WO2010018848A1

WO2010018848A1 - Filling valve device

Info

Publication number: WO2010018848A1
Application number: PCT/JP2009/064260
Authority: WO
Inventors: 喜与士廣谷; 憲二水川; 博文佐藤; 真吾和田; 剛秋元; 慶久立花
Original assignee: 三菱重工食品包装機械株式会社; ザコカ・コーラカンパニー
Priority date: 2008-08-12
Filing date: 2009-08-12
Publication date: 2010-02-18
Also published as: JP5232567B2; JP2010042832A

Abstract

Disclosed is a filling valve device provided with a filling valve with a gripper (41) and container mouth seal (43). By moving a gripper (41) that holds an empty PET bottle (8) up and down with respect to the filling valve, a container neck ring (8a) is brought into contact with the container mouth seal (43) of the filling valve to form a gas seal. Carbonate gas-containing beverage is filled. The container mouth seal (43) has a lip-shaped cross-section form that faces into the interior of the filling valve. The free end thereof is flexible in the direction of the vertical axis of the filling valve. When the beverage is filled, the free end of the container mouth seal (43) contacts the neck ring (8a) and a sealing force is applied on the PET bottle (8) and the container mouth seal (43) by gas pressure that is applied during the filling.

Description

Filling valve device

The present invention relates to a filling device for filling a beverage liquid to which a carbon dioxide back pressure is applied in a liquid storage tank such as a carbonated drink into a container such as a PET bottle or a bottle can, and in particular, a gas seal with a simple configuration, The present invention relates to a structure of a filling valve capable of liquid sealing.
This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-207771 filed in Japan on Aug. 12, 2008, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

When filling carbonated beverages with a conventional filling valve, the container is filled with gas pressure so that the carbon dioxide dissolved in the beverage does not foam and escape during filling. At this time, in order to seal the container, a seal packing (seal packing) is generally pressed against the container port for sealing.

The conventional carbonated beverage filling device shown in Patent Literature 1 (for example, FIG. 1 of Patent Literature 1) is a hygiene-oriented device, and is integrated with the filling valve so that the container mouth does not directly contact the filling nozzle. A seal packing provided at the lower end of the outer cylindrical chamber is pressed against the upper surface of the neck ring of the plastic container for sealing.

Moreover, the structure of the prior art example shown in patent document 2 (for example, FIG. 1 of patent document 2) is a ring-shaped groove provided on the inner cylinder side of the outer cylinder of the filling valve. When the container is inserted, air pressure is applied and the container is inflated inward to tighten and seal the body of the container.

Further, in the configuration of the conventional example shown in Patent Document 3 (for example, FIG. 2 of Patent Document 3), the seal packing provided at the lower end of the outer cylindrical chamber integrated with the filling valve is used as the conical surface of the upper body portion of the container. Press to seal.

Japanese Patent No. 2856057 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-98803 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 3-98894

The conventional container mouth sealing method requires a large pressing force enough to seal the inside of the container even at the maximum pressure of carbonated beverages. Therefore, the seal packing made of a flexible material has a problem that its life is shortened. The neck ring seal method of the plastic container according to Patent Document 1 requires a large seal packing, requires a pressure sufficient to seal even at the maximum pressure of carbonated beverages, and has a large sealing force, which shortens the life of the seal packing. There is a problem.

In addition, as in the filling valve device shown in Patent Document 2, the method of inflating the ring-shaped air tube in the container body portion and gas-sealing is a container whose container body portion has a non-circular cross section or a container having uneven surfaces. It is difficult to apply to the above, and there is a disadvantage that the structure is complicated and the cost is high.
In addition, as shown in Patent Document 3, the sealing method in which the seal packing at the lower end of the outer cylinder integral with the filling valve is pressed against the conical surface of the upper body portion of the container increases the seal packing, which is the maximum for carbonated beverages. In terms of pressure, a pressure sufficient to seal is required, and since the sealing force is large, there is a problem that the life of the seal packing is shortened.

