JP3529067B2 - Filling carrier and filling 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 filling carrier used for filling a container or the like with a liquid or powder from a storage tank, and a filling facility using the filling carrier.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional filling equipment is equipped with a filling machine as shown in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-52798, and a filling liquid is supplied from a storage tank to a filling head of the filling machine through a supply pipe. Fill the filling liquid into the container from the filling head of the machine.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned filling equipment, after the completion of the filling with the filling liquid from one storage tank, the filling is carried out with another filling liquid of a different type from another storage tank. In doing so, the filling head of the filling machine has to be cleaned. Especially in the case of general filling equipment,
Since the supply pipe connected to the filling machine is single regardless of the type of product, the filling head and the supply pipe of the filling machine must be washed when the type of the filling liquid is changed.

As described above, when switching the type of filling liquid,
It is necessary to interrupt the filling work and wait for the washing time of the filling machine. Moreover, since the above-mentioned conventional filling equipment requires a supply pipe connected to the filling machine, a large piping space is required, and the space of the filling line of the filling equipment becomes large.

The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to continuously perform the filling work even when the type of the filling machine is changed, and it is possible to simultaneously produce different types of products in one filling line. It is an object of the present invention to provide a filling carrier and a filling facility that can save space in the filling line of the filling facility.

[0006]

Means for Solving the Problems] filling carrier according to the present invention of claim 1 includes a carrier body in which the hollow portion is formed is provided to be attached to the conveying means, in the hollow portion of the carrier body An expandable and retractable bag that is accommodated and has a mouth, and an opening / closing valve that is installed at the bottom of the carrier body to open and close the mouth of the bag are provided under negative pressure in the hollow portion of the carrier body. The above bag is above
It expands until it contacts the inner wall surface of the hollow part, so that the filling liquid can be sucked into the bag from the mouth part, and the bag contracts under the positive pressure of the hollow part in the carrier body,
The filling liquid in the bag can be discharged from the mouth.

[0007]

[0008]

[0009]

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a filling facility according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an operation sectional view at the time of suction showing one embodiment of the filling carrier according to the present invention in the filling equipment of FIG. FIG. 3 is an operational cross-sectional view showing a transportation state of the filled carrier of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an operational sectional view showing a filled state of the filled carrier of FIG. FIG. 5 shows a flow dividing portion of the filling line in the filling equipment of FIG. 1, (A) is a plan view thereof, and (B) is a side view thereof. FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing a merging portion of the filling line in the filling equipment of FIG. 1.

The filling equipment 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a container conveying line 11 for moving a container 1 to be filled with a filling liquid 2.
And a filling line 16 for moving the plurality of filling carriers 12 to the suction area 13, the filling area 14 and the cleaning area 15.

The container conveying line 11 conveys the containers 1, and the containers 1 aligned by a container aligning machine (not shown) are placed on the hakama 3 and conveyed. During the carrying process, the filling liquid 2 is filled in the container 1 in the filling area 14 of the filling line 16.
The container 1 is filled with a capper (not shown) after the filling.
A cap is attached to the mouth of the.

The filling line 16 circulates and conveys the filling carrier 12 between the suction area 13 and the filling area 14 and, if necessary, the filling carrier 12 from the filling area 14.
Is guided to the cleaning area 15 and then conveyed to the suction area 13. The filling line 16 is provided with a conveyor belt 17 (FIG. 2) as a conveyor, and the conveyor belt 12 conveys the filler carrier 12. The conveyor belt 17 is supported by a belt receiving plate 18 in the extending direction, and the magnets 19 are provided along the longitudinal direction of the belt receiving plate 18.
Alternatively, an iron plate or the like as a magnetic body is laid.

Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the filling carrier 12 includes a carrier body 20, a bag 21, an opening / closing valve 22,
The switching valve 23 and the magnet 24 are provided. The carrier body 20 has a relatively large volume hollow portion 25, the magnet 24 is built in the ceiling portion 26, and the valve housing 27 of the on-off valve 22 is integrally molded at the bottom portion. The magnet 24 is the magnet 1 installed on the belt support plate 18.
9 is magnetically attracted to the carrier 12 and the carrier 12
It is fixed to the sheet and is conveyed by the movement of the conveyor belt 17. Two magnets 24 are installed on the right and left sides of the carrier body 20 that are orthogonal to the transport direction of the transport belt 17.
A plurality of the magnets 24 may be provided before and after being aligned with the transport direction of the transport belt 17, and a plurality of them may be provided.

