JP2008008627A - Airtightness inspection device and method of bottle casing - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inspection device capable of more efficiently inspecting the airtightness of a bottle casing. <P>SOLUTION: The inspection device comprises a cap member 121 for covering an inspection part including a joint of a nozzle section 12 of the bottle casing 10 to a bottle body 11, a suction mechanism 122 for sucking the gas in a cap member 121, a pressing mechanism 150 for partially pressing a drum part 11b of the bottle body 11, a gas detecting means 123 for outputting a detection signal according to the amount of gas resulting from the contents in the bottle casing 10 contained in the gas sucked by the suction mechanism 122 in a state where the drum part 11b of the bottle body 11 is partially pressed by the pressing mechanism 150, and a determining means 200 (S7 and S8) for determining suitability of the airtightness of the casings 10 based on a detection result output from the gas detecting means 123. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for inspecting the airtightness of a bottle container containing volatile liquid or gas.

  Conventionally, a gas leak detection device that detects gas leaks in a cylinder filled with a gas such as LPG has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In this gas leak detection device, a cylinder valve is covered with a cap, and the gas in the cap is sucked and guided to a gas detector. Thereby, the gas leaking from the valve can be detected by the gas detector, and whether or not the cylinder is airtight can be determined based on the detection result.

  However, in such a conventional gas leak detection device, a cap is put on the valve of the cylinder, and the gas in the cap is simply sucked and guided to the gas detector, so that a pinhole or the like is extremely small. It is difficult to detect gas leaks from defects efficiently (in a short time).

In addition, an apparatus for inspecting the airtightness of a sealed package containing food, medicine, cosmetics and the like has been proposed (see Patent Document 2). In this device, a container filled with a breathable elastic body (for example, urethane resin) is placed in a hermetically sealed package in which an inert gas (for example, helium gas) is sealed together with an object to be packaged such as food, medicine, and cosmetics. In addition, the elastic body presses the hermetic package in the container, and the gas in the container is guided to the gas analysis unit. Thereby, the inert gas which leaks from the sealed packaging body compressed by the elastic body can be detected by the gas analysis unit, and it can be determined whether the sealed packaging body is airtight based on the detection result.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-332098 JP 2004-257717 A

  However, in the conventional apparatus for inspecting the hermeticity of the above-described sealed package body, the elastic body covers the entire sealed package body to be inspected, and the gas passing through the elastic body is detected. Even though it is air permeable, it is obstructed by the elastic body. Therefore, it is difficult to efficiently detect (in a short time) a very small amount of gas leakage from an extremely small defect such as a pinhole. In addition, if the object to be inspected is flexible like a package, it can be effectively pressed by an elastic body. However, in a tangible bottle container made of synthetic resin, etc., depending on its material and shape May be difficult to effectively compress with an elastic body.

  The present invention has been made to solve the conventional problems as described above, and provides an inspection apparatus and an inspection method capable of more efficiently inspecting the airtightness of a bottle container.

  The bottle container airtightness inspection apparatus according to the present invention is a bottle container airtightness inspection apparatus in which a nozzle portion is joined to a bottle body, and contents can be discharged from the bottle body through the nozzle portion. A cap member that covers an inspection site including a joint portion between the nozzle portion of the container and the bottle body, a suction mechanism that sucks the gas in the cap member, and a pressing mechanism that partially presses the body portion of the bottle body And depending on the amount of gas caused by the contents in the bottle container contained in the gas sucked by the suction mechanism in a state where the body portion of the bottle body is partially pressed by the pressing mechanism. Gas detection means for outputting the detected signal, and determination means for determining appropriateness of the airtightness of the bottle container based on the detection signal output from the gas detection means.

