JP2007192310A - Fluid filling device and fluid filling method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To increase the efficiencies of a filling operation, maintaining operation, and managing operation by easily and surely reading the information for specifying a vessel for a fluid while easily imparting the information to the vessel. <P>SOLUTION: This fluid filling device 10 comprises a filling machine 12 for filling the vessel 2 with a valve 1 with a gas or other fluid, a conveying machine 14 for conveying the vessel 2 to a pressure pump, an electronic tag 16 fitted to the vessel 2, and a reader 18 for reading the information recorded in the electronic tag 16. The electronic tag 16 stores the electronic information including at least the capacity information on the vessel 2 to which the electronic tag 16 is fitted. The filling machine 12 is electrically connected to the reader 18, and fills the vessel 2, to which the electronic tag 16 is fitted, with a predetermined amount of fluid corresponding to the capacity information according to the capacity information read by the reader 18. The electronic tag 16 is fitted to the valve 1 installed above the vessel 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an improvement in a fluid filling apparatus and a filling method for filling a liquid fuel such as LPG and LNG, gaseous fuel, and other fluids into a container such as a cylinder having a valve, and more particularly, efficiency of filling work, maintenance work, and management work. It is about improving.

  For containers such as cylinders filled with liquid fuel such as LP gas, the capacity of the container, the type of fluid to be filled, model, date of manufacture, etc. for the convenience of filling work and the expiration date management, etc. In many cases, information such as a serial number is given. In this case, most commonly, this information is given to each container by imprinting it on a container such as a cylinder, and this marking is visually confirmed by an operator, and fluid filling based on the information is performed. We were processing.

  However, adding information by engraving takes time and there is a risk of human error in reading the engraved information by visual confirmation by the operator. Maintenance such as filling is performed based on the corresponding information by optically reading the code label (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 6).

  Since this barcode label only needs to be attached, information can be easily given to a relatively large container. On the other hand, since the barcode reader is optically read by facing the barcode, the work It is necessary for the person to confirm where the barcode label is attached on the container. For this reason, this confirmation operation takes time, and the accumulation of the cumulative processing time associated with the large-scale processing leads to an increase in the working time, leading to a reduction in processing efficiency.

  Also, when the barcode is read by a barcode reader installed as a part of the device, rather than by the operator confirming the barcode label position, the position of the barcode label attached by rotating the container etc. It is necessary to install a plurality of barcode readers according to the position where the barcode label can exist or to make it a movable barcode reader. Become. For this reason, there existed a problem which the whole filling processing system became complicated and enlarged.

Further, since information cannot be written on the barcode label itself, information recorded as corresponding information can be rewritten on the information processing apparatus side that records and manages information read by the barcode reader. It can only be done. In other words, since the conventional technology cannot give unique information to each container itself, this information is used in each place such as a filling work place, a delivery work place, and an installation place where the container changes. In order to do this, it is necessary to separately connect the infrastructure for sharing information in each of the above-described locations, that is, to connect each location separately from the distribution of the containers. For this reason, costs and labor for infrastructure development are required, and information such as delivery destinations and contractors is given as unique information for each container solid at work sites such as container filling and container delivery. There are also disadvantages that cannot be easily made or changed.
JP 2003-148691 A JP 2002-372196 A JP-A-8-75096 JP-A-5-288300 JP-A-5-172300 JP-A-5-165409

  In view of the above problems, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to easily and surely read the information while filling the container such as a fluid with information for easily identifying the container, An object of the present invention is to provide a container filling apparatus and a container filling method capable of improving the efficiency of maintenance work and management work.

  As a first means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention includes a filling machine that fills a container having a valve with a liquid such as gas, gas, or other fluid, and a transporter that transports the container to the filling machine. In the fluid filling device, the filling device further includes an electronic tag attached to the container and a reader for reading information recorded on the electronic tag, and the electronic tag is a container to which the electronic tag is attached. The electronic information including at least the volume information is stored, and the reader is provided upstream of the filling machine in the container transporting process.

