JP2000272601A - Liquid filler - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a liquid filler which can fill a viscous liquid into a container with no foam formation by not catching air. SOLUTION: This liquid filler is provided with a filling nozzle 12 which is provided with an open/close valve and freely moves vertically, a range finder for measuring the distance between the liquid level in a container where liquid is filled and the nozzle mouth of the nozzle 12, and an elevator 18 for raising or lowering the nozzle in order to keep the distance between the liquid level and the nozzle mouth measured by the range finder in a predetermined range. Furthermore, the filler is provided for weighing the weight of the liquid filled into the container 67 with a weigher 68 which automatically opens/closes the valve according to value weighed by the weigher.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid filling apparatus, and more particularly, to a liquid filling apparatus capable of accurately filling a predetermined amount of a low-viscosity liquid to an extremely high-viscosity viscous liquid into a container without involving air. And a liquid filling device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Various types of liquid filling apparatuses have been conventionally used in the paint industry, lubricating oil industry, food industry, and the like in order to fill viscous liquids into small portions in containers.

[0003] For example, a gravimetric liquid comprising a base scale also serving as a container base, a filling nozzle, a liquid feeding device for sending liquid to the filling nozzle, and a control device for automatically stopping liquid feeding according to the measurement of the base scale. Filling machines are commercially available. In this filling machine, when a container is placed on a platform scale and a start button is pressed, the filling nozzle is lowered into the container, the tip valve of the filling nozzle is opened, and filling is started. During the filling of the liquid, the filling nozzle is kept in its original position. When a predetermined amount of liquid is filled in the container, a signal is sent from the platform scale, the tip valve is automatically closed, and the filling nozzle is raised. The filled container is sent to the next step by a roller conveyor or the like.

[0004] Further, another type of liquid filling machine includes a fixed filling nozzle, a liquid sending device for sending liquid to the filling nozzle,
It is provided with a vertically movable container table that also serves as a platform scale, and a control device that automatically stops liquid feeding according to the measurement of the platform scale. In this filling machine, when the container is placed on the container table and the start button is pressed, the container table is raised, and when the container bottom reaches the vicinity of the filling nozzle, the tip valve of the filling nozzle is opened and filling is started. As the liquid fills the container, the container table descends. When the container is filled with a predetermined amount of liquid, a signal is sent from the platform scale and the tip valve is automatically closed. The filled container is sent to the next step by a roller conveyor or the like.

[0005]

By the way, printing ink is mass-produced in an ink manufacturing factory, and then, when shipped to a printing factory, is partially filled into containers using a liquid filling device. The printing ink has a viscosity of 10,000
It is a very viscous liquid that reaches 0 cp to 100,000 cp and is known to be difficult to fill. Also, if air bubbles are mixed in the printing ink, when printing using the printing ink, there is a problem that the printing quality is inferior due to color clarity, color contrast, etc. At this time, it is extremely important to avoid bubbles. On the other hand, since the printing ink is extremely viscous as described above, it has a property that air is easily involved and air bubbles are formed when filling the container.

However, in the above-mentioned conventional liquid filling apparatus,
When filling a container with a liquid that is extremely viscous and refuses to entrap air, such as a printing ink, there is a problem that air is entrained to form bubbles.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a liquid filling apparatus which does not entrain air and form bubbles even when filling a viscous liquid into a container.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present inventor has investigated the cause of air entrainment when filling a viscous liquid such as printing ink into a container using a conventional liquid filling apparatus. It was found that it was at the position of the filling nozzle inside. For example, if the liquid level of the liquid in the container and the filling nozzle are separated, by the dynamic pressure of the liquid flowing down from the filling nozzle,
The liquid level in the container fluctuates violently, and air near the liquid level is entrained in the course of the fluctuation. Conversely, if the filling nozzle is immersed in the liquid, the liquid flows due to the dynamic pressure of the liquid flow flowing out of the filling nozzle, and the liquid level also violently fluctuates, and the liquid level fluctuates in the process of fluctuation. Entrain nearby air. Therefore, it has been found that it is important to keep the distance between the liquid surface and the filling nozzle within an appropriate distance range, that is, within a distance range that does not shake the liquid surface, in order to prevent air from being entrained.

