U.S. patent application number 17/178189 was filed with the patent office on 2021-08-19 for filling system.
This patent application is currently assigned to SHIBUYA CORPORATION. The applicant listed for this patent is SHIBUYA CORPORATION. Invention is credited to Shinya KAMORI, Mizuho KIBA, Taro KITAYAMA, Yukinobu NISHINO, Yuichi YONEMURA.
Application Number | 20210253411 17/178189 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005473967 |
Filed Date | 2021-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210253411 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NISHINO; Yukinobu ; et
al. |
August 19, 2021 |
FILLING SYSTEM
Abstract
A filling system includes a liquid tank for storing liquid; a
compressor for pressurizing the inside of the liquid tank; a
filling head having a seal member adapted to be pressed against a
mouth of a vessel and filling the liquid to the vessel through a
liquid passageway while the mouth of the vessel is sealed by the
seal member; a liquid valve provided in the liquid passageway; a
gas passageway connecting a headspace of the liquid tank to the
vessel; a gas valve provided in the gas passageway; a snifting
passage connecting the vessel to the outside; and a flowmeter for
detecting the amount of liquid supplied to the vessel. When the
liquid is a non-fizzy liquid, the liquid valve is opened while the
liquid tank is pressurized, the gas valve is closed and the
snifting valve is opened.
Inventors: |
NISHINO; Yukinobu;
(Kanazawa-shi, JP) ; KITAYAMA; Taro;
(Kanazawa-shi, JP) ; KAMORI; Shinya;
(Kanazawa-shi, JP) ; KIBA; Mizuho; (Kanazawa-shi,
JP) ; YONEMURA; Yuichi; (Kanazawa-shi, JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
SHIBUYA CORPORATION |
Kanazawa-shi |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
SHIBUYA CORPORATION
Kanazawa-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
1000005473967 |
Appl. No.: |
17/178189 |
Filed: |
February 17, 2021 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B67C 3/283 20130101;
B67C 3/281 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B67C 3/28 20060101
B67C003/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 18, 2020 |
JP |
2020-025650 |
Claims
1. A filling system, comprising: a liquid tank for storing liquid;
a compressor for pressurizing the inside of the liquid tank; a
filling head having a seal member adapted to be pressed against a
mouth of a vessel and channeling the liquid stored inside the
liquid tank to the vessel through a liquid passageway while the
mouth of the vessel is sealed by the seal member; a liquid valve
provided in the liquid passageway; a gas passageway connecting a
headspace of the liquid tank to an interior of the vessel abutting
against the seal member; a gas valve provided in the gas
passageway; a snifting passage connecting the interior of the
vessel abutting against the seal member to an outside; and a
flowmeter for detecting the amount of liquid supplied to the
vessel; when the liquid is a non-fizzy liquid, the liquid valve is
opened to allow the liquid fill the vessel while the liquid tank is
pressurized, the gas valve is closed and the snifting valve is
opened.
2. The filling system according to claim 1, wherein when the liquid
is a fizzy liquid, the liquid valve is opened to allow the liquid
to fill the vessel while the liquid tank is pressurized, the gas
valve is opened and the snifting valve is closed until the liquid
filling is completed, at which point the snifting valve is
opened.
3. The filling system according to claim 1, wherein the filling
head is located inside a sterile chamber and the snifting passage
is opened to the sterile chamber.
4. The filling system according to claim 3, wherein the compressor
is adapted to regulate the pressure inside the liquid tank when
filling either a fizzy liquid, for which the pressure in the liquid
tank is set at a relatively higher pressure than a pressure set for
filling a non-fizzy liquid, or filling a non-fizzy liquid, for
which the pressure in the liquid tank is set at a pressure
relatively higher than the sterile chamber.
