JPH11310297A - Beverage filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately fill a container with beverage within a short period of time. SOLUTION: There is provided a beverage filling device in which beverage stored in a tank 11 is filled into each of containers 4 from a plurality of nozzles 2 fixed to a rotating filling head 1 during its transferring process, wherein a valve 7 with its degree of opening being varied continuously by a motor 9 to attain an optional degree of opening set is installed for every nozzle 2. There are provided control devices 13, 15 in which a control signal is sent to each of the valves 7 individually to control a degree of opening of each of the valves 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a filling device for filling beverages such as juices and teas into containers in a conveying process in a prescribed amount.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art It is well known that beverages of this type are sold in containers such as PET bottles. The filling process has recently been performed in an environment maintained in a sterile state. Specifically, the rotary head is arranged so that the vertical axis rotates tall, and a number of filling nozzles provided with an opening / closing valve are radially provided on the rotary head, and the filling nozzle is rotated by rotating the rotary head. A conveyor line for containers such as PET bottles is installed below the swirling circumference of the container, and the beverage sent from the tank is discharged from the filling nozzle toward the container by opening and closing the valve appropriately, and the amount Is configured to close the valve when the volume of the container becomes an amount corresponding to the container.

[0003] Conventionally, such a control of the filling amount of the beverage is performed by:
The on / off control of the opening / closing valve provided for each filling nozzle is performed and the full opening time is managed. Further, as another conventional control example, a method of temporarily setting the open / close valve to an intermediate state between fully open and fully closed, and changing the opening of the open / close valve in two stages to control the filling amount of the beverage, It is conventionally known to detect an average value of the amount of beverage actually filled in a container and correct the opening degree of the valve or the time of the open state in accordance with a deviation from a target amount.

[0004]

The filling time of the beverage in the container greatly affects the production efficiency of the product,
It is required to increase the transport speed of the container and at the same time to fill the beverage at a high speed. In order to satisfy such demands, it has been attempted to increase the opening diameter of the nozzle and increase the fully open degree of the on-off valve. However, as described above, the on-off valve is suddenly changed from the fully closed state to the fully open state. When the pressure is changed to, bubbles may be generated in the beverage due to a sudden decrease in the pressure of the discharged beverage, and this may be detected as a part of the flow rate, so that the accuracy of controlling the filling amount may be deteriorated. Also, because the beverage is suddenly sent to the container,
Foaming occurs inside the container and foams out of the container when the filling is completed. As a result, the amount of filling is inconsistent, and further, there is a disadvantage that the equipment is contaminated. Further, since the change in the opening degree is abrupt, there is a disadvantage that a water hammer is generated.

On the other hand, in the method in which the opening degree of the opening / closing valve is changed in two steps, the change in the opening degree is lessened than in the above example, so that the water hammer can be suppressed to some extent. If the full opening degree of the on-off valve is increased to fill the required amount, the change in the opening degree when the on-off valve is closed must be sharp even if it is closed in two stages. Therefore, variation in the filling amount occurs, and in order to correct this, it is necessary to reduce the full opening degree of the on-off valve or lengthen the maintenance time of the temporarily set intermediate opening degree, Eventually, high-speed filling becomes difficult.

Further, in a system in which the actual filling amount of a container is detected, the average filling amount of a predetermined sampling number is determined, and the opening degree of the opening / closing valve or the time of the open state is corrected, the variation of the filling amount of the beverage is reduced. Although it can be corrected, since the opening and closing control of the opening and closing valve is performed by any of the above-described methods, there is a limit to speeding up the operation of filling the beverage.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which enables high-speed filling of a beverage into a container.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a beverage contained in a tank is conveyed from a plurality of nozzles attached to a rotating filling head. In a beverage filling device for filling a container in the process, a valve whose opening is continuously changed by a motor and set to an arbitrary opening is provided for each nozzle, and each valve is individually controlled. A control device for sending a signal to control the opening of each valve is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first aspect, a flow meter for detecting an amount of beverage flowing through each nozzle and outputting an electric signal is provided for each nozzle. Control means for controlling the opening degree of a valve corresponding to the nozzle provided with the flow meter in accordance with the amount detected by the meter is provided in the control device.

