JPH11157502A - Filling apparatus for fluidal food - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent contents after being filled from spouting out of a mouth of a container body when fluidal food is filled in a flexible bag-like container including the mouth having a flange. SOLUTION: A flexible bag-like container 10a including a mouth having a flange is carried while being hung from and supported on a carry table 121, and when fluidal food is filled from the mouth of the bag-like container 10a by a filling device, a bottom of the container 10a is supported by a support plate 310 which rises/lowers to prevent the filled fluidal food from spouting out of the mouth of the container 10a. The support plate 310 is preferably raises timely when the bag-like container 10a is placed on a filling station.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a flexible bag-shaped container made of a laminated film of metal foil or the like,
For example, the present invention relates to a filling device for filling a liquid food such as a jelly beverage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, a flexible bag-like container made of a material obtained by laminating a metal foil on a film made of synthetic resin and having a straw-shaped mouth portion having a flange on the outer periphery has been used, for example. Products filled with liquid foods such as jelly drinks, sports drinks and juices are commercially available.
As such a bag-like container, there are a self-standing type having an independent bottom wall, a gusset type without such a bottom wall, and the like, and recently, a compact gusset type bag-like container is often used. in use.

FIG. 13 shows an example of such a gusset type bag-like container. FIG. 2A is a perspective view,
(B) is a partial sectional view in a transport state. FIG. 13 (a)
As shown in FIG.
It is formed by laminating a metal foil laminate film or the like as described above into a bag shape by heat sealing. This bag has a front part 11, a back part 12, and both side parts 13, 13.
An elongated straw-shaped mouth portion 30 is inserted into the upper side of the front portion 11 and the back portion 12, and is heat-sealed integrally with the films of the front portion 11 and the back portion 12. A flange 31 is formed on the outer periphery of the mouth portion 30. Also, the bottom 1
5 is formed by heat sealing the lower side of each of the above films flat.

As shown in FIG. 13 (b), the bag-shaped container 10 is hung by aligning a flange 31 at the mouth portion 30 with a bar-shaped hanger 20 having a U-shaped cross section. It is supplied in a state where it is supported by lowering. After filling the bag-like container 10 with the liquid food, the mouth portion 30 is covered with a cap 40.

[0005]

However, using such a gusset-type bag-shaped container 10, the liquid food is filled in the container, and then a mass production of the bagged product of the liquid food is performed on a production line of a factory or the like. Then, the following problem occurred.

When the liquid food is filled in the bag-like container 10, the front portion 11, the rear portion 12, and both side portions 13, 13 of the container body 16 are swelled by the filled contents, and the thickness direction thereof is increased. And the space between the mouth portion 30 and the bottom portion shrinks. However, as described above, the gusset-type bag-shaped container 10 does not have a bottom wall unlike the self-standing type.
When the internal pressure of 0 is lost, the container main body 16 tends to return to the original flat shape again due to the weight of the contents and the like.

For this reason, FIG.
Since the container body 16 shown in (a) shrinks in the thickness direction and the front part 11 and the back part 12 come close to each other and the contents are pushed out, the contents are pushed out of the mouth 3 of the bag-like container 10.
From 0 to the outside, shortage of filling amount occurs,
There was a problem that the contents adhered from the mouth portion 30 to the container body 16 to cause stains and the like.

The amount of the spill is determined by the
The more the liquid food is filled with respect to the internal volume of the liquid food, the more easily the liquid food is foamed, and the higher the temperature of the liquid food at the time of filling, the more the liquid food tends to increase. Of the liquid food itself and the characteristics of the liquid food itself, it was not possible to prevent the spillage by these conditions.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to improve the content of a filled food into a flexible bag-shaped container so that the filled content can be prevented from spilling out of the mouth of the container body. An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid food filling device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an apparatus for filling a liquid food into a flexible bag-shaped container provided with a mouth having a flange. In the conveying means for engaging the flange of the mouth of the container and conveying the container in a suspended state, at a predetermined position of the conveying path by the conveying means,
A filling machine that fills the liquid food from the mouth of the container,
A support plate that is disposed below a filling position of the filling machine and that is in contact with the lower surface of the container so that the liquid food is injected from the filling machine into the container; It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for filling a liquid food, comprising: cap supply means for supplying and covering a cap on a portion; and tightening means for screwing the cap into the mouth of the container to tighten the cap.