5. The filling system according to claim 1, wherein the filling
head comprises a hollowed nozzle body and a valve rod liftably
provided inside the nozzle body; the liquid passageway is provided
between an inner surface of the nozzle body and an outer surface of
the valve rod, and an outlet of the liquid passageway is provided
at a bottom end of the nozzle body; a swirl vane, which is provided
on the outer surface of the valve rod, exerts a spiral force on a
flow passing through the liquid passageway; and the liquid valve
comprises a valve seat provided on the inner surface of the nozzle
body and a plug provided on the outer surface of the valve rod so
that the liquid valve is opened and closed by an actuator raising
and lowering the valve rod.
6. The filling system according to claim 5, wherein the actuator is
configured to control the position of the plug so that the opening
degree of the liquid valve is selectable between a large opening
degree and a small opening degree; the large opening degree is
selected when filling a fizzy liquid and the small opening degree
is selected when filling a non-fizzy liquid.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a filling system.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] A liquid tank of the filling system is pressurized when
filling carbonated drinks or fizzy drinks into a vessel and a gas
phase portion of the liquid tank and a sealed vessel are connected
via a gas passage such as a vent tube so that the pressure in the
liquid tank and the vessel are kept equal while filling the liquid.
On the other hand, the pressurization of the liquid tank is
generally unnecessary when filling non-carbonated drinks or
non-fizzy drinks. Nevertheless, when the filling system is applied
to both non-carbonated drinks and carbonated drinks, the
pressurization is necessary for discharging residual liquid
remaining in the vent tube after rising there during the filling
operation carried out for the previous vessel. Therefore, when a
non-carbonated drink is filled in a pliable vessel, the vessel
could be deformed by the pressure. Accordingly, non-carbonated
drinks are filled from the liquid tank opened to the atmosphere and
a snifting valve is opened when or before the gas passage is vented
and the pressure inside the vessel is exposed to the atmosphere.
Therefore, the liquid remaining inside the vent tube is discharged
to the vessel and the next filling operation can proceed without
pressurization, see Japanese Patent No. 3555184 Publication.
[0003] However, in the case of sterilized filling in which the
vessel is filled in a sterile environment, the non-carbonated drink
is filled from the pressurized liquid tank to prevent inflow of
foreign matter. Therefore, as for the configuration of Japanese
Patent Publication No. 3555184, in which the vessel is in
communication with the liquid tank during the filling operation,
the pressurized gas is supplied inside the sealed vessel so that
the shape of a vessel composed of a pliable material could change
when a liquid is filled therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] One aspect of the present invention is to provide a filling
system that prevents deformation of a vessel when pressurized
filling is performed under conditions where the vessel mouth is
sealed.
[0005] A filling system according to the first aspect of the
present invention includes a liquid tank for storing liquid; a
compressor for pressurizing the inside of the liquid tank; a
filling head having a seal member adapted to be pressed against the
mouth of a vessel and channeling the liquid stored inside the
liquid tank to the vessel through a liquid passageway while the
mouth of the vessel is sealed by the seal member; a liquid valve
provided in the liquid passageway; a gas passageway connecting a
headspace of the liquid tank to the interior of the vessel abutting
against the seal member; a gas valve provided in the gas
passageway; a snifting passage connecting the interior of the
vessel abutting against the seal member to an outside; and a
flowmeter detecting the amount of liquid supplied to the vessel.
When the liquid is a non-fizzy liquid, the liquid valve is opened
to allow the liquid to fill the vessel while the liquid tank is
pressurized, the gas valve is closed and the snifting valve is
opened.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The objects and advantages of the present invention will be
better understood from the following description with references to
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating a
configuration of a part of a filling line of the first
embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view schematically illustrating the
configuration of the filling machine of the first embodiment when
filling a fizzy liquid;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a side view schematically illustrating the
configuration of the filling machine of the first embodiment when
filing a non-fizzy liquid;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a side-sectional view illustrating the
configuration of the filling head of the first embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 5 is an enlarged side-sectional view of the filling
head around the tip end portion;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of a filling head of a
second embodiment; and
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view of a filling head of a
second embodiment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The embodiments of the present invention are described below
with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically
illustrating a configuration of a part of a filling line of the
first embodiment.
