred and compressed while being creased against a reaction force in a shirring element that applies a shirring force acting on the outer periphery of the packaging material. This is achieved by a process of pleating and compressing a tubular material, in particular a sausage wrapper. The crimping force herein means a force that has a component along the longitudinal axis of the cylinder and acts to create pleats and compress the cylinder. The reaction force typically consists of a restrained advance of the previously shirred wrapper, equal to the direction in which the wrapper is shirred.

In the process of the present invention, a set of shirring forces are repeatedly applied to the outer circumference of the cylinder. Each force in a set is applied simultaneously at equally spaced locations along the circumference, and each force in each set is applied along a separate helical line around the outer circumference of the barrel. The set of forces advances against the reaction force to pleat the barrel. Here, "equal spacing" means that the lengths of the distances or intervals being compared differ from each other by about 25% or less. Also, "repeatedly applied" means that a set of forces is applied first, and then the same set of forces is subsequently applied again. Subsequent applications of a set of forces occur at another different set of equally spaced locations, each of these locations being on one of the initial helical lines.

The shirred product of the present invention is a closely pleated tubular material having a central axial bore and a generally cylindrical outer surface, the shirred tubular material having a central axial bore and a generally cylindrical outer surface. a plurality of outer folds, each arranged along at least two parallel and oppositely parallel, longitudinally extending criss-crossing helices and adjacent to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder; , each having an inner fold connecting opposite points of a shape defined by the outer fold. These shapes are generally diamond-shaped.
It is the shape. The outer folds may be arranged arbitrarily along three, four or more of said parallel helices and three, four or more of said oppositely parallel helices.

The tubular material to be crimped in this manner can be constructed of virtually any flexible material with a sufficiently thin wall thickness to withstand the crimping forces without breakage. Typical flexible materials used for food packaging include natural and synthetic polymers such as collagen, alginate, and starch.
It can be composed of cellulosic materials such as plastics, proteins, carbohydrates, cellulose esters, cellulose ethers, regenerated cellulose, as well as other natural, synthetic or artificial materials.

Embodiments of the Invention In one embodiment of the present invention, an elongated, durable tubular material pleat compaction stay having a high pleat compaction density is provided. The outer circumferential surface is approximately cylindrical and visually appealing with a densely compressed patterned appearance. The internal bore is generally straight from one end of the stake to the other. Such pleat compression stays can be modified to contact the expanded tubular material along two or more helical lines at approximately the same time, depending on the process of the present invention, with multiple pleating devices known in the art. It can be made using the This modification involves simultaneous contact in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder at two or more equidistant points on the circumference of the cylinder along a continuous helical line. When compressed, the cylinder forms the distinctive, usually diamond-shaped patterned creases of the present invention, resulting in a criss-cross helix.

Referring now to FIG. 1, which shows a prior art pleat pattern, Zone
3,779,284 and 4,377,885; FIG. In the figure, each pleat consists of an outer fold 3 and an inner fold 4, which are joined via the sides 1, 2 of the pleat. The inner fold 4 is
It is formed by a continuous recessed engagement of pleating protrusions or teeth along a helical line designated as an internal fold. Engagement along the helical line is accomplished by continuously rotating the protrusion about the wrapper while continuously advancing the wrapper through the engagement point. The outer fold 3 is substantially parallel to the inner fold 4 and is formed by axially compressing the concave packaging material against the buffer.

FIG. 2 shows the shirring pattern in an embodiment of the invention, with the shirred compression wrapper in the unfolded position. In the figure, zone Y indicates the stretch section of the pleated and compressed packaging stake, each pleat consisting of outer folds 5, 6, 7 and 8 and inner fold 1.
Consists of 3, 14, 15 and 16. Inside fold 1
3 and 14 are formed substantially simultaneously with each other by substantially simultaneous engagement of opposing pleating teeth. The inner folds 15, 16 are formed by opposing folds along discrete helical lines obtained by successive rotation of the protrusions or teeth about the wrapping material while continuously advancing the wrapping material through the point of engagement. Formed by continuous circumferential engagement of projections or teeth. When the center points of the inner folds 13, 15 are connected, they coincide with the same continuous helical line, while the center points of the inner folds 14, 16 form a continuous helical line substantially parallel to said line. Located on the line. Further, the outer folds 5 and 7 are located along a substantially continuous helical line, while the outer folds 6 and 8 are located along a continuous helical line in a direction substantially opposite to the above-mentioned line. The folds are also formed by compressing the packaging material in the axial direction against the previously pleated packaging material (reaction force). The formation of each outer fold 5, 6, 7 and 8 can be done without rotating the packaging material. The intersections of the opposite outward folds typically define each vertex of the diamond shape, through which the inner folds pass. In the preferred embodiment, the four points of each diamond are slightly rotationally displaced in a well-ordered manner from the corresponding points of each preceding adjacent diamond. During compression against a reaction force, the points are spaced apart so that they interlock alternately in the direction of compression, thereby greatly improving the durability and straightness of the stay from end to end.

