JP5779391B2 - Powder enclosing device and container manufacturing method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a powder filling device and a container manufacturing method.

  Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-28399 describes that a container is filled with powder, the air in the container is degassed, a gas is filled in the container, and a stopper is attached to the container to hermetically seal the container. 1.

JP 2009-062077 A

  However, Patent Document 1 does not disclose a specific method (apparatus configuration or the like) for realizing various processes such as attaching a stopper to a container and filling a powder into the container.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the powder enclosure device which can perform suitably various processes, such as attachment of the stopper to a container, and a container manufacturing method.

The powder sealing device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container that is open at one end and filled with powder is accommodated.
A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
A stopper holding part for holding the stopper detachably at a position where the one end and the stopper face each other;
Have
The plug mounting part is for detaching the plug from the plug holding part by pushing the plug in a direction approaching the one end, and mounting the plug on the one end.
The chamber is
A first tubular portion, and a second tubular portion disposed in the first tubular portion,
The plug mounting portion is disposed in the second cylindrical portion,
The stopper holder is
Having a plurality of stopper holding members that detachably hold the stopper;
The powder encapsulating apparatus further binds the plurality of stopper holding members and attaches them to the second cylindrical portion, and also includes the second cylindrical portion, the plurality of stopper holding members, and the first A stopper holding member sealing ring for maintaining airtightness between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion,
The stopper holding member is
An engagement protrusion that is positioned above a portion of the stopper holding member that is bound by the stopper holding member seal ring and that engages with the second cylindrical portion;
A plug holding projection for holding the plug, located below a portion of the plug holding member that is bound by the plug holding member seal ring;
Have
A direction in which the stopper holding protrusions are separated from each other in a state in which the engagement protrusion and the second cylindrical part are kept engaged by pushing the stopper in a direction in which the stopper mounting portion approaches the one end. The plurality of stopper holding members tilt, and the stopper is detached from the stopper holding protrusion .
In addition, the powder sealing device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container having one end opened and filled with powder is accommodated,
A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
Have
The chamber is
A chamber body;
A container base for holding and positioning the bottom of the container and sealed with the chamber body via a seal ring;
It is characterized by including.
In addition, the powder sealing device according to the third aspect of the present invention includes a chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container having one end opened and filled with powder is accommodated,
A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
A pressure detector for detecting the pressure in the chamber;
A control unit that performs operation control of the deaeration unit, the gas filling unit, and the plug mounting unit;
Have
The controller is
When the chamber is sealed, the degassing unit starts the degassing,
When the pressure detection unit detects that the inside of the chamber has been reduced to a predetermined pressure, the gas filling unit starts filling the gas,
When the pressure detection unit detects that the gas is filled until the pressure in the chamber reaches a predetermined pressure, the plug mounting unit is made to mount the plug.
Moreover, the powder sealing device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention includes a chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container that is open at one end and filled with powder is accommodated therein,
A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
A container for detection that houses the one end of the container after the stopper is mounted and the stopper in a sealed state;
A negative pressure generating section for generating a negative pressure in the detection accommodating section;
A pressure change detection unit for detecting a pressure change in the detection housing unit;
A pressure determination unit that determines a sealed state of the container based on a detection result by the pressure change detection unit;
It is characterized by having.

  According to this powder sealing apparatus, degassing in the container, filling of the gas into the container, and mounting of the stopper on the container can be performed in the same chamber. More specifically, in a chamber that is sealed in a state in which the container is accommodated, a series of processes of degassing the container, filling the gas into the container, and attaching a stopper to one end of the container It can be performed. Therefore, in a state where unnecessary atmosphere (for example, oxygen) in the container is reduced as much as possible, gas (for example, nitrogen gas) can be filled in the container, and a stopper is attached in the chamber after that, so only the powder is used. A plug can be attached so that the filled gas can be enclosed in the container.

Further, the present invention is a method for producing a container using the powder filling device according to the first aspect of the present invention,
A step of said one end to accommodate the container in which the powder inside opening is filled into the chamber, sealing the chamber,
Degassing the chamber and the container;
Filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas;
Mounting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber;
There line in this order,
In the step of mounting the plug by fitting the plug to the one end portion in the chamber, the engagement protrusion and the second cylindrical portion are formed by pushing the plug in a direction in which the plug mounting portion approaches the one end portion. A plurality of stopper holding members tilt in a direction in which the stopper holding protrusions are separated from each other in a state where the engagement with the stopper is maintained, and the stoppers are detached from the stopper holding protrusions. I will provide a.
Further, the present invention is a method for producing a container using the powder filling device according to the second aspect of the present invention,
Storing the container having the one end opened and filled with the powder in the chamber, and sealing the chamber;
Degassing the chamber and the container;
Filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas;
Mounting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber;
Are provided in this order, and a container manufacturing method is provided.
Further, the present invention is a method for producing a container using the powder filling device according to the third aspect of the present invention,
Storing the container having the one end opened and filled with the powder in the chamber, and sealing the chamber;
Degassing the chamber and the container;
A step of filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas when it is detected that the pressure in the chamber has been reduced to a predetermined pressure;
When it is detected that the gas is filled until the inside of the chamber reaches a predetermined pressure, the step of fitting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber; and
Are provided in this order, and a container manufacturing method is provided.
Moreover, this invention is a method of manufacturing a container using the powder filling device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention,
Storing the container having the one end opened and filled with the powder in the chamber, and sealing the chamber;
Degassing the chamber and the container;
Filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas;
Mounting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber;
Storing the one end of the container after the stopper is mounted and the stopper in a sealed state in the detection container;
Generating a negative pressure in the detection container;
A step of determining a sealed state of the container based on a detection result of a pressure change in the detection container;
Are provided in this order, and a container manufacturing method is provided.

  According to the present invention, processing such as attachment of a stopper to a container can be suitably performed.

It is a block diagram of a powder enclosure device. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state by which the chamber of the plug mounting apparatus of the powder enclosure apparatus was sealed. It is a disassembled front view of a stopper mounting apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state by which the chamber of the stopper mounting apparatus was open | released by air | atmosphere. It is a front view for demonstrating the setting operation | movement of the stopper with respect to a stopper mounting apparatus. It is a block diagram of a stopper mounting apparatus. It is the front view and top view of a stopper mounting apparatus. It is a time chart which shows operation | movement of a stopper mounting apparatus. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the powder filling apparatus of a powder enclosure apparatus. It is a side view which shows the stirring member of a powder filling apparatus. It is sectional drawing of a base. It is a top view of a base. It is a front view of the bottle for drinks in which the bottle cap containing a powder container (assembly) is attached. It is an exploded longitudinal cross-sectional view around the bottle cap of a beverage bottle. It is the longitudinal cross-sectional view and bottom view of a stopper. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view around the bottle cap of a beverage bottle. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the state which the bottle cap opened. It is a front view of a powder container (assembly). It is a typical front view of the leak test | inspection apparatus of a powder enclosure device. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of a powder enclosure apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of operation | movement of a stopper mounting apparatus. It is a front view of the bottle cap for demonstrating an image test | inspection.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In all the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

  Before describing the powder filling device 1000 (FIG. 1) according to the present embodiment, the configuration of the beverage bottle 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 13 is a front view of the beverage bottle 3 to which the bottle cap 10 is attached. FIG. 14 is an exploded vertical sectional view around the bottle cap of the beverage bottle 3. FIG. 15A is a longitudinal sectional view of the stopper 40, and FIG. 15B is a bottom view of the stopper 40. FIG. 16 is a longitudinal sectional view around the bottle cap of the beverage bottle 3. FIG. 17 is a longitudinal sectional view around the bottle cap of the beverage bottle 3 and shows a state in which the bottle cap 10 is opened.

As shown in FIG. 13, the beverage bottle 3 has a bottle main body 210 having a bottle mouth portion 220 formed at the upper end, and a bottle cap 10 attached to the bottle mouth portion 220 of the bottle main body 210.
The bottle cap 10 includes a powder 1 container (assembled body 2) and a stopper 40 attached to the container.
The bottle main body 210 is, for example, a main body portion of a so-called PET bottle, and contains a beverage medium such as fresh water inside.
As shown in FIG. 13, the bottle cap 10 is attached to a bottle mouth portion 220 formed at one end of the bottle main body 210 to close the bottle mouth portion 220.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the bottle cap 10 includes, for example, an outer cylinder member (first member) 30, an inner cylinder member (second member) 20, and a stopper 40.

  The outer cylinder member 30 includes a mounting portion 36 that is mounted on the bottle mouth portion 220 and an outer cylinder portion 32 that is integrally formed with the mounting portion 36. The outer cylinder part 32 and the mounting part 36 have a double cylinder structure, and the mounting part 36 is located around the outer cylinder part 32. One end of the mounting portion 36 is closed because the inner peripheral side of one end (the upper end in FIG. 14) of the mounting portion 36 is annularly connected to the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylindrical portion 32. On the inner peripheral surface of the mounting portion 36, a female screw portion 371 that engages with a male screw portion 222 formed in the bottle mouth portion 220 and a latch portion 372 that engages with a latch ring 224 formed in the bottle mouth portion 220. And are formed. The outer cylinder member 30 is attached to the bottle body 210 by winding the female screw portion 371 around the male screw portion 222. When the female screw part 371 is sufficiently tightened and the latch part 372 gets over the latch ring 224, both engage with each other, and the loosening of the outer cylinder member 30 attached to the bottle body 210 is restricted. In a state where the outer cylinder member 30 is attached to the bottle mouth part 220, the internal space of the outer cylinder part 32 constitutes a communication part that communicates the inside and the outside of the bottle body 210. On the outer peripheral surface of the outer cylinder part 32 (on the upper part of the outer cylinder part 32 in FIG. 14), a male screw part 35 to which the inner cylinder member 20 is attached is formed. In the outer cylinder portion 32, a latch claw 302 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the neck portion 301 that forms the boundary between the male screw portion 35 and the mounting portion 36, with the direction around the axis of the outer cylinder member 30 as the latch direction.