An object of the present invention is to provide a filling valve device having a container seal structure that is simple in structure and does not apply a large pressing force to the seal packing.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following configuration. That is,
(1) A filling valve device according to a first aspect is a filling valve device that includes a container holding mechanism and a filling valve that includes a ring seal packing for container sealing, and is filled with a carbon dioxide-containing beverage. When the container holding mechanism that holds the container moves up and down relatively with respect to the filling valve, the seal packing of the filling valve is brought into contact with the mouth portion of the container or the neck ring portion of the container. The seal packing has a lip-shaped cross-section toward the inside of the filling valve, and the free end of the seal packing has flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the filling valve, When the container is filled, the free end of the seal packing comes into contact with the mouth of the container or the neck ring part of the container, and the container and the seal are sealed by the gas pressure applied at the time of filling. Sealing force is applied to the Kkin.

(2) A filling valve device according to a second aspect is a filling valve device that includes a container holding mechanism and a filling valve provided with a ring seal packing for container sealing, and is filled with a carbon dioxide-containing beverage. The container holding mechanism that holds the container moves up and down relatively with respect to the filling valve, thereby bringing the conical portion of the container body into contact with the seal packing of the filling valve to perform gas sealing, and the seal The packing has a lip-shaped cross-section toward the inside of the filling valve, and the free end of the seal packing is flexible in the longitudinal direction of the filling valve, and when the beverage is filled, the seal packing The free end of the container abuts against the conical portion of the container body, and a sealing force is applied to the seal packing by the gas pressure applied during filling.

(3) The filling valve device according to the third aspect is the above-described filling valve device according to (1) and (2), wherein the ring-shaped seal packing for container sealing has a U-shaped cross section with its inside opened, In addition, it has flexibility, can be easily fitted into the seal packing fitting groove of the filling valve, and maintains the sealing force between the filling valve and the ring-shaped seal packing by the action of gas pressure.

According to the filling valve device according to the first aspect and the second aspect, when the seal packing comes into contact with the mouth portion of the container, the neck ring portion of the container, or the conical portion of the container body, the deformation amount of the seal packing, Since the sealing force is small and the back pressure (gas pressure) of the gas beverage is applied and a sufficient sealing force proportional to the beverage gas pressure is obtained, the durability life is long, the structure is simple, and the cost is low.

According to the filling valve device according to the third aspect, the seal packing has flexibility, and can be easily fitted in the seal fitting groove without dividing the filling valve to attach the seal packing. . At the same time, the sealing force between the filling valve and the ring packing can be maintained by the action of gas pressure. Therefore, not only the seal packing but also the structure of the fitting groove of the filling valve is simplified, and the cost can be reduced.

It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the outline of the filling valve apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the container opening seal | sticker which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention, and a container opening periphery. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the container port sealing effect | action in FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the container opening seal | sticker which concerns on 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and a container opening periphery. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the container port sealing effect | action in FIG. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the container seal which concerns on 3rd Embodiment of this invention, a container opening periphery, and a container seal effect | action. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the shape of the container opening | mouth seal | sticker which concerns on 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is side surface sectional drawing which shows the container port sealing effect | action in FIG.

In the following embodiments, an example in which a beverage containing carbon dioxide gas (hereinafter referred to as a carbonated beverage) is filled in a PET bottle with a neck ring or a bottle can without a neck ring will be described.

(First embodiment)
An outline of a filling valve device in which a container mouth seal according to the present invention is used and a container mouth seal according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side sectional view schematically showing the filling valve device according to the first embodiment, and shows one section of a filling valve of a multi-stand rotary filling machine. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view showing the container mouth seal and the periphery of the container mouth according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the container mouth sealing action.

In FIG. 1, a beverage passage 12 for supplying carbonated beverages is connected to the valve body 17 of the filling valve 11,

gas passages

37 a and 37 b for supplying carbon dioxide gas to a gas passage 17 b in the valve body 17, and gas return The passage 37c is connected. A container port seal 43 is attached to the lower cylindrical portion of the valve body 17 by a nut 19. The beverage passage 12 is provided with a flow meter 26 that measures the filling amount of the carbonated beverage, and a flow rate switching valve 27 that can adjust the flow rate in two stages in order to accurately measure the liquid amount.

The air cylinder 22 is attached to the upper part of the valve body 17 and the liquid valve 18 is directly connected to the drive rod of the air cylinder 22. The air cylinder 22 is driven in the vertical direction by switching the operating air in the switching valve 24, and the air cylinder 22 is driven in the vertical direction, so that the liquid valve 18 moves to open and close the beverage liquid passage 17a. The seal packing 15 is a seal packing for the liquid valve 18.

