JP4673097B2 - Filling equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a filling device for filling a container with a liquid.

  2. Description of the Related Art Filling devices that fill liquids such as whiskey, shochu, beer, sparkling liquor, soft drinks, beverages such as water, chemicals, and detergents are known. When continuously filling a large quantity of containers of the same type with a liquid, the filling apparatus may be operated under certain conditions. However, when a small amount of container is filled with liquid, the type of container and the liquid to be filled are frequently changed. In general, in a filling operation that handles a plurality of types of containers and a plurality of liquids, the same liquid is filled while changing the size of the container, then the liquid to be filled is changed, and the size of the container is further changed. While filling the liquid.

  When the container size is changed, it is necessary to change the filling amount every time the container size is changed. If the change is made by mistake, the prescribed amount of liquid cannot be filled. In particular, in the case of a weight-type filling device, the end of filling is determined based on the weight of the liquid filled in the container. Therefore, if there is an error in the setting of the filling amount, liquid overflows from the container. It can happen that only less than a quantity of liquid is filled. On the other hand, in the empty-size filling device, the end of filling is controlled based on the height of the liquid level, but the appropriate height of the liquid level (the size of the empty size portion) is the type of container (for example, the neck portion) However, it should be noted that each container has a short container and a long neck.

  In Patent Document 1, in order to prevent the display of the container from being inconsistent with the contents of the container, the barcode is attached to the container by aligning the container in a predetermined direction by using a dedicated holder. It is described that it is determined whether or not the conveyed container is a regular container by reading the container type confirmation mark, and containers other than the regular container are discharged to the discharge shooter.

However, Patent Document 1 has no idea of determining the type of the container and filling the container with an amount of liquid corresponding to the type.
JP 2001-58698 A

  The present invention has been made on the basis of recognition of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to easily and reliably fill a container with an appropriate amount of liquid according to the type of the container, for example.

The filling device according to the first aspect of the present invention includes a weighing scale that measures the weight of a container, a determination unit that determines the type of the container based on the weight of the container measured by the weighing scale, and the weighing scale A support table that supports the container, a filling unit that fills the container placed on the support table with a liquid, and an amount of liquid according to the type of the container determined by the determination unit. And a control unit that controls the filling unit so as to fill a container placed on a table, and the control unit controls completion of filling by the filling unit based on a measurement result of the weighing scale.
The filling device according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a liquid type setting unit for setting a liquid type to be filled in a container, and a weigh scale for measuring the weight of the container, and the weight of the container measured by the weight scale. A determination unit that determines the type of the container based on the above, a filling unit that fills the container with the liquid, and the filling unit so that the amount of liquid according to the type of the container determined by the determination unit is filled in the container A control unit for controlling the container, and the determination unit includes a type table including information indicating a relationship between the weight of the container and the type of the container for each of the liquid types to be filled in the container, and the liquid type setting unit The type of the container is determined on the basis of the measurement result by the weighing scale with reference to the type table corresponding to the liquid type set by the above .

  According to the present invention, for example, an appropriate amount of liquid according to the type of container can be easily and reliably filled into the container.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mechanical configuration of a filling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a control system of the filling apparatus shown in FIG. The filling device 100 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be configured to fill the container 1 with liquids such as whiskey, shochu, beer, sparkling liquor, soft drinks, beverages such as water, chemicals, and detergents.

  The filling device 100 includes a determination unit 10 that determines the type of the container 1, a filling unit 20 that fills the container 1 with liquid, and an amount of liquid according to the type of the container 1 determined by the determination unit 10 in the container 1. The control part 30 which controls the filling part 20 so that it may be filled is provided. The filling device 100 preferably further includes an operation panel 40.

  The determination unit 10 may include a weigh scale 12 that measures the weight of the container 1 as a measuring instrument that acquires characteristic information for specifying the type of the container 1. However, in another embodiment, the determination unit 10 includes a reading unit (for example, a camera, a code reader, or the like) that reads, for example, a label or code attached to the container 1 or the shape of the container 1 as feature information. But you can.

  The determination unit 10 can further include a type table 14 for specifying the type of the container 1 based on characteristic information such as weight obtained by a measuring instrument such as a weighing scale 12. The type table 14 includes, for example, information indicating the relationship between the characteristic information such as the weight of the container and the type of the container, and the determination unit 10 stores the type table 14 based on the measurement result by the measuring instrument such as the weighing scale 12. The type of the container 1 is determined by referring to it. Such a type table 14 is provided for each type of liquid to be filled in the container, and is based on information indicating a liquid type (type of liquid to be filled in the container) provided from a liquid type setting unit 42 described later. Are preferably selected. If a specific example is given, the determination part 10 will determine the container which has the weight in the range of 200g-230g as a 1st type container, for example, and the container which has the weight in the range of 300g-350g as a 2nd type container, for example. Can do. The determination result (container type) by the determination unit 10 is provided to the control unit 30.

  The control unit 30 can include a filling amount table 32 for determining the amount of liquid to be filled in the container 1 based on the determination result (container type) provided from the determination unit 10. The filling amount table 32 is a relationship between the type of container and the amount of liquid to be filled in the container (for example, volume, weight, liquid level (or dimension of the empty portion to be left on the upper part of the container after filling)). The control unit 30 determines the amount of liquid to be filled in the container 1 by referring to the filling amount table 32 based on the determination result (container type) provided from the determination unit 10. Such a filling amount table 32 is preferably provided for each type of liquid to be filled in the container, and is selected based on information indicating a liquid type provided from a liquid type setting unit 42 described later.

