JP2514158B2 - Weighing and filling system - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention contains a weight measuring device for measuring the weight of pulp contained in a fruit juice container, which contains, for example, mandarin orange juice, etc., and the pulp measured by the weight measuring device. The present invention relates to a weighing and filling system including a filling device for filling a juice container with fruit juice.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a filling system of this kind,
For example, a constant weight filling type system can be mentioned. In this constant weight filling type filling system, for example, a container is placed on a weight measuring device such as a load cell, the container weight is measured, and then this measured value is reset, and filling from a filling nozzle connected to a cylinder is performed. The liquid is jetted into the container, and while the weight of the liquid to be filled is monitored by the load cell, the liquid to be filled is filled to a predetermined target measured value and the filling operation is stopped.

In this filling system, a large diameter nozzle is used to increase the filling speed in order to increase the filling capacity at a relatively high filling speed. However, if the liquid to be filled in the container reaches the vicinity of the target measured value at a high filling speed, the filled amount may overshoot and exceed the target measured value.

Therefore, a large-diameter nozzle is used until the measured value is close to the target measured value, and the large-diameter nozzle is switched to the small-diameter nozzle at an appropriate timing when the liquid to be filled approaches the target measured value. As well as
At the end of filling, the controllable filling amount is made as small as possible to improve the filling accuracy with respect to the target measured value.

[0005]

By the way, in the case of the constant weight filling type filling system described above, the weight of a statically set object (for example, only a filling container or a filling container containing a solid substance) is The measured value can be detected relatively accurately. On the other hand, since the load cell is inherently vulnerable to vibration, when the liquid to be filled is filled, vibration of the filling container causes variation in the weighing accuracy of the filling weight, which causes a decrease in the filling accuracy. .

For example, as shown in FIG. 7, when the total target filling amount, which is the total weight of the pulp 80 and the juice 63, is set to a constant value in advance, a constant weight filling type filling system is used. An example in which the weight of the fruit juice is weighed and then the fruit juice 63 is further weighed and filled will be described. Since the pulp is a natural product, it is generally inevitable that the individual weights vary.

For example, when the fruit juice container 52 and the pulp 80 put in the fruit juice container 52 are solids or solids and are in a static state, their weights are measured relatively accurately by the load cell. After that, the filling system fills the fruit juice 63 toward the total target filling amount while measuring the load cell by switching between the large diameter nozzle and the small diameter nozzle.

However, according to this constant weight filling type filling system, due to the vibration during filling as described above,
There is a problem that the weight of the fruit juice 63 cannot be measured with the original measurement accuracy of the load cell, and the fruit juice 63 cannot be filled accurately and at high speed.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems. For example, the weight of the flesh or the like contained in a juice container or the like is accurately measured, and the fruit juice or the like is based on the weight of the flesh or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide a metering and filling system capable of automatically changing the target filling volume such as the above and filling the juice container of the changed target filling volume into the juice container with high accuracy and at high speed. It is a thing.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, a weighing and filling system according to the present invention comprises a weight weighing device for weighing the first object to be filled stored in a filling container,
And a filling device that fills the second filling object into the filling container that contains the first filling object that is weighed by the weight measuring device. The filling device sends out the second filling object and discharges the second filling object into the filling container. Positive displacement pump, an electric servomotor for driving the positive displacement pump, and a target filling volume of the second filling object calculated and set based on the weight of the first filling object measured by the weight measuring device. Target volume calculation device and a power source according to the pulse waveform data corresponding to the target filling volume of the second filling object set by the target quantity calculation device to the servomotor to deliver the second filling object of the positive displacement pump. And a control device for controlling the amount.

It is extremely suitable that the first object to be filled is, for example, a solid material from which a stable weight measurement value can be obtained. Further, the pulse waveform data mentioned here includes data such as a pulse cycle, a pulse width, the number of pulses within a predetermined period, a motor forward rotation pulse, and a motor reverse rotation pulse.

[0012]

According to the weighing and filling system of the present invention, first, the weight weighing device weighs the first object. Next, the target amount calculation device calculates and sets the target filling capacity of the second filled object based on the measured weight measurement value of the first filled object. Then, the control device outputs the power supply related to the pulse waveform data corresponding to the target filling capacity after the setting of the second filling object to the servo motor of the filling device. As a result, the positive displacement pump is driven and further stopped with high positioning accuracy, and the second object-to-be-filled amount is controlled. Therefore, the second object to be filled is accurately and rapidly filled with the target filling volume after the setting change. As a result, for example, even if the weight of the first filled object stored in the filling container varies, the total volume of the volume converted value of the first filled object and the filling capacity of the second filled object becomes Can be accurately metered and filled.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A metering and filling system as an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. here,
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a weighing and filling system according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the weighing and filling system, and FIG. 3 is a front view showing the weighing and filling system.

In each of these figures, reference numeral 1 denotes a weighing and filling system according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a fruit juice container 52.
A weight weighing device 20 that weighs the weight of the pulp 80 (an example of the first object to be filled of the present invention) housed in (an example of the filling container of the present invention), and is connected to the weight weighing device 20 after the weight measurement. The fourth conveyor 30 configured by a chain conveyor for conveying the fruit juice container 52 accommodating the fruit flesh 80, and the fruit juice container 52 provided on the conveyance path of the fourth conveyor 30 and collecting the fruit juice 63 in the fruit juice container 52.
Filling device 4 for filling (an example of the second object to be filled of the present invention)
0 and a control device 54 which controls these devices in synchronization with each other at a predetermined timing.

Further, in the metering and filling system 1, 2 is a first conveying device, which is a standby conveying path for the fruit juice container 52 accommodating the pulp 80 after weighing the container, 10a, 10b, 10c are sequentially connected and each comprises a chain conveyor, The second transport device, the third transport device, and 3 are turntables for feeding the fruit juice container 52 from the standby transport path 2 to the first transport device 10a,
4 is a turntable for feeding the fruit juice container 52 from the first carrier device 10a to the second carrier device 10b, and 6 and 7 are each formed in a gear shape, and the fruit juice container 52 is sandwiched between the tooth spaces of each other at a predetermined carrier pitch. 3 is a carry-in device for feeding to the conveying device 10c, and 5 is a fruit juice container 52 on the second conveying device 10b.
Is a timing screw for feeding into the tooth space of the carry-in device 6, and 8 is a guide member for guiding the fruit juice container 52 transported in the tooth space of the carry-in device 7 to the third carrier device 10c.

Reference numeral 9 denotes two extruding rods arranged along both sides of the third conveying device 10c along the conveying direction, and the conveyed eight fruit juice containers 52 are provided to the weight measuring device 20. After being extruded and weighed, it is further sent out onto the fourth transfer device 30, and is driven horizontally by the air cylinder 11 and vertically moved up and down by the drive of the air cylinder 12 so that the starting point position is above the third transfer device 10c. A container straddle operation is performed when returning to.

The weight measuring device 20 is installed between the third conveying device 10c and the fourth conveying device 30 which are arranged in parallel with each other, and the fruit juice container 5 by the third conveying device 10c.
Eight weighing platforms 2 arranged at the same pitch as the two transportation pitches
2 and 8 load cells 21 connected to the lower part of each weighing platform 22, and an indicator 23 for displaying the weight measurement value of the pulp 80 by each load cell 21.

A filling device 40 for filling the volume of the fruit juice 63 is provided in the middle of the conveying path of the fourth conveying device 30 for conveying the weight-measured fruit juice container 52 in the direction of arrow C. A timing screw 31 that conveys the fruit juice container 52 at a predetermined conveyance pitch is provided near the arrangement position of the filling device 40 along the longitudinal direction of the fourth conveyance device 30.

Here, FIG. 4 is a side view showing a main part of a filling device according to this metering and filling system including a partial cross section, FIG. 5 is a plan view showing this filling device, and FIG. 6 is a front view showing this filling device. It is a figure.

40a in FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6.
Is a filling machine unit for filling the juice container 52 with the juice 63 stored in the hopper 51, and 40 is the four filling machine units 4
0a is a side-by-side filling device, 41 is a positive displacement pump composed of a cylindrical cylinder 42 and a piston 43 slidably reciprocating in the cylinder 42, and 44 is a drive source of the piston 43. A certain AC servomotor, 45 is a rotary drive shaft of the AC servomotor 44, and 46 is a lead which is connected to the rotary drive shaft 45 via a coupling 45a substantially coaxially and has a ball screw portion (not shown) on the outer periphery. A screw, 47 is a carrier rod screwed with the lead screw 46, 47a is a sliding bearing for slidably supporting the carrier rod 47 toward its axis, and 48 has one end connected to the piston 43 and the other end. Is a carrier rod 47
A connecting rod connected to the end of the rotary drive shaft 45; It is a shaft encoder for detecting.

In the AC servomotor 44, the rotor is made of a permanent magnet, and the stator has a three-phase unipolar winding. For example, since no brush or commutator is used, It is maintenance-free. The AC servomotor 44, the driver 60, and the shaft encoder 70 integrally form a relatively compact servomotor unit 44a.

On the other hand, 63 is a valve motor which is driven by the pulse power source from the valve driver 62 and rotationally drives the switching valve 50. These AC servo motor 44, sliding bearing 4
The 7a and the valve case 49 are supported by an arrangement table 68 fixed to the upper surface of the base 67.

The discharge port of the positive displacement pump 41 is
Valve case 49, switching valve 5 rotating in this valve case 49
0 and the flexible connecting tube 65, the nozzle 5
3 are connected. Four nozzles 53 are arranged in parallel on the arrangement plate 71 at the same pitch as the conveyance pitch of the fruit juice container 52 by the timing screw 31, and the respective discharge ports are the fourth.
It faces above the carrier device 30.

The arrangement plate 71 has two support arms 9
0, the sliding bearing 73, and the connecting plate 75 are provided in an integral frame shape. The sliding bearing 73 is slidably supported by a guide shaft 72 stretched between two support arms 69 fixed on the base 67 along the transport direction of the fourth transport device 30. .

The connecting plate 75 is connected via a connecting rod 76.
It is connected to the swing rod 77. The swing rod 77 is
It swings around a swing drive shaft 78 connected to a drive motor (not shown). The four nozzles 53 are configured to reciprocate by the stroke S _f (see FIG. 6) by the swing of the swing rod 77. At this time, the moving speed of the four nozzles 53 is synchronized with the carrying speed of the fruit juice container 52 by the fourth carrying device 30 and the timing screw 31.

Reference numeral 54 is a control device for driving and controlling the positive displacement pump 41 and the switching valve 50. The control device 54 includes a central processing unit 55 (hereinafter referred to as CPU), a memory 56, and an input / output port 57. It is realized by a microcomputer. An input device 58 typified by a keyboard and an indicator 23 of the weight weighing device 20 are connected to the input side of the control device 54. A positioner 59 and a driver 60 for the AC servomotor 44, a valve positioner 61 and a valve driver 62 for the valve motor 64, and the indicator 23 are connected to the output side, respectively. The output signal from the control device 54 to the indicator 23 is output when the weight measurement value of the pulp 80 by the load cell 21 falls within a predetermined swing range, and a stabilizing interlock signal for obtaining stable measurement data. Is.

The positioner 59 converts the BCD code pulse train signal received from the control device 54 into a signal relating to the stop position of the piston 43, and the rotation angle signal detected by the shaft encoder 70 is fed back. Further, the driver 60 converts a commercial power supply into a pulsed power supply for winding excitation given to each phase based on a signal from the positioner 59 by the operation of a hall element (not shown) incorporated therein, and the pulsed power supply is subjected to an alternating current. The servo motor 44 is given and driven. The rotation speed signal detected by the shaft encoder 70 is fed back to the driver 60.

On the other hand, the drive shaft of the valve motor 64 is provided with an encoder (not shown) for detecting the rotation angle of the switching valve 50. The valve positioner 61 and the valve driver 62 operate in the same manner as the positioner 59 and the driver 60 described above, and the rotation angle signal detected by the encoder is fed back to the valve positioner 61.

The filling machine units 40a can simultaneously fill four fruit juice containers 52. Further, the filling capacity of each filling machine unit 40 a is calculated by the control device 54 based on the weight measurement value of the pulp 80, and is set for each juice container 52.

The metering and filling system 1 of this embodiment has the structure as described above. Subsequently, the metering and filling operation of the metering and filling system 1 will be described below.

First, data relating to the total target filling volume (for example, 250 ml in terms of volume) in which the pulp 80 and the juice 63 are combined is input to the control device 54 from the outside by the user using the input device 58 in advance. Stored in the memory 56 via the CPU 55. In addition, the standby transport path 2
It is assumed that the fruit flesh 80 having a target weight of, for example, 30 g has been manually put into each of the fruit juice containers 52 that are on standby by.

When the metering and filling start switch (not shown) of the metering and filling system 1 is turned on, the CPU 55 causes the turntable 3, the first conveying device 10a, the turntable 4, the second conveying device 10b, and the timing screw 5 to operate. Then, the carry-in devices 6 and 7 and the third transport device 10c are driven to sequentially feed the fruit juice containers 52 on standby in the standby transport path 2 to the third transport device 10c.

Next, the CPU 55 causes the third transfer device 10 to operate.
When the eight fruit juice containers 52 are loaded onto the c, the air cylinder 11 is driven to horizontally move the pushing rod 9, so that the eight fruit juice containers 52 are pushed onto the weighing platform 22.

Here, the juice container 5 is loaded by the load cell 21.
The total weight of 2 and the pulp 80 is measured for each juice container 52. Then, the CPU 55 reads preset container weight data from the memory 56, subtracts it from the above total weight, calculates the weight value of only the pulp 80 for each juice container 52, and calculates these weight values for the specific gravity of the pulp 80. Divide by and convert to the capacity value.

Then, the air cylinder 11 is driven to further move the pushing rod 9 to measure the eight fruit juice containers 52.
Are sent to the fourth transport device 30. After that, the pushing rod 9 is returned to the starting point position above the third transfer device 10c by driving the air cylinders 11 and 12.

Subsequently, the CPU 55 automatically calculates the difference between the total target filling capacity and the converted capacity value of the flesh 80 of each juice container 52, and calculates the difference between the difference filling capacity of the fruit juice 63 (the target filling capacity of the present invention). As an example), each fruit juice container 5
It is set and stored in the memory 56 as a pair with the ID data for specifying the flesh 80 of No. 2. That is, the CPU 5 of the control device 54
5 is an example of the target amount calculation device according to the present invention.

Then, among the fruit juice containers 52 being conveyed by the fourth carrier device 30, the first four fruit juice containers 52 are conveyed by the timing screw 31 at a predetermined conveying pitch. At this time, the nozzles 53 of the filling device 40 are respectively located above the four fruit juice containers 52 and are moving at the same speed as the fruit juice containers 52.

On the other hand, in addition to the above-mentioned total target filling capacity, data relating to the filling characteristics of the filling machine unit 40a are also input to the control device 54 in advance from the outside using the input device 58 and the memory 56 via the CPU 55. Set to and stored. The data relating to the filling characteristic is similar to the filling characteristic shown in FIG. 4, and includes the adjustment of the rotation speed of the AC servomotor 44 in each specific period within the filling period, the piston returning operation for increasing the filling accuracy, It is data relating to the piston stop position (that is, corresponding to the total rotation angle of the AC servo motor 44), the operation timing of the switching valve 50 synchronized with the piston operation, and the like.

The data relating to the adjustment of the rotation speed of the AC servo motor 44 is calculated and set by the CPU 55 after being appropriately corrected according to the subtractive filling capacity of the fruit juice 63.

A preliminary operation before filling is performed between the filling operation of four fruit juice containers 52 each and the next filling operation. Here, this preliminary operation will be described. First, the piston 43 stops at the stop position a in the cylinder 42 (see FIG.
(Refer to FIG. 4) and the switching valve 50 is at a stop angle that allows the hopper 51 and the cylinder 42 to communicate with each other.
Drives the AC servomotor 44 in the reverse direction via the positioner 59 and the driver 60, moves the piston 43 in the direction of the opposite arrow F by the total stroke St, and stops at the stop position b. As a result, a larger amount of juice 63 than the subtractive filling capacity of each juice container 52 is sucked into the cylinder 42 from the hopper 51.

In this state, the CPU 55 drives the AC servomotor 44 in the normal direction to return the piston 43 in the direction of arrow F by the stroke Sb and stop at the stop position c.
The excess amount of fruit juice 63 is returned to the hopper 51. This causes a mechanical filling error factor (for example, the lead screw 46) in the piston drive system that occurs during the suction operation of the juice 63.
Backlash between the carrier rod 47 and the carrier rod 47 or play in the coupling 45a or the like is eliminated prior to the substantial filling operation. Further, even when cavitation occurs in the fruit juice 63 at the time of suction, this can be eliminated. On the other hand, for example, when filling the fruit juice containing the pulp, the above-mentioned returning operation can increase the density of the pulp in the cylinder 42.

Next, the CPU 55 of the control device 54 causes the valve motor 64 via the valve positioner 61 and the valve driver 62.
Is rotationally driven to stop the switching valve 50 at a stop angle at which the cylinder 42 and the nozzle 53 communicate with each other. Then, the AC servomotor 44 is driven in the normal direction again to move the piston 43 in the direction of arrow F by the actual stroke Sr and stop at the stop position a to deliver the fruit juice 63 corresponding to the subtractive filling capacity from the cylinder 42. From the nozzle 52, the position below the nozzle is filled into the fruit juice container 52 running in parallel.

At this time, the CPU 55 finely controls the operation of the piston 43 during the actual stroke Sr based on the filling characteristic data stored in the memory 56. For example, in the initial stage of filling, the AC servomotor 44 starts to be driven at a low speed to prevent the juice 63 from scattering from the juice container 52, and then the voltage of the pulse power supply is gradually increased to gradually increase the rotation speed. It

Thus, when the rotation speed reaches a predetermined constant speed, the filling is performed at the constant speed. Next, when the piston 43 reaches immediately before the stop position a, the rotation speed of the AC servo motor 44 is rapidly reduced by rapidly changing the voltage of the pulse power supply. Then, the piston 43 receives the total number of pulses of the pulse signal (actual stroke S
(between r), the AC servomotor 44 is stopped at a position a advanced by a total rotation angle of the AC servomotor 44 with high positioning accuracy.

Therefore, according to the filling machine unit 40a of the filling device 40 of this embodiment, the servo motor unit 44 is used.
a, a positioner 59, and a controller 54, which is a relatively simple control configuration (an example of the controller of the present invention), a servomotor unit 44a and a positive displacement pump 41, a lead screw 46, a carrier rod 47, and the like. With the relatively simple mechanical structure in which the fruit juice 63 is connected in a straight line via the via, the fruit juice 63 can be filled with extremely high accuracy with respect to the subtractive filling capacity of each juice container 52.

Incidentally, the filling error due to the filling machine unit 40a at this time is as a result of the test, as a result of the positioner 5
Approximately 0.00 per pulse of the pulse signal given to 9
It was 6 ml, and the filling accuracy was relatively good, and there was no large variation.

On the other hand, when it is desired to change the total target filling volume of the pulp 80 and the juice 63, data relating to the total target filling volume is set and input from the input device 58 and stored in the memory 56. This can be achieved by rewriting and updating the existing original data. Therefore, for example, it is suitable when the fruit juice 63 is filled in another fruit juice container having a different content from the fruit juice container 52.

In addition, for example, when it is attempted to fill the juice container 63 with an inner shape different from that of the juice container 52,
It is only necessary to change the data relating to the filling characteristics, that is, the respective target filling speeds within a predetermined period such as the initial filling and the end of filling, and this is the pulse width corresponding to the data relating to the filling characteristics after the change, the total within the predetermined period. Data relating to the number of pulses, speed change timing, etc. may be set and input from the input device 58 and rewritten and updated with the original data stored in the memory 56.

As described above, according to the weighing and filling system 1 of the present embodiment, the weight measuring device 20 measures the weight of the flesh 80, which is a statically determined substance, with high accuracy, and then the control device 54 controls the flesh 80. The volume-converted value based on the weight measurement value is subtracted from the total target filling volume to calculate the subtractive filling volume of the juice 63, and the control unit 54 causes the AC servomotor 44 of the filling unit 40 to operate.
Is controlled to drive the filling of the juice 63 according to the subtractive filling volume into the juice container 52 with high accuracy and at high speed.

Therefore, even if the weight of the flesh 80 contained in the juice container 52 varies, the total target filling volume of the flesh 80 and the juice 63 can be accurately filled. That is, both the advantage of the weight measuring device 20 having an excellent measurement accuracy with respect to a static substance and the advantage of the filling device 40 having an excellent filling accuracy with respect to a fluid can be effectively utilized.

Although the AC servomotor is used in the above-mentioned embodiments, the electric servomotor is not limited to this. For example, the DC motor and the rotation angle and the rotation speed of its drive shaft can be changed. A closed-loop control configuration that provides a shaft encoder for detection and feeds back these detection values, or an open loop that uses a stepping motor and supplies a pulse power corresponding to the target value of the pulse signal to the stepping motor. A control configuration may be adopted.

In the above embodiment, the cylinder / piston type was used as the positive displacement pump, but instead of this, for example, a gear pump, a vane pump or the like is used.
These may be connected to an electric servo motor.

In the above embodiment, both the target filling volume and the target filling speed are set and changed. However, the target filling volume, the target filling speed, the waiting operation of each device before and after the filling, etc. It is also possible to individually change the setting using 58.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiments, the pulp 80 is shown as the first filling object and the fruit juice 63 is exemplified as the second filling object. In addition to these, meat lumps, curry roux, mushrooms and cooking It goes without saying that the liquid, peach slice pieces, jelly stock solution and the like can be applied as the first and second objects to be filled.

[0055]

As described above, according to the weighing and filling system of the present invention, the weight of the first object to be filled stored in the filling container can be accurately measured by the weight measuring device. Then, the target filling capacity of the second filled object can be automatically changed based on the measured weight of the first filled object. Further, it is possible to accurately fill the filling container with the changed target filling volume of the second object. Therefore, for example, even if the weight of the first filled object stored in the filling container varies, the total volume of the volume converted value of the first filled object and the filling capacity of the second filled object is Can be accurately metered and filled. Further, since the filling method of the second filling object is the volume filling, the filling can be performed at a high speed without being affected by vibration or the like at the time of filling.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a weighing and filling system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing this weighing and filling system.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the weighing and filling system.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a main part of a filling device according to the weighing and filling system, the view including a partial cross section.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing this filling device.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing the filling device.

FIG. 7 is a state explanatory view showing a mode in which a solid pulp is weighed by a conventional constant weight filling type filling system, and then the juice is weighed and filled.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Weighing and Filling System 20 Weight Weighing Device 21 Load Cell 22 Weighing Stand 40 Filling Device 40a Filling Machine Unit 41 Positive Displacement Pump 42 Cylinder 43 Piston 44 AC Servo Motor 44a Servo Motor Unit 45 Rotation Drive Shaft 45a Coupling 46 Lead Screw 47 Carrier Rod 47a Sliding bearing 48 Connecting rod 52 Fruit juice container 53 Nozzle 54 Controller 55 Central processing unit (CPU) 56 Memory 58 Input device 63 Fruit juice 70 Shaft encoder

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A weight measuring device for measuring the weight of a first object to be filled contained in a filling container, and a second object to be filled in a filling container containing the first object to be weighed by the weight measuring device. And a filling device for filling the filling container, the filling device feeding the second object to be discharged into a filling container, an electric servomotor for driving the positive displacement pump, and a weight measuring device. A target amount calculation device for calculating and setting a target filling capacity of the second filling object based on the measured weight of the first filling object, and a target filling capacity of the second filling object set by the target amount calculation device And a control device for controlling the second object-to-be-charged amount of the positive displacement pump by outputting a power source corresponding to the pulse waveform data to the servomotor.