The other of the

gas passages

37a, 37b coupled to the gas passage 17b of the valve body 17 and the gas return passage 37c is coupled to the switching valve body 31 (in the case of a rotary filling machine, the switching valve body 31 is It has a ring shape with a triple ring-shaped gas passage).

Solenoid valves

34 a, 34 b, 34 c are attached to the switching valve main body 31.

Before the PET bottle 8 is placed at a predetermined position of the filling valve 11 and filling of the carbonated beverage is started, the electromagnetic valve 34a is opened, and low-pressure carbon dioxide gas is sent to the PET bottle 8 through the gas passage 17b of the valve body 17. Then, the solenoid valve 34c is opened and the gas flows through the gas return passage 37c, and the air in the PET bottle 8 is replaced with low-pressure carbon dioxide gas. Immediately before beverage filling, the solenoid valve 34a is closed, the solenoid valve 34c is closed and the gas return passage 37c is closed, and the solenoid valve 34b is opened to fill the PET bottle 8 with carbon dioxide gas having the same pressure as the back pressure of the carbonated beverage. . Thereafter, the liquid valve 18 is opened and replaced with carbon dioxide gas to fill the bottle 8 with a set amount of carbonated beverage. After filling with the carbonated beverage, the air cylinder 22 is operated to close the liquid valve 18, the electromagnetic valve 34 b is closed, the electromagnetic valve 34 c is opened, and the gas in the bottle 8 is sniffed through the gas return passage 37 c to be pressurized. The PET bottle 8 is lowered and opened from the filling valve 11.

The container elevating mechanism 35 provided for each filling valve 11 includes a gripper 41 (container lift) that holds the PET bottle 8 on the lower surface of the neck ring 8a, and a container elevating cam 36 that elevates and lowers the gripper 41. The gripper 41 holds the empty PET bottle 8, and the container lifting mechanism 35 moves the gripper 41 up and down relatively with respect to the filling valve 11, so that the lower part of the filling valve 11 is placed on the upper surface of the neck ring 8 a of the PET bottle 8. The container mouth seal 43 is brought into contact with each other to perform gas sealing.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cross-sectional shape of the container mouth seal 43 is a lip shape toward the inside of the valve body 17, and has flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the filling valve 11 in the vicinity of the free end (inner inner periphery). It is Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3, when filling the carbonated beverage, the free end (inner side) of the container mouth seal 43 abuts on the neck ring 8a and curves, and the gas pressure applied during filling is directly applied to the container mouth seal 43. It has a sealing force. Accordingly, it is not necessary to apply a pressing force for sealing from the filling valve 11 to the neck ring 8a of the PET bottle 8, and the force other than the force that supports the PET bottle 8 during the filling process in the gripper 41 and the container lifting mechanism 35. Is not necessary.

(Second Embodiment)
In this embodiment, the place where the PET bottle 8 and the filling valve 11 are sealed is the mouth of the PET bottle 8, and the configuration other than this is the same as that of the first embodiment. The same configuration will be omitted. The configuration and operation will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the container mouth seal and the periphery of the container mouth. FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing the container port sealing action of FIG.

FIG. 4 shows that the PET bottle 8 is in a set position directly below the filling valve 11. FIG. 5 shows that the PET bottle 8 is raised and in the carbonated beverage filling position. The gripper 41 holds the empty PET bottle 8, and the container lifting mechanism 35 moves the gripper 41 up and down relatively with respect to the filling valve 11, so that the container opening seal 44 below the filling valve 11 is attached to the PET bottle 8. A gas seal is brought into contact with the upper surface 8b of the mouth. The container port seal 44 is attached to the lower cylindrical portion of the valve body 17 by the nut 21.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cross-sectional shape of the container mouth seal 44 is a lip shape toward the inside of the valve body 17, and has flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the filling valve 11 in the vicinity of the free end (inner inner periphery). . Therefore, when the carbonated beverage is filled, as shown in FIG. 5, the inside of the container mouth seal 44 is curved in contact with the upper surface 8b of the mouth portion of the PET bottle 8, and the gas pressure applied at the time of filling is the PET bottle 8 as it is. This is the sealing force of the container mouth seal 44. Therefore, it is not necessary to apply a pressing force for sealing from the filling valve 11 to the upper surface 8b of the mouth portion of the PET bottle 8, and neither the gripper 41 nor the container lifting mechanism 35 has a force other than the force that supports the PET bottle 8 during the filling process. Power is not required.

