JP6895769B2 - Liquid level control device, liquid level control method, filling machine, and filling method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting and controlling the liquid level of a product liquid filled in a container, and more particularly to an apparatus suitable for controlling the liquid level of a product liquid in a container conveyed by a rotating body.

By detecting the liquid level of the container filled with the product liquid and controlling the filling amount of the product liquid, the container can be filled with an appropriate amount of the product liquid. The level of the product liquid that is finally filled is called the filling line.
To detect the liquid level, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 propose to detect infrared radiated energy. Further, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4 propose a liquid level inspection device including a lighting device and a television camera, and Patent Document 5 proposes a liquid level inspection device including a light emitter and a light receiver. There is.

The filling machine that fills the container with the product liquid is a type that fills the product liquid while transporting the container along a linear transport path, and a filling machine that fills the product liquid while transporting the container along the arc-shaped transport path. There is a type to do.
Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 relate to the former beverage filling machine.
Further, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 relate to the latter, that is, a rotary beverage filling machine. This beverage filling machine is also provided in the rotating body and is provided from the filling nozzle corresponding to each of the containers while transporting the container held by each of the plurality of grippers provided in the rotating body rotating at high speed around the axis. Since the product liquid is filled in the container, there are advantages that the production efficiency is high and the occupied area of the filling machine is small.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-240658 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-240569 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-221746 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-221747 Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2013-75711

Therefore, according to the present invention, for example, in a rotary beverage filling machine, a liquid level control device and a liquid level control method capable of detecting the liquid level with high accuracy and suppressing variation in the taste line of the product liquid to be filled. The purpose is to provide.

The liquid level control device of the present invention detects the liquid level of the product liquid filled in the container and controls the filling of the product liquid.
The liquid level control device of the present invention controls a change in the filling state of the product liquid based on a photographing unit that takes an image of the container including the liquid level from the outside of the container and the liquid level detected from the image. It is provided with a control unit for the operation.
The control unit in the present invention is characterized in that it controls the change of the filling state based on the position-volume information in which the position and the volume in the height direction in the container are associated with each other and the detected liquid level. And.

The control unit of the present invention obtains one or both of the stop time until the filling of the product liquid is stopped and the switching time until the filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched in order to change the filling state of the product liquid.

There are at least two procedures for obtaining the stop time and the switching time performed by the control unit of the present invention.
The first procedure is to obtain one or both of the stop time and the switching time based on the position-volume information and the filling flow rate which is the specified value.
The second procedure is to obtain one or both of the stop time and the switching time based on the position-volume information and the filling flow rate obtained in the process of filling the product liquid. This filling flow rate can be obtained based on the fluctuation of the liquid level in the container, or can be obtained based on the fluctuation of the liquid level of the product liquid in the liquid tank for supplying the product liquid.

There are at least four specific control procedures performed by the control unit of the present invention. In all four, the control unit assumes that the filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate smaller than the large flow rate, and therefore, this assumption is omitted below.

In the first procedure, the control unit switches the filling flow rate of the product liquid from a large flow rate to a small flow rate smaller than the large flow rate, and sets the first liquid level of the product liquid detected in the small flow rate range. The stop time is calculated based on the specified filling flow rate.

The second is the first liquid level of the product liquid detected in the small flow rate range, and the product liquid detected in the small flow rate range lower than the first liquid level. The filling flow rate is calculated based on the difference between the two liquid level and the liquid level.
Next, the stop time is determined based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the determined filling flow rate.

Third, first, the switching time from the large flow rate to the small flow rate is obtained based on the third liquid level detected in the large flow rate range and the filling flow rate (a) which is a specified value.
Next, based on the difference between the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the second liquid level level detected in the small flow rate range lower than the first liquid level. The filling flow rate (b) is obtained.
Further, the stop time is obtained based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the obtained filling flow rate (b).

Fourth, first, the switching time from the large flow rate to the small flow rate is obtained based on the third liquid level detected in the large flow rate range and the filling flow rate (c) which is a specified value.
Next, the stop time is determined based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the filling flow rate (d) which is a specified value.

The liquid level control device of the present invention is applied to a rotary filling machine in which product liquid is filled from each filling valve corresponding to a plurality of containers while a plurality of containers are conveyed along an arcuate transport path. In the case, the photographing unit can be provided at a fixed point outside the transport path.

The liquid level control method of the present invention detects the liquid level of the product liquid filled in the container and controls the filling of the product liquid.
The liquid level control method of the present invention changes the filling state of the product liquid based on the first step of taking an image of the container including the liquid level from the outside of the container and the liquid level detected from the image. It comprises a second step to control.
In the second step, the liquid level control method of the present invention controls the change of the filling state based on the position-volume information associated with the height and the volume in the container and the liquid level. It is a feature.

In the second step of the present invention, one or both of the stop time until the filling of the product liquid is stopped and the switching time until the filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched are obtained in order to change the filling state of the product liquid.

There are at least two steps for obtaining the stop time and the switching time, which are performed in the second step of the present invention.
The first procedure is to obtain one or both of the stop time and the switching time based on the position-volume information and the filling flow rate which is the specified value.
The second procedure is to obtain one or both of the stop time and the switching time based on the position-volume information and the filling flow rate obtained in the process of filling the product liquid. In the present invention, this filling flow rate can be obtained based on the fluctuation of the liquid level in the container, or can be obtained based on the fluctuation of the liquid level of the product liquid in the liquid tank for supplying the product liquid.

There are at least four specific control steps performed in the second step of the present invention. Since it is assumed that the filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from the large flow rate to the small flow rate smaller than the large flow rate in all four cases, this assumption is omitted below.

The first step is to obtain the stop time in the second step based on the first liquid level of the product liquid detected in the small flow rate range and the filling flow rate which is a specified value.

