JPS6133919A - Liquid filler in packaging machine - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a packaging machine, and more particularly to a packaging machine that supplies containers to a conveyor and performs the required packaging operations while the containers are being conveyed by the conveyor. This invention relates to a liquid filling device for filling containers with fluid foods, etc. in machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Hygiene control is generally strongly required for machines that handle food. For this purpose, a container transport conveyor is known in which the entire container conveyor is surrounded by a closed chamber so that the minimum necessary space is isolated from the outside air and packaging operations can be carried out in that space.

However, in the above-mentioned packaging machine, the operating parts of the series of devices for carrying out the required packaging operations for the containers extend into the chamber, and therefore, a great deal of effort is required to clean and sterilize these parts.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The object of the present invention is to provide a liquid photonic device that can clean and sterilize each part of the liquid photonic device with the minimum necessary effort in the above-mentioned packaging machine. .

Structure of the Invention The liquid optical packing device according to the present invention is a packaging machine equipped with a sealed chamber that completely surrounds a container conveyor. a filling nozzle whose lower end opens in a chamber; and an elevating body disposed below the filling nozzle and having a filling stroke for lifting a container conveyed by a conveyor directly below the filling nozzle to a position where the filling nozzle is inserted therein. A sterilizing steam supply pipe is connected to the filling liquid tank, and a steam exhaust passage and an upward nozzle connection port are formed in the elevating body, and the nozzle connection port is filled and the lower end opening of the nozzle is connected to the filling liquid tank. The elevating body is adapted to be raised and lowered to a position further above the upper limit position of the filling stroke so that it can be connected to the filling stroke.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following explanation, front and rear refers to the side where the container is fed (the front perpendicular to the plane of the paper with reference to Fig. 1), the opposite side is referred to as rear, and left and right refers to the direction towards the rear.

The liquid optical device is a packaging machine equipped with a sealed chamber (2) that completely surrounds a container conveyor (1).
The filling liquid tank (3) is located above the chamber (2).
), and a filling nozzle (4) whose upper end communicates with the filling tank (3) and whose lower end opens into the chamber (2).
and a filling stroke for lifting the container (C), which is disposed below the filling nozzle (4) and has been conveyed by the conveyor (1) immediately below, to a position where the filling nozzle (4) is inserted therein. It is equipped with an elevating body (5), and a sterilizing steam supply pipe (
6) is connected to the elevating body (5), and a steam exhaust passage (7) and an upward nozzle connection port (8) communicating with the steam exhaust passage (7).
is formed and fills the nozzle connection port (8).
) The elevating body (5) can be raised and lowered to a position further above the upper limit position of the filling stroke so that it can be connected to the lower end opening of the filling stroke.

The container conveyor (1) is a chain conveyor that circulates in a vertical plane, and includes a pair of left and right end chains (9) and a large number of slats (10) held between both chains (9). It is equipped with Five through holes (11) are formed at predetermined intervals in the length direction of each slat (10), into which a cup-shaped container (C) is inserted and held.

The chamber (2) is a rectangular box that is long in the front and rear directions from the plane, and the inside thereof is filled with clean air that has been sterilized to an extent that substantially guarantees an effective product life. Although not shown, a series of devices for carrying out required packaging operations are arranged from the rear to the front on the top wall of the chamber (2). The working part of the device group for the container (C) extends into the chamber (2). Chamber (2
) In the parts where each operating part of the device group passes through, bellows are used for the parts where the operating part performs reciprocating linear movement.
For parts that perform rotational movement, oil seals and mechanical seals are used to completely block ventilation between the inside and outside of the chamber (2).

The filling liquid tank (3) consists of a cylindrical body (12) with an axis extending in the left-right direction, and a lid (13) with a glass window that closes both open ends of the cylindrical body (12). A thermometer (14) is attached to the top of the filling liquid tank (3) by passing vertically through its left end, and a cleaning liquid supply pipe (15) with a spray ball and a clean air supply are installed to the right of the thermometer (14). Pipe (1
6) are connected to each other. The sterilizing steam supply pipe (6) vertically passes through the right end top wall of the tank (3). Further, the steam supply pipe (6) also serves as a filling liquid supply pipe. The bottom of the fill tank (3) forms part of the top wall of the chamber (2). Therefore, the lower surface of the bottom faces the inside of the chamber (2). A number of discharge ports (11) corresponding to the containers (C) inserted and held in the through holes (11) formed in each slat (1o) are formed on the bottom at predetermined intervals in the left and right direction. and each outlet (11
), vertically with the bottom of the cylinder (1).
8) are connected to each other. Filling cylinder (18
) are provided with check valves (19N20) at the upper and lower ends, respectively. As shown in detail in FIG. 3, a bottomed cylindrical metering cylinder (21) is integrally provided at the rear of the multi-photon cylinder (18).