[0015] The filling line 10 of the first embodiment is a facility
that is used to fill fizzy liquid containing dissolved gas (e.g.,
carbonated drinks) and non-fizzy liquid containing no gas (e.g.,
water which does not contain dissolved carbon dioxide) into a
vessel V under sterile conditions. The filling line 10 includes a
rotary-type rinser 12, a filling machine 14, and a capper 16. The
rinser 12, the filling machine 14 and the capper 16 are each
located inside sterile chambers 12A, 14A and 16A, respectively.
[0016] The vessels V, of which the insides and outsides were washed
by the rinser 12 inside the sterile chamber 12A, are delivered to
the filling machine 14 inside the sterile chamber 14A via a supply
wheel 13. The filling machine 14 may fill either a fizzy liquid or
non-fizzy liquid in the vessels V.
[0017] The vessels V that have been filled with a liquid are
delivered to the capper 16 inside the sterile chamber 16A via an
intermediate wheel 15 and capped. The vessels V that have been
capped are then delivered to a discharge conveyor 20 via a
discharge wheel 18 and discharged outside the sterile chamber
16A.
[0018] For example, the vessel V is a resin bottle having a flange
portion or a transfer bead so that the upper and lower part of the
flange portion are gripped by grippers on each wheel arranged for
conveying the vessel V from the rinser 12 to the capper 16.
Incidentally, from the discharge conveyor 20, the vessels V are
conveyed with their base supported by the conveying surface.
[0019] Each of the sterile chambers 12A, 14A and 16A is partitioned
to be hermetically separated from the outside. When a sterile
filling process is carried out, the pressure inside each of the
chambers is maintained at a predetermined value (e.g., about 0.005
MPa) that is higher than the external ambient pressure (e.g., the
atmospheric pressure) by a pressure regulator (not shown).
[0020] FIGS. 2 and 3 are side views schematically illustrating the
configuration of the filling machine 14 of the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 shows the state when filling a fizzy liquid and FIG. 3 shows
the state when filing a non-fizzy liquid.
[0021] The filling machine 14 includes a main part 22 arranged
inside the sterile chamber 14A and a liquid tank 24 located outside
the sterile chamber 14A above the main part 22. The main part 22 of
the filling machine 14 includes a rotary wheel and a plurality of
filling heads arranged along the circumference of the wheel.
Furthermore, the rotary wheel is also provided with grippers 28 for
holding the vessels V at the positions corresponding to each of the
filling heads 26 (see FIG. 4).
[0022] Filling liquid F, either a fizzy liquid or non-fizzy liquid,
is supplied to the liquid tank 24 through a liquid supply line 24A.
A pressurized gas from the compressor (not shown) is supplied to
the headspace of the liquid tank 24 through a gas supply line 24B.
In the case of filling a fizzy liquid, a pressurized gas such as
the carbon dioxide is supplied and the pressure inside the
headspace of the liquid tank 24 is maintained, for example, at
about 0.3 MPa. On the other hand, in the case of filling a
non-fizzy liquid, the pressurized sterile air is supplied and the
pressure inside the headspace of the liquid tank 24 is maintained,
for example, at about 0.03 MPa.
[0023] A liquid passage 30 for supplying the filling liquid F to
the filling heads 26 is connected to the bottom of the liquid tank
24. The liquid passage 30 is branched in the main part 22 of the
filling machine 14 and the filling liquid F is supplied to each of
the filling heads 26 via a flowmeter 30A, see FIG. 4. The filling
head 26 hermetically contacts the mouth of the vessel V for
supplying the filling liquid F to the vessel V. As detailed later
with reference to FIG. 4, the filling head 26 includes a hollow
nozzle body 32 configured by the outer shell of the filling head 26
and a valve rod 34 liftably provided inside the nozzle body 32. The
liquid passageway 30 is defined between the valve rod 34 and the
nozzle body 32. The valve rod 34 and the nozzle body 32 also
configure a liquid valve 31 for opening and closing the liquid
passageway 30. The filling head 26 injects the filling liquid F
into the vessel V at a predetermined timing by opening and closing
the liquid valve 31.