Further, the invention of claim 3 provides the above-mentioned claim 1.
Alternatively, in addition to the configuration of claim 2, means for calculating an average value of the flow rate for each container detected by at least one of the flow meters, and pressure adjustment for controlling the internal pressure of the tank based on the calculation result. Means is further provided.

Therefore, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the opening degree of the valve at the start of filling can be changed little by little, so that bubbles may be generated in the beverage in the pipeline including the nozzle,
The beverage can be prevented from foaming in the container. Immediately thereafter, the valve opening is rapidly increased to perform quick filling. At that time, the entire pipe is filled with the beverage, and the container is already filled with the beverage to some extent. Therefore, even if the valve opening is rapidly increased, no bubbles are generated.
Then, when the filling amount approaches the target amount, the valve opening can be reduced and the flow rate can be reduced, so that the flow rate control at the end of filling becomes accurate, and as a result, the overall filling amount can be controlled accurately. Can be. Therefore, the valve opening from immediately after the start of filling to immediately before the end thereof can be increased, and the valve opening can be changed at a high speed without causing an error in the filling amount due to bubbles or the like, thereby shortening the filling time. It becomes possible.

[0012] In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the opening of the valve is controlled based on the amount of the beverage flowing through the nozzle, the flow rate control of the beverage becomes more accurate.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, the influence on the flow rate or the filling amount due to the change of the back pressure acting on the beverage can be eliminated, so that the control accuracy of the filling amount is further improved.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Next, the present invention will be described based on a specific example shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 schematically shows the overall configuration, in which a plurality of nozzles 2 are attached to a filling head 1. The filling head 1 is arranged so as to rotate about a vertical axis A in FIG. 1, and its rotation is driven by a motor (not shown). The nozzles 2 are open toward the lower side of the filling head 1, and the arrangement pitch of the nozzles 2 matches the interval between the containers 4 on the transport line 3 installed in an arc shape below the filling head 1. Is set to Here, the container 4 may be an appropriate one such as a plastic bottle or a bottle.

On the other hand, a distribution head 5 is provided at the center of rotation of the filling head 1. The distribution head 5 is a hollow container through which all the nozzles 2 communicate, and includes a supply pipe 6 arranged along the vertical axis A.
Between the distribution head 5 and each nozzle 2, a control valve 7 and an electromagnetic flow meter 8 are provided for each nozzle 2.

The control valve 7 is of an appropriate type such as a rotary valve, a gate valve or a butterfly valve. The control valve 7 is controlled by a servomotor 9 so that the opening can be set to an arbitrary opening. It is configured. More specifically, the servo motor 9 is configured to be pulse-controlled, and the servo valve 9
A speed reducer (not shown) is interposed between the control valve 7 and the control valve 7, and as a result, the opening of the control valve 7 can be slightly changed every pulse. The electromagnetic flow meter 8 is configured to electrically detect the amount of fluid (ie, beverage) flowing therein and output an electric signal.

The lower end of the supply pipe 6 is connected to a rotary joint 1 provided at the center of the lower portion of the filling head 1.
Connected to 0. In addition, this rotary joint 1
0 is connected to a tank 11 containing a beverage.
The tank 11 is configured so that the internal pressure can be adjusted.
It is attached to 1. The pressure regulating valve 12 is provided with a pneumatic converter, and outputs an electric signal corresponding to the internal pressure, and operates by the electric signal to operate the tank 1.
1 is configured to set the internal pressure to the indicated pressure.

Further, a servo drive controller 13 for controlling the servo motor 9 is provided.
Further, a pulse counter 14 is provided which integrates the flow rate detected by the electromagnetic flow meter 8 as a pulse signal and outputs the integrated value as an electric signal. The servo drive controller 13 and the pulse counter 14 are electrically connected to a CPU controller 15 having a central processing unit (CPU). Further, a transmission / reception card 16 is provided for transmitting / receiving data to / from the CPU controller 15.

A rotary connector 17 for a power supply and a signal is provided at a rotation center position above the filling head 1.
Are mounted, and each transmission / reception card 16 provided corresponding to each nozzle 2 is connected to this rotary connector 17, and each CPU controller 15, each servo drive controller 13, and the servo motor 9 are connected to the rotary connector 17 from the rotary connector 17. Wiring is provided to the electromagnetic flow meter 8 for power supply.

