JPH06241172A - Fixed amount feeding mechanism of liquid filler - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To effectively carry out corrective operation for change in the amount to be filled or for temperature variation when the fixed amount of liquid is to be filled in a container. CONSTITUTION:A filling cylinder 4 is connected to a liquid tank 2 and a discharge tube 3, and a stopper 7 is fitted to the lower end part of the piston rod 4b of the filling cylinder 4. The piston rod 5b of a cylinder 5 for driving is connected to the stopper 7 after the rod is inserted into a cylindrical regulation member 8. The regulation member 8 is driven by a servo motor 20 to be properly elevated, and the position at which the regulation member 8 is abutted on the stopper 7 is moved vertically.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a constant quantity supply mechanism provided in a liquid filling machine for constant quantity filling of a liquid such as sake into a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Carton widely used as a container for filling liquid such as liquor (31: see FIG. 5).
Is generally manufactured by the liquid filling apparatus shown in FIG.
This equipment consists of a bottom molding machine (32), a spigot mounting machine (33),
A liquid filling machine (34), a top molding machine (35), etc. are installed side by side in series. The carton (3
1) is manufactured.

A bottom molding machine (32) molds a laminated thin plate made of paper, film, etc., into a bottomed rectangular tube having an open top (36).

In the mouthpiece mounting machine (33), the mouthpiece (37) is inserted into the hole provided in the top (36) in advance and heat-welded.

A liquid filling machine (34) fills a fixed amount of liquid inside.

In the top molding machine (35), the top (36) is bent into a predetermined shape, and this is heat-welded and hermetically sealed.

FIG. 7 shows a conventional structure of the liquid filling machine (34) among the above-mentioned devices (32) to (35). The liquid filling machine (34) includes a liquid tank (40) for storing a liquid, a fixed quantity supply mechanism (41) connected to the liquid tank (40), and a fixed quantity supply mechanism (41) via a discharge pipe (42). It is composed of a filling nozzle (43) connected together.

The fixed amount supply mechanism (41) includes a filling cylinder (4) connected to the liquid tank (40) and the discharge pipe (42).
4), a drive cylinder (45) for driving the piston (44a) of the filling cylinder (44), and the filling cylinder (44)
Stopper (46) fixed to the piston rod (44b) of
And a regulating member (47) for regulating the stroke end of the stopper (46). The regulating member (47) is
The piston rod (45b) of the drive cylinder (45) is in contact with the intermediate member (49) fixed to the stationary member (48) via the tapered surface (S), and The member (49) and the regulating member (47) are vertically movably penetrated and are connected to the stopper (46). This piston rod (45
An annular gap (50) is provided between the b) and the regulating member (47) to allow the regulating member (47) to move along the tapered surface (S). A check valve (51) is provided between the liquid tank (40) and the filling cylinder (44), and between the discharge pipe (42) and the filling nozzle (43).

The operation of the fixed quantity supply mechanism (41) will be described below. First, when the driving cylinder (45) is started and the piston (44a) of the filling cylinder (44) is lowered, the liquid is sucked from the liquid tank (40) and the filling cylinder (44).
Filled inside. When the piston (44a) is further lowered, the stopper (46) eventually contacts the regulating member (47),
Further lowering of the piston (44a) is prevented. At this stage, the suction stroke of the liquid ends, but the suction amount of the liquid at this time is proportional to the stroke (t) of the piston (44a). Next, when the driving cylinder (45) is reversely activated to raise the piston (44a), the liquid sucked into the filling cylinder (44) passes through the discharge pipe (42) and the check valve (51), The carton (31) is filled from the filling nozzle (43). Hereinafter, the above procedure is repeated to sequentially fill the cartons (31) aligned and supported on the rails (52) with the liquid.

By the way, when the size of the carton (31) is changed, it is necessary to switch the filling amount of the liquid and select the filling amount suitable for the new carton size.
Conventionally, this switching work is performed by exchanging the regulating member (47) with one having a different length. As a result, the contact position between the restriction member (47) and the stopper (46) shifts in the vertical direction, and the stroke (t) of the piston (44a) changes. Therefore, the filling amount of the liquid changes.

Generally, when there is a temperature change in the system such as when the liquid filling temperature is changed or when the room temperature is changed, the thermal expansion of the filling cylinder (44) and the change in the specific gravity of the liquid are caused. Due to the influence, the filling amount of the liquid changes. However, this type of carton is usually controlled by weight. Therefore, if there is such a temperature change, it is necessary to finely adjust the stroke (t) of the piston (44a) to correct the filling amount before sucking the liquid. Conventionally, this correction work is performed by rotating the adjusting screw (53) and regulating member (47).
Is moved along the taper surface. As a result, the regulating member (47) is guided by the tapered surface (S) and slightly moves up and down, so that the above-described correction work can be performed.

[0012]

As described above, conventionally, the filling amount is switched by exchanging the regulating member, but the exchanging of the regulating member must be done manually by the operator. Efficiency is significantly reduced. In particular, in the case of using a carton with an existing out-of-range filling amount, a regulation member conforming to this must be newly manufactured, which further lowers the work efficiency.

On the other hand, similarly, the work of correcting the filling amount with respect to the temperature change needs to be performed manually by the worker, and the work efficiency is reduced.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a constant quantity supply mechanism of a liquid filling machine which can efficiently and accurately perform the work of switching the filling amount and correcting the temperature change.

[0015]

[Means for Solving the Problems] To achieve the above object,
In the present invention, a constant amount supply mechanism provided in a liquid filling machine for filling a fixed amount of liquid into a container, which sucks a liquid proportional to a stroke of a piston from a liquid tank and discharges it into the container. A cylinder, a reciprocating drive means for reciprocating the piston, a stopper fixed to the piston rod of the filling cylinder, and a restricting member that abuts on the stopper and restricts the stroke of the piston. The restriction member was connected to a slide mechanism equipped with a numerically controllable drive source.

Further, a thermal sensor is provided in the liquid tank and the filling cylinder, and the position where the regulating member comes into contact with the stopper is corrected according to the value detected by the thermal sensor.

[0017]

Since the restricting member is connected to the slide mechanism having the numerically controllable drive source, the contact position between the stopper and the restricting member changes when the drive source is activated to slide the restricting member. . As a result, the stroke of the piston changes, so that the filling amount can be switched.

Further, by correcting the contact position between the regulating member and the stopper according to the detection values of the heat sensitive sensors provided in the liquid tank and the filling cylinder, the change of the liquid temperature and the thermal expansion of the filling cylinder are taken into consideration. Accurate filling amount management can be performed automatically.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIG. 1, a constant quantity supply mechanism (1) of a liquid filling machine according to the present invention comprises a filling cylinder (4) connected to a liquid tank (2) and a discharge pipe (3), and a filling cylinder. Reciprocating driving means (hereinafter referred to as driving cylinder (5)) such as an air cylinder for reciprocally driving the piston (4a) of (4), and a stopper fixed to the piston rod (4b) of the filling cylinder (4). (7), a regulating member (8) that abuts on the stopper (7) to regulate the stroke end of the piston (4a), and a slide mechanism (9) that raises and lowers the regulating member (8). Although not shown, check valves are provided between the liquid tank (2) and the filling cylinder (4) and between the discharge pipe (3) and the filling nozzle (10). .

The piston rod (4) of the filling cylinder (4)
A thick disk-shaped abutting member (12) is attached to the lower end of b). The abutting member (12) is attached to the tip of the piston rod (5b) (hereinafter referred to as the drive rod (5b)) of the drive cylinder (5) extending through the cylindrical regulating member (8). The abutting member (13) is integrally joined with a screw or the like, and the abutting member (12) and the abutting member (13) are integrated to form the stopper (7).

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the slide mechanism (9) showing the peripheral structure of the drive rod (5b), and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2. As shown in both figures, a guide portion (15) having a hexagonal cross section is formed above a substantially midpoint of the drive rod (5b). On the other hand, a fitting portion (16) having an inner diameter surface with a hexagonal cross section is formed at the upper end of the regulating member (8), and the fitting portion (16) is a guide portion of the drive rod (5b). It is fitted to (15) with a fitting eye that allows it to move up and down. Further, of the inner diameter surface of the regulating member (8) except the fitting portion (16) and the drive rod (5
An annular gap (17) is formed between it and b). As a result, the restricting member (8) can move up and down with respect to the drive rod (5b), and is fixed in the circumferential direction by the abutment of the fitting portion (16) and the guide portion (15) and cannot rotate. .

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the slide mechanism (9) for slidingly moving the regulating member (8) in the axial direction of the drive rod (5b) includes a drive source (20) and an output of the drive source (20). The worm (22) is attached to the shaft (21), and the worm wheel (23) is meshed with the worm (22). The regulating member (8) and the drive rod (5b) are integrally inserted through the center of the worm wheel (23),
The worm wheel (23) and the regulating member (8) are coupled by meshing of threads formed on the inner diameter surface of the worm wheel (23) and the outer diameter surface of the regulating member (8).

The drive source (20) is composed of a speed reducer and a servomotor. As shown in FIG. 1, the servo motor is connected to an operation panel via a control device and is configured to be capable of numerical control. Further, the control device is connected to the output wiring of the heat-sensitive sensor (25) provided in the liquid tank (2) and the filling cylinder (4).

In the above structure, when the operation panel is operated to drive the servomotor of the drive source (20), the worm (2
2) and the worm wheel (23) meshed with it rotate. The rotation of the worm wheel (23) is converted into an upward movement or a downward movement of the regulation member (8) by the screw connection between the worm wheel (23) and the regulation member (8).
In this way, after moving the regulating member (8) to a predetermined position that fits the target carton (26), the driving cylinder (5) is activated to move the piston (4a) of the filling cylinder (4). When the piston (4a) is lowered, the stopper (7) eventually comes into contact with the regulating member (8) as indicated by the chain double-dashed line, and further lowering of the piston (4a) is blocked. Subsequently, when the driving cylinder (5) is reversely activated to raise the piston (4a), the liquid sucked into the filling cylinder (4) passes through the discharge pipe (3) and the check valve (not shown). , Filling nozzle (1
The carton (26) is filled from 0). Hereinafter, the above operation is repeated to sequentially fill each carton (26) aligned and supported on the rail (27) with a fixed amount of liquid.

Thus, in the present invention, the regulating member (8)
Is connected to a slide mechanism (9) having a numerically controllable drive source (20) and is movable up and down. Therefore, the stopper (7) and the regulating member (8) are moved by raising and lowering the regulating member (8).
It is possible to arbitrarily change the contact position of. Therefore, if the amount of elevation of the regulating member (8) is appropriately set by keyboard input or the like on the operation panel, it becomes possible to automatically switch the filling amount. Further, since the amount of raising and lowering of the regulating member (8) can be set steplessly, fine adjustment of the filling amount can be easily performed, and it is also easily suitable when using the carton (26) out of the existing standard size. The filling amount can be set. It should be noted that the control device is preset with the correspondence relationship between the rotation speed of the servo motor and the amount of elevation of the restriction member (8), the correspondence relationship between various carton sizes and the stop position of the restriction member (8), and the like. .

The liquid temperature and the temperature of the filling cylinder (4) are detected by the heat sensitive sensor (25), and the control device corrects the position of the regulating member (8) according to the detected value. Therefore, the correction work for the temperature change such as the change of the room temperature or the liquid temperature is automatically performed, and the filling amount can be accurately controlled.

As the filling cylinder (4),
In addition to the type having the piston (4a) as described above, a positive displacement pump such as a bellows can be widely used.

[0029]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the regulating member is connected to the slide mechanism having the numerically controllable driving source, if the driving source is activated to slide the regulating member, The filling amount can be switched. Therefore, the filling amount suitable for the size of the container can be easily and accurately selected, and the filling amount can be easily adjusted even when the existing container having a nonstandard size is used.

Further, by providing a heat-sensitive sensor in the liquid tank and the filling cylinder and inputting the detection value of the heat-sensitive sensor to the drive source, the position of the regulating member can be automatically corrected according to the detection value. Therefore, the correction work for the temperature change can be performed very easily.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the overall configuration of a liquid filling machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of a slide mechanism.

3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a carton.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the overall structure of the liquid filling device.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Fixed amount supply mechanism 2 Liquid tank 4 Filling cylinder 4a Piston 4b Piston rod 5 Reciprocating driving means (driving cylinder) 7 Stopper 8 Restricting member 9 Slide mechanism 20 Drive source 25 Thermal sensor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A fixed amount supply mechanism provided in a liquid filling machine for filling a fixed amount of liquid in a container, wherein a liquid proportional to a stroke of a piston is sucked from a liquid tank and discharged into the container. A filling cylinder, a reciprocating driving means for reciprocating the piston, a stopper fixed to the piston rod of the filling cylinder, and a restricting member for abutting the stopper and restricting the stroke of the piston, The fixed amount supply mechanism of a liquid filling machine, wherein the regulating member is connected to a slide mechanism including a drive source capable of numerical control. 2. A heat-sensitive sensor is provided on the liquid tank and the filling cylinder, and the position at which the regulating member abuts on the stopper is corrected according to the value detected by the heat-sensitive sensor. A fixed amount supply mechanism of the liquid filling machine according to 1.