  The inner cylinder member 20 is inserted from one end 33 side to the other end 34 side of the outer cylinder part 32, and is formed integrally with the inner cylinder part (insertion part) 22 that penetrates the outer cylinder part 32 and the inner cylinder part 22. And a palate portion 23. The palate part 23 has a flat plate-like main body part 23a and a cylindrical outer peripheral part 26 having one end connected to the outer periphery of the main body part 23a. The inner cylindrical portion 22 and the outer peripheral portion 26 have a double cylindrical structure, and the outer peripheral portion 26 is located around the inner cylindrical portion 22. One end 251 of the inner cylinder portion 22 is an open end, and the stopper 40 is attached to the open end. The other end of the inner cylinder part 22 is connected to the main body part 23a, and the inner cylinder part 22 and the outer cylinder part 32 are connected to each other via the main body part 23a. The main body portion 23 a closes the other end of the inner cylinder portion 22 and one end of the outer peripheral portion 26. The palate portion 23 is attached to a portion (specifically, a male screw portion 35) located outside the bottle body 210 in the outer cylinder member 30 (in a state where the outer cylinder member 30 is attached to the bottle body 210). Thus, the one end 33 of the outer cylinder part 32 is closed and the bottle mouth part 220 is also closed. That is, the palate part 23 constitutes the palate of the bottle body 210. The inner region of the inner cylinder portion 22 constitutes a storage portion 24 that stores the powder 1. On the inner surface of the outer peripheral portion 26 of the palate portion 23, a female screw portion 28 that is screwed with the male screw portion 35 of the outer cylinder portion 32 is formed. On the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral portion 26, a holding groove 27 is formed for improving the hooking of a finger when opening. The inner cylinder member 20 is integrally formed with an annular band portion 50 for confirming that the palate portion 23 is opened. The band part 50 is partially connected to the edge 261 of the outer peripheral part 26 of the palate part 23 via a fragile bridge 52. A latch claw 54 that engages with a latch claw 302 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the neck portion 301 of the outer cylinder portion 32 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the band portion 50. An annular protrusion 25 that engages with the stopper 40 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the one end portion 251 of the inner cylinder portion 22. The inner cylindrical portion 22 is formed longer than the outer cylindrical portion 32, and when the female screw portion 28 of the inner cylindrical member 20 is completely screwed to the male screw portion 35 of the outer cylindrical member 30, the annular protrusion 25 becomes the outer cylinder. It protrudes from the part 32.

  As shown in FIG. 15, the stopper 40 is press-fitted and fixed to the one end 251 of the inner cylinder part 22, and is pushed into the opening of the one end 251 of the inner cylinder part 22 to close the opening. And an outer peripheral wall 44 erected on the peripheral edge of the lid portion 42, and an annular groove 41 is formed between the outer peripheral wall 44 and the lid portion 42. The lid portion 42 includes an inner peripheral wall 421 that forms the annular groove 41 together with the outer peripheral wall 44, and a tapered portion 422 that has a tapered diameter at the upper portion of the inner peripheral wall 421. Since the lid portion 42 has the tapered portion 422, the lid portion 42 can be easily press-fitted into the one end portion 251 of the inner cylinder portion 22. On the inner wall surface of the outer peripheral wall 44, an annular bulging portion 47 that bulges in the direction of narrowing the inner diameter of the outer peripheral wall 44 is formed. When the lid portion 42 is pushed into the one end portion 251 of the inner cylinder portion 22, the one end portion 251 of the inner cylinder portion 22 is fitted between the outer peripheral wall 44 and the lid portion 42 (that is, in the annular groove 41), and the inner portion The annular protrusion 25 of the cylindrical portion 22 gets over the bulging portion 47 and engages with the bulging portion 47. Thereby, the stopper 40 is attached to the one end portion 251 of the inner cylindrical portion 22 with an appropriate holding force. The stopper 40 has an annular protrusion 43 formed in the annular groove 41, and the annular protrusion 43 is in contact with one end surface of the inner cylinder portion 22, thereby improving the airtightness of the stopper 40. Further, the plug 40 has an annular protrusion 45 formed on the outer peripheral wall 44, and the annular protrusion 45 is in contact with the end surface 39 of the other end 34 of the outer cylinder portion 32, thereby improving the airtightness of the plug 40. It has become.

The inner cylinder part 22, the outer peripheral part 26 of the palate part 23, the outer cylinder part 32, and the mounting part 36 are all formed in a cylindrical shape.
The inner cylinder member 20, the outer cylinder member 30, and the stopper 40 are preferably made of the same kind of polymer as a base material from the viewpoint of recyclability. Specifically, the inner cylinder member 20, the outer cylinder member 30, and the plug 40 are made of a thermoplastic hard resin such as polypropylene as a main component and are manufactured by injection molding.

  As shown in FIG. 16, the bottle cap 10 screwes the female screw portion 28 of the inner cylinder member 20 and the male screw portion 35 of the outer cylinder member 30, so that the powder 1 is placed in the accommodating portion 24 of the inner cylinder member 20. The plug 40 is attached to one end 251 of the inner cylinder portion 22.

  By attaching such a bottle cap 10 to the bottle mouth part 220 of the bottle main body 210 that contains a beverage medium (not shown) in advance, the beverage bottle 3 is configured.

When the lid part 23 of such a beverage bottle 3 is opened, that is, when the palate part 23 is rotated around the axis relative to the outer cylinder member 30, the palate part 23 moves relative to the outer cylinder member 30. When the plug 40 is screwed relatively open, the outer peripheral wall 44 is pushed down by the end surface 39 of the outer cylinder member 30 and is detached from the inner cylinder portion 22 as shown in FIG.
Thereby, as shown in FIG. 17, the powder 1 is dissipated to the exterior of the accommodating part 24, and a drink is obtained by mixing the powder 1 and a drink medium. The powder 1 is, for example, powdered tea.
When the palate portion 23 is opened, the band portion 50 is restricted from rotating with respect to the outer cylinder member 30 by the engagement of the latch claws 302 and 54, so that the brittle bridge 52 breaks and the palate portion 23 and left on the neck 301, it is possible to easily confirm the opening of the palate 23.

FIG. 18 is a front view of the assembly 2. In the present embodiment, a structure obtained by screwing (winding) the inner cylinder member 20 and the outer cylinder member 30 to each other is referred to as an assembly 2. In FIG. 18, the vertical directions of the inner cylinder member 20 and the outer cylinder member 30 are reversed from those in FIGS. 13, 14, 16, and 17.
The assembled body 2 has the above-described inner cylinder portion 22, and an accommodation portion 24 that accommodates the powder 1 is formed in the inner cylinder portion 22. That is, the assembly 2 functions as a container for the powder 1.

  Hereinafter, the powder filling apparatus 1000 according to the present embodiment will be described.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a powder filling apparatus 1000 according to this embodiment.
The powder encapsulating apparatus 1000 includes, for example, an assembling apparatus 100 that winds the inner cylinder member 20 and the outer cylinder member 30 to create the assembly 2, an ion air dust removal apparatus 200 that removes dust from the assembly 2, A powder filling device 300 that fills the container 24 with the powder 1, a stopper mounting device 400 that mounts the stopper 40 on the inner cylindrical portion 22 to create the bottle cap 10, and ion air that removes the dust from the bottle cap 10. A dust removing device 500, a leak inspection device 600 that performs a sealed state inspection of the housing portion 24 of the bottle cap 10 by pressure detection, and an image inspection device 700 that performs a sealed state inspection of the housing portion 24 of the bottle cap 10 by image recognition. And a weight inspection apparatus 800 for inspecting the filling weight of the powder 1.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes performed by the powder filling apparatus 1000 by automatic control.
First, the assembling apparatus 100 creates the assembly 2 by winding the inner cylinder member 20 and the outer cylinder member 30 together (step S1).
Next, the assembly 2 is mounted on a pedestal 60 described later (step S2).
Next, the ion air dust removing device 200 performs dust removal of the assembly 2 with ion air (step S3).
Next, the powder filling apparatus 300 fills the container 1 of the assembly 2 with a predetermined weight of the powder 1 (step S4).
Next, the plug mounting device 400 deaerates the storage unit 24 (step S5), fills the storage unit 24 with a predetermined gas (for example, nitrogen gas) (step S6), and plugs the storage unit 24. The bottle cap 10 is created by performing 40 (step S7).
Next, the ion air dust removing device 500 performs dust removal of the bottle cap 10 with ion air (step S8).
Next, the leak inspection apparatus 600 inspects the sealed state of the housing portion 24 by detecting pressure (step S9).
Next, the image inspection apparatus 700 inspects the sealed state of the storage unit 24 by image recognition (step S10).
Next, the weight inspection apparatus 800 inspects the filling weight of the powder 1 (step S11).
In this way, the bottle cap 10 in which the container 1 is filled with the powder 1 having a predetermined weight can be produced.

  Hereinafter, the powder sealing apparatus 1000 will be described in more detail.

The assembling apparatus 100 holds the inner cylinder member 20 and the outer cylinder member 30, respectively, and rotates either the inner cylinder member 20 or the outer cylinder member 30 with respect to the other, The assembly 2 shown in FIG. 18 is created by screwing (tightening) the female screw portion 28.
The created assembly 2 is subsequently individually mounted on a pedestal 60 as shown in FIG.
The assembly 2 is placed on the pedestal 60 and positioned on the pedestal 60 such that the open end of the one end 251 of the inner cylinder portion 22 faces upward.

As shown in FIG. 11, a recess 61 for positioning the assembly 2 is formed on the upper surface of the base 60. The recessed part 61 has the introduction part 61a, the taper part 61b, and the positioning part 61c in order from the top. The introduction part 61a and the positioning part 61c are each formed in a cylindrical shape and are circular in plan view. The inner diameter of the introduction part 61 a is set sufficiently larger than the diameter of the assembly 2. The positioning part 61 c has, for example, the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the palate part 23, and positions the assembly 2 with respect to the pedestal 60. The taper part 61b is gradually reduced in diameter from the upper end to the lower end, and smoothly guides the palate part 23 of the assembly 2 introduced into the introduction part 61a to the positioning part 61c. The inner diameter of the upper end of the tapered portion 61b is equal to the inner diameter of the introducing portion 61a, and the inner diameter of the lower end of the tapered portion 61b is equal to the inner diameter of the positioning portion 61c.
For example, the lower portion 62 of the pedestal 60 has a smaller planar dimension than the upper portion 63 of the pedestal 60.

  As shown in FIG. 12, for example, the pedestal 60 holding the assembly 2 is moved between devices for each process by a conveyor 70 (for example, an ion air dust removing device 200, a powder filling device 300, a plug mounting device 400, an ion air dust removing device). 500, between leak inspection apparatus 600, image inspection apparatus 700, and weight inspection apparatus 800).

The ion air dust removing device 200 is attached to the assembly 2 held on the pedestal 60 when the pedestal 60 is conveyed on the conveyor 70 in a stage before the assembly 1 is filled with the powder 1. Particles (for example, particles of resin constituting the inner cylinder member 20 and the outer cylinder member 30) are removed from the assembly 2 (dust removal).
As shown in FIG. 1, the ion air dust removing device 200 blows air (ion air) containing positive ions (H ⁺ ) and negative ions (O ₂ ⁻ ) toward the assembly 2 conveyed on the conveyor 70. It has a spraying part (second ion air supply part) 210 and a suction part 280 for sucking the atmosphere around the assembly 2.
For example, a plurality of spraying units 270 are provided at a position above the conveyor 70 along the conveying direction of the conveyor 70. The suction part 280 is arrange | positioned at the downstream of each spraying part 270, for example. That is, for example, the spraying units 270 and the suction units 280 are alternately arranged along the conveyance direction by the conveyor 70.
Each spray part 270 constantly blows out ion air, for example, and when the assembly 2 passes under each spray part 270, from the upward opening of the inner cylinder part 22 of the assembly 2, the accommodating part 24 is provided. Ion air is blown toward Since the resin assembly 2 is easily charged, particles are likely to adhere to the assembly 2. For example, when the assembly 2 is positively charged, this charge is canceled out by the negative ions contained in the ion air, and the particles that have adhered to the assembly 2 until then are easily attached to the assembly 2. And separate. Furthermore, by sucking the atmosphere including particles separated from the assembly 2 in this way by the suction unit 280, reattachment of particles to the assembly 2 can be suppressed, and the assembly 2 can be cleaned. it can.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the powder filling apparatus 300 includes a powder filling unit 310 that fills the container 24 with the powder 1 and an ion air spraying unit 380.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the powder filling unit 310 of the powder filling apparatus 300.
As shown in FIG. 9, the powder filling unit 310 includes a tank (storage unit) 311 that stores the powder 1 therein. The tank 311 has a discharge port 312 for discharging the powder 1 to the outside at the lower end. The tank 311 has, for example, a main body 320 and a tip 330 that is detachably provided at the lower end of the main body 320.
The main body 320 is formed so that the cross-sectional dimension of the internal space becomes smaller downward.
The distal end portion 330 is also formed so that the cross-sectional dimension of the internal space becomes smaller downward. Specifically, the distal end portion 330 has a first tapered portion 331 that decreases in a taper shape downward, a cylindrical first cylindrical portion 332, and a second taper that decreases in a tapered shape downward. The taper part 333, the cylindrical second cylindrical part 334, and in this order from above.
The inner diameter of the upper end of the first tapered portion 331 is equal to the inner diameter of the lower end of the main body portion 320, and the upper end portion of the first tapered portion 331 is connected to the lower end of the main body portion 320.
The inner diameter of the lower end of the first tapered portion 331 is equal to the inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion 332.
The inner diameter of the upper end of the second tapered portion 333 is equal to the inner diameter of the first cylindrical portion 332.
The inner diameter of the lower end of the second tapered portion 333 is equal to the inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion 334.
The lower end of the second cylindrical portion 334 is opened and constitutes a discharge port 312.
As described above, since the inner diameter of the distal end portion 330 is gradually reduced toward the lower side, the difference between the inner diameter of the distal end portion 330 and the outer diameter of the screw 340 gradually decreases downward. Yes.

The powder filling unit 310 further includes a screw 340 disposed in the tank 311. The screw 340 is rotationally driven around an axis by a rotational drive mechanism (not shown), and discharges the powder 1 in the tank 311 to the outside of the tank 311 through the discharge port 312.
The screw 340 is formed in a linear rod shape and extends in the vertical direction, and has a larger diameter than the first rod portion 341 and a linear rod shape coaxial with the first rod portion 341. The second rod-shaped portion 342 and the first rod-shaped portion 341 are coaxially positioned between the first rod-shaped portion 341 and the second rod-shaped portion 342, and connect the first rod-shaped portion 341 and the second rod-shaped portion 342. And a tapered portion 343.
A spiral protrusion 344 is formed on the outer surface of the first rod-shaped portion 341.

When the screw 340 is rotationally driven in a predetermined direction, the powder 1 in the distal end portion 330 is pushed downward by the protrusion 344 and discharged downward from the discharge port 312.
Note that the smaller the pitch of the screws 340, that is, the pitch of the protrusions 344, the higher the discharge amount can be set, and the wider the pitch, the higher the discharge speed.

  The tip of the screw 340 is located in the discharge port 312, and the inner diameter of the discharge port 312 is set to be approximately equal to the outer diameter of the tip of the screw 340 (the outer diameter of the protrusion 344 at the tip of the screw 340). . For this reason, when the screw 340 is stopped, the powder 1 is prevented from dropping from the discharge port 312.

  The second rod-shaped portion 342 of the screw 340 is connected to a rotation shaft of a rotation drive mechanism (not shown), and the screw 340 also rotates around the axis as the rotation shaft rotates. By rotating the screw 340 by a predetermined amount in a certain direction, the powder 1 in the tank 311 can be discharged from the discharge port 312 by a predetermined amount and filled in the accommodating portion 24 of the assembly 2.

The powder filling unit 310 further includes a stirring member 350 that stirs the powder 1 in the tank 311. The rotation shaft of the rotation drive mechanism of the powder filling apparatus 300 is also connected to the stirring member 350, and the stirring member 350 rotates in the same direction as the rotation shaft as the rotation shaft is driven.
The stirring member 350 includes, for example, a cylindrical portion 351 that covers the periphery of the upper portion of the second rod-shaped portion 342, a stirring plate-like portion 352 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 351, and a lower end of the cylindrical portion 351. And a stirring piece 353 extending downward.
For example, the stirring piece 353 extends along the tapered shape of the lower portion of the main body 320 of the tank 311 and is positioned between the screw 340 and the inner wall of the lower portion of the main body 320. The stirring piece 353 moves so as to revolve around the screw 340 as the rotating shaft and the cylindrical portion 351 rotate, and stirs the powder 1 in the tank 311. Thereby, the effect of equalizing the bulk density of the powder 1 in the tank 311 is obtained.
For example, a plurality of stirring plate-like portions 352 are attached to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 351, and move as the cylindrical portion 351 rotates. As shown in FIG. 10, the stirring plate-like portion 352 is fixed to the tubular portion 351 at an angle such that the lower portion is the front side in the rotational direction and the upper portion is the rear side in the rotational direction. For this reason, the stirring plate-like portion 352 performs a stirring operation that lifts the powder 1 around the cylindrical portion 351 upward. Also by this stirring operation, the effect of making the bulk density of the powder 1 in the tank 311 uniform can be obtained.

The ion air spraying unit (ion air supply unit) 320 of the powder filling apparatus 300 sprays (supplies) ion air near the discharge port 312. For example, as indicated by an arrow A in FIG. 9, the ion air blowing unit 380 is always directed toward the outer surface of the front end portion 330 of the tank 311 (more specifically, for example, the outer surface of the second cylindrical portion 334). Ion air containing positive ions (H ⁺ ) and negative ions (O ₂ ⁻ ) is blown. Thereby, adhesion of the powder 1 etc. to the site | part near the discharge port 312 in the outer surface of the tank 311 can be suppressed by the mechanism similar to the dust removal by the ion air dust removal apparatus 200. Therefore, for example, the powder 1 can be prevented from dropping to a portion other than the housing portion 24 in the assembly 2, and contamination of the assembly 2 by the powder 1 can be suppressed. In addition, it is possible to prevent the powder 1 from adhering to the outer surface of the tank 311 from being unexpectedly dropped into the storage unit 24, so that the filling amount of the powder 1 can be suppressed. The filling amount can be made uniform.

The operation of putting the prescribed amount of powder 1 into the accommodating portion 24 of the assembly 2 by the powder filling device 300 is performed as follows, for example. Note that the rotation operation of the screw 340 (the rotation operation of the rotation shaft), the operation of the transfer device, and the operation of the stage described below are performed under the control of a control unit (not shown) of the powder filling device 300.
The assembly 2 after dust removal by the ion air dust removal device 200 is conveyed by the conveyor 70 while being held on the pedestal 60 and is carried into the powder filling device 300. The powder filling device 300 includes a transfer device and a stage (not shown), and a discharge port 312 of the tank 311 is disposed above the stage.
The pedestal 60 conveyed by the conveyor 70 is first transferred onto the stage by the transfer device and positioned at a predetermined position on the stage. Next, as the stage rises, the discharge port 312 of the tank 311 comes close to the opening of the housing portion 24 of the assembly 2 on the pedestal 60.
In this state, by rotating the screw 340 by a predetermined amount, the powder 1 in the tank 311 is charged into the accommodating portion 24 through the discharge port 312 by a predetermined amount.
Thereafter, the stage descends. Next, the pedestal 60 is transferred to, for example, a carry-out conveyor 70 different from the carry-in conveyor 70 by a transfer device (not shown). And this conveyor 70 conveys the base 60 toward the stopper mounting apparatus 400. FIG.
That is, the assembly 2 as a container having the one end 251 opened and filled with the powder 1 is conveyed to the plug mounting device 400 while being individually held on the pedestal 60.
Before the assembly 2 is transported to the plug mounting device 400, the assembly 2 is vibrated (for example, vibrated with the pedestal 60) to increase the bulk density of the powder 1 in the container 24 (between the powders 1). It is also preferable to reduce the air to reduce the amount of residual oxygen in the storage unit 24 (degas).
Specifically, for example, vibration devices (not shown) are attached to the conveyance guides (portions located on the left and right sides of the traveling direction and guiding the pedestal 60 in the conveyance direction) of the conveyor 70, and the pedestal 60 is removed from the powder filling device 300. In the process of transporting to the plug mounting device 400, it is possible to vibrate the assembly 2 together with the pedestal 60 by this vibration device. In addition, this vibration apparatus can be provided in multiple places (for example, 3 places) along the conveyance direction of the base 60. FIG. The degree of deaeration by such vibration can be adjusted by adjusting the length of time for which the base 60 and the assembly 2 are moved while being vibrated.

  Next, the plug mounting device 400 of the powder sealing device 1000 (FIG. 1) will be described.

  2 and 4 are longitudinal sectional views of a set of the plug mounting unit 402 and the base support unit 470 of the plug mounting device 400. FIG. 2 shows a state where the chamber 401 is sealed and before the plug 40 is attached to the one end 251 of the assembly 2, and FIG. 4 shows the state where the plug 40 is attached to the assembly 2. After that, the chamber 401 is opened to the atmosphere. FIG. 3 is an exploded front view of the plug mounting unit 402 of the plug mounting device 400. FIG. 5 is a front view for explaining the operation of mounting the new plug 40 on the plug mounting unit 402. FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the plug mounting device 400. FIG. 7A is a front view of the plug mounting device 400, showing a plurality of plug mounting units 402 and a plurality of pedestal support units 470. FIG. FIG. 7B is a plan view of the lower part (lower rotation holder 480) of the plug mounting device 400. FIG. FIG. 8 is a time chart showing the operation of the plug mounting device 400.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing a flow of a series of processes performed by the plug mounting device 400.
First, the pedestal 60 is placed on the stage 471 (FIG. 2) (step S21).
Next, the ascent of the stage 471 is started (step S22).
Next, by ensuring airtightness between the pedestal 60 and the chamber body, the chamber 401 is configured (step S23) and the raising of the stage 471 is stopped (step S24).
Next, by degassing the chamber 401, the storage unit 24 is also degassed (step S25).
Next, by filling the chamber 401 with a predetermined gas (for example, nitrogen gas), the container 24 is also filled with the predetermined gas (step S26).
Next, the stopper 40 is attached to the one end 251 of the accommodating portion 24 (step S27).
Next, the pressure in the chamber 401 is reduced to atmospheric pressure (step S28).
Next, the stage 471 starts to descend (step S29), and the chamber 401 is opened to the atmosphere (step S30).
Next, the descent of the stage 471 stops (step S31).

  Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the plug mounting device 400 will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the plug mounting device 400 includes a chamber 401 that is sealed in a state in which an assembly (container) 2 that is open at one end 251 and is filled with the powder 1 is accommodated. .
The chamber 401 includes, for example, a first tubular portion 410, a second tubular portion 420 disposed in the first tubular portion 410, and the pedestal 60 described above. That is, the chamber 401 holds and positions the chamber main body constituted by the first and second cylindrical portions 410 and 420 and the bottom portion of the assembly 2 (the portion that becomes the upper end portion in the state of the beverage bottle 3). And a pedestal (container pedestal portion) 60 sealed with the chamber body via a seal ring 411.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the first cylindrical portion 410 is formed in a cylindrical shape whose axial direction extends in the vertical direction, and a seal ring 411 is provided on the lower end surface thereof.
The second tubular portion 420 is also formed in a tubular shape whose axial direction extends in the up-down direction, and is disposed coaxially with the first tubular portion 410 in the first tubular portion 410. An O-ring holding groove 425 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second tubular portion 420, and an O-ring 426 is fitted into the O-ring holding groove 425. The O-ring 426 ensures airtightness between the outer peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 420 and the inner peripheral surface of the first cylindrical portion 410.

  The plug mounting device 400 further includes a plug holding portion 430 that holds the plug 40 detachably at a position where the one end 251 of the housing portion 24 of the assembly 2 and the plug 40 face each other. The stopper holding part 430 is attached to the lower end part of the 2nd cylindrical part 420, for example. Note that the stopper holder 430 and the stopper 40 held by the stopper holder 430 are also housed in the chamber 401 in a sealed state in the state of FIG.

The stopper holding part 430 has, for example, a divided structure divided into a plurality of (for example, three) stopper holding members 431, and the stopper holding member 431 that is each divided part is provided at the lower end of the second cylindrical part 420. It arrange | positions at equal intervals (for example, 120 degree intervals) around the axis | shaft of the 2nd cylindrical part 420. FIG.
Each stopper holding member 431 includes an engaging protrusion 432 that engages with an engaging recess 423 formed in the second tubular portion 420, a stopper holding protrusion 433 that holds the stopper 40, and an O-ring fixing recess 434. , Is formed. The engagement protrusion 432 and the plug holding protrusion 433 protrude toward the axial center side (inward) of the second cylindrical portion 420.
Here, the engaging protrusion 432 is positioned above the O-ring fixing recess 434, and the stopper holding protrusion 433 is positioned below the O-ring fixing recess 434.
In addition, an O-ring fixing recess 424 (FIG. 3) is formed at the upper and lower positions corresponding to the O-ring fixing recess 434 at the lower end portion of the second cylindrical portion 420.

  The engagement protrusions 432 of the stopper holding members 431 are fitted into the engagement recesses 423 of the second cylindrical portion 420, and the O-ring (plug holding member seal ring) 440 is inserted into the O-ring fixing recess 434 and the O-ring fixing recess 424 (FIG. By fitting into 3), each stopper holding member 431 is bound by the O-ring 440 and fixed (attached) to the lower end portion of the second cylindrical portion 420. In this state, in the circumferential direction of the O-ring 440, a portion positioned between adjacent O-ring fixing recesses 434 is fitted into the O-ring fixing recess 424. That is, the O-ring 440 is fitted into a series of annular recesses constituted by the O-ring fixing recess 424 of the second cylindrical portion 420 and the O-ring fixing recess 434 of each plug holding member 431. The O-ring 440 ensures airtightness between the series of annular recesses and the inner peripheral surface of the first tubular portion 410. That is, the O-ring 440 maintains airtightness between the second tubular portion 420 and the plurality of stopper holding members 431 and the inner surface of the first tubular portion 410.

Here, in the second cylindrical portion 420, portions corresponding to the plug holding projections 433 of the respective plug holding members 431 are cut out so as not to interfere with the plug holding projections 433, and each plug holding member 431 is In a state of being fixed to the lower end portion of the second cylindrical portion 420, the plug holding projection 433 of each plug holding member 431 protrudes inward from the inner periphery of the lower end portion of the second cylindrical portion 420.
The stopper 40 can be held by the cooperation of the stopper holding protrusions 433 as shown in FIG.

The plug mounting device 400 further includes a plug mounting unit 450 that mounts the plug 40 on one end 251 in the sealed chamber 401.
The stopper mounting part 450 is disposed in the second cylindrical part 420 on the same axis as the second cylindrical part 420.
The plug mounting portion 450 includes, for example, a linear rod-shaped body 451 and a pushing portion 452 provided at the lower end of the rod-shaped body 451.
An O-ring fixing groove 453 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rod-shaped body 451, and an O-ring 454 is fitted into the O-ring fixing groove 453. The O-ring 454 ensures airtightness between the rod-shaped body 451 and the inner periphery of the second cylindrical portion 420.
The pushing portion 452 is formed in a flat plate shape having a diameter larger than that of the rod-shaped body 451, for example. For example, the planar shape of the pushing portion 452 is a circle.
The rod-like body 451 of the plug mounting portion 450 is connected to the plug mounting cylinder 456 (FIG. 6), and the plug mounting portion 450 is moved up and down by the plug mounting cylinder 456. The plug mounting cylinder 456 operates under the control of the control unit 403 (FIG. 6) of the plug mounting device 400.
The rod-like body 451 moves up and down relatively with respect to the second tubular portion 420 while maintaining airtightness with the second tubular portion 420 via the O-ring 454 (at the time of this up-and-down movement). In addition, the O-ring 454 slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical portion 420).
When the rod-like body 451 is lowered by the plug mounting cylinder 456, the pushing portion 452 pushes the plug 40 held by the plug holding portion 430 in a direction (downward) approaching the one end portion 251 of the housing portion 24. As a result, the stopper 40 is detached from the stopper holder 430.

Here, each stopper holding member 431 of the stopper holder 430 is made of metal, for example.
Then, when the plug mounting portion 450 pushes the plug 40 in the direction approaching the one end portion 251, the engagement between the engagement protrusion 432 and the engagement concave portion 423 of the second tubular portion 420 is maintained. The plurality of stopper holding members 431 gradually tilt in the direction in which the stopper holding protrusions 433 are separated from each other. As a result, the plug 40 is detached downward from the plug holding projection 433. Here, when the plurality of plug holding members 431 tilt in the direction in which the plug holding projections 433 are separated from each other, the O-ring 440 is pushed and spread slightly by the plurality of plug holding members 431 to slightly extend. . The behavior at this time is behavior based on the lever principle, and the tip portion of the engagement protrusion 432 (the contact portion between the engagement protrusion 432 and the engagement recess 423) is a fulcrum, and the contact portion between the plug 40 and the plug holding protrusion 433. Is the point of action, and the contact portion between the O-ring fixing recess 434 and the O-ring 440 is the action point. At this time, each plug holding member 431 behaves substantially as a rigid body, for example.
Then, the plug 40 is further pushed down by the push-in portion 452, so that the plug 40 is fitted and attached to the one end 251 of the housing portion 24.
Here, the plug holding member 431 gradually tilts in the direction in which the plug holding protrusions 433 are separated from each other, whereby the plug 40 is prevented from dropping off from the plug holding protrusion 433. And the impact when the stopper 40 is detached from the stopper holding projection 433 and the impact when the stopper 40 is fitted to the one end 251 are alleviated. That is, since the plug 40 is in soft contact with the one end portion 251, the powder 1 in the housing portion 24 is suppressed from rising.
In addition, before the plug 40 is detached from the plug holding protrusion 433, a part of the plug 40 (for example, the lid portion 42) starts to be supported by the storage unit 24 (for example, by the inner periphery of the storage unit 24). It is also preferable that the positional relationship between the stopper holding part 430 and the accommodating part 24 and the clearance between the stopper holding part 430 and the inner periphery of the second cylindrical part 420 are set. By doing so, the impact when the stopper 40 is detached from the stopper holding protrusion 433 and the impact when the stopper 40 is fitted to the one end 251 are further alleviated.
In the state where the engagement protrusion 432 is engaged with the engagement recess 423, there is a clearance that allows the stopper holding member 431 to tilt as described above between the engagement protrusion 432 and the inner surface of the engagement recess 423. To do. That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, there is a clearance between the lower surface of the engagement protrusion 432 and the bottom of the engagement recess 423.
Here, the stopper holding projection 433 may be elastically deformed downward when the stopper mounting part 450 pushes the stopper 40 toward the one end 251. When the plug mounting portion 450 pushes the plug 40 in a direction approaching the one end portion 251, the plurality of plug holding members 431 are bent at the O-ring fixing recess 434, and the lower portion of each plug holding member 431 (O-ring fixing recess 434). The lower part) may be gradually tilted.

Further, a convex portion 455 (FIGS. 3 and 4) is formed on the lower surface of the pushing portion 452 so as to be fitted into a concave portion 49 (FIG. 15A) formed on the outer surface of the stopper 40.
Here, the stopper holding part 430 holds the stopper 40 loosely, and the stopper 40 is between the plurality of stopper holding members 431 in a direction crossing the moving direction of the stopper mounting part 450 (for example, in a horizontal plane). It is movable.
When the plug mounting portion 450 moves in a direction approaching the one end 251 of the housing portion 24, the convex portion 455 is fitted into the concave portion 49, so that the plug 40 is intersected with the moving direction of the plug mounting portion 450. The position is aligned with the one end 251 (for example, in a horizontal plane).

  In the chamber 401, the space for accommodating the one end portion 251 in the chamber 401 is the first cylindrical portion 410, the second cylindrical portion 420, the O-ring 426, the O-ring 454, the plug mounting portion 450, and the seal ring. 411 and the pedestal 60 are hermetically sealed.

The plug mounting device 400 is configured so that the inside of the chamber 401 and the inside of the housing portion 24 of the assembly 2 can be deaerated.
In other words, in the first tubular portion 410, the exhaust port 412 is formed on the side wall of the portion below the arrangement region of the O-ring 440 and above the seal ring 411. The exhaust port 412 is connected to an exhaust pump 413 (FIG. 6) via an exhaust pipe (not shown). The exhaust pipe is provided with an exhaust valve 414 (FIG. 6). When the exhaust valve 414 is opened, the exhaust pump 413 and the internal space of the chamber 401 communicate with each other through the exhaust pipe and the exhaust port 412. By operating the exhaust pump 413 in this communication state, the inside of the chamber 401 can be deaerated.
As described above, the exhaust pump 413, the exhaust pipe, the exhaust valve 414, the exhaust port 412 and the like constitute a deaeration unit that deaerates the inside of the chamber 401 and the housing part 24 of the assembly 2.
The control unit 403 controls the operation of the exhaust pump 413 and the exhaust valve 414.