The second step is to detect the first liquid level of the product liquid that was first detected in the small flow rate range and the position that is lower than the first liquid level in the small flow rate range in the second step. The filling flow rate is obtained based on the difference between the second liquid level of the finished product liquid and the second liquid level.
Next, the stop time is determined based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the determined filling flow rate.

The third step is to switch from the large flow rate to the small flow rate based on the third liquid level level first detected in the large flow rate range and the filling flow rate (a) which is the specified value in the second step. Find the switching time.
Next, based on the difference between the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the second liquid level level detected in the small flow rate range lower than the first liquid level. The filling flow rate (b) is obtained.
Further, the stop time is obtained based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the obtained filling flow rate (b).

The fourth procedure is the switching time from the large flow rate to the small flow rate based on the third liquid level detected in the large flow rate range and the filling flow rate (c) which is the specified value in the second step. Ask for.
Next, the stop time is determined based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the filling flow rate (d) which is a specified value.

The liquid level control method of the present invention is applied to a rotary filling machine in which product liquid is filled from each filling valve corresponding to a plurality of containers while a plurality of containers are conveyed along an arcuate transport path. In this case, the image in the first step can be taken from a fixed point outside the transport path.

According to the present invention, a plurality of containers carry an arcuate transport path, and a rotating body having a filling valve corresponding to each of the plurality of containers and a liquid level of the product liquid filled in the containers are detected to detect the product. The liquid level control device described above can be applied to a filling machine including a liquid level control device for controlling liquid filling.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The above-described liquid level control method can be applied to a method for filling a container with a product liquid from a filling valve corresponding to each of a plurality of containers, which is conveyed along an arcuate transport path. ..

According to the liquid level control device of the present invention, the change of the filling state is controlled based on the position-volume information in which the height and the volume in the container are associated with each other and the detected liquid level, so that the properties of the container can be changed. It is possible to control the change of the filling state with high accuracy along the line. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a beverage product having less variation in the taste line.

It is a top view which shows the schematic structure of the rotary beverage filling machine which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. The schematic configuration of the liquid level control device provided in the beverage filling machine of FIG. 1 is shown, (a) is a plan view, and (b) is a side view. It is a side view which shows the state which the container is held in the beverage filling machine of FIG. It is a diagram which shows the control pattern of the flow rate of the product liquid in the beverage filling machine of FIG. It is a figure which shows the switching position of the flow rate in the beverage filling machine of FIG. 1 on a container. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the position from the container mouth and the volume of a container. A second embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a beverage filling machine, and (b) is a diagram showing a flow rate control pattern. A second embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a side view showing a state in which a container is held, and (b) is a view showing a flow rate switching position on the container. A third embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a beverage filling machine, and (b) is a diagram showing a flow rate control pattern. A third embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a side view showing a state in which a container is held, and (b) is a view showing a flow rate switching position on the container. A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of a beverage filling machine, and (b) is a diagram showing a flow rate control pattern. A fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown, (a) is a side view showing a state in which the container is held, and (b) is a view showing a flow rate switching position on the container.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the present embodiment, regarding the rotary beverage filling machine 1 provided with the liquid level control device 30 and the beverage filling method, the liquid level level can be changed with high accuracy, that is, the switching of the filling flow rate and the filling stop can be controlled. The control device 30 and the liquid level control method are proposed.
Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the beverage filling machine 1 will be described, and then the effects of the beverage filling machine 1 will be described.

[Overall configuration of beverage filling machine 1]
As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage filling machine 1 receives a container 100 continuously conveyed by a conveyor (not shown) from a carry-in star wheel 7 as a rotating body. In the beverage filling machine 1, a plurality of filling valves 10 (see FIG. 3) are arranged around the filler body 5, and the container 100 delivered from the carry-in star wheel 7 extends from the container supply point IN to the container discharge point EX. Beverages are filled in a series of procedures while moving along the arcuate transport path R. The container 100 for which the beverage filling has been completed is delivered to the carry-out star wheel 8 and then transported for the next step of attaching a cap or the like.
Note that FIG. 1 shows the containers 100 thinned out. The same applies to FIGS. 7, 9 and 11.

As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage filling machine 1 operates the filler body 5, the filling valve 10 shown in FIG. 3, the liquid level control device 30, the filler body 5, the liquid level control device 30, and the like. It includes a control unit 50 for controlling.
The filler body 5 includes a transport star wheel 6 that is rotationally driven by a drive source, and a plurality of holders that are provided on the outer periphery of the transport star wheel 6 and hold the container 100. The illustration of the holder is omitted. The filler body 5 is provided with a filling valve 10 corresponding to each of the plurality of holders.

The filler body 5 receives the container 100 continuously carried in from the carry-in star wheel 7 at the container supply point IN, and transports the received container 100 from the transport star wheel 6 to the container discharge point EX. The filler body 5 is filled with the product liquid from the filling valve 10 provided corresponding to each container 100 in the process of transporting the container 100 from the container supply point IN to the container discharge point EX.
The product liquid applied to this embodiment is not limited, and beer containing carbonic acid, beverages such as cola, tea containing no carbonic acid, beverages such as mineral water, and the like can be used. In addition, a beverage product containing a solid substance can also be used as the product liquid of the present embodiment.

The container 100 targeted by the present embodiment is assumed to be transparent because it is necessary to be able to photograph the liquid level of the product liquid filled inside from the outside. Examples of the material of the container 100 corresponding to this include glass and resin. The shape of the container 100 to be applied is arbitrary, and the container 100 can be a bottle with a narrow mouth, a jar with a wide mouth, a jug with a handle, or the like.

