JP5444184B2 - Residual liquid detection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting liquid remaining in a beverage container, and more particularly to an apparatus for detecting water remaining in a beverage container after washing.

  In recent years, beverage containers such as glass bottles have been collected after being used for beverages and can be refilled with beverages by being immersed in water or the like in an apparatus having a plurality of tanks called washing machines. Many so-called returnable bottles (returnable containers) that are washed to a level and reused are used.

  In such returnable bowls, generally, after the beverage container is washed, the beverage container is turned over to discharge the internal water and the like, so the amount of residual liquid (residual water) in the beverage container is a problem. However, if a liquid such as water remains in the beverage container after washing, the quality of the beverage may be affected.

  In order to solve such problems, conventionally, prior to filling the beverage container after washing with a beverage, the remaining liquid for determining the presence or absence of liquid (residual liquid) such as water remaining in the beverage container. As an apparatus for performing such residual liquid inspection, the bottom of a shaken beverage container is imaged through the mouth of the container, and the presence or absence of residual liquid is determined based on the brightness distribution of the acquired image. An apparatus for detection has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).

JP 2009-115580 A

  In the residual liquid inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the vibration propagates to the residual liquid in the beverage container by shaking the beverage container and the residual liquid surface is foamed. If it remains, take a picture through the mouth of the beverage container and a characteristic brightness distribution due to foaming will appear in the image. Can be detected.

  However, in the residual liquid inspection apparatus described in Patent Document 1, if there is no residual liquid amount to some extent, it may be difficult to accurately determine the presence or absence of residual liquid. That is, if the amount of residual liquid is very small and the amount of residual liquid is difficult to foam by shaking the beverage container, liquid such as water remains in the beverage container. There is a problem that it may not be detected.

  In view of such problems, the present invention can easily and reliably detect the presence or absence of residual liquid in a beverage container even if the residual liquid amount in the beverage container is extremely small. An object is to provide a residual liquid detection device.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is an apparatus for detecting residual liquid in a beverage container,
A single-line conveyor that conveys the beverage containers in a single row, a residual liquid detection unit that detects residual liquid in the beverage container, the residual liquid detection unit, and the beverage container that passes in front thereof A protection mechanism that protects the residual liquid detection unit so as not to make contact, and the single-line transport conveyor supports the bottom surface of the beverage container and is inclined in a direction that crosses the transport direction of the beverage container. It has an inclined conveyance surface, and the residual liquid detection unit is located on the lower side of the inclined conveyance surface and above the plane including the inclined conveyance surface, and the lower side surface of the beverage container Is disposed so as to pass in front of the residual liquid detection unit, and the protection mechanism includes two protection units standing on both sides of the front surface of the residual liquid detection unit, and two protection units Each having a continuous connecting portion, and Septum, said that less than the outer diameter of the beverage container, even after passing through the front of the residual liquid detection unit in a state where the beverage container to be conveyed to be inclined by the inclined transporting surface falls down In addition, the present invention provides a residual liquid detection device configured such that the beverage container does not come into contact with the residual liquid detection unit (Invention 1).

According to the said invention (invention 1), since the container for drinks conveyed on an inclined conveyance surface can be inclined along the inclination angle of the said inclined conveyance surface, the residual liquid in a drink container is very small (for example, The liquid level of the residual liquid (the lowest of the inner bottom surface of the beverage container) even if the liquid level is about 5 mm from the inner bottom surface of the beverage container when the beverage container is erected on the horizontal surface The height from the position to the liquid level is increased, and the presence of residual liquid can be detected easily and reliably by passing the front of the residual liquid detection unit in that state. In addition, since the beverage container conveyed on the inclined conveyance surface is inclined along the inclination angle of the inclined conveyance surface, the beverage container may be tumbled during conveyance, and the beverage container is conveyed in a fallen state. When passing in front of the residual liquid detection unit, the beverage container contacts the residual liquid detection unit, and the distance between the residual liquid detection unit and the beverage container transported on the inclined transport surface may change. There is. If the distance changes, it may be difficult to reliably detect the remaining liquid in the beverage container. However, according to the invention (Invention 1), the remaining liquid is conveyed in a state where the beverage container is overturned. Even if it passes in front of the detection unit, the overturned beverage container comes into contact with the protection mechanism and does not come into contact with the residual liquid detection unit, so that the presence or absence of the residual liquid in the beverage container can be reliably detected.

