JP2009184686A - Rotary filling machine and filling method of rotary filling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a multi-purpose filling machine in a rotary filling machine for filling a definite amount of liquid into a container, which has really a high performance, has a high filling accuracy, can correspond to diversification of the kind of the liquid to be filled, can provide a filling machine with a plurality of kinds of capacities by saving time and effort of designing, can perform a back-up filling when one filling machine is out of order, and can make small a depth space for installation of the filling machine. <P>SOLUTION: The rotary filling machine does not achieve a specified capacity only by one filling machine, but includes a first filling machine 1 having at least one half of the number of filling nozzles which are the number of the filling nozzles in the case of only one filling machine, and a second filling machine 2 having the number of the filling nozzles which is the same as that for the first filling machine or the number of the filling nozzles obtained by subtracting the number of the filling nozzles of the first filling machine from the number of the filling nozzles in the case of only one machine, connected with each other in series. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a rotary filling machine that fills liquid into containers such as PET bottles and other glass bottles for beverages.

  Conventionally, various filling methods and filling machines have been proposed for filling a container with a predetermined amount of liquid, such as increasing the filling accuracy, increasing the capacity, and responding to diversification of the liquid type to be filled. (See Patent Documents 1 and 2).

However, the filling method and filling machine shown in Patent Document 1 have the following drawbacks.
A rotary type primary filling machine (B) operating in an intermittent operation index table (2) (the symbol in the figure of Patent Document 1 is indicated by (). By adding a filling machine (C), filling the bulk with the primary filling machine (B) and filling the shortage with the secondary filling machine (C), the filling speed is increased, and the bottle (b) The system is designed to improve the filling liquid level accuracy.
In such a system, since it operates by intermittent operation, there is a drawback that high capacity cannot be expected even if the filling speed is increased.

Moreover, the filling method and filling apparatus shown in Patent Document 2 have the following drawbacks.
In a rotary-type filling device (1) that rotates intermittently (the symbol in the figure of Patent Document 2 is indicated by (), the same applies in the following paragraph), a plurality of filling nozzles (14), (16), ( 18), a primary filling part (B) composed of (20) is provided, and a large portion of the primary filling amount is filled and a replenishment filling part (D) is provided in a subsequent process of the primary filling part (B). A high-capacity and accurate filling is performed by filling the refilling amount in small throws.
In such a system, since it operates by intermittent operation, there is a limit even if it says high capacity, and true high capacity cannot be expected, and if you try to provide a filling device with different capacity according to the demand from the market, the capacity will be A large number of types of filling devices must be designed, and there is a drawback that initial investment is wasted.
JP 59-37187 (FIG. 1) Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2001-322602 (FIG. 2)

  The present invention has been proposed in view of such circumstances, and in a rotary filling machine that fills a container with a fixed amount of liquid, it has a truly high capacity, high filling accuracy, and can cope with diversification of liquid types to be filled. Provide a multi-purpose filling machine that saves design effort, can back up and fill one filling machine in the event of a failure, and reduces the depth of the filling machine installation For the purpose.

The present invention solves the above problems by the following means.
(1) The rotary filling machine of the first means does not achieve a predetermined capacity with only one filling machine, but has a filling nozzle number that is at least half of the number of filling nozzles in the case of only one filling machine. Predetermined capacity by connecting the filling machine and the number of second filling machines obtained by subtracting the number of nozzles of the first filling machine from the number of filling nozzles when the number of filling nozzles is the same as that of the first filling machine or only one. It is characterized by comprising so that it may achieve.
(2) A rotary filling machine as a second means is the above-described rotary filling machine according to (1), wherein the first filling machine is a timer-type filling device that performs filling by controlling filling on / off with a timer. Is configured as a weight-type filling device that performs filling while controlling the filling amount while measuring with a load cell.
(3) The rotary filling machine of the third means is the same as the rotary filling machine of (1) above, and transports the filled container filled with a predetermined amount only by the first filling machine to the subsequent process without passing through the second filling machine. And a container conveying means for conveying the pre-filling empty container from the previous process to the second filling machine without passing through the first filling machine.
(4) The filling method of the rotary filling machine of the fourth means is that the rotary filling machine of the above (1) does not achieve the predetermined capacity with only one filling machine, but with the first filling machine. Pre-filling more than half of the amount, and then performing a main filling with a second filling machine until a predetermined filling amount is achieved to achieve a predetermined capacity in both the first filling machine and the second filling machine. To do.
(5) The filling method of the rotary filling machine of the fifth means is the rotary filling machine of (2), wherein the filling amount in the first filling machine is measured and controlled by the load cell immediately before filling in the second filling machine, The filling accuracy of each filling nozzle of the first filling machine is feedback-controlled to the first filling machine side.
(6) The filling method of the rotary filling machine of the sixth means is the above-described rotary filling machine of (4), in which the liquid A is filled with the first filling machine and the liquid B is filled with the second filling machine. It is characterized by mixing and filling.
(7) The filling method of the rotary filling machine of the seventh means is characterized in that, in the rotary filling machine of the above (3), one-lung operation can be performed by either the first filling machine or the second filling machine.

  The present invention according to claim 1 and claim 4 is a rotary filling machine of the first means and a filling method of the fourth means, and does not achieve a predetermined capacity with only one filling machine. A first filling machine having at least half of the number of filling nozzles in the case of only one unit and pre-filling an amount more than half of the predetermined filling amount, and the number of filling nozzles is the same as that of the first filling machine or The first filling is configured by connecting in series with a second filling machine that fills until a predetermined filling amount is obtained by subtracting the number of nozzles of the first filling machine from the number of filling nozzles in the case of only one unit. A method in which at least half of the predetermined filling amount is pre-filled with a machine and main filling is performed precisely until the predetermined filling amount is reached with a second filling machine to achieve a predetermined capacity in both the first filling machine and the second filling machine. Therefore, it is 1 by the combination of two small capacity filling machines. Only be as high capacity operation as in, there is a waste elimination effect of the initial investment that are finished with the design of only a small capacity filling machine Save time that purposely designed high capacity filling machine. Further, the depth of the filling machine can be reduced as compared with the case of only one unit, and the dimensional restrictions on the arrangement of the filling machine can be avoided, and the multipurpose described later can be easily handled.

  The present invention according to claim 2 is the rotary filling machine of the second means, wherein the first filling machine is a timer type filling device and the second filling machine is a weight type filling device. Although the filling accuracy is rough by the machine, high capacity can be realized at low equipment cost, and the equipment cost is expensive by the second filling machine, but high filling accuracy can be realized with high capacity, and the weight type equipment is expensive. Compared with the case of only one rotary filling machine having about twice the number of filling nozzles of the filling device, high capacity and high filling accuracy can be ensured at a lower device cost.

  The present invention according to claim 3 and claim 7 is the rotary filling machine of the third means and the filling method of the seventh means, wherein the second container is filled with a predetermined amount filled by the first filling machine. Since the container conveying means for conveying to the subsequent process without passing through the machine, and the container conveying means for conveying the empty container before filling from the previous process to the second filling machine without passing through the first filling machine, The container after filling with the first filling machine can be operated without passing through the second filling machine, and the empty container before filling can be operated with only the second filling machine without passing through the first filling machine, So-called single lung operation becomes possible, and when either the first filling machine or the second filling machine breaks down, the capacity is halved, but filling production can be performed.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a filling method of the fifth means, wherein the filling amount in the first filling machine is measured and controlled by the load cell immediately before filling by the second filling machine, and each filling nozzle of the first filling machine is controlled. It is possible to feed back the filling accuracy to the first filling machine side to increase the filling accuracy in the first filling machine and to further increase the filling accuracy in the second filling machine accordingly.

  The present invention according to claim 6 is a filling method according to the sixth means, wherein two liquid mixed filling in which A liquid is filled in the first filling machine and B liquid is filled in the second filling machine is possible. It can correspond to the conversion.

  The present embodiment is applied to a rotary filling machine that fills a container such as a PET bottle with a predetermined amount of beverage, and will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a rotary filling machine according to the present invention.

As shown in the figure, the rotary filling machine 1 having at least half the number of filling nozzles in the case of only one filling machine and the filling nozzles, instead of achieving a predetermined capacity with only one filling machine The rotary filling machine 2 having the same frame structure as the number of nozzles of the first filling machine subtracted from the number of filling nozzles when the number is the same as or only one of the rotary filling machine 1 shares the star wheel 32 It is connected and is configured to be operated by synchronous control according to a command from a control device (not shown). The rotary filling machines 1 and 2 are respectively attached to the rotary tables 11 and 21, and a container holding unit 30 configured with a filling nozzle (not shown) and a set is equally attached on the circumferences 12 and 22. In the figure, the container holding part 30 is shown only at one location, and the others are omitted.
The container 10 transported along the arrow R from the upstream side of the conveyor 40 is positioned on the side indicated by the solid line in the figure with A as the fulcrum and on the side indicated by the solid line in the figure with B as the fulcrum. Guided between the guides 42, passed to the inlet star wheel 31 of the rotary filling machine 1, and conveyed by continuous rotation of the inlet star wheel 31 in the direction of arrow J to synchronize with the container holding unit 30 of the rotary table 11. It is configured to be delivered.
Although the container holding part 30 is comprised with the holder of the container 10 and the filling nozzle to the container 10 is comprised, illustration is abbreviate | omitted.
The container 10 held by the container holder 30 of the turntable 11 is similar to the timer-type filling device and method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-120089 during the continuous rotation of the turntable 11 in the direction of arrow K. The container 10 is filled with liquid by the apparatus and method, and detailed description is omitted here. However, the timer-type filling apparatus has a high filling speed and low apparatus cost, while the filling accuracy is low. It has the characteristic of being rough.
The container 10 filled with the rotary filling machine 1 is delivered and conveyed in synchronization with the star wheel 32 continuously rotating in the direction of the arrow L, and the rotation of the rotary filling machine 2 is performed in the same manner as the delivery at the inlet star wheel 31. It is configured to be delivered in synchronization with the container holding unit 30 of the table 21.
Similar to the rotary filling machine 1, the container 10 held in the container holding unit 30 of the rotary table 21 is filled with liquid in the container 10 during continuous rotation of the rotary table 21 in the arrow M direction.
The container holding unit 30 including the filling nozzle of the rotary filling machine 2 may be an apparatus similar to the weight type filling apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Nos. 3518902 and 2000-85889. In the case of a weight-type filling device, the container holding unit 30 has a weighing means using a load cell. The container holding unit 30 including the filling nozzle may be a device similar to the known filling device using a flow meter disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-217246 or the timer-type filling device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-120089. . Since both are well-known contents, detailed explanation is omitted here, but the weight-type filling device is filled while weighing the filled amount, so the filling accuracy is high while the device cost is high, The flow meter type filling device has a characteristic that the filling accuracy and the device cost are located between the timer type and the weight type, and the method may be selected according to the purpose of use.
The container 10 filled to a predetermined amount by the rotary filling machine 2 is delivered and conveyed in synchronization with the outlet star wheel 33 continuously rotating in the direction of arrow N, and the side indicated by the solid line in the figure with H and I as fulcrums. It is guided between the guides 48 and 49 located at the center, and is conveyed in the arrow S direction on the downstream side of the conveyor 40.
The container 10 is conveyed in the direction of arrow T by the conveyor 40 without passing through the inlet star wheel 31 when the guides 41 and 42 are positioned as indicated by the broken lines in the figure with A and B as fulcrums. When the guides 43 and 44 are positioned as indicated by broken lines in the figure with C and D as fulcrums, the containers 10 conveyed by the conveyor 40 are delivered to the star wheel 32 along the arrow V. When the guides 45 and 46 are positioned as indicated by broken lines in the figure with E and F as fulcrums, the container 10 filled with the rotary filling machine 1 is moved from the star wheel 32 to the arrow W without passing through the rotary filling machine 2. Along the conveyor 40. Further, when the guide 47 is positioned as a broken line in the drawing with G as a fulcrum, and the guides 48 and 49 are positioned as the broken line in the drawing with H and I as fulcrums, the conveyor 40 moves in the direction of the arrow U. The container 10 that has been conveyed is conveyed in the direction of arrow S without being interfered by the guides 47, 48, and 49. The container 10 can be delivered and transported as described above.
In addition, in the conveyor 40, although the conveyance guide of the container 10 is not shown in figure, in order to convey the container 10 appropriately, it is provided as needed.

The rotary filling machine of the present embodiment having the above configuration is used as follows.
An empty container 10 conveyed by the conveyor 40 from the direction of the arrow R is guided by guides 41 and 42 and passes through an inlet star wheel 31 that rotates in synchronization with the rotary filling machine 1, and a container holding unit 30 of the rotary filling machine 1. After the rotary table 11 is rotated, at least half of the predetermined filling amount is pre-filled by, for example, a timer-type filling nozzle of the container holding unit 30, and then delivered in synchronism with the star wheel 32 to be rotated. It is taken in synchronously with the container holding part 30 of the filling machine 2.
In the rotary filling machine 2, the container 10 is precisely filled until the predetermined amount is filled by, for example, a weight-type filling nozzle of the container holding unit 30 during the rotation of the rotary table 21, and then the outlet star wheel 33 is filled. It is delivered synchronously and conveyed to the conveyor 40 while being guided by the guides 47, 48, 49, and conveyed in the direction of arrow S on the downstream side. In this way, a predetermined capacity is achieved by both the rotary filling machine 1 and the rotary filling machine 2.
In addition, the filling amount in the first filling machine is set to, for example, three quarters or more of the predetermined filling amount, the filling amount in the second filling machine is set to one quarter or less of the predetermined filling amount, and the first filling machine has a large capacity. If it is used in such a way that it is pre-filled quickly and the remaining small volume is precisely filled in the second filling machine while taking time, the characteristics of high capacity and high filling accuracy can be further exerted.
In addition, the filling nozzle of the first filling machine is a timer type filling device, the filling nozzle of the second filling machine is a weight type filling device, and the filling amount in the first filling machine is a load cell just before filling in the second filling machine. If the method of use is such that measurement control is performed and the filling accuracy of each filling nozzle of the first filling machine is feedback-controlled to the first filling machine side, it can lead to higher filling accuracy in the first filling machine, Along with this, it is possible to further increase the filling accuracy of the second filling machine.

  In the above use example, the rotary filling machine 1 preliminarily fills the container 10 with a liquid at least half the predetermined filling amount, and the rotary filling machine 2 precisely fills the remaining amount until the predetermined filling amount is reached. However, there is also a method of using two-liquid mixed filling in which the liquid A is filled with the rotary filling machine 1 and the liquid B is filled with the rotary filling machine 2.

One-lung driving when the driving capability may be less than half of the above-mentioned usage example, or when the driving capability may be half of the predetermined capability when either the rotary filling machine 1 or the rotary filling machine 2 breaks down May be required. When only the rotary filling machine 1 is operated, the empty container 10 conveyed from the direction of the arrow R by the conveyor 40 is guided by the guides 41 and 42 indicated by the solid line position in the drawing, and is synchronized with the rotary filling machine 1. It is taken into the container holding unit 30 of the rotary filling machine 1 through the rotating inlet star wheel 31 and is filled up to a predetermined filling amount by the filling nozzle of the container holding unit 30 during the rotation of the rotary table 11. The filling nozzle may adopt a known timer type, weight type, flow meter type or the like depending on the purpose such as required filling accuracy. The container 10 filled with a predetermined filling amount is delivered from the rotary filling machine 1 in synchronization with the star wheel 32, and is further guided from the star wheel 32 to guides 45 and 46 indicated by broken lines in the drawing. It is conveyed to the conveyor 40 along the arrow W direction, and is further guided from the arrow U direction to guides 47, 48, 49 indicated by broken line positions in the drawing and conveyed in the arrow S direction.
Further, when operating only with the rotary filling machine 2, the empty container 10 conveyed from the direction of the arrow R by the conveyor 40 is not conveyed through the inlet star wheel 31 by the guides 41 and 42 indicated by the broken line position in the figure. 40 is conveyed in the direction of arrow T, guided by guides 43 and 44 indicated by broken lines in the figure, and taken into the star wheel 32 along the direction of arrow V in the figure. Next, the container 10 is loaded into the container holder 30 of the rotary filling machine 2 that rotates in synchronization with the star wheel 32, and the container 10 is filled with a predetermined amount of liquid by the filling nozzle of the container holder 30 while the rotary table 21 rotates. Is done. The filling nozzle in this case may be selected according to the purpose such as the filling accuracy required as in the case of the operation of the rotary filling machine 1 alone. The filled container 10 is conveyed by an outlet star wheel 33 that rotates in synchronization with the rotary filling machine 2, guided by guides 47, 48, and 49 indicated by solid line positions in the drawing and conveyed to the conveyor 40, and further downstream. It is conveyed in the direction of arrow S in the figure on the side.

In the above embodiment, the conveyor 40 is an integrated conveyor from the front upstream of the inlet star wheel 31 to the rear of the outlet star wheel 33. To the vicinity of the entrance of the star wheel 32, from the vicinity of the exit of the star wheel 32 to the vicinity of the entrance of the exit star wheel 33, and from the vicinity of the exit of the exit star wheel 33 to the downstream rear.
Moreover, although the example which connected 2 units | sets of the 1st and 2nd rotary filling machines in series was shown in the said embodiment, connecting 3 units | sets, the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rotary filling machines in series. Of course, further development is possible. In the case of three units connected in series, the first is a small throw filling to reduce foaming at the beginning of filling into the container, the second is a large throw filling with a slightly coarse filling accuracy, and the third is a third It is possible to have an ideal function of increasing the filling accuracy as a precise small throw filling. Furthermore, although the star wheel 32 is shared by the rotary filling machine 1 and the rotary filling machine 2, It is good also as a structure which divides | segments into an exit star wheel and the inlet star wheel of the rotary filling machine 2, and rotates each rotary filling machine and each star wheel synchronously.

It is a top view of the rotary filling machine concerning embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 (1st) Rotary filling machine 2 (2nd) Rotary filling machine 10 Container 11,21 Rotary table 30 Container holding part 31 Inlet star wheel 32 Star wheel 33 Outlet star wheel 40 Conveyors 41-49 Guide

Claims (7)

In a rotary filling machine in which filling valves for filling a container with liquid are arranged equally on the circumference,
Rather than achieving the predetermined capacity with only one filling machine, the first filling machine having the number of filling nozzles at least half of the number of filling nozzles with only one filling machine, and the number of filling nozzles is the first filling machine A rotary filling machine characterized in that it is configured by connecting in series a number of second filling machines obtained by subtracting the number of nozzles of the first filling machine from the number of filling nozzles in the case of the same number or only one. In the rotary filling machine according to claim 1,
The first filling machine is configured as a timer-type filling apparatus that controls filling with a timer to perform filling, and the second filling machine is configured as a weight-type filling apparatus that performs filling while controlling the filling amount while measuring with a load cell. And rotary filling machine. In the rotary filling machine according to claim 1,
Container transport means for transporting the filled container filled in the first filling machine to the subsequent process without passing through the second filling machine, and the second filling machine without passing the empty container before filling from the previous process through the first filling machine. A rotary filling machine comprising a container transporting means for transporting to a container.   At least half of the number of filling nozzles in the case of a single filling machine instead of achieving a predetermined capacity with only one filling machine in a rotary filling machine in which filling valves for filling a container with liquid are equally divided. A first filling machine having the number of filling nozzles, and a second filling machine having a number obtained by subtracting the number of nozzles of the first filling machine from the number of filling nozzles when the number of filling nozzles is the same as that of the first filling machine or only one. Are connected in series, the first filling machine pre-fills more than half of the predetermined filling amount, and then the second filling machine precisely fills the first filling machine until the predetermined filling amount is reached. A filling method for a rotary filling machine, wherein a predetermined capacity is produced by both of the filling machines. In the filling method of the rotary filling machine according to claim 4,
The first filling machine is a timer-type filling device that controls filling on / off with a timer, and the second filling machine is a weight-type filling device that controls and fills while measuring the filling amount with a load cell, just before filling with the second filling machine. The filling method of the rotary filling machine is characterized in that the filling amount in the first filling machine is measured and controlled by the load cell, and the filling accuracy of each filling nozzle of the first filling machine is feedback controlled to the first filling machine side. In the filling method of the rotary filling machine according to claim 4,
A filling method for a rotary filling machine, wherein the first filling machine is filled with liquid A and the second filling machine is filled with liquid B.   At least half of the number of filling nozzles in the case of a single filling machine in a rotary filling machine in which filling valves for filling a container with liquid are equally divided, rather than achieving a predetermined capacity with only one filling machine. A first filling machine having the number of filling nozzles, and a second filling machine having a number obtained by subtracting the number of nozzles of the first filling machine from the number of filling nozzles when the number of filling nozzles is the same as that of the first filling machine or only one. Are connected in series, and a container transport means for transporting the post-filling container filled in the first filling machine to the subsequent process without passing through the second filling machine is provided, and the empty container before filling is removed from the previous process. A filling method for a rotary filling machine, characterized in that a container carrying means for carrying to a second filling machine without passing through the first filling machine is provided, and one-lung operation is performed by either the first filling machine or the second filling machine. .

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