The upper end of the metering cylinder (21) penetrates the bottom of the filling liquid tank (3) and projects above it. The metering cylinder (21) is connected to the filling cylinder (
18), and communicates with the intermediate part of the height of the piston (23).
Built-in. The piston (23) is provided with a piston rod (24) which is integrally suspended from the upper part of the piston (23). The rod (24) extends vertically inside the filling liquid tank (3), passes through the top of the tank, and projects upward.

A through hole (25) is formed in the portion of the filling liquid tank (3) through which the rod (24) passes, and a flanged cylinder (26) is attached to close the through hole (25). The rod (24) is slidably fitted into the cylindrical body (26) and further protrudes upward, and has a sliding rod (24) at the protruding end.
7) are connected. A guide hole (28) is formed upward from the lower end of the sliding rod (27), and a guide hole (28) is formed in the sliding rod (27).
The outer peripheral surfaces of the flange-equipped cylinder (26) are slidably fitted together. A double-structured external ventilation blocking cylinder (29) is fitted onto the outer peripheral surface of the roughly sliding rod (27) via a bearing (30). The sliding rod (27) is connected to the external cylinder (2
9) Projects upward. An actuation mechanism (32) is connected to the protruding end via a connecting rod (31).

The operating mechanism (32) is keyed to a horizontal rotation shaft (34) that is supported at the top of the filling liquid tank (3) via a bracket (33) and extends in the left-right direction, and a horizontal rotation wheel (34). The mounting boss (35) and the rear end are the mounting boss (35)
an arm (31) having an inner enlarged groove (36) fixed to the arm and extending forward and extending in the length direction;
a threaded rod (39) that is fitted in the length direction of 36) and is rotatably supported and has a handle (3B) at the rear end; The screw body (40) is movably fitted and has the upper end of the connecting rod (31) attached thereto. A drive arm (41) is fixed to the horizontal rotating wheel (34) facing backward, and a lifting rod (42) is attached to the rear end of the drive arm (41).
) are connected at the top.

When the drive arm (41) is swung by the lifting rod (42) and the horizontal rotation shaft (34) is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the arm (31) is rotated via the mounting boss (35) accordingly.
swings around the horizontal rotation wheel (34).

Then, the sliding rod (27) is connected to the piston via the threaded rod (39), the screw body (40), and the connecting rod (31).
It moves up and down together with the rod (24) and piston (23). When the piston (23) rises, the upper check valve (19)
is opened and the filling liquid in the filling liquid tank (3) flows from the tank (3) into the metering cylinder (18), and when the piston (23) descends, the lower check valve (20) is opened and the filling liquid is metered. The filling liquid in the cylinder (18) is
) flows out from the bottom end.

By rotating the handle (38), the threaded rod (
39), the screw body will follow this.

(40) moves. Then, the connecting rod (31)
The horizontal rotation axis (34) of the arm (37) relative to the mounting end of the arm (37)
) changes the radius of rotation around the center. This allows fine adjustment of the filling amount.