  With such a configuration, the cap member covers the inspection site including the joint portion between the nozzle portion of the bottle container and the bottle body, and the pressing mechanism covers the entire bottle container and does not compress the entire body of the bottle body. Therefore, the gas in the cap member can be efficiently sucked by the suction mechanism without being obstructed by the pressing mechanism. And the airtightness of the said bottle container is judged based on the detection result of the quantity of the gas resulting from the contents in the bottle container contained in the gas so sucked.

  Further, in the airtightness inspection device for a bottle container according to the present invention, the bottle body has a mouth portion and a body portion following the mouth portion, the nozzle portion is joined to the mouth portion, and the mouth portion of the bottle body The cap member can be configured to cover the mouth portion and the nozzle portion with the nozzle portion as an inspection site of the bottle container.

  With such a configuration, it becomes possible to detect the nozzle part, the joining part between the nozzle part and the mouth part of the bottle body, and the gas leakage at the mouth part, so the nozzle part, the joining part and the It is possible to inspect the hermeticity of the bottle container which can be damaged by defects at the mouth.

  Further, in the bottle container airtightness inspection apparatus according to the present invention, the cap member includes the mouth portion, the body portion, and the mouth portion, the body portion, and the nozzle portion of the bottle main body as inspection portions of the bottle container. It can comprise so that the said nozzle part may be covered.

  With such a configuration, it becomes possible to detect gas leakage at the nozzle portion, the joint portion between the nozzle portion and the mouth portion of the bottle body, and the mouth portion, and the body portion of the bottle body. It is possible to inspect the hermeticity of the bottle container which can be damaged by defects in the part, the joint part, the mouth part, and the body part.

  Further, in the bottle container airtightness inspection apparatus according to the present invention, a transport mechanism for transporting the bottle container, a bottle container detection means for detecting that the bottle container is at a preset inspection position, and the inspection position. A cap member driving mechanism for driving the cap member between a set position and a retracted position, and when the bottle container detecting means detects that the bottle container is in the inspection position, A transport stop control means for stopping the transport of the bottle container; and after the transport of the bottle container is stopped, the cap member is driven from the retracted position to the set position by the cap member drive mechanism, and the bottle container And a cap member drive control means for covering the inspection site with the cap member, and the cap member. While covering the inspection portion of the bottle, it can be configured to have an operation control means for operating effectively the suction mechanism and the pressing mechanism.

  With such a configuration, it is possible to perform an air tightness inspection on the bottle container transported by the transport mechanism, and thus it is possible to automate the air tightness inspection of the bottle container.

  The bottle container airtightness inspection method according to the present invention is a bottle container airtightness inspection method in which a nozzle part is joined to a bottle body, and the contents can be discharged from the bottle body through the nozzle part. A setting step of covering the inspection site including the joint portion between the nozzle portion of the container and the bottle body with a cap member, a gas suction step of sucking the gas in the cap member with an intake mechanism, and the gas in the cap member A step of partially pressing the body of the bottle body by a pressing mechanism when being sucked by the suction mechanism; and the suction of the bottle body by being partially pressed by the pressing mechanism. A gas detection step for inspecting the amount of gas caused by the contents in the bottle container contained in the gas sucked by the mechanism, and the amount of the detected gas A configuration and a determination step of determining the airtightness of whether the bottle container Zui.

  According to the airtightness inspection apparatus and the airtightness inspection method of the bottle container according to the present invention, the gas in the cap member that covers the inspection part of the bottle container obstructs the pressing mechanism that partially presses the body part of the bottle body. Without being carried out, the suction mechanism efficiently sucks the bottle container based on the detection result of the amount of gas caused by the contents of the bottle container contained in the sucked gas. Airtightness can be inspected more efficiently.

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

  A bottle container airtightness inspection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention uses a bottle container 10 as shown in FIG. The bottle container 10 includes a bottle body 11 constituted by a mouth portion 11a and a body portion 11b following the mouth portion 11a, and a nozzle portion 12 joined to the tip of the mouth portion 11a of the bottle body 11. The bottle main body 11 is filled with, for example, methanol (volatile liquid fuel) serving as the fuel F of the fuel cell. Then, by pressing the body 11b of the bottle body 11 with a finger or the like, the fuel F is ejected from the tip of the nozzle 12 and can be injected into the fuel cell.