Therefore, in order to achieve the above object, based on the above knowledge, a liquid filling apparatus according to the present invention has an opening / closing valve, a filling nozzle which can be raised and lowered, and a liquid level in a container for filling the liquid. And a range finder for measuring the distance between the nozzle port of the filling nozzle and a lifting device for raising and lowering the filling nozzle so that the distance between the liquid level measured by the range finder and the nozzle port falls within a predetermined range. Features.

The type of distance meter used in the present invention is not limited as long as it can measure the distance between the surface of the liquid in the container filled with the liquid and the nozzle port of the filling nozzle. Use a laser light type distance meter. In the present invention,
When filling the viscous liquid, the filling nozzle is moved up and down by the elevating device so that the distance between the liquid level measured by the distance meter and the nozzle port is kept within a predetermined range. As a result, the fluctuation of the liquid level is reduced to prevent the entrainment of air. The predetermined range differs depending on properties such as viscosity and density of the liquid to be filled, and is determined in advance by experiments or the like. The elevating device continuously controls the position of the filling nozzle according to the rise of the liquid level in the container due to the filling of the liquid so as to maintain the distance between the liquid level and the nozzle port within a predetermined range. A control method or a step control method in which the position of the filling nozzle is adjusted each time the distance between the liquid level and the nozzle port deviates from a predetermined range according to the rise in the liquid level in the container may be used.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a weighing scale for measuring the weight of the liquid filled in the container is provided, and the on-off valve is automatically opened and closed based on the weighed value of the weighing scale. This allows
The required filling amount can be accurately filled in the container.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a moving device for moving the filling nozzle in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction is provided.
A first arm having a moving nozzle fixed to a distal end with a filling nozzle and a distance meter having a nozzle opening directed downward, and a second arm rotatably connected at a distal end to a base end of the first arm in a vertical plane. A third arm rotatably connected at a distal end to a base end of the second arm in a vertical plane, and driven by a turning device to turn about a base end in a horizontal plane;
A flexible hose disposed along the arm and the first arm for sending liquid to the filling nozzle.

In order to rotate the arms in a vertical plane, for example, the cylinder end of a hydraulic cylinder is attached to one arm, the tip of a rod is attached to the other arm, and the rod is extended and contracted. Can be rotated. By operating the moving device, the horizontal position and the vertical position of the filling nozzle can be freely adjusted in accordance with the position of the container at the time of starting the filling.

[0014] In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the turning device is a device for turning the moving device in a horizontal plane around the base end of the third arm as a turning center while supporting the moving device. A pivot axis fixed perpendicular to the base end of the arm,
A drive device for rotating the turning shaft, a support plate for supporting the third arm, and a support wheel provided below the third arm and supporting the third arm and freely traveling on the support plate are provided. .
With the above configuration, the moving device can be smoothly turned while being supported, so that the horizontal position of the filling nozzle can be more easily adjusted according to the position of the container at the start of filling.

In a further preferred embodiment, the elevating device raises and lowers the moving device and the swivel device integrally, and further transports the container onto the container table having the weighing scale incorporated therein. A roller-type or belt-type transport device that unloads the container from the container table, and a traveling vehicle that travels on a track provided along both sides of the roller-type or belt-type transport device. , Turning device and lifting device.

The liquid filling apparatus of the present invention can be applied irrespective of the properties of the liquid. However, it is particularly suitable for filling a viscous liquid having a viscosity of 10,000 cp or more into a container while preventing air from being entrained. .

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiment Example This embodiment is an example of an embodiment of a liquid filling apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the liquid filling apparatus of this embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a turning device, a lifting / lowering device and a traveling vehicle, and FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a supporting vehicle for assisting the turning of the third arm. The liquid filling apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment is a liquid filling apparatus that subdivides and fills a container with printing ink having a viscosity of 10,000 cp or more. As shown in FIG. , Turning device 16, lifting device 18, traveling vehicle 20, traveling vehicle 2
0 drive device 22, container transport device 24, control device 26 of elevating device 18, moving device 14 and turning device 16
Operating device 28.

