JP2000006920A - Nozzle and filling method using the nozzle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable at least a part of a nozzle to be expanded and prevent liquid from being adhered to an upper end surface of an opening when the liquid is filled into a container having a cylindrical opening. SOLUTION: A nozzle 10 is comprised of an outer cylinder 11 vertically installed in such a way that it can be moved up and down and a cylinder 12 slidably inserted from above into the outer cylinder 11. The cylinder 12 is formed with a first flow passage 12c passing through the cylinder 12 in a vertical direction. In addition, the lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is formed with a tapered part 11a of which diameter is gradually decreased toward a lower part of the outer cylinder 11 until its lower end has a smaller diameter than an inner diameter of an opening 1, and further a side surface of the outer cylinder 11 is formed with a second flow passage 13 communicating with an inside part of the outer cylinder 11 as the cylinder 12 is lifted.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a nozzle for filling a container having an inflatable and cylindrical mouth with a liquid and a method for filling the liquid with the nozzle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an inflatable and cylindrical container having a mouth portion, a packaging bag with an outlet and an inner bag in a bag-in-box are known. In these containers, the container is often filled with liquid through the mouth.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show examples of the state of filling of the above-mentioned container with liquid. Reference numeral 1 denotes a mouth, and a cylindrical nozzle 2 is fitted to the upper end of the mouth 1 so as to be coaxial from above. In the container of FIG. 2, a tapered surface 2 a having a mortar shape is formed on the lower end surface of the nozzle 2 upward, and the maximum diameter of the tapered surface 2 a is larger than the outer diameter of the mouth portion 1. ing. As a result, with the fitting with the nozzle 2,
The upper end surface 1a of the mouth 1 is covered from above by a tapered surface 2a. On the other hand, in the container of FIG.
A tapered portion 2 b is formed to temporarily decrease in diameter downward, and the diameter of the lower end of the tapered portion 2 b is smaller than the inner diameter of the mouth 1. As a result, the mouth 1
, The tapered portion 2b is inserted from above.

Then, in the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid is supplied from the nozzle 2 to the mouth 1 to fill the container with the liquid. After the filling, the nozzle 2 is lifted to remove the container from the nozzle, and then the container is sealed by closing the upper end surface 1a of the mouth 1 with a seal or a cap.

[0005]

In the case of the nozzle 2 shown in FIG. 2, the upper end surface 1a of the mouth 1 is covered from above by the tapered surface 2a. 2 is exposed to the liquid in the upper surface 1
There is a possibility that the liquid adheres to the upper surface a, the sealing of the upper end surface 1a becomes insufficient, the inner wall portion of the cap becomes dirty, and mold and various germs propagate.

Further, in both of the nozzles 2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, after filling, there is a risk that the liquid may drop from the raised nozzle 2 and stain the upper end surface 1a. Further, since the liquid always foams to some extent with the filling, the foam overflows from the excess space (head space) at the upper end of the mouth 1 and the upper end surface 1a
There was also a risk of soiling.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to eliminate the adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface 1a at the time of filling the container with the liquid due to the above reasons.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a nozzle for filling a liquid in a container having at least a part which is expandable and which has a cylindrical mouth, and which is vertically movable. An outer cylinder provided therein, and a cylinder slidably inserted from above in the outer cylinder, wherein the cylinder has a first flow path vertically penetrating the cylinder, At the lower end portion, a tapered portion is formed by temporarily reducing the diameter of the outer cylinder downward until the lower end has a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the mouth portion. It is characterized in that a second flow passage communicating with the inside of the outer cylinder is formed with the rise.

In this case, it is desirable that a concave surface is formed on the lower surface of the cylinder by forming the lower surface upward in a mortar shape with the lower surface facing the first flow path.

[0010] The present invention also relates to a method of filling the container with liquid using a nozzle having the above-described structure, wherein the step of fitting the outer cylinder to the mouth from above is performed, and the step of raising the cylinder is performed. Supplying the liquid from the second flow path into the mouth via the outer cylinder; lowering the cylinder to stop supplying the liquid; and supplying gas from the first flow path. And ejecting the liquid adhering to the outer cylinder and the cylinder into the mouth, expanding the container, and separating the outer cylinder from the mouth. And

In this case, the sum of the volume of the gas and the liquid supplied into the container from the first flow path and the volume of the gas remaining in the container at the time of filling the liquid is:
It is desirable to control the volume of gas supplied into the container from the first flow path so as not to exceed the volume of the container at the time of maximum expansion.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a nozzle according to the present invention. The nozzle 10 has a cylindrical shape and is roughly composed of an outer cylinder 11 erected so as to be vertically movable, and a cylinder 12 slidably inserted into the outer cylinder 11 from above.

The lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is formed with a tapered portion 11a whose diameter is temporarily reduced so that its diameter is directed downward. As a result, the lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is positioned at the opening of the container to be filled with liquid. The diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the part 1. A flow path (second flow path) 13 that communicates with the inside of the outer cylinder 11 as the cylinder 12 rises is connected to the side surface of the outer cylinder 11 from obliquely above.