[Filling valve 10]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the beverage filling machine 1 includes a transport star wheel 6 that is rotationally driven in one direction by a drive motor (not shown). The transport star wheel 6 is provided with a large number of filling valves 10 along the circumferential direction on the outer periphery thereof. Each filling valve 10 fills the volume portion inside the container 100 with the product liquid while holding the container 100.

The filling valve 10 is supplied with the product liquid from the liquid tank 9 arranged above the transport star wheel 6 via the liquid supply path P1. The operation of each filling valve 10 is controlled by the control unit 50, and the supply start / stop of the product liquid and the flow rate adjustment are performed. The liquid supply passage P1 is composed of pipes, joints, and the like. The same applies to the ventilation path P2 described later.

The liquid tank 9 includes a liquid phase region 9A and a gas phase region 9B in which the product liquid to be supplied to the container 100 via the filling valve 10 is stored. The gas phase region 9B is, for example, a counter gas supplied to the container 100 via the filling valve 10 in a counter step when filling a beer beverage, for example, carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) gas, nitrogen (N ₂ ) gas, air, or the like. Stores gas selected from.

A ventilation path P2 is provided between the gas phase region 9B and the filling valve 10.
The ventilation path P2 supplies carbon dioxide from the gas phase region 9B toward the volume portion of the container 100 during, for example, a counter process, and supplies carbon dioxide discharged from the container 100 when supplying the product liquid. It is used to return towards the gas phase region 9B.

In a series of processes of filling a container 100 with a beverage containing carbon dioxide such as beer, a gassing process of removing the air in the container 100 and replacing the inside of the container 100 with carbon dioxide gas, the inside of the container 100 A counter process is performed to make the inside pressurized with carbon dioxide, and then beer (product liquid) is filled. After filling a required amount of beer, the state is maintained for a predetermined time (hold processing), and further, a snift treatment is performed to discharge the replacement gas remaining in the head space inside the container 100. The beverage filling machine 1 and the filling valve 10 are provided with elements for performing these processes, but are omitted here.

[Liquid level control device 30]
As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid level control device 30 is provided with a flow rate of the product liquid filled in the container 100 within a small flow rate range. The control unit 50 is an element of the liquid level control device 30, and the liquid level control device 30 is composed of a first imaging unit 30A and a control unit 50.

Next, the configuration of the first photographing unit 30A will be described with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, the first photographing unit 30A is from the first camera 31A that photographs a predetermined field of view of the container 100 including the liquid level, the light source 33 that irradiates the illumination light that illuminates the photographing range, and the light source 33. A reflector 35 that reflects the illuminated illumination light L to be irradiated is provided.

The first camera 31A photographs the range of the field of view FV1 from the front, one by one, for each of the plurality of containers 100 that are continuously conveyed at high speed. The captured image is sent from the first camera 31A to the control unit 50. The first camera 31A is arranged at a fixed point outside the transport path R to which the container 100 is transported. Although the present embodiment is premised on shooting a still image with the first camera 31A or the like, it does not exclude shooting a moving image.

As the first camera 31A, a digital camera driven at a high speed can be applied. Examples of the photographing element constituting the first camera 31A include a CCD (charge-coupled device: Charge Coupled Device) and a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor).
In order to detect the liquid level h1 with high accuracy, it is preferable to select a high resolution first camera 31A having 1 million pixels or more, preferably 2 million pixels or more. Similarly, the first camera 31A preferably has a high shooting speed, and a high-speed camera having a shooting speed of 1000 fps (frame per second) or more, and further 3000 fps or more is applied.

As shown in FIG. 5, the field of view FV1 photographed by the first camera 31A is a portion of the neck 103 of the container 100. When the container 100 filled with the product liquid is conveyed to the position corresponding to the first camera 31A of the first photographing unit 30A, it is assumed that the product liquid reaches the range of the field of view FV1.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, the first photographing unit 30A includes a light source 33 that is placed outside the transport path R and emits illumination light L toward the inside of the transport path R.
The first photographing unit 30A includes two light sources 33 and 33 with the first camera 31A interposed therebetween, and the illumination light L emitted by each of the two light sources 33 and 33 is between the adjacent containers 100 and 100. It reaches the reflector 35 inside the transport path R through the transport path R.

As the light source 33, a planar light source that emits planar light may be used, or a large number of point-like light sources may be arranged. Further, the illumination light L from the light source 33 may be continuous light or pulsed light.
As the illumination light L emitted by the light source 33, white light or near-infrared light (wavelength of about 700 to 2500 nm) can be used. Since white light is difficult to transmit depending on the color of the product liquid, for example, when the product liquid is black, it is preferable to use near infrared light. Near-infrared light more preferably has a wavelength of 800 to 900 nm.
As a light source that emits illumination light L, in addition to LEDs (light emitting diodes) that consume less power, halogen lamps, semiconductor lasers, fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, and HID lamps (High-Intensity Discharge lamps) are used. You can also.

Further, the first photographing unit 30A includes a reflector 35 that reflects the illumination light L emitted from the light source 33. The reflector 35 is placed at a fixed point inside the transport path R, and the illumination light L that has passed between the adjacent containers 100 and 100 is directed toward the back surface of the container 100 to be photographed by the first camera 31A. Reflect. That is, the container 100 to be photographed is irradiated with the illumination light L reflected from the back side with respect to the first camera 31A. Light sources 33, 33 provided on both sides of the first camera 31A have optical axes as shown in FIG. 2 so that the illumination light L reflected from the reflector 35 is collected in the container 100 to be irradiated. It is arranged so as to be tilted with respect to one camera 31A.

The material constituting the reflector 35 is arbitrary, but it is preferable that the illumination light L is uniformly reflected on the container 100 in order to detect the liquid level h1 with high accuracy.