According to the present invention, first, the transport means
The empty container is transported in a suspended state, and is transported along a transport path to a filling position of the liquid food. And when liquid food is injected into the container from the filling machine,
The support plate is in contact with the lower surface of the container. as a result,
The lower surface of the container is supported by the support plate, the container hangs down due to the weight of the filled liquid food, and the shape of the once expanded container body is prevented from returning to the original flat shape again, and the container is filled. Liquid food is prevented from spilling out of the mouth. After the liquid food has been injected, a cap is supplied to the mouth of the container by the cap supply means, and the cap is screwed into the mouth by the fastening means and tightened.

In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the support plate extends below the filling position of the transport path by the filling machine, the cap supplying position by the cap supplying means, and the cap tightening position by the tightening means. It is arranged. According to this, not only when the liquid food is filled, but also at the cap supply position and the cap tightening position by the tightening means, the cap is supplied or tightened by bringing the support plate into contact with the lower surface of the container. Spillover due to the impact at the time can also be prevented.

[0013] In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the support plate is arranged such that the container is located at a filling position of the transfer path by the filling machine, a cap supplying position by the cap supplying means, and a cap tightening position by the tightening means. At the same time as the bottom of the container. According to this, the contents can be prevented from spilling over at each of the positions where special consideration is required, and when the container moves between the positions, the container is inclined by giving a frictional force to the container by the support plate. Without this, the container can be moved smoothly.

[0014]

1 to 12 show an embodiment of a liquid food filling apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view of the entire apparatus, FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a filling machine,
3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the filling machine in a degassed state, FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the filling machine in an injection state, FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view of the filling machine at the end of the injection, and FIG. Front view of the drive unit,
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the support plate and its drive unit, partly cut away and viewed from the direction of the arrows AA '. 8A and 8B show a cleaning device, wherein FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view as viewed from the direction of the arrow BB ′ in FIG. 8B, and FIG. 8B is a partial cross-sectional view as viewed from the front. FIG.
FIG. 3A is a diagram illustrating a cap supply unit, FIG. 3A is an explanatory diagram viewed from the front, FIG. 3B is a diagram illustrating the inside of a circle in an enlarged manner, and FIG. 3C or FIG. FIG. 10 is a plan view of a main part of the cap screwing means, and FIG. 11 is a partial sectional view of the cap tightening device. FIG. 12 shows a container discharging means,
(A) is a plan view of a main part, and (b) is a front view of a main part.

As shown in FIG. 1, a container supply means 110 for supplying the empty bag-like container 10a from the hanger 20 to the filling apparatus 100 for liquid food according to the present invention.
Is provided. The container supply means 110 has a cross-sectional shape similar to that of the hanger 20, and a guide rail 110a that suspends and supports the flange 31 (see FIG. 13) of the container 10a by suspending the container 10a in FIG. And a pusher (not shown) which is pushed in the direction of the arrow. As a film constituting the container 10a, a laminated film of polyester, EVOH or aluminum foil, nylon, polyethylene or the like is preferably used.

At the end of the container supply means 110, a transport means 120 is arranged. This transport means 120
Has a disk-shaped transfer table 121 supported by a support shaft 122 and intermittently rotated in a counterclockwise direction. A plurality of U-shaped notches 123 for engaging the flange 31 of the opening 30 of the container 10a are provided on the outer periphery of the transfer table 121.
.. 123 are provided at predetermined intervals.

Along the outer circumference of the transfer table 121, the container supply station A, the container confirmation station B, the filling station C, the cleaning station D, and the cap supply station E are provided at intervals corresponding to the notches 123. , A cap fastening station F and a container removal station G are provided.

An annular transport guide 124 is provided along the outer periphery of the transport table 121 so as to be annular and horizontal, and guides the container 10 a being transported so as not to come off the transport table 121. The transfer guide 124 has cutouts 12 at positions corresponding to the container supply station A and the container removal station G for allowing introduction or discharge of the opening 30 of the container 10a.
5,125 are provided.

The support shaft 122 and the transport guide 124 are
It is supported on a base 130 shown in FIG. 6, and the transfer table 121, the support shaft 122, the transfer guide 124, and the base 130 constitute the transfer means 120 of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the devices arranged in each station will be described in order. The container supply station A includes:
The mouth 30 of the container 10a, which is located at the end of the container supply means 110 and is supplied by a pusher (not shown), is introduced through the cutout 125 of the transport guide 124,
The structure is such that the flange 31 of the container 10a is engaged with the notch 123 of the transfer table 121 to be suspended and supported. The container 10a is sequentially sent to the container checking station B, the filling station C, the washing station D, the cap supply station E, the cap tightening station F, and the container removing station G by the intermittent rotation of the transfer table 121. A container detection sensor (not shown) is arranged at the container confirmation station B, and confirms the presence or absence of the container 10a, and controls the operation of the subsequent steps.