In the above SL invention (invention 1), further preferably provided with adjusting mechanism for adjusting the distance between the beverage container passing through the front and the residual liquid detection unit (invention 2). The beverage container that is the target for detecting the residual liquid has various sizes (for example, side wall thickness, etc.) and shapes depending on the type thereof, while the residual liquid detection accuracy of the residual liquid detection unit is the beverage container. Since it may vary depending on the distance to the (residual liquid in the beverage container), in order to reliably detect the residual liquid by the residual liquid detection unit, between the residual liquid detection unit and the beverage container passing in front of it It is necessary to fine tune the distance. According to this invention (invention 2 ), even if the type of the beverage container that is the residual liquid detection target is changed, the adjustment mechanism adjusts the distance between the beverage container and the residual liquid detection unit. Therefore, it is possible to stabilize the detection accuracy of the residual liquid in the beverage container by the residual liquid detection unit regardless of the type of the beverage container, and to reliably detect the presence or absence of the residual liquid in the beverage container. it can.

In the said invention (invention 1 and 2 ), the said residual liquid detection part can be comprised by an electrostatic capacitance sensor (invention 3 ).

In the said invention (invention 1-3 ), it is preferable that the inclination conveyance surface of the said single row conveyance conveyor inclines at 10-11 degrees (invention 4 ). According to this invention (invention 4 ), since the inclined conveyance surface is inclined at an angle in the above range, the beverage container passes through the front of the residual liquid detection unit in an inclined state. By this, the presence or absence of the residual liquid in the beverage container can be detected more reliably.

In the said invention (invention 1-4 ), it is located in the upstream of the said single row conveyance conveyor, and crosses the said double row conveyance conveyor and the double row conveyance conveyor which can convey the said container for drinks in a double row. And a guide part for guiding the beverage container from the double row conveyor to the single row conveyor (invention 5 ).

In the said invention (invention 1-5 ), it is preferable that the said container for drinks is a returnable container, and is a container after washing | cleaning (invention 6 ).

  According to the present invention, there is provided a residual liquid detection device capable of easily and reliably detecting the presence or absence of residual liquid in a beverage container even if the residual liquid amount in the beverage container is extremely small. can do.

It is a top view which shows schematic structure of the residual water detection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is the sectional view on the AA line in FIG. 1 which shows schematic structure of the principal part of the residual water detection apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the protection mechanism of the residual water detection part in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the electrostatic capacitance sensor in one Embodiment of this invention.

  A residual water detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, the apparatus for detecting the remaining water in the beverage container after washing, that is, water will be described as an example of the remaining liquid in the beverage container, but the present invention is limited to this. It is not something.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating a schematic configuration of the residual water detection device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic configuration of a main part of the residual water detection device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a protection mechanism of a residual water detection unit in the present embodiment, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a capacitance sensor in the present embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the residual water detection device 1 according to this embodiment includes a transport conveyor 2 that transports a beverage container 4 and a residual water detection unit 3 that detects residual water in the beverage container 4. .
The transport conveyor 2 includes a single-row transport conveyor 21 having a single-row transport lane 211 for transporting the beverage containers 4 in a single row, and the side of the single-row transport conveyor 21 (left side in the transport direction in the present embodiment), And the 1st double row conveyance conveyor 22 which has the 1st-5th conveyance lanes 221-225 which can adjoin the container 4 for drinks in a double row, and the 1st double row conveyance conveyor 22 side (In this embodiment, the left side in the transport direction) and adjacent to the upstream side, a second row having a plurality of transport lanes (four rows in the present embodiment) 231 for transporting the beverage containers 4 in a double row. And a double row conveyor 23.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport lane 211 constituting the single-row transport conveyor 21 supports the bottom surface of the beverage container 4 and is inclined at a predetermined angle θ in a direction crossing the transport direction of the beverage container 4. An inclined conveying surface 212 is configured. Thereby, the beverage container 4 placed and transported on the inclined transport surface 212 is transported in a state inclined at a predetermined angle θ, and passes in front of the remaining water detection unit 3 in that state. .

  The inclination angle θ of the inclined conveyance surface 212 is preferably 9 to 12 degrees, more preferably 10 to 11 degrees, and particularly preferably 10 degrees. If the inclination angle θ of the inclined conveyance surface 212 is less than 9 degrees, it may be difficult to detect the remaining water in the beverage container 4, and if it exceeds 12 degrees, the inclined conveyance surface 212 is placed on the inclined conveyance surface 212. There is a risk that the possibility of the beverage container 4 to be transported falling will increase.