On the other hand, a lower end of the cylinder 12 is formed with a tapered portion 12a corresponding to the inner surface shape of the tapered portion 11a and having a diameter gradually reduced as it goes downward, and an upper portion of the cylinder 12 is reduced in diameter. Rod 12b. In the center of the cylinder 12, a flow path (first flow path) 12c penetrating vertically through the cylinder 12 is formed, and the lower surface of the cylinder 12 is formed in a mortar shape toward the flow path 12c. The concave surface 12d is depressed upward.

Next, a method of filling a container with a liquid using the nozzle 10 having the above configuration will be described. When filling the liquid, first, an empty container is placed so that the mouth 1 is located immediately below the outer cylinder 11, then the nozzle 10 is lowered, and the outer cylinder 11 is fitted into the mouth 1 of the container from above. Combine.
In this case, since the lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the mouth portion 1, as shown in FIG.
1 is inserted into the mouth 1 and the upper end surface 1 of the mouth 1
a comes into contact with the tapered portion 11a from the outside at the inner peripheral edge thereof.

Next, the cylinder 12 is moved up to the position indicated by the symbol A in FIG. 1 to make the flow path 13 communicate with the inside of the outer cylinder 11. Then, in this state, the container is filled with the liquid by supplying the liquid from the flow path 13 into the mouth 1 through the outer cylinder 11.

When the filling of the liquid is completed, the tapered portion 11a
The cylinder 12 is lowered until the tapered portion 12a comes into contact with the inner surface of the nozzle, and the supply of the liquid from the nozzle 10 is stopped. Then, a gas such as air is blown out from the flow channel 12c to remove the liquid adhering to the outer cylinder 11 and the cylinder 12 into the mouth 1, and the blown gas expands the container.

Here, the volume of the gas supplied from the flow channel 12c to the container depends on the volume of the gas and liquid supplied into the container from the flow channel 12c, and the volume of the gas remaining in the container when the liquid is filled. The sum of the volume and the volume is controlled so as not to exceed the volume at the maximum expansion of the container. As a result, the container is expanded at an appropriate internal pressure with the supply of gas from the flow path 12c to the container.
The reason for controlling the volume of the gas supplied to the container from the flow path 12c as described above is that the container is damaged due to an increase in the internal pressure due to the supply of the gas, and the inner peripheral edge of the outer surface and the upper end surface 1a of the tapered portion 11a. This is to prevent the liquid from seeping out from the gap between the liquid and the liquid.

On the other hand, the supply amount of gas from the flow path 12c to the container is calculated from the rotation angle of the tube pump or the amount of expansion and contraction of the plunger pump, and is controlled to a predetermined amount.

When the container has expanded, the nozzle 10 is raised and the container is sent to an adjacent sealing means (not shown),
The upper end 1a of the mouth 1 is closed with a seal, a cap, or the like by a sealing means.

According to the nozzle 10 of the present invention, the lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is inserted into the mouth 1 during filling of the liquid, and the upper end surface 1a of the mouth 1 is held at its inner peripheral edge. , And is in contact with the tapered portion 11a from the outside. Therefore, during filling of the liquid, the upper end surface 1a does not come into contact with the liquid, and as a result, adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface 1a, and accordingly, poor sealing at the upper end surface 1a and contamination of the inner wall portion of the cap are prevented. .

After filling, gas is ejected from the flow path 12c, and extra liquid adhering to the outer cylinder 11 and the cylinder 12 due to the filling is removed into the mouth portion 1 so that the liquid from the nozzle 10 is discharged. The contamination of the upper end surface 1a due to the dripping is prevented. In particular, since the lower surface of the cylinder 12 is a concave surface 12d that is depressed upward so as to form a mortar shape toward the flow channel 12c, gas ejected from the flow channel 12c flows obliquely downward on the concave surface 12d, and as a result, The removability of the liquid adhered on the concave surface 12d by the gas is improved. Since the area for spraying the excluded liquid is regulated by the concave surface 12d, there is also an effect that the excluded liquid is less likely to scatter around.

Further, the bubbles generated by the filling are such that the filled liquid entrains air existing in the container from the beginning, and this air becomes bubbles and floats to the mouth 1. However, in the case of the nozzle 10 according to the present invention, even after the liquid is filled, the mouth 1 is covered from above by the outer cylinder 11, so that the foam accompanying the filling overflows from the head space and the upper end face 1
It does not pollute a. Further, after the filling of the liquid, the gas continuously supplied to the container expands the container and lowers the liquid level. Therefore, even if the amount of bubbles is large, the outer cylinder 11 and the cylinder 12
The liquid does not reattach. That is, in the present invention, by controlling the amount of gas supplied into the container in accordance with the amount of generated bubbles, the space capable of absorbing bubbles,
Secured by forced expansion of the container.

