JPH08599B2 - Liquid filling and packaging equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a liquid filling and packaging apparatus used in the industry for producing carbonated beverages containing containers for refreshing fruits and fruits.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the industry of manufacturing carbonated beverages containing containers for soft drinks, fruits, etc., in the production thereof, syrup and treated water are mixed in advance to a predetermined sugar content, and then the carbonation tank is mixed. Carbon dioxide is absorbed to form a carbonated beverage, and the container is filled with a dedicated filling device for carbonated liquid to produce a desired carbonated beverage.

Nowadays, in the market of soft drinks, fruits and the like, the diversification of products is progressing, and the ability to process a wide variety of products (different syrups, container shapes, etc.) with one filling and packaging machine is required. At the same time, the filling and packaging machine is required to save labor, improve production efficiency and manufacturing cost.

On the other hand, when the syrup is changed or exchanged during the filling, it is necessary to remove the previously filled flavor and to wash the entire filling flow path, which takes a long time, so that the filling and packaging operation during that time is required. The productivity is significantly reduced because it is stopped.

Further, in the filling of carbonated beverages, a filling nozzle is inserted into the mouth of the container to be filled, the periphery is sealed, and a pressure equal to that of the carbonated beverage to be supplied is emptied. After the liquid is supplied to the bottle and the pressure becomes almost the same as the liquid pressure, filling is started, and under this pressure, foaming of the liquid is avoided as much as possible and the container is filled.

The filling amount is a method in which the liquid is filled up to the gas vent hole provided in the nozzle and the liquid level does not rise any further. Since the flow rate cannot be controlled during filling, the filling time is controlled and the filling is performed. It is difficult to suppress the foaming of the liquid that sometimes occurs.

Further, after the filling is completed, when the pressure in the container is removed, foaming often occurs again, and it is difficult to fill the carbonated drinking water with high accuracy.

[0008] However, in the industry, it is required to perform highly accurate filling in a short time without applying unnecessary pressure to the container and without causing liquid spillage.

However, in the actual filling work,
In the above-mentioned liquid filling, in any filling method, means for filling a specified amount of liquid in the container,
Each container requires pressurization, filling, and decompression at the end of filling, and the filling itself is the gravity of the liquid and the flow rate cannot be controlled. However, there was a problem that the filling time could not be shortened.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and a container to be transferred is filled with a carbonic acid solution, then a stock solution is filled, and a cap is placed at the mouth of the container. By performing the filling, it is possible to minimize the foaming that occurs when filling the carbonated solution and the undiluted solution, and to fill the carbonated beverage with high accuracy, and at the same time, quantify the amount of the carbonated solution that faces the end of the delivery pipe inside the frame. A liquid capable of connecting the driving member to the delivery member to regulate the delivery amount of the carbon dioxide solution to be filled by numerical control and performing the filling from the porous ejection member connected to the delivery pipe at high speed and with high accuracy. It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling and packaging device.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The means of the present invention for achieving the above-described object is a transfer means for transferring a container, and a container provided in a transfer path of the transfer means and filled with a carbonate solution. A carbonate solution filling means, a stock solution filling means adjacent to the carbonate solution filling means in the transfer path of the transferring means, and a stock solution filling means for filling the stock solution into a container containing the carbonate solution, and a stock solution filling means adjacent to the stock solution filling means in the transfer path. In the liquid filling and packaging apparatus, which is provided with a capping means for capping the container filled with the carbonated solution and the stock solution, the carbonated solution filling means includes a receiving pipe for supplying the carbonated solution to one side and another. A frame having a delivery pipe on its side, a fixed amount delivery member of carbonic acid solution provided in the frame and facing the delivery pipe, a driving means linked to the fixed delivery member, and the driving means. The delivery rate of carbonic acid solution And control means for regulating the value control,
A valve body that is connected to the delivery pipe and is opened and closed without lowering the carbon dioxide solution pressure by the delivery pressure of the carbon dioxide solution by the quantitative delivery member, and a container or stock solution connected to the valve body and provided under atmospheric pressure. And a porous discharge member facing the inside of the container.

