JP2021041938A - Filling method and filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a filling method of filling even a flexible container with product liquid containing carbonic acid in high speed while keeping a shape of the container.SOLUTION: In a filling method of product liquid in the present invention, the product liquid stored in a storage tank applied with counter pressure PF via a liquid feed passage is filled in a container 100 with inside initial pressure PB0 set at positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, and the method has a differential pressure filling step and an exhaust gas filling step. In the differential pressure filling step, product liquid L is filled from a storage tank 3 into a container 100 by a pressure difference between the initial pressure PB0 and the counter pressure PF. In the exhaust gas filling step, while keeping the pressure PB of the container 100 at a keeping pressure PB3 of the counter pressure PF or less, and while exhausting gas components in the container 100, the product liquid L is filled into the container 100 from the storage tank 3.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a filling method suitable for filling a flexible container with a product liquid such as a beverage.

Conventionally, as a method of filling a container with a carbonated beverage, for example, the counter pressure method disclosed in Patent Document 1 has been generally used.
Since the counter pressure method takes a long time to fill, as disclosed in Patent Documents 2 and 3, in recent years, carbonic acid is pressurized in a storage tank in a container whose inside is negatively pressured in advance. A method has been proposed in which the contained product liquid is injected at once. In this filling, the filling amount is controlled by monitoring the change over time of the pressure rise inside the container while ejecting the product liquid containing carbonic acid into the container.

In the filling by the pre-evacuation method according to Patent Documents 2 and 3, the product liquid is filled by utilizing the pressure difference between the container and the reservoir, so that the product liquid is filled at an extremely high speed as compared with the counter pressure method. be able to.

Jikken Sho 59-23758 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-199545 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2015-199546

As described above, in the filling according to Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 3, the product liquid can be filled in the container in a short time, but the target container is limited. That is, since the pre-evacuation method needs to make the inside of the container a negative pressure prior to filling the product liquid, it can be applied only to a container having rigidity such as a glass bottle. For example, when the pre-evacuation method according to Patent Documents 2 and 3 is applied to a flexible plastic container, the plastic container cannot withstand negative pressure and is crushed. Further, Patent Document 3 describes that a chamber in which the entire container is housed is pre-evacuated in the chamber, but a large-scale device is required, which is structurally complicated and economical. It will be disadvantageous.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a filling method capable of filling a beverage or other product liquid at high speed while maintaining its shape even in a flexible container.

Method of filling product solution in the present invention, the product solution counter pressure P _F is stored in the storage tank is added, the filling liquid supply passage in a container inside the initial pressure P _B0 is the more positive atmospheric pressure filling the target filling amount Q _G through.
The filling method in the present invention includes a differential pressure filling step and an exhaust filling step.
Differential pressure filling step fills the container the product solution from the storage tank on the basis of the pressure difference between the high counter pressure P _F than the initial pressure P _B0 and the initial pressure P _B0 of the container.
In the exhaust filling step, the pressure P _{B of the container is maintained at the maintenance pressure P B3} which is equal to or lower than the counter pressure P _F while exhausting the gas component inside the container, and the amount corresponding to the difference from the target filling amount Q _G. Fill the container with the product liquid from the storage tank.

In differential pressure filling step of the present invention, preferably, if the pressure P _B reaches a set pressure P _B1 below counter pressure P _F, to stop the supply of the product solution.

The filling method of the present invention preferably includes a difference calculation step. This step calculates the amount corresponding to the difference based on _{the peak pressure P B2} of the container measured after the supply of the product liquid is stopped. In the exhaust filling step, the product liquid in an amount corresponding to the difference calculated in the difference calculation step is filled.

In the present invention, when the peak pressure P _B2 is higher than the counter pressure P _F , the exhaust filling step is preferably performed after lowering the container pressure P _B to the set pressure P _{B 3.} Further, in the present invention, when the peak pressure P _B2 is lower than the counter pressure P _F , the exhaust filling step is preferably performed after raising the container pressure P _B to the set pressure P _{B 3.}

In the differential pressure filling step of the present invention, preferably, the product liquid is filled in the container by the pressure difference without exhausting the gas component of _{the pressure P B sealed inside the container to the outside.}

The present invention provides a reservoir product solution is stored under a counter pressure P _F is added environment, and filling liquid supply passage for filling the product solution into the container from the reservoir, the filling device comprising a. Filling device of the present invention is a positive pressure above atmospheric pressure, and the kept at the counter pressure P lower than the _F initial pressure P _B0 in the reservoir container, and the pressure P _B of the counter pressure P _F and the container Fill the product solution based on the pressure difference of. Filling device of the present invention, then, while maintaining the pressure P _B in the counter pressure P _F less maintenance pressure P _B3, while exhausting the inside of the gas component of the container, corresponding to the difference between the target charge Q _G Fill the container with the amount of product liquid from the storage tank.