[0024] The valve rod 34 is provided with a gas passageway 36 for
connecting the headspace inside the liquid tank 24 with the gas
space of the vessel V sealed by the filling head 26. The gas
passageways 36 from each of the filling heads 26 are connected to a
gas manifold 36B via gas valves 36A and integrated into one gas
passageway 36 connected to the top part of the liquid tank 24.
[0025] A snifting passage 38 is connected to the gas passageway 36
at a position between the filling head 26 and the gas valve 36A for
connecting the space inside the sealed vessel V to an outer space
such as the sterile chamber 14A. The snifting passage 38 connected
to each of the gas passageways 36 is provided with a snifting valve
38A, respectively. The snifting passages 38 are integrated into one
snifting passage 38 through a snifting manifold 38B and discharged
into the sterile chamber 14A.
[0026] In FIGS. 2 and 3, an open valve is depicted by a white valve
and a closed valve is depicted by a black valve. Furthermore, in
each state, a passageway (or a portion thereof) supplied with a
pressured gas is depicted by a thick line.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a side-sectional view illustrating the
configuration of the filling head 26. FIG. 5 is an enlarged
side-sectional view of the filling head 26 around the tip end
portion in FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the filling head 26 is located above
the vessel V at a predetermined distance and the liquid valve 31 of
the liquid passageway 30 is closed. Furthermore, in FIG. 5, the tip
end of the filling head 26 is pressed against the mouth of the
vessel V and the vessel V is hermetically sealed.
[0028] The vessel V treated in the filling line 10 may be a resin
bottle such as a PET bottle. However, the type of the vessel V
varies according to whether a fizzy liquid or non-fizzy liquid is
used as the filling liquid F. Namely, a pressure-resistant PET
bottle may be adopted when a fizzy liquid is treated and a sterile
filling PET bottle may be adopted when a non-fizzy liquid is
treated.
[0029] The vessel V includes a cylindrical portion V1 formed with a
mouth Vm at the top end, a shoulder portion V2 connected to the
cylindrical portion V1 and a body portion V3 connected to the
shoulder portion V2. The inner diameter of the mouth Vm and the
cylindrical portion V1 is relatively rapidly enlarged to the inner
diameter of the body portion V3 through the shoulder portion V2. A
vessel V treated in the present embodiment is provided with the
flange portion Vf on the periphery of the cylindrical portion V1.
In the filling machine 14, the vessels V are gripped under the
flange portion Vf by the gripper 28.
[0030] The filling head 26 includes the nozzle body 32 with an
elongated hollow structure and the valve rod 34 that is liftably
provided inside the nozzle body 32 along the hollow section. The
nozzle body 32 includes a lower shell member 32A and an upper shell
member 32B for lifting the valve rod 34. The liquid passageway 30
for supplying the filling liquid F to the filling head 26 is
connected to an upper portion of the side surface of the lower
shell member 32A.
[0031] Between the valve rod 34 and the lower shell member 32A, the
annular liquid passageway 30 through which the filling liquid F
flows is formed around the valve rod 34. The bottom end of the
valve rod 34 slightly protrudes from the bottom end of the lower
shell member 32A.
[0032] The gas passageway 36 is longitudinally provided within the
valve rod 34 and as aforementioned, connects the vessel V to the
headspace of the liquid tank 24 via the gas valve 36A and is also
connected to the snifting passage 38, thereby connecting the vessel
V to the sterile chamber 14A via the snifting valve 38A.
[0033] The valve rod 34 includes a first small-diameter portion 34A
configuring the lower portion of the valve rod 34, a first
large-diameter portion 34C located above the first small-diameter
portion 34A, and a first tapered-diameter portion 33B connecting
the first large-diameter portion 34C and the first small-diameter
portion 34A. Inside the lower shell member 32A, a first shell
small-diameter portion 33A, a first tapered-diameter portion 33B
and a first large-diameter portion 33C are provided from bottom to
top corresponding to the profile of the valve rod 34 to form the
liquid passageway 30, and thereby the bottom end opening of the
first shell small-diameter portion 33A is formed as an outlet 33D
of the nozzle body 32.
