JPH09132295A - Automatically liquid-withdrawing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To automatically withdraw draft beer from an unacceptable barrel- shaped container in the case where draft beer contained in the container has not reached a specified quantity or the container has a defect such as the leakage of liquid contents due to a defect of a sealing stopper unit fitted to the container, in relation to an automatically liquid-withdrawing apparatus set on a draft beer manufacturing line. SOLUTION: The positioning of both of a sealing stopper unit 14 fitted to an unacceptable container 1 transferred on a transfer line and an unsealing mechanism unit 21 is ensured by a center positioning means. After the axes of both are agreed with each other, either the sealing stopper unit 14 or the unsealing mechanism unit 21 is moved by an ascending and descending means 22A so as to be connected to each other and, by blowing pressurized gas into the container, liquid contents are automatically withdrawn.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic draining device installed in a draft beer production line, for example, in which a draft beer as a content liquid packed in a barrel-shaped container does not satisfy a specified volume or a container. It is used for automatic draining of draft beer from unqualified products such as leaks of the content liquid due to a defect in the sealing stopper unit attached to.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a conventional draft beer production line. The bottle-shaped container 1 that has been emptied by the consumption of draft beer as a content liquid is collected and transferred on a transfer line L including a conveyor and the like. Then, first, the label attached to the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 is peeled off by the delaveler 2. Then, the mouthpiece washing machine 3 cleans the mouthpiece 1a of the sealing plug unit 14 'mounted on one surface of the upper surface or the lower surface of the container 1 to remove dirt and dust. Also washing machine 4
Thus, the outside of the container 1 is washed. After that, the pressure (residual pressure) in the container 1 is measured by the residual pressure inspection machine 5. In this way, when the pressure in the container 1 is lower than the predetermined value, it is possible to easily detect whether the sealing plug unit 14 'is out of order or whether the sealing plug unit 14' is out of order in the market due to mischief or the like. . Then, the sealing plug unit 14 ′ of the container 1 whose internal pressure is equal to or lower than the predetermined value is retightened by the tensifying machine 6. Next, the container 1 in the upright state is detected by the sensor by the reversing machine 7 to be filled with beer and is inverted, and the container 1 is turned upside down (the sealing plug unit 14 'is attached to the lower side of the container 1). After that, the inside of the container 1 is washed by the inner washing machine 8 and beer is filled by the content liquid filling machine 9 supplied from the beer production line. Thereafter, the base 1a of the container 1 is first washed with tap water by the neck washer 10 and then with pure water.
Next, the container 1 is inverted by the reversing machine 11 so that the container 1 is upright, that is, the sealing plug unit 14 'faces upward. After that, the weight checker 12 checks whether or not the weight of the container 1 filled with draft beer has a predetermined weight value. Then, only the container 1 satisfying a predetermined weight is sent to the leak inspection machine 13 in the subsequent stage, and it is detected whether or not beer is leaking from the mouthpiece 1a. In this inspection, for example, it is possible to know whether or not beer is leaking when pure water is supplied from the pure water generating device 13 'between the electrodes to be in an energized state. If beer is leaking, the leaking container 1 is drawn into the branched branch line L ′,
An operator manually opens the sealing plug unit 14 ′ attached to the mouthpiece 1 a of the container 1, collects the beer as the content liquid filled in the container 1 from the container 1 and uses it for refilling. Finally, the cap is sealed with the cap 1a of the container 1 by the capper 45, and then the labeler 46 is used to cover the container 1 with the manufacturer, the manufacturing item, the manufacturing date,
The container 1 is transported to the shipping line by sticking a label on which desired items such as a manufacturing number are printed.

As a sealing plug unit 14 'mounted on the mouthpiece 1a of the container 1, a barrel-shaped container 1 for sealing a content liquid such as beer B as shown in FIG.
15 to be installed in the base 1a provided on the upper surface of the
And a liquid pumping cylinder 16 in which a large-diameter cylindrical portion 16b at the other end is inserted into the bush 15 under the bias of a first spring 17 so that one end 16a extends into the container 1, carbon dioxide gas, and nitrogen. Inert pressure gas G such as gas is stored in the container 1
Resiliency of the first valve body 18 and the second spring 19 provided on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the pumping cylinder 16 so as to be engageable with the valve seat 15b on the upper inner surface of the bush 15 for supplying air to the inside. And a dual valve body 20 composed of a second valve body 20 for discharging the content liquid to the outside of the container 1 by pumping the pressure gas G upward to discharge the content liquid through the pumping liquid cylinder 16. There is a structure in which a valve is provided in the bush 15. The container 1 is made of aluminum plate or steel plate,
The capacity is 7l, 10l, 15l, 20l, 25l, 5
Although there are various values such as 0l, the sealing plug unit 14 'mounted in the mouthpiece 1a is generally of the above structure.