One device that is particularly useful for modification to create the pleat compression stakes of the present invention is the shaftless gear device for axial pleat compression disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,885. FIG. 3 shows a rotary shirring head so modified, and the rotary shirring apparatus shown consists primarily of four shirring rolls 21, 22, 23 and 24, each roll having a plurality of concave arc-shaped shirring rolls. The crimping teeth 25 are distributed at equal angular intervals about a central opening 26 located in a common plane of the assembly 20 and dimensioned to receive a cylindrical mandrel. Each of the four rolls is provided with a tapered (bevel) gear 27 such that each roll rotates at the same speed as the other rolls and each shirring tooth 25 is attached to the mandrel with substantially the same force and speed. and are interconnected such that they are always in continuous and timed relationship. The shirring roll 21 is driven through the tapered gear 27 by a tapered gear drive means 28 which is interconnected with drive means (not shown) such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,377,885.

As described in U.S. Pat. and are placed in timed relationship to sequentially overlap in the engagement zone to form a single continuous helical fold within the tube. In the method of the invention, the timing of the four shirring rolls of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is such that rather than sequentially engaging each shirring tooth,
The shirring teeth of opposing shirring rolls are determined to engage the expandable tubular member at substantially the same time at opposing generally circular circumferential points. That is, the shirring teeth 25 of the shirring roll 21 engage with the cylinder on the mandrel at approximately the same timing as the shirring teeth 25 of the corresponding shirring roll 23, while the shirring roll 22
The shirring teeth 25 of the corresponding shirring roll 24
It engages with the cylindrical body on the mandrel at approximately the same timing as the shirring teeth 25 of. This engagement of the opposing shirring teeth is combined with the axial rotation of the device and the advancement of the cylinder due to the rotation of the shirring teeth through the engagement point, resulting in a parallel helical shape whose center point is approximately parallel. It can be thought of as drawing a circumferential line. The advancement of the cylinder against the restraining force causes the packaging material located between the drawn helical lines to fold to form a diamond-shaped pattern, with the outer folds of this pattern forming oppositely oriented criss-cross helices. form. The internal fold defines a line that bisects the diamond pattern in a plane generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. In the finished pleated compaction staple, the vertices of the diamond shape interlock around the outer periphery of the pleated compacted wrapper to provide an ordered appearance and increase the durability of the pleated compaction stake against breakage.

The engagement at each point on the opposing circumference of the expanded barrel of the opposing roll shirring teeth does not necessarily have to be exactly simultaneous, nor does it need to be exactly circular. Engagement of the opposing pleated teeth results in a pleated barrel as described above at a point within an arc of approximately 20° from perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the barrel. Accordingly, the terms "simultaneous" and "circular" as used herein are defined as falling within the engagement limits of about a 20 degree arc discussed above, and include opposing engagements that describe an ellipse of up to a 20 degree arc.

The ordered pattern of pleat compression stakes according to the present invention provides an unexpected advantage in density. That is, pleat compaction densities of 8 ft/in (0.96 m/cm) or higher are readily obtainable, with densities of about 8 ft/in (0.96 m/cm) to about 12 ft/in (1.44 m/cm) being preferred. . Moreover, such high densities are easily obtained without the need for subsequent additional compression and without damage to the packaging material. Although this high density is an unexpected advantage, the method of the present invention can of course be readily used to make pleated compaction stakes having densities of 8 feet/inch (0.96 m/cm) or less.