Further, the carbonic acid solution filling means has a frame having a receiving tube connected to a carbonic acid solution tank for supplying the carbonic acid solution on one side and a delivery tube on the other side, and the delivery tube provided in the frame body. A fixed amount delivery member for the carbonated liquid, the drive means linked to the fixed amount delivery member, a control unit linked to the drive unit for controlling the delivery rate of the carbonated liquid by numerical control, A valve body that is connected to a pipe and is opened and closed without lowering the carbon dioxide pressure by the feeding pressure of the carbon dioxide solution by the constant amount delivery member, and a container connected to the valve body and provided in the atmospheric pressure or containing the undiluted solution. The valve body is composed of a porous discharge member facing the inside of the container, and the valve body is provided in the supply chamber and communicates with the delivery pipe, which is partitioned by a partition body into a supply chamber and an adjustment chamber. A valve seat communicating with the inlet hole and the discharge member, and the adjustment A hole which communicates with the carbonate solution tank provided, always provided slidably within the valve stile to the valve seat and a valve which is pressed by the bullet machine.

[0013]

The liquid filling and packaging apparatus of the present invention constructed as described above has the following actions.

In the filling, the filling amount into the container by the fixed amount filling member operated by the driving means is inputted in advance to the control means. In this state, the carbonic acid solution is fed to the receiving pipe in the frame. When supplied, the carbonic acid solution fills one side of the frame.

At this time, when the fixed quantity filling member is operated by the driving means, the carbon dioxide liquid filled in the frame body is
It is sent out from a delivery pipe on the other side of the frame and discharged from a discharge member at the end, and a predetermined amount of carbonic acid solution is filled in a container that is kept on standby below the discharge member.

In this filling, the carbonic acid solution moves into the container placed under atmospheric pressure, and the pressurized carbonic acid solution sent out by the fixed quantity filling member inside the discharge member has its inner wall. Of the carbon dioxide which has been pre-pressurized in order to approach the outer wall of the container from the high-pressure state when the pressure change accompanying the invasion into the fine through-hole and flowing through the fine hole toward the outer wall. By gradually decreasing the pressure of the liquid, the pressure becomes almost atmospheric when the liquid passes through the inside of the discharge member and moves to the outer wall surface.In this depressurized state, the carbonic acid liquid causes a bubbling phenomenon due to a sudden pressure change. , Carbon dioxide gas and fine particulate liquid are used for separation.

However, since carbon dioxide gas itself is extremely water-soluble, it again instantly becomes stable carbonated water in the fine through holes and restores to the same carbonic acid liquid as before filling, so that the quantitative filling member Combined with the action, the prescribed amount is filled in the container.

Then, in the stock solution filling step, a predetermined amount of stock solution is put into a container containing carbonic acid solution, and in the lid applying step, the cap is tightened to produce a carbonated beverage.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a liquid filling and packaging apparatus according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 1, A is a liquid, for example,
A device used for filling and packaging carbonated beverages containing fruits and the like, which is a transfer means 2 for a container 1 such as a PET bottle or a glass bottle, a carbonated liquid filling means 3, a stock solution filling means 4, and a lidding means 5. Basically consists of and.

The devices A are arranged side by side in the middle of the transfer means 2, and the transfer means 2 and the feeding member 7 by a rotary table having a large number of mounting positions 6 of the container 1. The carrying-in member 9 connected to the first delivery section 8 of the sending-in member 7 and the carrying-out member 11 connected to the second delivery section 10 of the sending-in member 7 are provided in the first delivering section 8. Is provided with a feed member 12 of a fluid cylinder type or the like for pushing the container 1 on the carry-in member 9 to the feed member 7, and the second delivery section 10
The container 1 that can be smoothly transferred to the carry-out member 11
A guide plate 13 is attached, and the containers 1 are transferred two by two to improve the filling and packaging efficiency and to simultaneously fill the stock solutions of other kinds.

The transfer means 2 may be of a linear type so that the container 1 continuously flows from one side to the other side. 4 and 5 are sequentially provided.

The carbonic acid solution filling means 3 is provided in the middle of the transfer path of the feeding member 7 in the transfer means 2 and performs quantitative volumetric filling of the container 1 sent thereto with high volume accuracy. 2 according to container 1, 1 to be sent two
There is a head type.

This carbonated liquid is used for carbonated drinks such as refreshing and fruit. For example, the temperature of the carbonated liquid is 2 ° C., the carbon dioxide gas pressure is 4 to 5 kg / cm ² , and the gas volume is estimated to be 3.0 to 5.0.
In addition to the carbonated liquid, non-carbonated liquids such as fruit juice, water or hot water may be used in the case of concentrated beverages such as fruits.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the carbonic acid solution filling means 3 includes a frame 14, a fixed amount delivery member 15, and
The drive means 16, the control means 17, the valve body 18, and the discharge member 19 are basically configured, and are of a two-head type in accordance with the containers 1 and 1 to which two pieces are fed.

The above-mentioned frame 14 is supported by the machine body 20, and at one side of the accommodation chamber 21 there is provided a receiving pipe 24 in which the tank 22 containing the carbonic acid solution is connected by a pipe 23. On the other side of the chamber 21, there is provided a delivery pipe 25 for delivering the carbonated liquid measured by the fixed amount delivery member 15 described later. The delivery pipe 25 can be used in the case of the type in which the discharge member 19 moves up and down. A flexible hose or the like having flexibility is used for molding to correspond to the elevation.

In this case, the valve body 18 is such that the suspension body 18a is supported by the support column 18b, and the screw shaft linked to the support column 18b.
By the drive means 18e consisting of 18c and servo motor 18d,
The carbon dioxide solution can be filled by the discharge member 19 by moving up and down at a predetermined timing.

The above-mentioned fixed amount delivery member 15 is installed in a measuring chamber 26 provided on the side of the storage chamber 21 in the frame 14, and a constant amount of the carbonated liquid from the carbonated liquid tank 22 is discharged by a constant amount member 19. A known rotary displacement type uniaxial eccentric screw pump is adopted.

The structure is such that the corrugated fixing member 27 formed in a hollow shape with an oval cross section by an elastic material or the like is used for the measuring chamber.
A corrugated rotating body 28, which is attached to the corrugated body 26 and has a perfect circular cross section made of metal in accordance with the corrugated shape, is rotatably inserted.
A drive shaft 30 is projected on the upper part of the frame 14 through
A driving means 16 such as a servomotor that can be numerically controlled is connected to the control means 30. A control means 17 such as a conventional microcomputer or sequencer in which a regulation value is input in advance.
Thus, by appropriately operating the drive means 16, the rotation amount and the rotation speed of the rotating body 28 can be arbitrarily converted, and the filling amount and the filling speed of the carbonic acid solution can be set to desired conditions.

The valve body 18 is connected to the delivery pipe 25 and is opened / closed by the delivery pressure of the carbon dioxide solution by the quantitative delivery member 15. The partition body 31 such as a diaphragm provided in the middle of the valve body 18 causes the carbon dioxide solution to flow. It has a valve frame (34) partitioned by a supply chamber (32) and an adjustment chamber (33).

The supply chamber 32 is provided in the valve frame 34.
An inlet hole 35 communicating with the delivery pipe 25 and the discharge member.
A valve seat 36 communicating with 19 is provided, a through hole 37 communicating with the carbon dioxide solution tank 22 is provided in the adjusting chamber 33, and the adjusting chamber 33 is further attached integrally with the partition body 31 to provide the supply chamber.
A valve 38, which is slidably movable between the adjustment chamber 33 and the adjustment chamber 33, is attached to the valve seat 36 so that the valve seat 36 is always in pressure contact with a bullet 39.