The moving device 14 moves the filling nozzle 12 horizontally and vertically in accordance with the position of the container before the filling is started. In order to adjust the filling nozzle 12 more easily, the lifting device 18 is provided for raising and lowering the filling nozzle 12 by raising and lowering the moving device 14 and the turning device 16. The traveling vehicle 20 is a traveling vehicle on which the filling nozzle 12, the moving device 14, the turning device 16, and the elevating device 18 are mounted and which can be stopped forward.

Although not shown, the filling nozzle 12 is a nozzle in which a nozzle port, a remote-operated automatic opening / closing valve, and a check valve for preventing liquid from flowing back are integrally incorporated. As shown in Fig. 5, a distance meter 30 for measuring a distance between a liquid surface in a container filled with liquid and a nozzle port is held.
As long as the distance meter 30 can measure the distance between the liquid level in the container to be filled with the liquid and the nozzle port of the filling nozzle 12, there is no limitation on the method. Use

As shown in FIG. 2, the moving device 14 has a first
The arm 32 has a distal end connected to the proximal end of the first arm 32 via a pin 33, and freely rotates in a vertical plane. The proximal end of the second arm 34 via a pin 35 A third arm 36 having a distal end connected thereto and freely rotating in a vertical plane, a base end fixed to a later-described rotating shaft of the rotating device 16 and freely rotating in a horizontal plane is provided. Further, the moving device 14 connects the first arm 32 to the second arm 34.
And a second actuator for rotating the second arm with respect to the third arm.
An actuator 40 is provided.

The first arm 32 has the filling nozzle 12 with the nozzle opening directed downward and the distance meter 30 fixed to the distal end, and is connected to the distal end of the second arm 34 at the proximal end. The first actuator 38 is provided between the first arm 32 and the second arm 34, and the distal end of the rod 38 a of the first actuator 38 is located near the base end of the first arm 32 and near the distal end of the second arm 34. , The bottom of the cylinder 38b of the first actuator 38 is rotatably mounted. Due to the expansion and contraction of the rod 38a of the first actuator 38, the first arm 32 rotates in a vertical plane with respect to the second arm 34 as indicated by an arrow.

The second actuator 40 includes the second arm 3
4 and the third arm 36, the second arm 34
Near the base end of the rod 40a of the second actuator 40
In the vicinity of the tip of the third arm 36, the bottom of the cylinder 40b of the second actuator 40 is rotatably attached. Due to the expansion and contraction of the rod 40a of the second actuator 40, the second arm 34 rotates in a vertical plane with respect to the third arm 36 as indicated by an arrow.

The third arm 36, the second arm 34,
A flexible hose 42 for sending liquid to the filling nozzle 12 is provided on the first arm 32.
The arm 32 and the second arm 34 move integrally with each other. In this embodiment, the first, second, and third arms 32, 34, and 36 are formed of a channel material, and the hose 42 is accommodated in a valley of the channel material.

As shown in FIG. 1, the turning device 16 is a device that supports the moving device 14 and turns the moving device 14 in a horizontal plane around the base end of the third arm 36 as a turning center. It is mounted on a traveling vehicle 20 together with the device 18. As shown in FIG. 3, the turning device 16 includes the third arm 3.
6, a rotating shaft 43 fixed perpendicular to the base end 36a, an electric motor 44 provided as a driving device for rotating the rotating shaft 43, and a first support plate 46 for supporting the third arm 36.
And a second support plate 48 extending in parallel with the first support plate 46 and supporting the electric motor 44.

The revolving shaft 43 extends upward through the second support plate 48, and has a pulley 49 having an upper end pivotally supported by the second support plate 48 and an upper end for winding the belt of the electric motor 44. I have. In the present embodiment, the turning shaft 43 is formed of a hollow pipe, and the hose 42 passes through the hollow portion. Second
As shown in FIG. 3, one end of the support plate 48 is fixed to an elevator vehicle 50 that forms a part of the elevating device 18, and the other end extends horizontally. Also, the second support plate 48
Is connected to the first support plate 4 via the connecting member 52 on one edge side.
6 is supported.