According to the present invention, in the differential pressure filling step, in a state in which the differential pressure (pressure P _{B0 <pressure} P _F) is formed between the initial pressure P _B0 and counter pressure P _F of the container, the product liquid in the container is Since it is filled, high-speed filling is realized. Moreover, according to the present invention, since a positive pressure either is equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure in the initial pressure P _B0 and counter pressure P _F before filling product solution, without the container collapses through the differential pressure filling step shape Can be maintained. Further, according to the present invention, since the filling amount deficient in the differential pressure filling step is supplemented in the exhaust filling step, the target amount can be filled at high speed.

It is a figure which shows the basic procedure of the filling method which concerns on this invention. It is a figure which shows the main structure of the filling apparatus which carries out the filling method which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the start time of the filling operation of the filling device of FIG. Continuing from FIG. 3, (a) indicates the start time of differential pressure filling, and (b) indicates the end time of differential pressure filling. Continuing from FIG. 4, (a) shows the start time of exhaust gas filling, and (b) shows the end time of exhaust gas filling. It is a flowchart which shows the procedure of the filling method which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the procedure which concerns on the modification of this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main configuration of a filling device for performing the procedure according to FIG. 7 (b).

Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8 attached.
[Filling procedure of the embodiment]
First, with reference to FIG. 1, the outline of the basic procedure of the filling method in the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, this procedure includes a differential pressure filling step and an exhaust filling step, and the exhaust filling step supplements an amount of product liquid L that is less than the target filling amount in the differential pressure filling step.

In the differential pressure filling step, the product liquid L is filled by the pressure difference between the storage tank 3 and the container 100 for storing the product liquid L. Please refer to FIG. 2 for the storage tank 3 and the like. Further, in FIG. 1, the vertical axis on the left side indicates the pressure P, the vertical axis on the right side indicates the filling amount Q of the product liquid L, and the horizontal axis indicates the elapsed time T. Further, in the graph, the line segments labeled VL and VG indicate ON (open) and OFF (closed) of the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe. The liquid supply valve VL is an on-off valve that controls the filling of the product liquid L from the storage tank 3 into the container 100, and the gas exhaust valve VGe is an on-off valve that controls the discharge of gas from the container 100 to the outside of the system. Is.

As shown in FIG. 1, previously the pressure difference ΔP between the counter pressure _P F to be added to the internal of the initial pressure _{P B0} of the container 100 to the reservoir _{3 (> P B0) (P} F -P B0) is formed Will be done. Initial pressure P _B0 is, for example, atmospheric pressure (1 atm), the counter pressure P _F is the pressure above atmospheric pressure necessary for product liquid L handled, for example, 5 atm.
Differential pressure filling step fills the product liquid L in the container 100 by utilizing the pressure difference ΔP _(P F _{-P B0).} Closed and had the Open (OFF) liquid supply valve VL (ON), the initial pressure _{P B0} is with increased toward the counter pressure _{P F,} the product liquid L is filled into the container 100.

Here, FIG. 1 assumes that the filling of the product liquid L into the container 100 is stopped at the same time as closing the liquid supply valve VL, and the product liquid _{until the pressure P B of the} container 100 matches the counter pressure P _F. An example in which L is filled in the container 100 is shown. However, as will be described later in detail, in the differential pressure filling according to the present embodiment, to some cases where the pressure P _B exceeds the counter pressure P _F, there is a case where the pressure P _B is less than the counter pressure P _F.

Even if the container 100 has flexibility, the _{container 100 will not be crushed as long as the initial pressure P B0} is included and the pressure P _B is maintained at a positive pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure. In the present embodiment, through the differential pressure filling step, the pressure P _B is atmospheric pressure to counter a range of pressure P _F, so is maintained in a range of, for example, 1 to 5 atmospheres, container 100 does not collapse.

As shown in FIG. 1, when the filling amount of the differential pressure filling step and Q _11, the differential pressure loading Q ₁₁ does not satisfy the target filling amount Q _G of the container 100. The exhaust loading Q ₁₂ is insufficient relative to the target filling amount Q _G supplement in the exhaust filling step.
Note that before the exhaust filling step, as shown in FIG. 1, is performed calculating step of obtaining by calculation the exhaust charge Q _12, during which is closed both the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe. The calculation step will be described later.

In the exhaust filling step, both the gas exhaust valve VGe and the liquid supply valve VL are opened as shown in FIG. The product liquid L is filled in the container 100 from the storage tank 3 until the exhaust filling amount Q _{12 is reached while the pressure P B 3 is maintained constant.} During this time, the pressure _{P B} is maintained constant to maintain the pressure _{P B3} below the counter pressure _{P F.} During this time, by opening the gas exhaust valve VGe, for example, carbon dioxide gas contained in the container 100 is discharged from the container 100, and the container 100 is filled with the product liquid L in an amount corresponding to the discharged carbon dioxide gas. If the exhaust loadings Q ₁₂ is filled, both closing the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe.
Are as described above, the differential pressure filling step and the exhaust fill step, the container 100 product liquid L target filling amount Q _G is filled.

[Details of filling device and filling method]
Hereinafter, the filling device and the filling method according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 6.
The filling device 1A according to the present embodiment has only a differential pressure filling step utilizing the pressure difference between the storage tank 3 in which the product liquid L is stored and the container 100 in which the product liquid L is filled, and differential pressure filling. Then, the product liquid L is filled at high speed by performing the exhaust filling step of filling the amount insufficient to the target filling amount. Beverages are applied to this product liquid L as an example of the present invention. In the filling device 1A of the present embodiment, since the inside of the container 100 has a positive pressure of atmospheric pressure or higher at the time of starting filling, the shape of the plastic container 100 is maintained. The filling of the product liquid L can be completed.

[Components of Filling Device 1A]
As shown in FIG. 2, the filling device 1A includes a storage tank 3 in which the product liquid L is stored, and a filling liquid supply passage 7 for guiding the product liquid L stored in the storage tank 3 to the container 100. .. For example, carbon dioxide gas CG is stored in the gas phase 3S, which is a space above the product liquid L in the storage tank 3. Counter pressure P _F of carbon dioxide CG in the reservoir 3 in the gas phase 3S is controlled to a constant pressure above atmospheric corresponding to the characteristics of the product liquid L filling. The second pressure sensor 17 is provided for controlling the counter pressure P _F. Further, the product liquid L is replenished when the container 100 is filled with the product liquid L, and the liquid level in the storage tank 3 is controlled to be in a fixed position.

One end side of the filling liquid supply passage 7 is connected to the lower end portion of the storage tank 3, and the other end side of the filling liquid supply passage 7 is provided so as to face the mouth portion 101 of the container 100. The filling liquid supply passage 7 includes a liquid supply valve VL that opens and closes a flow path through which the product liquid L flows.
When the product liquid L is filled, the other end side of the filling liquid supply passage 7 is hermetically sealed with the mouth portion of the container 100. The same applies to the gas exhaust passage 11. Further, FIG. 2 shows an example in which the product liquid L is filled from one storage tank 3 to one container 100, but this merely shows the minimum unit of the filling device 1A. In the filling device used for actual production, the product liquid L can be filled from one storage tank 3 into a plurality of containers 100.

The gas exhaust passage 11 is provided so that one end side faces the container 100 and the other end is open to the environment under atmospheric pressure. The gas exhaust passage 11 includes a gas exhaust valve VGe that opens and closes a flow path through which carbon dioxide CG flows from the container 100. Further, the gas exhaust passage 11 is provided with a throttle 13 on the upstream side of the gas exhaust valve VGe. The throttle 13 controls the amount of carbon dioxide CG exhausted from the container 100.

Filling device 1A includes a first pressure sensor 15 for detecting the internal pressure _{P B} of the container 100 of volume _{V B,} and the second pressure sensor 17 for detecting a counter pressure _{P F} of the gas phase 3S of reservoir 3, the Be prepared. The pressure P _B inside the container 100 is the total pressure of the volume of the container 100 at the time of forming the differential pressure before the product liquid L is filled, and when the product liquid L is filled, the liquid level of the product liquid L is high. It is the pressure of the head space, which is the space above. When the product liquid L begins to be filled, the pressure P _B rises from the initial pressure P _{B 0} toward the counter pressure P _F.
The first pressure sensor 15 is provided in the gas exhaust passage 11 between the throttle 13 and the container 100. The second pressure sensor 17 is connected to the gas phase 3S of the storage tank 3.

The filling device 1A includes a supply / exhaust mechanism 40 that controls the supply / exhaust of the product liquid L and the supply / exhaust of gas in association with the storage tank 3.
The supply / discharge mechanism 40 includes a liquid supply path 41 provided with a pump 42 and a liquid control valve 48. The liquid supply path 41 replenishes the storage tank 3 with the product liquid L from a supply source (not shown) due to the operation of the pump 42 and the liquid control valve 48.
Further, the supply / discharge mechanism 40 includes a gas supply path 43 for supplying carbon dioxide gas CG to the gas phase 3S of the storage tank 3 and a gas discharge path 45 for discharging carbon dioxide gas CG from the gas phase 3S of the storage tank 3. .. A gas valve 44 is provided in the gas supply path 43, and a gas valve 46 is provided in the gas discharge path 45.

The filling device 1A includes a controller 2 that controls the opening / closing operation of the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe.
_{The controller 2 acquires the pressure P B} and the counter pressure P _F inside the container 100 detected by the first pressure sensor 15 and the second pressure sensor 17, and opens and closes the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe. To control. Further, the controller 2 controls the opening / closing operation of the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe based on the setting conditions required for the product liquid L filled by the filling device 1A. Further, the controller 2 controls the operations of the pump 42 and the liquid control valve 48 of the liquid supply path 41 so that the liquid level of the product liquid L in the storage tank 3 is in a fixed position. Furthermore, the control unit 2, so that the counter pressure P _F is constant, to control the opening and closing operation of the gas valve 46 of the gas valve 44 and the gas discharge passage 45 of the gas supply passage 43.

[Beverage filling procedure]
Next, a method of filling the container 100 with the product liquid L using the filling device 1A will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6. In FIGS. 3 to 6, the open liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe are shown in white, and the closed liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe are shown in black.
The filling method according to the present embodiment includes a differential pressure filling step and an exhaust filling step.
In the differential pressure filling step, as an example, the container 100 replaced with carbon dioxide gas CG at atmospheric pressure is filled with the product liquid L by the pressure difference from the storage tank 3. In this differential pressure filling, only the product liquid L, which is smaller than the target filling amount in the container 100, is filled. In the exhaust filling step, the container 100 is filled with the product liquid L that is insufficient for the target filling amount.

[Differential pressure formation step (FIG. 6 S101)]
As shown in FIG. 3, the series of steps starts from the initial state in which both the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe are closed. In the initial state, the container 100 is at _{atmospheric pressure (P B0} = atmospheric pressure) replaced with carbon dioxide gas CG as an example of the _{initial pressure P B0.}
Meanwhile, inside the reservoir 3, the product liquid L has been added is the counter pressure P _F above atmospheric pressure from the gas phase 3S, pressure differential between the interior of the container 100 and the interior of the reservoir 3 Is formed (FIG. 6, differential pressure forming step S101).
Hereinafter, each step will be described in order. The gas phase 3S is composed of a gas component necessary for maintaining the characteristics of the product liquid L, for example, carbon dioxide gas.

[Differential pressure filling step (FIGS. 4 (a), 4 (b), 6 S103)]
For differential pressure filling, as shown in FIG. 4A, the liquid supply valve VL is first opened to allow the storage tank 3 and the container 100 to communicate with each other. The storage tank 3 whereas a lower pressure environment counter pressure P _F is applied above atmospheric pressure P _B is the atmospheric pressure. Thus, the product liquid L starts to be filled at high speed in a container 100 from reservoir 3 at a flow rate and a flow rate corresponding to the pressure difference between the counter pressure P _F and the initial pressure P _B0 (FIG differential pressure filling step S103). The pressure P _B rises as the filling progresses.

Here, the pressure of the container 100 is continuously detected by the first pressure sensor 15 during the differential pressure filling. The pressure detected by the first pressure sensor 15 is the pressure P _B in the head space 105 of the container 100.
_{When the pressure P B} detected by the first pressure sensor 15 reaches the set pressure P _B1 , the liquid supply valve VL is closed to stop the filling of the product liquid L, as shown in FIG. 4 (b). The product liquid L is filled up to the first taste line TL1. This ends the operation of the differential pressure filling, the product liquid L is filled by the differential pressure filling amount Q _11. During this differential pressure filling, the carbon dioxide gas CG contained in the container 100 is filled while being confined in the container 100, so that the pressure P _B inside the container 100 rises.

Here, the liquid supply valve VL is closed based on the set pressure P _B1 , but the present embodiment is not limited to this. For example, the rising waveform of the pressure P _{B of the container 100 is obtained, the set time TF} is experimentally obtained in advance from the elapsed time and the pressure according to the waveform, and the liquid supply valve VL is closed based on _{this set time TF.} You can also. However, the set time T _F does not have to be exactly the same as the experimentally obtained value. It can be set shorter setting time T _F than experimental value for the purpose of shortening the filling time can be set longer set time T _F than experimental value for the purpose of stabilizing the state of the product liquid L. The same applies to exhaust filling.

[Exhaust filling amount calculation step (FIG. 6 S105)]
Differential pressure loading Q ₁₁ to be filled into the container 100 in the differential pressure filling is obtained by the following equation (1). As shown in FIG. 1, the differential pressure filling amount Q ₁₁ is based on the premise that _{the peak pressure P B2 of the container 100 coincides with the counter pressure P F} of the storage tank 3. The peak pressure P _B2 is detected by the first pressure sensor 15. Moreover, the volume _{V H} of the differential pressure loadings _{Q 11} only product liquid L headspace 105 of the container 100 after it has been filled (FIG. 4 (b)) is obtained by the following equation (2). The equations (1) and (2) are based on Boyle's law, and the same applies to the equations (3) to (7) described later. The difference between the target filling amount Q _G and the differential pressure filling amount Q ₁₁ coincides with the _{exhaust filling amount Q 12} in the exhaust filling step.

Differential pressure filling amount Q ₁₁ = (1-P _B0 / P _B2 ) × V _B … Equation (1)
Headspace volume V _H1 = P _B0 / P _B2 x V _B ... Equation (2)
P _B0 : Initial pressure of container 100 P _B2 : Peak pressure of _{container 100 V B} : Volume of container 100 V _H1 : Volume of headspace 105 after differential pressure filling

For example, the initial pressure P _B0 of the container 100 is 1 atm and the peak pressure P _B2 is 5 atm. Then, the exhaust filling amount Q ₁₂ and the head space volume V _H1 are as follows, and the product liquid L is filled by the differential pressure filling amount Q _{11 corresponding to 4/5 of the volume V B of the container 100 in the differential pressure filling.} Therefore, it is necessary to fill the remaining _{amount corresponding to Q G} -4/5 × V _{B in the exhaust filling.} The amount corresponding to the remaining Q _G -4/5 × V _B corresponds to the exhaust filling amount Q _{12 required to satisfy the target filling amount Q G} of the container 100.
Above arithmetic processing is performed by the control unit 2, the control unit 2 so that the exhaust charge Q ₁₂ obtained, controls the opening and closing operation of the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe.
Exhaust filling amount Q ₁₂ = 4/5 ・ V _B
Headspace volume V _H1 = 1/5 ・ V _B

Here, in the process of differential pressure filling, the withstand pressure of the container 100 needs to be higher than the _{pressure P B applied to the inside of the container 100.} This also applies to exhaust filling.
The pressure resistance of the container 100 and P _P, when the pressure P _B after the differential pressure filling product liquid L, it is necessary to satisfy the following equation (3). Assuming that the counter pressure P _F of the gas phase 3S is 5 atm, the initial pressure P _{B0 of the container 100 is 1 atm, and the peak pressure P B2} after the completion of the differential pressure filling of the container 100 is, for example, 6 atm, this differential pressure is the maximum value. pressure resistance P _P of the container 100 required for the filling is 6 atm.
P _P > P _B = V _B / (V _B −Q ₁₁ )… Equation (3)

[Exhaust filling step (FIGS. 5 (a), 5 (b), FIG. 6 S107)]
Exhaust filling is performed after differential pressure filling. Exhaust filling only exhaust charge Q ₁₂ is a difference between the target charge Q _G and the differential pressure loading Q ₁₁ performs the filling of the product liquid L.
For exhaust filling, as shown in FIG. 5A, the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe are opened.