  As shown in FIG. 1, it is placed on the inclined conveyance surface 212 on the lower side of the conveyance lane 211 of the single-line conveyance conveyor 21 (in the present embodiment, on the right side in the conveyance direction). A support plate 213 that supports the body of the beverage container 4 to be transported is provided along the transport direction. Thereby, it can suppress that the container 4 for drinks conveyed in the state inclined on the inclined conveyance surface 212 falls. In addition, what is necessary is just to set suitably the position (vertical direction height from the inclination conveyance surface 212) which provides the support plate 213 according to the kind (outside shape etc.) of the containers 4 for drinks.

  In the present embodiment, a rail 214 is provided on the side of the transport lane 211 of the single-line transport conveyor 21 located on the upper side (in the present embodiment, on the left side in the transport direction). The rail 214 is substantially the same height as the support plate 213 (the height in the vertical direction from the inclined conveyance surface 212), and is spaced from the support plate 213 by substantially the same distance as the outer diameter of the beverage container 47. It is provided as such. Thereby, it can suppress that the container 4 for drinks mounted and conveyed on the inclination conveyance surface 212 is rock | fluctuated in the direction which crosses a conveyance direction, and suppresses the fall of the container 4 for drinks more. be able to.

  The fifth transport lane 225 of the first double-row transport conveyor 22 is provided adjacent to the transport lane 211 of the single-row transport conveyor 21, and any of the first to fifth transport lanes 221 to 225 is a single unit. It is inclined at the same angle θ as the transport lane 211 of the row transport conveyor 21. That is, the transport lane 211 of the single-row transport conveyor 21 and the first to fifth transport lanes 221 to 225 of the first double-row transport conveyor 22 are configured to form substantially the same plane.

The first to fifth transport lanes 221 to 225 of the first double-row transport conveyor 22 are configured such that the transport speed increases in that order from the first transport lane 221 to the fifth transport lane 225. That is, the conveyance speeds V _{1 to} V ₅ of the _first to fifth conveyance lanes 221 to 225 have a relationship represented by the following formula.
V ₁ <V ₂ <V ₃ <V ₄ <V ₅

  In addition, each conveyance lane 231 of the 2nd double row conveyance conveyor 23 is comprised so that all may have the same conveyance speed V, and, thereby, the container 4 for drinks can be conveyed in a double row.

  In the transport conveyor 2 in the present embodiment, the first double-row transport conveyor 22 is obliquely crossed from the upstream side to the downstream side, and the first double-row transport conveyor 22 is directed to the single-row transport conveyor 21. A guide plate 24 for guiding the beverage container 4 is provided. One end of the guide plate 24 is continuous with a support plate 213 that supports the body of the beverage container 4 that is transported on the inclined transport surface 212 of the single-row transport conveyor 21.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the residual water detection unit 3 is a vertical direction and inclined transport with respect to the transport direction of the capacitance sensor 31 that can detect the residual water in the beverage container 4 and the single-row transport conveyor 21. A position adjustment mechanism (not shown) that holds the capacitance sensor 31 movably in a direction parallel to the surface 212, and a protection mechanism 32 that can prevent the beverage container 4 from coming into contact with the capacitance sensor 31. Have

  The capacitance sensor 31 is not particularly limited. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the detection electrode 311 and the detection electrode 311 serve as an oscillation capacitor to oscillate an AC wave. A circuit 312, a detection circuit 313 that detects an AC wave oscillated by the oscillation circuit 312, a trigger circuit 314 that sets a current threshold value that determines a signal output by the output circuit 315, and an output circuit 315 that outputs a detection signal; The output circuit 315 is connected to a control device (not shown). In the capacitance sensor 31 having such a configuration, when the detection object water (residual water in the beverage container 4) is located in the detection region of the detection electrode 311, the detection electrode 311 and the residual water are detected. A capacitance is formed between the oscillation circuit 312 and the oscillation circuit 312 starts oscillation, and the current flowing into the oscillation circuit 312 increases. When the current flowing into the oscillation circuit 312 exceeds a threshold value preset by the trigger circuit 314, a detection signal is output to the control device by the output circuit 315. As described above, the capacitance sensor 31 is used as a sensor for detecting the remaining water in the beverage container 4, and the threshold value is set by the trigger circuit 314 based on the current value flowing into the oscillation circuit 312 when the remaining water exists. Since the detection signal is output only when there is residual water in the beverage container 4 based on the difference in dielectric constant between air and water, the presence or absence of residual water in the beverage container 4 is accurately determined. Can be detected.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the capacitance sensor 31 is the lower one of the sides of the inclined transport surface 212 of the single-line transport conveyor 21 (in the present embodiment, on the right side in the transport direction), and the beverage container 4 is attached at such a position that the lower surface of the sensor 4 passes in front of the detection electrode 311 of the capacitance sensor 31.