In this case, the effect of defoaming can be obtained only by jetting the gas. However, when the liquid is liable to foam, the liquid can be further assured if an appropriate defoaming agent such as alcohol or silicone is mixed into the gas. The outer cylinder 11 and the cylinder 1
2 is prevented from re-adhering. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface 1a when filling the container with the liquid to the utmost.

Further, the gas ejected from the flow path 12c may be an inert gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide, and after the nozzle 10 is raised, the air in the head space may be replaced with the inert gas. In this case, since the upper end surface 1a of the mouth portion 1 can be sealed in a state where the head space is replaced with the inert gas, denaturation of the liquid after sealing due to contact with the air stored in the head space is prevented. Is prevented.

The shape of the nozzle 10 according to the present invention is as follows.
The diameter and the cross-sectional shape of the outer cylinder 11, particularly the tapered portion 11a, can be appropriately set according to the size and the shape of the mouth 1 without being limited to those shown in the drawings. That is, the nozzle 10 and the filling method using the nozzle 10 according to the present invention can be applied to containers of any shape as long as they are inflatable containers having the cylindrical mouth 1.

[0027]

As described above, according to the nozzle of the present invention, during filling of the liquid, the lower end of the outer cylinder is inserted into the mouth of the container, and the upper end surface of the mouth is held at the inner peripheral edge thereof. Abuts on the tapered portion from the outside. Therefore, during filling of the liquid, the upper end surface does not come into contact with the liquid, and as a result, adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface, and accordingly, poor sealing at the upper end surface and contamination of the inner wall portion of the cap are prevented.

After filling, a gas is ejected from the first flow path, and extra liquid adhering to the outer cylinder and the cylinder due to the filling is discharged into the mouth, whereby a container is formed by dropping liquid from the apparatus. Contamination of the top surface is prevented. In particular, since the lower surface of the cylinder is a concave surface that is depressed upward so as to form a mortar toward the first flow path, the gas ejected from the first flow path flows obliquely downward on the concave surface, and as a result, By gas,
The removability of the liquid attached on the concave surface is improved. Since the spray area of the excluded liquid is regulated by the concave surface, there is also an effect that the excluded liquid is less likely to scatter around.

Further, the foam generated by the filling is such that the filled liquid entrains the air existing in the container from the beginning, and this air becomes a foam and floats to the mouth. However, in the case of the nozzle according to the present invention, even after filling the liquid,
Since the mouth is covered from above by the outer cylinder, the bubbles accompanying the filling do not overflow from the head space and stain the upper end surface of the mouth. Further, after the filling of the liquid, the gas continuously supplied to the container expands the container and lowers the liquid level. Therefore, even if the amount of bubbles is large, the liquid does not adhere to the outer cylinder and the cylinder again. That is, in the present invention, by controlling the amount of gas supplied into the container in accordance with the amount of generated bubbles, a space capable of absorbing bubbles is secured by forcible expansion of the container.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the liquid from adhering to the upper end face of the mouth when filling the container with the liquid.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a nozzle according to the present invention and the state of liquid filling by the nozzle.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional nozzle and the state of liquid filling by the nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a conventional nozzle and a state of liquid filling by the nozzle.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Mouth part 1a Upper end face of mouth part 10 Nozzle 11 Outer cylinder 11a Taper part 12 Cylinder 12c Flow path (first flow path) 12d Concave surface 13 Flow path (second flow path)

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koji Takada 1-4-16-1 Nibashi-bakucho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo F-term within Fujimori Industries Co., Ltd. 3E018 AA06 AB06 BA08 BB09 CA04 CA05 DA02 DA05 EA01 3E055 AA01 CA09 CB05 DA05 DA16 DA20 FA01

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An outer cylinder, at least a part of which is inflatable and used for filling a container with a cylindrical mouth with a liquid, the outer cylinder being erected up and down. A cylinder inserted slidably from above in the outer cylinder, a first flow path penetrating the cylinder up and down is formed in the cylinder, and a lower end of the outer cylinder has a lower end. A tapered portion is formed by temporarily reducing the diameter of the outer cylinder downward until the diameter becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the mouth, and a side surface of the outer cylinder is formed inside the outer cylinder with the rise of the cylinder. A second flow path communicating with the nozzle is formed. 2. The cylinder according to claim 1, wherein a lower surface of the cylinder is formed by recessing the lower surface upward so as to form a mortar toward the first flow path. Nozzle. 3. A method for filling a liquid into the container using the nozzle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the outer cylinder is fitted into the mouth from above, and the cylinder is raised. Supplying the liquid from the second flow path into the mouth through the outer cylinder; lowering the cylinder to stop supplying the liquid; and supplying gas from the first flow path. And ejecting the liquid adhering to the outer cylinder and the cylinder into the mouth, expanding the container, and separating the outer cylinder from the mouth. Characteristic filling method. 4. The sum of the volume of the gas and the liquid supplied into the container from the nozzle and the volume of the gas remaining in the container when the liquid is filled is determined when the container is fully expanded. 4. The filling method according to claim 3, wherein the volume of the gas supplied from the nozzle into the container is controlled so as not to exceed the volume of the gas.