A valve opening/closing rod (43) is provided directly above the upper check valve (19) at a predetermined distance from the upper end of the valve stem of the check valve (19). The valve opening/closing rod (43) is a piston/
A through hole (44) extends vertically in front of the rod (24) and is bored at the top of the filling liquid tank (3).
) and a flanged cylindrical body (45) attached to the top of the flanged body (45) so as to close the flanged cylinder body (45). Its protruding end is connected to a sliding rod (46). The sliding rod (46), like the sliding rod (27) connected to the piston rod (24) described above, is connected to the flanged cylinder (4).
The bearing (48) is attached to the external cylinder (47) that is placed over the
), and a guide hole (49) is formed which is fitted into the outer peripheral surface of the former cylinder (45). The upper half of the sliding rod (46) protrudes above the external cylinder (47), and the upper cylinder (50) is connected to the upper end of the external cylinder (47) so as to cover this protrusion. ) is installed. A fluid pressure cylinder (51) is vertically attached to the top of the upper cylinder (50). Fluid pressure cylinder (51
) is a rod (52) (53) that protrudes upward and downward from its body.
)have. The lower rod (53) is connected to the connecting member (54
) to the upper end of the sliding rod (46). A U-shaped member (55) is fitted onto the upper rod (52), and two nuts (56) are screwed above this with a predetermined gap. When the fluid pressure cylinder (51) is operated in this state, the nut (56) acts as a stopper, and both rods (52H53) move up and down with a stroke corresponding to the gap. When the fluid pressure cylinder (51) is operated with the U-shaped member (55) removed from the upper rod (52), both rods (52) are moved with a stroke equal to the same gap plus the thickness of the U-shaped member (55).
(53) goes up and down. With the former stroke, both rods (5
When the 2H53) is raised or lowered, the upper and lower check valves (1g
) (20), only the upper check valve (19) is opened and closed. When both rods (52) and (53) are raised and lowered in the latter stroke, both the upper and lower check valves (19) and (20) are opened and closed.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, the filling nozzle (4) includes a cylindrical nozzle body (58) connected to the lower end of the filling cylinder (18) via an O-ring (57), and a nozzle body ( A female threaded body (58) is screwed onto the lower outer peripheral surface of the body (58).
9). The lower opening edge of the female threaded body (59) has an inwardly directed collar (60) and a downwardly directed annular protrusion (60) at its tip.
61) is formed. Tsuba (60) and nozzle body (5
8), a strainer (62) is interposed between the lower end and the lower end. In addition, the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle body (58) and the female threaded body (5
An O-ring (63) is interposed between the inner circumferential surface of 9) and the inner circumferential surface of 9).

The elevating body (5) is a horizontal pipe (64) extending in the left and right direction.
and 5 vertical pipes (6) connected upward along its length at intervals corresponding to 8 filling nozzles (4).
5), the annular container holder fitted into each vertical pipe (65) so that it can be raised and lowered is a member (66), and the horizontal pipe (64).
and a helical compression spring (67) mounted between the members (66) and fitted into the vertical pipe (65).

The portion from the left end of the horizontal pipe (64) to the nearest vertical pipe (65) is solid. The horizontal pipe (64) excluding this solid part and each vertical pipe (64)
5), the inside thereof forms a steam exhaust passage (7). On the other hand, the container receiver itself forms a connection port (8) by the opening at the upper end of the member (66).

As shown in detail in Fig. 5, through holes (68) are formed in the portions of the horizontal pipes (64) to which each vertical pipe (65) is connected.
is formed, and a cylindrical female threaded body (69) is fixed to the peripheral edge of the through hole (68). On the other hand, the vertical pipe (
A cylindrical male screw body (70) is fitted onto the lower end of the cylindrical male screw body (70), and a cylindrical guide member (71) is fitted onto the upper end of the cylindrical male threaded body (70). The male threaded body (70) is screwed to the female threaded body (69) via an O-ring (72). The cylindrical guide member (71) has a large diameter portion (73) and a stepped portion (74) below the large diameter portion (73).
) and a small diameter part (75). An O-ring (76) is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the large diameter portion (73). The inner circumferential surface of a member (66) of the container receiver is slidably fitted onto the outer circumferential surface. In the container receiver, a downwardly projecting annular wall (77) is integrally formed at the lower opening edge of the member (66), and an inwardly facing flange (78) is formed at the lower end of the annular wall (77). There is. The collar (78) is engaged with the stepped portion (74) from below.

The container receiver has an annular packing made of an elastic material (
79) is installed. This packing (79) is pressed against the annular protrusion (61) at the lower end opening of the filling nozzle (4), thereby airtightly connecting the nozzle connection port (8) to the lower end opening.

Fill the nozzle (4) with the nozzle connection port (8) as described above.
A through hole (80) is formed in the right side wall of the chamber (2) so as to face the right end opening of the horizontal pipe (64) when the elevating body (5) is raised so as to connect to the lower end opening of the chamber (2). At the same time, one end of the steam recovery pipe (81) extends to the vicinity of the through hole (80) so as to face the through hole (80) from the outside.