Then, in the manufacturing line shown in FIG. 10, after the weight checker 12 and the leak inspection machine 13 have been inspected, the content liquid packed in the unqualified container 1 transferred to the branch line L'is drained and recovered. Figure 1
As shown in FIG. 1, an operator manually inserts a dispense head 100 connected to one end of an air supply hose 28 extending from a gas cylinder (not shown) so that the pumping cylinder 16 of the hermetically sealed plug unit 14 ′ has a spring 17 spring. When pushed down against the tendency to generate, the first valve element 18 provided on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the pumping cylinder 16 has the valve seat 15b on the upper inner surface of the bush 15.
Is opened apart from. And the pressure gas G is the bush 1.
The container 1 is supplied with air through a gap formed between the valve seat 15b on the upper inner surface of the container 5 and prevents the content liquid from foaming. Then, the connecting cylinder 24 provided coaxially in the dispense head 100 so as to be vertically movable is lowered against the urging force of the spring 26 by, for example, a lever operation so as to lower the second valve body 20 in the sealing plug unit 14 '. When the valve is opened by pressing down against the urging force of the spring 19, the beer B as the content liquid is pressurized by the pressure gas G supplied into the container 1, so that the beer B is sealed by the sealing unit 14 '. Pumping body 1
6. It is discharged to the outside of the container 1 through the inside of the connecting cylinder 24 of the dispense head 100 and is collected.

[0005]

However, FIG.
0 in the draft beer production line shown in 0
Since the worker manually performed using the dispense head 100 to collect draft beer from the container 1 in which the leakage from the mouthpiece 1a or the like was detected, it takes a lot of time and labor for the collecting work. , Was inefficient. Therefore, the qualified product is not smoothly transferred to the production line, the production is stagnant, and the quality of draft beer collected at all is deteriorated, which deteriorates the taste and is uneconomical.

Therefore, the present invention can efficiently collect the content liquid of beer or the like, which is less than the specified weight, from the container without taking time and labor, and can smoothly transfer the qualified product on the production line. It is possible to do so, the quality of the content liquid recovered from the container is not deteriorated, and further, the void after the content liquid is recovered is effectively used for refilling into the container.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and is provided on a barrel-shaped container for enclosing a content liquid such as draft beer, and on either the upper surface or the lower surface of the container. A bush mounted in the mouthpiece, a pumping cylinder inserted into the bush by the biasing force of the first spring so that one end of the bush extends, and a pressurized gas is supplied into the container. As described above, the first valve element and the second spring, which are provided on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the pumping cylinder so as to be engageable with the upper inner surface of the bush, are urged upward by the elasticity of the second spring so as to be opened and closed. A sealing plug unit in which an inner / outer double compound valve including a second valve body for pumping the content liquid through the pumping cylinder by the supply of the pressurized gas and discharging it to the outside of the container is provided in the bush. And the inside of the container In an automatic draining device for pumping a liquid, a transfer line for sequentially transferring a plurality of the containers filled with a content liquid and the sealing plug unit of the container transferred on the transfer line are matched with each other. The first valve body is opened to supply the pressure gas into the container, and the second valve body is opened to supply the pressure gas to the outside of the container through the pumping cylinder. An opening mechanism provided for pumping, center positioning means for aligning the axis of the sealing plug unit of the container transferred through the transfer line with the axis of the opening mechanism, the container or An elevating and lowering device that is provided so that at least one of the opening mechanism parts can be moved in the vertical direction orthogonal to the transfer direction of the container with respect to the other, and can connect the sealing cap unit of the container and the opening mechanism part. The means of being It was.

Further, according to the present invention, one end of the opening mechanism is fixedly supported by a support plate, and the other end thereof resists the urging force of the second spring against the second valve body of the sealing plug unit. The valve body is opened by pressing it down so that the content liquid can flow, and the ball valve is provided inside the valve seat so as to be detachable from the valve seat, and the third spring interposed on the lower surface of the support plate. The pressure that is slidably inserted into the outer periphery of the connecting valve cylinder via the valve opening pressure by pushing down the first valve body of the sealing plug unit against the biasing force of the first spring. A means of forming a substantially bell-shaped fitting probe that allows gas to flow is adopted.

According to the present invention, the center positioning means is
At least one abutting contact with the outer circumference of the container by moving in two directions, that is, a direction substantially orthogonal to the transfer direction of the container and a direction having a desired angle with respect to the transfer direction of the container on the same horizontal plane. A means that a pair of position regulating rods is provided on the transfer line is adopted.

Further, the present invention employs means for connecting the opening mechanism unit to the sealing stopper unit by raising and lowering the container with respect to the opening stopper mechanism unit when opening and closing the sealing stopper unit of the container. did.

Further, the present invention employs a means in which, when the sealing cap unit is unsealed, the lifting mechanism lowers the opening mechanism part with respect to the container to match the sealing cap unit.

