JPH07333037A - Container hitting device of detector for residual amount of liquid - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To stably detect a residual amount of liquid by hitting a container with optimum intervals corresponding to the attenuation time of container vibration in a container hitting device used in an apparatus for detecting the residual amount from a frequency of basic wave components of the attenuated vibration of the container caused when the container is hit. CONSTITUTION:A hammer 11b is rotated by a motor 11a to hit an outer, peripheral wall 1b of a container 1. Attenuated vibration noise caused by this hitting is detected by a microphone 12. A hitting control circuit 27 drives a hitting device 11 every time a level of the detection signal detected by the microphone 12 drops in the vicinity of a level required for detecting basic wave components contained in the signal to hit the container 1 once at a time. While the hitting continues, a residual amount determining part 14 detects the basic wave components included in the detection signal to determine a residual amount of liquid in the container depending on whether the frequency is high or low.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container striking device used in a device for externally determining the remaining amount of a liquid material contained in a hard container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Among automatic vending machines, for example, an automatic vending machine in which a beverage is poured into a paper cup for sale is pressurized with air or the like in a container in which the beverage or the undiluted solution thereof is stored, so that the beverage or the undiluted solution is It is configured to discharge an appropriate amount into a paper cup.

The container used in such a vending machine is formed of a metal material such as duralumin which is not deformed by pressure and is hard to deteriorate.

By the way, in the vending machine, the administrator periodically opens the vending machine to check the remaining amount of the beverage or the like in the container accommodated therein, and then the container with a small remaining amount is replaced with the beverage. Need to be replaced with a container filled with.

However, as described above, it is impossible to visually confirm the remaining amount of the beverage in the container which is covered with the metal material and whose inside cannot be seen. Further, due to hygiene and safety issues, it has been impossible to provide a sensor for detecting the remaining amount in the container or a transparent material such as glass on a part of the outer wall of the container.

For this reason, conventionally, the amount of remaining liquid has been checked by lifting and shaking the container itself to feel the shaking of the liquid remaining inside.

[0007]

However, such a conventional remaining amount confirmation method lacks accuracy, and when there are many containers in the vending machine, the remaining amount confirmation work becomes complicated. There was a problem.

In order to solve this, the container is struck from the outside by a hammer or the like manually or at predetermined time intervals by a timer operation, the vibration of the container caused by the impact is detected, and the fundamental wave component contained in the detection signal is detected. It is possible to determine the remaining amount of the liquid material in the container by detecting the difference in frequency.

However, in the striking by manual operation, the strength of the vibration of the container and the striking interval vary, the level of the output signal of the vibration detecting means is not stable, and the fundamental wave contained in the signal can be detected stably. Absent.

Even when the striking device is driven by the timer operation every predetermined time, the vibration time of the container varies depending on the installation condition of the container, the remaining amount of the liquid material in the container, and so on. If the setting is not changed according to the situation, stable remaining amount determination cannot be performed. It is also possible to strike at high speed by making the striking interval of the striking device extremely short with respect to the damping speed of the vibration, but in this case, the vibration of the container is modulated by this high-speed striking, rather The fundamental wave component cannot be detected.

The present invention solves this problem, and can strike the container at intervals such that a stable remaining amount can be determined without changing the setting, even when the installation conditions of the container are different. An object of the present invention is to provide a container striking device that can be used.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the container striking device of the liquid body remaining amount detecting device of the present invention is characterized in that the remaining amount of the liquid body contained in a hard container is generated by striking. A container striking device used in a liquid residual quantity detecting device for judging based on a fundamental wave component of a damped vibration of a container, wherein striking means for striking a predetermined position on the outer wall of the container by energization drive, and the striking means. Vibration detecting means for detecting the vibration of the container that has been hit, and the level of the detection signal output from the vibration detecting means are detected, and the detected level is the minimum for detecting the fundamental wave component of the damped vibration of the container. And a hitting control means for driving the hitting means to hit the outer wall of the container once each time the required level is reduced to near a predetermined level.

