JP5558335B2 - Defoaming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a defoaming device capable of efficiently defoaming bubbles from a liquid stored in a container.

  In the case where a product obtained by storing a liquid such as liquor, liquid medicine, or liquid seasoning in a container is used as a product, an operation for detecting contamination of the storage container in a manufacturing process is performed. This operation is performed by the foreign object detection device. In the foreign object detection device, light is irradiated to a storage container that is an object to be inspected, and what appears in the captured image is determined as a foreign object mixed in the liquid. However, immediately after the liquid is filled, innumerable bubbles are generated in the liquid, which makes it difficult to distinguish from foreign substances. Large bubble diameters rise and disappear immediately, but small bubble diameters have a slow ascent rate, so it takes time to disappear, and waiting for bubbles to disappear increases inspection time. It becomes an impediment to efficiency.

  In such a case, the defoaming device performs the disappearance of the bubbles in a short time by applying vibration to the object to be inspected by ultrasonic waves, releasing the bubbles from the liquid, and bringing the bubbles together to increase the rising speed. Is used.

  For example, in Patent Document 1, a carry-in conveyor that sequentially conveys bottles into which liquid has been injected, a chain conveyor that holds and conveys bottles from the end of the carry-in conveyor, and a transfer path of the chain conveyor are provided. An apparatus for inspecting liquid foreign matter in a container is provided that includes an ultrasonic action tank that vibrates a bottle with an ultrasonic vibrator and a carry-out conveyor that transfers the bottle that has passed through the ultrasonic action tank.

  In the conventional defoaming device described in Patent Document 1, the bottle conveyed by the carry-in conveyor is lifted by a chuck that holds the neck of the bottle provided at a certain length on the chain conveyor, and the lower half of the bottle is removed. It is transported while being immersed in the liquid of the ultrasonic action tank, and is lifted from the ultrasonic action tank and placed on the carry-out conveyor for movement.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-135353

According to the conventional defoaming device, ultrasonic waves can be applied from the outside of the bottle by immersing the lower half of the bottle in the liquid of the ultrasonic action tank. It takes time to move from the ultrasonic action tank to the carry-out conveyor to the action tank.
In order to perform defoaming efficiently, it is important that the inspection object can be transported smoothly. If the time required for defoaming can be shortened, the entire inspection time can be shortened. This is more effective as the number of objects to be inspected is larger.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the defoaming apparatus which can aim at shortening of inspection time by conveying a to-be-inspected object smoothly.

  In the defoaming device of the present invention, the entrance path into which the object filled with the liquid enters and one end are arranged at the same horizontal position, and the exit path from which the object to be inspected and the other end are at the same horizontal position. An arranged stage; a conveying means for moving an object to be inspected on the stage; an ultrasonic wave generating means for applying vibration to the inspection object; and the ultrasonic wave generating means for the inspection object moving on the stage. And a liquid supply means for discharging a liquid medium for transmitting vibrations on the stage to form a water layer.

In the defoaming device of the present invention, one end of the stage is at the same horizontal position as the entrance path and the other end is disposed at the same horizontal position as the exit path, but the liquid supply means discharges the liquid medium, Since the water layer can be formed on the surface, the water layer is interposed in the inspection object that immerses the vibration generated by the ultrasonic wave generation means on the stage when the inspection object moves on the stage. Can be transmitted. The inspection object to which the vibration is transmitted is degassed by releasing bubbles from the liquid. Since one end of the stage is at the same horizontal position as the approach path and the other end is located at the same horizontal position as the exit path, the object to be inspected is smoothly transferred from the entrance path to the stage and from the stage to the exit path. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently deaerate the object to be inspected.
Discharge of the liquid medium onto the stage by the liquid supply unit is not limited as long as a water layer can be formed on the stage. Is also included.

  A water tank for receiving the liquid medium from above the stage is provided around the stage, and the liquid supply means has a function of circulating the medium liquid stored in the water tank on the stage. Is desirable. The liquid supply means discharges onto the stage, but the liquid medium flows from the stage and accumulates in the water tank. The liquid medium is circulated by discharging the liquid medium accumulated in the water tank onto the stage. By doing so, it is possible to form an aqueous layer by a water flow without using a large amount of liquid medium.

The water tank includes an inner tank in which the ultrasonic wave generation unit is disposed, the stage is disposed in an opening, and stores the liquid medium from the liquid supply unit until it contacts the bottom surface of the stage; and the inner tank It is preferable that a surrounding wall be formed and an outer tank for storing the liquid medium, and the liquid supply means have a function of pumping up from the liquid medium stored in the outer tank.
The vibration from the ultrasonic wave generating means arranged in the inner tank is transmitted to the bottom surface of the stage arranged in the opening of the inner tank via the liquid medium stored in the inner tank. The vibration transmitted to the stage is transmitted to the water layer on the stage to vibrate the inspection object immersed in the water layer. The liquid medium overflowing from the stage and the liquid medium overflowing from the inner tank flow out to the outer tank. Then, the liquid medium accumulated in the outer tank is pumped up from the outer tank by the supply means and discharged onto the stage. As described above, since the water tank includes the inner tank and the outer tank, the vibration from the ultrasonic wave generation unit can be transmitted to the water layer without causing the liquid medium to overflow to the outside of the water tank.

  It is desirable that the transport means has a function of transporting while sliding the bottom surface of the inspection object on the stage. If the conveyor means is a conveyor provided on the stage, it is necessary to take measures against waterproofing and water resistance on the conveyor, but by transferring the object to be inspected while sliding, the countermeasure becomes unnecessary for the conveyor means, A stage and a conveyance means can be comprised with a simple member.

  When the conveying means is a screw-like feeder, it is possible to adjust the timing for the next process while moving the inspection object while sliding it on the stage.

  In the present invention, since one end is located at the same horizontal position as the approach path and the other end is arranged at the same horizontal position as the exit path, it is smoothly transferred from the entrance path to the stage and further from the stage to the exit path. Thus, it is possible to efficiently degas the inspected object.

It is a perspective view which shows the defoaming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the direction along the advancing direction of the one bottle of the defoaming apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the direction orthogonal to the advancing direction of the one bottle of the defoaming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st modification of the defoaming apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd modification of the defoaming apparatus shown in FIG. It is sectional drawing of the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction which shows the modification of a stage.

(Embodiment)
A defoaming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The defoaming apparatus according to the present embodiment discharges bubbles from the shochu filled in the first bottle B which is the inspection object conveyed from the preceding filling apparatus, and conveys it to the subsequent foreign matter detection apparatus.
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the defoaming apparatus 1 includes a stage 11, a transport unit 12, an ultrasonic wave generation unit 13, a water tank 14, and a liquid supply unit 15. In FIG. 1, the liquid supply means 15 on the conveying means 12 side is not shown.

  The stage 11 is a horizontally arranged stainless steel plate material which is an example of a metal formed in a long rectangular shape. One end (start point) of the stage 11 is disposed at the same horizontal position as the approach path 16, and the other end (end point) is disposed at the same horizontal position as the exit path 17. The stage 11 is supported by a support member (not shown) extending from the upper end of the peripheral wall of the water tank 14. The stainless steel plate material used as the stage 11 is subjected to a surface treatment for reducing friction with the one bottle B serving as a container. In the present embodiment, fluorine resin processing is applied as surface processing.

  The approach path 16 is formed by a conveyor 161 that conveys the one bottle B from the filling device, and a first relay member 162 that passes the one bottle B from the conveyor 161 to the stage 11. The exit path 17 is formed by a conveyor 171 for transporting the one bottle B from the defoaming device 1 to the foreign object detection device, and a second relay member 172 for passing the one bottle B from the stage 11 to the conveyor 171. Yes.

  The first relay member 162 and the second relay member 172 are stainless plate members. The first relay member 162 is disposed at the same horizontal position as the end point position of the conveyor 161 and the start point position of the stage 11. The second relay member 172 is disposed at the same horizontal position as the end point position of the conveyor 171 and the end point position of the stage 11.

The conveying means 12 is a screw-like feeder 121 arranged on one side along the longitudinal direction of the stage 11. In order to stabilize the movement of the one bottle B transported by the feeder 121, a guide rail 122 formed of two bars is provided on the opposite side of the feeder 121 with the stage 11 in between. .
The ultrasonic wave generating means 13 is an ultrasonic vibrator that is disposed in the water tank 14 and is applied to the one bottle B through a liquid medium on the stage 11.

  The water tank 14 includes an outer tank 141 and an inner tank 142. The outer tank 141 has a bottom surface wider than the inner tank 142, and a peripheral wall surface is formed lower than the inner tank 142. The inner tub 142 is supported by support legs 142 a erected on the bottom surface of the outer tub 141. At the opening of the inner tank 142, the edge of the wall surface is left leaving a water passage hole (not shown) for allowing water on the stage 11 to enter or for overflowing water to flow out to the outer tank 141. The stage 11 is arranged by bending inward and screwing the stage 11. By forming the inner tank 142 in this way, the water surface of the liquid medium accumulated in the inner tank 142 is in contact with the bottom surface of the stage 11. Ultrasonic wave generation means 13 is disposed on the bottom surface of the inner tank 142.