Above filling station C, FIGS.
The filling machine 200 shown in FIG.
The injection port side is disposed at the mouth 30 of the container 10 a suspended from the container 23. The filling machine 200 is entirely moved up and down by a drive mechanism (not shown). The filling machine 200 includes a flow path 210a penetrating vertically.
And a branch pipe 212 which is connected to the middle of the outer cylinder 210 from the side and has a branch flow path 212a which communicates with the flow path 210a. The lower end of the outer cylinder 210 is provided with a container fitting port 211 that fits over the opening 30 of the container 10a from above when the filling machine 200 is lowered.

A ventilation pipe 220 is inserted into the outer cylinder 210 so as to be vertically slidable. The lower end of the ventilation pipe 220
An air nozzle 221 is provided. The upper end of the ventilation pipe 220 is connected to the air tube 223,
3 is a vacuum line 223 via the switching valve 222.
a and the compressed air line 223b. A rod 233 connected to an operating rod 231a of an air cylinder 231 installed above the filling machine 200 is inserted into the ventilation pipe 220.
Has a valve body 230 projecting from the air nozzle 221 of the ventilation pipe 220.

The operation of the air cylinder 231 causes the rod 2
33 is pushed out, the lower end of the rod 233 protrudes from the air nozzle 221, and the valve element 230 separates to release the air nozzle 2.
21 is in an open state. At this time, the ventilation pipe 22
The zero air nozzle 221 contacts the inner periphery of the container fitting port 211 at the lower end of the outer cylinder 210 to close the opening at the lower end of the outer cylinder 210. When the rod 233 is pulled up by the operation of the air cylinder 231, the valve body 2 at the lower end of the rod 233 is moved.
30 closes the air nozzle 221 of the ventilation pipe 220 and lifts the ventilation pipe 220.

Further, the outer diameter of the ventilation pipe 220 is reduced in the lower half, and the air nozzle 221 of the ventilation pipe 220 contacts the inner periphery of the container fitting port 211 at the lower end of the outer cylinder 210 in FIG.
In the states 3 and 5, the branch flow path 212a is closed and the ventilation pipe 2 is closed.
In the state of FIG.
a is opened to communicate with the flow path 210a. When the branch pipe 232 is lifted, the compression coil spring 232 arranged in the ventilation pipe 220 moves
The air nozzle 221 is provided to bias the air nozzle 221 upward to close the air nozzle 221.

As shown in FIG. 6 or 7, below the filling station C for the liquid food, a filling machine 200
When the liquid food is poured into the container 10a, a support plate 310 is provided so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the container 10a so as to be able to come and go.
The support plate 310 is disposed below the transfer table 121 in parallel with the transfer table 121 and at a filling station C.
To a cap supply station E. The material of the support plate 310 is, for example, synthetic resin or metal.
Any material can be used as long as it can withstand the weight of the contents. The support plate 310 may be disposed only below the filling station C, or may extend from the filling station C to the cap fastening station F. Further, the support plate 310 may be independently provided in each of the work stations C to F.

At the center of the lower surface of the support plate 310, a support rod 320 is provided to extend downward.
Two parallel arms 33 are provided at the center and the lower end of 20.
One end of 0,340 is rotatably connected. The other ends of the parallel arms 330 and 340 are rotatably connected to the upper end and the center of a column 350 erected on the base 130 of the apparatus. Furthermore, the upper parallel arm 33
The other end of the “0” extends in a V-shape toward the opposite side of the column 350, and forms an elevating lever 331 for moving the support bar 320 up and down.

On the other hand, the support shaft 12 of the transfer table 121
2, a rotary drum 140 provided with a cam groove 141 for guiding the vertical movement of the support rod 320 is provided on the outer periphery.
The cam lever 141 is provided coaxially so as to rotate integrally with the transfer table 211.
A cam follower 331a provided at the distal end of 31 is slidably fitted. By the cooperation of the cam groove 141 and the lift lever 331, the support rod 320 and the support plate 310 are moved up and down at a predetermined timing. The elevating height is such that the bottom of the container 10b filled with contents can be supported when ascending, and does not buffer the bottom of the container 10a when descending.