  The electrostatic capacitance sensor 31 can be mounted so that the detection electrode 311 is positioned at a height of 5 to 20 mm in the vertical direction from the outer bottom surface of the beverage container 4 passing in front of the capacitance sensor 31, for example. What is necessary is just to set the attachment position of the electric capacity sensor 31 suitably according to the thickness etc. of the bottom face of the container 4 for drinks which is a residual water detection object.

  The position adjustment mechanism is configured so that the remaining capacity in the electrostatic capacity sensor 31 and the beverage container 4 depends on the thickness and outer shape of the beverage container 4 transported by the single-line transport conveyor 21, the detection sensitivity of the electrostatic capacity sensor 31, and the like. Any device can be used as long as it can adjust the distance D with water (the lower inner surface of the beverage container 4). For example, the inclined transport surface 212 is perpendicular to the transport direction of the single-row transport conveyor 21. It is possible to provide a mechanism that has a position adjusting screw that can move the electrostatic capacity sensor 31 in a direction parallel to the position of the electrostatic capacity sensor 31 and that can move the electrostatic capacity sensor 31 by rotating the position adjusting screw.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the protection mechanism 32 is positioned in the gap between the electrostatic capacity sensor 31 and the beverage container 4 that is placed and transported on the inclined transport surface 212 of the single-row transport conveyor 21. And it continues to each of the two protection parts 321 and 322 standing on both sides of the front surface of the capacitance sensor 31 and the two protection parts 321 and 322 so as not to block the front surface of the capacitance sensor 31. And a substantially U-shaped connecting part 323 in plan view. The distance between the two protection parts 321 and 322 is not particularly limited as long as it is a width that does not block the front surface of the capacitance sensor 31 and is smaller than the outer diameter of the beverage container 4. .

  The single row transport conveyor 21 and the first double row transport conveyor 22 are inclined at a predetermined angle θ, so that the beverage container 4 in the middle of transport may fall and be transported as it is, Since the protection mechanism 32 has the above-described configuration, the side wall of the beverage container 4 is in contact with the protection parts 321 and 322 even when the beverage container 4 is transported on the single-line transport conveyor 21 in a fallen state. The beverage container 4 does not come into contact with the capacitance sensor 31. Therefore, it is possible to avoid displacement of the capacitance sensor 31 due to the contact between the beverage container 4 conveyed on the inclined conveyance surface 212 of the single-line conveyance conveyor 21 and the capacitance sensor 31.

  In addition, in the residual water detection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, a washing machine (not shown) for washing a returnable container collected after being provided for beverage on the upstream side of the second double-row transport conveyor 23. ), And on the downstream side of the single-line transport conveyor 21, an empty air inspection machine (not shown) for inspecting defects (chips, cracks, contamination, etc.) of the beverage container 4 and a beverage ( For example, a filling machine (not shown) for filling beer or the like is provided in that order.

  In the residual water detection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment having the above-described configuration, the beverage containers 4 washed by a washing machine (not shown) are transported in a double row on the second double-row transport conveyor 23. The second double-row transport conveyor 23 moves to the first double-row transport conveyor 22.

  The first to fifth transport lanes 221 to 225 of the first double-row transport conveyor 22 are inclined at a predetermined angle θ so as to form substantially the same plane as the single-row transport conveyor 21, and the first to fifth lanes The transport speeds of the transport lanes 221 to 225 are configured to increase sequentially from the first transport lane 221 toward the fifth transport lane 225, so that the second double-row transport conveyor 23 is double-rowed (4 The beverage containers 4 that have been transported in a row are gradually and gradually moved from the first transport lane 221 to the fifth transport lane 225 of the first double-row transport conveyor 22 as guided by the guide plate 24. It moves so that it may become a row | line | column and it is conveyed on the inclination conveyance surface 212 of the single row conveyance conveyor 21 by a single row.