Further, the present invention employs a means in which the container is provided upright on the transfer line so that the container can be transferred.

Further, the present invention employs means for providing the container so that it can be transferred upside down on the transfer line.

Further, the present invention employs a means in which a straight line conveyor portion of the transfer line is provided with an opening mechanism, a center positioning means, and an elevating means.

Further, the present invention adopts a means in which the opening mechanism portion, the center positioning means, and the elevating means are provided in the rotary conveyor portion of the transfer line.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A specific example of an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6 when applied to a draft beer production line. Reference numeral 1 denotes a container that is sequentially transferred to a draft beer production line L for enclosing beer B as a content liquid, as shown in FIG. 3, and this container 1 is formed into a barrel shape with an aluminum plate or a steel plate and has a capacity of For example, there are 7 l, 10 l, 15 l, 20 l, 25 l, 50 l, etc., and various sizes and shapes are used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the manufacturing line L is, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, for cleaning the labeler 2 for peeling off the label attached to the outer peripheral surface of the container 1 and the mouthpiece 1a of the container 1. Mouthpiece washing machine 3, a washing machine 4 for washing the outer periphery of the container 1, a residual pressure inspection machine 5 for measuring the internal pressure (residual pressure) in the vessel 1, and a post-sealing provided in the mouthpiece 1 a of the vessel 1. When the poaching unit 14 is clogged with dust, loosened due to mischief in the market, etc., the tightening machine 6 for re-tightening the sealing plug unit 14 to reuse the container 1 and reversing the container 1 to the inverted state Inversion machine 7 for cleaning, inner washing machine 8 for cleaning the inside of container 1, content liquid filling machine 9 for filling beer B as the content liquid in container 1, and mouthpiece 1a of container 1 for cleaning and soiling Neck washer 10 and container 1 for dropping Reversing machine 1 for inverting the upright state
1. A leak checker 13 for checking the leakage of the content liquid from the mouthpiece 1a of the container 1 and the like via the weight checker 12 for measuring the weight of the full-filled container 1 filled with beer B was provided. Stuff used.

Reference numeral 14 denotes the container 1 as shown in FIGS.
The sealing plug unit 14 is mounted on the upper surface of the container 1. The sealing plug unit 14 is mounted in the mouthpiece 1a provided on the upper surface of the container 1 and has a plurality of through holes 15a on its peripheral surface.
A pumping cylinder 16 in which a large diameter cylinder portion 16b at the other end is inserted by receiving the biasing force of the first spring 17 in the bush 15 so that one end 16a thereof extends in the container 1; A first valve element 18 provided on the outer periphery of the upper surface of the pumping cylinder 16 so as to be engageable with a valve seat 15b provided on the upper inner surface of the bush 15 so as to supply the gas G into the container 1;
Due to the elasticity of the second spring 19, it can be opened and closed by being urged upward. By supplying the pressure gas G, the content liquid is pumped through the pumping cylinder 16 and discharged to the outside of the container 1. As described above, the inner and outer double composite valve including the second valve body 20 provided in the pumping cylinder 16 is used as the bush 1
It is a structure provided in the No. 5.

A is an automatic liquid draining device of the present embodiment, and this automatic liquid draining device A is provided on the manufacturing line L to which a plurality of containers 1 in which beer B as a content liquid is enclosed are sequentially transferred. According to the inspection of the weight checker 12, the container 1 filled with beer B does not reach the specified weight, or the beer B is leaking from the mouthpiece 1a of the container 1 filled with beer B by the leak inspection machine 13. When it is detected, the beer B is automatically withdrawn from the container 1 for reuse and collected, and only the qualified product satisfying the specified weight is transferred to the subsequent production line L. On the other hand, the weight checker 12 or the leak checker 13 is provided on a branch line L'branched to the latter stage. In this embodiment, a linear conveyor is used as the branch line L ', but the illustrated belt conveyor or roller conveyor is used as this conveyor. M is a motor for driving the conveyor of the branch line L '.
The automatic liquid draining device A has the sealing plug unit 1 mounted on the upper surface of the container 1 transferred onto the branch line L '.
4, the first valve body 18 is opened to supply the pressurized gas G into the container 1 and the second valve body 20 is opened to supply the pressurized gas G to supply the pressure gas G. An opening mechanism portion 21 provided to pump beer B as a content liquid to the outside of the container 1 through the pumping cylinder 16, and a branch for collecting the beer B from the container 1 filled with beer B. Shaft core I of the sealing plug unit 14 of the container 1 transferred through the line L '
The center positioning means 22 for aligning the plug opening 14 with the axis I ′ of the opening mechanism section 21, and the opening mechanism section 2 for connecting the sealing stopper unit 14 of the container 1 to the opening mechanism section 21.
The container 1 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction Y perpendicular to the transfer direction A with respect to the vertical direction 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the opening mechanism 21 has one end 24a fixed and supported by a support plate 23 provided above the branch line L ', and the other end 24b of the opening 24b of the sealing plug unit 14. No. 2 valve body 20 is opened by depressing against the urging force of the second spring 19 to allow the beer B to flow, and the ball valve 25 is seated at the valve seat 24c.
To the outer periphery of the connection valve cylinder body 24 via a connection valve cylinder body 24 that is releasably provided inside and a third spring 26 that is interposed on the lower surface of the support plate 23. And a substantially bell-shaped fitting that opens the valve by pushing down the first valve body 18 of the sealing plug unit 14 against the biasing force of the first spring 17 so that the pressurized gas G can flow. And the probe 27 (see FIGS. 1 and 2).

