EP0558790A1

EP0558790A1 - Method and apparatus for packaging liquids

Info

Publication number: EP0558790A1
Application number: EP92104407A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Toshio Takei
Original assignee: Seiko Corp
Current assignee: Seiko Corp
Priority date: 1992-02-20
Filing date: 1992-03-13
Publication date: 1993-09-08
Also published as: JPH08599B2; JPH05229595A

Abstract

Provided are a method and an apparatus for packaging liquids in which bubbles are suppressed as much as possible when carbonated and stock liquids are fed to accurately fill a container with carbonated drinks. Included are means (9,7,11) for conveying the container (1), means (3) for filling the container with the carbonated liquid, means (4) for filling the container with the stock liquid, and means (5) for covering the container, filled with the carbonated and stock liquids, with a cap.

Description

Background of the Invention

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method, for use in an industry, such as one producing carbonated beverages in containers, like soft or fruit drinks, of packing liquids, and to an apparatus for packing the same.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In an industry producing carbonated drinks in containers, such as soft or fruit drinks, conventionally, syrup and treated water are first mixed together to a predetermined sugar content. Carbon dioxide gas is then absorbed in a carbonation tank to form a carbonated liquid. A device used exclusively for filling, fills containers with the carbonated liquid. Desired carbonated drinks are thus produced.
In recent years, as commercial products on the soft and fruit drink market have become diversified, there has been a demand for a single packing apparatus to handle many types of products (different types of syrup and shapes of containers), for improving production efficiency and reducing personnel as well as manufacturing cost.
When syrup is changed during a filling cycle, the previously fed flavor must be removed and the path along which it is conveyed must be completely cleaned. Such an operation consumes a great deal of time during which the packing apparatus ceases, thus significantly reducing productivity.
A filling nozzle is inserted into the mouth of a container into which a carbonated drink is filled. The portion around the mouth is sealed, and pressure equal to that of the carbonated drink is supplied into the container. After the pressure inside the container has become substantially equal to that of the drink, the filling process begins under such pressure while the drink is prevented from bubbling as much as possible.
A filling method is employed in which the liquid is filled until degassing pores in the nozzle are filled with the liquid. Once the pores are filled, no more liquid is fed. In this method it is impossible to control the flow rate during filling, and it is therefore difficult to control the filling time and to suppress the bubbles of the liquid during filling.
Furthermore, in many cases the liquid bubbles when the pressure inside the container is removed after it has been filled, thus making it difficult to accurately fill the container with the carbonated drink.
In this industry, there has been a demand to accurately fill containers with liquids in a short period of time without causing unnecessary pressure inside the container or causing the liquid to pour out.
However, when the filling method is actually employed to fill a fixed amount of liquid into the container, it requires the processes of pressurizing, filling and decreasing pressure, after filling has been completed, for each container. In addition, because the liquid is fed by gravity, the flow rate cannot be controlled. When packing liquids on a large scale, it is impossible to reduce the filling time for each container.

Summary of the Invention

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. The object of this invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for packing liquids. A container being conveyed is filled first with a carbonated liquid and then with a stock liquid, and then the mouth of the container is capped, whereby it is possible to suppress bubbles as much as possible while the carbonated and stock liquids are filled and to accurately fill carbonated drinks. Driving means is linked to a fixed-amount feed member facing one end of a sending pipe in a frame. The amount of carbonated liquid to be fed is adjusted through numerical control. The liquid can be filled accurately at a high speed through a porous injecting member connected to the sending pipe.
The container being conveyed is filled first with the carbonated liquid and then with the stock liquid, and then the mouth of the container is capped, whereby it is possible to suppress the bubbles as much as possible while the carbonated and stock liquids are filled and to accurately fill the carbonated drinks.
It is not necessary to pressurize the inside of the container, and therefore the processes of pressuring and decreasing pressure can be omitted. The container is not damaged during the pressurizing process, and it is safe. The amount of liquid to be filled into the container is accurately controlled at a high speed. The carbonated liquid is filled into the container under atmospheric pressure, i.e., an open filling operation can be uniformly performed.
Various advantageous effects, such as those described below can be obtained. The carbonated liquid and syrup serving as the stock liquid are filled separately during filling. The aroma, flavor and the color of the stock liquid do not adhere to the inside of the fixed-amount feed member. Cleaning operation can be performed easily and quickly before or after filling is carried out.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of an apparatus for packing liquid according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a view illustrating means for filling a carbonated liquid shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a front view showing a member for feeding a fixed amount of liquid shown in Fig. 2, a portion of the member being cut away;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of an injecting member shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 5 is a view illustrating means for filling a stock liquid shown in Fig. 1; and
Fig. 6 is a view illustrating covering means shown in Fig. 1.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