The bag 21 is made of a highly flexible material such as plastic or rubber so that it can expand and contract, and is accommodated in the hollow portion 25 of the carrier body 20. The mouth 28 of the bag 21 has a valve housing 27 of the opening / closing valve 22.
Stuck to. The bag 21 is inflated until it comes into contact with the inner wall surface 29 of the carrier body 20 forming the hollow portion 25 by the negative pressure in the hollow portion 25 of the carrier body 20 (FIG. 3). It contracts by positive pressure (Fig. 4).

The switching valve 23 is installed at a central position in the top portion 26 of the carrier body 20, and switches and holds the inside of the hollow portion 25 to a negative pressure or a positive pressure. This switching valve 23
The valve body 30 opens and closes the valve port 23A formed on the top portion 26, and the valve body 30 is biased by the spring 31 to normally close the valve port 23A. On the other hand, a large number of vent holes 32 are opened in the longitudinal direction of the conveyor belt 17 at the center position in the width direction of the conveyor belt 17. In addition, in the suction area 13 of the filling facility 10,
A negative pressure chamber 33 is formed in the belt receiving plate 18, and the negative pressure in the negative pressure chamber 33 acts on the switching valve 23 via the ventilation port 32 of the conveyor belt 17. Then, the valve element 30 of the switching valve 23 opens the switching valve 23 against the urging force of the spring 31 to bring the inside of the hollow portion 25 of the carrier body 20 into a negative pressure state.

Further, in the filling area 14 of the filling equipment 10, the positive pressure operating magnet 34 (FIG. 4) is attached to the belt receiving plate 18.
Is installed corresponding to the switching valve 23. Due to the magnetic force of the positive pressure operating magnet 34, the valve body 30 of the switching valve 23
The on-off valve 23 is sucked against the biasing force of the spring 31
Is opened, and the inside of the hollow portion 25 of the carrier body 20 is brought to a positive pressure (atmospheric pressure) through the ventilation hole 32.

The on-off valve 22 includes a valve body 35 in a valve housing 27 integrated with the carrier body 20,
This valve body 35 is the outflow port 3 at the tip of the valve housing 27.
6 can be opened and closed. This opening / closing is performed by moving the opening / closing magnet 37 arranged along the filling line 16 of the filling equipment 10 in the longitudinal direction of the valve housing 27 (direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). That is, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, by moving the opening / closing magnet 37 away from the outflow / outflow port 36, the valve body 35 opens the outflow / outflow port 36 by the action of the magnetic force of the opening / closing magnet 37, and the on / off valve 22 is opened. Further, by moving the opening / closing magnet 37 toward the outflow port 36 as shown in FIG. 3, the magnetic force of the opening / closing magnet 37 causes the valve element 35 to move.
Closes the outflow port 36, and the on-off valve 22 closes.

Therefore, the above-mentioned filling carrier 12 is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the suction area 13 of the filling equipment 10.
The switching valve 23 is opened by the action of the negative pressure from the negative pressure chamber 33 of the belt receiving plate 18, the inside of the hollow portion 25 of the carrier body 20 becomes negative pressure, and the bag 21 is inflated. At this time, the on-off valve 22 is also opened by the action of the on-off magnet 37, so that the filling liquid 2 stored in the storage tank 38 is sucked into the bag 21 from the outflow port 36 of the carrier body 20 through the port 28. . Since the bag 21 expands until it comes into contact with the inner wall surface 29 of the carrier body 20, the absorption amount of the filling liquid by the filling carrier 12 becomes substantially constant.

After this liquid absorption, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching valve 2
The valve body 30 of No. 3 has the valve port 23A by the action of the spring 31.
Is closed, the switching valve 23 is closed, and the inside of the hollow portion 25 of the carrier body 20 is held in a negative pressure state. Further, the opening / closing magnet 37 moves to the side of the outlet / inlet 36, and the valve element 35 is moved to the outlet / inlet 3
6, the on-off valve 22 is closed. In these states, the filling carrier 12 holds the filling liquid in the bag 21 and is conveyed by the conveying belt 17.

When the filling carrier 12 reaches the filling area 14 of the filling equipment 10, as shown in FIG. 4, the switching valve 23 is opened by the action of the magnetic force of the positive pressure operating magnet 34, and the hollow portion of the carrier body 20 is opened. The inside of 25 becomes a positive pressure state. Further, at this time, the opening / closing magnet 37 moves to a position away from the outflow port 36, the valve body 35 opens the outflow port 36, and the on-off valve 22 opens. From these things, the bag 21 contracts,
The filling liquid 2 stored in the bag 21 is discharged from the outflow / outlet port 36 through the mouth 28 and is filled in the container 1.