The plug mounting device 400 is configured so that a predetermined gas can be filled in the chamber 401 and the accommodating portion 24 of the assembly 2. The predetermined gas is, for example, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas or a rare gas (specifically, for example, nitrogen gas).
That is, in the first tubular portion 410, a gas inlet 415 is formed on the side wall of the portion below the region where the O-ring 440 is disposed and above the seal ring 411. The gas inlet 415 is connected to a nitrogen gas tank 416 (FIG. 6) via a gas inlet pipe (not shown). The gas introduction pipe is provided with a pressure reducing valve (not shown) and a gas supply valve 417 (FIG. 6). When the gas supply valve 417 is opened, the nitrogen gas tank 416 and the internal space of the chamber 401 communicate with each other via the gas introduction pipe and the gas introduction port 415, and nitrogen gas decompressed by the decompression valve is introduced into the chamber 401. It is like that.
As described above, the nitrogen gas tank 416, the gas introduction pipe, the gas supply valve 417, the gas introduction port 415, and the like constitute a gas filling portion that fills the chamber 401 and the accommodating portion 24 of the assembly 2 with a predetermined gas. ing.
The control unit 403 controls the operation of the gas supply valve 417.

As shown in FIG. 5, the plug mounting device 400 further includes a plug setting unit 460 that sets the plug 40 in the plug holding unit 430. The plug set portion 460 includes a plug support portion 461 that supports the plug 40 on the upper surface.
By attaching the plug 40 of the plug holding part 430 to the one end 251 of the housing part 24, the plug set part 460 is plugged from below the second cylindrical part 420 after the plug 40 of the plug holding part 430 is eliminated. And the plug holder 430 is replenished with a new plug 40. At the time of this replenishment, the plug set portion 460 raises the plug 40, and as a result, the plurality of plug holding members 431 gradually tilt in the direction in which the plurality of plug holding protrusions 433 are separated from each other. The plug 40 is pushed into the space above the plug holding projection 433 and the plug 40 is held by the plurality of plug holding projections 433.
The raising / lowering operation of the stopper setting unit 460 is performed by, for example, the stopper setting cylinder 462 (FIG. 6).
The control unit 403 controls the operation of the plug setting cylinder 462.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the plug mounting device 400 positions the pedestal 60 at a predetermined position on the stage 471, a stage 471 that supports the pedestal 60, a support bar 472 that supports the stage 471 at its upper end. And a positioning arm 473.
The stage 471 is formed in a flat plate shape and is disposed horizontally.
The pedestal 60 carried into the plug mounting device 400 by the conveyor 70 is supplied onto the stage 471 by a transfer device (not shown) and positioned by the positioning arm 473. For example, the positioning arm 473 is formed in an arc shape in a plan view, and positions the side surface of the lower portion 62 of the base 60.

Of the above configuration, the pedestal support unit 470 is configured by the stage 471, the support bar 472, and the positioning arm 473.
Further, the plug mounting unit 402 is configured by a set of the first and second cylindrical portions 410 and 420, the plug mounting portion 450, the plug holding portion 430, and an O-ring for ensuring their airtightness.

For example, as shown in FIG. 7A, the plug mounting device 400 holds a plurality of (for example, 16) pedestal support units 470 and rotates together with these pedestal support units 470 in a horizontal plane. 480 and an upper rotation holder 490 that holds the same number of plug mounting units 402 as the base support unit 470 above the lower rotation holder 480 and rotates in the horizontal plane together with the plug mounting units 402.
Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, the plug mounting device 400 includes a lower holder rotation motor 481 that rotates the lower rotation holder 480 and an upper holder rotation motor 491 that rotates the upper rotation holder 490.
The control unit 403 controls the operation of the lower holder rotation motor 481 and the upper holder rotation motor 491. In addition, the control unit 403 recognizes the rotation phases of the lower rotation holder 480 and the upper rotation holder 490.

As shown in FIG. 7B, the lower rotary holder 480 has a circular planar shape, for example, and the pedestal support units 470 are provided at equal intervals on the peripheral edge of the lower rotary holder 480. .
As shown in FIG. 7A, the support bar 472 of each pedestal support unit 470 is held by the lower rotation holder 480 so as to be able to protrude above and below the upper surface of the lower rotation holder 480. The lower end of each support bar 472 is supported by the upper surface of a cam member 482 disposed in the lower rotation holder 480. Here, the cam member 482 is fixedly provided independently of the lower rotation holder 480 and does not move with the rotation of the lower rotation holder 480. The front side portion of FIG. 7A on the upper surface of the cam member 482 is formed in an inclined shape so as to rise up in the rotation direction, and each support bar 472 in the rotation direction of the lower rotation holder 480. As shown in FIG. 7A, the cam member 482 moves upward in accordance with the inclination of the cam member 482 in order from the support rod 472 located on the front side in the rotational direction. Similarly, the back side portion of FIG. 7A on the upper surface of the cam member 482 is formed in an inclined shape that becomes a downward slope toward the rotation direction, and each support bar in the rotation direction of the lower rotation holder 480. When 472 moves, it descends according to the inclination of the cam member 482 in order from the support rod 472 located on the front side in the rotation direction. In this way, each support bar 472 and thus each pedestal support unit 470 including the support bar 472 repeats ascending and descending as if turning around like a rotating horse.

On the other hand, the 1st cylindrical part 410 of each stopper mounting unit 402 is connected with the disk-shaped upper rotation holder 490 arrange | positioned horizontally, for example via the connection part 492 (FIG. 2).
The plug mounting units 402 are provided at equal intervals on the outer periphery of the upper rotary holder 490.

Here, in a plan view, the center of the upper rotating holder 490 and the center of the lower rotating holder 480 coincide with each other and rotate around the center in a horizontal plane.
Further, each pedestal support unit 470 and each plug mounting unit 402 are arranged so that one plug mounting unit 402 is positioned immediately above each pedestal support unit 470, and the upper rotation holder 490 and lower The rotation phase and rotation speed of the side rotation holder 480 are set. That is, the upper rotation holder 490 and the lower rotation holder 480 rotate in synchronization with each other, and one plug mounting unit 402 is always positioned at a position immediately above each pedestal support unit 470.

After the pedestal 60 conveyed by the conveyor 70 from the powder filling apparatus 300 in the previous step is transferred onto the pedestal support unit 470 that is lowered to the lowest position, as indicated by an arrow B in FIG. While rotating around the support unit 470, the support unit 470 rises as the pedestal support unit 470 rises. Then, at the position where the pedestal 60 is fully raised, the upper surface 60a of the pedestal 60 is brought into close contact with the seal ring 411 at the lower end of the first tubular portion 410 of the plug mounting unit 402, and the pedestal 60, the first and second tubular portions. A sealed chamber 401 is configured by 410 and 420. That is, the cam member 482 is formed in such a shape that the rise of the pedestal support unit 470 stops at a position where the upper surface 60 a of the pedestal 60 is in close contact with the seal ring 411 at the lower end of the plug mounting unit 402.
In a state in which the sealed chamber 401 is configured by the pedestal 60 and the first and second cylindrical portions 410 and 420, the assembly 2 (one end portion 251 is opened and powder is held inside) held on the pedestal 60. 1 is filled in a chamber 401 in a sealed state. Note that the plug 40 is set in the plug holder 430 in advance before the assembly 2 is sealed in the chamber 401.
Thereafter, in the process in which the plug mounting unit 402 and the pedestal 60 circulate integrally and synchronously with each other, that is, in the process in which the pedestal support unit 470 is positioned at the highest position, A step of degassing the inside of the chamber 401 and the housing portion 24 of the assembly 2, a step of filling a predetermined gas into the chamber 401 and the housing portion 24, and mounting the plug 40 at one end 251 in the chamber 401 Thus, the step of creating the bottle cap 10 and the step of reducing the pressure inside the chamber 401 to the atmospheric pressure are performed in this order.
Thereafter, when the pedestal support unit 470 is lowered, as shown in FIG. 4, the stopper mounting unit 402 and the pedestal 60 are separated, and the bottle cap 10 is taken out from the chamber 401. Then, the pedestal support unit 470 is lowered again to the lowest position, and the pedestal 60 is transferred onto the conveyor as indicated by an arrow C in FIG. And the bottle cap 10 on the base 60 and the base 60 is conveyed toward the ion air dust removal apparatus 500 of a post process with a conveyor.
In addition, in the process in which the base support unit 470 is located at the lowest position and circulates, a new stopper 40 is replenished to the stopper holder 430 by the stopper set part 460.

  The plug mounting device 400 includes, for example, the exhaust pump 413, the exhaust valve 414, the gas supply valve 417, the plug mounting cylinder 456, the plug setting cylinder 462, and the pressure sensor 404 of FIG. ing. That is, the plug mounting device 400 has, for example, 16 sets of these.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 8, an operation from when the assembly 2 is carried into the plug mounting device 400 to when the bottle cap 10 is carried out from the plug mounting device 400 will be described.

First, in the initial stage, the chamber 401 is open to the atmosphere, and the first and second cylindrical portions 410 and 420 are at atmospheric pressure.
Thereafter, the pedestal 60 is raised, and the deaeration in the chamber 401 is started at the timing T1 when the sealed chamber 401 is configured. Here, the timing T <b> 1 is determined based on the rotation phases of the lower rotation holder 480 and the upper rotation holder 490. That is, deaeration in the chamber 401 is started at a timing when the rotation phases of the lower rotation holder 480 and the upper rotation holder 490 are about to rotate at a predetermined level. This deaeration ends at timing T2 when the inside of the chamber 401 reaches a predetermined reduced pressure (for example, 0.5 atm). Therefore, the plug mounting device 400 includes a pressure sensor (pressure detection unit) 404 (FIG. 6) that detects the pressure in the chamber 401. The detection value by the pressure sensor 404 is input to the control unit 403, and the control unit 403 monitors this detection value. Then, after the start of deaeration, when the detected value reaches the predetermined reduced pressure, the control unit 403 ends the deaeration.

  Next, filling of the nitrogen gas into the chamber 401 is started. This nitrogen gas filling ends at timing T3 when the inside of the chamber 401 reaches a predetermined gas filling pressure (for example, 2 atm). That is, the control unit 403 ends the filling of the nitrogen gas when the value detected by the pressure sensor 404 reaches the predetermined gas filling pressure after the filling of the nitrogen gas is started.

  Next, the bottle cap 10 is created by attaching the stopper 40 to the one end 251 by the stopper attaching part 450 in the chamber 401. It should be noted that a waiting time is set for a predetermined time from timing T4 when the plug 40 is completely attached, and the inside of the chamber 401 is continuously maintained at the above gas filling pressure.

  Next, after the waiting time expires, the pressure in the chamber 401 is reduced to atmospheric pressure. Thereafter, according to the downhill of the cam member 482, the pedestal support unit 470, the pedestal 60 supported by the pedestal support unit 470, and the bottle cap 10 on the pedestal 60 are lowered. Thereafter, the base 60 and the bottle cap 10 thereon are carried out from the stopper mounting device 400.

Here, if the chamber 401 cannot be depressurized to a predetermined depressurization pressure (for example, 0.5 atm as described above) due to, for example, a crack of the O-rings 426 and 453 or the seal ring 411, the plug mounting unit 402 The nitrogen gas filling operation and the plug 40 mounting operation are not performed. For this reason, the assembly 2 and the pedestal 60 to which the plug 40 is not mounted are carried out from the plug mounting device 400. Here, the defective product input unit 405 (FIG. 6) of the plug mounting device 400 uses the pedestal 60 holding the assembly 2 to which the plug 40 is not mounted under the control of the control unit 403 for defective products. To the conveyor.
Similarly, when the chamber 401 cannot be set to a predetermined filling pressure (for example, 2 atm as described above), the plug mounting unit 402 does not perform the subsequent mounting operation of the plug 40. For this reason, the assembly 2 and the pedestal 60 to which the plug 40 is not mounted are carried out from the plug mounting device 400. Then, under the control of the control unit 403, the defective product input unit 405 inputs the pedestal 60 holding the assembly 2 to which the plug 40 is not attached to the defective product conveyor.
For this reason, the bottle cap 10 to which the stopper 40 is attached and the pedestal 60 are carried out to the non-defective conveyance conveyor, and are conveyed toward the ion air dust removing device 500 in the next process by the conveyor.

The ion air dust removing device 500 is a bottle cap held on the pedestal 60 when the pedestal 60 is transported on the conveyor 70 at the stage after the stopper 40 is attached to the assembly 2 and the bottle cap 10 is created. Particles adhering to 10 are removed from the bottle cap 10 (dust removal).
As shown in FIG. 1, the ion air dust removing device 500 includes a spraying unit (third ion air supply unit) 510 similar to the spraying unit 270 of the ion air dust removing device 200, and a suction unit 520 that sucks the atmosphere around the bottle cap 10. Have.
For example, a plurality of spraying units 510 are provided at a position above the conveyor 70 along the conveying direction of the conveyor 70. The suction part 520 is disposed on the downstream side of each spraying part 510, for example. That is, for example, the spraying portions 510 and the suction portions 520 are alternately arranged along the conveyance direction by the conveyor 70.
Each spray unit 510 constantly blows out ion air, for example, and when the bottle cap 10 passes under each spray unit 510, ion air is sprayed toward the bottle cap 10 and the base 60. Since the resin bottle cap 10 is easily charged, particles are likely to adhere to the resin bottle cap 10. For example, when the bottle cap 10 is positively charged, this charge is canceled by the negative ions contained in the ion air, and particles that have adhered to the bottle cap 10 so far are easily separated from the bottle cap 10. . Furthermore, by sucking the atmosphere including particles separated from the bottle cap 10 by the suction unit 520, the reattachment of particles to the bottle cap 10 can be suppressed, and the bottle cap 10 can be cleaned. For this reason, even if the powder 1 slightly adheres to the bottle cap 10, this powder can be suitably removed.

  As shown in FIG. 19 or FIG. 1, the leak inspection apparatus 600 includes a detection accommodating portion 610 that accommodates one end of the inner cylindrical portion 22 of the bottle cap 10 and the stopper 40 in a sealed state, and a detection accommodating portion 610. A pump 620 serving as a negative pressure generating unit that generates a negative pressure, a pressure sensor 630 that detects a pressure in the detection housing unit 610, and a sealing state of the inner cylinder unit 22 are determined based on a detection result by the pressure sensor 630. A pressure determination unit 640, and a defective product input unit 650 that inputs the bottle cap 10 that has been determined to be defective by the pressure determination unit 640 to a subsequent process without passing the bottle cap 10 to a subsequent process; It has an elevating stage 670 provided below the detection accommodating portion 610 and a transfer device (not shown).

The bottle cap 10 after dust removal by the ion air dust removal device 500 is conveyed to the leak inspection device 600 by the conveyor 70 while being held on the pedestal 60. The transfer apparatus of the leak inspection apparatus 600 transfers the transported pedestal 60 onto the lift stage 670. Here, the pedestal 60 is positioned at the center of the upper surface of the lifting stage 670.
The elevating stage 670 moves up and down while supporting the pedestal 60 holding the bottle cap 10. Here, a hollow portion 611 that opens downward is formed in the detection accommodating portion 610 located above the elevating stage 670, and one end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 22 of the bottle cap 10 raised by the elevating stage 670. The plug 40 enters the hollow portion 611. Further, a seal ring (not shown) is provided on the lower end surface of the detection accommodating portion 610. This seal ring is, for example, one end of the mounting portion 36 of the outer cylinder member 30 of the bottle cap 10 (the upper end in FIG. 19). ). Thereby, the one end part and the stopper 40 of the inner cylinder part 22 of the bottle cap 10 will be in the state accommodated in the hollow part 611 in the sealed state.
Next, the hollow portion 611 is degassed by the pump 620 to generate a negative pressure in the hollow portion 611. For example, the pump 620 stops when the inside of the hollow portion 611 is depressurized to about 0.5 atm. Next, the pressure determination unit 640 determines whether the inner cylinder part 22 is sealed (whether the plug 40 is normally attached to the inner cylinder part 22 based on the detection result by the pressure sensor 630 provided in the hollow part 611. Is determined. Here, when the detection result by the pressure sensor 630 changes with time (the pressure increases with time), the pressure determination unit 640 has an abnormal sealing state of the inner cylinder part 22 (the inner cylinder part 22 has a plug 40). Is not installed normally). On the other hand, when the detection result by the pressure sensor 630 does not change with time, the pressure determination unit 640 determines that the sealed state of the inner cylinder part 22 is normal (the plug 40 is normally attached to the inner cylinder part 22). .
Thereafter, when the elevating stage 670 is lowered, the one end portion of the inner cylindrical portion 22 of the bottle cap 10 and the stopper 40 come out of the detection accommodating portion 610.
The transfer apparatus conveys the pedestal 60 from the leak inspection apparatus 600 to the image inspection apparatus 700 through the bottle cap 10 and its pedestal 60 that are determined by the pressure determination section 640 that the sealed state of the inner cylinder part 22 is normal. Transfer to the conveyor 70.
In addition, the defective product input unit 650 inputs the bottle cap 10 and its pedestal 60 that have been determined by the pressure determination unit 640 to be abnormal for the defective product conveyor.
For this reason, only the bottle cap 10 and its pedestal 60 determined by the pressure determination unit 640 that the sealed state of the inner cylinder part 22 is normal are transported from the leak inspection apparatus 600 to the image inspection apparatus 700 and determined to be abnormal. The bottle cap 10 and its pedestal 60 are not conveyed to the image inspection apparatus 700.

  The image inspection apparatus 700 includes an imaging unit (for example, two imaging units 710 and 720) that images the bottle cap 10, and an assembly 2 and a plug based on each of the images captured by the imaging units 710 and 720. The image determination unit 730 that detects the relative positional relationship with the bottle cap 40 and determines the mounting state of the stopper 40 in the bottle cap 10 according to the detection result, and the bottle cap 10 that has been determined to have a defective mounting state are used for non-defective products A defective product input unit 740 that inputs the defective product from the conveyor 70 to the defective product conveyor.

  In the imaging unit 710, the 720 faces the horizontal direction, and the imaging direction of the imaging unit 710 and the imaging direction of the imaging unit 720 intersect each other. The image determination unit 730 recognizes the heights h1, h2, and h3 illustrated in FIG. 22 for the images captured by the imaging units 710 and 720, respectively. The height h1 is a height difference from the left end L of the upper end of the plug 40 to the upper end of the mounting portion 36, and the height h2 is a height difference from the left end R of the upper end of the plug 40 to the upper end of the mounting portion 36. h3 is the distance from the upper end of the stopper 40 to the upper end U of the mounting portion 36. Further, the image determination unit 730 determines whether the heights h1 and h2 are equal, and whether the height h3 is a predetermined dimension. Then, the image determination unit 730 determines that the height h1 and h2 are not equal in the image obtained by the imaging unit 710, or the height h3 is not a predetermined dimension in the image obtained by the imaging unit 710. When the heights h1 and h2 are not equal in the image obtained by the above, and when the height h3 is not a predetermined dimension in the image obtained by the imaging unit 720, it is determined that the plug 40 is not properly attached. . The defective product input unit 740 inputs the bottle cap 10 that has been determined by the image determination unit 730 that the plug 40 is not properly installed to the conveyor for defective products. In addition, the image determination unit 730 uses the plug 40 for the bottle cap 10 in which the heights h1 and h2 are equal and the height h3 is a predetermined dimension in each of the images obtained by the imaging units 710 and 720. It is determined that the wearing state is good. Then, the non-defective conveyor 70 conveys only the bottle cap 10 that has been determined by the image determination unit 730 that the plug 40 is in a good mounting state to the weight inspection apparatus 800 in the next process.

The weight inspection apparatus 800 includes a weight measurement unit 810, a weight determination unit 820, a defective product input unit 830, and a transfer device 840.
The transfer device 840 transfers the bottle cap 10 conveyed from the previous process from the pedestal 60 to the weight measurement conveyor of the bottle cap 10. The weight measuring unit 810 measures the weight of the bottle cap 10 conveyed on the conveyor. The weight determination unit 820 determines whether or not the measurement result by the weight measurement unit 810 is within a predetermined reference. The defective product input unit 830 inputs the bottle cap 10 whose weight is determined to be out of the standard to the defective product conveyor. Therefore, only the bottle cap 10 whose weight is within the standard is transported to the next process.
In this way, the bottle cap 10 in which the container 24 filled with a predetermined amount of the powder 1 is sealed with the stopper 40 is obtained.

  Thereafter, the beverage bottle 3 can be manufactured by attaching the bottle cap 10 to the bottle body 210 filled with a predetermined liquid.

  According to the embodiment as described above, the plug mounting device 400 of the powder sealing device 1000 is a chamber that accommodates in a sealed state a container (assembled body 2) that is open at one end 251 and filled with the powder 1 therein. 401, a degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber 401 and the container, a gas filling part for filling the chamber 401 and the container with a predetermined gas, and the stopper 40 is fitted to the one end 251 in the chamber 401 Therefore, in the same chamber 401, degassing of the container, filling of the gas into the container, and mounting of the plug 40 on the container can be performed. More specifically, in the chamber 401 in which the container is contained in a sealed state, a series of deaeration in the container, filling of the gas into the container, and mounting of the stopper 40 on the one end 251 of the container are performed. Processing can be performed. Therefore, in a state where unnecessary atmosphere (for example, oxygen) in the container is reduced as much as possible, gas (for example, nitrogen gas) can be filled in the container, and then the stopper 40 is mounted in the sealed chamber 401. Therefore, the stopper 40 can be mounted so that not only the powder 1 but also the filled gas is enclosed in the container.

  More specifically, the plug mounting device 400 includes a pressure sensor 404 that detects the pressure in the chamber 401, and a control unit 403 that controls the operation of the deaeration unit, the gas filling unit, and the plug mounting unit 450. When the chamber 401 is sealed, the control unit 403 starts the deaeration unit, and when the pressure sensor 404 detects that the pressure in the chamber 401 is reduced to a predetermined pressure, the control unit 403 Gas filling is started, and when the pressure sensor 404 detects that the chamber 401 is filled with gas until the pressure reaches a predetermined pressure, the plug mounting unit 450 is mounted with the plug 40. The plug 40 can be attached after deaeration and gas filling have been performed reliably.