For that purpose, it is preferable that the reflective surface, which is the surface facing the container 100, is white. For example, the reflective surface of the reflector 35 can be coated with a PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) film, a PTFE sheet can be attached, or the reflector 35 can be made of a plate-shaped PTFE. Further, the reflector 35 can be constructed from a ceramic material exhibiting white color, for example, an alumina (Al ₂ O _{3) sintered body.} Further, in order to make the reflective surface white, a white paint can be applied to the reflective surface.

The reflector 35 is not limited to a white reflecting surface, and a metal plate, for example, a reflector 35 obtained by polishing the surface of stainless steel to a mirror surface can also be used.

Although the reflector 35 is a flat plate in the present embodiment, it is not limited to a specific shape, and the reflecting surface may be an arc surface in order to facilitate collecting the illumination light L in the container 100.

[Control unit 50]
The control unit 50 controls the rotation of the transport star wheel 6 constituting the filler body 5 and the opening degree of the filling valve 10. The control of the opening degree of the filling valve 10 corresponds to the control of the filling state of the product liquid in the present invention. In the present embodiment, the filling is stopped by closing the filling valve 10 and the opening degree of the filling valve 10 is controlled. By changing, the filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched. The filling flow rate referred to here is a flow rate per unit time, and the unit corresponds to mL / sec.

As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 50 receives image information including the liquid level level captured by the first camera 31A from the first imaging unit 30A, analyzes the received image information, and obtains the liquid level h1. .. The control unit 50 controls the closing time of the filling valve 10 by comparing the specified liquid level h1 with the target final taste line height h0. The control unit 50 holds information regarding the final taste line height h0. The specific control method will be described later.
Here, the final taste line height h0 is a target liquid level at which the container 100 is filled with an appropriate amount of the product liquid. The liquid level is specified by the distance V in the vertical direction from the final taste line height h0 in an upright state in which the container port 101 of the container 100 faces upward.
In FIG. 5, hc indicates the timing at which the filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from the large flow rate to the small flow rate. Further, in FIG. 5, H indicates a horizontal direction.

The control unit 50 instructs the first camera 31A to take a picture of the container 100 passing through the liquid level control device 30.
The control unit 50 recognizes the position of each container 100 that is transported while being held by the transport star wheel 6. That is, it can be recognized that the container 100 is at the container supply point IN at the time when the container 100 is delivered to the transport star wheel 6 at the container supply point IN. Even after that, the control unit 50 continuously recognizes the position of being transported as the transport star wheel 6 rotates, and when it reaches the container discharge point EX, it can recognize that the container 100 is at the container discharge point EX.

The control unit 50 acquires the image taken by the first camera 31A and analyzes the image to obtain the current liquid level h1. This identification is based on the shade of the image, but it is important to note the presence of bubbles that accumulate on the surface of the product liquid and the continuous filling of the product liquid. In other words, when detecting the shading of a captured image, if the shading is detected from above the captured image, it may be affected by bubbles and the product liquid to be filled, and the liquid level may not be detected accurately. .. For example, in the case of a carbonated drink in which bubbles are likely to be generated, the control unit 50 may recognize the upper surface of the bubbles as the liquid level. Therefore, especially in a carbonated soft drink that easily foams, when detecting the shade of an image, the shade is discriminated in order from the bottom of the captured image.

The control unit 50 holds position-volume information which is information in which the distance of the container 100 from the container port 101 and the volume of the head space of the container 100 are associated with each other. An example of position-volume information is shown in FIG. The distance from the container mouth 101 is referred to as the height in the present invention.

The present inventors investigated the relationship between the height from the container opening 101 and the volume occupying this height from the container opening 101 for a large number of containers 100. As a result, it was found that the volume of each container 100 investigated by the present inventors varies, and that the variation is larger as the body portion 105 having a larger diameter of the container 100 and smaller as the neck portion 103 having a smaller diameter. did. For example, the broken line and the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 6 show variations. Therefore, even if the position-volume information is adopted, it is preferable to use the position-volume information of the portion where the variation in volume is small.

Here, it has been described that the variation in the volume of the neck portion 103 is small as an example, but the portion with a small variation and the portion with a large variation may differ depending on the specifications such as the type and shape of the container 100. Therefore, it is preferable to individually specify the position-volume information for the container 100 to be filled and use the portion having a small variation in the information.

The control unit 50 collates the final taste line height h0 and the liquid level h1 detected by the liquid level control device 30 with the position-volume information, and thereafter, the stop time ts until the filling valve 10 is closed. Ask for. This stop time ts is obtained on the premise that the product liquid reaches the final taste line height h0 when filling is continued for the stop time ts at the current filling flow rate of the product liquid. A more specific setting of the stop time ts will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 5, the first camera 31A has a field of view FV1 in a region where the filling flow rate of the product liquid is small, and when the liquid level h1 is photographed in this field of view FV1, the control unit 50 causes the liquid level h1. Is recognized as the current liquid level h1. After this, the product liquid may be filled by the volume between the liquid level h1 and the final taste line height h0. It is assumed that the filling flow rate of this small flow rate is constant at Q.

The control unit 50 obtains the volume V of the product liquid to be filled by the time the final taste line height h0 is reached by collating the final taste line height h0 and the current liquid level level h1 with the position-volume information. .. For example, assuming that the final taste line height h0 and the current liquid level h1 are as shown in FIG. 6 and the volumes of the containers corresponding to each are V0 and V1 (mL), the volume V of the product liquid to be filled ( mL) is V1-V0. Since the filling flow rate of the product liquid is Q (mL / sec), the stop time ts (sec) until the volume V is satisfied is calculated by the following formula (1). The control unit 50 closes the filling valve 10 based on the obtained stop time ts.
Stop time ts = (V1-V0) / Q ... Equation (1)

[Operation of beverage filling machine 1]
Next, the filling pattern of the product liquid of the beverage filling machine 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. This filling pattern is an example of a case where a carbonated drink that easily foams during filling is used as the product liquid.
The beverage filling machine 1 fills the container 100 with the product liquid in the order of medium flow rate, large flow rate, and small flow rate. The medium flow rate, the large flow rate, and the small flow rate are executed by adjusting the opening degree of the filling valve 10. The medium flow rate, large flow rate, and small flow rate referred to here are only relative relationships and do not specify a specific flow rate. In FIG. 4, the upper three diagrams show the control of the filling valve 10, and the lower one diagram shows the filling flow rate.

At the beginning of filling, since foaming is likely to occur, filling is performed at a medium flow rate, but when a certain amount of product liquid is filled, foaming is suppressed, so the flow rate is switched to a large flow rate. When the predetermined switching time T1 has elapsed since the start of the medium flow rate filling, the control unit 50 changes the opening degree of the filling valve 10 from the opening degree corresponding to the medium flow rate up to that point to the large flow rate. Switch to opening.
When the switching time T2 has elapsed since the start of the large flow rate filling, the control unit 50 changes the opening degree of the filling valve 10 from the opening degree corresponding to the large flow rate filling up to that point to the opening degree corresponding to the small flow rate filling. Switch.

[First step]
After switching to the small flow rate filling, the container 100 is conveyed to a position where it can be photographed by the first camera 31A. When the control unit 50 recognizes that the container 100 is transported to the position, the control unit 50 instructs the first camera 31A to take a picture of the container 100.

[Second step]
The image information regarding the captured visual field FV1 is sent from the first camera 31A to the control unit 50, and the control unit 50 that receives the image information has the final taste line height h0 and the acquired current liquid level by the above procedure. The stop time ts is obtained by collating the level h1 with the position-volume information possessed in advance.
The control unit 50 controls the filling valve 10 so as to close the filling valve 10 when the stop time ts has elapsed. For this control, for example, a timer that controls the opening and closing of the filling valve 10 is used, and the timer is set so as to close the filling valve 10 when the stop time ts has elapsed. This completes the filling of the product liquid into one container 100.

[Effect of beverage filling machine 1]
As described above, the beverage filling machine 1 obtains the stop time ts of the filling valve 10 by collating the final taste line height h0 and the liquid level h1 with the position-volume information. Therefore, since the beverage filling machine 1 can control the final taste line height h0 with high accuracy based on the stop time ts along the properties of the container 100, it is possible to manufacture a beverage product having the same final taste line height h0. ..

In particular, in the present embodiment, the current liquid level h1 is photographed at the portion of the neck 103 having a small variation in volume in the container 100, and the position-volume information to be collated also uses the portion corresponding to the neck 103 having a small variation. It contributes to controlling the final taste line height h0 with high accuracy.

Further, when the beverage filling machine 1 detects the shading of the image captured by the first camera 31A, the beverage filling machine 1 detects the shading from the bottom of the captured image, so that bubbles and other factors are eliminated to reduce the liquid level. It can be detected accurately. For example, it is possible to eliminate bubbles and other factors by applying masking that hides bubbles, but this embodiment has an advantage that it is not necessary to prepare masking.

Further, in the filling pattern of the product liquid, the beverage filling machine 1 detects the current liquid level h1 at a small flow rate with a relatively small filling flow rate and determines the stop time ts until the filling of the product liquid is stopped. To do. That is, since the beverage filling machine 1 detects the current liquid level h1 in the region where the liquid level rises slowly, the accuracy of detecting the liquid level h1 is high.

Further, the beverage filling machine 1 detects the liquid level h1 of each container 100 only by one first camera 31A provided at a fixed point, and corresponds to each container 100 based on the detected liquid level h1. The timing for closing the filling valve 10 to be used can be specified. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the cost of the beverage filling machine 1 is reduced as compared with the case where a camera corresponding to each of a large number of containers 100 is provided.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the beverage filling machine 2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the beverage filling machine 2 is provided with the second camera 31B constituting the second photographing unit 30B on the upstream side of the first camera 31A. It's different. As shown in FIG. 2A, the second photographing unit 30B includes a light source 33 and a reflector 35 in the same manner as the first photographing unit 30A.
The beverage filling machine 2 obtains the filling flow rate Q of the product liquid at the present time by using the fluctuations of the two liquid level levels detected from the images taken by the first camera 31A and the second camera 31B, respectively. The second embodiment is effective when the filling amount of the product liquid discharged from the filling valve 10 varies.
Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the beverage filling machine 2 includes two first cameras 31A and a second camera 31B.
The first camera 31A and the second camera 31B are provided with a filling flow rate within a small flow rate range. The first camera 31A is provided at the same position as that of the first embodiment, and the second camera 31B is provided on the upstream side by a predetermined distance from the first camera 31A. As shown, it is provided below the first camera 31A. That is, the field of view FV2 captured by the second camera 31B is set below the field of view FV1 captured by the first camera 31A.

The control unit 50 acquires the images taken by the second camera 31B and the images taken by the first camera 31A in this order, and the liquid level levels h2 (second liquid level) and h1 (first liquid level), respectively. Level) is calculated. Further, the control unit 50 acquires the time t2 taken by the second camera 31B and the time t1 taken by the first camera 31A in this order by the timer provided by the control unit 50.
From the information acquired as described above and the position-volume information, the control unit 50 obtains the filling flow rate Q of the product liquid between the liquid level h2 and the liquid level h1 as follows.