At this time, as shown in detail in Figure 6, the horizontal pipe (64
) and the same end of the steam recovery pipe (81) are in the same straight line and face each other through the through hole (80). A cylindrical body (82) with seven flanges is attached to the through hole (80) from the inside so as to close the through hole (80). This cylinder (8
2) has a female thread (
83) is formed.

In addition, the part without the female thread (83) has an O ring (8
4) is installed. On the other hand, a connection pipe (85) is fitted over the steam recovery pipe (81) so as to be slidable in the axial direction thereof. A male thread (86) is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the connecting tube (85), and this male thread (86) is screwed into the female thread (83) of the cylinder (82). Also, the connecting pipe (8
A handle (87) is attached to the right end of the handle 5). There is also an O ring (88) at the tip of the horizontal pipe (64).
is installed.

When the handle (87) is rotated forward with the tip of the connecting pipe (85) facing the end of the horizontal pipe (64), the connecting pipe (85) is connected to the sixth position by both screws (83) and (86). It is moved to the left in the figure, and the ends of the connecting pipe (85) and the horizontal pipe (64) are brought into contact with each other. Thereby, the steam exhaust passageway (8) is connected to the steam recovery pipe (81) in an airtight manner.

Both ends of the horizontal pipe (64) are secured to the upper ends of a pair of left and right vertical lifting rods (89) via attachment members (90). The lower half of both lifting rods (89) has a chamber (
It penetrates the bottom wall of 2) and protrudes below it. The part of the chamber (2) penetrated by the lifting rod (89) and the lifting rod (89)
9), there is a sealing bellows (9) that spans both.
1) is installed. Connecting members (92) extending horizontally in the left-right direction are provided at the lower ends of both lifting rods (89). The connecting member (92) has a central boss portion (93), and this boss portion (93) is fitted into a guide rod (95) that is attached vertically downward to the base (94). The upper end of a vertical connecting rod (96) is connected to the front part of the boss (93). The lower end of the connecting rod (96) is connected to a drive lever (97). The drive lever (97) is supported by a horizontal shaft (98) extending in the front-rear direction below the right end of the connecting member (92), has a trifurcated shape as a whole, and is fitted into the horizontal shaft (98). Boss part (99)
A central arm (100) extending further leftward to which the connecting rod (96) is connected, an upper arm (101) extending upward from the boss portion (99), and a lower arm (102) facing in the opposite direction. Become. Lower a.

- A rod (104) of a fluid pressure cylinder (103) is connected to the tip of the arm (102). Fluid pressure cylinder (
103) is swingably attached to the base (94) via a bracket (105) so that its rod (104) protrudes rightward. A roller (106) is attached to the tip of the upper arm (101), and this is brought into contact with the cam (107) by the drive lever (97) being urged by the fluid pressure cylinder (103). . The cam (107) is fixed to a sliding tube (109) fitted to a spline shaft (108) provided diagonally above and parallel to the right of the horizontal shaft (98). Note that two cams are shown in the figure, but this is to accommodate containers of different depths. Cam (10) of sliding tube (109)
On the side of 7) is a rotating wheel (
111) is installed. A pair of pins (112) are driven into the outer peripheral surface of the rotating ring (111) so as to be located on the same straight line passing through the center thereof. Both bottles (112
) is connected to an elevator stroke switching lever (113). This lever (113) is connected to the rotating wheel (111).
) is formed in a shape that covers almost the lower right half of the area (1
14) and a boss portion (115) formed at the base end thereof.
and a semicircular portion (114) and a bifurcated protruding ear portion (116) formed in the opposite direction. Boss part (11
5) is fitted with a support shaft (117). Support shaft (
117) is a bracket (11) supported on a base (94).
8).

The protruding ears (116) have horizontal bins (11
9) connects one end of the handle (120) which is inclined downward to the right. The handle (120) is independently swingable in the vertical direction around the horizontal pin (1i9), and together with the lever (113)
17) and can swing freely in the horizontal direction. A limit switch (121) is located above the base end of the handle (120).
), in the middle of its length a guide plate (122) is respectively attached to the bracket (118). The limit switch (121) has a handle (12
0) to stop each actuating part such as the spline shaft (108). Guide plate(
122) is for regulating the swing range of the handle (120), and although not shown in detail, a guide groove (123) is formed, into which the handle (120) is fitted.

