JP6948825B2 - Filling device and filling method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a filling device and a filling method capable of suppressing a decrease in filling accuracy while prolonging the filling time of a product liquid.

A bag-shaped resin bag having an opening is used as a container for storing the product liquid. This resin bag is made of a soft resin film.
For the resin bag, for example, an opening step of expanding the opening of the resin bag held by the carrier conveyed on the guide rail, a filling step of filling the resin bag with the product liquid, and a sealing step of sealing the opening of the resin bag. And, manufactured via a filling line with.

This filling line employs an intermittent transfer method in which the resin bag repeatedly stops and moves. The resin bag is stopped in the region corresponding to each of the opening step, the filling step, and the sealing step, and each step is executed for the stopped resin bag.
In this filling line, various proposals have been made in order to match the amount of the product liquid to be filled in the resin bag with a predetermined content, that is, to obtain high filling accuracy.

Patent Document 1 proposes a liquid filling device that fills a container with a liquid from the nozzle by operating a valve that opens and closes a nozzle that discharges the liquid into the container. According to the liquid filling device of Patent Document 1, the filling accuracy of the product liquid in the container can be increased by controlling the valve with high accuracy.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-226302

By the way, in the filling line of a resin bag, a resin bag having a different volume may be filled with a product liquid, but in order to fill a resin bag having a large volume with a product liquid, a resin bag having a small volume is filled with the product liquid. It is necessary to make the filling time longer than that. On the other hand, the time required for the opening process and the sealing process is hardly affected by the size of the container.
When the resin bag is transported intermittently, the resin bag is stopped for the same time in the opening step, the filling step, and the sealing step described above. Therefore, if the time of the filling step is lengthened to fill a container having a large volume, the resin bag is unnecessarily stopped for a time even though the work has already been completed in the other steps.

In order to eliminate the unnecessary stoppage of the resin bag, for example, if the product liquid is filled in two steps, the filling time can be lengthened as a whole and the stoppage time per step is shortened, so that other steps can be taken. And the coordination of the stop time can be matched.
However, it is desirable to avoid filling in two parts from the viewpoint of filling accuracy. This is because an error with respect to the target filling amount is likely to occur based on the opening and closing of the nozzle due to filling, and therefore, if filling is performed in a plurality of times, it is easily predicted that the error with respect to the target filling amount will accumulate.

From the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filling device capable of prolonging the time spent filling the product liquid without lowering the filling accuracy.

In the filling device of the present invention, the transport unit that transports a plurality of containers along the first transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the container that is transported along the first transport path are filled with the product liquid from the filling nozzle. The filling region to be processed, the upstream region in which one or more processing steps are applied to the container transported through the first transport route on the upstream side of the filling region, and the container transported through the first transport route on the downstream side of the filling region. It is provided with a downstream area for performing a single or a plurality of processing steps.
In the filling region, the filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid while continuously moving along the transport direction together with the corresponding container, and in the upstream region and the downstream region, the container to be intermittently transported is subjected to a predetermined treatment. It is characterized by being given.

It is preferable that the transport unit in the filling device of the present invention independently controls the transport speed of each of the plurality of containers.

In the filling device of the present invention, it is preferable that the time T2 spent filling the container of the product liquid in the filling region is longer than the time T1 spent in each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region.
Further, in the filling device of the present invention, it is preferable that the transport speed V2 of the container in the filling region is slower than the transport speed V1 of the container in the upstream region and the downstream region.

Further, in the filling device of the present invention, it is preferable that the respective processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region are performed with the container stopped.

The transport unit in the filling device of the present invention can transport containers in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers. In this case, the product liquid is filled in the container in units of one or more groups in the filling region, and the treatment step is performed in units of groups in the upstream region and the downstream region.

The filling nozzle in the filling device of the present invention can reciprocate the filling region along the first transport path between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side. Moreover, the product liquid can be filled in the container on the outward route.

In the filling device of the present invention, the moving speed V4 of the filling nozzle on the return route is preferably faster than the moving speed V3 of the filling nozzle on the outward route.

The transport unit in the filling device of the present invention can transport containers in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers. In this case, in the filling region, the product liquid is filled in the container in units of a plurality of groups, and in the upstream region and the downstream region, the treatment step is performed in units of groups. Then, the filling nozzle reciprocates the filling region along the first transport path between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side, and the filling nozzle is Fill the container with the product liquid on the outbound route.

The transport unit in the filling device of the present invention conveys containers in units of groups, and in the filling region, a plurality of filling nozzles corresponding to the number of containers constituting the group may move in orbit in units of groups. preferable.
In this case, it is preferable that the filling region of the present invention includes a group consisting of filling nozzles that are surplus for filling the product liquid by the unit of the group in the orbit.

The transport unit in the filling device of the present invention may include a second transport path including a circular orbit that receives and transports the container from the first transport path. In this case, the filling region includes a filling nozzle that reciprocates along the second transport path. The filling nozzle reciprocates between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side along the second transport path, and the filling nozzle moves the product liquid in the outward path. Is preferably filled in a container.

In the filling method of the present invention, the product liquid is filled from the filling nozzle into the transport unit that transports a plurality of containers along the first transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the container that is transported along the first transport path. The filling region to be used, the upstream region in which one or more processing steps are applied to the container transported through the first transport route on the upstream side of the filling region, and the container transported through the first transport route on the downstream side of the filling region. It is a filling method using a filling device including a downstream region for performing a single or a plurality of processing steps.
In the filling region, the filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid while continuously moving along the transport direction together with the corresponding container, and in the upstream region and the downstream region, the container to be intermittently transported is subjected to a predetermined treatment. It is characterized by being given.

