JP2004017971A - Method for detecting abnormality of charging valve and abnormality detector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely detect the abnormality of any one of charging valves 16 upon disinfecting a charging machine. <P>SOLUTION: Respective branch pipes 10 branched via an upper manifold 8 have charging mechanisms 12, each of which has the charging valve 16 for opening and closing a channel leading to a charging nozzle 18. A cleaning cup 44 is placed under each charging nozzle 18 to be fitted on it for disinfection or removed from it, and is connected to a lower manifold 46. A temperature detecting means 34 is arranged in a position that is near and slightly upstream to the charging valve 16, where the detecting means is not exposed inside the channel. The detecting means 34 is dewed with water, which prevents its temperature increase, when any of the charging valves 16 fails and does not open upon executing a vapor disinfection, thus makes it possible to detect the abnormality of any of the charging valves 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a filling valve, and more particularly, to flowing steam into a liquid passage in a filling machine at the time of sterilization and detecting the temperature by temperature detecting means to determine whether sterilization is normally performed. The present invention relates to an abnormality detection method and an abnormality detection device for a filling valve capable of judging whether an abnormality has occurred.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A filling machine that includes a plurality of filling nozzles, opens a liquid passage to each filling nozzle by a filling valve, and supplies a liquid from the filling liquid tank to the filling nozzle to fill the inside of the container has conventionally been widely used. . In such a filling machine, it is necessary to wash and sterilize portions that come into contact with the filling liquid, such as filling valves and pipes, before starting the production operation. Usually, steam is used as a medium for performing sterilization in the filling machine. In order to detect whether the steam has reached a temperature required for sterilization, a temperature sensor is provided in a liquid passage through which the steam passes.
[0003]
As described above, a device and a method of sterilizing by flowing a sterilizing fluid such as steam into a liquid passage in a filling machine, in which a temperature sensor is provided in the liquid passage to detect the temperature, are already known. (Patent Nos. 2,762,329 and 3,244,637).
[0004]
The sterilization apparatus described in the first patent publication (Japanese Patent No. 2762329) has a sterilization cap attached to each filling nozzle, and a branch drain tube is connected to each sterilization cap. The branch drain pipes are assembled at a downstream end and connected to a common drain pipe, and a pressure control valve is interposed in the common drain pipe. Further, the sterilizer has a first temperature sensor disposed on the common drain pipe on the upstream side of the pressure control valve, and a second temperature sensor provided on each branch drain pipe.
[0005]
In this sterilizer, a sterilizing cap is attached to a filling nozzle, and steam is supplied from the upstream side. The second temperature sensors provided in each branch drain tube detect that all have risen to a predetermined temperature, and confirm that there is no liquid in the branch drain tube. Next, sterilization control is started after the first temperature sensor of the common drain tube detects a temperature equal to or higher than the sterilization temperature.
[0006]
In the sterilization method and apparatus described in the second patent publication (Japanese Patent No. 3244637), a cylindrical joint can be connected to the tip of each filling nozzle, and each joint has a temperature of the filling nozzle. Is attached, and this thermocouple is connected via a temperature detector to a recorder that records the temperature. According to the present invention, first, a processing liquid (hot water) is flown from a liquid storage tank to wash and dry the inner surface, and then pure steam is flown to sterilize the inner surface. Then, the temperature of hot water and steam flowing out of the filling nozzle is detected by the thermocouple.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
When steam sterilizing the inside of the liquid passage of the filling machine as described above, the filling valve must be opened and the seal portion of the filling valve must be sterilized. However, in the sterilizer of a filling machine having a plurality of filling valves as described above, the steam discharged from the sterilizing cap or the fitting is gathered in one place by a manifold and sent to the downstream side. . If the filling valve communicates on the downstream side in this way, even if one of the filling valves fails and does not open due to an abnormality, steam flows in from the downstream side and is located downstream from the filling valve. The installed temperature sensor may detect a normal temperature. In this case, there is a problem that it is determined that normal sterilization has been performed up to the filling valve that has not been opened.