In the carbon dioxide solution tank 22, the lower layer contains carbonated water and the upper layer contains carbon dioxide gas.

In the adjusting chamber 33, the through hole 37 and the carbon dioxide solution tank 22 communicate with each other, and the carbon dioxide gas pressure of 4 to 5 kg / cm ² is urged in the chamber 33.

The above-mentioned discharge member 19 is the fixed amount delivery member.
The container 1 on the feeding member 7 is filled with the carbonic acid solution fed from 15 and is made of sintered metal, ceramics, or the like, and has a porosity of 15 to 100 μm, preferably 60 μm, which is uniformly formed by the fine through holes 40. The minute through-holes 40 are formed on substantially the entire surface of the diffuser 41, and the carbonic acid solution delivered from the delivery pipe 25 is the same as described above, as shown in FIG. By passing through the fine through holes 40 of the spattering body 41, when the container 1 provided at atmospheric pressure is filled with the pressure of 4 to 5 kg / cm ² as described above, It is returned to atmospheric pressure.

The stock solution filling means 4 is adjacent to the carbonate solution filling means 3 in the transfer path of the feeding member 7 in the transfer means 2 and is filled with the carbonate solution filling means 3 and filled with the carbonate solution. 1 is used to fill the stock solution, which can be adopted by a conventional piston type filling machine or the like, and is of a two-head type according to the containers 1 and 1 to which two pieces are fed.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, a filling nozzle 44 is hung on a support body 43 which is vertically inserted into a column 42 which is erected on one side of the machine body 20. A liquid supply member 46 composed of a piston and a cylinder is arranged via a hose 45, and a stock solution tank 48 is connected to the liquid supply member 46 via a pipe 47.

Although not shown in the figure, the above-mentioned piston / cylinder liquid supply member 46 may be provided below the support 43 to push up the stock solution through the stock solution tank 48 to supply the solution. is there.

Further, a female screw piece 51 which is screwed to a screw shaft 50 which is rotated in the forward and reverse directions by a driving means 49 such as a servomotor is linked to the support body 43, and is connected from a controller (not shown). Signal is used to move up and down at a predetermined timing.

The capping means 5 is adjacent to the stock solution filling means 4 in the middle of the transfer path of the feeding member 7 in the transfer means 2, and the cap 52 is wound around the container 1 filled with the carbonic acid solution and the stock solution. A container that can be sent in two
It is a two-head type.

Then, as shown in FIG. 6, a mounting body 54 is movably mounted on a support column 53 standing on the machine body 20, and a winding shaft 56 rotated by a drive means 55 is hung down on the mounting body 54. A cap gripping body 57 is provided at the lower end of the winding shaft 56 so as to be freely opened and closed.

Therefore, the cap aligning and supplying means provided between the capping means 5 and the undiluted solution filling means 4 adjacent thereto.
From 58, the cap 52 supplied at a predetermined timing is received and tightened to a predetermined thickness.

With the configuration of the above-described embodiment of the present invention, for example, when filling a carbonated beverage with fruit, the supply tank 22
The diluting carbonic acid solution that has flowed into the frame 14 from is filled in the storage chamber 21 inside the frame 14, and at this time, is transmitted to the drive means 16 according to the numerical value input to the control means 17, and is driven by this. When the means 16 is operated to rotate the rotating body 28 by a predetermined amount, a specified amount of the diluting carbonic acid liquid enclosed between the fixed member 27 and the rotating body 28 is discharged at the end portion and is sent out to the delivery pipe 25. Be done.

Therefore, when the container 1 is supplied to the feeding member 7 in the transfer means 2 and the driving means 16 is operated in this state, the feeding pressure by the rotating body 28 causes the ammunition machine 39.
When the pressure rises above, the valve 38 is opened.
It is capable of quantitative discharge without lowering the carbonic acid pressure, and passes through the minute through hole 40 of the sparger 41 at the end of the delivery pipe 25, and the diluting carbonic acid solution is released into the atmosphere and ejected. That is, so-called open filling is performed.

Incidentally, it is desirable that the numerical value inputted to the above-mentioned control means 17 is set so that the ideal filling state of the carbonic acid solution in the container 1 is maintained.
The filling amount and the filling time of the carbonated liquid are gradually supplied at the start of filling, and when a certain amount is filled, the filling efficiency is improved by supplying as much liquid as possible at one time. It is preferable that the filling state is such that the liquid is gently supplied at the end of the process to prevent the liquid from spilling due to the filling pressure or the like.

Further, at this time, the pressurized carbonic acid solution sent out by the fixed quantity filling member 15 enters the fine through holes 40 of the inner wall scattered in a large number inside the spattering body 41 in the discharging member 19. However, when flowing through the fine through-hole 40 toward the outer wall, the change in pressure that accompanies this, that is,
When the pressure of the pre-pressurized carbonic acid solution gradually decreases to reach the outer wall surface after passing through the inside of the exuding body 41, since the high pressure state approaches the atmospheric pressure in the container 1 which is normal pressure. At about atmospheric pressure, the carbon dioxide solution causes a bubbling phenomenon due to a sudden pressure change in this depressurized state, and is separated by the carbon dioxide gas and the fine particulate liquid.

However, since the carbon dioxide gas itself is extremely water-soluble, the carbon dioxide gas is immediately absorbed again in the fine through holes 40 into the fine particulate liquid to become a stable carbon dioxide liquid, which is the same as before the filling. Since it is restored to the carbonic acid solution, the fixed amount filling member
Combined with the action of 15, the container 1 is filled with a specified amount and mixed with the stock solution to produce a carbonated beverage.

In this filling, it is possible to reduce the filling amount of the diluting carbonic acid solution and the loss of carbon dioxide gas due to the forming phenomenon which has been a problem in the past.

Thus, the container 1 filled with the carbonic acid solution is
The transfer means 2 sends the stock solution to the stock solution filling means 4 in the next step, and the stock solution is filled into the container 1 in a fixed amount by the liquid supply member 46 through the filling nozzle 44. At that time, the stock solution is filled first. Foaming of the generated carbonic acid solution is suppressed, and highly accurate filling is performed.

Further, in the container 1 which has been transferred by the transfer means 2 and reached the lid applying means 5, the cap 52 is sent from the cap aligning and supplying means 58, and the gripping body 57 is gripped by the driving means 55 together with the cap gripping body 57. The container 1 which has been covered by a predetermined tightening pressure by the turning of 1 and is a product is sent out to the discharge member 11.

Further, the filling and packaging apparatus A has a transfer means 2
Using the rotary feeding member 7 in FIG.
By arranging 4 and 5 in parallel, the entire device can be manufactured compactly and provided at a low cost.

[0051]

According to the apparatus for quantitatively filling a carbonic acid solution in the liquid filling of the present invention constructed as described above, the container to be transferred is filled with the carbonic acid solution, then the stock solution is filled, and a cap is placed at the mouth of the container. By applying, it is possible to suppress foaming that occurs when the carbonated liquid is filled and the undiluted liquid is filled as much as possible, and to fill the carbonated beverage with high accuracy.

Further, a frame having a receiving pipe for supplying the carbonated liquid to one side and a delivery pipe to the other side, and a constant amount delivery member for the carbonated liquid provided in the frame and facing the delivery pipe. A drive means connected to the fixed amount delivery member and a control means for regulating the delivery amount of the carbonic acid solution by numerical control, and a feed means connected to the delivery pipe and provided at the end of the delivery pipe, and containing the stock solution provided under atmospheric pressure. Since it is equipped with a discharge member facing the inside of the container, there is no pressurization inside the container, the pressurizing process and the depressurizing process can be omitted, and the container is not damaged during the pressurizing process and is safe. In addition, the filling amount into the container is regulated at high speed and with high precision, and the carbonic acid solution can be uniformly filled in the container at atmospheric pressure, that is, by open filling.

Further, in the filling, since the syrup and the carbonic acid solution to be the stock solution are separately filled, the scent, taste and color of the stock solution do not adhere to the pipeline of the quantitative filling device. The cleaning operation after filling or before filling is easy and can be done in a short time. And so on.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an embodiment of a liquid filling and packaging apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a carbonic acid solution filling means in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view showing the constant-volume delivery member in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing a discharge member in FIG.

5 is an explanatory view showing a stock solution filling means in FIG. 1. FIG.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a lid applying means in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Container 2 Transfer Means 3 Carbon Dioxide Filling Means 4 Undiluted Means Filling Means 5 Covering Means 14 Frames 15 Quantitative Delivery Members 16 Driving Means 17 Control Means 18 Valves 19 Discharges 31 Partitions 32 Supply Chambers 33 Adjustment Chambers 34 Valve Frames 35 Entry hole 36 Valve seat 37 Through hole 38 Ammo 39 valve

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A transfer means for transporting a container, a carbonic acid solution filling means provided in a transfer path of the transfer means for charging the container with the carbonic acid solution, and a carbon dioxide solution filling means in the transfer path of the transfer means. An undiluted solution filling means for adjoining the undiluted solution into a container containing carbonic acid solution, and a capping means for adjoining the undiluted solution filling means in the transfer path of the transfer means for capping the container filled with the undiluted carbonic acid solution. In the liquid filling and packaging apparatus provided with the above, the carbonic acid solution filling means includes a frame having a receiving pipe for supplying the carbonic acid liquid to one side and a delivery pipe on the other side, and the frame body provided with the frame. A constant amount delivery member for the carbonated liquid whose end faces the delivery pipe, a drive unit linked to the fixed amount delivery member, and a control unit linked to the drive unit to regulate the delivery rate of the carbonated liquid by numerical control; Connect to the delivery pipe A valve body that is opened and closed without lowering the carbonic acid pressure by the feeding pressure of the carbonic acid solution by the amount delivery member, and a porous body that is connected to the valve body and is provided in the container provided at atmospheric pressure or the container containing the stock solution. A liquid filling and packaging device, characterized in that it is provided with a quality discharge member. 2. A transfer means for transporting the container, a carbonic acid solution filling means for filling the container with the carbonic acid solution provided in the transfer path of the transfer means, and a carbonic acid solution filling means for the transfer path of the transfer means. An undiluted solution filling means for adjoining the undiluted solution into a container containing carbonic acid solution, and a capping means for adjoining the undiluted solution filling means in the transfer path of the transfer means for capping the container filled with the undiluted carbonic acid solution. In the liquid filling and packaging apparatus, the carbonic acid solution filling means includes a frame having a receiving pipe connected to a carbonic acid solution tank for supplying the carbonic acid solution to one side and a delivery tube to the other side, A fixed amount delivery member for the carbonated liquid, which is provided inside the frame and faces the delivery pipe, a driving unit linked to the fixed amount delivery member, and a delivery speed of the carbonated liquid linked to the driving unit by numerical control. The controlling means for regulating, and A valve body which is connected to a delivery pipe and is opened and closed without lowering the carbon dioxide solution pressure by the delivery pressure of the carbon dioxide solution by the constant volume delivery member, and a container provided in the atmosphere connected to the valve body or containing the undiluted solution. And a porous discharge member facing the inside of the container, and the valve body is provided with a valve frame partitioned by a partition body into a supply chamber and an adjustment chamber, and provided in the supply chamber to communicate with the delivery pipe. A valve seat that communicates with the inlet hole and the discharge member, a through hole that is provided in the adjustment chamber and communicates with the carbon dioxide solution tank, and a slidably provided inside the valve frame that is normally slid into the valve seat by a bullet. A liquid filling and packaging device, characterized in that the liquid filling and packaging device is provided with a pressure-contacted valve.