(Third embodiment)
This embodiment can be applied to a bottle can 28 without a neck ring as a container to be handled. The place where the bottle can 28 and the filling valve 11 are sealed is the conical portion of the container body of the bottle can 28. Since the bottle can 28 has no neck ring, the holding and handling of the bottle can 28 under the filling valve 11 requires a star wheel (not shown), a fixed container guide, and the like. It will be a system to push up the bottom. The structure around the filling valve 11 other than this is the same as that of the first embodiment (FIG. 1), and the description of the parts other than the different structure is omitted. FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view showing the container seal, the vicinity of the container opening, and the container seal action.

As shown in FIG. 6, the container seal 45 has a lip shape toward the inside of the valve body 17 and has flexibility in the axial direction in the vicinity of its free end (inner inner periphery). When the carbonated beverage is filled, the inside of the container seal 45 abuts on the conical portion 28a of the bottle can 28, and a sealing force is applied to the container seal 45 by the gas pressure applied at the time of filling. Therefore, it is not necessary to apply a pressing force for sealing from the filling valve 11 to the bottle can 28, and no force other than the force for supporting the bottle can 28 during the filling process is also required for the container lift 38. The container seal 45 is attached to the lower cylindrical portion of the valve body 17 by a nut 58.

(Fourth embodiment)
The container seal 46 according to this embodiment can be used in place of the container port seals 43 and 44 and the container seal 45 used in the first to third embodiments. FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing the shape of the container mouth seal. FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view showing the container mouth sealing action in FIG. As shown in FIG. 7, the outer frame of the ring-shaped container seal 46 has a U-shaped cross-sectional shape with an open inner side, and has flexibility. Then, the container seal 46 can be easily attached to the valve main body 51 by fitting into the fitting groove 51a. Therefore, the container seal 46 can be the valve body 51 (the valve body 17 and the

nut

19, 21 or 58 for attaching the container seal are integrated) without dividing the valve body 17 in the first to third embodiments. Can be easily fitted into the fitting groove 51a. At the same time, the sealing force between the valve main body 51 and the container seal 46 can be maintained by the action of the gas pressure, and further, the gas pressure pushes the U-shaped cross section of the container seal 46, so that the sealing force between the container seal 46 and the valve main body 51 is Can be held.

The filling valve device according to the present invention has a simple structure and can realize a long durability life and a low cost.

8 PET bottle

8a Neck ring

8b Upper surface 11 of PET bottle mouth 11 Filling valve,
17, 51 Valve body,
18 Liquid valve 28 Bottle can 28a Conical portion 41

Gripper

43, 44

Container port seal

45, 46 Container seal 51a Fitting groove

Claims

A container holding mechanism;
A filling valve with a ring-shaped seal packing for container sealing;
A filling valve device for filling a beverage containing carbon dioxide gas comprising:
When the container holding mechanism holding an empty container moves up and down relatively with respect to the filling valve, the seal packing of the filling valve is placed in the mouth of the container or the neck ring part of the container. Gas seal with contact
The seal packing has a lip-shaped cross-section toward the inside of the filling valve, and the free end of the seal packing has flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the filling valve, and when filling a beverage, The free end of the seal packing is in contact with the mouth of the container or the neck ring part of the container, and a sealing force is applied to the container and the seal packing by the gas pressure applied during filling.
A filling valve device characterized by that.
A container holding mechanism;
A filling valve with a ring-shaped seal packing for container sealing;
A filling valve device for filling a beverage containing carbon dioxide gas comprising:
The container holding mechanism that holds an empty container moves up and down relatively with respect to the filling valve, thereby bringing the conical part of the container body into contact with the seal packing of the filling valve and performing gas sealing,
The seal packing has a lip-shaped cross-section toward the inside of the filling valve, and the free end of the seal packing has flexibility in the longitudinal direction of the filling valve, and when filling a beverage, The free end of the seal packing is in contact with the conical portion of the container body, and a sealing force is applied to the seal packing by the gas pressure applied during filling,
A filling valve device characterized by that.
The container seal ring-shaped seal packing has a U-shaped cross section with an open inside, and has flexibility.
The seal packing can be easily fitted in a seal packing fitting groove of the filling valve, and maintains the sealing force between the filling valve and the ring-shaped seal packing by the action of gas pressure. The filling valve device according to claim 1 or 2.