Subsequent to the liquid food filling station C, a washing station D for washing the container opening 30 filled with the contents is provided.

As shown in FIG. 8, above the washing station C, an annular and hollow inside washing machine 400 surrounding the outer periphery of the container opening 30 is provided on a support column 410 erected at the washing station C. The cleaning device 400 is supported via a support 411, and moves up and down by a drive mechanism (not shown) as indicated by imaginary lines in FIG. A conduit 420 with an electromagnetic valve for cleaning water is connected to the outer wall of the cleaning device 400. An inclined surface 430 that is inclined obliquely downward is provided on the inner periphery of the cleaning device 400, and a plurality of jets 431 431 of cleaning water are formed on the inclined surface 430. 431 are designed to be sprayed on the outer periphery of the mouth 30 of the container 10b filled with the contents.

Subsequent to the cleaning station D, a cap supply station E for placing a cap 40 on the cleaned container opening 30 is arranged. Above the cap supply station E, each container opening 30 is provided. Supply means 500 for supplying caps 40 one by one to
Is the mouth 3 of the container 10b conveyed at the supply end.
It is arranged toward zero.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the cap supply means 500 includes a box-shaped cap hopper 510 which is a storage container for the cap 40, and a cap hopper 5.
It comprises a vibration base 520 on which the hopper 10 is placed, and a cap shoot 530 extending obliquely downward from one side of the cap hopper 510. The cap hopper 510 is vibrated by the vibration base 520, and the cap hopper 5
The cap 40 in 10 is introduced into the passage 531 of the cap chute 530.

At the tip of the cap shoot 530, a holding piece 532 made of an elastic material for temporarily holding the cap 40 is provided, and the cap 40 that falls through the passage 531 of the cap shoot 530 is temporarily stopped. To be held. The inner periphery of the cap 40 held at the tip of the cap shoot 530 is provided with the opening 3 of the container 10b.
0 Cap shoot 53
0 is located. In addition, cap shoot 5
A guide plate 540 supported so as to be able to swing up and down is disposed adjacent to the distal end of 30.

Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 9B to 9D, the cap 40 held by the holding piece 532 of the cap shoot 530 is connected to the opening of the container 10b conveyed by the conveying means 120. It comes into contact with the distal end of the opening 30, comes out of the holding piece 532 made of an elastic material, and rests on the opening 30. In this state, when the container 10b is further transported, the cap 40
Is pressed down by contacting the guide plate 540, and is accurately covered with the mouth portion 30.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a cap screwing section 600 for screwing the cap 40 covering the container opening 30 is provided on the transport path between the cap supply station E and the cap tightening station F. Is provided. The cap screwing means 600 supports a support plate 640 bolted to the transport guide 124, a rubber pad 610 having one end supported on the support plate 640 via an adjustment piece 620, and supports the other end of the rubber pad 610. And a supporting tool 630 to be used. Adjusting piece 6
Reference numeral 20 is such that when the fixing screw is loosened, it slides in the radial direction with respect to the support plate 640, and the amount of protrusion in the radial direction can be adjusted. The support 630 urges the other end of the rubber pad 610 radially inward by the spring 631.

Accordingly, when the container 10b moves with the rotation of the transport table 121, the opening 30 of the container 10b
The cap 40 slidably contacts the rubber pad 610 and rotates as shown by the arrow in FIG. 10, and a certain amount of screwing is performed.

Subsequent to the cap supply station E, a cap tightening station F for completely tightening the cap 40, which has been screwed to some extent by the cap screw portion 600, into the container opening 30 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 11, above the cap tightening station F, the tightener 7 of the cap 40 is provided.
00 is provided. The tightening device 700 includes a support 71
0 has a cylindrical casing 701 vertically supported via an arm 711, and an air motor 732 with a torque clutch is disposed at a lower end thereof. The air motor 732 is supplied with air from an air supply pipe 733 provided at an upper portion and is driven to rotate. A cap chuck 731 removably fitted to the outer periphery of the cap 40 is attached to the rotation shaft of the air motor 732. The tightening device 700 is moved up and down by a drive mechanism (not shown) as shown by imaginary lines in the figure.