When the gas exhaust valve VGe is opened, the head space 105 of the container 100 communicates with the atmosphere through the gas exhaust passage 11, but the pressure P _B in the head space 105 is higher than the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the carbon dioxide gas CG that fills the headspace 105 is discharged to the atmosphere. Along with this, the product liquid L is filled from the storage tank 3 into the container 100 (FIG. 6, exhaust filling step S107). A throttle 13 is provided in the gas exhaust passage 11, and the pressure P _{B of the} container 100 is stably held constant at the maintenance pressure P _{B 3} , while the product liquid L is filled in the container 100 at a constant filling speed S. To. If the product liquid L filled by exhaust filling amount Q ₁₂ reaches the second Nyuaji line TL2, as illustrated in FIG. 5 (b), closing the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe. Both the diaphragm 13 having a constant opening degree and the diaphragm 13 having an adjustable opening degree can be applied.

The control unit 2, based on the exhaust gas loading Q ₁₂ a constant filling rate S, the filling time T ₁₂ required to fill the exhaust filling amount Q ₁₂ obtained by the equation (4), a liquid supply valve VL and gas The exhaust valve VGe can be closed.
Filling time T ₁₂ = Q ₁₂ / S ... Equation (4)

_{Further, the controller 2 can also control the exhaust filling amount Q 12} of the product liquid L by the exhaust filling step by the following method.
Set in advance as the reference height the height of Nyuaji line corresponding to the target filling amount Q _G in the container 100. The liquid level of the container 100 filled with the product liquid L is photographed by an image processing system, and when the taste line of the product liquid L photographed by the digital camera reaches the reference height, the exhaust filling amount Q ₁₂ is filled. The liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe are closed.

The amount filled at this time corresponds to the difference. The amount of filled finished exhaust filling product liquid L, i.e. the target filling amount Q _G is determined by the following equation (5).
Target filling amount Q _G = (1-P _B0 / P _B2 ) × V _B … Equation (5)

[Capping step (FIG. 6 S109)]
Upon completion of the filling of the target filling amount Q _G, from being transferred to situ or elsewhere, the cap is applied to the mouth portion 101 of the container 100 (capping step). Further, a label is attached to the container 100, and the like, the series of steps of manufacturing a beverage product centering on filling the container 100 with the product liquid L is completed.

[Deviation of peak pressure P _{B2 of container 100]}
In the above, an example has been described in which _{the peak pressure P B2} of the container 100 coincides with the counter pressure P _F , assuming that the filling of the product liquid L into the container 100 is stopped at the same time when the liquid supply valve VL is closed. However, in reality, some of the peak pressure P _B2 is greater than the counter pressure P _F, the peak pressure P _B2 is sometimes smaller than the counter pressure P _F. Hereinafter, the former is referred to as Form 1 and the latter is referred to as Form 2.

There are two main factors in which the peak pressure P _B2 does not match the counter pressure P _{F and becomes Form 1 or Form 2.}

The first factor is that inertia is generated in the product liquid L filled in the container 100 by using the pressure difference. That is, even if the liquid supply valve VL is closed, the movement of the product liquid L in which inertia is generated does not stop immediately, so that the supply of the product liquid L to the container 100 continues. As a result, for example, even if the _{liquid supply valve VL is closed when the pressure P B of the} container 100 reaches the counter pressure P _F , the product liquid L is filled in the container 100, so that the peak pressure P _{B2 of the container 100 is increased accordingly.} It would exceed the counter pressure P _F.

The second factor is that when the product liquid L is filled in the container 100, a part of the gas component is once released from the product liquid L, but then redissolved in the product liquid L. That is, since the product liquid L is filled in the container 100 having a lower pressure than the storage tank 3 up to that point, the gas component is released from the product liquid L. However, as the filling progresses, the pressure of the container 100 also increases, so that the gas component once released is redissolved in the product liquid L. As a result, for example, even in the pressure P _B is temporarily reaches the counter pressure P _F, the re-dissolution of the gas components, the pressure P _B is shifted to a value lower than the counter pressure P _F. Atmosphere is also included in the gas components, but carbon dioxide is more prominently released and redissolved than the atmosphere.

In the above embodiment 1 corresponding to the factors of First, it is necessary to close the previously liquid supply valve VL the pressure P _B reaches a counter pressure P _F. Further, in the second form corresponding to the second factor, it is necessary to close the liquid supply valve VL in consideration of the release and redissolution of carbon dioxide gas. Hereinafter, the first and second forms will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The filling device 1B shown in FIG. 8 has the same configuration as the filling device 1A shown in FIG. 2 except that the filling device 1B provided with the gas supply path 12 and the gas supply valves VGs necessary for executing the second embodiment. There is. The gas supply path 12 is connected to a gas supply source (not shown), and the supply and stop of the gas component to the container 100, and in the present embodiment, carbon dioxide gas is controlled by opening and closing the gas supply valves VGs.

[Form 1: Peak pressure P _B2 > Counter pressure P _F ]
The procedure from differential pressure filling to exhaust filling in the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 7A.
_{When the pressure P B} reaches the set pressure P _B1 after opening the liquid supply valve VL and starting the differential pressure filling, the liquid supply valve VL is closed. The set pressure P _B1 is lower than the counter pressure P _F. Since the product liquid L continues to be supplied to the container 100 due to inertia, the pressure P _B reaches the peak pressure P _{B 2} exceeding the counter pressure P _F.

After that, when the gas exhaust valve VGe is opened and the pressure P _B drops to the maintenance pressure P _{B3 lower than the peak pressure P B2} , the liquid supply valve VL is opened with the gas exhaust valve VGe open to fill the exhaust gas. When the exhaust gas filling amount Q ₁₂ is filled, the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe are closed to finish the exhaust filling.

The set pressure P _B1 in the first embodiment can be experimentally filled with various values to select the optimum value. Relatively, the peak pressure _{P B2} when the set pressure _{P B1} is too low can not exceed the counter pressure _{P F.} Further, if the set pressure P _B1 is too high and the peak pressure P _B2 greatly exceeds the counter pressure P _F , it takes time to lower the _{peak pressure P B2} to the maintenance pressure P _B3.

[Form 2: Peak pressure P _B2 <Counter pressure P _F ]
Next, with respect to the second form, the procedure from the differential pressure filling to the exhaust filling will be described with reference to FIG. 7 (b).
_{When the pressure P B} reaches the set pressure P _B1 after opening the liquid supply valve VL and starting the differential pressure filling, the liquid supply valve VL is closed. The set pressure P _B1 is smaller than the counter pressure P _F. The pressure P _B reaches a peak pressure P _B2 lower than the counter pressure P _F. After reaching the peak pressure P _B2 , the gas component released from the product liquid L during differential pressure filling is redissolved in the product liquid L, so that the pressure P _B becomes a constant pressure lower than the peak pressure P _{B 2.} It fits. This pressure is also lower than the counter pressure P _F.

After that, the gas supply valves VGs are opened to supply the gas component to the container 100. When the pressure P _B reaches the maintenance pressure P _B3 equal to the counter pressure P _F , the gas supply valve VGs is closed and the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe are opened to fill the exhaust gas. When the exhaust gas filling amount Q ₁₂ is filled, the liquid supply valve VL and the gas exhaust valve VGe are closed to finish the exhaust filling.

The set pressure P _B1 in the second embodiment can also be experimentally filled with various values to select the optimum value. Relatively, if the set pressure P _B1 is too low, the time for supplying the gas component to the container 100 becomes long. Further, if the set pressure P _{B1 is too high, the peak pressure P B2} exceeds the counter pressure P _F even if the gas component is released and redissolved.

[Effect of this embodiment]
The effects of the present embodiment described above will be described.
_{In this embodiment, the pressure P B} is atmospheric pressure when the differential pressure filling of the product liquid L is started. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, even if the container 100 made of resin and having flexibility is targeted for filling, the shape of the container 100 can be maintained without being crushed.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, when the differential pressure filling and the exhaust filling of the product liquid L are started, the counter pressure P _F of the storage tank 3 is set higher than the initial pressure P _{B 0 of the container 100.} Therefore, according to the present embodiment, since the product liquid L is sent to the container 100 by utilizing this pressure difference, the product liquid L can be filled in the container 100 at high speed.

Further, in the present embodiment, since the two-stage filling including the differential pressure filling and the exhaust filling is performed, the container 100 can be reliably filled with the product liquid L in an amount satisfying the _{target filling amount Q G.}

Further, in the differential pressure filling of the present embodiment, the carbon dioxide gas CG appears as bubbles because the pressure is momentarily released immediately after the container 100 is filled. However, in addition to the fineness of the bubbles, the pressure P _B rises in the time until the completion of filling, so that the bubbles are immediately redissolved in the product liquid and disappear. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the work of attaching the cap to the container 100 can be started quickly after the differential pressure filling and the exhaust filling.

In the present embodiment, in the filling of the beverage containing carbon dioxide gas CG, the inside of the container 100 is replaced with the carbon dioxide gas CG having a predetermined concentration prior to the differential pressure filling. As a result, in the present embodiment, the concentration of carbon dioxide gas contained in the product liquid L can be maintained at a predetermined value while avoiding oxygen from being mixed in the product liquid L. For non-gas beverages, the air pressure may remain at atmospheric pressure.

In addition to the above, as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated, the configuration described in the above embodiment can be selected or changed to another configuration as appropriate.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example of a beverage containing carbonic acid as a product liquid has been described, but the present invention can be applied to a beverage containing no carbonic acid and other product liquids.
Further, in the present embodiment, the gas inside of the container 100 before the counter pressure P _F and filling for directed to a carbonated beverage, is used carbon dioxide gas. However, in the present invention, not only carbon dioxide gas but also a gas component necessary for maintaining the characteristics of the product liquid filled in the container, for example, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas can be used.
Further, although the container 100 described in the present embodiment is made of resin, the filling target in the present invention is not limited to the resin container, but is also applicable to other flexible containers such as metal can containers. it can. Further, the present invention does not exclude, for example, glass bottles having no flexibility from the filling target.

1A, 1B Filling device 2 Controller 3 Storage tank 7 Filling liquid supply passage 11 Gas exhaust passage 12 Gas supply passage 13 Squeezing 15 First pressure sensor 17 Second pressure sensor 40 Supply / discharge mechanism 41 Liquid supply passage 42 Pump 43 Gas supply passage 44,46 Gas valve 48 Liquid control valve 100 Container 101 Mouth 105 Headspace

Claims (7)

The counter pressure P _F is the product solution to be stored in the storage tank is added to fill the target filling amount Q _G through the filling liquid supply passage in a container inside the initial pressure P _B0 is the more positive atmospheric pressure It ’s a method,
Differential pressure filling step of filling the product solution based on the pressure difference between the initial pressure P _B0 and the initial pressure P _B0 said counter pressure P _F is higher than of the container into the container from the reservoir,
While exhausting the gas component inside the container and maintaining the pressure P _{B of the container at the maintenance pressure P B3} equal to or lower than the counter pressure P _F , the amount corresponding to the difference from the target filling amount Q _G. An exhaust filling step of filling the container with the product liquid from the storage tank, and
A method of filling a product liquid comprising.
In the differential pressure filling step
When the pressure P _B reaches the set pressure P _B1 which is less than the counter pressure P _F , the supply of the product liquid is stopped.
The filling method according to claim 1.
A difference calculation step for calculating an amount corresponding to the difference based on _{the peak pressure P B2 of the} container measured after the supply of the product liquid is stopped is provided.
In the exhaust filling step, the product liquid in an amount corresponding to the difference calculated in the difference calculation step is filled.
The filling method according to claim 2.
If the peak pressure _{P B2} is higher than the counter pressure _{P F,}
After lowering the pressure P _B of the container to the set pressure P _{B 3} , the exhaust filling step is performed.
The filling method according to claim 3.
If the peak pressure _{P B2} is lower than the counter pressure _{P F,}
After raising the pressure P _B of the container to the set pressure P _{B 3} , the exhaust filling step is performed.
The filling method according to claim 3.
In the differential pressure filling step
The product liquid is filled in the container by the pressure difference without exhausting the gas component of the _{pressure P B} sealed inside the container to the outside.
The filling method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, according to claim 1.
A reservoir where the product solution is stored under a counter pressure P _F is added environment,
A filling liquid supply passage for filling the container with the product liquid from the storage tank is provided.
A positive pressure above atmospheric pressure, and the vessel kept at the counter pressure P lower than the _F initial pressure P _B0 in the reservoir, the pressure of the pressure P _B of the container and the counter pressure P _F Based on the difference, the product liquid is filled and
Then, while maintaining the pressure P _B in the counter pressure P _F less maintenance pressure P _B3, while exhausting the inside of the gas component of the container, the amount of the product corresponding to the difference between the target charge Q _G A filling device that fills the container with liquid from the storage tank.

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