A main CPU controller 1 for controlling the whole system at a position away from the filling head 1 described above.
8 are provided. This main CPU controller 1
A transmission / reception card 19 is attached to 8, and this transmission / reception card 19 is connected to each transmission / reception card 16 in the filling head 1 via the rotary connector 17 so as to be able to perform data communication.

The operation of the above-described filling device will be described below. The filling head 1 and the transfer line 3 operate in synchronization, and the turning speed of the nozzle 2 and the transfer speed of the container 4 match. Then, the container 4 is transported so as to travel together with the nozzle 2 during a part of the rotation of the nozzle 2. When the container 4 on the transport line 3 coincides with one of the nozzles 2, the control valve 7 corresponding to the nozzle 2 is opened to start filling the beverage. That is, the internal pressure of the tank 11 is set to a pressure slightly higher than the pressure drop due to the difference between the head pressure with the nozzle 2 and the line resistance. The liquid is supplied to the nozzle 2 through the container, and the container 4 is filled with the beverage from here. Immediately before the container 4 leaves from below the nozzle 2 filled with the beverage, the control valve 7
Is closed, and the filling of the beverage ends.

The control of the opening of the control valve 7 for filling a prescribed amount of beverage into the container 4 in the transport process in this way is performed as follows. FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control. First, the valve opening degree characteristic is set according to the kind of the beverage, the filling amount in the container 4, and the like (step 1). The valve opening characteristic is calculated based on the target opening θo for each time t or the target opening θo for each integrated flow rate Q detected by the electromagnetic flow meter 8.
Which can be determined experimentally in advance. In particular, the generation of air bubbles in the pipeline due to the pressure drop when the control valve 7 is opened and the bubbling at the start of the inflow of the beverage into the container 4 are avoided. The opening degree characteristic is set such that the filling is not performed or the beverage remains inside the nozzle 2 due to surface tension.

The data of the target opening degree θo is output from the CPU controller 15 to the servo drive controller 13, and the servo drive 9 of the control valve 7 is controlled by the servo drive controller 13 based on the data. Actual opening θ1 of control valve 7 in that case
Is detected (step 2), the detected value θ1 is input to the servo drive controller 13, and a deviation Δθ from the target opening θo is obtained (step 3). Then, the opening of the control valve 7 is corrected and controlled so that the deviation Δθ becomes zero (step 4).

Therefore, the opening of the control valve 7 is feedback-controlled, and almost always coincides with the target opening. Since the target opening is set as described above, the amount of beverage flowing through the control valve 7 and the nozzle 2 matches the assumed flow rate. That is, since the opening degree of the control valve 7 is set to a low opening degree at the start of filling, bubbles are not generated in the pipeline including the electronic flow meter 8 and the bubbles are not counted in the flow rate. Since the bubbling inside the container 4 is prevented or suppressed, the flow rate of the beverage, that is, the filling amount of the container 4 can be accurately matched with the target value. Therefore, even if the opening of the control valve 7 is increased in geometric progression, the difference between the assumed target value and the actual flow rate is reduced. Even if the control valve 7 is opened to a large opening degree in a short time, the deviation from the target flow rate is reduced. This is the same when the control valve 7 is closed, and therefore, the control valve 7 is closed.
The filling amount of the beverage in the container 4 at the time when the is closed exactly matches the target value. In particular, when the control valve 7 is closed, the change in the opening degree can be finely adjusted, so that the rate of change in the flow rate is moderated. Can be prevented beforehand from being left so that the quantity of the beverage at the time of the next filling becomes erroneous.

As described above, the beverage is pressurized by the pressure in the tank 11 and sent to the nozzle 2 where it is filled into the container 4. Therefore, the flow rate is affected by the internal pressure of the tank 11. Therefore, the above-described filling device according to the present invention controls the internal pressure of the tank 11 as described below. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the control.
Q is determined (step 11). This may be an integrated value for all the nozzles 2 or may be an integrated value for a predetermined specific nozzle 2.
The integrated number is the amount of the beverage filled in a predetermined number of containers 4. Therefore, the control routine shown in FIG. 3 is executed by interruption processing at regular time intervals.