  Such an inspection apparatus for inspecting the airtightness of the bottle container 10 is configured as shown in FIGS. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the entire inspection apparatus, and FIG. 3 is a diagram of the bottle container at the inspection position on the conveyor as viewed from the upstream side in the conveyance direction.

  2 and 3, the bottle container 10 to be inspected is transported in a predetermined direction A by the conveyor 100 (transport mechanism). A light emitting element 201a and a light receiving element 201b constituting a photoelectric switch for detecting that the bottle container 10 is in the inspection position are installed at a predetermined conveyance position of the conveyor 100 so as to sandwich the conveyor 100 (see FIG. 3).

  An inspection head 120 that can be moved up and down by the air cylinder 140 is disposed at the inspection position. The inspection head 120 includes a cap member 121, an air pump 122 (intake mechanism), and a combustible gas sensor 123. The cap member 121, the air pump 122, and the combustible gas sensor 123 are integrally coupled, and the gas in the cap member 121 is guided to the combustible gas sensor 123 by the suction operation of the air pump 122. The combustible gas sensor 123 has a strong detection sensitivity with respect to the fuel gas generated when the fuel F filled in the bottle container 10 volatilizes, and the concentration (quantity) of the fuel gas contained in the introduced gas. ) Output a detection signal at a level corresponding to. The air pump 122 of the inspection head 120 is fixed to the mounting plate 130 fixed to the rod tip of the air cylinder 140, and the inspection head 120 fixed to the mounting plate 130 by the vertical movement (BB ′) of the rod of the air cylinder 140 is fixed. As a result, the cap member 121 covers the retreat position where the cap member 121 is retracted above the bottle container 10 at the inspection position, and the inspection part (the mouth part 11a, the nozzle part 12 and the joint part thereof) of the bottle container 10 It is designed to reciprocate between positions.

  In particular, referring to FIG. 3, a guard plate 110 that guards the body portion 11 b of the bottle body 11 of the bottle container 10 is installed along the conveyance direction A of the conveyor 100 at the inspection position. A pusher 150 (pressing mechanism) is installed facing the plate 110. The pusher 150 includes an air cylinder 151, a rod 152 that moves forward and backward by the air cylinder 151, and a pad portion 153 that is fixed to the tip of the rod 152. When the rod 152 is advanced by the air cylinder 151, the pad portion 153 abuts against a portion of the body portion 11b of the bottle main body 11 opposite to the portion guarded by the guard plate 110. Thereby, the site | part pinched by the pad part 153 and the guard plate 110 in the trunk | drum 11b of the bottle main body 11 is partially pressed. If there is a defective part such as a pinhole in the mouth part 11a, the nozzle part 12 and the joint part as an inspection part by partial pressing against the body part 11b of the bottle body 11, the fuel gas in the bottle container 10 is Ejection from the defective part is promoted.

  The control system of this inspection apparatus includes a control unit 200 (CPU), an analog / digital converter (A / D converter) 210, a setting / display unit 220, and an input / output circuit 230. The control unit 200 acquires the detection signal from the combustible gas sensor 123 as a digital signal via the A / D converter 210. A signal from the light receiving element 201b of the photoelectric switch is supplied to the control unit 200 via the input / output circuit 230, and signals from various switch sensors (not shown) are supplied to the control unit 200 via the input / output circuit 230. Supplied. The control unit 200 includes an exclusion device (not shown) and various actuators (a solenoid valve that operates the air cylinders 140 and 151, an air pump 122, a drive source of the conveyor 100, and the like based on the input signal and the detection signal. ) Is generated, and the control signal is supplied to the exclusion device and various actuators via the input / output circuit 230. The setting / display unit 220 outputs a signal based on the operation of the operator to the control unit 200, and displays various information based on the display signal from the control unit 200.

  The control unit 200 performs processing according to the procedure shown in FIG.

  In FIG. 4, the control unit 200 determines whether or not the bottle container 10 to be inspected is at the inspection position based on the detection signal from the light receiving element 201b of the photoelectric switch (S1). Based on the detection signal from the light receiving element 201b in a state where the bottle container 10 conveyed by the conveyor 100 reaches the inspection position and the bottle container 10 blocks the light from the light emitting element 201a, the bottle container 10 is brought to the detection position. If it is determined that there is (YES in S1), the control unit 100 stops the conveyor 100 (S2). As a result, the bottle container 10 stops at the inspection position.

  Thereafter, the control unit 200 drives the air cylinder 140 to lower the cap member 121 of the inspection head 120 to the set position (S3). Thereby, it will be in the state (state shown in Drawing 2) where cap member 121 covered mouth part 11a and nozzle part 12 of bottle container 10 which stops at an inspection position. In this state, the control unit 200 operates the air pump 122 to drive the air cylinder 151 of the pusher 150 (S4, S5). Accordingly, in the state where the body portion 11b of the bottle body 11 of the bottle container 10 is partially pressed by the pad portion 153 (see FIG. 3), the gas in the cap member 121 is sucked by the air pump 122 and the combustible gas sensor 123 is drawn. Led to.

  In this way, the control unit 200 starts the internal timer in a state where the gas in the cap member 121 is sucked while the body portion 11b of the bottle body 11 is partially pressed by the pad portion 153, and the time of the timer , The fuel gas concentration D (corresponding to the amount of fuel gas) is calculated based on the detection signal from the combustible gas sensor 123, and the gas concentration D is the reference concentration Do. Is determined (S6, S7, S8). The control unit 200 repeatedly executes this process (S6, S7, S8) for the predetermined time.

  When the fuel gas concentration D reaches the reference concentration Do in the process (NO in S7, YES in S8), the control unit 200 determines that the airtightness of the bottle container 10 is not appropriate and performs a predetermined exclusion process ( S9) is executed. In this exclusion process, an exclusion control signal is given to an exclusion device installed downstream from the inspection position of the conveyor 100. Then, the control unit 200 stops the air pump 123, drives the air cylinder 151, and returns the pad portion 153 that has pressed the body portion 11a of the bottle body 11 to the original position (see the broken line in FIG. 3). Further, the air cylinder 140 is driven to raise the cap member 121 to the retracted position (S10, S11, S12). Thereby, the mouth part 11a and the nozzle part 12 of the bottle container 10 are exposed. Thereafter, the control unit 200 drives the conveyor 100 (S13), and determines whether or not the next bottle container 10 has reached the inspection position (S1).

  When the conveyor 100 is driven, the bottle containers 10 are further conveyed downstream from the inspection position. As described above, when the exclusion device to which the exclusion control signal is given from the control unit 200 detects the bottle container 10 on the conveyor 100, the exclusion apparatus excludes the bottle container 10 from the conveyor 100 by, for example, pushing it out.

  In the process of the control unit 200 (S6, S7, S8), the concentration D calculated based on the detection signal from the combustible gas sensor 123 is the time when the time of the timer reaches the predetermined time ( If the reference concentration Do has not been reached (YES in S7) (NO in S8), it is determined that the airtightness of the bottle container 10 is appropriate, and the control unit 200 does not execute the above-described exclusion process (S9). The processes (S10 to S13) performed are executed. Thereby, the bottle container 10 is conveyed by the conveyor 100 from the inspection position through the installation position of the exclusion device to a further downstream process (for example, a boxing process).

  In the airtightness inspection apparatus for the bottle container 10 as described above, the cap member 121 covers the mouth portion 11a of the bottle container 10, the nozzle portion 12, and the joint portion (test portion), and the pad portion 152 of the pusher 150 is the bottle body 11. Since the body portion 11a is partially pressed, when there is a defective portion such as a pinhole in the inspection portion (the mouth portion 11a, the nozzle portion 12 and the joint portion thereof), the cap member 121 starts from the defective portion. The ejection of the fuel gas into the inside is promoted, and the gas in the cap member 121 is efficiently guided to the combustible gas sensor 123 by the air pump 122 without being obstructed by the components of the pusher 150. . Therefore, it becomes possible to more efficiently inspect the airtightness of the bottle container 10 that can be damaged by defects at the mouth portion 11a, the nozzle portion 12, and their joint portions.

  In the example described above, the cap member 121 of the inspection head 120 covers the mouth part 11a and the nozzle part 12 of the bottle container 10, but the body part together with the mouth part 11a and the nozzle part 12 of the bottle container 10 is used. 11b can also be covered. In this case, the cap member is configured as shown in FIG. 5, for example.

  5A and 5B, the cap member 124 has an internal volume that can cover the nozzle part 12 and the bottle body 11 (the mouth part 11a and the body part 11b) of the bottle container 10 that stops at the inspection position. Have. A bracket 125 is fixed to a predetermined portion of the outer surface of the cap member 124, and the air cylinder 151 of the pusher 150 is supported by the bracket 125. A through hole 124a is formed in the predetermined portion of the cap member 124, and the rod 122 of the air cylinder 151 in the pusher 150 passes through the through hole 124a. A pad portion 153 disposed inside the cap member 124 is fixed to the tip of the rod 152. In addition, a pressing member 126 is provided at a portion of the inner surface of the cap member 124 facing the through hole 124a. When the cap member 124 is positioned at the set position (see FIG. 5B), the pressing member 126 is provided. Is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the body 11b of the bottle body 11.

  When the inspection head 120 includes the cap member 124 as described above, when the cap member 124 is lowered to the set position by driving the air cylinder 140 (see FIG. 5B), the mouth portion 11a of the bottle container 10 in the inspection position. The most part of the body part 11 b together with the nozzle part 12 is covered with the cap member 124. Then, the pressing member 126 provided on the inner surface of the cap member 124 comes into contact with the body portion 11 b of the bottle body 11. In this state, when the air cylinder 151 of the pusher 150 is driven, the pad portion 153 fixed to the tip of the rod 152 protrudes inward of the cap member 124 and abuts against the body portion 11 b of the bottle body 11. Thereby, the trunk | drum 11b of the bottle main body 11 is inserted | pinched by the pressing member 126 and the pad part 153 of the pusher 150, and is pressed.

  In this state, the gas in the cap member 124 is sucked by the air pump 122 and guided to the combustible gas sensor 123 as described above. Then, the fuel gas concentration D is calculated based on the detection signal from the combustible gas sensor 123, and the suitability of the airtightness of the bottle container 10 is determined based on whether or not the concentration D exceeds the reference concentration Do (FIG. 4). S6 to S8). Then, whether or not to exclude the bottle container 10 to be inspected is determined according to the determination result, and the conveyance of the bottle container 10 by the conveyor 100 is resumed (see S9 to S13 in FIG. 4).

  In the airtightness inspection apparatus using the cap member 124 that covers the mouth part 11a, the nozzle part 12 and the body part 11b of the bottle container 10 as shown in FIG. 5, the mouth part 11a, the nozzle part 12 of the bottle container 10 and their joining. It becomes possible to more efficiently inspect the airtightness of the bottle container 10 that may be damaged by a defect in the portion and further in the trunk portion 11b.

  The content filled in the bottle container 10 is not limited to the volatile liquid fuel F described above, and may be a gas itself or an inert gas for airtightness inspection in addition to the content. May be. In these cases, instead of the combustible gas sensor 122, a sensor having high detection sensitivity for the gas (inert gas) filled in the bottle container 10 is used.