[0013]

Thus, in the container striking device of the present invention, the damping vibration of the container caused by the striking is detected by the vibration detecting means, and the level of the detection signal is the minimum for detecting the fundamental wave component of the vibration of the container. The striking means is driven each time the container is reduced to near the required predetermined level, and the container is struck once at a time interval that follows the decay time of the vibration.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a liquid material remaining amount detecting device that is equipped with a container striking device according to an embodiment of the present invention and that detects the remaining amount of liquid such as a beverage in the container 1. FIG. The external appearance of the detection apparatus is shown.

The container 1 is a container for a stock solution which is used by being housed in a beverage vending machine, and is formed of a metal material such as duralumin into a substantially cylindrical shape, and the inside thereof has a drink (for example, cola). The stock solution 2 of is stored.
A pressurizing port 3 and a stock solution discharge port 4 are provided on the upper surface 1a of the container 1, and a tube 5 for sucking the stock solution is attached to the stock solution discharge port 4 so that several pressures are applied through the pressurizing port 3. When the inside is pressurized by the air etc., the stock solution 2 inside the tube 5
It is discharged from the undiluted solution discharge port 4 via the, and is injected into a paper cup or the like via a tube (not shown). It should be noted that only the handle portion 1c at the upper end and the pedestal portion 1d at the lower end of the outer wall 1b of the container 1 are made of synthetic resin.

A liquid material remaining amount detecting device for detecting the remaining amount of the stock solution 2 in the container 1 is, as shown in FIG.
It is composed of a support 13 that supports the striking device 11 and the microphone 12 and is detachably attached to the container 1, and a portable controller 14 that is cord-connected to the support 13.

The support 13 is formed in the shape of an elongated plate, and the holding portion 13a provided on the upper portion thereof is engaged with the handle portion 1d of the container 1 from above and hangs down along the outer peripheral wall 1b of the container 1. Fixed as. Clamping portion 13a of the support 13
Has elasticity and is always urged so that its interval is narrow, and is attached to the handle portion of the container 1 without rattling.

A striking device 1 as striking means of this embodiment.
1 is attached to the lower portion of the support 13. The striking device 11 is configured to eccentrically rotate a disc-shaped hammer 11b by a motor 11a to strike a predetermined height position of the outer peripheral wall 1b of the container 1, and a striking control circuit in a controller 14 described later. The drive is controlled by 27. The hammer 11b is formed of a non-metallic material such as a synthetic resin at least on the outer peripheral portion thereof in order to suppress the impact sound generated when the hammer 11b collides with the outer peripheral wall 1b of the container 1 and prevent the container 1 from being scratched.

At least the striking device 1 of the support 13
The lower part supporting 1 is formed so as to be slightly bent outward by the force from the outer peripheral wall 1b side of the container 1. As shown in FIG. When not hitting the outer peripheral wall 1b, the lower part thereof is substantially parallel to the outer peripheral wall 11b of the container 1, and when the hammer 11b hits the outer peripheral wall 1b of the container 1 as shown in FIG. Slightly escapes to the outside to continue the rotation of the hammer 11b.

The container 1 whose outer peripheral wall 1b has been hit by the hitting device 11 receives the impact and undergoes damped vibration to generate a vibration sound.

At a position above the striking device 11, as a vibration detecting means for detecting the vibration generated by the container 1 hit by the striking device 11 by sound, a microphone 12 is provided slightly above the outer peripheral wall 1b of the container 1. It is supported at a position separated from. The microphone 12 is, for example, a highly sensitive capacitor type, and converts the vibration sound of the container into an electric signal and outputs the electric signal. Since the support 13 is attached to the synthetic resin grip portion 1c which is difficult to transmit the vibration of the container body (metal part), the vibration of the container caused by the impact is directly transmitted to the microphone 12. There is no.

FIG. 4 shows the frequency component contained in the signal output from the microphone 12 when the hammer 11b of the striking device 11 strikes the outer peripheral wall 1b of the container 1 at a predetermined time interval. The amount is almost full, about 1/2,
The results of pre-measurement for approximately 1/3 and almost empty state are shown.

FIG. 4A shows the frequency component of the signal detected from the microphone when the stock solution 2 is almost full, and the lowest frequency component is measured in the vicinity of 300 Hz. Multiple signal components are being measured. In addition, when the remaining amount of the undiluted solution 2 is about 1/2,
4B, when the lowest frequency component is measured near 400 Hz and the remaining amount is approximately 1/3,
The lowest frequency component is measured near 590 Hz like
When the stock solution is almost empty, 680 as shown in FIG.
The lowest frequency component is measured near Hz.