  The operation panel 40 may include a liquid type setting unit 42, for example. The liquid type setting unit 42 includes, for example, an input key and / or a button (switch), and sets the liquid type to be filled in the container according to the input by the operator. The operation panel 40 preferably includes a display unit 44. The liquid type set by the liquid type setting unit 42 can be displayed on the display unit 44. It is preferable that error information is displayed on the display unit 44. The error information can include, for example, information indicating that the determination unit 10 cannot determine the type of the container 1. For example, when the characteristic information (for example, weight) of the container 1 does not correspond to any of the items (for example, the weight range) included in the type table 14 corresponding to the liquid type set by the liquid type setting unit 42, The determination unit 10 cannot determine the type of the container 1.

  The filling unit 20 may include, for example, a filling nozzle 22 and an elevating mechanism (for example, an air cylinder) 24 that raises and lowers the filling nozzle 22. The filling device 100 may be configured as a weight type or an empty size type, for example. In the weight type, the control unit 30 ends the filling by closing a control valve provided in the filling nozzle 22 or the like when the container 1 is filled with a liquid having a weight corresponding to the type of the container 1. In the empty size type, the control unit 30 sets the height of the filling nozzle 22 so that the liquid level corresponding to the type of the container 1 (or the size of the empty portion to be left on the upper part of the container after filling) is set. Is adjusted by a drive mechanism (not shown).

  A support table (or container holder) 16 that supports the container 1 is preferably mounted on the weighing scale 12. According to such a configuration, the weight of the container 1 can be measured in a state where the container 1 for filling is placed on the support table 16. When the filling control method of the filling device 100 is configured as a weight type, the weighing scale 12 measures the weight of the container 1 before filling the liquid and provides information for determining the container type. By monitoring the weight of the container (and liquid) therein, information for controlling the completion of filling of the liquid into the container 1 can be provided.

  The weight scale 12 can be supported by, for example, a support body 50 that supports the lifting mechanism 24. A caster 52 is preferably provided at the lower portion of the support 50. Such a caster 52 contributes to facilitating the movement of the filling device 100.

  The filling device 100 is particularly suitable for an application in which a container to be filled can be frequently changed, that is, for filling a small quantity of various kinds of containers. In such an application, it is necessary to frequently change the liquid filling amount with the change of the container to be filled, and it is not preferable from the viewpoint of work efficiency to rely on this change work only from the operator. May be set incorrectly. According to the filling device 100 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filling amount is controlled based on the characteristic information such as the weight of the container, so that the operator is freed from the trouble of setting the filling amount, Generation errors can be prevented.

  In the above embodiment, after determining the type of the container based on the feature information such as weight, the filling amount is determined according to the type, but the filling amount is directly determined based on the feature information such as weight. May be determined. This can be done by integrating the type table 14 and the filling amount table 32 described above. That is, a table including information indicating the relationship between the feature information such as weight and the filling amount is prepared, and the control unit 30 refers to this table based on the feature information such as weight obtained by the measuring instrument such as the weighing scale 12. Thus, the filling amount corresponding to the container can be determined.

It is a figure which shows the machine structure of the filling apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the structure of the control system of the filling apparatus of suitable embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 container 12 weigh scale (measuring instrument)
16 Support Table 20 Filling Unit 22 Filling Nozzle 24 Elevating Mechanism 40 Operation Panel 50 Supporting Body 52 Caster 100 Filling Device

Claims (5)

A determination unit that includes a weighing scale that measures the weight of the container, and that determines the type of the container based on the weight of the container measured by the weighing scale ;
A support table mounted on the weighing scale and supporting the container;
A filling unit for filling a container placed on the support table with a liquid;
And a control unit for controlling the filling unit as the amount of liquid corresponding to the type of container that is determined to be filled in a container that is placed on the supporting table by said determination unit,
The control unit controls the end of filling by the filling unit based on a measurement result by the weighing scale,
A filling device characterized by that. The determination unit includes a table including information indicating a relationship between the weight of the container and the type of the container, and determines the type of the container by referring to the table based on a measurement result by the weighing scale. The filling device according to claim 1 . A liquid type setting unit for setting a liquid type to be filled in the container;
The determination unit includes a type table including information indicating the relationship between the weight of the container and the type of the container for each of the liquid types to be filled in the container, and corresponds to the liquid type set by the liquid type setting unit. Determine the type of the container based on the measurement result by the weighing scale with reference to the type table,
The filling device according to claim 1. And a display unit that displays error information when the weight measured by the weigh scale does not correspond to any of a plurality of weight ranges included in the type table corresponding to the liquid type set by the liquid type setting unit. The filling device according to claim 3. A liquid type setting unit for setting the liquid type to be filled in the container;
A determination unit that includes a weighing scale that measures the weight of the container, and that determines the type of the container based on the weight of the container measured by the weighing scale ;
A filling section for filling the container with a liquid;
And a control unit to which a liquid amount corresponding to the type of container that has been determined by the determination unit controls the filling portion so as to be filled into a container,
The determination unit includes a type table including information indicating the relationship between the weight of the container and the type of the container for each of the liquid types to be filled in the container, and corresponds to the liquid type set by the liquid type setting unit. Determine the type of the container based on the measurement result by the weighing scale with reference to the type table,
A filling device characterized by that.

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