[0008]
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-described problems, and even when the filling valve has an abnormality and does not open, the temperature of the filling valve can be reliably detected, and whether or not normal sterilization has been performed is determined. It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling valve abnormality detection method and an abnormality detection device capable of making a determination.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the method for detecting an abnormality of a filling valve according to the first aspect of the present invention, after each of the plurality of filling nozzles is provided with an engaging member, the filling valve is opened and steam is supplied to a liquid passage to each filling valve. Thereby, in the filling machine for sterilizing the liquid passage, a temperature detecting means is provided at a location where the dew condensation water of the steam supplied to the liquid passage stays when the filling valve is closed, and at the time of sterilization, When the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means does not reach the sterilization temperature, it is determined that the filling valve is not opened.
[0010]
In the method for detecting an abnormality of a filling valve according to the present invention, all the filling valves are opened to supply steam to the liquid passage, and the temperature of the steam is detected by the temperature detecting means, whereby sterilization is normally performed. However, if any of the filling valves did not open, condensation water accumulated on the upstream side of the filling valve and the temperature detected by the temperature detection means did not reach the sterilization temperature. An abnormality of the valve can be sensed.
[0011]
The filling valve abnormality detecting device according to the second aspect of the present invention is mounted on each of the plurality of filling nozzles, the plurality of filling valves for opening and closing the liquid passage to each filling nozzle, and each of the filling nozzles. An engaging member is provided, and after the engaging member is attached to the filling nozzle, the filling valve is opened to supply steam to the liquid passage, thereby sterilizing the liquid passage. A temperature detecting means is provided at a position where the dew condensation water of the steam supplied into the liquid passage stays in the closed state, and a filling valve is provided when the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means does not reach the sterilization temperature during sterilization. Is determined not to be open.
[0012]
With the filling valve abnormality detection device according to the present invention, when sterilization is performed, all the filling valves are opened to supply steam to each liquid passage, and the temperature of the steam is detected by the temperature detecting means. Check that sterilization is performed. However, if one of the filling valves is not open due to an abnormality, steam is initially supplied and the temperature rises to a certain extent, but since the steam does not flow, it condenses and forms water droplets, and the filling valve as condensation water Therefore, the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means does not rise to a temperature necessary for sterilization, and it is possible to detect an abnormality of the filling valve.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a filling machine provided with a filling nozzle abnormality detecting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of the filling machine, and FIG. It is a longitudinal section showing an example of the filling mechanism provided in the filling machine. In this filling machine, a rotary pipe 6 is connected to a fixed-side supply pipe 2 via a rotary joint 4, and an upper manifold 8 is connected to a downstream side of the rotary pipe 6. A plurality of branch pipes 10 are connected to the upper manifold 8, and each of the branch pipes 10 is provided with a filling mechanism 12.
[0014]
In the filling mechanism 12, a filling valve 16 is housed in a valve housing 14, and a filling nozzle 18 extends downward on the downstream side. A cylinder 20 for opening and closing the filling valve is provided at an upper portion of the housing 14. The filling valve opening / closing cylinder 20 includes a piston 24 that partitions the internal space 22 of the housing 14 into upper and lower pressure chambers 22A and 22B. Air is supplied and discharged from air supply ports 26A and 26B to the upper and lower pressure chambers 22A and 22B of the piston 24, and the piston 24 is moved up and down.
[0015]
A valve body 30 of the filling valve 16 is attached to a lower end of a piston rod 28 connected to the piston 24. When air is introduced into the pressure chamber 22B below the cylinder 20 and the upper pressure chamber 22A is opened to the atmosphere and the piston 24 rises, the valve body 30 rises via the piston rod 28 and the housing 14 The filling valve 16 is opened away from the seat portion 32 formed on the inner surface of. When air is introduced into the pressure chamber 22A above the cylinder 20 and the lower pressure chamber 22B is opened to the atmosphere and the piston 24 descends, the valve body 30 descends via the piston rod 28 and the seat part At 32, the fill valve 16 closes.
[0016]
A branch pipe 10 from the upper manifold 8 is connected above the filling valve 16, and when the filling valve 16 is opened, the filling liquid supplied through the rotary joint 4 and the rotary pipe 6 is supplied to the branch pipe 10. After passing through the inside of the filling valve 16 from the pipe 10, the container (not shown) is filled from the filling nozzle 18. When the inside of the filling machine is washed and sterilized, the inside of the liquid passage formed by the supply pipe 2, the rotary joint 4, the rotary pipe 6, the upper manifold 8, the branch pipe 10, the filling valve 16, the filling nozzle 18, and the like is used. The cleaning liquid or sterilizing steam flows and is discharged from the filling nozzle 18.
[0017]
A thermocouple 34 as a temperature detecting means is provided slightly above the seat position of the valve body 30 and the seat portion 32 of the housing 14 of the filling mechanism 12. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the thermocouple 34 has a rectangular plate shape, and a thermocouple cord 36 is inserted into a hole formed on a side surface and fixed by welding. The thermocouple 34 is fixed to a fixing plate 38 via an elastic body 40 such as silicon, and the fixing plate 38 is attached to a side surface of the housing 14 by bolts 42.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 6, the housing 14 of the filling mechanism 12 has one side surface cut off and thinned, and the thermocouple 34 is fixed to the thinned wall surface. By attaching the thermocouple 34 to the outside of the liquid passage in this way, it is possible to detect the temperature of the internal liquid passage and to eliminate the possibility that external contaminants enter the liquid passage. .
[0019]
The filling machine having the above configuration is provided with a washing / sterilizer (hereinafter, referred to as a sterilizer) for washing and sterilizing the internal liquid passage. A cleaning cup (engaging member) 44 is disposed corresponding to each filling mechanism 12, and a position (a position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) at which each cleaning cup 44 is mounted on the filling nozzle 18 of the filling mechanism 12. , Can be moved to a retracted position removed from the filling nozzle 18. When filling the inside of the container with this filling machine, the cleaning cup 44 is retracted to a position where it does not interfere with the container. When cleaning and sterilizing the filling machine, each cleaning cup 44 is attached to the filling nozzle 18, and the cleaning liquid or the sterilizing vapor that has passed through the liquid passage is discharged into the cleaning cup 44.
[0020]
The plurality of cleaning cups 44 are connected to a lower manifold 46, and the cleaning liquid or sterilizing vapor discharged from the filling nozzle 18 to the cleaning cup 44 is collected in the lower manifold 46 and then discharged from a discharge passage 48. You. The filling machine having the above configuration, the washing cup 44, the lower manifold 46, and the like constitute a filling machine sterilizing apparatus.
[0021]
The operation of the sterilizer of the filling machine according to the above configuration will be described. The filling machine according to this embodiment is a rotary-type filling machine. When a filling operation is performed, the filling machine is rotated, and when a container is supplied below each filling nozzle 18, the filling valve 16 is opened. Then, the container is filled with the content liquid from the fixed supply pipe 2, the rotary joint 4, the rotary pipe 6, the upper manifold 8, the branch pipe 10, and the filling nozzle 16 of the filling mechanism 12. At the time of this filling, it goes without saying that the cleaning cup 44 is retracted.
[0022]
When performing the steam sterilization of the filling machine, the washing machine is attached to each filling nozzle 18 without rotating the filling machine, all the filling valves 16 are opened, and then the steam is supplied from the supply pipe 2 on the fixed side. Supply. The steam is sent from the rotary joint 4, the rotating pipe 6, the upper manifold 8 and the branch pipe 10 to the filling mechanism 12, passes through the filling valve 16, and is discharged from each filling nozzle 18 into the cleaning cup 44. The steam discharged to the cleaning cup 44 is discharged from the discharge passage 48 through the lower manifold 46.
[0023]
When the filling valve 16 operates normally and is opened, the detection value of each thermocouple 34 reaches a normal sterilization temperature (for example, 130 ° C.). Since the condensed water of the steam accumulates at the position where the thermocouple 34 slightly upstream of the filling valve 16 is attached, the temperature detected by the thermocouple 34 does not rise to the sterilization temperature. Therefore, it can be determined that the sterilization is defective. When it is determined that the sterilization is defective, an alarm is sounded and the number of the filling valve 16 having the abnormality is displayed on the operation panel to notify the operator.
[0024]
As described above, in this embodiment, when there is an abnormality in the filling valve 16, it can be reliably determined by detecting a decrease in temperature, and the thermocouple 34 is attached to the outer surface of the housing 14. Because of the attachment, external contaminants can be reliably prevented from entering the liquid passage of the filling machine. In the above-described embodiment, a case has been described in which the configuration of the present invention is applied to a rotary-type filling machine. However, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the rotary-type filling machine and can be applied to a line-type filling machine.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, after each of the plurality of filling nozzles is provided with the engaging member, the filling valve is opened to supply steam to the liquid passage to each filling valve. Thus, in the filling machine for sterilizing the liquid passage, a temperature detecting means is provided at a location where condensation water of steam supplied into the liquid passage stays when the filling valve is closed, When the temperature detected by the detecting means does not reach the sterilization temperature, it is determined that the filling valve is not opened. The decrease in temperature can be reliably detected by the dew condensation water accumulated on the upstream side of the valve, and the filling valve can be determined to be abnormal.
[0026]
Further, according to the invention described in claim 2, the plurality of filling nozzles, a plurality of filling valves for opening and closing a liquid passage to each filling nozzle, and an engaging member attached to each filling nozzle, respectively, In the filling machine for sterilizing the liquid passage by opening the filling valve and supplying steam to the liquid passage after the engagement member is attached to the nozzle, the liquid passage is closed when the filling valve is closed. Provide a temperature detecting means at the place where the condensation water of the steam supplied to the inside stays, and judge that the filling valve is not opened if the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means does not reach the sterilization temperature during sterilization. Accordingly, it is possible to reliably detect an abnormality in the filling valve by lowering the temperature, and to determine whether or not sterilization has been normally performed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a simplified overall configuration of a sterilizer of a filling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view showing a main part of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filling mechanism having a filling valve and a filling nozzle.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing a mounting structure of a thermocouple.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a thermocouple.
FIG. 6 is a plan view of the filling mechanism.
[Explanation of symbols]
14 Housing 16 Filling valve 18 Filling nozzle 34 Temperature detecting means (thermocouple)
44 Engaging member (washing cup)

Claims (2)

After mounting the engagement member to each of the plurality of filling nozzles, by opening the filling valve, by supplying steam to the liquid passage to each filling valve, in a filling machine that sterilizes the liquid passage,
In the case where the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means does not reach the sterilization temperature during sterilization, a temperature detecting means is provided at a location where the condensation water of the steam supplied into the liquid passage stays when the filling valve is closed. A method of detecting an abnormality of a filling valve during sterilization, wherein it is determined that the filling valve is not opened. A plurality of filling nozzles, a plurality of filling valves for opening and closing a liquid passage to each filling nozzle, and an engaging member attached to each filling nozzle, respectively, after attaching the engaging member to the filling nozzle, In a filling machine that sterilizes the liquid passage by opening the filling valve and supplying steam to the liquid passage,
In the case where the temperature detected by the temperature detecting means does not reach the sterilization temperature during sterilization, a temperature detecting means is provided at a location where the condensation water of the steam supplied into the liquid passage stays when the filling valve is closed. An apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a filling valve at the time of sterilization, which determines that the filling valve is not opened.

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