From the measurement result, the lowest frequency component of the frequency components of the signal output from the microphone 12, that is, the frequency of the fundamental wave component of the vibration of the container, becomes higher as the remaining amount of the undiluted solution in the container becomes smaller. You can see that it has become. Therefore, if the frequency band of the frequency of the fundamental wave component is detected, the remaining amount of the undiluted solution in the container 1 can be known. As in this example, the outer peripheral wall 1b of the container 1
When hitting near the lower part of the container, it can be seen that the frequency of the fundamental wave component of the vibration of the container changes almost linearly with the change in the remaining amount of the stock solution.

Therefore, in this liquid material remaining amount detecting device, as shown in FIG. 1, the signal detected by the microphone 12 is amplified by the amplifier 15 in the controller 14, and the high pass filter ( HPF) 16, 20
The noise component of 0 Hz or less is removed, and the signal amplified by the amplifier 17 is input to the three band pass filters (BPF) 19a, 19b, 19c of the remaining amount determination unit 18.

The band pass filter 19a passes only the signal component from around 300 Hz to around 400 Hz as shown in A of FIG. 4, and the band pass filter 19b passes through the signal component from around 500 Hz to around 590 Hz as shown in B of FIG. Further, the band pass filter 19c is formed so as to pass only the signal component in the vicinity of 620 Hz to 680 Hz as indicated by C in FIG.

The high pass filter 15 and each of the band pass filters 19a to 19c may be an active filter using an operational amplifier and a resistor and a capacitor, a passive filter using a coil and a capacitor, or the like. Alternatively, a combination of these may be used.

The output signals of the band pass filters 19a to 19c are input to the level determining circuits 20a to 20c, respectively, and undergo the level determination.

Each of the level judgment circuits 20a to 20c amplifies the signal from the band pass filter by an amplifier 21 and detects the level of the amplified signal by a rectifying / smoothing circuit 22 (detection circuit) as shown in FIG. The voltage comparator 23 compares the level signal with the reference voltage Vr1. The voltage comparator 23 has, for example, an H (high) level when the voltage of the level signal is higher than the reference voltage Vr1.
When the voltage of the level signal is equal to or lower than the reference voltage Vr1, the L (low) level determination signal is output. This reference voltage Vr1
Is set to a value higher than the noise level included in the level signal and lower than the level of the fundamental wave component.

Therefore, the output signal of the microphone 12 is 30
When a signal of a predetermined level or higher in the vicinity of 0 to 400 Hz is included, the determination output of the level determination circuit 20a becomes the H level, and when a signal of a predetermined level or higher in the vicinity of 500 to 590 Hz is included, the level determination is performed. The determination output of the circuit 20b becomes H level, and 620 to 680
When a signal of a predetermined level or higher up to the vicinity of Hz is included, the determination output of the level determination circuit 20c becomes H level.

By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, when the remaining amount of the undiluted solution in the container is about 1/2, the signal components near 530 Hz and 640 Hz are also generated at a high level in addition to around 400 Hz. For this reason, these signal components near 530 Hz and 640 Hz are not limited to the band pass filter 1
Since it passes through 9b and 19c without being greatly attenuated,
The determination outputs of the three level determination circuits 20a to 20c may all be H level.

Further, when the remaining amount of the undiluted solution in the container is about ⅓, a signal component near 630 Hz as well as near 590 Hz is generated at a high level, so that the signal component near 630 Hz is increased in the band pass filter 19c. Passes without attenuation, and two level determination circuits 20b and 20c
Both of the determination outputs of 1 and H may be at the H level.

That is, since the vibration sound of the container generated when the container 1 is struck includes a large number of signal components of higher frequencies than the fundamental wave component, even if the level determination circuit 20b outputs Even if the output is at the H level, it cannot be determined that the remaining amount of undiluted solution in the container is approximately 1/3, and even if the determination output of the level determination circuit 20c is at the H level, It is not possible to determine that the remaining undiluted solution is almost empty. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 1, of the determination outputs of the level determination circuits 20a to 20c, the priority determination circuit 24 that gives priority to the one having a lower pass band.
Is provided.