In addition, the filling carrier 12 has a built-in ID chip 60 (FIG. 2) for identification in the top portion 26, or a bar code (not shown) for identification is attached to the outer periphery of the carrier body 20. Has been done.

By the way, a plurality of storage tanks 38 are arranged in parallel in the suction area 13 of the filling facility 10 shown in FIG. 1 (here, for example, the storage tanks 38A, 38B, 3
8C). Each of these storage tanks 38A, 38B,
The filling liquid 2 of the same type or the filling liquid 2 of a different type can be stored in 38C. In the suction area 13, the filling line 16 that conveys the filling carrier 12 is divided in the flow dividing unit 50 corresponding to the storage tanks 38 </ b> A, 38 </ b> B, and 38 </ b> C, and is joined in the joining unit 51. Therefore, the filled carrier 12 reaching the suction area 13
Sucks the same or different types of filling liquid in the storage tanks 38A, 38B, and 38C.

The filling area 14 of the filling facility 10 makes the conveying direction and the conveying speed of the filling carrier 12 coincident with the conveying direction and the conveying speed of the container 1 in the container conveying line 11, and during the conveyance of the filling carrier 12 and the container 1. The filling liquid 2 sucked into the filling carrier 12 is discharged and filled into the container 1. The container 1 filled with the filling liquid 2 is capped by the capper as described above, and then transported to the boxing process. On the other hand, the emptied filling carrier 12 after the filling is conveyed to the suction area 13, but if necessary,
The flow is divided into the cleaning area 15 by the flow dividing unit 50 and conveyed.

The cleaning area 15 is provided with a cleaning tank 39 which stores a cleaning liquid, and opens and closes the opening / closing valve 22 and the switching valve 23 of the filling carrier 12 which has completed the filling operation,
The cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 39 is introduced into the bag 21 of the filling carrier 12 and discharged. This is repeated a predetermined number of times to wash the inside of the bag 21 of the filled carrier 12. The filled carriers 12 after cleaning are joined at the joining portion 51 and are conveyed to the suction area 13. The cleaning area 15 is conveyed especially when the filling liquid of different types is filled into the bag 21 of the filling carrier 12.

As shown in FIG. 5, the flow dividing section 50 in the filling line 16 distributes the filling carriers 12 conveyed along the magnet housings 40 arranged in a row, to a distribution device 41.
Is a place to be transported along the magnet housings 42 arranged in two rows. The magnet housing 40 has 2
The magnets 19 are arranged in parallel and housed. In the distribution device 41, a distribution magnet housing 44 is connected to a rotary plate 42 rotated by a drive source such as a motor via a crank rod 43. By driving the motor of the sorting device 41, the sorting magnet housing 44 swings around the fulcrum 45 and is magnetically attached to the magnets 19 of the magnet housings 40 arranged in a row to convey the belt 17.
The filled carrier 12 conveyed in one row by the movement of the magnets is attracted and distributed by the magnet 19 of the distribution magnet housing 44 during the movement of the conveyor belt 17, and magnetically attached to the magnet 19 of the magnet housing 40 conveyed in two rows. The two rows are conveyed by the movement of the conveyor belt 17.

As shown in FIG. 6, the merging portion 51 in the filling line 16 has a first pitch cutting wheel 46 and a second pitch cutting wheel 46.
The pitch cutting wheel 47 is provided and the filled carriers 12 conveyed in two rows are conveyed in one row. The first pitch cutting wheel 46 makes contact with the filled carriers 12 in one row being conveyed in two rows for a predetermined time to form a gap between the filled carriers 12 in this one row. The second pitch cutting wheel 47 is provided on the other row of the filled carriers 12 conveyed in two rows.
The stop and conveyance timings are adjusted so that the filling carriers 12 in the other row can enter the gaps between the filling carriers 12 in the one row. In this way, in this merging section 51, the two-row-conveyed filling carriers 12 merge and are conveyed in one-row.

Furthermore, in the filling line 16, an ID reading antenna 61 or a bar code reader is installed in the flow dividing section 50 and the merging section 51, and in the container conveying line 11,
A camera 63 is installed on the upstream side of the filling area 14. The ID reading antenna 61 or the bar code reader reads the ID chip 60 or the bar code of each filling carrier 12, outputs this reading signal to the controller 62, and the controller 62 individually identifies the filling carrier 12. Further, the container 1 is imaged by the camera 63, and the image pickup signal is output to the controller 62 so that the container 1 is recognized by the controller 62.

The controller 62 stores the filled carrier 12 conveyed to the cleaning area 15 and cleaned from the read signal read by the ID reading antenna 61 installed on the upstream side of the cleaning area 15 by, for example, an identification number. To do.