  The liquid supply means 15 includes a pump 151 that pumps up the liquid medium stored in the outer tank 141, a nozzle 152 that discharges the liquid medium to the stage 11, and a communication hose from the pump 151 connected to one end, and the nozzles 152 are arranged at predetermined intervals. Therefore, a distribution pipe 153 for distributing the liquid medium from the pump 151 to each nozzle 152 is provided. In the present embodiment, two sets of liquid supply means 15 are provided, and a liquid medium is discharged from both sides of the stage 11 by the nozzles 152. In FIG. 1, the nozzle 152 and the distribution pipe 153 arranged on the feeder 121 side are not shown.

The operation and use state of the defoaming apparatus 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, water is used as a liquid medium for transmitting vibrations from the ultrasonic wave generating means 13 to the one bottle B.
The single bottle B is conveyed from the filling device by the conveyor 161. The first bottle B that has reached the end point of the conveyor 161 is guided to the feeder 121, passes over the first relay member 162, and enters the stage 11 at the same horizontal position.

Since water is pumped from the outer tank 141 of the water tank 14 by the pump 151 to the stage 11 and discharged from the nozzle 152 through the distribution pipe 153, a thin water layer W of about several centimeters is provided.
Is formed. The water overflowing from the stage 11 first flows into the inner tank 142 through a water passage hole that is a gap between the inner tank 142 and the stage 11 to fill the inner tank 142 to the full. Further, the water overflowing from the inner tank 142 is accumulated in the outer tank 141 through the water passage hole. Further, the water overflowing from the stage 11 flows out directly to the outer tank 141. The pump 151 pumps up the water accumulated in the outer tank 141 and discharges it onto the stage 11 so that the water is directly outside from the stage 11 to the inner tank 142, from the inner tank 142 to the outer tank 141, or directly from the stage 11. Since it circulates to the tank 141 and to the stage 11, it is possible to form the water layer W by the water flow without using a large amount of water.

Since the inner tank 142 is filled with water, the water is in contact with the back surface of the stage 11. Therefore, the vibration due to the ultrasonic waves from the ultrasonic wave generation means 13 is transmitted to the stage 11 through the water filled in the inner tank 142 stored until it contacts the bottom surface of the stage 11, and the water layer on the stage 11. Transmitted to W.
The one bottle B that moves by the feeder 121 is sandwiched between the feeder 121 and the guide rail 122 and is conveyed in a stable state. The lower part of the first base bottle B advances while sliding on the stage 11, but by proceeding while being immersed in the water layer W, the vibration due to ultrasonic waves not only from the bottom surface of the first base bottle B in contact with the stage 11 but also to the aqueous layer W. Since it is also transmitted from the side surface portion of the soaked bottle B, the transmission efficiency can be further improved. Due to this vibration, the shochu filled in the one bottle B is vibrated, and bubbles in the shochu are released and defoamed.

  When the first bottle B moving while being degassed from one end of the stage 11 by the feeder 121 reaches the other end, it is further guided to the feeder 121 and passes over the second relay member 172 to be at the same horizontal position. Move to 171 start point. Then, the first bottle B is inspected for the presence or absence of foreign matter in the cautery by the next foreign matter detection device at intervals conveyed to the feeder 121.

  Thus, one end of the stage 11 is at the same horizontal position as the first relay member 162, and the other end is also disposed at the same horizontal position as the second relay member 172. Furthermore, it is possible to transfer the first bottle B as the inspection object from the stage 11 to the exit path. Therefore, since the first bottle B can be degassed efficiently, the inspection time can be shortened. In the present embodiment, since the conveyor 161, the first relay member 162, the stage 11, the second relay member 172, and the conveyor 171 are arranged in the same horizontal position and in a straight line, the bottle B is decelerated. And can be moved at high speed. In particular, in the case of the heavy bottle B, when the conveyor 161, the first relay member 162, the stage 11, the second relay member 172, and the conveyor 171 are set to the same horizontal position, the bottle B is moved. Since there is no difference in height, the defoaming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can be moved at a high speed, so that a high effect is obtained.