Reference numeral 28 denotes an air supply hose whose one end is connected to an air supply port 27a provided on one side of the fitting probe 27. This air supply hose 28 is connected to another via an air supply valve 29 provided midway. The pressure gas G packed in a cylinder (not shown) connected to the end is supplied. An inert gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen gas is used as the pressure gas G (see FIG. 6).

Reference numeral 30 denotes a liquid transfer pipe connected to one end (upper end in the figure) of the connecting valve cylinder 24 provided in the axial direction of the fitting probe 27, and provided in the middle of the liquid transfer pipe 30. The beer B introduced into the connecting valve cylinder 24 by driving the pump P is discharged to the outside of the container 1 and collected (see FIGS. 5 and 6).

Reference numeral 31 is a protective cap capped on the upper surface of the fitting probe 27. The protective cap 31 is fitted to the mouthpiece 1a of the container 1 when the beer B is collected from the container 1, and is fitted to the fitting probe 2.
This is to prevent Beer B from being scattered around by being crowned with 7.

In FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, S ₁ is a cylinder as a drive source for moving the support plate 23 up and down, and this cylinder S ₁ has the support plate 23 fixed to the cylinder rod 32 thereof. 23 is moved up and down along the guide rod 33 to move the opening mechanism 21 to the sealing plug unit 14 of the container 1.
It is for matching and connecting.

As shown in FIG. 4, the center positioning means 22 has a direction (b) substantially orthogonal to the transfer direction (a) of the container 1 and a desired horizontal position relative to the transfer direction (a) of the container 1 on the same horizontal plane. The position control rods 34 and 35, which are provided so as to be able to move forward and backward respectively in two directions with the direction C having the angle α, abut the outer circumference toward the substantially center O of the container 1 so that the axis I ′ of the opening mechanism portion 21 is moved. It is adapted to match the axis I of the sealing plug unit 14 of the container 1. Of these, at least the tip of one of the position regulating rods 34 provided so as to be able to move forward and backward in a direction (b) substantially orthogonal to the transfer direction (a) of the container 1
The holding member 36 having an arcuate portion 36a that abuts the outer periphery of the container is detachably exchanged according to the shape of the container 1 and the size of the container 1 depending on the volume thereof. 36b
Is a guide rod. S ₂ and S ₃ are position regulating rods 34,
It is a cylinder as a drive source for making the 35 retractable.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 37 denotes stopper means provided before the center positioning means 22 provided on the branch line L '. This stopper means 37 is an unqualified product transferred on the branch line L'. This is for stopping the transfer of the container 1 on the branch line L'and correcting the position of the container 1 in advance with respect to the center positioning means 22 in the subsequent stage. Then, the stopper means 37 is capable of advancing and retreating at a desired angle β, and a branch line L ′.
A stopper rod 38 and 39 provided in the cylinder S ₄ which moves can advance and retract the stopper rod 38 and 39,
It is formed from S ₅ Metropolitan.

Reference numeral 40 is a vertical direction Y which is perpendicular to the transfer direction a of the container 1 with respect to the opening mechanism 21 of the container 1 transferred on the branch line L ', that is, ascending / descending for moving up or down. The elevating plate 40 is a plate and is provided in a space portion K which is always located on substantially the same horizontal plane with respect to the belt conveyor and the roller conveyor forming the branch line L'and which is located in the approximate center of the belt conveyor. . Then the elevating plate 40 is adapted to be moved up and down by driving the cylinder S ₆ by being secured to the distal end portion of the cylinder rod of the cylinder S ₆ as a driving source as shown in FIGS. Reference numeral 41 denotes a plurality of guide rods that are loosely inserted in the elevating plate 40, and the guide rods 41 are for guiding the elevating plate 40 up and down.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 45 is a capper for sealing a cap (not shown) on the mouthpiece 1a of the container 1, and 46 is a label on which necessary items such as a manufacturer, a manufacturing date and a manufacturing number are printed. Is a labeler for adhering to the container 1.