The average filling amount Q1 is obtained by dividing the filling amount ΔQ integrated in step 11 by the number n of the containers 4 from which the amount has been obtained (step 12). Then the average filling amount Q1
ΔQ between the target filling quantity Qo for one container 4 and
(= Qo-Q1) is calculated (step 13). Then, the internal pressure of the tank 11 is corrected according to the deviation ΔQ (step 14). This is performed by outputting an electric signal from the main CPU controller 18 to the pneumatic converter to control the opening and closing of the pressure regulating valve 12 or controlling the opening degree. The adjustment of the pressure in this case is performed by the deviation ΔQ
Is a negative value, the internal pressure of the tank 11 is reduced,
On the other hand, if the deviation ΔQ is a positive value, the internal pressure of the tank 11 is increased. The relationship between the pressure correction value and the deviation ΔQ can be experimentally obtained in advance and prepared as a map.

In the above specific example, the filling amount of the container 4 is the amount detected by the electromagnetic flow meter 8, but the actual filling amount of the container 4 is measured by a sampling inspection of the container after the filling of the beverage is completed. You may do it. In addition, the opening degree characteristic of the control valve 7 is determined by the main C
It can be configured so that it is input to the PU controller 18 in advance, and the opening degree characteristic corresponding to the selection of the type of beverage is read out to perform control. The adjustment of the internal pressure of the tank 11 (that is, the back pressure of the beverage) can be performed by supplying and discharging an inert gas such as a nitrogen gas.

[0028]

As described above, according to the filling device of the present invention, the opening degree of the valve for supplying the beverage to the container is controlled even in the transient state, and the generation of bubbles and the flow rate measurement caused by the bubble generation are controlled. In contrast to the conventional so-called on-off control, the flow rate of the beverage can be accurately controlled, and as a result, even if the valve opening degree is increased in a short time, the filling amount of the beverage into the container can be reduced. Variation does not occur, or variation can be suppressed slightly.
That is, according to the apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to accurately fill the beverage in a short time, and it is possible to improve the production efficiency of the beverage product filled in the container. In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, since the opening degree of the valve is controlled based on the amount of the beverage flowing through the nozzle, the flow rate control of the beverage becomes more accurate. Further, according to the third aspect of the invention, the influence on the flow rate or the filling amount due to the change in the back pressure acting on the beverage can be eliminated, so that the filling amount control accuracy is further improved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific example of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart for explaining a control example of an opening degree of a control valve provided for each nozzle.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of controlling an internal pressure of a tank containing a beverage.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Filling head, 2. Nozzle, 3. Transport line,
4 ... container, 7 ... control valve, 8 ... electromagnetic flow meter, 9
... servo valve, 11 ... tank, 12 ... pressure regulating valve, 13 ... servo drive controller, 15 ... C
PU controller.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Shigezo Sawada 400 Kitawaki, Kitawaki, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside the Company (72) Inventor Yukio Kusagaya 400 Kitawaki, Shimizu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside the Kinjo Machinery Company (72) Invention Person Hironari Kano 3513-1 Fukachi, Misaki-cho, Sennan-gun, Osaka Inside the Nippon Machinery Co., Ltd. Cape Plant

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A beverage filling device for filling beverages contained in a tank from a plurality of nozzles attached to a rotating filling head into a container in a conveying process, wherein an opening degree is continuously changed by a motor. A valve that is set to an arbitrary opening is provided for each of the nozzles, and a control device that individually sends a control signal to each valve to control the opening of each valve is provided. Beverage filling device. 2. A flow meter for detecting an amount of beverage flowing through each nozzle and outputting an electric signal is provided for each nozzle, and the flow meter is provided according to the amount detected by the flow meter. The beverage filling device according to claim 1, wherein a control means for controlling an opening degree of a valve corresponding to the nozzle is provided in the control device. 3. The apparatus further comprises means for calculating an average value of the flow rate of each container detected by at least one of the flow meters, and pressure adjusting means for controlling the internal pressure of the tank based on the calculation result. The beverage filling device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: