JP4319325B2 - Insulated liquid filling device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to a liquid filling apparatus, and more particularly, to a heat retaining liquid filling apparatus particularly suitable for filling a liquid having a high viscosity and easily solidifies when cooled.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, an apparatus for automatically filling various liquid substances into a container has been developed and put into practical use. Among the liquids filled with such a filling device, for example, curry retort foods, there are some which have extremely high viscosity and solidify and stop flowing when cooled. In addition, when solidified, the quality may deteriorate.
[0003]
In order to deal with such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-227718 discloses a temperature control medium in which a nozzle has a double structure of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, and a partition is provided between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. An invention is disclosed in which a medium passage that can circulate is formed. In this case, the control becomes complicated because a temperature controller or the like is required. In addition to maintaining the temperature and controlling the temperature of the filled liquid itself, for example, on the raw material tank side, the temperature adjustment medium is circulated using an additional device, thereby controlling the nozzle temperature. Also gets higher.
[0004]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-689 connects a liquid supply pipe with a filling valve and a recovery valve, and through these valves, the supply pipe is switched to a filling passage that communicates with a filling nozzle and a collection passage that communicates with a storage tank. The configuration described above is disclosed. However, in this configuration, when the valve is switched so that the liquid flows into the recovery passage, the liquid remains in the filling passage and the nozzle. Problems arise when resuming.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems. The present invention does not require an extra temperature adjusting device or the like, and the flow of liquid material including the vicinity of the supply pipe, the supply flow path, and the discharge hole is performed. It is an object of the present invention to provide a heat retaining liquid filling device capable of constantly warming a road. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a heat retaining liquid filling apparatus that has simple equipment, can be easily temperature-controlled with simple control, and can run at low cost.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is connected between a storage device including a storage tank that stores a liquid material to be filled, a nozzle device including a discharge port, and the storage tank and the nozzle device. A liquid filling apparatus including a supply pipe and a recovery pipe was configured as follows. That is, the liquid material filling apparatus further includes a heat retaining device for retaining the liquid material in the storage tank. And the nozzle device is fixedly attached to the cylindrical member so as to surround at least a part of the outer periphery of the cylindrical member, and the cylindrical member provided therein with the first flow path having the discharge port at the lower end, A second flow path forming member that forms a second flow path separated from the first flow path by the peripheral wall of the cylindrical member. The first channel and the second channel communicate with each other through a communication hole formed in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical member in the vicinity of the lower end portion of the cylindrical member. One of the first and second flow paths is in one of the supply pipe and the recovery pipe, the other of the first and second flow paths is in the other of the supply pipe and the recovery pipe, Connected. This liquid material filling device further returns the liquid material supplied from the storage tank via the supply pipe to the recovery pipe by opening the discharge port and closing the discharge port or closing the discharge port. A switching valve is provided for switching the flow path.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.
[0008]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a heat retaining liquid filling apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and the apparatus 1 is mounted on a gantry 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a storage device, which includes a storage tank 7 for storing a liquid material to be filled. The storage tank 7 is provided with a lid 7a, and a stirring motor 9 is mounted on the lid. A stirring blade 11 disposed in the tank 7 is attached to the output shaft of the storage tank 7. It is designed to stir. Reference numeral 13 is a plate heater, and 15 is a temperature detector. Based on the output of the temperature detector, the on / off of the plate heater 13 is controlled to keep the liquid in the tank 7 at a constant temperature. Yes. Reference numeral 17 denotes a drain valve.
[0009]
A delivery pipe 19 attached to the bottom of the tank 7 is connected to one end of a supply pipe 23 via a three-way valve 21. Further, one end of a recovery pipe 25 described later is connected to the upper portion of the tank 7. And the other end side of the supply pipe | tube 23 and the collection | recovery pipe | tube 25 is each connected to the nozzle apparatus 51 explained in full detail behind.
[0010]
A volume measuring cylinder 27 is attached to the three-way valve 21 on the side opposite to the delivery pipe 19, and the operation of the three-way valve switching cylinder 30 causes the delivery pipe 19 and the measurement cylinder 27 to communicate with each other, and the measurement cylinder 27 and the supply pipe 23. Is switched to the state of communication. The measuring cylinder 27 includes a piston 28 that can move up and down. The tip of the piston rod 29 is connected to a shaft 33 extending laterally from a slider 32 that can move up and down along the rail 31. A rod 34 attached to the slider 32 is coupled to the tip of a crank 35 that swings around a fulcrum 35a. Reference numeral 36 denotes a liquid amount adjusting unit that adjusts the moving amount of the slider 32 according to the amount of liquid to be filled, 37 is an overload absorbing cylinder, and 38 is a drive motor.
[0011]
In the filling device 1 configured as described above, when the piston of the measuring cylinder 27 is in the retracted position shown in the figure, the three-way valve is switched so that the delivery pipe 19 communicates with the measuring cylinder 27. As the piston 28 moves downward, the liquid material in the tank is sucked into the cylinder 27 by an amount corresponding to a preset stroke of the piston 28. Subsequently, the three-way valve 21 is switched, the measuring cylinder 27 communicates with the supply pipe 23, and as the piston 28 moves upward, the liquid material in the cylinder 27 is sent to the nozzle device 51 via the supply pipe 23, and the nozzle The bag container 50 supported below the apparatus 51 is filled.
[0012]
Next, the nozzle device 51 will be described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Reference numeral 53 is a hollow nozzle body, and a supply port 55 connected to the supply pipe 23 extending sideways is provided on the upper portion thereof. I have. The hollow tube 57 is inserted into the nozzle body 53 by receiving the flange 57a at the upper end thereof in a stepped portion 53a formed near the upper end of the nozzle body 53, thereby forming a double tube structure. A lower end portion of the hollow tube 57 serves as a discharge port 58. The hollow tube 57 is formed with a plurality of communication holes 60 (described later) penetrating the peripheral wall at a position slightly above the discharge port 58. Reference numerals 54 a and 54 b denote O-rings received in grooves formed on the inner periphery near the upper end and the lower end of the nozzle body 53, and seal between the nozzle body 53 and the hollow tube 57.
[0013]
A hollow intermediate pipe 61 is connected to the nozzle body 53 via a packing 59. A recovery port 63 extending laterally is provided at a position slightly above the center in the axial direction of the intermediate pipe 61 and connected to the recovery pipe 25 described above. An upper pipe 67 is connected to the intermediate pipe 61 via a packing 65. The upper end of the upper pipe 67 is closed by a packing 69 having a central hole 69a, and an air cylinder 71 is placed thereon. The packing 69 is fixed to the upper pipe 67 by appropriate means, and the air cylinder 71 is fixed to the packing 69 by being coupled with the nut 72 and the packing 69 interposed therebetween.
[0014]
A joint 75 is screwed and attached to the lower end portion of the rod 73 extending below the air cylinder 71, and the flange 75 a at the upper end portion of the upper connecting rod 77 is received by the joint 75 so that the upper connecting rod 77 is moved. Drooping is supported. Reference numeral 79 denotes a fixing nut. Reference numeral 81 denotes a guide bush, and its flange 81 a is fitted in the central hole 65 a of the packing 65 and is received by the upper end surface 61 a of the intermediate pipe 61 and is fitted in the intermediate pipe 61. The upper connecting rod 77 is inserted and guided in the central through hole 81 b of the guide bush 81.
[0015]
A lower connecting rod 83 having a smaller diameter is screwed to the lower end side of the upper connecting rod 77. Reference numeral 84 denotes a fixing nut. The lower connecting rod 83 is fitted with a sliding bush 85 on the upper side of the flange 83a, and further fitted with a slide block 87 on the outer side thereof. A compression coil spring 89 is disposed between the lower surface of the flange 85 a of the sliding bush 85 and the stepped portion 87 a at the upper end on the inner diameter side of the slide block 87. Accordingly, the slide bush 85 is urged upward to contact the fixing nut 84, and the slide block 87 is urged downward to contact the flange 83 a of the lower connecting rod 83. Reference numeral 91 denotes an O-ring attached to the outer periphery of the lower end portion of the slide block 87, and a valve formed on the inner peripheral side of the intermediate pipe 61 when the slide block 87 moves downward from the position shown in FIG. The first passage, which will be described later, is blocked by sitting on the seat 62. That is, the slide block 87 functions as a valve that opens and closes a recovery flow path, which will be described later.
[0016]
A valve rod 93 is screwed and coupled to the lower end side of the lower connecting rod 83. Reference numeral 95 denotes a fixing nut. A valve body 97 having a divergent shape is attached to the lower end portion of the valve stem 93, and the contact portion 97a on the lower end side thereof has a communication hole 60 in the inner periphery of the hollow tube 57 in the state of FIG. The liquid contact is made in the lower part and the discharge hole 58 is closed.
[0017]
The operation of the nozzle device 51 configured as described above will be described. The upper connecting rod 77, the lower connecting rod 83, and the valve rod 93, which are integrally connected and supported by being suspended from the air cylinder 71 via the joint 75, are supported. Is moved up and down between two positions in the upper pipe 67, the intermediate pipe 61 and the hollow pipe 57 by the air cylinder 71. FIG. 2 shows a state of being positioned at the upper position. A first flow path 98 is formed inside the hollow pipe 57 and the intermediate pipe 61, and a second flow path 99 is formed between the nozzle main body 53 and the hollow pipe 57, each as described above. 63, connected to the recovery pipe 25 and the supply pipe 23 via the supply port 55. Further, the first flow path 98 and the second flow path 99 communicate with each other through a communication hole 60 formed in the peripheral wall of the hollow tube 57 near the discharge port 58. As a result, the supply flow path 101 is located above the communication hole of the first flow path 98 by the portion below the communication hole 60 of the first flow path 98 from the second flow path 99 through the communication hole 60. Thus, the recovery channel 103 is configured.
[0018]
The state shown in FIG. 2 is a state where the supply channel 101 is shut off and the recovery channel 103 is opened. That is, the liquid material supplied from the supply pipe 23 enters the second flow path 99, enters the first flow path 98 through the communication hole 60, flows upward, flows from the recovery port 63 to the recovery pipe 25, Reflux to tank 7. Then, the air cylinder 71 is operated to move the valve rod 93 downward. When the valve body 97 is removed from the hollow tube 57 and the discharge port 58 is opened, the slide block 87 is also moved downward, and the O-ring 91 is moved to the valve. It sits on the seat 62, the recovery channel 103 is blocked, and the liquid material is discharged from the discharge port 58. In this way, the flow path of the liquid material as the filling is switched. At that time, the valve stem 93 moves further downward to sufficiently open the discharge port 58 even after the O-ring 91, that is, the slide block 87 is seated on the valve seat 62. It is absorbed by the shrinkage.
[0019]
When performing automatic filling and packaging of liquid materials, for example, if bag feeding is not performed in the bag feeding process, which is the process before the filling process, or if the bag is not opened normally, the sensor is used. Although it is usually performed to detect this and stop filling in the filling process, as is apparent from the above description, according to the filling device according to the present embodiment, the supply of the liquid material is continued as it is, The supplied liquid material can be recovered as it is in the storage tank through the recovery flow path and the recovery pipe. That is, the liquid is always supplied, and when normal, the supply flow path is opened and filling is performed. When an abnormality occurs, the discharge port is closed and the supply flow path is shut off, while the recovery flow path is opened and supplied. The liquid material can be recovered as it is in the storage tank.
[0020]
For those that have high viscosity, such as curry for retort foods, and solidify when the temperature is low, it is necessary to keep the liquid itself at a constant temperature and warm the nozzle etc. even when filling is stopped, In this embodiment, the liquid material in the storage tank is kept warm, and the kept liquid material is constantly supplied to the supply pipe and the nozzle to keep it warm, so that a special device for keeping them warm is unnecessary. .
[0021]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle device 121 according to the second embodiment. In the configuration of the nozzle device 121 in this embodiment, portions having the same configuration as the nozzle device 51 in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
[0022]
In this nozzle device 121, the slide block 87, the slide bush 85 used in the nozzle device 51 of the first embodiment, and the compression coil spring 89 disposed therebetween are not used. Then, the lower connecting rod 83 in which the slide block 87 and the sliding bush 85 are fitted is also abolished, and the valve rod 122 which is lengthened accordingly is directly coupled to the upper connecting rod 77. That is, the valve for opening and closing the recovery flow path 103 used in the first embodiment is not provided, and only the valve 97 for opening and closing the discharge port 58 is provided. It also functions as a valve that opens and closes.
[0023]
That is, when the discharge port opening / closing valve 97 is located at the position indicated by the solid line in the figure, the second flow path 99 and the portion above the communication hole 60 of the first flow path 98, that is, the recovery flow path 103 are in communication. The other supply flow path 101 is blocked by the valve body 97 closing the discharge port 58.
[0024]
And unlike the nozzle device of the first embodiment, the valve body 97 is moved upward by the air cylinder 71 to the position indicated by the broken line in the figure, thereby opening the discharge port 58 and the second flow path 99, the communication. The supply flow path 101 constituted by the opening 60 and the portion extending from the communication hole 60 of the first flow path 98 to the discharge port 58 is opened, while the recovery flow path 103 is blocked. Reference numeral 123 denotes an O-ring disposed in the inner circumferential groove of the hollow tube 57 so as to contact the valve body 97.
[0025]
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle device 141 according to the third embodiment. The configuration may be substantially the same as the nozzle device 121 of the second embodiment. However, the supply port and the recovery port are reversed. That is, the recovery port 143 is provided in the nozzle body 53, and the supply port 145 is provided in the intermediate pipe 61. The moving direction of the valve body 97 is opposite to that of the second embodiment. That is, the illustrated state shows the nozzle device in the recovery state, but in order to switch from this state to the supply state, the valve body 97 moves downward to open the discharge port 58. In this embodiment, a separate valve device may be provided in order to prevent the liquid from flowing out from the recovery channel in the supply state.