An embodiment of a method and an apparatus for packing liquids according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
In Fig. 1, the reference character A denotes an apparatus for packing a liquid, such as a carbonated beverage in a container, like soft or fruit drink. The packing apparatus A basically comprises means 2 for conveying containers 1, such as polyethylene terephthalate or glass bottles, means 3 for filling a carbonated liquid, means 4 for filling a stock liquid, and covering means 5.
The packing apparatus A is disposed in such a way that the above means 3, 4 and 5 are arranged along a path on which the containers 1 are conveyed. The conveying means 2 is composed of a feed member 7, which is a turntable, a carrying-in member 9, and a carrying-out member 11. The feed member 7 has many recesses formed which are used for holding the containers 1. The carrying-in member 9 is connected to a first delivery portion 8 of the feed member 7, whereas the carrying-out member 11 is connected to a second delivery portion 10 of the feed member 7. Pressing members 12, such as liquid cylinders, are provided in the first delivery portion 8, which pressing members 12 are used for pushing the containers 1 placed on the carrying-in member 9 toward the feed member 7. A guide plate 13 is provided in the second delivery portion 10 so that the containers 1 can be smoothly transferred onto the carrying-out member 11. Two containers 1 and 1 are conveyed simultaneously so that the efficiency of packing the containers 1 and 1 is improved and the containers 1 and 1 are simultaneously filled with different types of stock liquids.
The conveying means 2 may also be disposed in a straight-line manner to continuously convey the containers 1 from one end to the other end of this means 2. The means 3, 4 and 5 mentioned above are arranged along the straight-line.
The carbonated liquid filling means 3 is provided in the path along which the containers 1 are carried by the feed member 7 of the conveying means 2. The filling means 3 accurately fills the containers 1 and 1 with the carbonated liquid to a predetermined amount, and is of a double-head type to suit the two containers 1 and 1 being conveyed simultaneously.
The carbonated liquid is used for carbonated beverage, such as soft or fruit drink. For example, the temperature of the carbonated liquid is adjusted to 2°C; the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas is adjusted to 4-5 Kg/cm²; and the estimated gas volume is adjusted to 3.0-5.0. In addition to carbonated liquid, a non-carbonated liquid, such as fruit juice, water or hot water, may be employed for preparing concentrated drinks, such as a fruit drink.
As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the carbonated liquid filling means 3 is essentially composed of a frame 14, a member 15 for feeding a fixed amount of the liquid (hereinafter referred to as fixed-amount feed member 15), driving means 16, control means 17, a valve body 18 and an injecting member 19. The filling means 3 is of a double-head type to suit the two containers 1 and 1 being conveyed simultaneously.
A framework 20 supports the frame 14. A receiving pipe 24 is provided on one side of an accommodating chamber 21, and is connected through a pipe 23 to a tank 22 holding the carbonated liquid. A sending pipe 25 is provided on the other side of the chamber 21 in order to send the carbonated liquid, the quantity of which is determined by the fixed-amount feed member 15 described later. When the injecting member 19 is of a rising/falling type, the sending pipe 25 is formed of a flexible hose or the like so as to conform to the up/down motion of the injecting member 19.
A prop 18b supports a suspension holder 18a. Driving means composed of a servomotor 18d and a threaded shaft 18c linked to the prop 18b moves the injecting member 19 up and down. The injecting member 19 is thus capable of filling the containers 1 with the carbonated liquid.
The above fixed-amount feed member 15 is disposed inside a batching chamber 26 on one side of the accommodating chamber 21 of the frame 14. The feed member 15 is used for feeding a fixed amount of the carbonated liquid from the carbonated liquid tank 22 to the injecting member 19. The fixed-amount feed member 15 employes a well-known uniaxial eccentric screw pump of a rotary volume type (Mohno pump manufactured by Heishin Engineering & Equipment Co., Ltd., and invented by Mr. Rene Moineaud), and an ordinary piston/cylinder type not shown.