When the spline shaft (108) is rotated by means not shown, the cam (107) rotates accordingly,
The drive lever (
97) swings. As a result, the elevating body (
5) moves up and down with a stroke corresponding to the lift amount given to the cam (107). Due to this stroke, the conveyor (1) is placed directly below the filling nozzle (4) at its upper limit position.
The lower end opening of the filling nozzle (4) is inserted into the container (C) carried by the container (C) so as to reach near the bottom of the container (C).

By raising and lowering the piston (23) of the metering cylinder (21) in correspondence with the raising and lowering stroke of the lifting body (5), the filling liquid flowing out from the filling cylinder (18) is transferred to the container (C) through the nozzle (4). It is filled.

Sterilization of each part of the filling equipment is carried out as necessary, for example -
Before the start of the day's work, it is done as follows.

Operate the handle (120) to swing the lever (113) and move the sliding tube (109) to a position where the cam (107) separates from the roller (106). Next, when the fluid pressure cylinder (103) is actuated to retract the rod (104), the roller (106) no longer moves to the cam (107).
), the elevating body (5) rises to a position further above the upper limit position of the filling stroke. When the elevating body (5) rises to its upper limit, the connection port (8) is connected to the lower end opening of the filling nozzle (4) as described above, and the connecting pipe (8) is connected to the right end opening of the horizontal vibrator (64). 85), and connect the two by moving the connecting tube (85) as described above. At the same time, both the upper and lower check valves (19) and (20) are kept open. In this manner, sterilizing steam, for example, high-pressure high-temperature steam at 132° C. at 2 Ky/aA is supplied from the supply pipe (6). The steam that has flowed into the filling liquid tank (3) in this way is transferred from the same tank (3) to the filling cylinder (18).
The steam is then discharged out of the chamber (2) through the filling nozzle (4) into the discharge passage (7). The discharged steam is recovered by a steam recovery pipe (81).

These series of operations are extremely hygienic because they are all performed from the outside while keeping the chamber (2) sealed.

It goes without saying that the cleaning operation can be carried out in conjunction with the sterilization operation by supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply pipe (15) to the tank (3) at the same time as the sterilization operation or before or after the sterilization operation.

Effects of the Invention According to the present invention, each part of the liquid filling device can be sterilized from outside the chamber by an extremely simple operation.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show an embodiment of the invention, in which FIG.
Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the IV-IV line in Figure 3, Figure '5. 6 and 6 are both partially enlarged cross-sectional views of FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ■-■ of FIG. 1. (1) Container conveyor, (2) Chamber, (3) Filling liquid tank, (4) Filling nozzle, (5) Lifting body, (6)・・Steam supply pipe,
(7)...Steam exhaust passage, (8)...Nozzle connection port. There are 4 patent applicants in addition to Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd.! i-Yo Procedural Amendment 1, Indication of the Case Patent Application No. 148354'' of 1982, Title of the Invention Liquid Photonic Device in Packaging Machine 3, Relationship with the Person Making the Amendment Case Patent Applicant Address Itano District, Tokushima Prefecture Kitajima-cho, Abe, 10, Nishi-no-yo
Address 1 6. , 88 Shikoku Kakoki Co., Ltd. (1 other person) 4. Representative 4 other persons 5 Date of amendment order Showa year, month, day, 6
, Number of inventions increased by amendment 7, Subject of amendment Column 8 for detailed explanation of the invention in the specification, Contents of amendment

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a packaging machine equipped with a sealed chamber (2) that completely surrounds a container conveyor (1), there is a filling liquid tank (3) placed above the chamber (2), and a filling liquid tank (3) whose upper end is connected to the filling tank (3). A filling nozzle (4) that communicates with the filling nozzle (4) and whose lower end is open in the chamber (2);
Fill the container (C) placed below 4) and transported by the conveyor (1) directly below the nozzle (
A sterilizing steam supply pipe (6) is connected to the filling liquid tank (3). 5) is formed with a steam exhaust passage (7) and an upward nozzle connection port (8) communicating with the steam discharge passage (7). (5) A liquid filling device that can be moved up and down to a position further above the upper limit position of the filling stroke.