  Moreover, it has the stopper holding | maintenance part 430 which hold | maintains the stopper 40 detachably in the position where the one end part 251 and the stopper 40 oppose, and the stopper mounting part 450 pushes the stopper 40 in the direction approaching the one end part 251. Thus, the stopper 40 is detached from the stopper holder 430 and attached to the one end 251. Thereby, the stopper 40 can be appropriately attached to the one end 251.

  Further, the plug mounting portion 450 is formed with a convex portion 455 that fits into the concave portion 49 formed on the outer surface of the plug 40, and when the plug mounting portion 450 moves in a direction approaching the one end portion 251, the convex portion 455 is formed. By fitting into the recess 49, the plug 40 is aligned with the one end 251 in the direction intersecting the direction of movement of the plug mounting portion 450, so the plug 40 is aligned with the one end 251. Can be appropriately attached to one end.

  The powder filling device 300 of the powder sealing device 1000 includes a powder filling unit 310 that fills the container before being accommodated in the chamber 401 with the powder 1, and the powder filling unit 310 discharges the powder 1 to the outside. A tank 311 having a discharge port 312 for storing the powder 1 therein; a screw 340 which is disposed in the tank 311 and is driven to rotate to discharge the powder 1 in the tank 311 to the outside through the discharge port 312; Therefore, by controlling the rotation of the screw 340, a predetermined amount of the powder 1 can be discharged with high accuracy and filled in a container.

  Further, the tip of the screw 340 is located in the discharge port 312, and the inner diameter of the discharge port 312 is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tip of the screw 340. Therefore, when the screw 340 is stopped, the powder 1 falls from the discharge port 312. Can be suppressed.

  In addition, the powder filling apparatus 300 operates integrally with the screw 340 and includes the stirring member 350 that stirs the powder 1 in the tank 311, so that the bulk density of the powder 1 in the tank 311 can be made uniform, and a predetermined amount of It becomes easy to discharge the powder 1 with high accuracy.

  Moreover, since the powder filling apparatus 300 has the ion air spraying part 380 which supplies ion air to the discharge port 312, while being able to suppress the contamination of the assembly 2 by the powder 1, it is also suppressed that the filling amount of the powder 1 varies. it can.

  Moreover, since the powder sealing apparatus 1000 has the spraying part 270 which supplies ion air to the container before being filled with the powder 1 by the powder filling part 310, the container before being filled with the powder 1 by the powder filling part 310 is cleaned. Can be.

  Moreover, since the powder sealing apparatus 1000 has the spraying part 510 which supplies ion air to the container (bottle cap 10) after the stopper 40 is attached, the container after the stopper 40 is attached can be cleaned. .

  In addition, the leak inspection apparatus 600 of the powder sealing apparatus 1000 includes a detection container 610 that houses the one end 251 of the container after the plug 40 is mounted and the plug 40 in a sealed state, and a negative electrode in the detection container 610. A pump 620 that generates pressure, a pressure sensor 630 that detects a pressure change in the detection housing unit 610, and a pressure determination unit 640 that determines a sealed state of the container based on a detection result of the pressure sensor 630. Therefore, it is possible to determine whether or not the container is reliably sealed by the stopper 40 by pressure detection.

  In addition, the image inspection apparatus 700 of the powder sealing apparatus 1000 includes an imaging unit 710 and 720 that images the container after the plug 40 is mounted, and an image captured by the imaging unit 710 and 720, and the container and the plug 40. And an image determination unit 730 that determines the sealed state of the container according to the detection result. Therefore, it is determined whether or not the container is reliably sealed by the stopper 40 by image recognition. Can be determined.

  Moreover, since it conveys in the state which hold | maintained the assembly body 2 or the bottle cap 10 on the base 60, damage, such as abrasion of the assembly body 2 or the bottle cap 10, can be suppressed as much as possible. Moreover, since the common pedestal 60 can be used across a plurality of processes, the loss of the manufacturing process can be reduced as much as possible.

The container includes, for example, the outer cylinder member 30 attached to the bottle mouth portion 220 of the bottle body 210 and the one end portion 251 to which the stopper 40 is attached, and the inner cylinder member 20 attached to the outer cylinder member 30. The outer cylinder member 30 has an outer cylinder part 32 that communicates the inside and outside of the bottle main body 210 with the outer cylinder member 30 mounted on the bottle mouth part 220. The inner cylinder member 20 The inner cylinder part 22 is inserted into the outer cylinder part 32 so as to penetrate from the one end side of the outer cylinder part 32 to the other end side, and is formed at one end of the inner cylinder part 22. By attaching to the part located outside, the end part of the outer cylinder part 32 is obstruct | occluded, the palate part 23 which comprises the palate of the bottle main body 210, and the accommodating part which is provided in the inner cylinder part 22 and accommodates the powder 1 24, and the other end of the inner cylindrical portion 22 is one end to which the plug 40 is attached. The inner cylinder member 20 is attached to the outer cylinder member 30, and the inner cylinder member 20 is moved relative to the outer cylinder member 30 in a direction away from the stopper 40 from the state where the stopper 40 is attached to the one end 251. By doing so, the movement of the stopper 40 is restricted by the other end of the outer cylinder part 32 and is detached from the inner cylinder member 20, and the one end part 251 is opened.
Hereinafter, examples of the reference form will be added.
1.
A chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container having one end opened and filled with powder is contained;
A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
A powder encapsulating apparatus comprising:
2.
A plug holding part for holding the plug detachably at a position where the one end and the plug face each other;
The stopper mounting part is configured to detach the stopper from the stopper holding part and to attach to the one end part by pushing the stopper in a direction approaching the one end part. The powder encapsulating apparatus described in 1.
3.
The chamber is
A first tubular portion, and a second tubular portion disposed in the first tubular portion,
The plug mounting portion is disposed in the second cylindrical portion,
The stopper holder is
Having a plurality of stopper holding members that detachably hold the stopper;
The powder encapsulating apparatus further binds the plurality of stopper holding members and attaches them to the second cylindrical portion, and also includes the second cylindrical portion, the plurality of stopper holding members, and the first A stopper holding member sealing ring for maintaining airtightness between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion,
The stopper holding member is
An engagement protrusion that is positioned above a portion of the stopper holding member that is bound by the stopper holding member seal ring and that engages with the second cylindrical portion;
A plug holding projection for holding the plug, located below a portion of the plug holding member that is bound by the plug holding member seal ring;
Have
A direction in which the stopper holding protrusions are separated from each other in a state in which the engagement protrusion and the second cylindrical part are kept engaged by pushing the stopper in a direction in which the stopper mounting portion approaches the one end. The plurality of stopper holding members tilt, and the stopper is detached from the stopper holding protrusion. The powder encapsulating apparatus described in 1.
4).
The stopper mounting part is formed with a convex part that fits into a concave part formed on the outer surface of the stopper,
When the plug mounting portion moves in a direction approaching the one end portion, the convex portion is fitted into the concave portion, whereby the plug is moved relative to the one end portion in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the plug mounting portion. 1. It is characterized by alignment. To 3. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
5.
The chamber is
A chamber body;
A container base for holding and positioning the bottom of the container and sealed with the chamber body via a seal ring;
1. It is characterized by comprising. To 4. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
6).
A pressure detector for detecting the pressure in the chamber;
A control unit that performs operation control of the deaeration unit, the gas filling unit, and the plug mounting unit;
Have
The controller is
When the chamber is sealed, the degassing unit starts the degassing,
When the pressure detection unit detects that the inside of the chamber has been reduced to a predetermined pressure, the gas filling unit starts filling the gas,
1. When the pressure detection unit detects that the gas is filled until the pressure in the chamber reaches a predetermined pressure, the plug mounting unit causes the plug to be mounted. To 5. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
7).
Having a powder filling part for filling the powder into the container before being accommodated in the chamber;
The powder filling part is
A storage section for discharging the powder to the outside, and storing the powder inside;
A screw that is disposed in the storage unit and is driven to rotate to discharge the powder in the storage unit to the outside through the discharge port;
It is characterized by having 1. To 6. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
8).
The tip of the screw is located in the outlet,
6. The inner diameter of the discharge port is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tip of the screw. The powder encapsulating apparatus described in 1.
9.
6. A stirring member that operates integrally with the screw and stirs the powder in the reservoir. Or 8. The powder encapsulating apparatus described in 1.
10.
6. It further has an ion air supply part which supplies ion air to the said discharge port. To 9. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
11.
6. It further has the 2nd ion air supply part which supplies ion air to the said container before being filled with the said powder by the said powder filling part. To 10. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
12
1. It further has the 3rd ion air supply part which supplies ion air to the container after the stopper was equipped. To 11. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
13.
A container for detection that houses the one end of the container after the stopper is mounted and the stopper in a sealed state;
A negative pressure generating section for generating a negative pressure in the detection accommodating section;
A pressure change detection unit for detecting a pressure change in the detection housing unit;
A pressure determination unit that determines a sealed state of the container based on a detection result by the pressure change detection unit;
It is characterized by having 1. To 12. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
14
An imaging unit for imaging the container after the stopper is mounted;
An image determination unit that detects a relative positional relationship between the container and the stopper based on an image captured by the imaging unit, and determines a mounting state of the stopper to the container according to a detection result;
It is characterized by having 1. Thru 13. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
15.
The container is
A first member attached to the mouth of the bottle;
A second member attached to the first member, having the one end to which the stopper is attached;
Have
The first member is
Having a communication part for communicating the inside and outside of the bottle with the first part attached to the mouth part;
The second part is
An insertion part inserted into the communication part so as to penetrate from one end side of the communication part to the other end side;
A palate part that is formed at one end of the insertion part and is attached to a portion of the first member that is located outside the bottle, thereby closing one end of the communication part to form a palate of the bottle;
An accommodating portion for accommodating the powder provided in the insertion portion;
Have
The other end of the insertion part is the one end part to which the stopper is attached,
By moving the second member relative to the first member in a direction away from the plug from the state where the second member is mounted on the first member and the plug is mounted on the one end. The one end portion is open. Thru 13. The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these.
16.
Containing a container having one end opened and filled with powder in the chamber, and sealing the chamber;
Degassing the chamber and the container;
Filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas;
Mounting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber;
The container manufacturing method characterized by performing these in this order.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Powder 2 Assembling body 3 Beverage bottle 10 Bottle cap 20 Inner cylinder member 22 Inner cylinder part 23 Palate part 23a Main body part 24 Storage part 25 Annular protrusion 26 Outer peripheral part 27 Holding groove 28 Female thread part 30 Outer cylinder member 32 Outer cylinder Part 33 one end 34 other end 35 male screw part 36 mounting part 39 end face 40 plug 41 annular groove 42 lid part 43 annular protrusion 44 outer peripheral wall 45 annular protrusion 47 bulging part 49 recessed part 50 band part 52 bridge 54 latch claw 60 base 60a Upper surface 61 Concave portion 61a Introduction portion 61b Taper portion 61c Positioning portion 62 Lower portion 63 Upper portion 70 Conveyor 100 Assembly device 200 Ion air dust removal device 210 Bottle body 220 Bottle mouth portion 222 Male screw portion 224 Latch ring 251 One end portion 261 Edge 270 Spraying portion 280 Suction part 300 Powder filling device 301 Neck part 302 Latch claw 310 Powder filling part 11 Tank 312 Discharge port 320 Main body part 330 End part 331 First taper part 332 First cylindrical part 333 Second taper part 334 Second cylindrical part 340 Screw 341 First rod part 342 Second rod part 343 Taper part 344 Projection portion 350 Stirring member 351 Cylindrical portion 352 Stirring plate-shaped portion 353 Stirring piece 371 Female screw portion 372 Latch portion 380 Ion air spraying portion 400 Plug mounting device 401 Chamber 402 Plug mounting unit 403 Control unit 404 Pressure sensor 405 Defective product input unit 410 1st cylindrical part 411 Seal ring 412 Exhaust port 413 Exhaust pump 414 Exhaust valve 415 Gas introduction port 416 Nitrogen gas tank 417 Gas supply valve 420 2nd cylindrical part 421 Inner peripheral wall 422 Taper part 423 Insertion recessed part 424 Ring fixing recessed part 425 Ring Holding groove 426 O phosphorus 430 Plug holding portion 431 Plug holding member 432 Insertion convex portion 433 Plug receiving portion 434 Ring fixing concave portion 440 O ring 450 Plug mounting portion 451 Rod body 452 Pushing portion 453 Ring fixing groove 454 O ring 455 Protruding portion 456 Plug mounting cylinder 460 Plug Set Portion 461 Plug Support Portion 462 Plug Set Cylinder 470 Base Support Unit 471 Stage 472 Support Rod 473 Positioning Arm 480 Lower Rotation Holder 481 Lower Holder Rotation Motor 482 Cam Member 490 Upper Rotation Holder 491 Upper Holder Rotation Motor 492 Connecting Portion 500 Ion Air Dust Removal Device 510 Blowing Unit 520 Suction Unit 600 Leak Inspection Device 610 Detection Housing Unit 611 Hollow Unit 620 Pump 630 Pressure Sensor 640 Pressure Judgment Unit 650 Defective Product Input Unit 670 Lifting Stage 700 Image Inspection Device 710 Imaging 720 imaging unit 730 the image determination unit 740 defective insertion portion 800 by weight inspection apparatus 810 weighing 820 weight determination unit 830 defective feeding section 840 transfer device 1000 powder containment system