The fixed-amount feed member 15 shown in Fig. 3 is constructed in such a manner that a wave-shaped fixing member 27 which is made of an elastic material or the like and is shaped like an elliptical hollow when viewed in cross section is attached to the batching chamber 26. A wave-shaped rotator 28 which is made of metal and is completely round in cross section is rotatably inserted into the fixing member 27 so as to conform to the wave shape of the member 27. A driving shaft 30 projects from the frame 14 through a universal joint 29 penetrating the accommodating chamber 21. The driving means 16, such as a servomotor, capable of performing numerical control is linked to the driving shaft 30. The control means 17, such as a microcomputer or sequence control device to which predetermined data is input, appropriately operates the driving means 16, thereby enabling it to arbitrarily change the number of rotation and the rotational speed of the rotator 28, and to set the amount of the carbonated liquid to be filled and the speed at which the liquid is filled to desired conditions.
The valve body 18 is connected to the sending pipe 25 and is opened and closed by the pressure under which the fixed-amount feed member 15 supplies the carbonated liquid. The valve body 18 has a valve frame 34 which is divided into a carbonated liquid feeding chamber 32 and an adjusting chamber 33. A divider 31, such as a diaphragm, disposed at the center of the valve frame 34 separates the chamber 32 from the chamber 33.
A pipe 35 communicating with the sending pipe 25 and a valve seat 36 communicating with the injecting member 19 are arranged in the feeding chamber 32 of the valve frame 34. A hole 37 communicating with the carbonated liquid tank 22 is disposed in the adjusting chamber 33. A valve 38 is provided which is integrally attached to the divider 31 and is capable of sliding in the feeding and adjusting chambers 32 and 33. The valve 38 is provided so that a spring 39 always presses it into contact with the valve seat 36.
Calcareous water and carbon dioxide gas are stored in the carbonated liquid tank 22.
The carbonated liquid tank 22 communicates with the adjusting chamber 33 through the hole 37. The pressure of the carbon dioxide gas is adjusted to 4-5 Kg/cm² in the adjusting chamber 33.
The injecting member 19 is used for filling the container 1 placed on the feeding member 7 with the carbonated liquid which is supplied by the fixed-amount feed member 15. The injecting member 19 is formed of a porous spraying member 41 which is made of sintered metal or ceramic and has microporous pores 40 which uniformly open to 15-100 µm, and preferably, to 60 µm. The microporous pores 40 are formed in the substantially entire spraying member 41. As shown in Fig. 4, the carbonated liquid is fed through the sending pipe 25 and passed through the microporous pores 40, whereby a pressure of 4-5 Kg/cm² of the carbon dioxide gas is return to substantially atmospheric pressure under which the container 1 is filled with the carbonated liquid.
The above stock liquid filling means 4 next to the carbonated liquid filling means 3 is disposed in the path along which the containers 1 are carried by the feeding member 7 of the conveying means 2. The stock liquid filling means 4 is used for filling the containers 1, which have already been filled with the carbonated liquid, with a stock liquid. An ordinary piston-type filling machine may be used as the filling means 4. In this embodiment, a double-head type is used to suit the two containers 1 and 1 being conveyed simultaneously.
As shown in Fig. 5, a filling nozzle 44 is lowered through a support 43 which is fitted around a column 42 standing on one side of the framework 20 so that the support 43 can move up and down along the column 42. A liquid-feeding member 46, which is a piston/cylinder, is disposed above the filling nozzle 44 to which a stock liquid tank 48 is connected through a pipe 47. A hose 45 connects the filling nozzle 44 to the liquid-feeding member 46.
Though not shown, the liquid-feeding member 46 may be disposed below the support 43 and push the stock liquid so as to feed it after it has been fed from the stock liquid tank 48.
A threaded piece 51 is attached to the support 43, which piece 51 is mated with a threaded shaft 50 rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise by driving means 49, such as a servomotor. Signals from a controller (not shown) move the support 43 up and down in predetermined timing.
The above-mentioned covering means 5 next to the stock liquid filling means 4 is disposed in the path along which the containers 1 are carried by the feeding member 7 of the conveying means 2. The covering means 5 is used for covering the container 1 with a cap 52, the container 1 having already been filled with the carbonated and stock liquids. The covering means 5 is of a double-head type to suit the two containers 1 and 1 being conveyed simultaneously.
As shown in Fig. 6, an attaching member 54 is fixed to a support post 53 standing on the framework 20 so that the attaching member 54 can move up and down. A capping shaft 56 rotatable by driving means 55 is suspended from the attaching member 54. A cap holder 57 is attached to the lower end of the capping shaft 56 so that it is free to open and close.
