JP2000033940A - Method and device for sensing filling level - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a level sensing method for sensing easily the level of a filler content from outside a container. SOLUTION: When a drink is filled in a cylindrical wrapped material 11, air jet nozzles 21 and 22 are disposed on the upper and lower sides of a preset filling level A of the wrapped material 11, and the distance to the section displaced by spraying air from respective nozzles is measured by distance sensors 23 and 24. Whether the filling level of the drink 30 reaches a preset filling level A or not can be judged by comparing the sensed values of the distance sensors 23 and 24 by a computation section 27. The level of the drink in the wrapped material 11 can be sensed easily from outside the wrapped material 11.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filling level detecting method and a filling level detecting apparatus, and more particularly, to a method of detecting a filling level of contents such as a liquid in a container from the outside of the container by using a discharged fluid. The present invention relates to a measuring method and a filling level detecting device used in a step of filling the contents of a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional filling level detecting method, as shown in FIG. 5, for example, a packaging material mainly formed by laminating aluminum foil on a paper material is processed into a cylindrical shape to form a packaging tube 1. After horizontally sealing the lower part of the packaging tube 1,
There is a method used when filling the beverage 2 to a predetermined level in the packaging tube 1. In this method, the liquid level sensor 3 is inserted into the packaging tube 1 as shown in FIG.
It is arranged to detect the liquid level. As another level detection method, there is a method of detecting a liquid level using a float instead of the liquid level sensor.

[0003]

However, when there is a movable part in the packaging tube 1, there is a fear that malfunction due to abrasion, dropping of parts, problems in hygiene and the like may occur. In addition, even if the sensors have no moving parts, if they are put in the packaging tube 1, there is a problem of hygiene due to poor cleaning around the sensors and a problem of causing a decrease in sensor performance due to the cleaning. Therefore, the packaging tube 1
A method for detecting the liquid level from the outside of the device is being sought. For example, when attempting to detect the level of the content liquid using electromagnetic waves, it has been difficult to detect the level because the aluminum foil laminated on the packaging material serves as an electromagnetic shield. Also, when trying to detect the liquid level from the return ultrasonic wave reflected by applying an ultrasonic wave from the outside of the packaging tube 1, due to the effect of the aluminum foil laminated on the packaging material,
There was a problem that level detection could not be performed well.

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is that a level detection method capable of easily detecting the level of the content filling from the outside of the container and what means should be taken to obtain a filling level detection device. On the point.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A method for detecting a filling level of contents to be filled in a container having a flexible storage wall portion, wherein a fluid is sprayed at a predetermined pressure on an outer surface of the storage wall portion to displace the storage wall portion. In addition, the amount of displacement of the outer surface of the storage wall at the location where the fluid is sprayed is detected, and the filling level is detected from the amount of displacement.

Therefore, in the first aspect of the present invention, the storage wall is displaced by spraying a fluid onto the storage wall at a predetermined pressure. As the contents are filled into the container, the pressure inside the container changes, and the amount of displacement of the storage wall changes.
From this displacement amount, the level at which the contents in the container are filled can be detected and determined. Therefore, by setting the fluid spraying position at or near the content filling level, the filling level of the content can be matched or approximated with the filling level.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the filling level detecting method according to the first aspect, wherein the displacement amount is measured by a distance sensor disposed so as to face the outside of the storage wall. It is characterized in that it is determined based on the distance to the outer surface of the storage wall.

Therefore, the invention according to claim 2 is based on claim 1.
In addition to the operation of the above-described invention, the displacement amount of the storage wall can be detected by measuring the distance from the sensor to the outer surface of the storage wall by the distance sensor.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the filling level detecting device according to the first or second aspect, wherein the amount of displacement is a curvature of the outer surface of the storage wall toward the inside of the container. It is characterized by its dimensions.

Therefore, according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first and second aspects of the present invention, the displacement of the storage wall is detected by measuring the curved dimension of the storage wall. be able to.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filling level detecting device for detecting a filling level of contents to be filled in a container having a flexible storage wall portion, wherein the outer surface of the storage wall portion is provided. A fluid discharge unit that is disposed at a predetermined height position and discharges a fluid at a predetermined pressure, and a displacement sensor that is disposed to face the outer surface of the storage wall portion on which the fluid discharged from the fluid discharge unit is blown, A calculation unit for determining a filling level based on a value detected by the displacement sensor.

Therefore, according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the fluid discharged from the fluid discharge unit presses the storage wall with a predetermined pressure to displace the storage wall. This displacement amount is detected by the displacement sensor, and the filling level of the contents can be determined by the calculation unit based on the detected value.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the filling level detecting device according to the fourth aspect, wherein the container is formed by processing a packaging material in which aluminum foil is laminated on a sheet mainly made of paper into a cylindrical shape. The fluid is air or water, and the content is a beverage.

Therefore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation of the fourth aspect of the present invention, a level sensor, a float, and the like are placed in a container made of a packaging material made of a paper sheet on which an aluminum foil is laminated. Without this, the filling level of the contents in the container can be detected from outside the container. For this reason,
It is possible to prevent the contents from being stained.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the filling level detecting device according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the displacement sensor measures a distance from the sensor to an outer surface of the storage wall. It is a distance sensor.

Therefore, according to the sixth aspect of the invention, in addition to the functions of the fourth and fifth aspects, the displacement of the storage wall can be obtained by the distance sensor.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the filling level detecting device according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, wherein the calculation unit is configured to perform the operation based on a change in the value detected by the displacement sensor. It is characterized in that the filling level is determined.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 7, in addition to the operation of the invention described in claims 4 to 6, the contents are scheduled to be filled in the container by the displacement of the value detected by the displacement sensor by the computing unit. A determination can be made as to whether the level has been reached.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the filling level detecting device according to any one of the fourth to seventh aspects, wherein the fluid discharge portion sandwiches the expected filling level of the contents from above and below. And two displacement sensors are arranged corresponding to the positions where the fluid ejected by each of the fluid ejection units is blown, and the arithmetic unit is configured to calculate output values from the two displacement sensors. It is characterized in that the filling level of the contents is determined based on the difference.

Therefore, according to the invention described in claim 8, in addition to the effects of the inventions described in claims 4 to 7, the fluid discharged from the two fluid discharge portions disposed at the level to be filled is Press the upper and lower storage walls. By comparing the displacement amounts of the two storage walls, the filling level of the contents reaches the inside of the container of the storage wall at the lower position, and the contents is inside the container of the storage wall at the upper position. Is not reached, it can be determined that there is a filling level at a position between the two places. Therefore, by appropriately setting the vertical distance between the two locations, it is possible to approximate or match the actual filling level of the contents with the expected filling level.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the filling level detecting device according to any one of the fourth to eighth aspects, the arithmetic unit includes a drive control unit of a supply device that supplies the contents. And a supply or stop signal is output to the drive control unit in accordance with the determination result of the filling level.

Therefore, according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the functions of the fourth to eighth aspects, the drive control is performed when the filling level is approximated or coincides with the expected filling level in the arithmetic unit. The supply of the contents can be stopped via the section.

[0023]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of a filling level detecting method and a filling level detecting device according to the present invention will be described below based on embodiments shown in the drawings.

(Embodiment) FIG. 1 shows an application of a filling level detecting method and a filling level detecting device according to the present invention to a process of processing a beverage packaging material into a cylindrical shape by a packaging machine and successively filling the beverage. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the principle of level detection in the present embodiment, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are output waveform diagrams based on the detection results of the air pressure pulse and the distance sensor in the present embodiment. It is.

First, as a background to which this embodiment is applied, a packaging machine will be briefly described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the packaging machine 10 includes a long strip-shaped magazine 12 on which a packaging material 11 serving as a storage wall is wound, a large number of guide rollers 13, a cylindrical forming mechanism 14, and a vertical seal. Mechanism 15, beverage filling pipe 16, horizontal seal cutting mechanism 17
And

The packaging material 11 is, for example, polyethylene resin, aluminum foil,
It is formed by laminating a paper substrate and a polyethylene resin. A fold line is provided on the packaging material 11 in advance to facilitate bending in a later step. The packaging material 11 drawn out of the magazine 12 is guided by the guide rollers 13 and guided to the uppermost part of the packaging machine 10 and then conveyed substantially vertically downward. The packaging material 11 conveyed substantially vertically downward is cylindrically curved by the cylindrical forming mechanism 14, and both ends in the width direction thereof are thermally welded by the vertical sealing mechanism 15 into a cylindrical shape.

Next, a band-shaped horizontal seal along the width direction is applied to the cylindrical packaging material 11 by the horizontal seal cutting mechanism 17, and the packaging material 11 is removed from the beverage filling pipe 16 above the horizontal seal. The inside is filled with a beverage such as juice or tea, and a band-shaped horizontal seal is further provided at a position above the horizontal seal by a predetermined distance, and the upper and lower horizontal seals are cut at substantially the center positions. Thereby, a semi-package in which the beverage is sealed between the upper and lower horizontal seals is continuously formed. Thereafter, the semi-package is conveyed to a molding machine (not shown) and formed into a final package having a predetermined shape.

In this embodiment, when the beverage is supplied from the beverage filling pipe 16 to the packaging material 11 which is vertically sealed in a tubular shape and the lower portion is horizontally sealed, the filling level detecting method and the filling level detecting device 20 are applied. ing.

