JP2001097487A - Liquid filling method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a liquid from foaming at the time of filling to enable rapid filling. SOLUTION: In pouring a liquid into a container B from a nozzle passage 2 connected to a mouth P of the container B, the liquid to be filled which is supplied from the nozzle passage 2 is revolved around the axis center of the nozzle passage 2, also diffused toward an outer periphery and revolved down along an internal surface of the container.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid filling method and apparatus suitable for filling a container with a liquid that easily foams.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When a container is filled with a liquid, if the liquid is discharged directly downward from a nozzle inserted into the mouth of the container, the liquid foams. Therefore, conventionally, as shown in FIG.
, The liquid is ejected in the radial direction and flows down along the inner wall of the container B. Also, in gas-filled beverages and the like, measures have been taken to suppress foaming during filling, such as lowering the temperature of the filling liquid.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, the liquid reaching the bottom of the container B is disturbed by turning the flow direction by about 90 °, and the liquids collide and agitate at the center. Therefore, foaming becomes extremely easy, foaming cannot be sufficiently suppressed, and this has been a factor of lowering the filling rate.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a liquid filling method and apparatus capable of sufficiently suppressing foaming of a liquid in a container and enabling high-speed filling.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid filling method for supplying a liquid from a nozzle passage when a liquid is injected into the container from a nozzle passage connected to an opening of the container. The filled liquid is swirled around the axis of the nozzle passage and diffused toward the outer periphery, and swirled down along the inner surface of the container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid filling apparatus, wherein a gas nozzle for discharging gas in the container is provided at an axis of a nozzle passage connected to an opening of the container, and the filling liquid is supplied to the nozzle passage in a circumferential direction. And a diffusion guide means for guiding the filling liquid to the outside. According to the above configurations, since the filling liquid to be injected into the container is caused to flow down while being swirled along the inner surface of the container, even when the filling liquid reaches the bottom of the container, the flow direction of the filling liquid is deflected at an obtuse angle. Therefore, foaming is prevented, and furthermore, since the liquids meet at the center of the bottom along a tangent line and turn, the filled liquids do not collide with each other and are stirred and do not foam. Therefore, foaming in the container can be prevented and high-speed filling can be performed.

Further, according to the present invention, the filling liquid can be smoothly sent from the filling chamber to the nozzle passage without resistance, and a strong swirling flow continuing from the nozzle passage to the inner surface of the container can be easily achieved. Can be formed.
Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, in the above configuration,
A rectifying valve having a valve member movably provided in the filling chamber in the axial direction and a valve seat formed on a conical guide surface connected to the nozzle passage from the filling chamber is provided. A valve opening / closing device for moving in a direction is provided.

According to the above configuration, the swirling flow of the filling chamber can be smoothly sent to the nozzle passage by the conical guide surface. In addition, since the rectifying valve is configured by arranging the valve element moved by the valve opening / closing device in the filling chamber constituting the liquid swirling means, the whole can be configured compact. The liquid filling method according to claim 2 is
Upon injecting the liquid into the container from the nozzle passage connected to the mouth of the container, the filling liquid supplied from the nozzle passage,
The gas is swirled around the axis of the nozzle passage and diffused to the outer peripheral side, swirled down along the inner surface of the container, and the discharge amount of gas discharged from the inside of the container to the outside is determined after filling is started and / or before filling is completed. By shortening the time, the gas pressure in the container is increased to reduce the filling speed.

Further, in the liquid filling apparatus according to the present invention, an exhaust amount adjusting means is interposed in a gas passage communicating with a gas nozzle, and the exhaust amount adjusting means is provided at a predetermined time after the start of filling and / or before the end of filling. , The amount of exhaust gas discharged from the bottle is reduced, the gas pressure in the container is increased, and the filling speed is reduced. According to the above configurations, the filling speed of the filling liquid is controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the gas discharged from the inside of the container, so that the swirling flow of the filling liquid is not hindered. Therefore, by the swirling flow and the flow rate control that does not hinder the swirling flow, it is possible to effectively suppress foaming and fill the liquid at a high speed even if the liquid is extremely easy to foam.

