Gas replacement apparatus

Abstract

The side holding drive unit and the mouth holding drive unit move the side holding unit and the mouth holding unit from a first processing position to a second processing position while maintaining a state where the side holding unit holds the side portion and the mouth holding unit holds the mouth portion. The gas nozzle drive unit moves the gas nozzle from the first processing position to the second processing position while maintaining a state where the ejection port is arranged inside the bag.

1 . A gas replacement apparatus comprising:
 a side holding unit that holds a side portion of a bag;   a mouth holding unit that holds a mouth portion of the bag;   a gas nozzle having an ejection port to eject a replacement gas;   a side holding drive unit that moves the side holding unit;   a mouth holding drive unit that moves the mouth holding unit;   a gas nozzle drive unit that moves the gas nozzle; and   a sealing unit that seals the mouth portion, wherein   the side holding drive unit and the mouth holding drive unit move the side holding unit and the mouth holding unit from a first processing position to a second processing position while maintaining a state where the side holding unit holds the side portion and the mouth holding unit holds the mouth portion, and   the gas nozzle drive unit moves the gas nozzle from the first processing position to the second processing position while maintaining a state where the ejection port is arranged inside the bag.   
     
     
         2 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 the side holding drive unit moves the side holding unit from the second processing position to a third processing position while maintaining a state where the side holding unit holds the side portion, and   the mouth holding drive unit and the gas nozzle drive unit move the mouth holding unit and the gas nozzle from the second processing position to the first processing position without moving the mouth holding unit and the gas nozzle from the second processing position to the third processing position.   
     
     
         3 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 the mouth holding drive unit and the gas nozzle drive unit include a common movement base to which the mouth holding unit and the gas nozzle are attached, and   the mouth holding unit and the gas nozzle are moved by moving the movement base.   
     
     
         4 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein
 the mouth holding drive unit and the gas nozzle drive unit include a common movement base to which the mouth holding unit and the gas nozzle are attached, and   the mouth holding unit and the gas nozzle are moved by moving the movement base.   
     
     
         5 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 3 , wherein
 a plurality of side holding units, a plurality of mouth holding units, and a plurality of gas nozzles are provided, and   two or more mouth holding units and two or more gas nozzles are attached to the single movement base.   
     
     
         6 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 4 , wherein
 a plurality of side holding units, a plurality of mouth holding units, and a plurality of gas nozzles are provided, and   two or more mouth holding units and two or more gas nozzles are attached to the single movement base.   
     
     
         7 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the side holding unit holds the bag in a suspended state. 
     
     
         8 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the side holding drive unit intermittently moves the side holding unit. 
     
     
         9 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 1 , wherein
 the side holding drive unit includes a rotary table provided to be rotatable about a rotation axis, and   the side holding unit is attached to an outer peripheral portion of the rotary table and is moved in accordance with rotation of the rotary table.   
     
     
         10 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 2 , wherein
 a plurality of side holding units, a plurality of mouth holding units, and a plurality of gas nozzles are provided, and   the mouth holding drive unit and the gas nozzle drive unit move the mouth holding unit and the gas nozzle from the second processing position to the first processing position after the side holding unit is arranged at the second processing position.   
     
     
         11 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the mouth holding drive unit and the gas nozzle drive unit move the mouth holding unit and the gas nozzle toward the first processing position during at least a part of time when the side holding unit moves from the second processing position to the third processing position. 
     
     
         12 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 10 , wherein
 a plurality of stations are provided to be continuously adjacent to each other, the plurality of stations including a first processing station, a second processing station, a third processing station, and a fourth processing station,   the plurality of side holding units include a first side holding unit and a second side holding unit,   the plurality of mouth holding units include a first mouth holding unit and a second mouth holding unit,   the plurality of gas nozzles include a first gas nozzle and a second gas nozzle,   for the first side holding unit, the first mouth holding unit, and the first gas nozzle, the first processing station corresponds to the first processing position, the second processing station corresponds to the second processing position, and the third processing station corresponds to the third processing position, and   for the second side holding unit, the second mouth holding unit, and the second gas nozzle, the second processing station corresponds to the first processing position, the third processing station corresponds to the second processing position, and the fourth processing station corresponds to the third processing position.   
     
     
         13 . The gas replacement apparatus as defined in  claim 11 , wherein
 a plurality of stations are provided to be continuously adjacent to each other, the plurality of stations including a first processing station, a second processing station, a third processing station, and a fourth processing station,   the plurality of side holding units include a first side holding unit and a second side holding unit,   the plurality of mouth holding units include a first mouth holding unit and a second mouth holding unit,   the plurality of gas nozzles include a first gas nozzle and a second gas nozzle,   for the first side holding unit, the first mouth holding unit, and the first gas nozzle, the first processing station corresponds to the first processing position, the second processing station corresponds to the second processing position, and the third processing station corresponds to the third processing position, and   for the second side holding unit, the second mouth holding unit, and the second gas nozzle, the second processing station corresponds to the first processing position, the third processing station corresponds to the second processing position, and the fourth processing station corresponds to the third processing position.