Based on the method of the present invention, a Keuko 5 crimper manufactured by Kollros with a shaftless gear assembly and four interconnected crimping rolls as described in U.S. Pat. The machine was modified to provide simultaneous engagement of opposing pleating rolls in accordance with FIG. 3 and the method of the present invention. During the shirring operation, the gear assembly operates at approximately 750 rpm.
A cylindrical fiber-reinforced cellulose packaging material approximately 43.43 mm in diameter and approximately 7.6 mil (0.030 mm) thick is air-expanded and fed at a speed of approximately 7 m/sec through a 29 mm diameter pleated mandrel. Ta. The tubular material is
It is crimped and compressed against the removal button of the suppression reaction force recovery mandrel. The resulting pleated product has a pleat compaction density of approximately 8.92 ft/in (1.07 m/cm), is resistant to bending and breakage, and has a regularly patterned outer surface that interlocks in a staggered manner. It was constructed as a linear stake with a spaced pattern of . When the pleated compressed package is opened, the outer folds of the pleated pattern appear along two criss-crossing spiral lines that roughly define the diamond shape, and the inner folds run diagonally across each diamond shape. I was cutting it.

Although the present invention has been described above in detail with respect to its preferred embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of pleats obtained by conventional pleating of helical lines; Fig. 2 shows the helical structure of a criss-cross in reverse directions of a pleated cylindrical material according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view; and FIG. 3 is a partial front cross-sectional view of a conventional rotary shirring head modified to provide the reverse crisscross helical embodiment of the present invention. 5, 6, 7, 8...outside fold, 13, 14,
15, 16...inner fold.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A pleated tubular member having a central axial hole and a generally cylindrical outer surface which, when unfolded, has at least two parallel and substantially cylindrical outer surfaces. a plurality of outer folds parallel to opposite directions and arranged along helices extending longitudinally and crisscrossing each other; A pleated tubular material having a plurality of internal folds connecting opposite points of a molded pattern defined by a fold. 2. The pleated cylindrical material according to claim 1, wherein the molding pattern becomes a diamond-shaped pattern when the cylindrical material is expanded. 3 Claim 2 consisting of regenerated cellulose
A cylindrical material with pleats. 4. The pleated cylindrical material according to claim 3, which includes reinforcing fibers. 5. The pleated cylindrical material according to claim 2, which is made of collagen. 6. The pleated cylindrical member according to claim 2, which is made of thin-walled plastic. 7. The pleated cylindrical material according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical material is a sausage wrapper. 8. The pleated tubular material of claim 2, wherein the inner fold is located in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tubular material. 9. The pleated tubular material of claim 2, wherein the outer folds are arranged along two parallel and oppositely parallel helices, longitudinally aligned and crisscrossing helices. 10. The pleated tubular material of claim 2, wherein the outer folds are each arranged along three parallel and oppositely parallel helices extending longitudinally and crisscrossing each other. 11. The pleated cylindrical material of claim 2, wherein the outer folds are arranged along four parallel and oppositely parallel helices extending longitudinally and crisscrossing each other. 12. Claim 7, wherein the pleat compaction density is about 8 to 12 feet/inch (0.96 to 1.44 m/cm).
Sausage packaging skin. 13 The pleat compaction density is 8 feet/inch (0.96
8. The sausage wrapping skin of claim 7, which has a particle size of at least 100 m/cm). 14 repeatedly applying a set of shirring forces to the outer circumference of the barrel, each shirring force in the set being applied simultaneously to each other at equally spaced positions along the circumference, and each shirring force in the set A pleated cylinder, characterized in that the applying force is applied along different helical lines on the outer periphery of the cylinder, and the set of forces further advances the cylinder against a reaction force to perform pleating. How to form. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the set of shirring forces is applied at two opposing circumferential points. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the shirring force is applied at three points on a circumference. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein the shirring force is applied at four points on a circumference. 18. The method of claim 14, wherein the circumferential location is within a 20° arc from a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder. 19 Claim 14, wherein the pleat compaction density is greater than or equal to about 8 feet/inch (0.96 m/cm)
Section method. 20 The pleat compaction density is 8 feet/inch (0.96
m/cm) to approximately 12 feet/inch (1.44 m/cm)
15. The method of claim 14, wherein: cm). 21. The method of claim 14, wherein the pleated cylinder is a sausage wrapper. 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the sausage wrapper is comprised of collagen. 23. The method of claim 21, wherein said sausage wrapper comprises regenerated cellulose. 24. The method of claim 23, wherein the wrapper comprises reinforcing fibers. 25. The method of claim 21, wherein said wrapper is made of thin-walled plastic.