An embodiment of the present invention has the above-mentioned configuration,
Filling the empty barrel-shaped container 1 collected from the market with the beer B as the content liquid by the draft beer production line L is substantially the same as the conventional line method shown in FIG. That is, the old label is peeled off from the empty container 1 by the delaveler 2 in FIG. Next, the mouthpiece washing machine 3 cleans the mouthpiece 1 a of the container 1, and the washing machine 4 cleans the outside of the container 1. After that, the residual pressure in the container 1 is measured by the residual pressure inspection machine 5. Then, whether dust is clogged in the sealing unit 14 of the container 1,
When the sealing unit 14 is loosened due to mischief in the market, the tightening machine 6 tightens the sealing plug unit 14 in order to improve airtightness. And reversing machine 7
The container 1 is turned upside down (the sealing plug unit 14 faces downward) by. After that, the inside of the container 1 is washed by the inner washing machine 8, and the beer B as the content liquid is packed in the container 1 by the content liquid filling machine 9. After that, the neck washer 10 cleans the base 1a of the container 1,
The container 1 filled with beer B is reversed by the reversing machine 11 to the upright state this time, and sequentially transferred on the manufacturing line L.

Then, the weight of the container 1 filled with beer B by the weight checker 12 is measured, and when the weight is more than the specified weight, it is transferred as it is on the production line L, but when it is less than the specified weight. Is branched and transferred to a branch line L '. Production line L
With respect to the container 1 which is transferred as it is, the leakage inspection machine 13 in the subsequent stage inspects whether or not the beer B leaks from the mouthpiece 1a. This leak check 13
For example, pure water generated from the pure water generator 13 'is passed between the electrodes to check the electric conductivity of the pure water so that the beer B can be easily obtained.
You can know the leak. Eligible products that have not leaked are transferred to the subsequent stage on the production line L as they are,
Beer B is recovered from the container 1 by branching and transferring the container 1 as an unqualified product that has leaked onto the branch line L ′.

That is, in this embodiment, first, beer
B is jammed, but there is leakage from the base 1a
Or barrel shape as unqualified product that does not meet or exceed the specified weight
When the container 1 of No. 1 is transferred through the branch line L ', first,
It is possible to move back and forth at the desired angle β with respect to the transfer direction b
Stopper rods 38 and 39 provided on the cylinder
S _Four, S_FiveDrive to move to the approximate center O of the container 1.
Stop the transfer of the container 1 by facing and contacting the outer periphery.
Stop and prepare the transfer position of container 1 for the next operation
Fix it. At this time, the stopper rods 38 and 39 move the
Conveyor of the part corresponding to the bottom surface of the container 1 whose feeding is stopped
Is formed using a type of free roller, which is a roller conveyor
The free roller so that it can rotate freely.
Since the rotating shaft supported by the frame spins idle, the container 1
Is set on the free roller by the stopper rods 38 and 39.
It can be stopped without load at a substantially fixed location.
Wear. The branch conveyor L'is formed by the belt conveyor.
If it is, move by stopper rods 38, 39
The bottom of the container 1 and the belt conveyor
A frictional force is generated, but the time to generate this frictional force is instantaneous.
Therefore, the container 1 fell over on the belt conveyor.
It can be stopped without any trouble such as displacement.
Wear.

Next, when the stopper rods 38 and 39 are retracted by driving the cylinders S ₄ and S ₅ , the container 1 whose transfer has been blocked by the stopper means 37 is transferred to the subsequent stage of the branch line L ′ again. . At this time, since the stopper rods 38 and 39 are linearly advanced and retracted by the cylinders S ₄ and S ₅ in a short time, the container 1 can be stopped and positioned with good responsiveness.

The container 1 is the lifting plate 4 of the lifting means 22A.
0 has been transferred to sensor C ₁ and sensor C
₂ detects, the cylinder S of the center positioning means 22
₂ , S ₃ is driven to move the position control rods 34 and 35 respectively and come into contact with the outer periphery of the container 1 toward the substantially center O thereof to be mounted on the upper surface of the container 1 placed on the elevating plate 40. The axis I of the sealed plug unit 14 is aligned with the axis I'of the opening mechanism 21 arranged above, and the container 1 is positioned.

At this time, the sensors C ₁ and C ₂ adjust the length of the stroke through which the cylinder rods of the cylinders S ₂ and S ₃ advance, and the position regulation that allows the container 1 to advance and retreat in the direction orthogonal to the transfer direction B. A holding member 36 that is detachably attached to the tip of the rod 34 is selected and attached with an arc-shaped portion 36a that matches the diameter of the container 1 according to the shape of the container 1 and the capacity thereof. If the containers 1 are freely exchanged, the center position of the container 1 can be easily and reliably positioned even if the containers 1 have different sizes, such as sizes and volumes.