Thus, the cap holder 57 receives the cap 52 from cap lining/feeding means 58 disposed between the stock liquid filling means 4 and the adjacent covering means 5, and tightens the cap 52 to a predetermined amount.
In the above-described structure of an embodiment of this invention, when a carbonated drink containing, e.g., fruit is filled, the carbonated liquid for dilution flows from the tank 22 to the frame 14, thus filling the accommodating chamber 21. At this phase, a signal is transmitted to the driving means 16 in accordance with a numerical value input to the control means 17, thus operating the driving means 16. When the rotator 28 is rotated a predetermined number of revolutions, a fixed amount of the carbonated liquid sealed between the fixing member 27 and the rotator 28 is discharged to the sending pipe 25 through one end of the fixed-amount feed member 15.
While the container 1 is carried to the feeding member 7 of the conveying means 2, the driving means 16 is operated to drive the rotator 28. The pressure under which the rotator 28 feeds the liquid increases more than the pressing force of the spring 39, thus opening the valve 38. The fixed amount of the carbonated liquid is thus discharged without causing a decrease in the pressure of the carbonated liquid. The carbonated liquid passes through the microporous pores 40 in the spraying member 41 and spouts into the container 1 at atmospheric pressure; so-called open filling is performed.
It is desirable that the numerical value to be input to the control means 17 be set so that the container 1 is filled with the carbonated liquid in an ideal manner. For instance, the amount of the carbonated liquid to be filled is such that a small amount is fed at the beginning of feeding, and after a certain amount has been fed, as much liquid as possible is fed at the same time to improve the efficiency of feeding. At the end of feeding, the liquid is gently fed to prevent it from pouring out of the container 1 due to feeding pressure.
At this phase, the pressurized carbonated liquid, which has been sent from the fixed-amount feed member 15, permeates through the many pores 40 in the inner wall of the spraying member 41 of the injecting member 19. The pressure of the liquid changes as it flows through the pores 40, that is, it changes from a high pressure to pressure close to atmospheric pressure, which is normal pressure, inside the container 1. Thus the pressure of the carbonated liquid which has been pressurized decreases gradually, and becomes substantially equal to atmospheric pressure when the liquid reaches the outer wall of the spraying member 41 after having passed inside the member 41. The carbonated liquid bubbles as its pressure changes rapidly, and is separated into carbon dioxide gas and a particulate liquid.
However, since the carbon dioxide gas itself is very soluble in water, it is immediately absorbed into the particulate liquid in the microporous pores 40. The carbonated liquid becomes stable and returns to being the same liquid as before being fed. The container 1 is filled with the fixed amount of the carbonated liquid with the aid of the fixed-amount feed member 15. In this way, a carbonated beverage mixed with the stock liquid is produced.
The packing method thus described is capable of immediately reducing both a decrease in the amount of carbonated liquid for dilution and a loss of the carbon dioxide gas. Both problems are due to a foaming phenomenon, and are conventional problems which have to be solved.
The container 1 thus filled with the carbonated liquid is carried by the conveying means 2 to the stock liquid filling means 4, which is used for the next step. A fixed amount of the stock liquid is fed into the container 1 by the filling nozzle 44 after it has pass through the liquid-feeding member 46. At this time, the bubbles of the carbonated liquid which has already been fed are suppressed, and the liquid is filled with a high degree of accuracy.
The cap 52 is sent from the cap lining/feeding means 58 to the container 1 which has been carried by the conveying means 2 and has reached the covering means 5. The cap 52 is tightened with a predetermined pressure by the clamping and rotation of the cap holder 57, this rotation being caused by the driving means 55. The container 1 as a product is conveyed onto the carrying-out member 11.
The packing apparatus A is disposed in such a manner that the means 3, 4 and 5 described above are arranged in a close and circular relationship with respect to the feeding member 7 of the conveying means 2. Such an arrangement makes it possible to render the packing apparatus A smaller and to manufacture it at low cost.