  As described above, the present invention has an effect that the airtightness of the bottle container can be more efficiently inspected, and the apparatus for inspecting the airtightness of the bottle container containing volatile liquid, gas, or the like. And useful as a method.

It is a figure which shows the structural example of the bottle container used as the test object of the airtightness testing apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the airtightness test | inspection apparatus of the bottle container which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the figure which looked at the bottle container in the test | inspection position on a conveyor from the upstream of the conveyance direction. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence of the control unit (CPU) in the airtightness test | inspection apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other structural example of the cap member which covers the test | inspection site | part of a bottle container.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Bottle container 11 Bottle main body 11a Body part 11b Mouth part 12 Nozzle 100 Conveyor 110 Guard plate 120 Inspection head 121 Cap member 122 Air pump 123 Combustible gas sensor 124 Cap member 124a Through-hole 125 Bracket 126 Holding member 130 Mounting plate 140 Air cylinder 150 Pusher 151 Air cylinder 152 Rod 153 Pad part 200 Control unit (CPU)
201a Light emitting element (photoelectric switch)
201b Light receiving element (photoelectric switch)
210 Analog-digital converter (A / D converter)
220 Setting / Display Unit 230 Input / Output Circuit

Claims (5)

A nozzle part is joined to a bottle body, and the bottle container is an airtightness inspection device in which contents can be discharged from the bottle body through the nozzle part,
A cap member that covers an inspection site including a joint between the nozzle portion of the bottle container and the bottle body;
A suction mechanism for sucking the gas in the cap member;
A pressing mechanism for partially pressing the body of the bottle body;
Detection according to the amount of gas due to the contents in the bottle container contained in the gas sucked by the suction mechanism in a state where the body portion of the bottle body is partially pressed by the pressing mechanism Gas detection means for outputting a signal;
A bottle container airtightness inspection apparatus comprising: a determination unit that determines suitability of the airtightness of the bottle container based on a detection signal output from the gas detection unit. The bottle body has a mouth portion and a body portion following the mouth portion, and the nozzle portion is joined to the mouth portion,
2. The bottle container airtightness inspection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cap member covers the mouth part and the nozzle part with the mouth part of the bottle body and the nozzle part as inspection parts of the bottle container.   The said cap member covers the said mouth part, the said trunk | drum part, and the said nozzle part by making the opening | mouth part and trunk | drum of the said bottle main body, and the said nozzle part into the test | inspection site | part of the said bottle container. Airtightness inspection device for bottle containers. A transport mechanism for transporting the bottle container;
A bottle container detecting means for detecting that the bottle container is at a preset inspection position;
A cap member drive mechanism for driving the cap member between a set position and a retracted position at the inspection position;
When the bottle container detection unit detects that the bottle container is at the inspection position, a conveyance stop control unit that stops conveyance of the bottle container by the conveyance mechanism;
After the transport of the bottle container is stopped, the cap member driving mechanism drives the cap member from the retracted position to the set position so that the inspection part of the bottle container is covered with the cap member. A cap member drive control means;
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising operation control means for effectively operating the suction mechanism and the pressing mechanism in a state where the cap member covers the inspection site of the bottle container. The bottle container airtightness inspection apparatus as described. The nozzle part is joined to the bottle body, and the bottle container is capable of discharging the contents from the bottle body through the nozzle part.
A set step of covering the inspection site including the joint portion between the nozzle portion of the bottle container and the bottle body with a cap member;
A gas suction step of sucking the gas in the cap member with an intake mechanism;
A step of partially pressing the body portion of the bottle body by a pressing mechanism when the gas in the cap member is sucked by the intake mechanism;
Gas that detects the amount of gas due to the contents in the bottle container contained in the gas sucked by the suction mechanism in a state where the body portion of the bottle body is partially pressed by the pressing mechanism A detection process;
And a determination step of determining whether or not the bottle container is airtight based on the detected amount of gas.

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