  When the beverage containers 4 transported in a single row on the inclined transport surface 212 of the single-row transport conveyor 21 pass through the front surface of the capacitance sensor 31, the capacitance is determined based on the presence or absence of residual water in the beverage container 4. When the current flowing into the detection circuit 312 of the sensor 31 changes and there is residual water, the current increases.

  At this time, since the beverage containers 4 conveyed in a single row on the inclined conveyance surface 212 are inclined along the inclination angle θ of the inclined conveyance surface 212, the amount of remaining water in the beverage container 4 is extremely small ( For example, even if the water level from the inner bottom surface of the beverage container 4 is about 5 mm when the beverage container 4 is erected on the horizontal plane, the remaining water level (the inner bottom surface of the beverage container 4) Among them, the height from the lowest position to the water surface) can be increased. Therefore, the presence or absence of residual water can be accurately detected by the capacitance sensor 31.

  And when the said electric current exceeds a threshold value, it will be judged that there exists residual water in the container 4 for drinks, and a detection signal is transmitted from the electrostatic capacitance sensor 31 to a control apparatus. When it is determined that “there is residual water” based on this detection signal, at least the single-row conveyor 21 is stopped. On the other hand, the beverage container 4 determined as “no residual water” is transported to an empty air inspection machine (not shown) and inspected for defects, and then transported to a filling machine (not shown) to receive the beverage. Filled.

  As described above, according to the residual water inspection apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the front surface of the capacitance sensor 31 is placed in a state where the beverage container 4 that is a residual water inspection target is inclined at a predetermined angle θ. Since it can be passed, even if the amount of residual water in the beverage container 4 is extremely small, the presence or absence of residual water can be accurately detected.

  The embodiment described above is described for facilitating understanding of the present invention, and is not described for limiting the present invention. Therefore, each element disclosed in the above embodiment is intended to include all design changes and equivalents belonging to the technical scope of the present invention.

  In the above embodiment, the transport conveyor 2 includes the single-row transport conveyor 21, the first double-row transport conveyor 22, and the second double-row transport conveyor 23, but is not limited thereto. Only the row conveyor 21 may be used.

1 ... Residual water inspection device (residual liquid inspection device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Conveyor 21 ... Single row conveyor 22 ... 1st double row conveyor 23 ... 2nd double row conveyor 3 ... Residual water detection part (residual liquid detection part)
31 ... Capacitance sensor 32 ... Protection mechanism 4 ... Beverage container

Claims (6)

A device for detecting residual liquid in a beverage container,
A single row conveyor for conveying the beverage containers in a single row;
A residual liquid detection unit for detecting residual liquid in the beverage container;
A protection mechanism that protects the residual liquid detection unit so that the residual liquid detection unit and the beverage container passing through the front thereof do not come into contact with each other.
The single row conveyor has an inclined conveyance surface that supports the bottom surface of the beverage container and is inclined in a direction transverse to the conveyance direction of the beverage container,
The residual liquid detection unit is a lower one of the sides of the inclined conveyance surface, and is located above a plane including the inclined conveyance surface, and a lower side surface of the beverage container is a portion of the residual liquid detection unit. It is arranged to pass forward,
The protection mechanism has two protection parts standing on both sides of the front surface of the residual liquid detection part, and a connecting part continuing to each of the two protection parts, and an interval between the two protection parts Is smaller than the outer diameter of the beverage container, so that the beverage container that is conveyed while being inclined by the inclined conveyance surface passes through the front of the residual liquid detection unit in a state in which it falls down, The residual liquid detection device is configured such that the beverage container does not contact the residual liquid detection unit. The residual liquid detection device according to claim 1 , further comprising an adjustment mechanism that adjusts a distance between the residual liquid detection unit and the beverage container passing through the front thereof. The residual liquid detection unit, the residual liquid detection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is constituted by a capacitive sensor. The residual liquid detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein an inclined conveyance surface of the single-line conveyance conveyor is inclined at 10 to 11 degrees. Located on the upstream side of the single-row transport conveyor, a double-row transport conveyor that can transport the beverage containers in double rows,
The provided so as to intersect the double row conveyor, according to claim 1-4, characterized in that it further comprises a guide portion for guiding the beverage container to the single-row conveyor from the double row conveyor The residual liquid detection apparatus in any one. The beverage container is a returnable container, residual liquid detection device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a container after washing.

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