  According to the present invention, as a second means for solving the above-described problem, in the first solution means, the filling machine is electrically connected to the reader, and the electronic device is in accordance with the capacity information read by the reader. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid filling device, wherein a container with a tag is filled with a predetermined amount of fluid corresponding to volume information.

  According to the present invention, as a third means for solving the above-described problems, the electronic tag is installed above the container and the reader is installed above the container in either the first or second solving means. A fluid filling device is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a fourth means for solving the above-described problem, in the third solution means, the electronic tag is attached to a valve installed above the container. A filling device is provided.

  The present invention provides, as a fifth means for solving the above-mentioned problems, in any one of the first to fourth solving means, the electronic tag further includes a container type, a manufacturing date, a serial number, One or more information of the type of fluid to be filled, the appropriate value of the filling pressure, the shipping destination, and the person in charge of work is also stored as electronic information that can be read by a reader. Is to provide.

  As a sixth means for solving the above problems, the present invention is characterized in that in any one of the first to fifth solving means, a writer for rewriting information stored in an electronic tag is further provided. A fluid filling device is provided.

  The present invention also provides the following fluid filling method using the fluid filling device as the first to sixth solving means. That is, according to the present invention, as a seventh means for solving the above-described problem, a container having a valve is transported to a filling machine by a transporting machine, and a liquid such as a gas, gas or other fluid is transferred to the container by the filling machine. In the method of filling a fluid to be filled, electronic information including at least capacity information of a container to which the electronic tag is to be attached is stored in the electronic tag, the electronic tag is attached to the container, and the information recorded on the electronic tag is stored in the container. The present invention provides a fluid filling method characterized in that the fluid is read by a reader installed upstream of the filling machine in the transport process.

  According to the present invention, as an eighth means for solving the above-described problem, in the seventh solution means, the filling machine is electrically connected to the reader, and according to the capacity information read by the reader by the filling machine. The present invention provides a fluid filling method characterized by filling a predetermined amount of fluid corresponding to volume information into a container to which the electronic tag is attached.

  According to the present invention, as a ninth means for solving the above-described problems, in any of the seventh or eighth solving means, the electronic tag is installed above the container, and the reader is installed above the container. A fluid filling method is provided.

  According to the present invention, as a tenth means for solving the above-mentioned problem, in the ninth solving means, the electronic tag is attached to a valve installed above the container. A method is provided.

  According to the present invention, as an eleventh means for solving the above-described problems, in any one of the seventh to tenth solving means, an electronic tag is filled with a container type, a manufacturing date, a serial number, and the like. Provided is a fluid filling method characterized by storing any one or more of the type of fluid, the appropriate value of the filling pressure, the shipping destination, and the worker in charge as electronic information that can be read by a reader It is.

  According to the present invention, as a twelfth means for solving the above-described problems, in any one of the seventh to eleventh solving means, information stored in an electronic tag can be rewritten by a writer. A filling method is provided.

  According to the present invention, as described above, since at least the capacity information of the container recorded on the electronic tag attached to the container is electrically read by the reader on the upstream side of the filling machine, the radio wave generated by the electronic tag Can easily and reliably read necessary information without adjusting the positional relationship between the electronic tag and the reader, and improve work efficiency by shortening the processing time. There is a profit that can be.

  According to the present invention, as described above, the reader and the filling machine are electrically connected, and according to the information read by the reader, the container is automatically filled with an appropriate capacity by the filling machine. There is an actual benefit that can further improve the work efficiency.

  In addition, according to the present invention, as described above, the electronic tag is attached to the upper surface of the container, and the information stored in the electronic tag is read by the reader installed above the container. While it is possible to read information without causing an obstacle, there is an advantage that the information can be reliably read with few obstacles in transmission and reception of radio waves between the electronic tag and the reader.

  In particular, in this case, according to the present invention, as described above, the electronic tag is attached by being incorporated in a valve installed on the upper surface of the container. In addition to being able to realize attachment of electronic tags to containers that cannot be attached to containers, containers that are relatively large and heavy by attaching to a valve that can be attached to and detached from the container are not always easy to handle. It can be easily attached to the electronic tag at the same time, and at the same time, it can be applied to existing containers simply by replacing only the valve, while suppressing the increase in labor and cost. There is an advantage that the electronic tag can be easily attached to the container and the ease of handling can be ensured.