The priority determination circuit 24 is composed of a simple gate circuit (not shown) and the like, and the level determination circuit 20.
When the H level is output from a, a 1/2 remaining amount signal indicating that the remaining amount of undiluted solution in the container is approximately 1/2 or more is output regardless of the determination outputs of the other level determination circuits 20b and 20c. And the determination output of the level determination circuit 20a is L
In the (low) level state, the level determination circuit 20b outputs H
When the level is output, the remaining amount of the undiluted solution in the container is approximately 1/3 regardless of the determination output of the level determination circuit 20c.
The level determination circuit 20c outputs the H level signal when the level determination circuits 20a and 20b both output the 1/3 remaining amount signal indicating that the level is above (1/2) or less. When this is done, the empty signal indicating that the remaining amount of the undiluted solution in the container is substantially zero to 1/3 or less, that is, the container is almost empty is output.

By prioritizing the level determination result based on the fundamental wave component of the detection signal in this way, the remaining amount can be accurately determined.

Each remaining amount signal of the priority determination circuit 24 is input to each of the display drive circuits 25a to 25c. Each of the display drive circuits 25a to 25c drives the light emitting diodes 26a to 26c to turn on when receiving the remaining amount signal. As shown in FIG. 2, each of the light emitting diodes 26a to 26c is provided on the outer surface of the controller 14, and the remaining amount of the stock solution in the container can be confirmed by confirming this lighting.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the striking device 11 is controlled by a striking control circuit 27. The batting control circuit 27 detects the level of the output signal of the amplifier 17,
A level determination circuit 28 for determining whether or not the detected voltage Vc of the level signal is higher than the reference voltage Vr2, and a motor drive circuit 29 for rotationally driving the motor 11a of the striking device 11 according to the level determination result. .

This striking control circuit 27 drives the motor 11a of the striking device 11 to strike the outer wall of the container 1 when the voltage Vc of the level signal of the output signal of the amplifier 17 is lower than the reference voltage Vr2, and by this striking. When the voltage of the level signal becomes equal to or higher than the reference voltage Vr2, the rotation driving of the motor 11a is stopped.

Therefore, the striking device 11 operates the container 1 at intervals from the time when the container 1 is struck to the time when the vibration of the container 1 is attenuated and the level of the detection signal is reduced to the reference voltage Vr2 or less. Hit intermittently.

The reference voltage Vr2 is set to a voltage with which the remaining amount discriminating section 18 can stably and continuously determine the presence or absence of the fundamental wave component. That is, the reference voltage Vr2
Is the reference voltage V in the level determination circuits 20a to 20c.
The level of the fundamental wave component compared with r1 is the reference voltage Vr1.
It is set so as to be almost equal to the level of the output signal of the amplifier 17 when it is reduced to the vicinity of
1, the impact control circuit 27 causes the remaining amount determination unit 18
The container is struck at intervals such that the determination operation of No. does not become discontinuous.

The power source 31 (battery) of this liquid material remaining amount detecting device is housed in the controller 14, and the power source to each part in the controller 14 is operated by operating the switch 32 shown in FIGS. Supply is made.

When the amount of the stock solution remaining in the container 1 in the vending machine is to be detected by the liquid material remaining amount detecting device thus constructed, the vending machine is opened and shown in FIG. As described above, the support 13 is attached to the container 1 whose remaining amount needs to be confirmed, and then the switch 32 of the controller 14 is turned on.

When the power is turned on, the motor 11a of the striking device 11 is driven at t0 as shown in FIG. 6 (c), the container 1 is struck by the rotation of the hammer 11b, and the vibration sound is detected by the microphone 12. (A) of FIG.
As shown in FIG.
(Note that the actual detection signal includes a large number of frequency component signals as described above, so it is not a single-frequency damped vibration as shown in FIG. 6A).

The voltage Vc of the level signal of the detection signal is
As shown in FIG. 6B, when the voltage becomes equal to or higher than the reference voltage Vr2 at t1, the driving of the motor 11a is stopped. Then, when the voltage Vc of the level signal gradually decreases with the vibration damping of the container and becomes lower than the reference voltage Vr2 at t2, the motor 11a is driven to rotate again and the container 1 is hit.
Due to this impact, the voltage Vc of the level signal immediately exceeds the reference voltage Vr2, so the motor 11a is stopped by one impact, and thereafter the container is impacted once at T1 intervals.

As described above, the impact by the impact device 11 is T1.
During the intervals, the signal detected by the microphone 12 is amplified and input to the remaining amount determination unit 18, and the remaining amount is determined according to the fundamental wave component included in the signal.

That is, the remaining amount and each light emitting diode (LED)
As shown in FIG. 7 showing the relationship with the lighting state of No. 1, when the undiluted solution remains in the container in an amount of about ½ or more, the fundamental wave component of the plurality of frequency components included in the detection signal is 300.
In the range of up to 400 Hz, the 1/2 remaining amount signal is output from the remaining amount determination unit 18, and only the light emitting diode 26a is lit and displayed. In addition, the undiluted solution remains approximately 1/3 or more (1/2 or less), and the fundamental wave component of the detection signal is 500 to 59.
When it is between 0 Hz, the 1/3 remaining amount signal is output and only the light emitting diode 26b is lit and displayed. Also,
When the container is almost empty (the remaining amount is 1/3 or less) and the fundamental wave component of the detection signal is between 620 and 680 Hz, an empty signal is output and only the light emitting diode 26c is lit and displayed.

As described above, since the detection signal having a high level due to the next impact is input before the level of the fundamental wave component of the detection signal decreases to the reference voltage Vr1, the level determination operation of the remaining amount determination unit and The display operation is performed almost continuously and stably.

Therefore, the operator can easily confirm the remaining amount of the stock solution in the container 1 by confirming which light emitting diode of the controller 14 is in the lighting state. Then, for example, when it is confirmed that the light emitting diode 26c indicating that the container 1 is almost empty is turned on, the container 1 is
Replace with a container that is full of stock solution. If there is another container for confirming the remaining amount, the support 13 may be attached to the container and the same inspection as described above may be performed.

The signal detected by the microphone 12 due to the difference in the installation condition of the container is as shown in FIG.
In the case of decaying faster than in the example shown in FIG. 6, the time from the point of impact until the level of the detection signal becomes equal to or lower than the reference voltage Vr2 becomes shorter as shown in (b) of FIG.
The motor 11a of No. 1 is driven at short intervals by following this damping characteristic as shown in FIG. 8 (c). Therefore, the level of the fundamental wave component included in this detection signal is the reference voltage V.
Since the next hit is made before the reduction to r1 or less, the remaining amount determination operation is continued, and the stable remaining amount determination and its display are continued.

On the contrary, when the detection signal attenuates later than the example shown in FIG. 6 (not shown), the time from the point of impact until the level of the detection signal becomes equal to or lower than the reference voltage Vr2 also becomes long. Since the motor 11a of the striking device 11 is driven at a longer interval following this attenuation characteristic, the remaining amount determination operation is continued and the remaining amount determination is stably performed as in the case where the detection signal decays quickly. And the display continues.

[0051]

Other Embodiments In the striking means of the above-described embodiment, a hammer having a diameter larger than that of the motor is rotated by a motor fixed to a support to strike the outer wall of the container. As shown, the case 35 with the container 1 side opened
The motor 11a is supported therein via a cushioning material 36, and an eccentric weight 37 having a small diameter attached to the motor 11a is rotated, so that the motor 11a itself is laterally swung in the container 1 direction. Or hit the motor 1 as shown in FIG. 9 (b).
1a may be supported so as to be hung, and the outer wall of the container may be hit by the motor 11a itself that shakes laterally when energized. In this case, a thin film 38 or the like is sandwiched between the motor 11a and the container in order to suppress impact noise and scratches when the metal motor and the metal container collide. By doing so, the vibration of the motor is not directly transmitted to the support 13 ', and it is possible to prevent the noise component due to the shake of the support from being input to the microphone attached to the support. The lower end of the support 13 'is extended so as to come into contact with the base 1d of the container 1, and the amplitude of the lateral vibration of the motor is provided between the opening surface of the case 35 and the outer peripheral wall 1b of the container 1. Stopper 1 for forming a smaller gap
3b is provided.

Further, although the striking means of the above-mentioned embodiment uses the motor as a driving source, this does not limit the present invention. For example, as in the striking device 40 shown in FIG. 10, the movable iron core of the plunger 41 is used. At 41a, the hammer 42 may be moved to strike the outer wall of the container 1.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the lower part of the outer peripheral wall of the container is hit so that the frequency of the fundamental wave component of the vibration of the container changes substantially linearly with the change of the remaining amount of the stock solution in the container. However, it is also possible to hit the middle portion of the height of the container and arrange the microphone in the vicinity thereof. In this case, the linearity of the change in the frequency of the fundamental wave component of the container with respect to the change in the remaining amount is slightly lost, but since it hits the middle part of the vibration of the container, it is detected by the microphone. The ratio of the fundamental wave component contained in the signal is larger than that in the above-described embodiment, and the fundamental wave component can be detected in a state of high S / N.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the striking device and the microphone are supported by the support body which is elastically attached to the container. However, the attachment mechanism of the support body to the container is a clip type, screwed type. The permanent magnet may be attached to the case 35 shown in FIG. 9 and a microphone may be housed therein, without using the support as in the above-mentioned embodiment. The case may be directly attached to the outer peripheral wall of the container by the attractive force of the permanent magnet. Further, the striking device and the microphone output means may be independently attached to the container, or may be fixed near the container without being attached to the container itself.

In the above embodiment, the vibration of the container caused by the impact is detected by the microphone.
A vibration sensor such as an acceleration sensor may be directly attached to the outer wall of the container to detect the vibration of the container.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the detection signal detected by the microphone is used for both striking control and discrimination of the remaining amount, but independent vibration detecting means for striking control and discrimination of the remaining amount are used. May be.

The batting control circuit 27 of the above embodiment is
Although the level of the detection signal detected by the microphone 12 is detected by the rectifying and smoothing circuit, this detection signal is A / D converted and converted into a digital signal, and then the same as in the above embodiment by the microcomputer. The hit control process may be performed.

Further, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the container striking device used for the liquid remaining amount detecting device for detecting the remaining amount in the container containing the undiluted liquid such as juice of the vending machine is explained. Beverage containers, liquefied gas containers, etc.
The present invention can be similarly applied to an apparatus for detecting the remaining amount in various containers containing a liquid by hitting the containers.

[0059]

As described above, the container striking device of the liquid remaining amount detecting device of the present invention detects the vibration generated in the container by striking, and the level of the detection signal is the fundamental wave included in the detection signal. It is configured to drive the striking means to strike the outer wall of the container once each time it decreases to a level close to the minimum level required to detect the component, so it follows the damping speed of the vibration of the container. The container can be struck at the specified time intervals, and the remaining amount of the liquid material in the container can be detected stably.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a liquid material remaining amount detection device including a container striking device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic external view of a main part of one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the striking device of one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a spectrum waveform diagram of a detection signal with respect to the remaining amount of undiluted solution.

5 is a circuit configuration diagram of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining the operation of the striking device of one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the relationship between the remaining amount and the display.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining a striking operation when the vibration time of the container is short.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a main part of another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Container 10 Liquid Remaining Amount Detecting Device 11 Striking Device 11a Motor 11b Hammer 12 Microphone 13 Support 19a-19c Band Pass Filter 20a-20c Level Judgment Circuit 24 Priority Judgment Circuit 26a-26c Light Emitting Diode 27 Hitting Control Circuit 28 Level Judgment Circuit

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A container striking device for use in a liquid material remaining amount detecting device for determining the remaining amount of a liquid material contained in a hard container based on the fundamental wave component of the damping vibration of the container caused by striking. Then, by energization drive, striking means for striking a predetermined position on the outer wall of the container, vibration detecting means for detecting vibration of the container hit by the striking means, and detection signal output from the vibration detecting means The level is detected, and the striking means is driven to move the outer wall of the container one by one each time the detected level is reduced to a level close to a minimum level required for detecting the fundamental wave component of the damping vibration of the container. A container striking device of a liquid remaining amount detecting device, comprising: a striking control means for striking each time.