Therefore, when the container 10c covered with the cap 40 is moved and disposed at the cap tightening station F, the tightening device 700 is lowered, and the cap chuck 731 is fitted on the outer periphery of the cap 40. In this state, the air motor 732 rotates and the cap chuck 7
31 rotates and tightens the cap 40. When the winding is completed, the tightening device 70 is driven by a driving mechanism (not shown).
0 rises and the cap chuck 731 separates from the cap 40.

Subsequent to the cap tightening station F, the container 10c filled with the liquid food and sealed by the cap 40 is inserted into the notch 1 of the transfer table 121.
A container removal station G for removal from the container 23 is arranged.

The container removal station G is provided with a container discharging means 800 as shown in FIG. The container discharging means 800 includes an air cylinder 820 disposed radially above the transfer table 121,
A plate-shaped pusher 810 is connected to the operating rod and is moved forward and backward radially outward. The plate-shaped pusher 810 has a tip bent downward, and the cap 4 covered on the opening 30 of the container 10c.
0 from the inner peripheral side.

Accordingly, when the pusher 810 is pushed out by the action of the air cylinder 820, as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 12, the cap 40 of the container 10c is pushed outward, and the mouth 30 of the container 10c is closed. The sheet is discharged from the notch 123 of the transfer table 121.

The lifting and lowering operations of the filling machine 200, the washer 400, and the tightening device 700 may be independently performed by separate drive mechanisms, or some of the above may be performed simultaneously by the same drive mechanism. There may be.

Next, the operation of the liquid food filling device according to the present invention will be described. First, at the container supply station A shown in FIG. 1, an empty container 10 suspended and supported in alignment with the guide rail 110a of the container supply means 110 is provided.
a is pushed by a pusher (not shown), and each notch 1 of the transfer table 121 is moved from the tip of the guide rail 110a.
23 are inserted one by one in order, and their flanges 31 are suspended and supported by the notches 123. And
Due to the intermittent rotation of the transfer table 121, the sheet is sequentially sent to each of the container checking station B, filling station C, washing station D, cap supply station E, cap tightening station F, and container removing station G.

In the container confirmation station B, the presence or absence of the container 10a suspended in each notch 123 is confirmed by a container detection sensor (not shown), and the operation of each device disposed in the subsequent station is controlled. That is, the container 10
When the notch 123 where a is not confirmed comes, the filling machine 200, the washer 400, the tightening device 700 and the like are not operated.

Next, at the filling station C, first, when the empty container 10a is conveyed and the transfer table 121 stops, the filling machine 200 shown in FIG. The mouth 30 is covered from above. At this time, the ventilation pipe 220 is connected to the air cylinder 231.
, The lower end of the ventilation pipe 220 comes into contact with the inner periphery of the container fitting port 211, and the flow path 210a is closed. Further, the rod 233 is pushed downward, and the valve element 230 is separated from the air nozzle 221 of the ventilation pipe 220,
The air nozzle 221 is open.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching valve 222 of the air tube 223 is connected to the vacuum line 223a.
The air in the container 10a is sucked and discharged through the air tube 223 as shown by the arrow in FIG.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the air from remaining in the container 10a and to prevent the air from coming out, and it is possible to fill the liquid food to every corner in the container 10a.

When the inside of the container 10a is sufficiently evacuated, FIG.
As shown in the figure, the rod 233 of the air cylinder 231 is pulled up, and the air nozzle 2 of the ventilation pipe 220 is
21 is closed, and the ventilation pipe 220 is lifted upward to open the container fitting port 211. At this time, the reduced diameter portion of the ventilation pipe 220 opens the outlet of the branch channel 212a.
As a result, the branch flow path 212a of the branch pipe 212 and the outer cylinder 2
10 communicates with the flow path 210a in the
The leading end of “a” is opened at the container fitting opening 211. Then, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 4, a predetermined amount of liquid food is fed from a not-shown quantitative supply device through the branch channel 212a and the channel 210a.
0a is filled through the mouth 30.

When a predetermined amount of the liquid food is filled, the rod 30 of the air cylinder 231 is pushed downward as shown in FIG.
11 is closed, and the valve element 230 is opened again. Subsequently, the switching valve 222 of the air tube 223 is switched to the compressed air line 223b side, and compressed air is injected into the container 10a via the air tube 223 as shown by an arrow in FIG.
As a result, all the liquid food left in the mouth 30 of the container 10a or the like is pushed into the main body of the container 10a.

