JP2009143618A - Pressurization type liquid level regulating-filling method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a high speed filling to be performed, and also, to control a filling liquid level in a container to be uniform. <P>SOLUTION: A filling nozzle 31 is inserted in the mouth section N of a bottle B, and the mouth section N is sealed. Under a state in which an air feeding/discharging passage 51 communicating with the bottle B through the filling nozzle 31 is opened to the atmospheric air side, the pressurized filling liquid is filled at a high speed from a liquid feeding passage 41 which communicates with the bottle B through the filling nozzle 31. In this case, a feeding air at a lower pressure than the pressure of the filling liquid is fed into the bottle B from the air feeding/discharging passage 51 at the latter half section of a filling section to reduce the filling speed, and the filling is switched to a low speed filling. When the filling liquid reaches the filling nozzle 31 to detect the filling liquid which flows into the air feeding/discharging passage 51 from the filling nozzle 31, the feeding of the filling liquid is stopped. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a pressurized liquid level regulation filling method and apparatus particularly suitable for high-speed filling of a liquid containing a solid substance in a container while controlling the liquid level to be constant.

Normally, as a method of filling soft drinks and alcoholic beverages into bottles, gravity (constant water level) filling that fills the bottles from the large-capacity tank via the nozzle using the head differential pressure between the large-capacity tank and the nozzle Many methods are adopted. (For example, JP-A-5-262389)
However, when solid matter is mixed in a filling liquid such as cloudy liquor or juice containing pulp, the gravity filling method has a problem that clogging is likely to occur because the head differential pressure from the large capacity tank to the bottle is small. Also, the filling speed is slow, and in order to perform high-speed filling, it is necessary to dispose the large-capacity tank further upward to further increase the head differential pressure, resulting in a problem that the apparatus becomes large.

As a countermeasure against this, for example, it is conceivable to adopt the pressure filling method disclosed in Patent Document 1.
JP 2003312783 A

  However, in Patent Document 1, the supply amount of the filling liquid is measured by a flow meter (flow meter). For example, when the bottle is made of glass, the capacity of the bottle varies greatly due to molding, and the cross section is particularly large. In the small mouth portion, there is a problem that the liquid level changes remarkably and the filling liquid level in the bottle cannot be controlled uniformly. In addition, in the filling liquid in which bubbles are likely to be generated, if high-speed filling is performed, the bubbles may reach the opening surface of the mouth portion, resulting in a spill and a problem in hygiene.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a pressurized liquid level regulation filling method and apparatus that can be filled at high speed, the filling liquid level can be controlled to be constant, and the generation of bubbles can be suppressed. To do.

  In the first aspect of the present invention, the filling nozzle is inserted into the mouth portion of the container, the mouth portion is sealed, and the air supply / exhaust passage communicated with the container through the air supply / exhaust port of the filling nozzle is opened to the atmosphere side. When the pressurized filling liquid is charged at high speed from the liquid supply passage communicated with the container through the filling nozzle, the supply air having a pressure lower than the filling liquid pressure is supplied from the supply / exhaust passage in the latter half of the filling section. Supply into the container and reduce the filling speed to switch to low speed filling. After the filling liquid reaches the filling nozzle, the filling liquid flowing into the air supply / exhaust passage from the air supply / exhaust port is detected and the supply of the filling liquid is stopped. Is.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the configuration of the first aspect, after the filling nozzle is inserted into the mouth of the container, the pressurized air is supplied from the supply / exhaust passage to the container before the supply / exhaust passage is opened to the atmosphere side. The filling liquid supplied and remaining in the supply / exhaust passage is sent out to the container.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filling nozzle having a sealing member that is inserted into a mouth portion of a container and can seal the mouth portion, a liquid supply passage communicated from the liquid supply device to the filling port of the filling nozzle, and an atmosphere side And a supply / exhaust passage communicating with the supply / exhaust port of the filling nozzle from the liquid supply device in a state where the inside of the container is opened to the atmosphere side via the filling nozzle by the supply / exhaust passage This is a pressure filling device that fills the container at high speed from the filling port of the filling nozzle through the liquid supply passage, and the filling liquid pressure is changed by switching from the atmosphere side to the air pressure means in the latter half of the filling section. A supply / exhaust switching valve capable of switching to low-speed charging by supplying lower-pressure supply air into the container is provided in the supply / exhaust passage, and in the supply / exhaust passage between the supply / exhaust switching valve and the filling nozzle, Detects filling liquid flowing into the supply / exhaust passage from the supply / exhaust port Provided stop level detecting unit, the one in which the filling liquid at the stop level detecting unit is provided with a filling control device for closing the filling valve to be detected.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stop liquid level detecting unit according to the third aspect, wherein a detection container disposed in the vertical direction in the air supply / exhaust passage, a float disposed in the detection container so as to be movable up and down, and the float A liquid level detector for detection, and provided with a ventilation allowing portion at the lower part of the detection container for allowing air to flow at the lower limit of the float, and at the upper part of the detection container, an air supply / exhaust passage at the upper limit of the float The inflow prevention part which prevents the inflow of the filling liquid to the supply / exhaust switching valve side is provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the container is opened to the atmosphere, and the pressurized filling liquid is supplied to the container, so that even if the filling liquid is mixed with solid, it can be filled at high speed without clogging. Can do. In the second half of the filling section, supply air is supplied to the container and pressurized to reduce the pressure difference between the filling liquid pressure and the container internal pressure, thereby reducing the filling speed and switching to low speed filling. Since the filling liquid flowing into the air supply / exhaust passage is detected, the liquid level in the air supply / exhaust passage can be accurately detected, and the filling can be stopped. It is possible to control with high accuracy to a certain position near the air supply / exhaust port. Moreover, foaming from a liquid level can be suppressed by switching to low speed filling.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, by supplying the supply air from the supply / exhaust passage to the container before filling, the filling liquid remaining in the supply / exhaust passage last time can be discharged to the container. The container can be continuously filled sequentially without wasting the filling liquid.

  According to the third aspect of the present invention, by filling the pressurized filling liquid into the container from the liquid supply passage in a state where the container is opened to the atmosphere side through the air supply / exhaust passage, for example, a solid mixed filling liquid Even so, it can be filled at high speed without clogging. Also, in the latter half of the filling section, supply air is supplied from the air pressurizing means to the container to reduce the differential pressure between the filling liquid pressure and the container internal pressure, thereby reducing the filling speed and switching from high speed filling to low speed filling. Further, during this low-speed filling, the stop liquid level detection unit detects that the filling liquid has flowed into the supply / exhaust passage from the supply / exhaust port of the filling nozzle, and is filled based on the detection signal of the stop liquid level detection unit. The filling valve is closed by the control device, and filling of the container is stopped. Thereby, the liquid level in the container can be controlled with high accuracy to a certain position in the vicinity of the air supply / exhaust port of the filling nozzle.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to accurately detect the filling liquid flowing into the supply / exhaust passage by detecting the float accommodated in the detection container, and to allow the air to flow through the ventilation allowing portion. Thus, the function of the air supply / exhaust passage is not hindered. Further, the inflow prevention part can further prevent the filling liquid from flowing in at the upper limit of the float.

Embodiments of a pressurized liquid level regulation filling method and apparatus and a pressure filling apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
[Embodiment 1]
As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, this pressure type liquid level regulation filling device is suitable for high-speed filling of a container with a filling liquid mixed with solids such as turbid liquor or juice containing pulp. In addition, the filling liquid level of the container can be controlled accurately and uniformly.

  That is, the pressurization type liquid level regulation filling device provided in the pressure filling facility has a plurality of filling units 13 for holding and filling bottles B, which are glass containers, for example, at regular intervals on the outer periphery of the turntable 12. And a liquid supply device 15 for supplying a filling liquid to each filling unit 13 via a liquid distribution header (rotary joint) 16 and a supply air to each filling unit 13 via an air distribution header (rotary joint) 17. The air pressurizing unit (air pressurizing means) 50 is configured.

  Each of these filling units 13 is provided with a filling nozzle 31 in which a liquid supply passage 41 and a supply / exhaust passage 51 are communicated. At the time of filling, as the swivel table 12 turns, the mouth N of the bottle B is fitted to the filling nozzle 31 to seal the mouth N, and the inside of the bottle B is communicated to the atmosphere side through the air supply / exhaust passage 51. Thereafter, the bottle B is filled at high speed with the pressurized filling liquid from the liquid supply passage 41. When approaching the end of filling, supply air lower than the filling liquid pressure is supplied into the bottle B from the supply / exhaust passage 51, the difference between the filling liquid pressure and the container internal pressure is reduced, the filling speed is reduced, and high-speed filling is performed. Switch from low to low speed filling. At the time of this switching, it is set according to the viscosity of the filling liquid and the properties of the solid material at least until the liquid level reaches the air supply / exhaust port 36a of the filling nozzle 31 in the latter half of the filling section. The filling liquid flowing into the air supply / exhaust passage 51 is detected by the stop liquid level detecting unit 61 provided in the air supply / exhaust passage 51 to stop the filling.

(Overall structure)
As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid supply device 15 disposed in the vicinity of the base base 11 includes a small liquid supply tank 18 installed on the floor near the base base 11 and an air pressurizing unit 50. A liquid pressurization air supply pipe 19 for supplying and pressurizing supply air to the liquid supply tank 18, a filling liquid supply pipe 21 for feeding the filling liquid in the liquid supply tank 18 to the liquid distribution header 16, and the liquid supply tank 18. And a stirring device 20 that uniformly disperses solids contained in the filling liquid therein, and the stirring device 20 is configured to rotationally drive the stirring blade 20c through the stirring shaft 20b by, for example, the stirring motor 20a. Yes.

  A turning table 12 that is turned at a constant speed by a turning drive device (not shown) is disposed on the base base 11, and filling units 13 are installed on the outer periphery of the turning table 12 at regular intervals. Further, a liquid distribution header 16 and an air distribution header 17 are provided on the rotating shaft 14 of the turning table 12, respectively.

  In the liquid distribution header 16, the filling liquid is pressurized and supplied from the liquid supply tank 18 of the liquid supply device 15 through the liquid supply distribution pipe 23 constituting the filling liquid supply pipe 21. The filling liquid is supplied to the filling nozzle 31 of each filling unit 13 through the passage 41. In addition, supply air is supplied from the air pressurization unit 50 to the air distribution header 17 through the supply air supply pipe 24, and from the air distribution header 17 through the air distribution pipe 51 </ b> A constituting the supply / exhaust passage 51. The bottle B communicates with the filling nozzle 31 of each filling unit 13 and opens the atmosphere of the bottle B or supplies the supply air to the bottle B.

(Filling unit)
Each filling unit 13 includes a filling nozzle 31 in which a liquid supply passage 41 and a supply / exhaust passage 51 are respectively formed, and a bottle lifting / lowering holding device capable of holding the bottle B and moving up and down to connect to the filling nozzle 31 and seal the bottle B 22, a pinch valve type filling valve 42 which is interposed in a liquid supply distribution pipe 23 connecting the liquid distribution header 16 and the filling nozzle 31 to turn on and off the supply of the filling liquid, and the air distribution header 17 and the filling nozzle 31. A supply / exhaust on / off valve 54 and a supply / exhaust switching valve 53 interposed in the supply / exhaust passage 51 between, and the supply / exhaust on / off valve 54 opens and closes the supply / exhaust passage 51 disposed on the filling nozzle 31 side, The supply / exhaust switching valve 53 communicates the bottle B with the filling nozzle 31 disposed on the air distribution header 17 side and the air pressurizing unit 50 or the atmosphere side.

  The bottle lifting / lowering holding device 22 includes a bottle holder 22a that supports the bottom of the bottle B, a neck holding arm 22b that holds the mouth N of the bottle B, and a seal operation cylinder that lifts and lowers the bottle holder 22a and the neck holding arm 22b. 22c. And the bottle B received by the bottle carrying-in part (not shown) on a turning path | route is hold | maintained with the bottle receiving stand 22a and the neck holding arm 22b, and the seal | sticker action | operation cylinder 22c is shrunk and the bottle receiving stand 22a and the neck holding arm 22b. The bottle B is raised through the nozzle N, and the mouth portion N is fitted to the nozzle portion 35 of the filling nozzle 31 to seal the mouth portion N. Further, after filling, the seal operating cylinder 22c is advanced to lower the bottle B through the bottle cradle 22a and the neck holding arm 22b, and the filling nozzle 31 is separated from the mouth N, and a bottle discharge section (not shown) on the turning path. ) To discharge the bottle B from the filling unit 13.

(Filling nozzle)
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each filling nozzle 31 includes an upper block 32 supported by the turntable 12 via a support member, a lower block 33 attached to the lower portion of the upper block 32, and a lower block 33. A lower housing 34 attached to the lower portion of the lower housing 34, and a nozzle portion 35 hanging downward from the lower housing 34. The nozzle portion 35 includes a supply / exhaust fixed nozzle 36 that forms a supply / exhaust passage 51, and a supply / movable nozzle 37 that is slidably fitted in the supply / exhaust fixed nozzle 36 with a supply passage 41 open. A liquid supply movable nozzle 37 communicates with a liquid supply chamber 38 formed in the lower block 33.

  The liquid supply movable nozzle 37 protrudes downward from the lower block 33 from the upper end side, and is a support cylinder 37 a that is externally fitted to the supply / exhaust fixed nozzle 36 through the supply / exhaust passage 51, and this support cylinder in the lower housing 34. A slide cylinder 37b fitted in a predetermined range between the lower part of 37a and a lower cylinder 37a, and an outer cylinder part 37c fixed to the slide cylinder 37b and extending downward. In the housing 34, it is urged | biased below via the slide cylinder 37b by the coil spring 37d externally fitted by the support cylinder 37a. The air supply / exhaust fixed nozzle 36 is suspended from the lower block 33 and fitted into the support cylinder 37a and the slide cylinder 37b with a liquid supply passage 41 formed therein, and a filling port 37e is formed at the lower end. The lower half of the air supply / exhaust fixed nozzle 36 is displaced to the outer peripheral side, and the slide cylinder 37b is slidably supported via the intermediate spacer 36c and the lower end sliding contact member 36d. An air supply / exhaust port 36a is perforated in the lower end portion of the air supply / exhaust fixed nozzle 36 and the sliding contact member 36d, and a valve body 36b capable of opening and closing the filling port 37e is attached to the lower end portion of the air supply / exhaust fixed nozzle 36. Therefore, by raising the liquid supply movable nozzle 37, as shown in FIG. 2, the sliding contact member 36d is exposed below the liquid supply movable nozzle 37, the air supply / exhaust port 36a is opened, and the filling port 37e is simultaneously opened. Opened.

  Further, a seal member 39 that receives and seals the mouth N of the bottle B is mounted on the outer periphery of the lower end of the slide cylinder 37b. Accordingly, the bottle B is lifted by the lift drive device 22b, the nozzle portion 35 is fitted to the mouth portion N, the mouth portion N is brought into contact with the seal member 39, and the bottle B is further lifted, whereby the coil spring 37d is On the contrary, the liquid supply movable nozzle 37 is pushed up by the up / down stroke L, and the mouth N of the bottle B is sealed by the seal member 39, and at the same time, the filling port 37e and the air supply / exhaust port 36a are opened.

  The filling valve 42 is a pinch valve type opening / closing valve, and a flexible opening / closing tube 42 a is provided in the liquid supply pipe 23 (liquid supply passage 41) from the liquid supply chamber 38 of the filling nozzle 31 to the liquid distribution header 16. The receiving block 42b and the closing block 42c are arranged opposite to each other across the opening / closing tube 42a. The liquid supply passage 41 can be closed by sandwiching the open / close tube 42a between the receiving block 42b and the closed block 42c by the open / close cylinder 42d that drives the closed block 42c. Of course, the filling valve 42 is not limited to a pinch valve type on-off valve.

(Air piping)
As shown in FIG. 4, the air distribution pipe 51 </ b> A connected to the air distribution header 17 is branched into a supply / exhaust distribution pipe 51 </ b> B and a drive distribution pipe 51 </ b> C constituting the supply / exhaust passage 51. Further, the driving distribution pipe 51C is branched into a filling valve opening / closing pipe 51C-1, a bottle attaching / detaching pipe 51C-2, and a supply / exhaust valve control pipe 51C-3.

  The supply / exhaust distribution pipe 51B constituting the supply / exhaust passage 51 includes, in order from the air distribution header 17 side, an air pressure adjustment valve (regulator such as an electromagnetic type) 52 that adjusts the air pressure, the air distribution header 17 side, and the atmosphere side. A supply / exhaust switching valve 53 for switching between (the silencer side) and a supply / exhaust opening / closing valve 54 for opening / closing the supply / exhaust passage 51 are interposed and connected to the stop liquid level detection unit 61.

  The filling valve opening / closing pipe 51C-1 includes, in order from the air distribution header 17 side, a drive pressure adjusting valve (regulator such as an electromagnetic type) 59 for adjusting the air pressure, and a filling operation valve 55 (5 ports) for operating the filling valve 42. A two-position switching valve), and two filling valve opening / closing pipes 51C-1 are connected to the expansion chamber and the contraction chamber of the opening / closing cylinder 42d through the check valve with a variable throttle valve, respectively. Yes.

  The bottle attaching / detaching pipe 51 </ b> C- 2 is provided with a bottle raising / lowering operation valve 56 for operating the bottle raising / lowering holding device 22, and the two bottle attaching / detaching pipes 51 </ b> C- 2 connected to the bottle raising / lowering operation valve 56 are respectively variable throttle valves. It is connected to the expansion chamber and the contraction chamber of the seal operating cylinder 22c via a check valve.

  The supply / exhaust valve control pipe 51 </ b> C- 3 is branched into an opening / closing pipe 51 </ b> C- 3 a and a switching pipe 51 </ b> C- 3 b, and the open / close pipe 51 </ b> C- 3 a is supplied via the open / close pilot valve 57. It is connected to 54 operation units. The switching pipe 51C-3b is connected to the operation portion of the supply / exhaust switching valve 53 via the switching pilot valve 58.

The filling operation valve 55, the bottle raising / lowering operation valve 56, the opening / closing pilot valve 57, and the switching pilot valve 58 are each operated by a signal from the filling control unit 60.
(Stop liquid level detector)
As shown in FIG. 2A, the stop liquid level detection unit 61 is interposed in a vertical air distribution pipe 51A constituting a supply / exhaust passage 51 between the filling nozzle 31 and the supply / exhaust on / off valve 54, and has a predetermined inner diameter. A transparent cylindrical detection container 62 having a height and a height, a spherical float 63 mounted in the detection container 62 so as to be movable up and down, and a liquid level is detected via the float 63 at a predetermined position of the detection container 62. And a liquid level detector 64. Further, a backflow permissible rib (aeration permissible portion) 62a that allows air a to flow even if the float 63 bottoms out is provided below the detection container 62, and the float 63 reaches the upper end of the detection container 62. A valve seat portion (inflow prevention portion) 62b for preventing backflow of the filling liquid is sometimes provided. Then, the detection signal of the liquid level detector 64 is output to the filling control unit 60.

(Filling operation)
The filling operation by the pressurized liquid level regulation filling device having the above configuration will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The bottle B is carried into the bottle lifting / lowering holding device 22 of the filling unit 13 and the swivel table 12 is swung. In the filling control device 60, an operation signal is output at a preset time after the timer is activated.

  1) At time t0 when the process starts, the bottle lifting / lowering operation valve 56 is operated by an operation signal from the filling control device 60 to supply air supply air from the air distribution header 17 to the seal operating cylinder 22c, and the seal operating cylinder 22c contracts. The bottle B is raised. Then, the mouth N of the bottle B is fitted to the nozzle part 35 of the filling nozzle 31, and the mouth N of the bottle B is sealed by the sealing member 39 so that the bottle B is sealed, and the air supply / exhaust port 36a and the filling port 37e is opened.

  2) The switching pilot valve 58 is operated by the operation signal from the filling control device 60 to operate the supply / exhaust switching valve 53, and the supply / exhaust passage 51 is connected to the air distribution header 17, and then the residual liquid discharge start t1. Then, the open / close pilot valve 57 is operated by the operation signal from the filling control device 60, the supply / exhaust valve 54 is operated, and the supply / exhaust passage 51 is opened. As a result, the supply air is supplied from the air distribution header 17 to the supply / exhaust passage 51, and the remaining filling liquid is discharged from the supply / exhaust port 36a of the filling nozzle 31 to the bottle B [FIG. 6 (a)].

  3) The switching pilot valve 58 is operated by the operation signal from the filling control device 60, the supply / exhaust switching valve 53 is operated, and the supply / exhaust passage 51 is communicated with the atmosphere side. Next, when the filling start time t2 is reached, the filling operation valve 55 is operated by the operation signal from the filling control device 60, the open / close cylinder 42d is operated, and the filling valve 42 is opened. Thus, the pressurized filling liquid is sent from the liquid distribution header 16 to the liquid supply passage 41, and is quickly filled into the bottle B from the outer cylindrical portion 37c of the filling nozzle 31 through the filling port 37e [FIG. ]].

  4) In the latter half of the filling section, when the filling switching time t3 is reached, the switching pilot valve 58 is operated by the operation signal from the filling control device 60, the supply / exhaust switching valve 53 is activated, and the supply / exhaust passage 51 is distributed to the air Connected to the header 17. Then, the supply air set to be lower than the filling liquid pressure by the supply air pressure adjusting valve 52 is supplied from the supply / exhaust passage 51 to the bottle B through the supply / exhaust port 36a of the filling nozzle 31. As a result, the internal pressure of the bottle B is increased, the differential pressure from the filling liquid pressure is reduced, the filling speed is reduced, and the high-speed filling is switched to the low-speed filling [FIG. 6 (c)].

  5) When the liquid level of the filling liquid rises in the bottle B and reaches the supply / exhaust port 36a of the filling nozzle 31, the filling liquid flows from the supply / exhaust port 36a into the supply / exhaust passage 51 in the supply / exhaust fixed nozzle 36, Furthermore, it flows into the stop liquid level detection part 61 and pushes up the float 63. When the float 63 is detected by the liquid level detector 64, an operation signal is output from the filling control unit 60 to the filling operation valve 55 based on this detection signal, the open / close cylinder 42d is operated, and the filling valve 42 is closed. Then, the filling is stopped (at the time of filling stop t4) [FIG. 6 (d)]. Note that only the time t4 when filling is stopped is not controlled by the timer.

  6) The opening / closing pilot valve 57 is operated by the operation signal from the filling control device 60, the supply / exhaust opening / closing valve 54 is operated, and the supply / exhaust passage 51 is closed. Next, the switching pilot valve 58 is operated, the supply / exhaust switching valve 53 is operated, and the supply / exhaust passage 51 is connected to the atmosphere side and opened. As a result, the air supply / exhaust passage 51 is closed by the air supply / exhaust on / off valve 54, and the filling liquid is held in the liquid supply passage 41 between the air supply / exhaust port 36 a and the stop liquid level detection unit 61.

  Further, the bottle raising / lowering operation valve 56 is operated by an operation signal from the filling control device 60 to advance the seal operating cylinder 22c, the bottle B is lowered, the opening N of the bottle B is opened and the seal is released, and the nozzle portion 35 is further released. Bottle B is removed from (process end: t5).

  FIG. 7 is a graph showing a change in the internal pressure of the bottle B. The high-speed filling section from the filling start time t2 to the filling switching time t3 is the atmospheric pressure, and the low-speed filling section from the filling switching time t3 to the seal release is the supply air. Pressure. In FIG. 7, the gradient of increase / decrease in the passage of time of rise / fall of internal pressure at the time of filling switching t3, filling stop t4, and release of the seal is omitted.

  Thereby, in a state where the filling liquid flowing into the supply / exhaust passage 51 is held in the supply / exhaust passage 51, the filling nozzle 31 is detached from the mouth N of the bottle B, so that the liquid level in the bottle B is The filling nozzle 31 is controlled with high accuracy at a certain position in the vicinity of the air supply / exhaust port 36a.

  By the way, in the above filling method, as in the case of gravity filling, theoretically, it is possible to stop at a constant liquid level by setting the filling liquid pressure and the supply air pressure to be the same. Due to changes in multiple conditions such as changes in the flow resistance of the air pressurization unit 50, the liquid supply passage 41, and the air supply / exhaust passage 51, there are subtle fluctuations in the filling liquid pressure and the supply air pressure, and the liquid level is constant. It was difficult to control. Therefore, the present inventor sets the supply air pressure to a value lower than and close to the filling liquid pressure, causes the filling liquid to flow into the supply / exhaust passage 51 at a low speed, and detects this to stop the filling. The present invention has been completed by conceiving that the liquid level in B can be controlled to be constant.

  According to the above embodiment, the supply / exhaust switching valve 53 communicates the supply / exhaust passage 51 to the atmosphere side, and the pressurized filling liquid from the supply passage 41 is supplied to the bottle B. Even a liquid can be filled at high speed without clogging. Further, in the latter half of the filling section, the supply / exhaust switching valve 53 is operated to introduce the supply air of the air distribution header 17 into the supply / exhaust passage 51, and the bottle B is supplied from the filling nozzle 31 to the bottle B and pressurized. The internal pressure of B and the filling liquid pressure are brought close to each other to suppress the filling speed and switch from high speed filling to low speed filling. By causing the filling liquid to flow into the air supply / exhaust passage 51 from the air supply / exhaust port 36a in a state where the filling speed is low, the liquid level can be reliably detected by the stop liquid level detection unit 61. Then, based on the detection signal of the stop liquid level detection unit 61, the filling control device 60 closes the filling valve 42 to stop filling. Further, after the air supply / exhaust passage 51 is closed by the air supply / exhaust valve 54, the bottle B is lowered to release the seal. Thereby, the filling liquid level in the bottle B can be controlled to a certain position near the air supply / exhaust port 36a of the filling nozzle 31 with high accuracy. Further, by switching to low speed filling before stopping filling, even if the filling liquid tends to foam, foaming from the mouth N can be prevented by suppressing foaming from the liquid surface.

  Further, by operating the air supply / exhaust switching valve 53 before filling to supply air supply air from the air supply / exhaust passage 51 to the bottle B, the filling liquid remaining in the air supply / exhaust passage 51 is discharged to the bottle B, Can be continuously filled without waste.

  Further, the stop liquid level detection unit 61 can detect the filling liquid flowing into the air supply / exhaust passage 51 with high accuracy by detecting the float 63 accommodated in the detection container 62 with the liquid level detector 64. In addition, since the air flow is permitted by the backflow allowance rib 62a, the stop liquid level detection unit 61 does not hinder the function of the supply / exhaust passage 51. Further, the filling liquid can be prevented from further flowing into the air supply / exhaust passage 51 by the valve seat portion 62b at the rise limit of the float.

  Although the stop liquid level detection unit 61 is provided in the supply / exhaust passage 51 between the filling nozzle 31 and the supply / exhaust on / off valve 54, it may be provided in the supply / exhaust passage 51 in the filling nozzle 31. It is also possible to use a liquid level detector that directly detects the filling liquid without using it.

1 shows an embodiment of a pressurized liquid level regulation filling device according to the present invention, and is a longitudinal sectional view of a filling nozzle of a filling unit. The filling nozzle of the bottle mounting state of a filling nozzle is shown, (a) is an expanded longitudinal cross-sectional view, (b) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a stop liquid level detection part. It is a schematic side sectional view showing a filling facility equipped with a pressurized liquid level regulation filling device. It is a block diagram which shows the air piping of a filling unit. It is a timing chart of a filling unit. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining operation | movement of a filling nozzle, (a) shows a residual liquid discharge state, (b) shows a filling start state, (c) shows a filling switching state, (d) shows a filling end state. It is a graph which shows the change of the pressure in the bottle at the time of filling.

Explanation of symbols

B Bottle N Port portion 12 Swivel table 13 Filling unit 15 Liquid supply device 16 Liquid distribution header 17 Air distribution header 22 Bottle lifting / lowering holding device 31 Filling nozzle 35 Nozzle portion 36a Air supply / exhaust port 36b Valve element 37 Liquid supply movable nozzle 37e Filling port 39 Seal member 41 Liquid supply passage 42 Fill valve 50 Air pressurization unit 51 Supply / exhaust passage 52 Supply pressure adjustment valve 53 Supply / exhaust switching valve 54 Supply / exhaust open / close valve 55 Fill operation valve 56 Bottle elevating operation valve 59 Drive pressure adjustment valve 60 Fill control Device 61 Stop liquid level detector 62 Detection container 62a Backflow permissible rib (ventilation permissible part)
62b Valve seat (inflow prevention part)

Claims (4)

Insert the filling nozzle into the container mouth, seal the mouth, and open the pressurized filling liquid with the air supply / exhaust passage communicating with the container through the air supply / exhaust opening of the filling nozzle open to the atmosphere. When filling at high speed from the liquid supply passage communicated with the container via the filling nozzle,
In the latter half of the filling section, supply air that is lower than the filling fluid pressure is supplied into the container from the supply / exhaust passage, and the filling speed is reduced to switch to low-speed filling.
A pressurized liquid level regulation filling method comprising: detecting a filling liquid flowing into a supply / exhaust passage from an air supply / exhaust port after the filling liquid reaches a filling nozzle, and stopping the supply of the filling liquid. After inserting the filling nozzle into the container mouth, before opening the air supply / exhaust passage to the atmosphere side, supply pressurized air from the air supply / exhaust passage to the container and send out the filling liquid remaining in the air supply / exhaust passage to the container The pressurized liquid level regulation filling method according to claim 1, wherein: A filling nozzle having a seal member inserted into the mouth of the container and capable of sealing the mouth, a liquid supply passage communicating from the liquid supply device to the filling port of the filling nozzle, and an air supply / exhaust port of the filling nozzle from the atmosphere side A liquid supply / exhaust passage that is communicated with the liquid supply device pressurized via the liquid supply passage through the supply / exhaust passage. A pressurized liquid level regulation filling device that fills a container at high speed from a filling port of a filling nozzle,
In the latter half of the filling section, an air supply / exhaust switching valve is provided in the air supply / exhaust passage that can be switched to low-speed filling by supplying air supply pressure lower than the filling liquid pressure into the container by switching from the atmosphere side to the air pressurizing means. Provided,
In the supply / exhaust passage between the supply / exhaust switching valve and the filling nozzle, a stop liquid level detection unit for detecting the filling liquid flowing into the supply / exhaust passage from the supply / exhaust port of the filling nozzle is provided,
A pressurization type liquid level regulation filling device, comprising: a filling control device that closes a filling valve when a filling liquid is detected by the stop liquid level detection unit. The stop liquid level detection unit includes a detection container arranged in the vertical direction in the air supply / exhaust passage, a float arranged to be movable up and down in the detection container, and a liquid level detector for detecting the float.
Provided at the lower part of the detection container is a ventilation allowing part for allowing air to flow at the lower limit of the float, and at the upper part of the detection container, the filling liquid to the supply / exhaust switching valve side of the supply / exhaust passage at the upper limit of the float. The pressurization type liquid level regulation filling device according to claim 3, further comprising an inflow prevention portion for preventing inflow.

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