By collating the liquid level levels h2 and h1 with the position-volume information shown in FIG. 6, the difference (V2-V1) (mL) of the volumes V2 and V1 of the corresponding container 100 is obtained. The volume of the product liquid corresponding to this difference (V2-V1) is filled in the time of t1-t2 (sec). Therefore, the filling flow rate Q during this period is obtained by the following equation (2).
Q = (V2-V1) / (t1-t2) ... Equation (2)

When the filling flow rate Q is obtained, the control unit 50 determines the stop time ts based on the following equation (1) described in the first embodiment, and closes the filling valve 10 based on the obtained stop time ts. To control.
Stop time ts = (V2-V1) / Q ... Equation (1)

[Effect of beverage filling machine 2]
As described above, the beverage filling machine 2 has the same effect as the beverage filling machine 1, and also has the following effects.
The beverage filling machine 2 obtains the filling flow rate Q of the product liquid that is actually filled in order to obtain the stop time ts.
Here, the filling flow rate of the product liquid discharged from the filling valve 10 is not strictly constant and may vary even if the opening degree is the same. Therefore, if the stop time ts is obtained based on the predetermined filling flow rate Q as in the first embodiment, there is a possibility that a deviation may occur from the stop time ts according to the actual filling flow rate Q.

On the other hand, since the beverage filling machine 2 obtains the stop time ts based on the actual filling flow rate Q, the stop time ts corresponding to the actual filling flow rate Q can be obtained. Therefore, according to the beverage filling machine 2, it is possible to obtain a beverage product having a final taste line height h0.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, the beverage filling machine 3 according to the third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the beverage filling machine 3 is provided with a third camera 31C constituting the third photographing unit 30C on the upstream side of the first camera 31A and the second camera 31B. 2 It is different from the beverage filling machine 2 of the embodiment. The third photographing unit 30C includes a light source 33 and a reflector 35 as in the first photographing unit 30A.

The beverage filling machine 3 controls the timing of switching from the large flow rate to the small flow rate by using the liquid level level detected by the control unit 50 from the image taken by the third camera 31C. By doing so, when the second camera 31B takes a picture, the liquid level level can be surely kept within the range of the field of view FV2 without deviating from the range of the field of view FV2.
After that, the point that the control unit 50 obtains the current filling flow rate Q of the product liquid by using the two liquid level levels detected from the images taken by the first camera 31A and the second camera 31B is the second embodiment. The same is true.
Hereinafter, the third embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the second embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the beverage filling machine 3 includes a first camera 31A, a second camera 31B, a third camera 31C, and three photographing means.
The first camera 31A and the second camera 31B are provided within a small flow rate range as in the second embodiment, and their respective field of view FV1 and field of view FV2 are also the same as in the second embodiment. That is, the field of view FV2 captured by the second camera 31B is set below the field of view FV1 captured by the first camera 31A.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9A, the third camera 31C is provided on the upstream side by a predetermined distance from the second camera 31B, and as shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the third camera 31C is provided. It is provided below the second camera 31B. That is, the field of view FV3 captured by the third camera 31C is set below the field of view FV2 captured by the second camera 31B.

The control unit 50 acquires an image taken by the third camera 31C. This image is taken when the filling flow rate of the product liquid is large.
The control unit 50 acquires an image taken by the third camera 31C, identifies the liquid level (third liquid level) h3, and collates the liquid level h3 and the liquid level h2 with the position-volume information. To do. The liquid level h2 referred to here is a virtually defined height, for example, a position halved of the field of view FV2. As a result, the volume V of the product liquid to be filled before reaching the liquid level h2 is obtained.

In the following, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the control unit 50 obtains the volume V (mL) of the product liquid to be filled before reaching the liquid level h2, and the time until the flow rate is switched from the large flow rate to the small flow rate. The tk (sec) is calculated by the following equation (1). The control unit 50 controls the filling valve 10 to switch the opening degree from a large flow rate to a small flow rate based on the obtained switching time ct. Although FIG. 10B shows the timing at which the large flow rate is switched to the small flow rate as hc, even if the hc is controlledly switched from the large flow rate to the small flow rate, the container 100 will continue to have the timing. Since the product liquid flows in, the switching time tk is obtained in consideration of this inflow rate. Further, the filling flow rate Q used here is a specified value as a large flow rate.
Switching time tc = (V3-V2) / Q ... Equation (1)

As described above, since the beverage filling machine 3 controls the timing of switching the opening degree of the filling valve 10 from the large flow rate to the small flow rate, the liquid level level is within the range of the field of view FV2 when the second camera 31B takes a picture. It can be reliably contained within the range of the field of view FV2 without deviation.

After that, in the same manner as in the second embodiment, the control unit 50 obtains the filling flow rate Q of the product liquid between the liquid level h2 and the liquid level h1 based on the above-mentioned formula (2), and further, the second embodiment. 1 The stop time ts is determined based on the equation (1) described in the embodiment, and the filling valve 10 is controlled to be closed based on the obtained stop time ts.

[Effect of beverage filling machine 3]
As described above, the beverage filling machine 3 has the same effect as the beverage filling machine 2, and also has the following effects.
The beverage filling machine 3 adjusts the timing of switching from the large flow rate to the small flow rate according to the liquid level detected by the third camera 31C provided on the most upstream side. Therefore, according to the beverage filling machine 3, when the second camera 31B takes a picture, the liquid level can be surely contained in the range of the field of view FV2 without deviating from the range of the field of view FV2. In addition, when the first camera 31A takes a picture, the liquid level can be surely within the range of the field of view FV1 without deviating from the range of the field of view FV1.
Therefore, according to the beverage filling machine 3, the final taste line height h0 can be controlled with higher accuracy.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, the beverage filling machine 4 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the beverage filling machine 4 is different from the beverage filling machine 3 of the third embodiment in that the second camera 31B is not provided. The beverage filling machine 4 is preferably applied when the filling flow rate of the product liquid from the filling valve 10 is stable.

The beverage filling machine 4 controls the timing of switching from the large flow rate to the small flow rate by using the liquid level detected from the image taken by the third camera 31C. If the filling flow rate in the filling valve 10 is stable, when the first camera 31A takes a picture, the liquid level can be surely contained in the range of the field of view FV1 without deviating from the range of the field of view FV1.
After that, the control unit 50 obtains the stop time ts using the liquid level h1 detected from the image captured by the first camera 31A, which is the same as that of the first embodiment.
Hereinafter, the fourth embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment and the third embodiment.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the beverage filling machine 4 includes a first camera 31A and a third camera 31C, and two photographing means.
The first camera 31A is provided within a small flow rate range as in the first and third embodiments, and the field of view FV1 is also the same as in the first and third embodiments.

Next, as shown in FIG. 11A, the third camera 31C is provided on the upstream side by a predetermined distance from the first camera 31A, and as shown in FIG. 12, the third camera 31C is provided from the first camera 31A. Is also provided below. That is, the field of view FV3 captured by the third camera 31C is set below the field of view FV1 captured by the first camera 31A.

The control unit 50 acquires an image taken by the third camera 31C. This image is taken when the filling flow rate of the product liquid is large.
The control unit 50 acquires an image taken by the third camera 31C, identifies the liquid level h3, and collates the liquid level h3 and the liquid level h1 with the position-volume information. The liquid level h1 referred to here is a virtually defined height, for example, a position halved of the field of view FV1. As a result, the volume V of the product liquid to be filled before reaching the liquid level h1 is obtained.

In the following, in the same manner as in the third embodiment, the control unit 50 obtains the volume V (mL) of the product liquid to be filled before reaching the liquid level h1, and switches from a large flow rate to a small flow rate. The time tc (sec) is calculated by the following equation (1). The control unit 50 controls the filling valve 10 to switch the opening degree from a large flow rate to a small flow rate based on the obtained switching time ct.
Switching time tc = (V3-V1) / Q ... Equation (1)

As described above, since the beverage filling machine 4 controls the timing of switching the opening degree of the filling valve 10 from the large flow rate to the small flow rate, the liquid level level is within the range of the field of view FV1 when the first camera 31A takes a picture. It can be reliably contained within the range of the field of view FV1 without deviation.

After that, in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the control unit 50 collates the final taste line height h0 and the acquired current liquid level h3 with the position-volume information possessed in advance, thereby causing the stop time. The ts is obtained, and the filling valve 10 is controlled to be closed based on the obtained stop time ts.

[Effect of beverage filling machine 4]
As described above, the beverage filling machine 4 has the same effect as the beverage filling machine 1, and in addition, one unit of the second photographing unit 30B is omitted as compared with the beverage filling machine 3 of the third embodiment. Therefore, it contributes to the cost reduction of the beverage filling machine 4.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the configurations described in the first to fourth embodiments may be selected or appropriately changed to other configurations as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated. It is possible.

For example, regarding the filling flow rate Q, the first embodiment and the fourth embodiment used the default values, and the second embodiment and the third embodiment were calculated from the two liquid level levels, but the present invention has other fillings. A specific method of flow rate Q can be adopted. For example, the liquid level of the product liquid (liquid phase region 9A) in the liquid tank 9 is detected over time, and the filling flow rate Q in the filling valve 10 is determined based on the displacement of the detected liquid level height per unit time. Can be estimated. The estimated filling flow rate Q can be applied instead of the default values in the first and fourth embodiments.

Further, although the first to fourth embodiments have described the rotary beverage filling machines 1 to 4, the liquid level control method of the present invention is a product to a container to be transported along a linear transport path. It can be applied to a filling machine that fills liquid.

Further, the configurations of the first imaging unit 30A to the third imaging unit 30C described in the present embodiment are merely examples, and the configuration of the liquid level level inspection portion in the present invention is arbitrary as long as the liquid level can be detected. .. For example, although the present embodiment uses two light sources 33 and 33, the present invention allows the illumination light L to be emitted from only one light source 33.

Further, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the filling flow rate of the product liquid can be switched to three stages of medium flow rate, large flow rate and small flow rate, but the filling flow rate of the product liquid in the present invention is arbitrary, for example, two stages or Allows switching in four stages.

The product liquid applied to the present invention is arbitrary, and can be widely applied to alcoholic beverages such as beer and soft drinks such as cider, in addition to cola beverages. Further, the present invention is not limited to filling a gas-containing beverage typified by a carbonated beverage, and can also fill a gas-free beverage. Furthermore, since the present invention can obtain the effect regardless of the type of product liquid, it can also be applied when filling a container with a product liquid other than a beverage.

1, 2, 3, 4 Beverage filling machine 5 Filler body 6 Conveying star wheel 7 Carrying in star wheel 8 Carrying out star wheel 9 Liquid tank 9A Liquid phase area 9B Gas phase area 10 Filling valve 30 Liquid level control device 30A First imaging unit 30B Second imaging unit 30C Third imaging unit 31A First camera 31B Second camera 31C Third camera 33 Light source 35 Reflector 50 Control unit 100 Container 101 Container mouth 103 Neck 105 Body FV1, FV2, FV3 Viewpoint IN Container supply point EX container discharge point L Illumination light P1 Liquid supply path P2 Ventilation path R Transport path

Claims (20)

A liquid level control device that detects the liquid level of the product liquid to be filled in a container and controls the filling of the product liquid.
An imaging unit that captures an image of the container including the liquid level from the outside of the container.
A control unit that controls a change in the filling state of the product liquid based on the liquid level detected from the image is provided.
The control unit
Based on the position-volume information in which the position and volume in the height direction in the container are associated with each other and the detected liquid level, the change of the filling state is controlled and changed.
The control unit
Due to the change in the filling state of the product liquid,
Obtain one or both of the stop time until the filling of the product liquid is stopped and the switching time until the filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched.
In addition, the control unit
Based on the position-volume information and the filling flow rate obtained in the process of filling the product liquid, one or both of the stop time and the switching time are obtained.
A liquid level control device characterized by the fact that. The filling flow rate is determined based on the fluctuation of the liquid level in the container.
The liquid level control device according to claim 1. The filling flow rate is determined based on the fluctuation of the liquid level of the product liquid in the liquid tank for supplying the product liquid.
The liquid level control device according to claim 1 or 2. The control unit
The filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate smaller than the large flow rate, and
The stop time is obtained based on the first liquid level of the product liquid detected in the small flow rate range and the filling flow rate which is a specified value.
The liquid level control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. The control unit
The filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate smaller than the large flow rate, and
The first liquid level of the product liquid detected in the small flow rate range and
The filling flow rate (b) was obtained based on the difference between the small flow rate range and the second liquid level of the product liquid detected at a position lower than the first liquid level.
The stop time is determined based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the determined filling flow rate (b).
The liquid level control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control unit
The filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate in which the filling flow rate is smaller than the large flow rate, and
Based on the third liquid level detected in the large flow rate range and the filling flow rate (a) which is a specified value, the switching time from the large flow rate to the small flow rate is obtained.
Based on the difference between the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the second liquid level level detected in the small flow rate range lower than the first liquid level. To find the filling flow rate (b),
The stop time is determined based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the determined filling flow rate (b).
The liquid level control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The control unit
The filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate smaller than the large flow rate, and
Based on the third liquid level detected in the large flow rate range and the filling flow rate (c) which is a specified value, the switching time from the large flow rate to the small flow rate is obtained.
The stop time is obtained based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the filling flow rate (d) which is a specified value.
The liquid level control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. While the plurality of containers are transported along the arcuate transport path, the product liquid is filled from the respective filling valves corresponding to the plurality of containers.
The photographing unit is provided at a fixed point outside the transport path.
The liquid level control device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. When the target of the liquid level level detection is the container having a body portion and a neck portion having a diameter smaller than that of the body portion,
The imaging unit captures the image of the neck at the first liquid level.
The liquid level control device according to any one of claims 4 to 7. The control unit
The liquid level is specified and the liquid level is specified by performing image analysis on the image taken by the photographing unit based on the shading of the image.
The shading of the image is discriminated in order from the bottom of the captured image.
The liquid level control device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. A liquid level control method that detects the liquid level of the product liquid to be filled in a container and controls the filling of the product liquid.
The first step of taking an image of the container including the liquid level from the outside of the container,
A second step of controlling a change in the filling state of the product liquid based on the liquid level detected from the image is provided.
In the second step,
The change of the filling state is controlled based on the position-volume information in which the position and the volume in the height direction in the container are associated with each other and the liquid level.
The change in the filling state of the product liquid in the second step is
One or both of the stop time until the filling of the product liquid is stopped and the switching time until the filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched.
In the second step,
Based on the position-volume information and the filling flow rate obtained in the process of filling the product liquid, one or both of the stop time and the switching time are obtained.
A liquid level control method characterized by this. In the second step,
The filling flow rate is determined based on the fluctuation of the liquid level in the container.
The liquid level control method according to claim 11. In the second step,
The filling flow rate is determined based on the fluctuation of the liquid level of the product liquid in the liquid tank for supplying the product liquid.
The liquid level control method according to claim 11 or 12. In the second step,
The filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate smaller than the large flow rate, and
The stop time is obtained based on the first liquid level of the product liquid detected in the small flow rate range and the filling flow rate which is a specified value.
The liquid level control method according to any one of claims 11 to 13. In the second step,
The filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate in which the filling flow rate is smaller than the large flow rate, and
The first liquid level of the product liquid detected in the small flow rate range and
The filling flow rate (b) was obtained based on the difference between the small flow rate range and the second liquid level of the product liquid detected at a position lower than the first liquid level.
The stop time is determined based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the determined filling flow rate (b).
The liquid level control method according to any one of claims 11 to 14. In the second step,
The filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate in which the filling flow rate is smaller than the large flow rate, and
Based on the third liquid level detected in the large flow rate range and the filling flow rate (a) which is a specified value, the switching time from the large flow rate to the small flow rate is obtained.
Based on the difference between the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the second liquid level level detected in the small flow rate range lower than the first liquid level. To find the filling flow rate (b),
The stop time is determined based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the determined filling flow rate (b).
The liquid level control method according to any one of claims 11 to 14. In the second step,
The filling flow rate of the product liquid is switched from a large flow rate to a small flow rate in which the filling flow rate is smaller than the large flow rate, and
Based on the third liquid level detected in the large flow rate range and the filling flow rate (c) which is a specified value, the switching time from the large flow rate to the small flow rate is obtained.
The stop time is obtained based on the first liquid level detected in the small flow rate range and the filling flow rate (d) which is a specified value.
The liquid level control method according to any one of claims 11 to 14. While the plurality of containers are transported along the arcuate transport path, the product liquid is filled from the respective filling valves corresponding to the plurality of containers.
The image is taken in the first step from a fixed point outside the transport path.
The liquid level control method according to any one of claims 11 to 17. A rotating body in which a plurality of containers carry an arcuate transport path and a filling valve corresponding to each of the plurality of containers is provided.
The filling of the product liquid is controlled by detecting the liquid level of the product liquid filled in the container.
The liquid level control device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 is provided.
A filling machine characterized by that. When filling the container with the product liquid from the filling valve corresponding to each of a plurality of containers transported along the arc-shaped transfer path,
The liquid level control method according to any one of claims 11 to 18 is applied.
A method of filling a product liquid, which is characterized by the fact that.

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