[0010]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Here, an embodiment of a liquid filling apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This liquid filling apparatus fills a bottle (container) B having a circular cross section or an elliptical (oval) cross section as a filling liquid with a liquid (foamable liquid) that easily foams.
Focusing on the flow of the filling liquid, supply with a flow with less bubbling, adjusting the filling flow rate is not performed by opening and closing a valve that disturbs the flow of the filling liquid, but by controlling the internal pressure of the container, the flow rate is controlled It is characterized by:

That is, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the nozzle body 1 is connected to the mouth P of the bottle B and supplies a filling liquid to the nozzle B. Swirling means 3 for swirling the filling liquid, rectifying valve 4 and valve opening / closing device 5 for opening / closing nozzle passage 2, gas nozzle 6 for forming gas passage 10 for supplying / discharging gas into / from bottle B, gas passage An exhaust adjusting valve (exhaust amount adjusting means) 7 and an exhaust valve operating device 8 for controlling a gas flow rate of the bottle 10;
A gas release valve (snift valve) 9 for returning the inside to atmospheric pressure is provided.

The nozzle passage 2 is formed at a lower portion of the nozzle body 1. Around the opening of the nozzle passage 2, there is provided a sealing member 11 to which the mouth P of the bottle B is in close contact. At the lower end of the main body 1, a connection guide hole 12 whose diameter is enlarged toward the lower part is formed. A cylindrical filling chamber 13 having a larger diameter than the nozzle passage 2 is formed at an upper portion of the nozzle passage 2, and communicates with a filling liquid supply pipe 14 on a side portion of the nozzle body 1 as shown in FIG. The injection path 15 is connected to an eccentric position (tangential direction) shifted from the axis of the filling chamber 13 to constitute the liquid swirling means 3. A conical guide surface 13a is formed below the filling chamber 13 and is continuous with the nozzle passage 2. The filling liquid flowing into the filling chamber 13 from the filling liquid supply pipe 14 through the injection passage 15 is swirled. It is configured to be moved to the nozzle passage 2 in a swirling state by the shape guide surface 13a. In addition, a flow meter (not shown) is interposed at the inlet side of the filling liquid supply pipe 14 to control the filling amount. As the flow meter, an electromagnetic flow meter, a mass flow meter, or the like is used. You.

A gas nozzle 6 having a lower end opened in a connection guide hole 12 is disposed at an axial center position in the nozzle passage 2, and a gas passage 10 for supplying and discharging gas in the bottle B is provided.
Are formed. On the outer periphery of the lower part of the gas nozzle 6,
A conical diffusion guide portion (diffusion guide means) 16 having a large diameter at the lower portion is provided so as to protrude therefrom, so that the filling liquid flowing from above can be guided to the outer peripheral side and guided to the inner surface of the bottle B.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the filling liquid swirled in the filling chamber 13 and discharged from the nozzle passage 2 is diffused to the outer peripheral side by the diffusion guide section 16 and follows the inner surface of the bottle B. It flows down while turning. Thereby, even if the filling liquid reaches the bottom surface of the bottle B, the collision angle becomes an obtuse angle close to 180 °, and bubbling is largely suppressed. Furthermore, even at the bottom center part, the filling liquid concentrated from the surroundings forms a vortex without colliding with each other,
This effectively suppresses foaming.

The exhaust gas passage 10 has a movable passage portion 10a formed between the gas nozzle 6 and a valve shaft 21 connected to the upper end of the gas nozzle 6, and a fixed passage between the rectifying valve 4 and the exhaust adjusting valve 7 of the nozzle body 2. A portion 10b is formed. And the filling chamber 1 of the nozzle body 1
The valve shaft 21 is disposed in a slide hole 22 formed at an axial center position above the valve shaft 3 so as to be able to move up and down. The rectifying valve 4 is a cone-shaped valve body fixed to a lower end portion of the valve shaft 21. (Valve member) 23 and a valve seat 24 formed on the inner peripheral portion of the conical guide surface 13a, so that the nozzle passage 2 can be opened and closed.

The valve opening / closing device 5 includes a slide hole 22.
Opening and closing cylinder chamber 31 formed in the upper part of the valve shaft 2
An opening / closing piston portion 32 formed at the upper end of the opening / closing cylinder chamber 31 and slidably fitted to the opening / closing cylinder chamber 31 is provided. A closing air hole 34 that supplies air is connected, and an opening air hole 36 that supplies working air from an opening air plug 35 is connected to the opening air chamber 31 b below the opening / closing cylinder chamber 31.

Accordingly, when working air is supplied from the closing air plug 33 to the closing air chamber 31a of the opening / closing cylinder chamber 31, the valve shaft 21 and the valve body 23 are lowered by the opening / closing piston portion 32, and the valve body 23 is opened. Pressed against the seat 24, the nozzle passage 2 is closed. Opening air plug 3
From 5, working air is supplied to the opening / closing air chamber 31 of the open / close cylinder chamber 31.
When supplied to the valve b, the valve shaft 21 and the valve body 23 are raised by the opening / closing piston portion 32, the valve body 23 is separated from the valve seat 24, and the nozzle passage 2 is opened.

A connection guide hole 37 having a predetermined depth in the axial direction from the upper surface of the opening / closing piston portion 32 is formed, and the movable passage portion 10a is opened at the bottom of the connection guide hole 37. The nozzle body 1 also has a sliding projection 3 fitted in the connection guide hole 37 so as to be slidable in the axial direction.
8 is protruded, and the fixed passage portion 10b is formed in the axial center portion of the sliding convex portion 38 and is opened at the lower end surface.
The movable passage 10a and the fixed passage 10b communicate with each other through the connection guide hole 37.

The exhaust control valve 7 is provided with a fixed passage 10
a valve chamber 41 having a conical valve seat 41a formed at the upper end of the valve chamber 41b;
A gas adjusting hole 44 connected to the side surface of the valve, an adjusting valve element 42 slidably disposed in the adjusting valve chamber 41, and a valve element 42 formed in the valve element 42 so that the valve element 42 has a valve seat 41a. A bypass hole 42a for connecting the fixed flow path portion 10b and the gas adjustment hole 44 at the contact position is provided, and the gas flow discharged from the container is adjusted to a fully open position where the valve body 42 is raised, and the valve body It is possible to switch between two stages between a throttle position where the discharge amount is lowered and the discharge amount is reduced by the bypass hole 42a.

An exhaust valve operating device 8 for operating the exhaust adjusting valve 7 is formed integrally with a gas adjusting cylinder chamber 45 formed continuously above the valve chamber 41 and an upper portion of the valve body 42. An adjusting piston portion 46 slidably fitted in the cylinder chamber 45, and an opening spring 47 for urging the adjusting piston portion 46 in the fully opening direction are provided in the throttle air chamber 45a above the adjusting cylinder chamber 45. Is the throttle air plug 4
A throttle air hole 49 is connected from 8. Although not shown, a gas pipe connected to the gas adjusting plug 43 is connected to a tank for the filling liquid, and an electromagnetic valve for stopping gas supply / discharge is interposed.

The exhaust adjusting valve 7 is provided with a gas releasing valve 9 for releasing gas in the bottle B after filling to adjust the pressure to atmospheric pressure. The gas discharge valve 9 includes a discharge valve chamber 51 having a valve seat formed at a lower portion, and an adjustment valve chamber 41.
A gas discharge passage 53 connecting the pressure control valve and the discharge valve chamber 51, a gas outlet 56 communicating with a lower portion of the valve seat to discharge gas from the discharge valve chamber 51 to an external tank, A discharge position at which the gas discharge passage 53 communicates with the gas outlet 56 at the upper position, and a gas discharge port 56 at the lower position, which contacts the valve seat portion.
And a gas release valve body 52 arranged to be able to move up and down between closed positions.

A gas discharge actuating device 60 for operating the gas discharge valve 7 is integrated with a discharge switching cylinder chamber 61 formed continuously on the discharge valve chamber 51 and an upper part of a gas discharge valve body 52. And a release spring 63 that slidably fits in the cylinder chamber 61 and a release spring 63 that urges the release piston part 62 in the upward release direction. A closed air hole 6 for supplying and discharging working air from a closed air plug 64 is provided in the air chamber 61a.
5 is connected.

Therefore, after filling is completed, the solenoid valve of the gas pipe connected to the gas adjusting plug 43 is closed, and the operating air is discharged from the discharging air plug 64 through the closing air hole 65 from the closing air chamber 61a. The gas released from the closed position to the discharge position through the discharge piston portion 62 by the discharge spring 63 through the discharge piston portion 62, and the gas flowing into the discharge valve chamber 51 from the adjustment valve chamber 41 through the gas discharge passage 53. Is discharged from the gas outlet 56 to an external exhaust tank. Thereby, the gas pressure inside the bottle B is returned to the atmospheric pressure.

A method for filling a liquid in which carbon dioxide gas is likely to be foamed by the liquid filling apparatus having the above configuration will be described. 1) The bottle B is raised (the filling device may be lowered), and the mouth portion P of the bottle B is inserted from the connection guide hole 12 and brought into contact with the seal member 11. Then, by opening an electromagnetic valve for stopping the supply and discharge of gas, the carbon dioxide gas in the filling liquid tank is supplied into the bottle B through the gas pipe, the adjustment plug 43, the gas adjustment hole 44, the adjustment valve chamber 41, and the gas passage 10. And the gas pressure in the bottle B is set to a predetermined value.

2) The working air is supplied to the opening / closing air chamber 31b of the opening / closing cylinder chamber 31 to open the nozzle passage 2, and the filling liquid is supplied from the tank to the filling liquid supply pipe 14, the filling passage 15,
It is injected into the bottle B via the filling chamber 13 and the nozzle passage 2. At this time, the filling liquid that has flowed from the injection passage 15 to the eccentric position of the filling chamber 13 is swirled along the inner wall surface, and is further diffused at the outlet of the nozzle passage 2.
While being swirled by 6, the liquid is diffused to the outer peripheral side and sent out to the inner surface side of the bottle B, and the filling liquid is further swirled along the inner surface of the bottle B to flow down. Thereby, even if the filling liquid reaches the bottom surface of the bottle B, foaming is greatly suppressed by only being detoured at an obtuse angle, and the filling liquid also flows tangentially from the surroundings at the bottom center to form a vortex. This suppresses foaming.

3) At the inlet side of the filling liquid supply pipe 14, the flow rate of the filling liquid is measured by a flow meter, whereby the rectifying valve 4 is opened and closed. Conventionally, the filling speed is adjusted by the opening degree of the valve element 23 by the rectifying valve 4. However, if this is performed, the swirling flow of the filling liquid is disturbed and causes foaming. The filling rate is adjusted by adjusting the amount of gas discharged from the tank.

That is, as shown in FIG. 6, for a predetermined time from the start of filling, the exhaust control valve 7 is switched to the throttle position by the exhaust valve operating device 8, the gas discharge amount is reduced by the bypass hole 42a, and the bottle B The filling speed is suppressed by maintaining the inside at a high pressure. As shown in FIG.
After a certain period of time, the valve body 42 is raised and the exhaust adjustment valve 7 is switched to the fully open position, and the gas discharge from the bottle B is fully opened to perform high-speed filling. Further, when a predetermined time until the filling is completed, the exhaust adjustment valve 7 is switched to the throttle position, and the filling speed is suppressed. This makes it possible to control the filling speed without disturbing the swirling flow of the filling liquid, and to suppress the initial filling at which foaming is likely to occur and the filling speed at the end of filling, which requires high-precision liquid level control.

4) When the filling is completed, the solenoid valve for stopping the supply and discharge of gas is closed, and the gas release valve 9 is opened by the gas release actuator 60 so that the gas in the bottle B can be discharged from the gas outlet 56 to the outside. Drained into the exhaust tank, bottle B
The internal gas pressure is returned to atmospheric pressure. According to the above embodiment, the liquid swirling means 3 is configured by connecting the injection passage 15 to the eccentric position of the filling chamber 13 using the filling chamber 13 in which the valve element 23 of the rectifying valve 4 is disposed. And a strong swirling flow that continues into the bottle B can be obtained. Thereby, the filling flow reaching the bottom of the bottle B is turned at an obtuse angle, and foaming is prevented. Further, in the vicinity of the center of the bottom of the bottle B, the filling liquids flow and merge in the tangential direction of a circular arc having a similar shape to the cross section of the bottle B, so that the filling liquids do not collide with each other and are stirred, and merge in a vortex state. . Thereby, foaming can be further effectively suppressed.

Since the flow rate of the rectifying valve 4 is not controlled only by the on-off operation, the swirling flow is not disturbed by the valve body 23. Furthermore, since the flow rate control adjusts the gas flow rate discharged from the bottle B by the exhaust adjustment valve 7 and adjusts the gas flow rate in the bottle B, by suppressing the filling speed immediately after the start of filling or at the end of filling, Fluctuation and disturbance of the filling liquid can be prevented beforehand, and bubbling can be prevented. As a result, the filling speed can be increased and the filling time can be reduced.

Further, since the filling speed is controlled by the internal pressure in the bottle B, it does not affect the flow of the filling liquid, so that the swirling flow does not change and is disturbed, and the swirling flow generates bubbles. It does not impair the inhibitory effect. In the above-described embodiment, the liquid swirling means 3 is configured to inject the filling liquid from the injection passage 15 to the eccentric position of the filling chamber to form a swirling flow. However, the present invention is not limited to this. A plurality of swirlers may be arranged along the swirling direction by forming an annular passage around 6;
A plurality of spiral turning holes or turning grooves along the turning direction may be formed around the gas nozzle 6. Further, the shape of the swirl vanes and swirl holes is deformed by the diffusion guide means so that the filling liquid is diffused to the outer peripheral side, so that the diffusion guide means can be integrated with the liquid swirl means.

In the above embodiment, the gas discharge amount in the container was reduced to increase the gas force in the container and prevent foaming at the start of filling and before the end of filling, respectively. Depending on the shape, the filling environment, and the like, it is also possible to prevent foaming by narrowing the gas discharge amount in the container either at the start of filling or before the end of filling.

[0032]

According to the present invention, since the filling liquid to be poured into the container is caused to flow down while being swirled along the inner surface of the container, even if the filling liquid reaches the bottom of the container, the flow direction of the filling liquid is changed at an obtuse angle. Foaming is prevented, and furthermore, since the liquids are swirled together at the bottom center along a tangent line, the filled liquids do not collide with each other and are stirred and do not foam. Therefore, foaming in the container can be prevented and high-speed filling can be performed.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the filling liquid can be smoothly delivered from the filling chamber to the nozzle passage without resistance, and a strong swirling flow continuing from the nozzle passage to the inner surface of the container can be easily achieved. Can be formed.
Furthermore, according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the swirling flow of the filling chamber can be smoothly sent out to the nozzle passage by the conical guide surface. In addition, since the rectifying valve is configured by arranging the valve element moved by the valve opening / closing device in the filling chamber constituting the liquid swirling means, the whole can be configured compact.