When the filling operation of the liquid food is completed in this way, the entire filling machine 200 is raised, and the container fitting opening 211 is removed from the opening 30 of the container 10a. After that, the container 10a is carried to the next washing station D by the rotation of the transfer table 121.

At the time of this filling operation, the container 10a is supported below the transfer table 121 by the support plate 310 shown in FIGS. That is, the transport table 12
The rotation of the rotary drum 140 with the rotation of the cam follower 33 causes the cam follower 33 to fit into the cam groove 141 formed on the outer periphery thereof.
1a moves up and down, and swings up and down the lever 331 and the parallel arm 330 integrated therewith. As a result, the parallel arms 330 and 340 forming the parallel link are
10 is moved up and down.

The lifting operation of the support plate 310 is performed when the transport table 121 is intermittently rotated and the containers 10 held in the notches 123 are arranged in the respective stations and temporarily stopped, and the transport table 121 is moved to the next position. The timing is set so that it descends when rotating to send to the station. For this reason, when the empty container 10a moves to the filling station C and stops, the support plate 310 stops at the raised position and contacts the bottom of the container 10a to support it.

As described above, when the liquid food is filled into the container 10a and the pressing force of the liquid food is released, the flexible bag-shaped container 10a hangs down due to the weight of the liquid food and flattened. Although there is a possibility that the liquid food may be spilled from the mouth 30, in the present invention, since the support plate 310 supports the bottom of the container 10a as described above, it is possible to prevent the spill from occurring immediately after filling.

It should be noted that the spilling of the liquid food is prevented by the container 10
a, which often occurs at the time of impact, such as immediately after the liquid food is filled and the pressing force of the liquid food is released, or when the container 10a is transported to the next station and stopped. There is little chance of spilling while moving. During the movement of the container 10a, the support plate 310
When the abutment is in contact with the bottom of the container 10a, the container 10a may be tilted.
10 descends and moves away from the bottom of the container 10a.

In this embodiment, the support plate 310 extends in a fan shape from the filling station C to the cap supply station E.
In addition, the washing station D and the cap supply station E, which will be described later, also support the bottom of the container 10a to prevent spillage due to impact or the like.

Next, when the container 10b filled with the liquid food moves to the washing station D and stops, the annular washing machine 400 shown in FIG.
The plurality of injection ports 431...
Point to the outer circumference of 0. In that state, the injection ports 431... 4
The washing water is sprayed from 31 and sprayed on the outer periphery of the mouth 30 of the container 10b to wash and remove the liquid food adhered to the outer periphery of the mouth 30. Thereby, the cap 40 and the mouth 3
Between 0 and 0, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of dirt and the like. When the cleaning is completed, the cleaning device 400 moves up and returns to the original position.

Next, the container 10b filled with the liquid food
Moves to the cap supply station E and stops,
As shown in FIGS. 9B to 9D, the cap supply means 5
At the lower end of the cap chute 530 of 00, the cap 40 held by the holding piece 532 collides with the upper end of the mouth part 30, comes out of the holding piece 532 made of an elastic material, and rests on the upper part of the mouth part 30. Further, as the container 10b advances through the cap supply station E, the upper surface of the cap 40
The pressing force is applied by contacting the guide plate 540 disposed adjacent to the cap chute 530, and the pressing force is accurately applied to the mouth portion 30 as shown in FIG.

Next, the container 10 covered with the cap 40
When c moves between the cap feeding station E and the cap tightening station F, the cap 40 is slid against the inner peripheral surface of the rubber pad 610 of the cap screwing means 600 as shown in FIG. The rubber pad 610 is rotated by the frictional force of the rubber pad 610 as shown by the arrow in FIG. This allows
Since the cap 40 is screwed to the mouth 30, there is no possibility that the cap 40 will come off.

Further, when the container 10c moves to the cap tightening station F and stops, the tightening device 700 shown in FIG. 11 is lowered, and the cap chuck 731 is fitted on the outer periphery of the cap 40. And the air motor 73
2, the cap chuck 731 is rotated, and the cap 40 is wound and tightened with a predetermined torque. When the tightening is completed in this manner, the tightening device 700 moves up and returns to the original position.

Finally, when the container 10c moves to the container removal station G and stops, the air cylinder 820 of the container discharging means 800 shown in FIG. 12 is actuated to push out the pusher 810 and remove the cap 40 of the container 10c. Push radially outward to cut out the notch 1
Extrude from 23. As a result, the container 10c is removed from the transport table 121, discharged through the cutout portion 125 of the transport guide 124, and slid down onto an inclined shooter (not shown).