Further, the controller 62 controls the filled carrier 1 washed in the washing area 15 at the time of switching the product type described later.
2 is identified by the read signal from the ID reading antenna 61 installed downstream of the cleaning area 15, and the suction area 1
By controlling the shunt section 50 located upstream, the cleaned filling carrier 12 is conveyed to the storage tank 38 side in which the new type of filling liquid 2 is stored.

Further, in the case of the mixed filling described later, the controller 62 has an ID installed upstream of the suction area 13.
The filling carrier 12 is individually confirmed by a read signal from the reading antenna 61, and the merging portion 50 upstream of the suction area 13 is confirmed.
Is controlled to control the conveyance of the filled carrier 12 to the storage tanks 38A, 38B, 38C so that the same filled carrier 12 sucks the same filled liquid 2 each time.

Further, the controller 62 uses the suction area 1
The container 1 transported in the container transport line 11 and the container 1 are filled with the read signal from the ID reading antenna 61 installed downstream of 3 and the image pickup signal from the camera 63 in the container transport line 11. The timing of unloading the filled carrier in the merging portion 51 downstream of the suction area 13 is controlled so that the filling liquid 2 should match. The image pickup signal of the container 1 picked up by the camera 63 is transmitted from the controller 62 to the next step such as the capping box filling step.

Next, a description will be given of the case where the type of the filling liquid 2 is changed during the filling operation, and the case where the filling liquids of different types are mixed and filled. A. Product type switching For example, the storage tank 38 of the filling line 16 shown in FIG.
Of A, 38B, and 38C, the initial storage tank 38C is used as the filling liquid 2 of a new product type, and at the same time, the new type of container 1 is conveyed by the container conveying line 11. The filling carrier 12 transferred from the cleaning area 15 to the storage tank 38C in the suction area 13 on the filling line 16 uses the filling carrier 12 sucking the filling liquid 2 in the storage tank 38C. Simultaneously with the suctioned filling liquid in 38A and 38B, the filling liquid is mixed and conveyed to the filling area 14. At this time, the filling carrier 12 that has sucked the filling liquid 2 in the storage tank 38C is matched in the filling area 14 with the container 1 of the new type conveyed in the container conveying line 11 by the action of the merging portion 51 controlled by the controller 61. To be mixed.

Thus, in the filling area 14, the filling liquid in the storage tanks 38A and 38B is filled in the same type of container 1 as before the change, and the filling liquid in the storage tank 38C is changed to the new type. The container 1 is filled.

After that, the storage tank 38B is replaced by the storage tank 3
The filling liquid in the storage tank 38A is filled into the same type of container 1 as before the change in the filling area 14 and the filling liquid in the storage tanks 38B and 38C is changed after the change. Fill a new type of container 1.

Finally, the storage tank 38A is also switched to a new type of filling liquid, and all the storage tanks 38A, 38B are
And a new type of container 1 after changing the filling liquid in 38C.
And complete the changeover of products without interruption.

B. Mixed filling For example, it is assumed that the storage tanks 38A, 38B, and 38C store the filling liquids 2 of different types, and the containers 1 of different types suitable for each type are transported in the container transport line 11. Also in this case, the merging unit 51 controls the storage tanks 38A, 38B, 38C in the suction area 13 of the filling line 16 under the control of the controller 61.
The filling carrier 12 in which the filling liquid therein has been sucked is conveyed in one row in accordance with the timing at which the compatible container 1 is conveyed in the container conveying line 11. In this way, in the filling area 14 of the filling line 16, the different types of containers 1 are filled with the filling liquids 2 which are respectively adapted. After completion of the filling, the filled carrier 12 is guided to the washing area 15 and washed as needed, and is conveyed to the suction area 13 again.

Next, the effect will be described. The filling carrier 12 conveyed to the filling line 16 of the filling equipment 10 sucks the filling liquid 2 into the bag 21 in the suction area 13 and conveys it to the filling area 14 with the opening / closing valves 22 and 23 in the closed state. In the area 14, the filling liquid in the bag 21 is filled into the container 1 moving on the container transport line 11, so that the filling equipment 10 does not need a filling machine. Therefore, the pipe for supplying the filling liquid 2 to the filling machine is not required, so that the filling line 16 of the filling equipment 10 can be saved in space, and as a result, the flexibility of the layout of the filling line 16 can be increased. .

A filling machine is not installed in the filling facility 10, and the filling liquids 2 of different types can be sucked into the filling carrier 12 in the suction area 13 of the filling line 16, and the filling area 1
At 4, the filling liquids 2 of different types can be mixed and filled into the corresponding containers 1. Therefore, even when the type of the filling liquid 2 is changed, the filling machine and the pipes connected thereto are washed. This eliminates the need for waiting time. Therefore, the filling operation can be continuously performed even when the type of the filling liquid 2 is changed. Also, different types of products can be produced simultaneously with one filling line.

Further, the filling carrier 12 is placed in the cleaning area 15
It is possible to carry it in and wash it. Since this washing only needs to wash the inside of the bag 21 of the filling carrier 12, the washing can be completed extremely easily as compared with the washing of the washing machine and the piping connected thereto.

In the above embodiment, the case where the filling material is liquid has been described, but the filling material may be powder. Further, the opening / closing valve 22 may close the valve element 35 by the spring force of the spring 64 (FIG. 3) instead of the opening / closing magnet 37.

[0044]

As described above, the filling work can be continuously performed even when the type of the filling machine is changed, and different types of products can be simultaneously produced in one filling line, and the filling line of the filling equipment can be saved. Can be made into a space.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a filling facility according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an operation sectional view at the time of suction showing one embodiment of the filling carrier according to the present invention in the filling equipment of FIG.

3 is an operational cross-sectional view showing a transport state of the filled carrier of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an operational sectional view showing a filled state of the filled carrier of FIG.

5 is a plan view of the flow dividing portion of the filling line in the filling equipment of FIG. 1, and FIG. 5 (B) is a side view thereof.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view showing a confluence portion of the filling line in the filling equipment of FIG. 1.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 container 2 Filling liquid 10 filling equipment 11 Container transport line 12 Filling carrier 13 suction area 14 filling area 15 washing area 16 filling line 17 Conveyor belt 20 Carrier body 21 bags 22 Open / close valve 23 Switching valve 24 Mounting magnet 25 Hollow part 33 Negative pressure chamber 34 Positive pressure operating magnet 36 Outlet entrance 37 open / close magnet 38, 38A, 38B, 38C Storage tank 50 shunt 51 Confluence Section

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B67C 3/02 B65B 3/04 B65B 3/14

Claims (6)

(57) [Claims] 1. A carrier main body which is provided so as to be attachable to a conveying means and has a hollow portion, an expandable bag which is housed in the hollow portion of the carrier main body and has an opening, and a carrier main body of the carrier main body . An opening / closing valve installed at the bottom for opening and closing the mouth of the bag, and expanding until the bag comes into contact with the inner wall surface of the hollow under the negative pressure of the hollow in the carrier body, It is configured such that the filling can be sucked into the bag from the portion, the bag shrinks under positive pressure of the hollow portion of the carrier body, and the filling inside the bag can be discharged from the mouth portion. Filling carrier. 2. The on-off valve is integrated with the carrier body.
The valve body is provided in the valve housing
The inlet and outlet of the valve housing tip can be opened and closed.
Opening and closing are arranged along the filling line of the filling equipment.
Move the magnet to the outlet and inlet of the valve housing.
The filled carrier according to claim 1, which is made by: 3. The filling carrier is an ID chip for identification.
3. The filled carrier according to claim 1, wherein the filled carrier is incorporated. 4. A container transfer line for moving the container to filling is filled, ID chip for identification according to claim 1 or 2 by the transport means
And a filling line having a suction area and a filling area, wherein a plurality of the above-mentioned filling carriers are conveyed in parallel in the suction area, Different types of filling material can be sucked, and the filling material sucked into the filling carrier in the filling area is discharged and filled into the container moving on the container transfer line. Filling equipment configured to. 5. The type of filler to be filled is different.
2. The container transfer line for moving the container, and an ID chip for identification in the transfer means.
Alternatively, a plurality of the filled carriers described in 2 are moved to suck the air.
A filling line having a rear and a filling area, and a plurality of the filling carriers are conveyed in parallel in the suction area.
Let these filling carriers fill different types of fillings
Can be sucked, and an ID reading antenna is installed on the filling line to read the ID.
The pick-up antenna reads the ID chip of the filled carrier,
The read signal is output to the controller, and this controller
Each filled carrier is individually identified, and a camera is installed on the container transfer line and
Is imaged and the imaging signal is output to the controller,
The type of container is recognized by the controller, and the controller detects the read signal and the image pickup signal.
Therefore, suction in the filling carrier in the filling area
The above-mentioned fillings of different types that have been
Dispense into a container of a type that is compatible with the moving filling
The filling device according to claim 4, wherein the filling device is configured to be filled with
Be prepared. 6. An image pickup signal of a container picked up by the camera
The filling equipment according to claim 5, wherein the filling equipment is transmitted to the next step.