Method for producing polymer tube containing liquid and being sealed at constant intervals and apparatus for producing polymer tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018281998-A1
Application number	US-201815941309-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2018
Priority date	Mar 31, 2017
Publication date	Oct 4, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided are a method and an apparatus for extruding into a tube and filling the tube at a high speed and simultaneously sealing the tube. Specifically provided is a method for producing a polymer tube, containing a liquid therein and being sealed at constant intervals, the method including an extrusion step of continuously melt-extruding a polymer material through a die into at least one tube, while feeding a liquid into the tube to obtain at least one liquid-containing tube; and sealing step of discontinuously pressing the at least one liquid-containing tube between a pair of pressurizing members at constant intervals to cause pressure-bonding before the tube solidifies, while continuously taking up the extruded tube.

First claim

1 . A method for producing a polymer tube, containing a liquid therein and being sealed at constant intervals, the method comprising:
an extrusion step of continuously melt-extruding a polymer material through a die into at least one tube, while feeding a liquid into the at least one tube to obtain at least one liquid-containing tube; and a sealing step of discontinuously pressing the at least one liquid-containing tube between a pair of pressurizing members at constant intervals to cause pressure-bonding before the tube solidifies, while continuously taking up the extruded tube.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the pair of pressurizing members is a pair of rotary horns, each horn having a protrusion, and in the sealing step, the at least one liquid-containing tube is discontinuously pressed between the protrusions of the rotary horns which rotate at a peripheral speed equal to a constant speed of taking up the extruded tube to transfer the discontinuously pressed tube in a direction of taking up the extruded tube.

3 . The method according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the at least one tube is two tubes and in the sealing step, the two liquid-containing tubes are discontinuously pressed to cause pressure-bonding for sealing and thereby simultaneously connecting the two liquid-containing tubes with each other.

4 . The method according to claim 1 or claim 2 , wherein the at least one tube is two tubes connected by an interconnecting web and in the sealing step.

5 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the at least one tube is two tubes connected by an interconnecting web whose faces oppose to the rotary horns; one of the rotary horns has a blade which protrudes radially higher than the protrusion on the circumference and in the sealing step, the blade cut the web to form notches in a longitudinal direction except at locations where the two tubes are pressed, keeping the two liquid-containing tubes connected by the web having the notches.

6 . An apparatus for producing a polymer tube, containing a liquid therein and being sealed at constant intervals, the apparatus comprising:
a die configured for melt extrusion of a polymer material into at least one tube; a mandrel configured to feed a liquid into the at least one tube during the melt extrusion to obtain at least one liquid-containing tube; one or more rollers configured to take up the at least one liquid-containing tube; and a pair of pressurizing members configured to discontinuously press the at least one liquid-containing tube between the pair of pressurizing members to cause pressure-bonding before the tube solidifies.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the pair of pressurizing members is a pair of rotary horns, each horn having a protrusion, and the pair of rotary horns is configured to discontinuously press the at least one liquid-containing tube between the protrusions to cause pressure-bonding.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the die comprises two discharge pores and a slit connecting the two discharge ports, and one of the rotary horns has a blade which protrudes radially higher than the protrusion on the circumference.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 7 , comprising a guide configured to support the at least one liquid-containing tube and placed around the protrusion of one of the rotary horns.

10 . The apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 9 , further comprising a cooling bath configured to cool the discontinuously pressed tube.

Assignees

• Shinetsu Chemical Co

Inventors

• Saguchi Ryuichi
• Kaji Tomoaki
• Naruse Masahiko

Classifications

• B65B3/30

  by volumetric measurement · CPC title

• B65B61/02

  for perforating, scoring {, slitting,} or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging {(scoring ampoules B65B3/006)} · CPC title

• B29C48/345

  Extrusion nozzles comprising two or more adjacently arranged ports, for simultaneously extruding multiple strands, e.g. for pelletising · CPC title

• B65B63/08

  for heating or cooling articles or materials to facilitate packaging · CPC title

• B65B39/06

  adapted to support containers or wrappers · CPC title