Next, the sensor C indicates that the center position of the container 1 is positioned by the center positioning means 22.
Cylinder S ₆ for raising and lowering when detected by ₁ and C _2.
Is driven, the elevating plate 40 is raised toward the opening mechanism 21 while the barrel-shaped container 1 is placed. Further, by driving the cylinder S ₁ , the sealing plug unit 14
Alternatively, the opening mechanism 21 may be lowered. In this way, the sealing plug unit 14 provided on the mouthpiece 1a on the upper surface of the container 1 is connected to match the opening mechanism portion 21 provided above the branch line L '. The sealing cap unit 14 detects that the cap opening mechanism section 21 is connected by the sensor C ₃ .

As shown in FIG. 2, the fitting probe 27, which is attached to the other end of the connecting valve cylinder 24 whose one end is supported and fixed to the support plate 23 and is urged downward by the spring 26, is a sealing plug. Since the first valve body 18 provided in the unit 14 is automatically opened by pushing down against the urging force of the spring 17, the carbon dioxide gas and the nitrogen gas as the pressure gas G are supplied to the air supply valve 29. Through the open air supply hose 28 into the bush 15 of the sealing plug unit 14 through the gap between the connecting valve cylinder 24 and the fitting probe 27, and then into the container 1 through the through hole 15a provided in the peripheral wall thereof. . In this way, the internal pressure of the container 1 is increased by the pressure gas G.

The fitting probe 27 slidably attached to one end of the connecting valve cylinder 24 and connected to the sealing plug unit 14 has a protective cap 31 attached to the support plate 23 via a spring 26. Since it is covered by being covered and the airtightness is maintained, the protective gas 31 prevents the pressure gas G and the like from leaking out from the mouthpiece 1a of the container 1, and the injection of the pressure gas G prevents the container 1 from being leaked. Internal pressure increases.

In addition, the second provided in the sealing plug unit 14
The valve body 20 is opened by being pressed by the urging force of the spring 19 by the connection valve cylinder body 24 of the opening mechanism 21 being pressed. Therefore, the beer B as the content liquid stored in the container 1 is introduced into the pumping cylinder 16 whose one end 16a extends in the container 1 by the pressure of the pressure gas G.
The beer B normally pushes the ball valve 25, which is seated on the valve seat 24c provided in the connection valve cylinder 24 by its own weight, from the valve seat 24c and opens it by buoyancy.
Is automatically discharged to the outside of the container 1 through the liquid transfer pipe 30. Then, the pump P is driven, and the beer B is collected from the container 1 through the liquid transfer pipe 30. In this way, the beer B is automatically discharged from the container 1 to the outside at the same time as the pressurized gas G is pressed into the container 1, so that the collecting work does not require manpower, and the beer B is efficiently and sanitarily in a short time. Can be done.

When the beer B is completely discharged from the container 1 and the container 1 is emptied, the cylinder S ₆ of the elevating means 22A is driven so that the elevating plate 40 descends together with the container 1 with respect to the opening mechanism 21. Since they are separated from each other, the fitting probe 27 of the opening mechanism 21 returns to the old position with respect to the connecting valve cylinder 24 by the downward biasing force of the spring 26. Further, since the connection of the sealing plug unit 14 to the valve opening mechanism portion 21 is released, the sealing plug unit 14 mounted in the mouthpiece 1a provided on the upper surface of the container 1 is operated by the spring 17 to urge the first valve. The body 18 is pushed up and seated on the valve seat 15b above the bush 15, and the second valve body 20 is seated on the spring 1.
The urging force of 9 pushes up the valve seat 16b ₁ of the pumping liquid body 16 to make it seat, thereby closing the respective valves. Thus, the supply of the pressure gas G into the container 1 and the beer B from the container 1
Is stopped. Moreover, the ball valve 25 provided in the connection valve cylinder 24 is seated on the valve seat 24c by its own weight and closed.

Thus, when the sensor C ₄ detects that the lifting plate 40 of the lifting means 22A has descended to the old position and is at the same height as the conveyor of the branch line L ', the content liquid is drained and emptied. The container 1 is transferred to the subsequent stage by driving the conveyor of the branch line L ', and the container 1 is reused. While the automatic liquid removal is performed in this way, the transfer of the subsequent container 1 is stopped by the stopper means 37.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in order to recover the unqualified beer B from the barrel-shaped container 1 that is less than the specified weight, the container 1 transferred through the branch line L'is turned upside down. Then, the sealing plug unit 14 provided in the container 1 is positioned by the center positioning means 22 with respect to the opening mechanism portion 21 so that the respective axial cores I and I'are aligned with each other, and then the cap provided on the lower surface of the container 1. The first valve body 18 is pushed by the fitting probe 27 of the unsealing mechanism unit 21 by raising or lowering the unsealing mechanism unit 21 with respect to the sealing stopper unit 14 mounted in the spring 1a.
7 is pushed up against the biasing force of 7 to open the valve to pressurize the pressurized gas G into the container 1 and the biasing force of the spring 19 to push the second valve body 20 by pushing the connecting cylinder body 24. The valve was opened, and the beer B as the content liquid was discharged from the container 1 to the outside by the pressure of the pressure gas G to be collected. In addition, in this embodiment, the content liquid is discharged to the outside of the container 1 under the pressure of the pressure gas G when the container 1 is recovered, and the container 1 is quickly added by its own weight.
Since it is discharged from the tank, the work time required for recovery can be shortened.

