JP2842249B2 - Apparatus and method for measuring headspace pressure in container - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for measuring a pressure in a head space in a container made of plastic or the like, and particularly to a case where a correlation between the pressure in the head space and the degree of deformation of the container is examined. The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for measuring a headspace pressure in a container, which is effective when implemented.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 is a view showing a step of filling a bottle-shaped container with a liquid such as oolong tea and the pressure in a space in the container in this step. First, in the nozzle sealing step A, the nozzle 100 is attached to the bottle-shaped container 1. At this time, since the air in the bottle-shaped container 1 is compressed by the nozzle 100, the pressure P in the container 1 temporarily increases. Thereafter, in the liquid filling step B, the container 1 is filled with the heated liquid 5 such as oolong tea.
At this time, since the air in the container 1 is gradually released at the same time as the liquid is filled, the pressure P in the container 1 becomes slightly higher immediately after the liquid is filled, but thereafter falls.

At the end of liquid filling C filled with the liquid 5, the air in the container 1 is forced into the narrow head space 3, and the temperature of the liquid 5 reaches 80 to 90 degrees. The pressure P of the air in the space 3 rapidly increases, and this state is substantially maintained until the nozzle removing step D. Further, the container 1 at this time is in an expanded state because the pressure in the container is high. Thereafter, in the nozzle removing step D, the nozzle 100 is
At this time, since the pressure P in the head space 3 rapidly decreases, the container also rapidly returns from the expanded state to the original state.

[0004]

As described above, in the nozzle removing step, when the nozzle 100 is withdrawn from the container 1, the container 1 in an expanded state due to a decrease in the internal pressure of the container 1 suddenly falls. In order to return to the original state, the liquid filled in the container 1 may spill out of the mouth due to the reaction. The spilled liquid adheres to the outside of the container 1 and not only contaminates the container, but also corrodes depending on the type of liquid, emits an unpleasant odor, and generates mold, which significantly reduces the commercial value. Was. In particular, if the spilled liquid adheres to a label or the like adhered to the container 1, the above problem is remarkable.

Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the liquid from spilling during the nozzle removing step. However, conventionally, there is no means for measuring the pressure in the head space of the container 1 immediately before the nozzle removing step in the actual filling line. I couldn't tell how high the headspace pressure was.

The degree of deformation (bulging) of the container depends on the shape of the container,
It is determined by the correlation between the material, wall thickness, etc., and the headspace pressure. However, as described above, since the pressure in the headspace could not be known conventionally, the expansion of the container from the liquid filling step to the nozzle opening step was performed. I couldn't predict exactly what was going on. For this reason, it has been impossible to effectively prevent the liquid from spilling during the nozzle removing step.

The method of wirelessly transmitting the load on the container on the actual line is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application No. Hei.
No. 140032. The present invention supplies a measurement object to a can processing apparatus under the same conditions as the can to be measured, detects a load acting on the measurement object, temporarily stores measurement data of the load inside the measurement object, and thereafter, This is a can body processing stress measurement method in which the measurement object is discharged from the can processing device, measurement data stored in the measurement object is taken out, and predetermined data processing is performed to obtain a measurement result. The present invention is superior in that actual data can be obtained as compared with the method for measuring can body working stress. However, the present invention does not specifically disclose a technique for accurately measuring the headspace pressure in a sealed container on an actual filling line, and for transmitting and recording the measured pressure wirelessly. Absent.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has an apparatus and a method for measuring a head space pressure in a container from a liquid filling step to a nozzle drawing step in an actual filling line. For the purpose of providing. In this way, data on the headspace pressure in the container and the degree of bulging of the container are collected, and based on this data, the shape, material, wall thickness, etc. of the (small) container that does not bulge are obtained. It aims at the appearance of a container that does not cause liquid spillage during the process.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a headspace pressure measuring device in a container according to the present invention comprises:
It has a pressure gauge for measuring the pressure in the headspace via a pressure-sensitive tube extending to a headspace in a sealed container, and a transmitter for transmitting a measurement pressure signal measured by the pressure gauge via an antenna. A pressure measuring and transmitting device attached to the container, a receiver for receiving a signal from the transmitter via an antenna, and a recorder for recording a measured pressure indicated by the signal received by the receiver. , A pressure reception recording device.

Preferably, the pressure gauge and the transmitter of the pressure measuring and transmitting device are provided in a measurement chamber defined in a liquid-tight manner with the container, and the antenna is provided extending from the measurement chamber to the outside of the container. Further, the antenna of the pressure receiving and recording apparatus is arranged along a line of a process of extracting a nozzle at least after completion of liquid filling.

Further, according to the method for measuring headspace pressure in a container of the present invention, the above-described apparatus is used to perform a period from completion of liquid filling into the container by a nozzle to extraction of the nozzle, or extraction of the nozzle. The pressure in the head space in the container just before is measured and transmitted, and the pressure receiving and recording device receives and records the measured pressure from the pressure measurement transmitting device.

[0012]

According to the headspace pressure measuring device in the container, when the pressure in the headspace of the sealed container is measured via the pressure-sensitive tube and transmitted via the antenna,
In the pressure receiving and recording device, the measured pressure from the pressure measuring and transmitting device is received via the antenna and recorded.

According to the method for measuring the headspace pressure in the container, the pressure measurement transmitter transmits the head from the end of filling of the container with the liquid until the nozzle is extracted, or the head immediately before the nozzle is extracted. The pressure in the space is measured and transmitted. Then, the measured pressure is received and recorded by the pressure reception recording device.

On the other hand, the head space pressure in the container is measured by the above-described apparatus and method, and the degree of deformation (bulging) of the container 1 at this time is examined. Based on this data, a container that does not deform is designed and manufactured based on this data to prevent liquid spillage during the nozzle removal process.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a headspace pressure measuring device in a bottle-shaped container according to one embodiment of the present invention.
The same members as those shown in FIG. 7 are described with the same reference numerals. The headspace pressure measuring device in the container according to the present embodiment includes a pressure measuring transmitting device 10 and a pressure receiving and recording device 20.

The pressure measuring and transmitting device 10 is a device for measuring a pressure P in a head space 3 formed on an upper portion of a bottle-shaped container 1 in which a mouth portion 2 is sealed and filled with a liquid 5. 1 is attached to the lower part. The container 1 to which the pressure measuring and transmitting apparatus 10 is mounted is formed of a synthetic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) by biaxial stretch blow molding, and has an uneven pattern as shown in FIG. Track 6 is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pressure measuring and transmitting apparatus 10 includes a case 11 having a measuring chamber 12 and a pressure-sensitive tube 1.
3, a pressure gauge 14, a telemeter transmitter 15, and an antenna 17
And The case 11 is a liquid-tight box formed of a heat insulating material, and has a measurement chamber 12 defined therein. The case 11 is attached to the bottom of the container 1.

The pressure-sensitive tube 13 extends upward from the inside of the measuring chamber 12, and its upper end reaches the head space 3. The upper end of the pressure-sensitive tube 13a is located above the liquid level when a predetermined amount of the liquid 5 is filled, and
It is arranged so as to be in close contact with the shoulder inner side surface of the container. This can effectively prevent the liquid from entering the pressure-sensitive tube 13.

The pressure gauge 14 is a strain type pressure gauge that converts a measured pressure into an analog electric signal, and is housed inside the measurement chamber 12. This pressure gauge 14 has a pressure-sensitive tube 1
The pressure gauge 14 measures the pressure P in the head space 3 via the pressure-sensitive tube 13.

The telemeter transmitter 15 is housed in the measuring chamber 12 while being electrically connected to the pressure gauge 14, and modulates an analog signal of the pressure measured by the pressure gauge 14 into a digital signal and transmits it. Equipment. The power of the telemeter transmitter 15 is supplied from a battery 16 housed in the measurement room 12.

The antenna 17 is a linear body for carrying the electric signal of the telemeter transmitter 15 by radio waves. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the antenna 17 exits the case 11 from the output end of the telemeter transmitter 15, reaches the outer surface of the container 1, rises along the outer surface of the container 1, and rises along the outer surface of the container 1. It extends to the vicinity. Note that the wiring state of the antenna 17 can be arbitrarily changed, and in some cases, the antenna 17 can be wired inside the container 1.

On the other hand, the pressure receiving and recording device 20 is a device for receiving and recording a radio signal indicating the measured pressure from the pressure measuring and transmitting device 10, and as shown in FIG. 22 and a recorder 23.

The antenna 21 is connected to an input terminal of the telemeter receiver 22, receives a radio signal from the pressure measuring and transmitting device 10, and sends it to the telemeter receiver 22. The telemeter receiver 22 receives the digital signal from the antenna 21 and demodulates and amplifies the signal to record the digital signal.
3 device. The recorder 23 is a gauge that displays the pressure P measured by the pressure measurement transmitter 10 on a paper 24 based on an electric signal from the telemeter receiver 22.

The pressure receiving and recording device 20 is arranged as shown in FIGS. That is, a plurality of columns 30 are set up around the carrier 102, and the antenna 21 is surrounded by the antenna 21 while fixing the antenna 21 to the columns 30. Then, the end of the antenna 21 on the A-position side is connected to the telemeter receiver 22, and the telemeter receiver 2 is connected.
2, a recorder 23 is connected. The distance L between the support 30 and the carrier 102 is set to about 1 to 2 m in consideration of the receiving sensitivity. Further, the antenna 21 may be arranged only between the liquid filling end position C and the nozzle removal position D on the carrier 102.

Next, the operation of the apparatus for measuring headspace pressure in a container according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the operation of this embodiment. The pressure P in the head space 3 is transmitted to the pressure gauge 14 via the pressure sensing tube 13 and is measured by the pressure gauge 14. The pressure P measured by the pressure gauge 14 is output from the telemeter transmitter 15 to the antenna 17 as an electric signal S, and is conveyed from the antenna 17 as a radio signal S1. This radio signal S1 is received by a telemeter receiver 22 via an antenna 21 and demodulated.
After being amplified, it is output to the recorder 23 as an electric signal S. When the electric signal S is input to the recorder 23, the pressure P indicated by the electric signal S is recorded and displayed on the sheet 24.

As described above, according to the headspace pressure measuring device in the container of the present embodiment, the pressure in the headspace 3 on the actual liquid filling line can be measured. Deformation (bulging)
You can know the relationship with the condition. Therefore, the container 1 having a shape, a material, a wall thickness, and the like that does not deform (small deformation) due to the head space pressure is designed and
By manufacturing, it is possible to prevent the spill of the filling liquid at the time of extracting the nozzle. In addition, container 1
The degree of deformation (bulging) of the container can be observed in the entire container, but may be observed by checking the degree of deformation of a pattern-shaped easily deformable portion (for example, the track 6 in FIG. 3).

Next, a method for measuring the headspace pressure in the container according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 6, the empty container 1 conveyed from the direction of arrow G is placed on the carrier 102 of the filler 101, and the container 1 is conveyed in the direction of arrow H. This transfer table 10
2, a nozzle sealing step A, liquid filling steps B and C, and a nozzle removing step D are performed. In particular,
At the position A, the nozzle seal is performed, and the container 1 is equipped with the nozzle 100 (see FIG. 5). Thereafter, liquid filling is performed at the position B, and the liquid 5 heated to 80 to 90 degrees is filled in the container 1. Then, after the container 1 is transported by filling the liquid, the filling of the liquid 5 is completed at the position C, and the nozzle 1 is removed at the position D.
00 is withdrawn from the container 1. When the nozzle removal is completed, the container 1 is transported in the direction of arrow I, and the capper 110 is moved.
On top, the cap 2 is crowned.

For example, when filling the liquid 5 at 80 to 90 degrees at the position B, when measuring the correlation between the shape and the material and the pressure P of the head space 3 having a constant thickness, a plurality of different thicknesses may be used. The pressure measurement transmitting device 10 shown in FIG. 1 is attached to the container 1 for measuring the head space pressure, and
Check the bulge of the container. Similarly, for containers having the same material and thickness but different shapes, the headspace is measured for each container and the degree of bulging of the container is checked. In this way, the measurement of the headspace pressure and the degree of bulging of the container are checked for each of the other conditions and converted into data. At this time, the pressure receiving recording device 20
Is normally performed between the position C where the container 1 is at the liquid filling end position and the position D where the nozzle is drained. In some cases, the reception is performed by measuring the head space pressure immediately before the nozzle draining step. Sometimes they do. The pressure P in the head space 3 at this time is recorded by the recorder 23.

As described above, according to the method for measuring the head space pressure in the container of the present embodiment, the correlation between the pressure P of the head space 3 and the degree of deformation of the track 6, for example, is determined based on the shape, thickness, Since data can be collected for each material, temperature in the container, etc., it can be used as a reference when the container 1 is manufactured later.

[0030]

As described above, according to the headspace pressure measuring device in a container according to the present invention, the pressure in the headspace can be accurately measured by a simple device. And the correlation between the head space pressure P and the degree of deformation of the container for each temperature in the container.

According to the method for measuring the head space pressure in a container of the present invention, the correlation between the pressure in the head space of the container, the degree of deformation for each shape, thickness, material, temperature in the container, and the like is used as data. Since it can be collected, it can be used as a reference when the container is manufactured later.

As a result, the shape, thickness, material, and the like of the container can be set to the optimum ones that do not cause deformation, and it is possible to reliably prevent the liquid from spilling when the nozzle is drained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing a headspace pressure measuring device in a container according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounting state of the pressure measurement transmitting device.

FIG. 3 is an external view of a container to which a pressure measurement transmitting device is attached.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the operation of the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing an antenna arranged around a filler.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an arrangement of a pressure reception recording device.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing a headspace pressure change in a container.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 3 Headspace 10 Pressure measurement transmitter 12 Measurement chamber 13 Pressure sensitive tube 14 Pressure gauge 15 Telemeter transmitter 17 Antenna 20 Pressure reception recorder 21 Antenna 22 Telemeter receiver 23 Recorder

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pressure gauge for measuring a pressure in the headspace via a pressure-sensitive tube extending to a headspace in a sealed container, and a measured pressure signal measured by the pressure gauge is transmitted via an antenna. Having a transmitter, a pressure measurement transmission device attached to the container, a receiver for receiving a signal from the transmitter via an antenna, and a measurement pressure indicated by a signal received by the receiver. A headspace pressure measuring device in a container comprising a pressure receiving recorder having a recorder for recording. 2. The pressure measuring and transmitting device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure gauge and the transmitter are provided in a measuring chamber defined in a liquid-tight manner with the container, and the antenna is provided extending from the measuring chamber to the outside of the container. A device for measuring headspace pressure in a container as described. 3. The headspace pressure measuring device in a container according to claim 1, wherein an antenna of the pressure receiving and recording device is disposed along a line for extracting a nozzle at least after completion of liquid filling. 4. A headspace pressure measuring device in a container according to claim 1, 2 or 3, which measures and transmits a pressure of a headspace in the container immediately before extracting the nozzle, and receives the pressure. A method for measuring a headspace pressure in a container, comprising: receiving and recording a measured pressure from the pressure measurement transmitting device by a recording device. 5. The head in the container from the time when the liquid is filled into the container by the nozzle to the time when the nozzle is withdrawn, using the headspace pressure measuring device in the container according to claim 1, 2 or 3. A method for measuring a headspace pressure in a container, comprising: measuring and transmitting a pressure in a space; and receiving and recording the measured pressure from the pressure measuring and transmitting device by the pressure receiving and recording device.