Claims

A method of packing a liquid comprising the steps of:
filling a carbonated liquid into a container to be conveyed;
filling a stock liquid into said container filled with said carbonated liquid; and
covering the mouth of said container, filled with said carbonated liquid and said stock liquid, with a cap.
An apparatus for packing a liquid comprising:
means for conveying a container;
means for filling a carbonated liquid into said container, this means being disposed in a path along which said conveying means conveys said container;
means for filling a stock liquid into said container filled with the carbonated liquid, this means being disposed adjacent to said carbonated liquid filling means in the path along which said conveying means conveys said container; and
means for covering said container, filled with the carbonated liquid and the stock liquid, with a cap, this means being disposed adjacent to said stock liquid filling means in the path along which said conveying means conveys said container.
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said carbonated liquid filling means includes:
a frame;
a pipe for receiving the carbonated liquid, this pipe being provided on one side of said frame;
a pipe for feeding the carbonated liquid, this pipe being provided on the other side of said frame;
a member for feeding a fixed amount of the carbonated liquid, this member being provided inside said frame and one end of this member facing said feeding pipe;
driving means linked to said feeding member;
means for controlling through numeral control a speed at which the carbonated liquid is fed, this means being connected to said driving means;
a valve body which is opened or closed by a pressure under which said feeding member feeds the liquid without causing a decrease in a pressure of the liquid, this valve body being connected to said feeding pipe; and
a porous injecting member connected to said valve body and facing the container which is filled with the stock liquid or is provided at atmospheric pressure.
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said carbonated liquid filling means includes
a frame;
a pipe for receiving the carbonated liquid, this pipe being provided on one side of said frame;
a pipe for feeding the carbonated liquid, this pipe being provided on the other side of said frame;
a member for feeding a fixed amount of the carbonated liquid, this member being provided between said receiving pipe and said feeding pipe inside said frame and one end of this member facing said feeding pipe;
driving means linked to said feeding member;
means for controlling through numeral control a speed at which the carbonated liquid is fed, this means being connected to said driving means;
a valve body which is opened or closed by a pressure under which said feeding member feeds the liquid without causing a decrease in a pressure of the liquid, this valve body being connected to said feeding pipe; and
a porous injecting member connected to said valve body and facing the container which is filled with the stock liquid or is provided at atmospheric pressure,
wherein said valve body includes
a valve frame divided by a divider into a feeding chamber and an adjusting chamber;
a pipe provided in said feeding chamber and communicating with said feeding pipe;
a valve seat provided in said feeding chamber and communicating with said injecting member;
pipe provided in said adjusting chamber and communicating with a layer of carbon dioxide gas inside a carbonated liquid tank; and
a valve slidably provided inside said valve frame, this valve being always pressed by a spring into contact with said valve seat.