In this embodiment, the center positioning means 22 is provided to support the upper surface of the container 1 from above in order to maintain the container 1 upside down after positioning the container 1 on the branch line L'during the liquid draining operation. The holding plate 45 having a substantially L-shaped side surface that is rotatable about the motor shaft 45a by driving the provided motor M ₁ is provided so as to be able to be tilted. Further, in order to surely collect the beer B packed in the container 1, one end 16a of the pumping liquid cylinder 16 extending into the container 1 is made shorter than in the first embodiment. Further, by using the cylinder S ₆ , a motor, a pinion, and a rack that can be meshed with the pinion, as the raising and lowering means 22A for raising and lowering the opening mechanism 21 with respect to the sealing stopper unit 14 of the container 1. It is different from the above embodiment in that it can be easily performed.

FIGS. 8 and 9 show a third embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, in order to collect unqualified beer B less than the specified weight from the container 1, the container 1 is transferred on a branch line L'comprising a linear conveyor. In contrast to this, in the present embodiment, the unsealing mechanism unit 21 and the sealing and capping unit 14 of the container 1 are provided in the conveyor portion L ″ branched from the transfer line L.
Center positioning means 22 (not shown in the drawing) for aligning the shaft cores I, I'of the plug opening mechanism portion 21 with the opening and closing means 22A for moving the container 1 or the opening mechanism portion 21 up and down.
The first point is that the and are provided around the support column 50 as a center.
Different from the embodiment.

That is, the work table 51 provided for the linear transfer line L has a plurality of substantially semicircular cut grooves 52.
The automatic drainage device A'of the present embodiment is provided between the first rotating body 52 serving as the delivery means and the second rotating body 53 serving as the receiving means, in which a and 53a are provided on the peripheral surface. In this automatic drainage device A ', a liquid pool plate 56 is provided above a rotary shaft tube 54 which rotates around a support column 50 through a power rotating member such as a motor and a gear not shown in the figure through a rotating body 55. The opening mechanism 21 is provided on the supporting plate 23 that is provided on the outer periphery of the liquid pool plate 56 at an appropriate angle.
The upper plate 5 mounted approximately in the middle of the rotary shaft tube 54 with respect to 1.
The container 1 fitted in the cut grooves 57A ₁ and 57B ₁ provided on the outer periphery of the rotary frame body 57 composed of 7A and the lower plate 57B is delivered from the first rotary body 52 and received by the second rotary body 53. While the container 1 is rotated about the support column 50 about once, the container 1 is moved up and down once by the elevating means 22A such as a cylinder while being transported in an upright state so as to be slidably guided.
The sealing plug unit 14 is matched with the opening mechanism portion 14, and the first valve body 18 and the second valve body 20 of the sealing plug unit 14 are opened to pressurize the pressurized gas G into the container 1. Beer B less than the specified weight packed in the container 1 was discharged to the outside of the container 1 and collected through the liquid pool plate 56 and the liquid transfer pipe 30, and the installation area was wide compared to the linear transfer line L. This is different from the first embodiment in that the line combination can be easily changed even when there is a restriction on the installation place.

In the third embodiment, the case where the container 1 filled with the beer B to be collected is transferred to the upright state by the elevating means 22A is illustrated and explained. On the contrary, the pressure gas G is press-fitted into the container 1 by raising or lowering the opening mechanism part 21 by the elevating means 22A to the sealing plug unit 14 of the plurality of containers 1 transferred in the inverted state around the column 50. However, the beer B may be discharged from the container 1 and collected.

Further, in any of the above embodiments, the air supply valve 29 is controlled to suppress the bubbling of the beer B as the content liquid according to the flow rate of the pressure gas depending on the size of the volume of the container 1 without impairing the taste. It is easy to adjust so that the liquid can be discharged, and by controlling the pump P in cooperation with the air supply valve 29, the capacity of the container 1 can be changed, and the container can be transferred to the transfer line L or the branch line L '. It is also possible to easily control the recovery amount of the content liquid in accordance with the transfer amount of 1, the transfer speed, and the like.

