JP2001206487A - Process and device for substituting air in container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air substituting device for adjusting the jet speed of an impact imparting material inducting the forming of a sparkling beverage in compliance with the production rate of a beverage filling device and securely carrying out at all times a process of air substitution of an empty clearance. SOLUTION: In the substituting device, a sparkling beverage is filled in the container while continuously carrying the container, and then the impact is applied to the liquid level of the sparkling beverage in the container before closing a mouth of the container to foam the beverage, and air remaining in the empty clearance in the container is replaced with a foaming gas, and the substituting device is provided with an impact providing means for varying the impact force applied to the liquid level in compliance with the carrying speed of the container in the filling.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for replacing gas applied to a beverage filling apparatus, and more particularly to an air layer formed above a beverage filled in a container conveyed in a beverage filling step. The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for replacing air, wherein the air is replaced with a gas that does not affect the flavor of the beverage to be filled.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, when a beverage is filled into a container by a beverage filling device, an air space called a hollow portion is formed in an upper portion of the container, that is, an upper portion of the filled beverage. In order to prevent the formation of the empty portion, it is conceivable to fill the beverage to the full mouth of the container, for example. But,
Even if the beverage is actually filled up to the full mouth of the container, a vacant portion remains, albeit slightly. Since air exists in such a vacant space, for example, beer, low-malt beer and the like are oxidized by contact with oxygen in the air, and the flavor and the like change.

[0003] In order to prevent such a situation that the flavor and the like are changed by the beverage coming into contact with the air, a means for removing the air is added to the beverage filling apparatus. As a method for filling the beverage into the container, a method of filling the air present in the empty space with a gas that does not affect the beverage, such as carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas, etc., is basically used before closing the mouth of the container. Has been implemented. Furthermore, depending on the method of supplying the replacement gas, a method of supplying the replacement gas from the outside (for example, a small amount of liquid nitrogen is dropped on a vacant portion of the container and replaced using a rapid vaporization action), and beer and foaming It has been proposed to use a foaming beverage such as alcohol to stimulate the liquid level in the container to foam the beverage itself in the container, and to replace the air in the empty space with the gas generated by the foaming. I have.

[0004] In particular, in the latter case, the foaming beverage itself is foamed by spraying water or hot water which does not affect the flavor of the foaming beverage into the liquid level of the foaming beverage filled in the container, and the foaming gas is emptied by the foaming gas. It replaces the air in the dimension and injects pressurized water toward the container mouth of the container that moves at high speed after filling. Since the container is moving at a high speed, a part of the jet water collides with the beverage in the container in a state of minute droplets, and the impact foams the beverage. This method has attracted much attention because it does not require complicated automatic control and is easy to handle.

[0005]

However, in this method, if the degree of foaming is not properly controlled,
Beverage in the container overflows from the container opening due to foaming more than necessary, and there is a possibility that the amount of flavor may become insufficient.
Also, if the production speed is increased, the time required from filling to sealing with the stopper of the container mouth becomes extremely short, of course,
There is a possibility that it will be sealed before it is sufficiently replaced. That is, it is necessary to appropriately control the degree of foaming in accordance with the production speed so as not to cause overflow of the content beverage and air replacement shortage more than necessary.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has the following features in accordance with the production speed of beverages.
It is characterized in that the injection speed of the impact imparting material can be adjusted.

[0007] The object of the present invention is as described in claim 1.
After filling the effervescent beverage into the container while continuously transporting the container, before closing the mouth of the container, the liquid surface of the effervescent beverage in the container is impacted to foam the beverage. A method for replacing air remaining in a vacant portion of the container with a foaming gas to replace air in the container, the method comprising: This is achieved by a method of displacing air in a container, characterized in that the force is changed.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the impact force applied to the liquid surface is adjusted according to the transport speed of the container at the time of filling, the liquid surface of the sparkling beverage can be stimulated with an appropriate impact force. As a result, air in the hollow portion formed on the top of the sparkling beverage can be reliably replaced with carbon dioxide gas.

[0009] Further, the object of the present invention is as described in claim 2, after the container is filled with the effervescent beverage while the container is continuously conveyed and before the mouth of the container is closed. A shock absorber on the liquid surface of the sparkling beverage in the foamed beverage, the replacement device to replace the air remaining in the empty portion of the container with the foaming gas, the filling device of the container at the time of filling The invention can also be achieved as an air displacement device in a container, characterized by comprising an impact applying means capable of changing an impact force applied to the liquid surface according to a transport speed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the air displacement device is provided with the impact applying means that can vary the impact force applied to the liquid surface according to the speed of transport of the container at the time of filling.
The impact force can be controlled according to the transport speed of the container. Therefore, the liquid level of the sparkling beverage can be stimulated with an appropriate impact force, and the air in the hollow portion formed on the top of the sparkling beverage can be reliably replaced with carbon dioxide gas.

In order to control the jetting speed of the liquid droplets by directly inputting and inputting the transport speed of the container, the air replacement device may be a container for filling the container with a sparkling beverage. Instruction means for instructing the conveying speed of the liquid, a jetting means for jetting an impact imparting object toward the liquid level of the sparkling beverage in the container, and ejecting the impact imparting substance at a speed determined by the jetting means. Pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure applied to the shock imparting object, determining means for determining the pressure applied to the impact imparting object or the applied speed, and the shock imparting object based on an instruction from the instruction means. A pressure value to be applied is calculated, the pressure adjusting means is controlled, and control means for automatically controlling the pressure adjusting means based on information from the determining means is provided as an air replacement device in the container. It is also possible.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the pressure adjusting means based on the instruction from the instruction means and the information from the determination means to control the injection speed of the impact imparting material to the transport speed of the container. Can be controlled in accordance with Therefore, the liquid level of the sparkling beverage can be stimulated with an appropriate impact force, and the air in the hollow portion formed on the top of the sparkling beverage can be reliably replaced with carbon dioxide gas.

Further, from the viewpoint of controlling the jetting speed of the liquid droplets in conjunction with the production speed on the beverage filling side, the air displacement device is provided with a conveying speed of the container filled with the sparkling beverage. Transport speed detecting means for detecting the impact, jetting means for jetting an impact imparting object toward the liquid level of the sparkling beverage in the container, and ejecting the impact imparting substance at a speed determined by the jetting means Pressure adjusting means for increasing or decreasing the pressure applied to the impact applying object, determining means for determining the pressure applied or the applied speed to the impact applying object, and the impact based on information from the container transport speed detecting means. Calculating a pressure value to be applied to the applied material, controlling the pressure adjusting means, and automatically controlling the pressure adjusting means based on information from the determining means. It may be configured as a replacement device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the pressure adjusting means based on the speed information from the container conveying speed detecting means and the information from the judging means to control the injection speed of the impact imparting object. It can be controlled according to the transport speed of the container.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the air replacement device in the container according to the third or fourth aspect, water or hot water can be used as the impact imparting material. Water or hot water is easy to prepare and handle and is a preferred impact imparting material.

[0016]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air displacement device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The air displacement device 1 of the present embodiment is applied to a filling device that fills a container with a sparkling beverage such as beer and low-malt beer, so that the air is generated from the air in the hollow portion formed in the upper part of the container and the sparkling beverage itself. It is possible to reliably replace the carbon dioxide gas. In this embodiment, beer is described as an example of a sparkling beverage.

In the air displacement device 1, aseptic water is used as an impact-imparting material which does not affect the flavor of the beer and gives an appropriate impact force to the liquid level of the beer after filling. When this sterile water is moderately pressurized and jetted at high speed from the nozzle as the jetting means, the beer liquid level in the container being conveyed can be given an impact force with the sterile water droplets, and the beer itself is emptied from foaming. Dimensional air can be replaced with carbon dioxide.

The air displacement device 1 has a pipe 11 connecting a spray nozzle 20 to a tank 10 storing sterile water. The injection nozzle 20 is arranged at a position facing the production line of the beer filling device, particularly at a position where the mouth of the container 30 immediately before filling a predetermined amount of beer B and sealing with a stopper is passed.

A ball valve 12 is provided in the pipe 11 on the tank 10 side. Thereafter, an injection pump 13 for pumping sterile water in order toward the injection nozzle 20 and a pipe 1
Pressure sensor 14 for detecting the pressure inside 1, accumulator 16 for suppressing hunting and functioning as a reservoir, three blow pipes as a blow system for reducing the pressure in pipe 11 and first blow pipe 21A , Second
A blow pipe 21B and a third blow pipe 21C are provided.

The blow pipes 21A, 21B, 21C are provided with fixed throttle valves 22A, 22B, 22C, respectively, and the amount of sterile water discharged is adjusted in advance. Further, the first blow pipe 21A and the second blow pipe 21B include:
A first solenoid valve 23A and a second solenoid valve 23B are provided, respectively. Pressure adjusting means for quickly reducing the pressure of the sterile water in the pipe 11 to an appropriate value by the opening degrees of the throttle valves 22A to 22C and the opening / closing and opening degrees of the first solenoid valve 23A and the second solenoid valve 23B. Is configured. The control of the pressure drop of the sterile water by the blow system will be described later in detail.

The air displacement device 1 further controls the speed of the sterile water jetted from the jet nozzle 20, that is, the impact force for stimulating the level of the filled beer, within an appropriate range according to the speed at which the container 30 is conveyed. Control unit 50 for
have. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of the control unit 50. The control unit 50 includes a main controller 51 and an inverter 55 driven under the control of the main controller 51. As will be apparent from the description below, the control unit 50 performs calculations, determinations, instructions, and the like necessary as control means for controlling the impact force for stimulating the beer liquid level by the air displacement device 1 to an appropriate range. Control. The control unit 50
May function as one of the components necessary for the control.

The main controller 51 receives a pressure detection signal from the pressure sensor 14 for detecting the pressure of the sterile water in the pipe 11 and a transport speed detection signal 61 for detecting the speed of the container 30 transported by the beer filling device. It is supposed to be. This transport speed detection signal 61
For example, a container transfer speed switching signal set and input to the beer filling device side can be used. For example, when the high-speed switch 60A, the medium-speed switch 60B, and the low-speed switch 60C are provided on the beer filling device side as the switching input switch 60 that can switch the speed of the production line between high speed, medium speed, and low speed, the beer filling device When any one of the switches 60A, 60B, and 60C is input on the side, the high-speed command Sig61A, the medium-speed command Sig61B, and the low-speed command Sig61c are set as the transport speed detection signal 61 to the air replacement device 1 side. Is done. That is, the air displacement device 1 is provided with a container transport speed detecting means for automatically detecting the transport speed of the container filled with beer.

The main controller 51 includes an inverter 55
, The pumping ability of the sterile water by the injection pump 13 is precisely controlled, and the first solenoid valves 23A and 23B are opened and closed appropriately to perform pressure reduction control. Air replacement device 1 of the present embodiment
Then, the conveyance speed detection signal 61 is transmitted to the main controller 5.
1 and the inverter 55. The main controller 51 has a high-speed command Sig61A and a medium-speed command Sig61.
B: When any of the low speed commands Sig61C is detected, predetermined processing is performed with reference to the detection value of the pressure sensor 14 so that sterile water corresponding to the transport speed of the container 30 is injected from the injection nozzle 20 and based on the result. Generated control signal Si
g61A-A, Sig61BB, and Sig61C-C are supplied to the inverter 55 side.

On the other hand, the inverter 55 is set so that the rotation speed of the injection pump 13 can be controlled according to each of the high speed, the medium speed, and the low speed, and any one of the high speed command Sig61A, the medium speed command Sig61B, and the low speed command Sig61C. The control corresponding to each command is started by detecting this. At this time, the inverter 55 is provided with variable resistors 55A, 55B, 5
5C, and control signals Sig61A-A, Sig61BB, and Sig61 from the main controller 51.
Based on C-C, the rotation speed of the injection pump 13 is precisely controlled so that the injection speed of the sterile water is in an appropriate range. The operation setting of the inverter 55 is set in advance so as to be able to optimally cope with a change in the container transport speed of the applied beer filling apparatus.

As described above, the air displacement device 1 of this embodiment changes the pressure of the sterile water so as to follow the speed of the container 30 conveyed by the beer filling device under the control of the inverter 55 when the speed is changed. be able to. However, if the medium speed command Sig61B or the low speed command Sig61C is input after controlling the sterile water at the highest pressure for high speed, it may be difficult to reduce the pressure of the sterile water in a short time.

Therefore, the air displacement device 1 of the present embodiment uses the first solenoid valve 23A and the second solenoid valve 23B
It has. For example, based on the high-speed command Sig61A, the main controller 51 closes the first solenoid valve 23A and the second solenoid valve 23B, and injects aseptic water from the injection nozzle 20 with the pressure of aseptic water in the pipe 11 as the highest pressure. If the medium speed command Sig61B or the low speed command Sig61C is input next, the first solenoid valve 23A and the second solenoid valve 23B are appropriately adjusted to the open side to set the pressure of the sterile water in the pipe 11 to the target. The pressure can be quickly reduced to the pressure.

As an example of the pressure reduction control, the main controller 51 supplies the control signal Sig61B-B to the inverter 55 upon detecting the medium speed command Sig61B after the pressure increase of the sterile water based on the high speed command Sig61A and the first signal. The solenoid valve 23A outputs a signal for closing and opening the second solenoid valve 23B. Since the second solenoid valve of the blow system is opened by this control, the pressure of the sterile water in the pipe 11 is immediately reduced from the high-speed command Sig61A. Thereafter, when the low speed command Sig61C is further detected, the control signal Sig61C-C is supplied to the inverter 55, and a signal for opening the first solenoid valve 23A and the second solenoid valve 23B is output. By this control, the first solenoid valve 23 of the blow system
Since the A and the second solenoid valve 23B are opened, the pressure of the sterile water in the pipe 11 is rapidly reduced from the time of the medium speed command Sig61B.

When the low-speed command Sig61C is detected after the pressure of the aseptic water is increased based on the high-speed command Sig61A, the control signal Sig61C-C is similarly supplied to the inverter 55, and the first solenoid valve 23A and the second solenoid valve 23B are controlled. A signal to open both is output. With this control, the two solenoid valves of the blow system are simultaneously opened, so that the pressure of the sterile water in the pipe 11 can be rapidly reduced. As described above, the apparatus 1 of the present embodiment can rapidly reduce the pressure in the pipe 11 in multiple stages. Therefore, it is possible to inject aseptic water into the container from the injection nozzle 20 at an appropriate injection speed that always follows the transport speed of the container 30, including when the pressure is reduced as well as when the pressure is reduced.

The main controller 51 of this embodiment is supplied with signals from the on / off switch of the injection pump 13 and the on / off switches of the first and second blow solenoid valves 23A and 23B. It also functions as a general control unit of the air displacement device 1.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart 100 executed by the main controller 51 of the air displacement device 1 shown in FIGS. The routine shown in FIG. 3 is executed when the beer filling device (filler) starts driving the production line. First, in step 110, it is determined whether or not there has been a high-speed command Sig61A from the filler.
If yes, the process proceeds to step 120, where the main controller 51 sends the control signal Sig61A-A to the inverter 55.
To drive the injection (jetter) pump 13 so that the injection speed of the sterile water from the injection nozzle 20 becomes the highest. At this time, as described above, the main controller 51 also controls the opening and closing of the first solenoid valve 23A and the first solenoid valve 23B, and closes both solenoid valves 23A and 23B when the high-speed command Sig61A is issued.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 110 is NO, the process proceeds to step 130, where it is determined whether or not the medium speed command Sig61B has been issued from the filler. If yes, the process proceeds to step 140 where the main controller 51
Supplies the control signal Sig61B-B to the inverter 55 to drive the injection (jetter) pump 13 so that the injection speed of the sterile water from the injection nozzle 20 becomes a medium speed.
Note that this time is the time of switching from the high-speed state, and when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 14 is higher than the pressure to be set as the medium-speed state, the main controller 51, for example, uses the first solenoid valve 23A and First solenoid valve 23B
One of the two is opened to rapidly reduce the pressure toward the target pressure.

Further, when the determination at step 130 is NO, the routine proceeds to step 150, where it is determined whether or not the low speed command Sig61C has been issued from the filler. If yes, the process proceeds to step 160 where the main controller 5
1 supplies a control signal Sig61C-C to the inverter 55 to drive the injection (jetter) pump 13 so that the injection speed of the sterile water from the injection nozzle 20 becomes a low speed. Note that this time is the time of switching from the high speed state or the medium speed state, and when the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 14 is higher than the pressure to be set as the low speed state,
The main controller 51 appropriately opens and closes the first solenoid valve 23A and the first solenoid valve 23B to quickly reduce the pressure to the target pressure.

If the determination in step 150 is NO, the process proceeds to step 170, and the above routine is repeated.

In the above embodiment, when a high-speed, medium-speed, or low-speed instruction is input to the beer filling device, a transport speed signal 61 is supplied to the air displacement device 1 and production speed information is automatically input. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is directly transmitted to the main controller 51 of the air displacement device 1 side.
It is also possible to provide an instruction input means (switch) for instructing that the container transport speed is one of a high speed, a medium speed, and a low speed.

Further, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the conveying speed of the production line is changed in three stages, and the injection speed of the aseptic water from the injection nozzle, that is, the impact force applied to the beer liquid level is changed accordingly. However, it goes without saying that multi-stage control can be similarly performed.

The supply pressure of the aseptic water can be appropriately set within the range of, for example, 7 to 25 kgf / cm 2 according to the conveying speed, high speed, medium speed and low speed of the beer filling apparatus. Regarding the preferred injection speed at each transport speed, the operator may visually set the degree of foaming by actually injecting aseptic water toward the beer in the container, or may set it automatically. It can also be set. In the case of automatic setting, data of foaming characteristics according to the liquid temperature of the various beers to be produced are measured in advance, and a reference injection speed is set as a preferable injection speed of sterile water from the data in advance, and the reference injection speed and Thus, the control of the main controller 51 is executed. In addition, a sensor for detecting the amount of beer in the sealed container may be provided, and if the amount of beer is smaller than the specified value, control may be performed to decrease the pressure so as to reduce the injection speed.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and within the scope of the present invention described in the claims, Various modifications and changes are possible.

[0039]

As is apparent from the above detailed description, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the impact force applied to the liquid surface is adjusted according to the speed at which the container is transported at the time of filling. The liquid level of the sparkling beverage can be stimulated by the impact force, and the air in the hollow portion formed at the top of the sparkling beverage can be reliably replaced with carbon dioxide gas.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the air displacement device is provided with the impact applying means that can vary the impact force applied to the liquid surface in accordance with the speed of transport of the container at the time of filling. The impact force can be controlled according to the transport speed of the container. Therefore, the liquid level of the sparkling beverage can be stimulated with an appropriate impact force, and the air in the hollow portion formed on the top of the sparkling beverage can be reliably replaced with carbon dioxide gas.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the pressure adjusting means based on the instruction from the instruction means and the information from the determination means to control the injection speed of the impact imparting material to the container. It can be controlled according to the transport speed. Therefore, the liquid level of the sparkling beverage can be stimulated with an appropriate impact force, and the air in the hollow portion formed on the top of the sparkling beverage can be reliably replaced with carbon dioxide gas.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the control means controls the pressure adjusting means based on the speed information from the container conveying speed detecting means and the information from the judging means, thereby injecting the impact imparting material. The speed can be controlled according to the transport speed of the container.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to easily prepare and handle an impact imparting material.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of an air displacement device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a control unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart executed by a main controller of the air displacement device of the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air displacement apparatus 11 Piping 13 Injection pump 14 Pressure detection sensor 15 Pressure gauge 16 Accumulator 17 Filter 20 Injection nozzle 21A, 21B, 21C Blow pipe 22A, 22B, 22C Fixed throttle valve 23A First solenoid valve 23B Second solenoid valve 30 Container 50 control unit 51 main controller 55 inverter 61 transport speed detection signal

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Mitsujiro Saito 310-1 Yawata, Tegurata, Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture Sapporo Beer Co., Ltd. Sendai Factory F-term (reference) 3E079 AA02 DD46 DD47

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. After the container is filled with the effervescent beverage while continuously transporting the container, a shock is applied to the liquid surface of the effervescent beverage in the container before the mouth of the container is closed. Foaming the beverage, and replacing the air in the container so as to replace the air remaining in the empty portion of the container with the foaming gas, the method according to the transport speed of the container at the time of filling the said A method for replacing air in a container, wherein an impact force applied to a liquid surface is changed. 2. After the container is filled with the effervescent beverage while continuously transporting the container, a shock is applied to the liquid level of the effervescent beverage in the container until the mouth of the container is closed. A foaming gas to replace the air remaining in the empty portion of the container with a foaming gas, wherein the impact force applied to the liquid surface according to the speed of transport of the container at the time of filling. An air displacement device in a container, characterized by comprising an impact applying means capable of changing the pressure. 3. An instructing means for instructing the transport speed of the container when filling the container with the sparkling beverage, and an injecting means for injecting an impact imparting object toward the liquid level of the sparkling beverage in the container. Pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure applied to the impact-imparting object in order to inject the impact-imparting substance at a speed determined by the injection means, and judging the pressure applied to the impact-imparting substance or the given speed. Control means for calculating a pressure value to be applied to the impact applying object based on an instruction from the instruction means, controlling the pressure adjustment means, and automatically controlling the pressure adjustment means based on information from the determination means. An air displacement device in a container comprising: 4. A container transport speed detecting means for detecting a transport speed of a container filled with the sparkling beverage, and an injection device for injecting an impact-imparting object toward a liquid surface of the sparkling beverage in the container. Pressure adjusting means for adjusting the pressure applied to the impact-imparting object in order to inject the impact-imparting substance at a speed determined by the injection means, and judging the pressure applied to the impact-imparting substance or the given speed. Means for calculating a pressure value to be applied to the impact imparting object based on information from the container transport speed detecting means, controlling the pressure adjusting means and automatically controlling the pressure adjusting means based on information from the determining means. Air displacement device in a container, comprising: 5. The air displacement device in a container according to claim 3, wherein water or hot water is used as the impact imparting material.