[0026]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, for example, when the bag supply is not normally performed in the bag supply process that is the process before the filling process, even when the filling in the filling process is stopped, The supply of the liquid material can be continued without stopping, and the supplied liquid material can be recovered as it is in the storage tank through the recovery channel. In this way, the liquid is always supplied, and the flow path at the time of recovery passes from the supply flow path to the recovery flow path through the vicinity of the discharge port at the tip of the nozzle. It is possible to always keep the flow path at a predetermined temperature by the liquid material itself flowing through the flow path up to the vicinity of the discharge port at the tip of the nozzle. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a separate heat retention device for heat insulation of the supply pipe, etc., which is excellent in terms of energy saving and running cost is low. In addition, it is easy in terms of equipment, and an additional temperature adjusting device is not required separately, so that the control of the entire device is also simple.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram of a liquid filling apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a nozzle device used in the first embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the nozzle device.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle device according to a second embodiment.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a nozzle device according to a third embodiment.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Liquid filling apparatus 5 Storage apparatus 7 Storage tank 11 Stirring blade 13 Heater 21 Three-way valve 23 Supply pipe 25 Recovery pipe 51 Nozzle apparatus 53 Nozzle body 55 Supply port 57 Hollow pipe 58 Discharge port 60 Communication hole 61 Intermediate pipe 62 Valve seat 63 Recovery port 67 Upper pipe 77 Upper connection rod 83 Lower connection rod 85 Slide bush 87 Slide block 89 Compression coil spring 93 Valve rod 97 Valve body 98 First flow path 99 Second flow path 101 Supply flow path 103 Recovery flow path

Claims (7)

Liquid having a storage device having a storage tank for storing a liquid material to be filled, a nozzle device having a discharge port, and a supply pipe and a recovery pipe connected between the storage tank and the nozzle device. In the object filling device, the liquid material filling device further includes a heat retaining device for retaining the temperature of the liquid material in the storage tank, and the nozzle device includes a first flow path having the discharge port at a lower end portion therein. And a second flow channel fixedly attached to the cylindrical member so as to surround at least a part of the outer periphery of the cylindrical member, and separated from the first flow channel by the peripheral wall of the cylindrical member And the first flow path and the second flow path communicate with each other through a communication hole formed in the peripheral wall of the cylindrical member in the vicinity of the lower end portion of the cylindrical member. And one of the first and second flow paths is connected to the supply. One of the pipe and the recovery pipe, the other of the first and second flow paths is connected to the other of the supply pipe and the recovery pipe on the upper end side of each flow path, and the liquid filling device further includes The flow of returning the liquid material supplied from the storage tank via the supply pipe to the recovery pipe by opening the discharge port and discharging the liquid from the discharge port or closing the discharge port. A liquid filling device comprising a switching valve for switching to a passage . 2. The filling device according to claim 1, wherein the second flow path forming member is configured by a second cylindrical member formed so as to surround the cylindrical member, and the second flow path is formed by the first flow path. A heat-insulating liquid filling apparatus , characterized in that it is an annular flow path surrounding the path . 3. The filling device according to claim 1, wherein the first flow path is connected to the recovery pipe, the second flow path is connected to the supply pipe, and the switching valve opens and closes the discharge port. A discharge passage opening / closing valve that cuts off the first flow passage, and the discharge passage opening / closing valve and the collection passage cut-off valve are disposed in the first flow passage. A heat retaining liquid filling apparatus characterized by the above . 4. The filling device according to claim 3, wherein the discharge port on-off valve is disposed below the communication hole in the first flow path, and the recovery flow path shut-off valve is connected to the communication path in the first flow path. A valve disposed above the hole, the discharge opening / closing valve moving downward from the lower end of the first flow path to open the discharge opening, and the recovery flow path shut-off valve positioned below the valve The first flow path is shut off by sitting on a seat, the discharge port on / off valve closes the discharge port below the communication port, and the recovery flow path shut-off valve moves away from the valve seat to the first A heat-retaining liquid filling apparatus characterized by opening the flow path . 5. The heat retaining liquid filling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the discharge opening / closing valve and the recovery flow path shutoff valve are driven by a single drive mechanism . The filling device according to claim 3, wherein the discharge opening / closing valve and the recovery flow path opening / closing valve are configured by a single valve, and the valve is positioned above the communication hole in the first flow path. The discharge port is opened and the second flow path is communicated with the discharge port through the communication hole, and the valve is positioned below the communication hole in the first flow path. A heat retaining liquid filling apparatus , wherein the discharge port is closed and the second channel is communicated with the first channel through the communication hole . 3. The filling device according to claim 1 , wherein the first flow path is connected to the supply pipe, the second flow path is connected to the recovery pipe, and the switching valve is configured by a single valve. The valve is positioned below the communication hole in the first flow path to close the discharge port and flow the liquid material to the second flow path. A heat retaining liquid material filling apparatus , wherein the liquid material is discharged from the discharge port by opening downward from the discharge port and opening the discharge port .

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