As described above, the filling and sealing operation of the liquid food container can be automatically performed, and the flowable food can be prevented from being spilled at the time of filling when the flexible bag-shaped container is used. Can be.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention,
When filling the liquid food into the flexible bag-shaped container, the bottom of the container is supported by the support plate, so the flexible container extends up and down by the weight of the liquid food, and The inconvenience of the food spilling out of the mouth can be avoided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an entire apparatus showing a liquid food filling apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of a filling machine in the present apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of the filling machine in a degassing state in the present apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of a filling machine in an injection state in the present apparatus,

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the filling machine at the end of the injection in the present apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a support plate and a driving unit thereof in the present apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway view of a part of the support plate in the present apparatus.
3 is a plan view as viewed from the direction of the arrows AA ′ of FIG.

FIG. 8 shows a cleaning device in the present apparatus, wherein (a) shows (b)
(B) is a partial cross-sectional view as seen from the front, as viewed from the direction of the arrow BB '.

FIG. 9 shows cap supply means in the present apparatus;
(A) is a front view, (b) is an enlarged view of a circle,
(C), (d) is a figure which shows a supply state.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a main part of a cap screwing means in the present apparatus.

FIG. 11 is a partial cross-sectional view of a cap tightener in the present apparatus.

FIG. 12 shows container discharging means in the present apparatus, and (a)
FIG. 3B is a plan view of a main part, and FIG.

13A and 13B show an example of a general gusset-type bag-shaped container, wherein FIG. 13A is a perspective view, and FIG. 13B is a partial cross-sectional view in a transport state.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10a, 10b, 10c Container 30 Mouth 31 Flange 40 Cap 40 100 Filling device 110 Container supply means 120 Transport means 121 Transport table 122 Support shaft 123 Notch 124 Transport guide 125 Cutout 130 Base 140 Rotary drum 141 Cam groove 200 Filling machine 210 Outer cylinder 210a Flow path 211 Container fitting port 212 Branch pipe 212a Branch flow path 220 Vent pipe 221 Air nozzle 222 Switching valve 223 Air tube 223a Vacuum line 223b Compressed air line 230 Valve element 231 and 820 Air cylinder 232 Compression coil spring 233 Rod 310 Support plate 320 Support rod 330, 340 Parallel arm 350, 410, 710 Support post 331 Lifting lever 400 Washer 411 Supporter 420 Conduit 430 Inclined surface 431 Orifice 500 Cap supply means 510 Cap hopper 520 Vibration base 530 Cap shot 531 Passage 532 Holding piece 540 Guide plate 600 Cap screwing means 610 Rubber pad 620 Adjusting piece 630 Supporting tool 640 Substrate 700 Clamping device 701 Casing 731 Cap chuck Section 732 Air motor 733 Air supply pipe 800 Container discharge means 810 Pusher A Container supply station B Container confirmation station C Filling station D Washing station E Cap supply station F Cap tightening station G Container removal station

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shinji Matsui 11-50 Minami Fukamachi, Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture Morinaga Confectionery Co., Ltd. 50 Morinaga & Co., Ltd. Mishima Plant

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for filling a flowable food with a flexible bag-shaped container having a mouth having a flange, wherein the flange of the mouth of the container is engaged. Transport means for transporting the container in a suspended state, at a predetermined position of a transport path by the transport means, a filling machine for filling the liquid food from the mouth of the container, and below a filling position by the filling machine. A support plate that is disposed and that comes into contact with the lower surface of the container so that the liquid food can be poured into the container from the filling machine; and a cap that supplies and covers a cap on the mouth of the container. An apparatus for filling a liquid food, comprising: a supply unit; and a tightening unit that screws the cap into the mouth of the container and tightens the container. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support plate is disposed below a filling position of the conveying path by the filling machine, a cap supplying position by the cap supplying unit, and a cap tightening position by the tightening unit. Item 6. A filling device for a liquid food according to Item 1. 3. The support plate according to claim 1, wherein the container is disposed at a position on the transport path where the container is filled by the filling machine, a position where the cap is supplied by the cap supply unit, and a position where the cap is closed by the fastening unit. The liquid food filling device according to claim 1, which is in contact with a bottom portion of the container.