Claims (19)

A chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container having one end opened and filled with powder is contained;
A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
A stopper holding part for holding the stopper detachably at a position where the one end and the stopper face each other;
Have
The plug mounting part is for detaching the plug from the plug holding part by pushing the plug in a direction approaching the one end, and mounting the plug on the one end.
The chamber is
A first tubular portion, and a second tubular portion disposed in the first tubular portion,
The plug mounting portion is disposed in the second cylindrical portion,
The stopper holder is
Having a plurality of stopper holding members that detachably hold the stopper;
The powder encapsulating apparatus further binds the plurality of stopper holding members and attaches them to the second cylindrical portion, and also includes the second cylindrical portion, the plurality of stopper holding members, and the first A stopper holding member sealing ring for maintaining airtightness between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion,
The stopper holding member is
An engagement protrusion that is positioned above a portion of the stopper holding member that is bound by the stopper holding member seal ring and that engages with the second cylindrical portion;
A plug holding projection for holding the plug, located below a portion of the plug holding member that is bound by the plug holding member seal ring;
Have
A direction in which the stopper holding protrusions are separated from each other in a state in which the engagement protrusion and the second cylindrical part are kept engaged by pushing the stopper in a direction in which the stopper mounting portion approaches the one end. The powder sealing device, wherein the plurality of stopper holding members tilt and the stopper is detached from the stopper holding protrusion.   A chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container having one end opened and filled with powder is contained;
  A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
  A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
  A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
  Have
  The chamber is
  A chamber body;
  A container base for holding and positioning the bottom of the container and sealed with the chamber body via a seal ring;
  A powder encapsulating apparatus comprising:   A chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container having one end opened and filled with powder is contained;
  A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
  A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
  A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
  A pressure detector for detecting the pressure in the chamber;
  A control unit that performs operation control of the deaeration unit, the gas filling unit, and the plug mounting unit;
  Have
  The controller is
  When the chamber is sealed, the degassing unit starts the degassing,
  When the pressure detection unit detects that the inside of the chamber has been reduced to a predetermined pressure, the gas filling unit starts filling the gas,
  When the pressure detection unit detects that the gas is filled until the pressure in the chamber reaches a predetermined pressure, the plug mounting unit causes the plug mounting unit to mount the plug.   A chamber that is sealed in a state in which a container having one end opened and filled with powder is contained;
  A degassing part for degassing the inside of the chamber and the container;
  A gas filling section for filling a predetermined gas into the chamber and the container;
  A plug mounting portion to be mounted by fitting a plug to the one end in the chamber;
  A container for detection that houses the one end of the container after the stopper is mounted and the stopper in a sealed state;
  A negative pressure generating section for generating a negative pressure in the detection accommodating section;
  A pressure change detection unit for detecting a pressure change in the detection housing unit;
  A pressure determination unit that determines a sealed state of the container based on a detection result by the pressure change detection unit;
  A powder encapsulating apparatus comprising: A plug holding part for holding the plug detachably at a position where the one end and the plug face each other;
The stopper mounting portion, by pushing the plug in a direction approaching to the end, the plug was detached from the plug holding part, and, according to claim 2 to 4, characterized in that mounted to the one end The powder enclosure apparatus as described in any one of these . The chamber is
A first tubular portion, and a second tubular portion disposed in the first tubular portion,
The plug mounting portion is disposed in the second cylindrical portion,
The stopper holder is
Having a plurality of stopper holding members that detachably hold the stopper;
The powder encapsulating apparatus further binds the plurality of stopper holding members and attaches them to the second cylindrical portion, and also includes the second cylindrical portion, the plurality of stopper holding members, and the first A stopper holding member sealing ring for maintaining airtightness between the inner surface of the cylindrical portion,
The stopper holding member is
An engagement protrusion that is positioned above a portion of the stopper holding member that is bound by the stopper holding member seal ring and that engages with the second cylindrical portion;
A plug holding projection for holding the plug, located below a portion of the plug holding member that is bound by the plug holding member seal ring;
Have
A direction in which the stopper holding protrusions are separated from each other in a state in which the engagement protrusion and the second cylindrical part are kept engaged by pushing the stopper in a direction in which the stopper mounting portion approaches the one end. The powder sealing device according to claim 5 , wherein the plurality of stopper holding members tilt and the stopper is detached from the stopper holding protrusion. The stopper mounting part is formed with a convex part that fits into a concave part formed on the outer surface of the stopper,
When the plug mounting portion moves in a direction approaching the one end portion, the convex portion is fitted into the concave portion, whereby the plug is moved relative to the one end portion in a direction intersecting the moving direction of the plug mounting portion. The powder encapsulating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein alignment is performed. Having a powder filling part for filling the powder into the container before being accommodated in the chamber;
The powder filling part is
A storage section for discharging the powder to the outside, and storing the powder inside;
A screw that is disposed in the storage unit and is driven to rotate to discharge the powder in the storage unit to the outside through the discharge port;
The powder encapsulating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , characterized by comprising: The tip of the screw is located in the outlet,
The powder sealing device according to claim 8 , wherein an inner diameter of the discharge port is substantially equal to an outer diameter of a tip of the screw. The powder enclosing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 , further comprising a stirring member that operates integrally with the screw and stirs the powder in the storage section. The powder sealing device according to any one of claims 8 to 10 , further comprising an ion air supply unit that supplies ion air to the discharge port. The powder encapsulating apparatus according to any one of claims 8 to 11 , further comprising a second ion air supply unit that supplies ion air to the container before the powder is filled by the powder filling unit. The powder encapsulating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 , further comprising a third ion air supply unit that supplies ion air to the container after the stopper is mounted. An imaging unit for imaging the container after the stopper is mounted;
An image determination unit that detects a relative positional relationship between the container and the stopper based on an image captured by the imaging unit, and determines a mounting state of the stopper to the container according to a detection result;
The powder encapsulating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by comprising: The container is
A first member attached to the mouth of the bottle;
A second member attached to the first member, having the one end to which the stopper is attached;
Have
The first member is
Having a communication part for communicating the inside and outside of the bottle with the first part attached to the mouth part;
The second part is
An insertion part inserted into the communication part so as to penetrate from one end side of the communication part to the other end side;
A palate part that is formed at one end of the insertion part and is attached to a portion of the first member that is located outside the bottle, thereby closing one end of the communication part to form a palate of the bottle;
An accommodating portion for accommodating the powder provided in the insertion portion;
Have
The other end of the insertion part is the one end part to which the stopper is attached,
By moving the second member relative to the first member in a direction away from the plug from the state where the second member is mounted on the first member and the plug is mounted on the one end. powder containment system according to any one of claims 1 to 1 4, characterized in that said one end is opened. A method for producing a container using the powder filling device according to claim 1,
A step of said one end to accommodate the container in which the powder inside opening is filled into the chamber, sealing the chamber,
Degassing the chamber and the container;
Filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas;
Mounting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber;
There line in this order,
In the step of mounting the plug by fitting the plug to the one end portion in the chamber, the engagement protrusion and the second cylindrical portion are formed by pushing the plug in a direction in which the plug mounting portion approaches the one end portion. A plurality of stopper holding members tilt in a direction in which the stopper holding protrusions are separated from each other in a state where the engagement with the stopper is maintained, and the stoppers are detached from the stopper holding protrusions. .   A method for producing a container using the powder filling device according to claim 2,
  Storing the container having the one end opened and filled with the powder in the chamber, and sealing the chamber;
  Degassing the chamber and the container;
  Filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas;
  Mounting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber;
  The container manufacturing method characterized by performing these in this order.   A method for producing a container using the powder filling device according to claim 3,
  Storing the container having the one end opened and filled with the powder in the chamber, and sealing the chamber;
  Degassing the chamber and the container;
  A step of filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas when it is detected that the pressure in the chamber has been reduced to a predetermined pressure;
  When it is detected that the gas is filled until the inside of the chamber reaches a predetermined pressure, the step of fitting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber; and
  The container manufacturing method characterized by performing these in this order.   A method for producing a container using the powder filling device according to claim 4,
  Storing the container having the one end opened and filled with the powder in the chamber, and sealing the chamber;
  Degassing the chamber and the container;
  Filling the chamber and the container with a predetermined gas;
  Mounting by fitting a stopper to the one end in the chamber;
  Storing the one end of the container after the stopper is mounted and the stopper in a sealed state in the detection container;
  Generating a negative pressure in the detection container;
  A step of determining a sealed state of the container based on a detection result of a pressure change in the detection container;
  The container manufacturing method characterized by performing these in this order.

Images