[0034] The valve rod 34 is liftable inside the lower shell member
32A, whereby the first tapered-diameter portion 34B performs the
function of a valve plug and the first shell tapered-diameter
portion 33B performs the function of a valve seat. Namely, the
inner diameter of the first shell small-diameter portion 33A is
larger than the outer diameter of the first large-diameter portion
34C, whereby the first tapered-diameter portion 34B abuts against
the first shell tapered-diameter portion 33B when the valve rod 34
is descended. Thereby, a ring seal member 34D provided on a
peripheral portion from the bottom edge of the first large-diameter
portion 34C to the first tapered-diameter portion 34B is pressed
against the first shell tapered-diameter portion 33B, so that the
liquid passageway 30 hermetically occludes.
[0035] The valve rod 34 is ascended and descended by an actuator 40
provided inside the upper shell member 32B. The actuator 40 may
include a cylinder 40A formed inside the upper shell member 32B and
a piston 40B provided on the valve rod 34, which engages with the
cylinder 40A. The valve rod 34 is motivated by taking air in and
out to or from spaces defined above and below the piston 40B inside
the cylinder 40A, whereby the spaces are hermetically separated by
the piston 40B. Air inflow and outflow to/from the space above and
below the piston 40B is controlled by a selector valve 29 connected
to an air compressor 42.
[0036] To isolate the liquid passage 30 from the actuator 40 of the
valve rod 34, a corrugated tube or bellows 44 that freely expands
and contracts in the vertical direction together with the vertical
motion of the valve rod 34 is provided around the valve rod 34
inside the lower shell member 32A with its top end hermetically
attached to the bottom end of the upper shell member 32B and its
bottom end hermetically attached to the valve rod 34. Thereby, the
liquid passageway 30 is separated from a sliding portion between
the upper shell member 32B and the valve rod 34.
[0037] As mentioned above, the gas passageway 36 formed inside the
valve rod 34 is connectable to the headspace of the liquid tank 24
via the gas valve 36A and communicable with the sterile chamber 14A
via the snifting valve 38A.
[0038] A flare portion 46, which extends radially outward toward
the bottom, is provided at the bottom end of the valve rod 34.
Thereby, an inclined surface 46A is formed around the periphery of
the bottom end of the first small-diameter portion 34A.
Furthermore, a plurality of swirl vanes 50, which have a helically
form, is provided on the periphery of the first large-diameter
portion 34C above the seal member 34D attached in the vicinity of
the first tapered-diameter portion 34B. The external dimensions of
the swirl vanes 50 are about the same size as the inner diameter of
the first shell large-diameter portion 33C of the lower shell
member 32A and thereby helical channels are configured by the outer
peripheral surface of the first large-diameter portion 34C, the
swirl vanes 50 and the inner peripheral surface of the first shell
large-diameter portion 33C. Incidentally, the periphery of the
outlet 33D formed at the bottom end of the lower shell member 32A
is provided with a ring seal member 52 that is pressed onto the
mouth Vm of the vessel V during the filling process to seal the
mouth Vm.
[0039] With reference to FIGS. 2-5, the filling process carried out
by the filling machine 14 of the present embodiment is
explained.
[0040] The filling machine 14 includes a first filling mode for
filling a fizzy liquid and a second filling mode for filling a
non-fizzy liquid. Both modes are performed by switching between
opening and closing the gas valve 36A and the snifting valve 38A.
FIG. 2 illustrates the filling process in the first filling mode
and FIG. 3 illustrates the filing process in the second filling
mode. Note that the operation of the filling head 26 is the same in
both the first filling mode and second filling mode.
[0041] FIG. 4 illustrates a state when the valve rod 34 is lowered
by the actuator 40 to close the liquid valve 31. FIG. 5 illustrates
a state when the filling liquid F is filled into the vessel V via
the filling head 26. Namely, in FIG. 5, the mouth Vm of the vessel
V is pressed against the seal member 52 provided on the bottom end
of the filling head 26 and the first tapered-diameter portion 34B
is separated from the first shell tapered-diameter portion 33B so
that the liquid valve 31 is in the open state.
[0042] When the liquid valve 31 is open, the flare portion 46 at
the bottom end of the valve rod 34 protrudes from the outlet 33D at
the bottom end of the lower shell member 32A and is positioned
inside the cylindrical portion V1 of the vessel V. In the present
embodiment, a spread angle .theta. of the flare portion 46, which
is defined as the angle between the tangent of the inclined surface
46A in the radial direction at the peripheral and the downward
axial direction of the small-diameter member 34A, is about 60
degrees. Incidentally, when the valve rod 34 is arranged at the
opening position of the valve, the position of the upper end where
the inclined surface 46A of the flare portion 46 begins to spread
is substantially the same level as the position of the upper end of
the mouth portion Vm of the vessel V.
[0043] Just before the filling operation is started, the filling
head 26 is closed and maintained in the state illustrated in FIG.
4. Namely, the valve rod 34 is lowered by the actuator 40 and the
seal member 48 of the tapered-diameter portion 34B is pressed
against the first shell tapered-diameter portion 33B so that the
liquid passageway 30 is closed.
[0044] At the start of the filling operation when the vessel V is
delivered to the filling machine 14, the gripper 28 is lifted and
as illustrated in FIG. 5, the mouth Vm of the vessel V held by the
gripper 28 is pressed against the seal member 52 provided on the
bottom end of the lower shell member 32A. Thereby, the vessel V is
hermetically isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and
sealed.
[0045] When the mouth Vm of the vessel V is pressed against the
filling head 26, the valve rod 34 is lifted by the actuator 40 and
the liquid valve 31 is opened. In the first filling mode, the gas
valve 36A is opened and the snifting valve 38A is closed before the
liquid valve 31 is opened. The liquid valve 31 is opened after the
pressure inside the vessel V equalizes with the pressure inside the
headspace of the liquid tank 24. This condition is maintained while
the liquid valve 31 is open. Thereby, the filling liquid F inside
the pressurized liquid tank 24 is injected into the vessel V
through the liquid passageway 30 and the gas inside the vessel V
flows into the headspace of the liquid tank 24 through the gas
passageway 36. Incidentally, illustrated on the right side of FIG.
2 is the situation of the filling operation being carried out in
the first filling mode (where the filling liquid F is half filled
in the vessel V.)
[0046] When the liquid valve 31 is opened, the filling liquid F
inside the liquid tank 24 flows through the liquid passageway 30.
When the valve rod 34 is lifted to the upper limit position by the
actuator 40, the flare portion on the bottom end of the valve rod
34 reaches the position where the top end of the inclined surface
46A reaches about the same level as the outlet 33D, as illustrated
in FIG. 5. The filling liquid F that flows down through the liquid
passageway 30 is given a tangential flow component by the spiral
flow passage configured by the swirl vanes 50. Thereby, the filling
liquid F spirally flows down the liquid passageway 30 formed
between the outer periphery of the first tapered-diameter portion
34B of the valve rod 34 and the inner periphery of the first shell
tapered-diameter portion 33B of the lower shell member 32A.
[0047] When the filling liquid F reaches the outlet 33D, the
filling liquid F is spread radially outward from the valve rod 34
with the tangential flow component due to the centrifugal force of
the spiral flow and with the aid of the expanded area of the
inclined surface 40A of the flare portion 46 so that the filling
liquid F is sprayed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion
V1 of the vessel V. At the beginning of the filling operation, the
centrifugal force of the spiral flow induced by the swirl vanes 50
is not sufficient. Therefore, at this moment, the filling liquid F
is guided to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion V1 via
the inclined surface 46A of the flare portion 46 as well as the
spiral effect of the filling liquid F. However, once the spiral
flow is sufficiently developed, the spiral effect by itself is
enough to guide the filling liquid F to the inner surface of the
cylindrical portion V1.
[0048] The filling operation is performed while the rotary wheel of
the filling machine 14 is rotated. On the left side of FIG. 2 is
illustrated the condition when the filling operation is completed.
The amount of the filling liquid F supplied to each of the filling
heads 26 is measured by the flowmeter 30A and the valve rod 34 is
descended by the actuator 40 to close the liquid valve 31 when the
amount of the filling liquid F supplied to the vessel V reaches a
predetermined amount. The gas valve 36A is then closed and the
snifting valve 38A is opened so that the pressure inside the vessel
V adapts to the pressure inside the sterile chamber 14A (outside
pressure.) Then, the vessel V is lowered by the gripper 28 and the
mouth portion Vm of the vessel V is released from the filling head
26.
[0049] On the other hand, in the second filling mode in which a
non-fizzy liquid is filled, the gas valve 36A is closed while the
snifting valve 38A is opened and the liquid valve 31 is opened, as
illustrated on the right side of FIG. 3. The open and closed
conditions of the gas valve 36A and the snifting valve 38A are
maintained during the filling operation of the second filling mode.
Namely, the vessel V is disconnected from the headspace of the
liquid tank 24, but connected to the sterile chamber 14A through
the snifting passage 38 at all times. When the filling liquid F is
injected into the vessel V, the air inside the vessel V is
discharged to the sterile chamber 14A through the snifting passage
38.
[0050] Note that the operation of the valve rod 34 and the flow of
the filling liquid F are the same as that of the first filling
mode.
[0051] As described above, according to the filling system of the
first embodiment, the pressure inside the vessel can be maintained
at approximately the same level as the outside pressure while
filling a non-fizzy liquid with the liquid tank pressurized higher
than the outside pressure so that the deformation of the vessel is
prevented even when a pliable vessel is used. Accordingly, the
system can be used for both a fizzy liquid and non-fizzy liquid
even when pressurized filling is required for filling a non-fizzy
liquid as in the sterile filling.
[0052] FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are side sectional views of a filling head
of a second embodiment. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the
configuration of the filling head of the second embodiment is
explained.
[0053] The filling head 60 in the filling system of the second
embodiment is able to open the liquid passageway 30 at two
different settings of opening degrees. For example, a large opening
degree is selected when filling a fizzy liquid and a small opening
degree is selected when filling a non-fizzy liquid. The other
structures are the same as those of the first embodiment so that
for the same components the same reference numerals have been
adopted and their explanations omitted. FIG. 6 illustrates the
filling head 60 with the small opening degree and FIG. 7
illustrates the filling head 60 with the large opening degree.
[0054] The filling head 60 includes an upper shell member 62B,
which is used to raise and lower a valve rod 64 and a lower shell
member 62A. Similar to the filling head 26 of the first embodiment,
the filling head 60 includes the liquid valve 31, which is
comprised of the lower shell member 62A and the valve rod 64. The
valve rod 64 is provided with swirl vanes 50 above the liquid valve
31. Furthermore, above the swirl vanes 50, a flow control portion
66 is provided for reducing the flow speed of the liquid passing
through the liquid passageway 30 by narrowing the liquid passageway
30 by the valve rod 64 lifted inside the lower shell member
62A.
[0055] Above the first shell large-diameter portion 33C, the lower
shell member 62A is provided with a second shell large-diameter
portion 68A having a larger inner diameter than the first shell
large-diameter portion 33C and a second shell tapered-diameter
portion 68B connecting the second shell large-diameter portion 68A
and the first shell large-diameter portion 33C. Further, above the
first large-diameter portion 34C, the valve rod 64 is provided with
a second large-diameter portion 70A having a larger outer diameter
than the first large-diameter portion 34C and a second
tapered-diameter portion 70B connecting the second large-diameter
portion 70A and the first large-diameter portion 34C.
[0056] The second tapered-diameter portion 70B is located at the
same level as the second shell tapered-diameter portion 68B. The
outer diameter of the second large-diameter portion 70A is
configured so that it is slidable inside the first large-diameter
portion 33C. Furthermore, a plurality of grooves 70C along the
vertical direction is provided around the second tapered-diameter
portion 70B.
[0057] The valve rod 64 is vertically moved by an actuator provided
inside the upper shell member 62B. The actuator 72, for example,
includes cylinders 72A and 72B formed inside the upper shell member
62B and pistons 64A and 64B provided on the valve rod 64 that
engage with the cylinders 72A and 72B, respectively. The cylinder
72A and the cylinder 72B are formed as one space vertically
connected together with the inner diameter of cylinder 72A smaller
than that of cylinder 72B. Namely, the outer diameter of the piston
64A is smaller than that of the piston 64B.
[0058] The cylinder 70A is vertically divided in two parts
hermetically by the piston 64A. Furthermore, the cylinder 72B is
vertically divided in two parts hermetically by the piston 64B.
Thereby, the pistons 64A and 64B divide the space inside the
cylinders 72A and 72B in three spaces 74A, 74B and 74C from the
bottom. The spaces 74A, 74B and 74C are connected to the air
compressor 42 through air supply tubes 76A, 76B and 76C,
respectively, and the air supply tubes 76A, 76B and 760 are each
provided with valves 78A, 78B and 78C.
[0059] When the liquid valve 31 provided in the liquid passage 30
is opened at the large degree, only valve 78A is opened and valves
78B and 78C are closed. Thereby, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the
valve rod 64 is lifted to the upper limit (the third height) so
that the liquid valve 31 and the flow control portion 66 are opened
wide. Namely, the filling head 60 is set at the large opening
degree.
[0060] When the liquid valve 31 provided in the liquid passageway
30 is opened at the small degree, valves 78A and 78C are opened and
valve 78B is closed. Thereby, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the piston
64B presses down the piston 64A from the state illustrated in FIG.
7 so that the valve rod 64 is slightly lowered (the second height)
and thereby the opening degree of the liquid valve 31 is reduced.
Accordingly, the filling head 60 is set at the small opening
degree. At this time, the bottom part of the second
tapered-diameter portion 70B fits into the top part of the first
shell large-diameter portion 33C and the filling liquid F flows
between the grooves 70C provided around the second tapered-diameter
portion 70B at the flow control portion 66 so that the speed of the
filling liquid F is suppressed.
[0061] When the liquid valve 31 provided in the liquid passageway
30 is closed, only the valve 78B is opened and valves 78A and 78C
are closed. Thereby, the valve rod 64 is lowered to the lower limit
(the first height) so that the bottom end of the second
large-diameter portion 70A is slightly inserted into the first
shell large-diameter portion 33C and the seal member 34D at the
first tapered-diameter portion 34B is pressed against the first
shell tapered-diameter portion 33B to close the liquid passageway
30.
[0062] As described above, according to the second embodiment, the
same effect as the first embodiment is also obtained. In addition,
the filling rate can be adjusted according to the type of filling
liquid. For example, when filling a non-fizzy liquid into the
vessel, the gas passageway, which connects the vessel to the liquid
tank, is closed and the snifting passage is opened to the sterile
chamber 14A. Thereby, a flow rate of the filling liquid is
accelerated by the difference between the pressure inside the
liquid tank (e.g., 0.03 MPa) and the pressure inside the sterile
chamber (e.g., 0.005 MPa.) In the second embodiment, the flow rate
is suppressed by opening the liquid valve 31 at the small degree
when filling a fizzy non-carbonated drink into the vessel so that
the filling liquid is prevented from bubbling in the vessel.
Furthermore, when a carbonated drink is filled into the vessel, the
liquid valve 31 can be opened at the large degree so that the
opening degree of the liquid valve 31 can be selected according to
the type of liquid filled into the vessel.
[0063] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been
described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings,
obviously many modifications and changes may be made by those
skilled in this art without departing from the scope of the
invention.
[0064] The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained
in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-025650 (filed on Feb. 18,
2020), which is expressly incorporated herein, by reference, in its
entirety.
* * * * *