According to the present invention, in the upstream region and the downstream region, the container that is intermittently transported is subjected to a predetermined treatment, whereas in the filling region, the filling nozzle is provided along with the corresponding container along the transport direction. Fill the container with the product liquid while moving continuously. Therefore, according to the filling device of the present invention, the time spent for filling the product liquid can be increased without lowering the filling accuracy.

The characteristic portion of the filling system of the first embodiment is shown in a simplified manner. It is a figure which shows the operation of the filling system of 1st Embodiment, and (a)-(g) according to the elapsed time. It is a graph which shows the speed of the carrier for each process of the filling system of 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation of the filling system of the modification 1 of 1st Embodiment, and (a)-(g) follow the elapsed time. The characteristic portion of the filling system of the modification 2 of the first embodiment is shown in a simplified manner. It is a figure which shows the operation of the filling system of the modification 2 of 1st Embodiment, and (a)-(d) follow the elapsed time. The characteristic portion of the filling system of the second embodiment is shown in a simplified manner. It is a figure which shows the operation of the filling system of 2nd Embodiment, and (a)-(d) follow the elapsed time.

[First Embodiment]
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the filling system 1 according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a linear transport unit 10 for transporting a bag-shaped container 70 having an opening 71 and an opening 71 of the container 70 to be transported are provided with a product liquid L. The container opening 20 that opens so that the container 70 can be filled, the filling portion 30 that fills the container 70 with the product liquid L such as a beverage, and the opening 71 of the container 70 filled with the product liquid L are closed and heat-welded to seal the container 70. A container sealing unit 40 for cooling the container 70 and a cooling unit 50 for cooling the heat-welded container 70 are provided.
The filling system 1 includes a linear transport unit 10, a container opening 20, a filling unit 30, a container sealing unit 40, and a control unit 60 that controls the operation of the cooling unit 50.
In the filling system 1, the container 70 is supplied by the supply device S in the supply region 17A included in the upstream region 17 on the upstream side of the filling region 18. Then, after the product liquid L is filled in the filling region 18 provided with the filling portion 30, the container 70 is discharged by the discharge device E in the discharge region 19C included in the downstream region 19 on the downstream side of the filling region 18.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the filling system 1, in each of the plurality of containers 70 intermittently transported to the filling region 18, the time spent for filling the container 70 with the product liquid L is processed in the other region. Set longer than the time spent on.

Here, in the filling system 1, at the work stations constituting the filling system 1 such as the container opening 20, the container sealing portion 40, etc., the container 70 is stopped when receiving each predetermined processing, and the predetermined processing is performed. When is completed, the transport is intermittently performed to the downstream β. On the other hand, in the filling unit 30, continuous transportation is performed in which the container 70 is continuously transported. That is, in the filling system 1, each step is performed by stopping the container 70 in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19, but in the filling region 18, the product liquid L is filled while transporting the container 70. Therefore, the filling nozzle 31 forming the filling portion 30 moves together with the container 70.

Hereinafter, each element of the filling system 1 will be described.
The filling system 1 simultaneously performs a filling step in the container 70 of the preceding group G1 and the container 70 of the succeeding group G2. That is, in this embodiment, the product liquid L is filled in units of a plurality of groups G.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the upstream side α and the downstream side β are defined with reference to the direction in which the container 70 is conveyed.

Further, with respect to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an example in which two containers 70A and 70B are conveyed in a group G will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of groups G in which the filling step is performed at the same time and the number of containers 70 constituting the group G are arbitrary.
Further, when it is not necessary to distinguish between the containers 70A and 70B, it may be simply expressed as the container 70. The same applies to the carrier 11, the filling nozzle 31, and the filling region 18.

[Linear transport unit 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the linear transport unit 10 transports a plurality of containers 70 received from the supply device S from the upstream side α to the downstream side β.

As shown in FIG. 1, the linear transport unit 10 includes a guide rail 13 forming an endless circulation path, and a plurality of transport bodies 11 each independently traveling along the guide rail 13. A permanent magnet 12 is provided on each of the transport bodies 11, and an electromagnetic coil 14 is provided along the guide rail 13, so that the linear transport unit 10 includes a linear motor.

Each carrier 11 includes a plurality of grippers 15 that grip the container 70. The plurality of grippers 15 are fixed to the carrier 11 so as to face the outside of the guide rail 13. The gripper 15 is opened and closed by an external force, and grips the container 70 when it is closed. The gripper 15 is also provided together with the carrier 11 over the entire circumference of the guide rail 13, but FIG. 1 shows only a part of the grippers 15.

The linear transport unit 10 independently controls the movement and stop of each transport body 11 according to the instruction of the control unit 60. Therefore, the linear transport unit 10 can arbitrarily change the position of each transport body 11, that is, the position of each gripper 15.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to simultaneously fill the containers 70A and 70B constituting the group G with the product liquid L, the two transporters 11A and 11B corresponding to the containers 70A and 70B, respectively. Repeats running and stopping at the same time while maintaining a predetermined interval.

As shown in FIG. 1, the linear transport unit 10 includes an upstream region 17, a filling region 18, and a downstream region 19 on the transport path (first transport path) in order from the upstream side α.
The upstream region 17 has a supply region 17A and an opening region 17B.
The filling region 18 has a first filling region 18A, a second filling region 18B, and a third filling region 18C.
The downstream region 19 has a closed region 19A, a cooling region 19B, and a discharge region 19C.
The container 70 stops at each of the above-mentioned regions included in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19. Each of these regions has a length in the transport direction that can accommodate two containers 70A and 70B arranged at a predetermined interval in the transport direction.