According to the second and seventh aspects of the present invention, since the filling speed of the filling liquid is controlled by adjusting the flow rate of the gas discharged from the container, the swirling flow of the filling liquid is obstructed. Never. Therefore, by the swirling flow and the flow rate control that does not hinder the swirling flow, it is possible to effectively suppress foaming and fill the liquid at a high speed even if the liquid is extremely easy to foam.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a liquid supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention in a supply stopped state.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the liquid filling device.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line AA shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a supply state to a bottle by the liquid filling device.

FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the liquid filling apparatus in a supply stopped state.

FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the liquid filling device in a low-speed filling state.

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of the liquid filling apparatus in a high-speed filling state.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a supply state of a filling liquid to a bottle by a conventional liquid filling apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 B Bottle P Mouth 1 Nozzle body 2 Nozzle passage 3 Liquid swirl means 4 Rectifier valve 5 Valve opening and closing device 6 Gas nozzle 7 Exhaust adjusting valve 8 Exhaust valve operating device 9 Gas release valve 10 Gas passage 13 Filling chamber 13a Conical guide surface 15 Injection passage DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Valve shaft 23 Valve body 24 Valve seat 31 Opening / closing cylinder chamber 32 Opening / closing piston part 41 Adjustment valve chamber 42 Adjustment valve body 42a Bypass hole 45 Gas adjustment cylinder chamber 46 Adjustment piston part 51 Release valve chamber 52 Release valve Body 60 Outgassing actuator

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Hisahiko Hisahara 1-7-89 Minami Kohoku, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Inside Hitachi Zosen Corporation (72) Inventor Satoshi Ogawa 1-7-89 Minami-Kohoku, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka No. F-term in Hitachi Zosen Corporation (reference) 3E079 AB01 BB02 DD02 DD35

Claims (7)

[Claims] When a liquid is injected into a container from a nozzle passage connected to an opening of the container, the filling liquid supplied from the nozzle passage is swirled around the axis of the nozzle passage and diffused toward the outer periphery. And a swirling flow along the inner surface of the container. 2. When a liquid is injected into a container from a nozzle passage connected to an opening of the container, the filling liquid supplied from the nozzle passage is swirled around the axis of the nozzle passage and diffused to the outer peripheral side. By swirling down along the inner surface of the container and reducing the amount of gas discharged from inside the container to the outside for a predetermined time after the start of filling and / or before the end of filling,
A liquid filling method, wherein the filling speed is reduced by increasing the gas pressure in a container. 3. A gas nozzle for discharging gas in the container is provided at an axial portion of a nozzle passage connected to the mouth of the container, and liquid swirling means for turning the filling liquid in the circumferential direction is provided in the nozzle passage. A liquid filling device, comprising diffusion guide means for guiding a filling liquid to the outside. 4. A liquid swirling means comprising: a charging chamber formed in a cylindrical shape at an axial position of a nozzle passage; and an injection passage connected to an eccentric position of the filling chamber. Item 4. The liquid filling device according to Item 3. 5. A rectifying valve having a valve member movably provided in the filling chamber in the axial direction and a valve seat formed on a conical guide surface connected to the nozzle passage from the filling chamber. The liquid filling device according to claim 4, further comprising a valve opening / closing device that moves the valve member in the axial direction. 6. A liquid filling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said liquid swirling means is constituted by swirling guide means formed on an inner peripheral portion of the nozzle passage and guiding the filling liquid in a spiral direction. 7. An exhaust amount adjusting means is interposed in a gas passage communicating with a gas nozzle, and the amount of exhaust gas discharged from the bottle by the exhaust amount adjusting means is determined at a predetermined time after the start of filling and / or before the end of filling. The liquid filling apparatus according to any one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the filling speed is reduced by increasing the gas pressure in the throttle container.