  According to the present invention, as described above, information such as the type of the container, the date of manufacture, the serial number, the type of fluid to be filled, the appropriate value of the filling pressure, the shipping destination, the person in charge of the work, etc. Therefore, there is an advantage that the container can be maintained and managed more appropriately by using useful information as necessary.

  According to the present invention, as described above, the information stored in the electronic tag can be rewritten by the writer, so that when the information needs to be changed, it is possible to appropriately respond at the filling site. In this way, since information unique to the electronic tag attached to the container is recorded in this way, this information also changes with the container filled with fluid. In particular, it is possible to easily share or centrally manage necessary information simply by reading it with a reader even at the destination without establishing communication facilities and establishing communication facilities separately from the filling work site. There are real benefits that can be made.

  An embodiment for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a fluid filling apparatus 10 according to the present invention, which is shown in FIG. 1 in the illustrated embodiment. As described above, a filling machine 12 that fills a container 2 such as a cylinder having the valve 1 with a fluid and a transfer machine 14 that carries the container 2 to the filling machine 12 are provided.

  Examples of the fluid to be filled in the container 2 include liquid fuels such as liquefied propane gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) that may be provided by filling the container 2 such as a cylinder, and gaseous fuel. However, it is not particularly limited, and other fluids such as nitrogen gas or oxygen other than fuel such as hydrogen gas and LPG can also be used.

  The filling machine 12 is composed of a pressure pump or the like, and fills the container 2 with gas to be filled into the container 2 at a predetermined pressure through the valve 1 of the container 2 by a nozzle. Moreover, as a conveyance machine 14, as shown in FIG. 1, a roller conveyor and a conveyance vehicle can be used. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the roller conveyor installed inside the filling station 3 where the filling device 10 is installed, and the container 2 are loaded from the vicinity of the entrance of the filling station 3 to the roller conveyor. The container 2 is conveyed with the moving conveyance vehicle. Thereby, the container 2 conveyed by transport vehicles, such as a truck, can be easily conveyed to the filling machine 12 in the filling station 3.

  In the present invention, as shown in FIG. 2, the filling device 10 further includes an electronic tag 16 attached to the container 2 and a reader 18 that reads information recorded on the electronic tag 16. The electronic tag 16 stores electronic information including at least capacity information (for example, kg) of the container 2 to which the electronic tag 16 is attached. The electronic tag 16 transmits information stored as electronic information to the outside as radio waves.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the reader 18 includes an information processor main body 18A and an antenna 18B electrically connected to the information processor main body 18A. Electronic information transmitted by the electronic tag 16 as radio waves is captured and sent to the information processing unit main body 18A, and is read as electronic information by the information processing unit 18A.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the leader 18 is installed upstream of the filling machine 12 in the transporting process of the container 2. Therefore, before filling the container 2 to which the electronic tag 16 is attached with fluid, it is possible to recognize predetermined information about the container 2 and determine subsequent processing of the container 2. In this case, specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the antenna 18B of the reader 18 is installed at the entrance of the filling station 3 as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the container 2 is transported to the filling station 3, the information recorded on the electronic tag 16 can be read at the same time. That is, it is possible to recognize necessary information about the container 2 only by transporting the container 2 to the filling station 3 for filling the fluid without setting a process for reading the information. By shortening the processing time for reading, the time required for processing as a whole is shortened, and the filling operation can be performed efficiently.

  However, the installation location of the antenna 18B that receives the information transmitted by the electronic tag 16 is not necessarily limited to the entrance of the illustrated filling station 3 as long as it is upstream of the filling machine 12. It can also be installed in the middle of the conveying process, that is, on a roller conveyor. In the illustrated embodiment, the reader 18 including the information processor main body 18A and the antenna 18B is used in consideration of the ease of installation and maintenance. However, the information processor itself including a sensor (not shown) is used as the reader 18. It can also be installed in the middle of the transport process.

  In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, it is desirable that the electronic tag 16 be installed on the upper surface of the container 2 and the reader 18 be installed above the container 18. Compared to reading information recorded on the electronic tag 16 from the circumferential direction (lateral direction) of the container 2, it is less probable that consideration for transmission / reception of radio waves becomes an obstacle to other work, while the electronic tag 16 This is because there are fewer obstacles in transmission and reception of radio waves between the reader 18 and the information can be read reliably.

  In this case, specifically, the electronic tag 16 is attached to the valve 1 installed on the upper surface of the container, as shown in FIG. In this case, the electronic tag 16 can be incorporated in the handle of the valve 1 when the valve 1 is manufactured. Thereby, the attachment to the container 2 of the electronic tag 16 which cannot be simply and stably attached to the container 2 simply by sticking like a barcode label can be specifically realized.

  Further, by attaching the electronic tag 16 to the valve 1 that can be freely attached to and detached from the container 2 by being built in or the like, the electronic tag 16 is separated from the container 2 that is not necessarily easy to handle because it is relatively large and heavy. Since it is possible to perform the installation work of the electronic tag 16 only for the valve 1 between the attachments, the work can be easily performed, and at the same time, it can be easily applied to the existing container 2 by replacing only the valve 1 can do. For this reason, the ease of handling which can attach the electronic tag 16 to the container 2 easily can be ensured, suppressing the increase in labor and cost.

  On the other hand, the reader 18 specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the antenna 18B of the reader 18 is installed in the upper part of the entrance of the filling station 3, and the antenna 18B The information of the electronic tag 16 in the valve 1 attached to the container 2 passing below is read. In this case, the distance between the electronic tag 16 and the antenna 18B is preferably set to about 100 cm to 120 cm, depending on the performance of each.

  The filling machine 12 is electrically connected to the reader 18 and fills the container 2 to which the electronic tag is attached according to the volume information read by the reader 18 with a predetermined amount of fluid corresponding to the volume information. To do. Therefore, an appropriate capacity can be automatically filled in the container, and the work efficiency of filling can be further improved.

  In this case, the reader 18 and the filling machine 12 can be directly connected. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the leader 18 is electrically connected to the filling machine 12 via the business server 20 installed at the filling site. It is desirable that the information is connected and the filling process is performed, so that the post-management of the read information can be performed. Further, the information read by the reader 18 can be transmitted to both the filling machine 12 and the business server 20 for processing.

  The information stored in the electronic tag 16 is at least the volume information described above for automatic fluid filling. However, the information is not limited to this, and predetermined information is provided as necessary. Can be stored. Specifically, in addition to the capacity, one or more information of the type of the container 2, the date of manufacture, the serial number, the type of fluid to be filled, the appropriate value of the filling pressure, the shipping destination, the person in charge of the work Can also be stored as electronic information readable by a reader.

  In this case, it is possible to identify the solid of the container 2 by reading the type and serial number of the container 2, and for example, when the container 2 itself is damaged and the fluid filling is hindered, the container can be simplified. It can be specified and managed for repair or disposal. Similarly, by reading the manufacturing date, it is possible to perform processing such as excluding it from the filling target when a predetermined predetermined use age is exceeded.

  Also, by reading the type of fluid to be filled, mistakes such as filling the wrong type of gas can be prevented, and more appropriate by reading the appropriate value of the filling pressure (for example, how many MPa, etc.) The container 2 can be filled with fluid.

  Further, by reading a shipping destination such as a store or a delivery office 4, it is possible to facilitate the sorting and delivery of containers after filling, and to prevent misdelivery and the like. By reading (business), there is a merit that the situation check etc. becomes easier. Of course, any other information can be stored as necessary.

  In addition, the filling device 10 of the present invention further includes a writer 22 that rewrites information stored in the electronic tag 16. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the information processor body 18 </ b> A and the antenna 18 </ b> B simultaneously serve as a writer 22 as a reader 18. That is, the information processor main body 18A and the antenna 18B are a reader 18 / writer 22 that can not only read information but also transmit information to an electronic tag. Thereby, an installation can be simplified.