  In addition, since the feeder 121 moves the bottom of the bottle B on the stage 11 while sliding on the stage 11, the stage 11 can be a simple plate material, and it is necessary to take special measures such as waterproofing the feeder 121. There is no. Therefore, the stage 11 and the conveying means 12 can be formed with simple members. Furthermore, the timing of the 1 bottle jar B conveyed to a foreign material detection apparatus can be aimed on the stage 11 by conveying the 1 bottle jar B with the feeder 121 arrange | positioned along the stage 11. FIG. That is, if the spiral interval of the feeder 121 is gradually increased, the conveyance timing to the foreign object detection device can be gradually increased, and if the spiral interval is gradually decreased, the conveyance timing to the foreign object detection device is gradually decreased. Can do.

(Modification of the embodiment)
A modification of the defoaming device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 4 to 5, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  The defoaming apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a stage 11 arranged horizontally, but the first modification shown in FIG. By being low, the stage 11 is disposed so as to be inclined downward. Further, in the second modification shown in FIG. 5, the stage 11 is disposed so that the stage 11 is inclined upward by having one end of the stage 11 low and the other end high.

The discharge position of the nozzle 152 is preferably a position where the inclined surface of the stage 11 is high. 4 and 5, the nozzle 152 is disposed at a position that is an upper portion of the stage 11.
The water discharged from the nozzle 152 flows on the stage 11 from the upper part where the stage 11 is inclined, and flows to the water tank 14 while flowing to the lower part where the stage 11 is low. The vibration from the ultrasonic wave generation means 13 (not shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) is transmitted from the lower part to the upper part of the stage 11 by the water flowing out to the water tank 14, and is transmitted to the one-necked bottle B conveyed on the stage 11. .

  Thus, even if the stage 11 is inclined upward or downward, one end of the stage 11 is in the same horizontal position as the first relay member 162 and the other end is also in the same horizontal position as the second relay member 172. Since it is arranged, it is possible to smoothly transfer the first bottle B as the inspection object from the entrance path to the stage 11 and from the stage 11 to the exit path.

In addition, it is desirable to provide the side wall 111 which provided the wall surface upright on both ends along the longitudinal direction of the stage 11, as shown in FIG. By doing so, the fixed water layer which immerses the bottom part of the 1 bottle jar B can be ensured.
Further, although not shown, a feeder 121 may be adopted as a transport unit that moves the one-pot bottle B on the stage 11. However, since there is a difference in height between the conveyor 161 and the conveyor 171, it is desirable to employ a feeder that can hold the first bottle B and move laterally.

As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention has been described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment. In the present embodiment, the one bottle B filled with shochu has been described as an example. However, for example, the present invention can be applied if the container is filled with a liquid such as sake or medicine. In this embodiment, water is used as the liquid medium, but other liquids can be used as long as the vibration from the ultrasonic wave generating means 13 can be transmitted to the bottle B.
Furthermore, in this embodiment, the screw-type feeder 121 is used as the conveying means 12, but other conveying means can be used as long as the feeder can move laterally while sliding the bottom of the one-necked bottle B on the stage 11. May be used.

  The present invention is suitable for a defoaming device for defoaming bubbles from a liquid stored in a container that is performed in the previous stage of foreign object inspection.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Defoamer 11 Stage 111 Side wall 12 Conveying means 121 Feeder 122 Guide rail 13 Ultrasonic wave generating means 14 Water tank 141 Outer tank 142 Inner tank 142a Support leg 15 Liquid supply means 151 Pump 152 Nozzle 153 Dividing pipe 16 Inlet path 161 Conveyor 162 First 1 relay member 17 exit path 171 conveyor 172 second relay member

Claims (3)

An entrance path into which an object to be inspected filled with liquid and one end are arranged at the same horizontal position, and an exit path from which the object to be examined exits and a stage at which the other end is arranged at the same horizontal position,
Conveying means for moving the object to be inspected on the stage;
An ultrasonic wave generating means for applying vibration to the inspection object;
A liquid supply unit that discharges a liquid medium for transmitting vibrations generated by the ultrasonic wave generation unit to an inspection object that moves on the stage, and forms a water layer on the stage;
Provided around the stage, and a water tank for receiving the liquid medium from the said stage,
The water tank includes an inner tank in which the ultrasonic wave generation unit is disposed, the stage is disposed in an opening, and stores the liquid medium from the liquid supply unit until it contacts the bottom surface of the stage; and the inner tank A surrounding wall is formed, and includes an outer tank for storing a liquid medium,
The defoaming apparatus , wherein the liquid supply means has a function of pumping up from the liquid medium stored in the outer tank and circulating it on the stage . It said conveying means, the bottom surface claim 1 Symbol placing degassing apparatus in which having a function of transporting while sliding on the stage of the specimen. The defoaming apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the conveying means is a screw-like feeder.

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