[Supply area 17A]
As shown in FIG. 1, the supply area 17A is an area for receiving the container 70 from the supply device S, and the carrier 11 stops at the supply area 17A when receiving the container 70.
The supply region 17A is provided on the upstream side α of the outward path R1 in the linear transport unit 10. The carrier 11 that stops and stands by in the supply region 17A receives the container 70 from the supply device S.
In the container 70 received by the transport body 11, the two sheet materials constituting the container 70, including the opening 71, are overlapped with each other with almost no gap.

[Aperture area 17B]
The opening region 17B is an region that opens the opening 71 of the container 70 received by the carrier 11 so that the product liquid L can be filled.
As shown in FIG. 1, the opening region 17B includes a container opening 20 that opens the opening 71 of the container 70, and the container opening 20 opens the opening 71 of the container 70 that stops in the opening region 17B.

[Filling area 18]
The filling region 18 is a region where the container 70 is filled with the product liquid L.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filling nozzle 31 of the filling portion 30 is arranged in the filling region 18.
The filling region 18 includes three regions, a first filling region 18A on the upstream side, a second filling region 18B on the downstream side, and a third filling region 18C on the downstream side.
As shown in FIG. 2C, when the filling of the product liquid L is started, the preceding group G1 container 70 passes through the first filling region 18A and is placed in the second filling region 18B. Then, the subsequent container 70 of the group G2 is arranged in the first filling region 18A.
Then, as shown in FIG. 2D, when the filling of the product liquid L is completed, the container 70 of the preceding group G1 is arranged in the third filling region 18C, and the container 70 of the succeeding group G2 is placed. , Placed in the second filling region 18B.

At the same time when the conveyed container 70 reaches a predetermined position in the filling region 18, the filling nozzle 31 returns, filling is started, and filling is continued in the process of moving through the filling region 18, and the filling is continued. Filling is completed when the position is reached. That is, the product liquid L is filled in the container 70 in the process of the container 70 passing through the filling region 18. Here, the fact that the container 70 reaches the region means that all of the two containers 70 constituting the group G are included in the region.
The first filling region 18A, the second filling region 18B, and the third filling region 18C can be arbitrarily set according to the amount of the product liquid L filled in the container 70, the transport speed of the container 70, and the like.

[Sealed area 19A]
The closed region 19A is a region for closing the opening 71 of the container 70 filled with the product liquid L.
As shown in FIG. 1, the closed region 19A includes a container closed portion 40 that closes the opening 71 of the container 70, and the container closed portion 40 closes the opening 71 of the container 70 that stops in the closed region 19A and heats. Fuse.

[Cooling area 19B]
The cooling region 19B is a region for cooling the heat-sealed opening 71.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling region 19B includes a cooling unit 50 that cools the opening 71, and the cooling unit 50 cools the opening 71 that stops in the cooling region 19B.

[Discharge area 19C]
The discharge area 19C is an area for delivering the container 70 to the discharge device E.
In the discharge region 19C, the container 70 whose transportation has been stopped is delivered to the discharge device E. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport body 11 that has delivered the container 70 to the discharge device E in the discharge region 19C travels on the return path R2 and returns to the supply region 17A.

[Filling part 30]
The filling unit 30 fills the container 70 transported by the linear transport unit 10 with the product liquid L from the filling nozzle 31, which will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the filling unit 30 supplies a filling nozzle 31 that discharges the product liquid L toward the opening 71 of the container 70, a main body 34 that is connected to the filling nozzle 31, and a product liquid that is supplied to the filling nozzle 31. A supply tank 32 for storing and a supply pipe 33 for supplying the product liquid L from the supply tank 32 to each filling nozzle 31 via the main body 34 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 2, the filling unit 30 includes a first filling nozzle group 36 composed of a filling nozzle 31 corresponding to a container 70 arranged in the first filling region 18A when filling is started, and a second filling nozzle group 36. A second filling nozzle group 37 composed of filling nozzles 31 corresponding to the container 70 arranged in the region 18B is provided.
The first filling nozzle group 36 has as many filling nozzles 31 as the number of containers 70 arranged in the first filling region 18A. The same applies to the second filling nozzle group 37.

As shown in FIG. 1, the main body 34 can be reciprocated in the transport direction of the container 70.
This reciprocating movement is performed between the start position X (solid line in FIG. 1) at which filling starts and the end position Y (dotted line in FIG. 1) at which filling ends.
When the main body 34 reaches the start position X, the first filling nozzle group 36 reaches the first filling region 18A, and the second filling nozzle group 37 reaches the second filling region 18B. Then, when the main body 34 reaches the end position Y, the first filling nozzle group 36 reaches the second filling region 18B, and the second filling nozzle group 37 reaches the third filling region 18C.

When the container 70 is filled with the product liquid L, the filling nozzle 31 follows the container 70 and moves to the downstream side β. Assuming that the transport speed of the container 70 at this time is V2, the main body 34 moves toward the end position Y at the same movement speed V3 as the container 70 to the downstream side β. As a result, the product liquid L is filled into each container 70 from the filling nozzle 31.
The main body 34 that has been filled moves toward the start position X of the upstream side α at a moving speed V4 that is in time for filling the container 70 belonging to the subsequent group G.

Each filling nozzle 31 or supply pipe 33 is provided with an on-off valve (not shown). The on-off valve is selected to be opened or closed according to an instruction from the control unit 60, and when the on-off valve is opened, the product liquid L is discharged from each filling nozzle 31.

As shown in FIG. 2C, the filling unit 30 returns the main body 34 to the starting position X, and at the same time, the container 70 reaching a predetermined position in the filling region 18 is instructed by the control unit 60. , The on-off valve that had been closed until then is opened, and the product liquid L is discharged from the filling nozzle 31 to start filling. Then, when the main body 34 reaches the end position Y, the filling unit 30 closes the on-off valve that has been open until then according to the instruction from the control unit 60, and ends the filling of the product liquid L from the filling nozzle 31. That is, the filling unit 30 conveys the product liquid to the container 70 that has reached the predetermined position of the filling region 18 until the main body 34 returns to the start position X and reaches the end position Y again. Continue filling L.

[Operation of filling system 1]
Next, the operation of the filling system 1 will be described.
As shown in the row (G1) of FIG. 3, this operation includes a supply step of supplying the container 70, an opening step of opening the opening 71 of the container 70, and a filling step of filling the container 70 with the product liquid L. It has a sealing step of welding and sealing the opening 71 of the container 70 filled with the product liquid L, a cooling step of cooling the welded portion of the container 70, and a discharging step of discharging the cooled container 70 to the outside.
As shown in rows (G1) and rows (G2) of FIG. 3, the supply process, the opening process, the sealing process, the cooling process, and the discharging process are performed at the same time T1. On the other hand, in the filling step, the product liquid L is filled in T2 for a longer time than in other steps.
The filling system 1 is characterized in that the filling nozzle 31 follows the container 70 conveyed in the filling region 18 to fill the product liquid L.

As shown in FIG. 1, each step of the filling system 1 is performed for each group G composed of containers 70A and 70B.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, group G1, group G2, group G3 and group G4 are conveyed to the filling region 18 in this order, and the product liquid L is simultaneously placed in the containers 70 constituting the preceding group G1 and group G2. Is filled, and the container 70 constituting the subsequent group G3 and group G4 is simultaneously filled with the product liquid L.
The operation of the filling system 1 will be described below.

[Supply process]
In the supply process, the transport bodies 11A and 11B corresponding to the containers 70A and 70B constituting the group G1 are transported to the supply region 17A (FIG. 1). The carrier 11 that has reached the supply area 17A stops for a predetermined time and receives the container 70 ((a) in FIGS. 1 and 3 (G1)). After that, the container 70 of the group G1 gripped by the transport body 11 is transported toward the opening region 17B ((b) in FIG. 3 (G1)). The transport speed of the container 70 when shifting from the supply process to the opening process is V1. The transport speed of the container 70 when shifting from the opening step to the filling step is also V1.

[Opening process]
In the opening step, the container 70 of the group G1 is transported to the opening region 17B at the transport speed V1 ((b) in FIGS. 1 and 3 (G1)). The container 70 of the group G1 that has reached the opening region 17B is stopped for a predetermined time, and the opening area of each opening 71 is expanded by the container opening 20. After that, the container 70 of the group G1 is transported toward the filling region 18.

[Filling process]
In the filling step, the product liquid L is filled in the container 70 that passes through the filling region 18.
Group G1 is transported to the first filling region 18A after the opening area of the opening 71 of each container 70 is expanded in the opening region 17B (FIG. 2 (a)) (FIG. 2 (b), FIG. 3). (C) of (G1). Group G1 has not yet started filling.
As the group G1 is transported to the first filling region 18A, the group G2 reaches the opening region 17B (FIG. 2 (b), FIG. 3 (G2) (c)).

Next, the group G1 is transported from the first filling region 18A to the second filling region 18B, and accordingly, the group G2 is transported to the first filling region 18A (FIG. 2C). In this way, when the group G1 and the group G2 reach the corresponding filling regions 18 ((d) in FIGS. 3 (G1) and (G2)), the product liquid L is discharged from the filling nozzle 31 of the filling portion 30 into the container 70. It is discharged toward the inside (Fig. 2 (c)).

Group G1 and group G2 are filled with the product liquid L until the group G1 reaches the third filling region 18C and the group G2 reaches the second filling region 18B (FIGS. 2 (d) and 3 (FIG. 3). (E) of G1) and (G2).
The group G1 that has passed through the third filling region 18C is transported to the closed region 19A (FIG. 2 (e), FIG. 3 (G1) (f)). The group G2 is transported to the third filling region 18C as the group G1 is transported to the closed region 19A (FIG. 2 (e), FIG. 3 (G2) (f)). In the third filling region 18C, the product liquid L is not filled in the group G2 (FIG. 2 (e)).

On the other hand, the filling nozzle 31 moves to the upstream side α after the filling of the group G1 and the group G2 into the container 70 is completed (FIG. 2 (e)).
Then, the filling nozzle 31 moved to the upstream side α is used in the subsequent filling steps of the group G3 and the group G4 (FIGS. 2 (e) and 2 (f)). The same applies to the subsequent groups G5 and G6 (FIG. 2 (g)).

[Seal process]
When the filling step is completed, the container 70 of the group G1 filled with the desired amount of the product liquid L is transported from the third filling region 18C to the closed region 19A at a transport speed V1 (FIGS. 2 (e) and 3). (F) of (G1). The container 70 of the group G1 that has reached the closed region 19A is stopped for a predetermined time, and each opening 71 is heat-welded by the container sealing portion 40. After that, the container 70 of the group G1 is conveyed toward the cooling region 19B (FIGS. 2 (f) and 3 (g) of FIG. 3 (G1)). The transport speed is V1. The transport speed of the container 70 when shifting from the cooling process to the discharge process is also V1.
As the group G1 is transported to the cooling region 19B, the group G2 reaches the closed region 19A (FIG. 2 (f)).

[Cooling process]
When the sealing step is completed, the container 70 of the group G1 is transported from the sealed region 19A to the cooling region 19B at a transport speed V1 (FIG. 2 (f), FIG. 3 (G1) (g)). The container 70 of the group G1 that has reached the cooling region 19B is stopped for a predetermined time, and the welded portion of the opening 71 is cooled by the cooling portion 50. After that, the container 70 of the group G1 is transported toward the discharge area 19C (FIG. 2 (g), FIG. 3 (G1) (h)).

[Discharge process]
When the cooling step is completed, the container 70 of the group G1 is transported to the discharge region 19C at the transport speed V1 (FIG. 2 (g), FIG. 3 (G1) (h)). The container 70 of the group G1 that has reached the discharge area 19C is stopped for a predetermined time and is delivered from the transport body 11 to the discharge device E.
The carrier 11 that has delivered the container 70 moves toward the supply region 17A through the return path R2.

Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the transport speed V2 of the container 70 from the start position X to the end position Y of the main body 34 moving together with the container 70 is the transport speed V2 of the container 70 between the other steps described above. Slower than speed V1. Further, the transport speed V2 is constant during the filling step.

[Effect of filling system 1]
Hereinafter, the effect of the filling system 1 will be described.
The filling system 1 transports the container 70 of the group G by the transport body 11 of the linear transport unit 10 whose transport speed and position can be individually adjusted. Moreover, while each step other than the filling step is performed by stopping the container 70, the product liquid L is filled from the second filling region 18B to the third filling region 18C in the group G1 and the first filling in the group G2. It is carried out from the region 18A to the second filling region 18B while being transported at the transport speed V2.

Here, as shown in row (II) of FIG. 3, in order to prolong the filling time of the product liquid L, a comparative example in which three filling portions 30 are provided in the filling system 1 so that each of them is fixed without moving. Suppose. In this comparative example, the filling operation of the product liquid L is performed in three times in the same container 70.
In this comparative example, the filling amount varies between the first filling of the product liquid L, the second filling of the product liquid L, and the third filling of the product liquid L. When the filling is completed three times, there is a risk that the respective variations will accumulate and the filling accuracy will decrease.
On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the filling can be completed by one filling operation from the start position X to the end position Y of the main body 34 moving together with the container 70. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a decrease in filling accuracy while prolonging the filling time of the product liquid L.

Further, the filling steps can be simultaneously performed on the containers 70 constituting different groups, such as the container 70 of the preceding group G1 and the container 70 of the succeeding group G2. As a result, the amount of filling per unit time can be doubled. Further, the waiting time of the group G until the main body 34 returns to the start position X can be reduced, and the time used for filling the product liquid L can be secured.

Further, since the filling system 1 employs the linear transport unit 10 as a means for transporting the transport body 11, it is possible to realize transport in which intermittent transport and continuous transport are mixed, and to arbitrarily set the transport speeds of intermittent transport and continuous transport. ..
Therefore, in the filling system 1, in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19, the container 70 is intermittently transported at the transport speed V1, but while the container 70 is filled with the product liquid L, the container 70 is transported at the transport speed V1. It is continuously transported at a slower transfer speed V2. Therefore, according to the filling system 1, the time for filling the container 70 with the product liquid L in the filling region 18 while rapidly transporting the container 70 in the region other than the filling region 18 to improve the production capacity of the filling system 1. Can be lengthened.

Further, it is not necessary to lengthen the time of other steps in accordance with the lengthening of the filling time of the product liquid L in the filling step. Therefore, according to the filling system 1, even if the amount of the product liquid L to be filled in the container 70 is increased, it is possible to suppress the lengthening of the production time.

[Modification 1 of the first embodiment]
Next, a modification 1 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the group G is composed of three containers 70.

In the first modification, the container 70 of the preceding group G1 and the container 70 of the subsequent group G2 are simultaneously filled with the first embodiment, whereas the filling step is performed for each group G. be.
The filling region 18 of the modified example 1 includes two regions, a first filling region 18A on the upstream side and a second filling region 18B on the downstream side.
As shown in FIG. 4, the filling portion 30 of the modified example 1 corresponds to three containers 70A, 70B, and 70C to be filled with the product liquid L at the same time, and has three filling nozzles constituting the first filling nozzle group 36. 31A, 31B, 31C are provided. The filling nozzles 31A, 31B, 31C are arranged at the same intervals as the intervals in the transfer direction of the containers 70A, 70B, 70C transported in a group, and are arranged above the transfer path of the containers 70A, 70B, 70C. There is.
As shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (d), the filling portion 30 is capable of reciprocating in the transport direction of the container 70. This reciprocating movement is performed between the position corresponding to the first filling region 18A and the position corresponding to the second filling region 18B.

Hereinafter, the operation of the filling process in the present embodiment will be described.
As shown in FIG. 4, each step of the filling system 1 of the present embodiment is performed for each group G composed of containers 70A, 70B, and 70C.
The operation of the filling system 1 will be described below by taking as an example from the time when the group G2 is subjected to the supply process.

When the container 70 of the group G2 reaches the first filling region 18A, the filling nozzle 31 following the container 70 of the preceding group G1 moves toward the first filling region 18A (FIG. 4C). ..

When the filling nozzle 31 returns to the position corresponding to the container 70 in the first filling region 18A (FIG. 4 (d)), the container 70 is transported toward the second filling region 18B at a transport speed V2 (FIG. 4 (e). )). The filling nozzle 31 also moves toward the second filling region 18B at the same moving speed V3 as the container 70. Further, when the filling nozzle 31 returns to the first filling region 18A, the control unit 60 instructs to open the filling nozzle 31 (FIG. 4 (e)), so that the container 70 is being conveyed to the second filling region 18B. The product liquid L is filled.
On the other hand, the container 70 of the subsequent group G3 is transported to the first filling region 18A as the container 70 of the preceding group G2 is transported to the second filling region 18B (FIG. 4 (f)).

When the container 70 of the group G2 reaches the second filling region 18B, the on-off valve that has been opened up to that point is closed according to the instruction from the control unit 60, and the filling of the product liquid L from the filling nozzle 31 is completed. After that, the container 70 of the group G2 is transported toward the closed region 19A (FIG. 4 (g)). The transport speed of the container 70 when shifting from the filling step to the sealing step is V1.

As described above, the container 70 is continuously filled with the product liquid L from the time when the container 70 reaches the first filling area 18A to the time when the container 70 reaches the second filling area 18B (FIG. 4 (f)). As a result, the container 70 of the group G2 is filled with the desired amount of the product liquid L.
On the other hand, the filling nozzle 31 returns to the first filling region 18A at a moving speed V4 after finishing filling the container 70 of the group G2 (FIG. 4 (g)). The moving speed V4 is faster than the moving speed V3 when the filling nozzle 31 moves together with the container 70.

Even when the filling step is performed for each group G as in the present embodiment, it is possible to suppress the decrease in filling accuracy while prolonging the filling time of the product liquid L, so that the amount to be filled in the container 70 is increased. be able to.

Further, in the filling system 1, even if the amount of the product liquid L to be filled in the container 70 is increased, one filling portion 30 is sufficient, so that the cost of the filling system 1 is higher than that of the system including the plurality of filling portions 30. The burden of inspection and maintenance can be reduced as well as the burden of inspection and maintenance.

[Modification 2 of the first embodiment]
Next, the filling system 2 according to the second modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 5, the same components as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.
In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the group G is composed of three containers 70.

The first embodiment includes a first filling nozzle group 36 and a second filling nozzle group 37 that move together, but the present invention is not limited thereto. A plurality of first filling nozzle groups 36 that move independently can be provided.

Modification 2 includes a linear transfer unit 80 having an orbital trajectory for moving the filling nozzle 31. The linear transport unit 80 has the same structure as the linear transport unit 10. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, a guide rail 83 forming an endless circulation path and a plurality of transport bodies 81, each of which independently travels along the guide rail 83, are provided. A permanent magnet 82 is provided on each of the transport bodies 81, and an electromagnetic coil 84 is provided along the guide rail 83, so that the linear transport unit 80 includes a linear motor. In the linear transport unit 80, the transport route on the side facing the linear transport unit 10 is referred to as an outward route, and the transport route facing the outward route is referred to as a return route.

Each carrier 81 includes three filling nozzles 31. These filling nozzles 31 are fixed to the carrier 81 so as to face the outside of the guide rail 83.

The linear transport unit 80 independently controls the movement and stop of each transport body 81 according to the instruction of the control unit 60. Therefore, the linear transfer unit 80 can arbitrarily change the position of each transfer body 81, that is, the position of each filling nozzle 31.
In the second modification, since the steps of filling the product liquid L into the three containers 70 constituting the group G are simultaneously performed, as shown in FIG. 5, the three filling nozzles 31 constituting the first filling nozzle group 36 are used. Running and stopping are repeated at the same time while maintaining a predetermined interval so as to correspond to the containers 70 constituting each group G. As shown in FIG. 5, the second modification includes three first filling nozzle group 36A, a first filling nozzle group 36B, and a first filling nozzle group 36C. The first filling nozzle group 36A, 36B, 36C moves in an annular orbit.

Since the filling system 2 includes a group of filling nozzles in which a plurality of filling nozzle groups move in an orbit and which is a surplus for filling the product liquid L, the container 70 of the group G that has reached the first filling region 18A is made to stand by. The filling of the product liquid L can be started immediately without any problem.

Next, the operation of the filling system 2 will be described. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.
In the present embodiment, when the container 70 of the group G1 starts moving from the first filling region 18A together with the first filling nozzle group 36A, the container 70 of the group G2 is transported toward the first filling region 18A at the transport speed V1. (FIG. 6 (a)), the first filling region 18A is reached (FIG. 6 (b)). When the group G2 reaches the first filling region 18A, the first filling nozzle group 36B is arranged at a position corresponding to the first filling region 18A (FIG. 6B).

When the group G2 moves toward the second filling region 18B, the corresponding first filling nozzle group 36B also moves on the outward path to follow the group G2. Then, when the preceding group G1 reaches the second filling region 18B and completes the filling step, the first filling nozzle group 36A corresponding to the group G1 moves on the return path of the linear transport unit 80 (FIG. 6 (FIG. 6). c)), move toward the standby position 85, which can be immediately moved to the position corresponding to the first filling region 18A (FIG. 6 (d)).

On the other hand, when the group G2 transported toward the first filling region 18A reaches the first filling region 18A as the group G2 is transported toward the second filling region 18B, the group G3 stands by at the standby position 85. One filling nozzle group 36C moves to a position corresponding to the first filling area 18A (FIG. 6 (d)). As a result, the filling step can be immediately performed for the group G3.

As described above, according to the modified example 2, the succeeding group G does not have to wait until the filling nozzle 31 following the container 70 of the preceding group G returns, as in the modified example 1. Therefore, the time spent for filling the product liquid L can be lengthened.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8.
In the second embodiment, unlike the case where the container 70 is filled with the product liquid L in the linear transport unit 10 in the first embodiment, the container 70 is transferred to the linear transport unit 10A which is another transport path, and the product liquid L is transferred. Is filled.
In this embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the group G is composed of two containers 70.

As shown in FIG. 7, the filling system 3 of the second embodiment includes a transport unit 90 and a linear transport unit 10A. The transport unit 90 constitutes the first transport path of the present invention, and the linear transport unit 10A constitutes the second transport path of the present invention.

The transport unit 90 includes a drive pulley 94 and a driven pulley 95 that are arranged at predetermined intervals, and an endless operating belt 96 that is hung around the drive pulley 94 and the driven pulley 95. The operating belt 96 can be driven by rotating the drive pulley 94 with an actuator (not shown).
The actuating belt 96 includes a plurality of grippers 98 for gripping the container 70. The plurality of grippers 98 are fixed to the actuating belt 96 at regular intervals so that the portion gripping the container 70 faces the outside of the actuating belt 96 around which the container 70 is gripped. Like the gripper 15, the gripper 98 also opens and closes when a driving force is applied, and closes when the container 70 is gripped, and opens at other times. The grippers 98 are provided at equal intervals over the entire circumference of the operating belt 96, but FIG. 6 shows only a part of the grippers 98.

Like the linear transport unit 10, the transport unit 90 has a supply region 17A, an opening region 17B, a closed region 19A, a cooling region 19B, and a discharge region 19C from the upstream side α. However, unlike the linear transport unit 10 of the first embodiment, it has a delivery region 17C for delivering the container 70 to the linear transport unit 10A next to the opening region 17B. Further, in front of the closed region 19A, there is a receiving region 19D for receiving the container 70 from the linear transport unit 10A. Between the delivery area 17C and the receiving area 19D, a region is formed through which the gripper 98 that has delivered the container 70 to the transport body 11 of the linear transport unit 10A in the delivery area 17C passes.

The linear transport unit 10A has the same configuration as the linear transport unit 10. That is, it includes a guide rail 13 forming an endless circulation path, and a plurality of transport bodies 11 each independently traveling along the guide rail 13. A permanent magnet 12 is provided on each of the transport bodies 11, and an electromagnetic coil 14 is provided along the guide rail 13, so that the linear transport unit 10 includes a linear motor.
The linear transport unit 10A receives the container 70 from the transport unit 90 at the upstream side α of the transport path of the transport unit 90, and delivers the container 70 to the transport unit 90 at the downstream side β of the transport path of the transport unit 90.
The linear transport unit 10A includes a filling region 18. The filling region 18 has a first filling region 18A and a second filling region 18B.
In this embodiment, the filling step is performed in the linear transfer unit 10A.

Next, the operation of the filling system 3 will be described with reference to FIG. Hereinafter, the differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

The container 70 of the group G1 is supplied to the transport unit 90 in the supply region 17A and is transported to the opening region 17B as in the first embodiment. However, unlike the case where the container 70 is transported to the filling region 18 on the same transport path in the first embodiment, the container 70 of the group G1 transported from the opening region 17B to the delivery region 17C is transported by the linear transport unit 10A. It is handed over to the body 11 (FIG. 8 (a)).
Then, the container 70 of the group G1 is transported to the first filling region 18A of the linear transport unit 10A, and when the first filling region 18A is reached, the filling nozzle 31 starts filling the product liquid L (FIG. 8 (FIG. 8). b)).
When the container 70 of the group G1 is conveyed toward the second filling region 18B, the filling nozzle 31 moves following the container 70 of the group G1. When the container 70 of the group G1 reaches the second filling area 18B and finishes filling (FIG. 8 (c)), the carrier 11 holding the container 70 of the group G1 faces the gripper 98 arranged in the receiving area 19D. It moves toward the position (FIG. 8 (d)) and hands the container 70 to the gripper 98 in the receiving area 19D.
On the other hand, the filling nozzle 31 moves toward the first filling region 18A (FIG. 8 (d)).

According to the present embodiment, each step performed in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19 is performed by the transport unit 90, and the filling step performed at a transport speed different from the other steps is performed by the linear transport unit 10A instead of the transport unit 90. It can be carried out.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, other than this, the configurations listed in the above embodiments may be selected or appropriately changed to other configurations as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated. be able to.

For example, a bag-shaped container 70 has been mentioned as an object to be transported, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it can also be used for bottles and cans.
The processing steps performed in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19 can be appropriately changed depending on the container to be transported. Further, the number of processing steps can be appropriately changed to a single number or a plurality of processing steps depending on the container to be transported.

Further, in the first embodiment, the container 70 is transported at a constant transport speed V2 in the filling step, but the transport speed V2 may be changed as shown in row (I) of FIG.

Further, in the second embodiment, the container 70 is delivered from the transport unit 90 to the linear transport unit 10A, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead of the linear transfer unit 10A, the container 70 may be transferred to a transfer machine that transfers at the same equal intervals as the transfer unit 90 to perform the filling step.

1,2,3 Filling system 10,10A Linear transport section 11, 11A, 11B Transport body 12 Permanent magnet 13 Guide rail 14 Electromagnetic coil 15 Gripper 17 Upstream area 17A Supply area 17B Opening area 17C Delivery area 18 Filling area 18A First filling Area 18B Second filling area 18C Third filling area 19 Downstream area 19A Sealed area 19B Cooling area 19C Discharge area 19D Receiving area 20 Container opening 30 Filling part 31, 31A, 31B, 31C Filling nozzle 32 Supply tank 33 Supply pipe 34 Main body 36, 36A, 36B, 36C 1st filling nozzle group 37 2nd filling nozzle group 40 Container sealing part 50 Cooling part 60 Control part 70, 70A, 70B, 70C Container 71 Opening 80 Linear transport part 81 Transport body 82 Permanent magnet 83 Guide rail 84 Electromagnetic coil 85 Standby position 90 Transport unit 94 Drive pulley 95 Driven pulley 96 Actuating belt 98 Gripper E Discharge device S Supply device L Product liquid R1 Outward route R2 Return route α Upstream side β Downstream side

Claims (24)

A transport unit that transports a plurality of containers along the first transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side,
A filling region for filling the product liquid from the filling nozzle into the container transported through the first transport path, and
On the upstream side of the filling region, an upstream region in which a single or a plurality of processing steps are applied to the container transported through the first transport path, and
On the downstream side of the filling region, a downstream region for performing a single or a plurality of processing steps on the container transported through the first transport path is provided.
In the filling region, the product liquid is filled into the container while the filling nozzle continuously moves along the transport direction together with the corresponding container.
In the upstream region and the downstream region, the container that is intermittently transported is subjected to a predetermined treatment.
A filling device characterized by that. The transport unit
Independently control the transport speed of each of the plurality of containers.
The filling device according to claim 1. The time T2 spent filling the container with the product liquid in the filling region is
It is longer than the time T1 spent in each of the upstream region and the respective processing steps performed in the downstream region.
The filling device according to claim 1 or 2. The transport speed V2 of the container in the filling region is
It is slower than the transport speed V1 of the container in the upstream region and the downstream region.
The filling device according to claim 3. Each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region is performed by stopping the container.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The transport unit transports the container in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers.
In the filling region, the product liquid is filled in the container in units of one or more of the groups.
In the upstream region and the downstream region, the processing step is performed in units of the group.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The filling nozzle reciprocates the filling region along the first transport path between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side, and ,
The filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid on the outbound route.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The moving speed V4 of the filling nozzle on the return route is faster than the moving speed V3 of the filling nozzle on the outward route.
The filling device according to claim 7. The transport unit transports the container in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers.
In the filling region, the product liquid is filled in the container in units of a plurality of the groups.
In the upstream region and the downstream region, the processing step is performed in units of the group.
The filling nozzle reciprocates the filling region along the first transport path between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side, and ,
The filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid on the outbound route.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The transport unit transports the container in units of the group,
The filling region corresponds to the number of containers constituting the group, and the plurality of filling nozzles move in orbit in units of the group.
The filling device according to claim 6. The filling area is
The orbit is provided with the group consisting of the filling nozzles that are surplus for filling the product liquid by the unit of the group.
The filling device according to claim 10. The transport unit includes a second transport path including an orbit that receives and transports the container from the first transport path.
The filling region comprises the filling nozzle that reciprocates along the second transport path.
The filling nozzle reciprocates along the second transport path between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side, and
The filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid on the outbound route.
The filling device according to claim 6. A transport unit that transports a plurality of containers along the first transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side,
A filling region for filling the product liquid from the filling nozzle into the container transported through the first transport path, and
On the upstream side of the filling region, an upstream region in which a single or a plurality of processing steps are applied to the container transported through the first transport path, and
A filling method using a filling device including a downstream region on the downstream side of the filling region, in which a single or a plurality of processing steps are applied to the container transported through the first transport path.
In the filling region, the filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid while continuously moving along the transport direction together with the corresponding container.
In the upstream region and the downstream region, the container that is intermittently transported is subjected to a predetermined treatment.
A filling method characterized by that. In the transport section
The transport speed of each of the plurality of containers is controlled independently.
The filling method according to claim 13. The time T2 spent filling the container with the product liquid in the filling region is
It is longer than the time T1 spent in each of the upstream region and the respective processing steps performed in the downstream region.
The filling method according to claim 13 or 14. The transport speed V2 of the container in the filling region is
It is slower than the transport speed V1 of the container in the upstream region and the downstream region.
The filling method according to claim 15. Each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region is performed by stopping the container.
The filling method according to any one of claims 13 to 16. The container is transported by the transport unit in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers.
In the filling region, the product liquid is filled in the container in units of one or more of the groups.
In the upstream region and the downstream region, the processing step is performed in units of the group.
The filling method according to any one of claims 13 to 17. The filling nozzle reciprocates the filling region along the first transport path between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side, and ,
The filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid on the outbound route.
The filling method according to any one of claims 13 to 18. The moving speed V4 of the filling nozzle on the return route is faster than the moving speed V3 of the filling nozzle on the outward route.
The filling method according to claim 19. The container is transported by the transport unit in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers.
In the filling region, the product liquid is filled in the container in units of a plurality of the groups.
In the upstream region and the downstream region, the processing step is performed in units of the group.
The filling nozzle reciprocates the filling region along the first transport path between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side, and ,
The filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid on the outbound route.
The filling method according to any one of claims 13 to 17. The container is transported by the transport unit in units of the group, and the container is transported.
The filling region corresponds to the number of containers constituting the group, and the plurality of filling nozzles move in orbit in units of the group.
The filling method according to claim 18. The filling area is
The orbit is provided with the group consisting of the filling nozzles that are surplus for filling the product liquid by the unit of the group.
The filling method according to claim 22. The transport unit includes a second transport path including an orbit that receives and transports the container from the first transport path.
The filling region comprises the filling nozzle that reciprocates along the second transport path.
The filling nozzle reciprocates along the second transport path between the outward path from the upstream side to the downstream side and the return path from the downstream side to the upstream side, and
The filling nozzle fills the container with the product liquid on the outbound route.
The filling method according to claim 18.

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