Next, the configuration of a filling level detecting device 20 to which the filling level detecting method of this embodiment is applied will be described with reference to FIG.

In the present embodiment, air as a fluid is placed at a predetermined pressure at a position vertically sandwiching the filling level A of the tubular packaging material 11 (a predetermined height position at which the beverage 30 is to be filled). And air discharge nozzles 21 and 22 as fluid discharge units are disposed. In the present embodiment, the air sent to the air discharge nozzles 21 and 22 is conveyed from the air supply means 25 via the air supply pipe 26 as shown in FIG. The air is supplied to both nozzles 21 and 22 at an equal air pressure. The flow of the air discharged from these nozzles 21 and 22 is set to be perpendicular to the packaging material 11 which is the storage wall. Further, the air volume discharged from both nozzles 21 and 22 is set to be the same. Distance sensors 23 and 24 as displacement sensors are disposed in the vicinity of the air discharge nozzles 21 and 22, respectively. A packaging material to which the air discharged from the air discharge nozzles 21 and 22 is applied by the distance sensors 23 and 24 is applied. The distance to the portion 11 is measured. In the present embodiment, the distance sensors 23 and 24 measure the distance by emitting infrared light and entering reflected light.

The above-mentioned distance sensors 23 and 24 are connected to the calculating section 27 and output, for example, a voltage value or a current value corresponding to the measured value to the calculating section 27.
In the present embodiment, the air supply means 25 is not always driven to be supplied, but is driven intermittently, and the distance sensors 23 and 24 are also driven in synchronization with the drive voltage pulse. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the arithmetic unit 27
For example, an electromagnetic valve 29 for opening and closing the beverage filling pipe 16
Are connected so as to be able to output a filling level determination signal to the drive control unit 28.

Here, prior to the description of the operation and operation of the filling level detecting device 20 of the present embodiment, the principle of detecting the filling level will be described with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, in the state where the beverage 30 as the content is filled in the packaging material 11, the same air volume is applied to the position below the liquid level of the beverage 30 and the position above the liquid level. When air with the same pressure is blown at
Curves inward. At this time, when the inwardly curved dimension is measured, the curved dimension ε1 at a position below the liquid level is smaller than the curved dimension ε2 at a position above the liquid level. This is because the internal pressure is high at the position where the beverage 30 is filled. For this reason, if it is detected that the measured values of the two sensors 23 and 24 are different, it is understood that the liquid level exists between the lower position and the upper position. Packaging material 1 based on this principle
1, the liquid level can be detected from outside.

For this reason, the distances to the packaging material 11 are measured by the distance sensors 23 and 24 disposed above and below the expected filling level A of the packaging material 11, and the detected values based on the distance between the two are compared with each other to obtain a difference equal to or more than a predetermined value. Is detected, it is understood that the liquid level of the beverage 30 exists between the upper and lower positions. In the present embodiment, the comparison / judgment of the detected values is performed by the calculation unit 27. FIG. 3 shows the detection values of the distance sensors 23 and 24 measured at the timing when the air supply means 25 is driven to increase the pressure of the discharge air. This figure shows that the height h1 of the peak of the detection value of both sensors 23 and 24 is the same, and that there is no liquid level between both positions. Alternatively, if h2 is the same, the liquid level is
3 indicates that it exists up to the top. FIG. 4 shows that the heights of the peaks of the detection values of both sensors 23 and 24 are h1 in the upper distance sensor 23 and h2 in the lower distance sensor 24, h2 <h1, and the beverage 30 at the lower sensor position. Is filled, indicating that the beverage 30 is not filled at the upper sensor position.

When the calculation unit 27 determines from the values detected by the distance sensors 23 and 24 that the liquid level of the beverage 30 has exceeded the position of the upper distance sensor 23, the calculation unit 27 sends a signal to the drive control unit 28.
The drive control unit 28 outputs a determination signal to the electromagnetic valve 29.
And outputs a control signal for performing the closing operation. Alternatively, when it is determined that the liquid level has dropped below the position of the lower distance sensor 24, the electromagnetic valve 29 opens. Further, the upper distance sensor 2
Between 3 and the lower distance sensor 24, the electromagnetic valve 29 remains open.

In this embodiment, the air supply means 25
Was driven intermittently, but it may be operated so as to always supply air while filling is being performed.

Although the embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to these, and various design changes accompanying the gist of the configuration are possible. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is applied to the case where the beverage 25 is filled in the cylindrical packaging material 11, but the present invention is also applicable to the case where the liquid is filled in containers of various shapes. Further, the contents to be filled in the container are not limited to liquids, and it is possible to detect the filling level of yogurt, jelly-like food, and powdery matter. In the above-described embodiment,
Although air is used as the fluid, a fluid that does not adversely affect the packaging material 11 such as water can be used. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the two air discharge nozzles 21 and 22
Are arranged vertically, but by arranging one nozzle and always detecting the distance from the sensor, it is detected that the filling level has been reached when the displacement amount of the packaging material 11 changes. Is also good.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the first aspect of the invention, there is an effect that the filling level can be detected from the outside of the container without soiling the contents.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, it is easy to measure the distance from the sensor to the outer surface of the storage wall, so that the filling level can be easily reduced. Can be detected.

According to the third aspect of the invention, in addition to the effects of the first and second aspects, there is an effect that the filling level can be easily detected by measuring the curved dimension of the storage wall. .

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by disposing the displacement sensor at the filling expected level, the contents can be filled to the filling expected level.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the fourth aspect of the present invention, a level sensor, a float, and the like are not placed in a container made of paper packaging material on which aluminum foil is laminated. The filling level of the contents in the container can be detected from the outside of the container, so that the contents can be prevented from being stained, and the beverage filling step can be performed hygienically.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the fourth and fifth aspects of the present invention, the filling level can be easily detected by obtaining the displacement of the storage wall with the distance sensor. .

According to the invention of claim 7, claims 4 to
In addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 6, there is an effect that it can be determined whether or not the contents have reached the scheduled filling level of the container.

According to the invention described in claim 8, claims 4 to
In addition to the effect of the invention described in claim 7, it is possible to approximate or match the actual filling level of the contents with the expected filling level.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, claims 4 to
In addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 8, when the filling level is above the air discharge nozzle 21 in the arithmetic unit, the supply of the contents is stopped, and when the filling level is lower than the upper distance sensor 23, the supply is performed. By continuing the supply between the distance sensor 23 and the lower distance sensor 24, the filling level can be controlled, and the level of the contents in the container and the appropriate filling operation of the contents can be automatically performed. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view showing an embodiment of a filling level detection method and a liquid level detection device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a detection principle of a filling level detection method device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram in a case where the detection values of two distance sensors according to the embodiment are the same (in a case where the level does not reach a scheduled filling level).

FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram when detection values of two distance sensors in the embodiment are different (when a filling level is reached).

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram when the detection values of two distance sensors according to the embodiment are the same (when the filling level has been reached).

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional level detection method.

[Explanation of symbols]

 A Expected Filling Level 11 Packaging Material 20 Filling Level Detector 21, 22 Air Discharge Nozzle 23, 24 Distance Sensor 27 Operation Unit 28 Drive Control Unit 29 Electromagnetic Valve 30 Beverage

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A method for detecting a filling level of contents to be filled in a container having a flexible storage wall, comprising: spraying a fluid at a predetermined pressure on an outer surface of the storage wall; A method for detecting a filling level, comprising: displacing a wall portion, detecting a displacement amount of an outer surface of the storage wall portion at a location where the fluid is sprayed, and detecting the filling level from the displacement amount. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the amount of displacement is determined based on a distance to an outer surface of the storage wall, which is measured by a distance sensor disposed to face the outside of the storage wall. The method for detecting a filling level according to claim 1, wherein 3. The filling level detecting method according to claim 1, wherein the displacement amount is a curved dimension of an outer surface of the storage wall portion toward the inside of the container. 4. A filling level detecting device for detecting a filling level of contents to be filled in a container having a flexible storage wall portion, the device being disposed at a predetermined height position on an outer surface of the storage wall portion. A fluid discharge unit that discharges a fluid at a predetermined pressure, a displacement sensor disposed opposite to an outer surface of the storage wall to which the fluid discharged from the fluid discharge unit is blown, and a displacement sensor that is detected by the displacement sensor. A calculation unit for determining a filling level based on the calculated value. 5. The container according to claim 4, wherein the container is formed by processing a packaging material mainly made of paper into a cylindrical shape, the fluid is air or water, and the content is a beverage. Fill level detector. 6. The filling level detecting device according to claim 4, wherein the displacement sensor is a distance sensor that measures a distance from the sensor to an outer surface of the storage wall. 7. The filling level detecting device according to claim 4, wherein the calculating section determines a filling level based on a change in a value detected by the displacement sensor. . 8. The fluid discharge portion is disposed at two positions sandwiching the level to be filled with the contents from above and below, and the displacement sensors correspond to positions where the fluid discharged from each of the fluid discharge portions is sprayed. 8. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the arithmetic unit determines the filling level of the contents based on a difference between output values from the two displacement sensors. The filling level detecting device as described in the above. 9. The operation unit is connected to a drive control unit of a supply device that supplies the contents, and outputs a supply or stop signal to the drive control unit according to a result of the determination of the filling level. The filling level detecting device according to any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein