JPH0729676B2 - Liquid filling method - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a filling method for a liquid filling machine such as a bottling machine.

[Conventional technology]

In FIGS. 3 and 4, 12 is a tank, 13 is a valve body detachably fixed to the lower surface of the tank 12 with bolts 40, 14 is a liquid valve seat 15, and a liquid valve seat holding member having a hole 16, It is slidably provided inside the valve body 13. Reference numeral 17 denotes a seal member holding fitting for holding the seal member 18, which is slidable with respect to the outer peripheral surface of the valve body 13 and is held so as to be vertically movable by a lifting link 20 engaging with the recess 19. Reference numeral 21 denotes a vent tube that holds a ball 22 at a lower portion, which is slidably inserted into the valve body 13 so as to open and close a vent passage 23 provided in the valve body 13, and is sealed via a support arm 24. It is provided integrally with the member holding metal fitting 17. Reference numeral 25 denotes a vent valve provided in the valve body 13, which opens and closes between the vent passage 26 and the vent passage 23 provided in the valve body 13. The vent passage 26 has a throttle (26a) interposed in the middle thereof. 27 is an atmospheric chamber provided in the valve body 13 and communicating with the atmosphere.
Is in communication with. Reference numeral 28 is a pressure chamber constituted by the valve body 13 and the seal member holding metal fitting 17, and is communicated with the inside of the can 1 through a communication passage (not shown) provided in the lower portion of the valve body. Reference numeral 29 is a sniff passage provided in the valve body 13 and communicates with the pressure chamber 28. A sniff valve 30 provided in the valve body 13 opens and closes between the sniff passage 31 and the sniff passage 29 provided in the valve body 13. The sniff passage 31 communicates with the atmospheric chamber 27. The vent valve 25, sniff valve 30, counter valve
Both 35 are pushed or released in the → direction by mechanical means (not shown).
32 is a liquid outflow passage provided in the valve body 13, 33 is a counter gas passage provided in the valve body 13,
It communicates with the counter chamber 34 provided in the. The counter chamber 34 communicates with the upper portion of the tank 12 via a counter gas passage 36. Reference numeral 35 denotes a counter valve provided in the valve body 13, which opens and closes between the counter gas passage 33 and the counter chamber 34. 37 is the valve body
The liquid valve actuating lever rotatably held by 13 engages the upper part of the liquid valve seat holding member (14), and when the liquid valve seat holding member 14 is lowered by the clockwise rotation, the liquid valve seat
The liquid valve seat 15 releases the upper end opening of the liquid outflow passage 32 when the liquid valve seat holding member 14 rises due to the counterclockwise rotation of the liquid outflow passage 32 by closing the upper end opening of the liquid outflow passage 32. The liquid valve actuating lever 37 is rotated by mechanical means (not shown). 38 is the valve body
The spring interposed between the liquid valve seat holding member 14 and the liquid valve seat holding member 14 and the upward biasing force are working. Also, the liquid valve seat holding member 14
Is constantly lowered against the force of the spring 38 due to the pressure difference between the pressure in the tank 12 and the atmospheric pressure in the liquid outflow passage 32, and the liquid valve seat
15 closes the upper end opening of the liquid outflow passage 32. 39 is a fixed lower abutment, and its position with respect to the valve body 13 is unchanged. Note that (A) is a liquid in the filling tank 12, and (B) is a gas.

Next, the operation of the liquid filling device will be described.

First, the can 1 is placed on the lower support 39 with the liquid valve seat 15, the vent valve 25, the sniff valve 30, and the counter valve 35 closed. When the can 1 is placed on the lower support 39,
The counter valve 35 is pushed in the direction of the arrow to be opened, the counter gas passage 33 and the counter chamber 34 communicate with each other, and the gas in the upper part of the tank 12, for example, CO _2, is discharged into the counter gas passage 3
6. The gas is discharged from the counter gas passage 33 into the can 1 through the counter chamber 34 and the counter valve 35. As a result, the atmosphere in the can 1 is discharged to the outside, and that portion is replaced with the gas in the tank 12. When the counter valve 35 is opened, the snift valve 30 is also pushed in the direction of the arrow at the same time to be opened and the can 1
A communication passage pressure chamber 28, a sniff passage 29, a sniff valve 30, a sniff passage 31, and a sniff system passage of the atmosphere chamber 27, which are not shown, communicate with each other. From this state, the lifting link 20 that engages with the recess 19 of the seal member holding fitting 17
Lower the seal member holding bracket 17 to
Press 18 onto can 1. Since the counter valve 35 is open as described above, the gas in the upper part of the tank 12 continues to be in the can 1.
Be introduced inside. The atmosphere in the tube 1 is discharged into the atmosphere chamber 27 through the above-mentioned sniff system passage. After a predetermined time when the atmosphere is expelled from the inside of the can 1 and from the sniff system passage, the pushing of the sniff valve 30 is released, and the sniff valve 30 is closed to close the sniff passage.
The space between 29 and 31 is cut off again. When the internal pressure of the tank 12 becomes equal to the internal pressure of the can 1 due to the introduction of the gas in the upper part of the tank 12 into the can 1, the push-in of the counter valve 35 is released and the counter valve 35 is closed. The liquid valve operating lever 37 rotates counterclockwise at the same time that the inside is cut off,
The liquid valve seat holding member 14 rises by the action of the spring 33, the liquid valve seat 15 releases the upper end opening of the liquid outflow passage 32, and the tank
The liquid in 12 flows into the hole 16 and the liquid outflow passage 32, and is further filled in the can 1 along the inner wall of the can 1 by the liquid outflow passage 32. Simultaneously with the start of filling of the liquid, the vent valve 25 is pushed in the direction of the arrow and opened to open the vent tube 21 and the vent passage.
23, the vent valve 25, the vent passage 26 and the vent system passage of the air chamber 27 of the throttle 26a communicate with each other. As a result, the gas in the can 1 is discharged to the atmospheric chamber 27 according to the throttle amount of the throttle 26a. On the other hand, the liquid level in the can 1 rises and the vent tube 21
When the ball 22 held at the lower end of the can 1 is pushed up to close the vent tube 21, the gas existing in the upper part of the can 1 has no escape place and the inflow of the liquid is stopped. After that, the liquid valve actuating lever 37 rotates clockwise, and the liquid valve seat 15 closes the upper end opening of the liquid outflow passage 32. Further, when the vent system passage reaches the atmospheric pressure, the pushing is released and the vent valve 25 is closed. After that, the sniff valve 30 is pushed again in the direction of the arrow and when it is opened, the gas in the upper part of the can 1 is discharged through the sniff system passage, and the upper part of the can 1 becomes atmospheric pressure.
When the seal member holding fitting 17 is lifted by the lifting link 20 and the can 1 is separated from the seal member 18, the sniff valve 30 is released from being pushed and is closed. The ball 22 descends to its original position by its own weight. This completes all filling operations.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the conventional device as described above, when the container is supplied to the filling device, the counter gas in the filling tank is supplied into the container to discharge the atmosphere in the container, and then the mouth of the container is filled with the liquid. While closely adhering to the container mouth sealing element of the device, the counter gas is continuously supplied into the container to make the same pressure in the container and the same filling tank, and then the liquid in the filling tank is filled into the container. Therefore, the inside of the container is filled with the clean gas, and the gas inside the container is replaced by the counter gas, but there are the following problems.

(1) Since the mouth of the container communicates with the atmosphere over a large area, there is a drawback that the gas replaced in the container is replaced with the atmosphere again due to the influence of wind or the like.

(2) The conventional replacement method and the replacement method in which the air in the container is vacuumed before being filled and then the CO ₂ gas in the tank is supplied into the container (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 56-47077).
In this case, the air replacement rate is about 90%, and the required replacement rate of 99% or more cannot be obtained.

[Means for solving problems]

(1) Cover the container opening with a centering bell, squeeze the outside air and the passage in the container, supply counter gas into the container, and perform a medium replacement of air.

(2) After the replacement, the container opening is sealed and the inside of the container is evacuated.

(3) Counter gas is supplied by an elongated nozzle.
Perform near the center of the container and fill the container with counter gas to a high degree.

[Action]

(1) There is little inflow of outside air into the container due to the flow of outside air.

(2) While the container is raised toward the valve body and sealed, the counter gas in the tank is supplied from the vent tube while the container opening is partially closed by the centering bell so that the air in the container is counter gas. The substitution rate is increased by replacing with.

〔Example〕

A case of filling a bottle with a liquid such as beer will be described. In FIG. 1, 51 is an empty bottle to be bottled, 102 is a screw for bottle feeding, 103 is a star wheel having an inlet, 104 is a bottle filling machine, 10
5 is a transfer star wheel, 106 is a stoppering machine, and 107 is an exit star wheel.

The present invention relates to a filling method for the bottle filling machine 104. Explaining the filling section concretely with reference to FIG. 2, 52 is a tank placed on the circumference of the bottle filling machine 104, and the inside thereof contains a filling liquid such as beer and a counter gas such as CO ₂ gas. . Reference numeral 54 is an operation valve for opening and closing communication of the counter gas with the bottle 51, reference numerals 55 and 58 are an air valve and a vent tube, respectively, and a carbon dioxide gas passage for guiding the counter gas into the bottle 51. Reference numeral 56 is a liquid valve for opening and closing the liquid, and 59 is a spring for opening the liquid valve 56. Reference numeral 53 is a known vacuum ring for evacuating the inside of the bottle 51 before filling, and is opened and closed by a pre-evaval valve 60. 57 is a spreader for stabilizing the liquid flow, and 50 is a bottle
A centering bell that guides 51 to the valve is supported by a guide (not shown) so as to be able to move up and down. 63 is a sniff valve.

Next, the operation of the bottle packing machine will be described. Feeding screw 102
Sends the empty bottle 51 sent thereto to the star wheel 103 at the entrance at a timing, and the star wheel 103 sends the empty bottle 51 toward the bottle filling machine 104. The bottle filling machine 104 is rotating in the direction of the arrow in FIG. Further, around the bottle filling machine 104, there is a bottle stand 61 which moves around the bottle filling machine 104 in synchronization with the bottle filling machine 104, and the empty bottle 101 reaching the position (a) in FIG.
Received from the star wheel 103 at the entrance, placed on the bottle 61, and start sending in the direction of the arrow. That is, empty bottle 51
Is located directly below the centering bell 50.
Start moving with. This state is shown in FIG. When the bottle stand 61 enters the bottle stand rising portion (A) in FIG. 1, it rises to raise the bottle 51 and bring the bottle mouth into contact with the centering bell 50. Then centering bell 50 and bottle
When 51 and 61 reach the position (b) in FIG. 1, the centering bell 50 is brought into contact with the packing 62. On the other hand, the vent tube 58 is inserted into the bottle 51 when the bottle 51 rises as described above.

The bottle 51 starts to rise from the position shown in Fig. 1 (a) and is completed at the position (b). When the valve 54 is opened at the positions of (a) to (b), the counter gas in the upper part of the tank 52 passes through the carbon dioxide gas passage.
It flows through 55 and 58 into the bottle 51. Since the counter gas pressure is set to ² Kg / cm ² G to ³ Kg / cm ² G, its flow is fast and diffuses sufficiently in the container, and the air is released from the gap of the centering bell 50 as shown in Fig. 2 (I). Is released to. As a result, the atmosphere in the container is replaced with the counter gas by 70% or more. The valve 54 is closed before the bottle base 61 reaches the position (b). When the bottle base 61 reaches the (b) position as described above and the centering bell 50 comes into contact with the packing 62, the cam 129 pushes down the button of the pre-evaval valve 60, and the inside of the bottle 51 communicates with the vacuum ring 53. To do. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2 (II), the air in the bottle flows in the direction of the arrow, and the inside of the bottle 51 is in a state close to a vacuum, that is, the state that the gas in the bottle is extracted by about 90%. Reference numeral B 1 in FIG. ₁ denotes a pre-evacuation section for performing the above-mentioned withdrawal, and when leaving the same section B ₁ , the inside of the bottle 51 is decompressed to a state close to the above-mentioned vacuum.

Next, when the valve 54 is opened again, as shown in FIG. 2 (III), the counter gas flows into the bottle 51 as indicated by the arrow, and the inside of the bottle 51 is pressurized by the counter pressure in the bottle filling tank 52. The bottle stand 61 passes through the counter pressurizing unit B ₂ and
When it reaches the position (2) in the figure, the inside of the bottle 51 and the bottle filling tank
The pressure inside 52 is the same. At this point, the gas in the bottle 51 is replaced with the counter gas up to about 99%, and a very high replacement portion can be obtained. In this state, the liquid valve 56, which had been closed by the counter pressure until now, has the same counter pressure in the tank 52 and the pressure in the bottle 51, and is opened by the spring 59 to start filling as shown in Fig. 2 (IV). It At this time, the liquid in the bottle is about 99% counter gas, so the liquid
There is almost no amount of O _{2 taken} in. As shown in FIG. 2 (V), when the liquid level is filled with the vent tube 58 which is the carbon dioxide gas passage, the liquid valve 56 is closed and when the position of (e) in FIG. 1 is reached, Filling is complete.

Next, the cam 130 of FIG. 1 pushes down the sniff valve 63 to release the counter gas pressure in the bottle to the atmosphere as shown in FIG. 2 (VI). At this time, since the valve 54 is already closed, liquid and gas are not sent from the tank into the bottle.

This completes the filling process. From the position shown in Fig. 1 (f), the bottle stand 61
Lower the centering bell 50 from the filling valve, exit the bottle stand lowering part (E), and when it reaches the position shown in Fig. 1 (g), pass it to the transfer star wheel 105, and then transfer it. 105 is sent to the stoppering machine 106. The stoppering machine 106 stoppers the crown and sends it to the star wheel 107 at the exit, and the star wheel 107 at the exit discharges it to the transfer line.

The present invention can also be applied to a wide-mouthed container as shown in FIG.
(In this case, the centering bell determines the shape according to the opening size and shape of the wide-mouthed container.) [Advantage of Invention] (1) When the counter gas is CO ₂ , the filling liquid is O.
_Since it can be filled with almost no contact with _{2, the} amount of O ₂ absorbed by the liquid is very small, and the atmosphere and counter gas are 90%.
The degree of vacuum allows 99% replacement.

(2) The present invention can be applied by simply supplying the counter gas at the container base rising portion without modifying the conventional filling machine.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the overall arrangement of a filling machine for carrying out the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filling valve showing the filling sequence according to the present invention continuously, and FIG. 3 is a conventional liquid filling device. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view showing details of FIG. 51… Empty bottle, 104… Bottle packing machine A… Bottle stand rising part, 58… Vent tube 50… Centering bell, 52… Tank 62… Packing, 60… Pre-evaval valve B ₁ … Pre-evac, B ₂ … Counter pressurizing part

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A liquid filling method in which a counter gas is first blown into a container to eliminate air, and then a liquid is filled into the container. After the counter gas is blown into the container, the container is exposed to the external environment. The liquid filling method is characterized in that the gas in the container is sucked to form a vacuum, the counter gas is blown for the second time, and then the liquid is filled in the container.