  In this case, unlike the barcode, the electronic tag 16 has a great advantage in that the information stored in the electronic tag 16 itself can be rewritten by the writer 22. That is, when the information needs to be changed, it can be appropriately handled at the filling site. Specifically, for example, when there is a change in the delivery destination, the person in charge of delivery work, the type of fluid to be filled, etc., it is of course possible to respond quickly and perform appropriate processing on the spot. Of course, even when the valve 1 is replaced with another container, the capacity information of the newly attached container 2 can be rewritten and reused.

  In particular, in the present invention, since information unique to the electronic tag 16 itself attached to the container 2 is recorded in this way, the information also changes with the container 2 filled with fluid. As shown in FIG. 1, the reader or distributor 4, the installation site 5, etc., to which the container 2 is moved, in particular, establishes a communication facility etc. separately from the filling work site, and establishes a communication connection. The necessary information can be easily shared or centrally managed and used simply by reading at 18. This eliminates the need to manage information for each filling operator, delivery worker, management company, etc., and also eliminates the need for coordinated work to synchronize the information collected individually by each company. , Processing efficiency is improved.

  In particular, the present invention is provided by filling liquefied gas such as LPG and LNG, as well as hydrogen gas expected to be used in the future, and also filling helium gas, nitrogen, oxygen and other containers other than these fuels. It can be applied to filling and management of gas, liquid and other fluids.

It is the schematic of the state which implements the fluid filling method of this invention. It is the schematic of the reader and writer used for this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Valve 2 Container 3 Filling place 4 Distributor or delivery place 5 Installation site 10 Filling device 12 Filling machine 14 Transporter 16 Electronic tag 18 Reader 18A Information processor main body 18B Antenna 20 Business server 22 Lighter

Claims (12)

A fluid filling apparatus comprising: a filling machine that fills a container having a valve with a liquid such as gas, gas or other fluid; and a transporter that transports the container to the filling machine. An electronic tag to be attached; and a reader for reading information recorded in the electronic tag, wherein the electronic tag stores electronic information including at least capacity information of a container to which the electronic tag is attached. The fluid filling apparatus is installed upstream of the filling machine in the container transporting step. The fluid filling device according to claim 1, wherein the filling machine is electrically connected to the reader, and the container with the electronic tag is attached to the container according to the volume information read by the reader. A fluid filling apparatus that fills a predetermined amount of fluid corresponding to volume information. 3. The fluid filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic tag is installed on an upper surface of the container, and the reader is installed above the container. Fluid filling device. 4. The fluid filling apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the electronic tag is attached to the valve installed on an upper surface of the container. 5. The fluid filling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electronic tag further includes a model of the container, a manufacturing date, a serial number, a type of fluid to be filled, and a filling. A fluid filling apparatus, wherein any one of an appropriate value of pressure, a shipping destination, a worker, or a plurality of arbitrary information is stored as electronic information that can be read by the reader. 6. The fluid filling apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a lighter that rewrites information stored in the electronic tag. In the fluid filling method of transporting a container having a valve to a filling machine by a transporting machine, and filling the container with a liquid such as a gas, gas or other fluid by the filling machine, the electronic tag should be attached to an electronic tag. Electronic information including at least capacity information of the container is stored, the electronic tag is attached to the container, and the information recorded on the electronic tag is read by a reader installed upstream of the filling machine in the container transporting process. A fluid filling method characterized by reading. 8. The fluid filling method according to claim 7, wherein the filling machine is electrically connected to the reader, and the electronic tag is attached according to the capacity information read by the reader by the filling machine. A fluid filling method comprising filling a container with a predetermined amount of fluid corresponding to the volume information. 9. The fluid filling method according to claim 7, wherein the electronic tag is installed on an upper surface of the container, and the reader is installed above the container. Filling method. The fluid filling method according to claim 9, wherein the electronic tag is attached to the valve installed on an upper surface of the container. The fluid filling method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the electronic tag includes a model of the container, a manufacturing date, a serial number, a type of fluid to be filled, and a filling pressure. Any one or more information of an appropriate value, a shipping destination, and a person in charge of work is stored as electronic information that can be read by the reader. 12. The fluid filling method according to claim 7, wherein the information stored in the electronic tag can be rewritten with a lighter.

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