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention, the unsealing mechanism is connected to the sealing stopper unit provided on the upper surface or the lower surface of the container so that the shaft centers thereof are matched with each other, so that the specified weight is not satisfied. The content liquid such as beer can be efficiently collected from the container without time and effort, and the qualified products can be transferred smoothly on the manufacturing line, and the quality of the content liquid collected from the container will be deteriorated. Instead, it can be effectively used for reloading into a new container.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a first embodiment of an automatic liquid draining device of the present invention and showing a state before connection of a cap opening mechanism section to a sealing cap unit of a container constituting the present embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view in which the opening mechanism is connected to the sealing plug unit of the container to drain the liquid.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing an entire draft beer production line to which this embodiment is also applied.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an automatic liquid draining device of this embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing the automatic draining device of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side view showing the automatic liquid removal device of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention and showing a state before connecting the opening mechanism section to the sealing cap unit of the container.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a third embodiment of the automatic liquid draining device of the present invention.

9 is a plan view of a state in which the automatic liquid removing device of FIG. 8 is also installed on a transfer line.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a conventional production line for draft beer of this type.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway front view of a conventional container that also stores draft beer as a content liquid and its drainer.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 container 1a mouthpiece 14 sealing plug unit 15 bush 16 pumping cylinder 17 first spring 18 first valve body 19 second spring 20 second valve body 21 opening mechanism part 22 center positioning means 22A lifting means 23 Support plate 24c Valve seat 24 Connection valve cylinder 25 Ball valve 26 Third spring 27 Fitting probe 34 Position regulating rod 35 Position regulating rod 37 Stopper means G Pressure gas L Transfer line L'Branching line S ₁ cylinder S ₂ cylinder S ₃ Cylinder S ₄ Cylinder S ₅ Cylinder S ₆ Cylinder

Claims (9)

[Claims] 1. A barrel-shaped container for enclosing a content liquid such as draft beer, a bush attached to a cap provided on either one of the upper surface and the lower surface of the container, and one end thereof extending into the container. A pumping cylinder inserted into the bush by receiving the biasing force of the first spring, and an upper surface of the pumping cylinder that is engageable with the upper inner surface of the bush so as to supply pressurized gas into the container. The first valve body and the second spring provided on the outer periphery are urged upward by the resilience of the second spring so as to be openable and closable, and the content liquid is pumped through the pumping cylinder by the supply of the pressure gas. An automatic draining device for pumping the content liquid from the container, comprising a sealing stopper unit in which a dual inner / outer dual valve composed of a second valve body for discharging to the outside of the container is provided in the bush. , Multiple with content liquid enclosed The transfer line for sequentially transferring the containers and the sealing valve unit for the containers transferred on the transfer line are opened to open the first valve body to supply pressurized gas into the containers. In addition, the second valve body is opened to supply the pressurized gas to pump the content liquid to the outside of the container through the pumping cylinder, and the transfer line. Center positioning means for aligning the axis of the sealing cap unit of the container with the axis of the opening mechanism section, and at least one of the container and the opening mechanism section of the container with respect to the other. An automatic liquid draining device, which is provided so as to be movable in a vertical direction orthogonal to a transfer direction, and includes an elevating means capable of connecting the sealing stopper unit of the container and the opening mechanism portion. 2. The opening mechanism has one end fixedly supported by a support plate and the other end pushing down the second valve body of the sealing plug unit against the biasing force of the second spring. The valve valve is opened to allow the content liquid to flow, and a ball valve is provided inside so that the ball valve can be separated from the valve seat, and a third spring interposed on the lower surface of the support plate. Is slidably fitted into the outer periphery of the connecting valve cylinder, and the first valve body of the sealing plug unit is opened by pressing down the first valve body against the biasing force of the first spring to open the pressure gas. The automatic draining device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic draining device is formed of a fitting probe having a substantially bell shape that allows the fluid to flow. 3. The center positioning means is capable of advancing and retracting in two directions, a direction substantially orthogonal to the container transfer direction and a direction having a desired angle with respect to the container transfer direction on the same horizontal plane. The automatic liquid draining device according to claim 1, wherein at least one pair of position regulating rods that move and contact the outer periphery of the container are provided on the transfer line. 4. The container is elevated with respect to the opening mechanism by the elevating means to connect the opening mechanism to the sealing mechanism when the sealing mechanism of the container is opened. The automatic liquid draining device according to claim 1 or 2. 5. The capping mechanism unit descends with respect to the container by the elevating means to match the capping unit when the capping unit of the container is opened. Item 3. The automatic drainage device according to any one of Items 2. 6. The automatic liquid draining device according to claim 1, wherein the container is provided upright on the transfer line so that the container can be transferred. 7. The automatic draining device according to claim 1, wherein the container is provided so as to be capable of being transferred upside down on the transfer line. 8. The linear conveyor portion of the transfer line is provided with a cap opening mechanism portion, a center positioning means, and an elevating means, as claimed in claim 1, or claim 2, or claim 3. The automatic liquid draining device according to claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7. 9. The capping mechanism unit, a center positioning unit, and an elevating unit are provided in the rotary conveyor section of the transfer line.
The automatic liquid draining device according to claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6, or claim 7.