The first support plate 46 supports the third arm 36 via a support wheel 54. As shown in FIG. 4, the support wheel 54 is a vehicle having two to four wheels, and is fixed to a lower portion of the third arm 36. By providing the support wheel 54, the third arm 36 is driven by the electric motor 44 as shown in FIG. 3, and is integrated with the turning shaft 43 and smoothly on the first support plate 46 as shown by the arrow. To turn.
FIG. 4 is a side view of the support wheel 54 as viewed in the direction of arrow X in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the traveling vehicle 20 is configured as a bogie formed by two gate-shaped legs 56A and B and a connecting member 58 that connects the legs 56A and 56B. 56
A lifting device 18 is provided on the A side. Below the legs 56A and 56B, wheels 60 that run on a track 59 described later are provided.

The lift device 14 includes a frame 62 formed of a channel material, a lift vehicle 50 having wheels 64 running on the valleys of the channel material of the frame 62, and a third actuator for driving the lift vehicle 50. 66. Third
The bottom of the cylinder 66a of the actuator 66 is
The lower end of the rod 66b is fixed to the lower part of the
Is connected to the lower part. By the expansion and contraction of the rod 66b,
The hoisting vehicle 50 is raised and lowered, so that the filling nozzle 12 can be raised and lowered through the raising and lowering of the turning device 16 and the moving device 14.

The traveling vehicle 20 is driven by the driving device 22 and travels on the track 59. The driving device 22 includes an electric motor 22a provided as a driving source, as shown in FIG.
And a traction roller 22c that rotates via a belt 22b by rotation of an electric motor 22a, and a traction belt 22d that advances the traveling vehicle 20 by rotation of the traction roller 22c. With the rotation and stop of the rotation of the electric motor 22a, the traveling vehicle 20 advances and stops via the belt 22b, the traction roller 22c, and the traction belt 22d.

In this embodiment, the transfer device 2 for the container 67
4 is provided with a roller conveyor, and the electric motor 2
4a, the container 67 is conveyed so as to be able to move forward and stop freely. A load cell 68 is provided as a weighing scale at a location corresponding to the container filling position, and measures the weight of the liquid filled in the container. And the load cell 6
When the measured value measured by 8 reaches a predetermined value, the on-off valve attached to the filling nozzle 12 is closed, and the filling of the liquid is stopped. Thereby, the container 67 can be accurately filled with the required filling amount.

The control device 26 adjusts the operation of the third actuator 66 of the elevating device 18 based on the distance between the liquid level in the container and the nozzle opening of the filling nozzle 12 measured by the distance meter 30, and adjusts the liquid level. The position of the filling nozzle 12 is controlled so that the distance between the nozzle and the nozzle opening of the filling nozzle 12 is always the set distance. The operation device 28 has an operation panel for operating the moving device 14 and the turning device 16, and the moving device 14 is remotely controlled.
The first actuator 38, the second actuator 40,
In addition, the operation of the electric motor 44 of the turning device 16 is remotely controlled to adjust the position of the filling nozzle 12 before the liquid filling is started.

In the present embodiment, the operation of the third actuator 66 of the elevating device 18 is adjusted based on the distance between the liquid level in the container and the nozzle port of the filling nozzle 12 measured by the distance meter 30, and the liquid level is adjusted. The position of the filling nozzle 12 is controlled so that the distance from the nozzle opening of the filling nozzle 12 is always the set distance. Therefore, even when a viscous liquid such as printing ink is filled in a container, air is not involved and bubbles are included in the liquid as in the related art.

Modification Example This modification example is a modification example of the liquid filling apparatus 10 of the embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the liquid filling apparatus of the modification example. In addition to filling relatively large containers such as drums, it is often necessary to fill relatively small containers such as pail cans with printing ink in parallel. Therefore, the liquid filling device 70 of this modification example is the same as that of FIG.
As shown in the figure, in addition to the configuration of the liquid filling device 10, a load cell 72 for measuring the weight of the container is provided.
And a transfer device 74 arranged in parallel with the transfer device 24 with the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. Since the filling nozzle 12 can be moved in the horizontal direction by the moving device 14 and the turning device 16,
The small container 78 conveyed by the conveyor 74 fills the filling nozzle 1
2, the printing ink can be filled.

[0034]

According to the present invention, since the lifting device for raising and lowering the filling nozzle is provided so that the distance between the liquid level measured by the distance meter and the nozzle opening of the filling nozzle is kept within a predetermined range, printing is performed. Even when a viscous liquid such as ink for filling is filled in a container, air is not involved and bubbles are included in the liquid as in the related art. The liquid filling device according to the present invention is most suitable for filling a viscous liquid having a viscosity of 10,000 cp or more into a container, such as a printing ink which is difficult to entrain air.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a liquid filling apparatus according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a moving device.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a turning device, a lifting device, and a traveling vehicle.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a support wheel that assists turning of a third arm.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a liquid filling device according to a modification.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 Liquid filling device of embodiment 12 Filling nozzle 14 Moving device 16 Swivel device 18 Elevating device 20 Traveling vehicle 22 Drive device of traveling vehicle 24 Container transport device 26 Control device of lifting device 28 Operating device of moving device and swiveling device 30 Distance meter 32 First arm 33, 35 pin 34 Second arm 36 Third arm 38 First actuator 40 Second actuator 42 Flexible hose 43 Revolving shaft 44 Electric motor 46 First support plate 48 Second support plate 49 Pulley 50 Lifting vehicle 52 Connecting Member 54 Support Wheel 56 Gate Type Leg 58 Connecting Member 59 Track 60 Wheel 62 Frame 64 Wheel 66 Third Actuator 67 Container 68 Load Cell 70 Modified Liquid Filling Device 72 Load Cell 74 Transport Device 76 Small Container

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tatsuo Yamazaki 56-6 Kikuna, Shimoura-cho, Miura-shi, Kanagawa F-term (reference) 3E018 AA02 AB06 AB07 BA07 CA04 DA02 DA04 EA10 3E055 AA02 CB05 DA20 EA01 EB01 FA04

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A filling nozzle provided with an on-off valve and capable of moving up and down, a distance meter for measuring a distance between a liquid surface in a container for filling liquid and a nozzle opening of the filling nozzle, and a liquid surface measured by the distance meter. A liquid filling apparatus, comprising: an elevating device that elevates and lowers a filling nozzle so that a distance from a nozzle port is within a predetermined range. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a weighing scale for measuring the weight of the liquid filled in the container, wherein the on-off valve is automatically opened and closed based on the weighed value of the weighing scale. Liquid filling device. 3. A moving device for moving a filling nozzle in a horizontal direction and a vertical direction, the moving device comprising: a first arm having a filling nozzle with a nozzle opening facing downward and a distance meter fixed to a tip; A second arm rotatably connected to a base end of one arm in a vertical plane, a second arm rotatably connected to a base end of the second arm in a vertical plane at a distal end, and being driven by a turning device; A third arm that pivots in a horizontal plane about an end; and a flexible hose that is disposed along the third arm, the second arm, and the first arm, and that sends a liquid to the filling nozzle. The liquid filling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein 4. A device for turning a moving device in a horizontal plane around a base end of a third arm while supporting the moving device, wherein the turning device is orthogonal to the base end of the third arm. A fixed rotating shaft, a driving device for rotating the rotating shaft, a support plate for supporting the third arm, and provided below the third arm, supporting the third arm and traveling freely on the support plate. The liquid filling device according to claim 3, further comprising a support wheel. 5. The liquid filling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the lifting device raises and lowers the moving device and the turning device integrally. 6. A container table in which a weighing scale is incorporated, a roller-type or belt-type conveying apparatus for conveying the container onto the container table, and then carrying out the container from the container table, and both sides of the roller-type or belt-type conveying apparatus. 6. A liquid filling apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising: a traveling vehicle traveling on a track provided along the vehicle, wherein the traveling vehicle is equipped with a moving device, a turning device, and a lifting device. 7. The liquid filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a wide range of viscous liquid having a viscosity of 1,000 to 100,000 CP is filled in the container.