JP6132083B2 - Defoaming method and defoaming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an antifoaming method and an antifoaming device that reduce or eliminate bubbles on the liquid surface of the contents filled from the opening of a pouch container.

Pouch products in which the contents are filled and sealed in a pouch container made of a plurality of sheet materials whose peripheral edges are sealed and formed into a bag shape are widely used.
In general, a pouch product is a pouch container in which a peripheral edge other than the upper side is sealed and only the upper side is opened, and after filling the contents from above in a filling machine, the upper side opening is opened by a sealing device (hot seal etc.). Manufactured by sealing.
In the pouch product manufactured in this way, in order to maintain the quality of the filled contents, especially when the contents are soups such as corn soup and consommé soup, it prevents the deterioration of the contents, or the taste and aroma. Therefore, it is important to reduce the amount of oxygen remaining in the pouch container filled and sealed with the contents, and the deaeration process and inert gas to deaerate the air in the pouch container before sealing. In order to reduce the amount of residual oxygen, a replacement step is used.

However, when the content is the above-described content or the like, it is inevitable that bubbles are generated when the content is filled. Since the bubbles contain oxygen in the air, the bubbles are not removed after the deaeration process or the replacement process. If oxygen remains, the amount of oxygen remaining in the pouch container increases.
In addition, the generated bubbles may be scattered outside during the deaeration process or the replacement process to contaminate the equipment, or may adhere to the sealing portion on the upper side of the pouch container and cause a sealing failure.

For this reason, it is necessary to reduce the foam of the contents as much as possible, but slowing the filling speed to suppress the foam generation or taking enough time until the foam disappears reduces the production efficiency of the pouch product There is a problem that leads to.
In addition, in order to suppress foam, a method of mixing an antifoaming agent with the contents is also conceivable, but it may affect the taste, aroma, texture, etc. of the contents. This method cannot be used for difficult contents.

Therefore, it is desirable to actively reduce or eliminate bubbles generated during filling of the contents in a short time before sealing, and various defoaming techniques have been proposed.
For example, a technique for reducing or eliminating bubbles by blowing dry air, hot air, or the like toward the bubbles on the liquid level of the contents is known (see Patent Document 1, etc.).
In addition, defoaming technology that irradiates laser light, which is external energy, has been proposed. For example, the intermolecular bonds forming the bubble film and the water molecules or organic molecules in the film are vibrated by the laser beam. A technique for exciting or breaking molecular bonds to reduce or eliminate bubbles is known (see Patent Document 2, etc.).
Furthermore, the present applicant has found that pulsed sound waves generated by the impact of laser-induced breakdown of pulsed laser light exert an excellent effect on defoaming. And a defoaming method for defoaming ”(Patent Document 3).

JP-A-7-251813 JP-A 63-252509 International Publication No. 2007-086339

When the above-described known technique is applied to the foam on the liquid level of the content filled from the opening of the pouch container, the content liquid is immediately after being filled from the opening above the pouch container. When the surface is at a low position and far from the opening, and a mechanism for defoaming is provided above the opening, it is difficult to reduce or eliminate bubbles at high speed and effectively. there were.
Also, since the pouch container is flexible and irregular in shape, the position of the liquid level of the contents is not constant even with the same filling amount, and it is difficult to optimally set when applying the above-described known technology. There was a problem.
In the case of the technique described in Patent Document 1, in order to reduce or eliminate bubbles at high speed, it is necessary to increase the pressure of dry air and hot air to be jetted to high speed and high pressure. There was a problem that the turbulent flow of the upper part of the container was generated and the amount of bubbles scattered to the outside increased, which contaminated the equipment and adhered to the sealed portion on the upper side of the pouch container, resulting in poor sealing.

Further, in the case of the technique described in Patent Document 2, each bubble is irradiated with a light beam of laser light in the first place. Therefore, it takes a long time for defoaming and cannot be removed at high speed. Bubbles in the vicinity of the peripheral surface cannot be effectively defoamed, and if irradiated from above the opening, the distance to the bubble on the liquid surface is increased, making it difficult to reduce or eliminate bubbles quickly and effectively. It is difficult to reduce or eliminate bubbles more effectively because the position of the liquid level is not constant.
In the case of the technique described in Patent Document 3, the distance from the position of the condensing optical system such as the laser light oscillation device and the condensing lens to the bubble on the liquid surface is increased, and the condensing property of the laser light is lowered. Thus, there is a problem that it is difficult to effectively reduce or eliminate the bubbles.

In order to solve these problems, it is conceivable to insert a defoaming mechanism through the opening and bring it closer to the foam on the liquid surface. To that end, movable means for moving the defoaming mechanism up and down Is necessary and the equipment becomes complicated.
In addition, since the pouch container is flexible and irregular in shape, the pouch container does not have a fixed shape even with the same filling amount, and there is a possibility that the mechanism for defoaming may come into contact with the pouch container at the time of insertion. In order to prevent damage, it is necessary to suppress the insertion speed, and it takes a long time to reduce or eliminate the foam as a whole.
Furthermore, since the position of the liquid level of the contents is not constant even with the same filling amount, it is difficult to always insert it to the optimum position.

  The present invention solves these problems, and has a simple structure and is effective at high speed without causing bubbles on the liquid surface of the contents filled from the opening of the pouch container to splash outside. An object of the present invention is to provide a defoaming method and a defoaming apparatus that can reduce or eliminate the amount of defoaming.

The invention according to claim 1 is a defoaming method for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid level of the contents filled from the opening of the pouch container, and expanding the opening area of the opening of the pouch container. An opening expanding step, a liquid level raising step for raising the liquid level of the filled content by pressing the pouch container, and a defoaming step for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid level of the raised content. The defoaming step is a shock wave projecting step of projecting a shock wave to the liquid level of the contents rising from above the opening of the pouch container, and the liquid level raising step and the defoaming step are the opening expansion. The opening area of the opening portion of the pouch container is expanded by a process, and the shock wave projection process generates a laser-induced breakdown by condensing a pulsed laser beam, and is generated by an impact of the laser-induced breakdown To do As a shock wave from the upper part of the opening of the pouch container toward the liquid level of the contents by a waveguide composed of the tapered part on the incident hole side of the pulsed laser beam and the straight part on the end opening side of the pulsed laser light the Rukoto be projected, is intended to solve the above problems.

In addition to the configuration of the defoaming method according to claim 1 , the invention according to claim 2 has a holding step of holding an edge on the opening side of the pouch container before the liquid level raising step, The said subject is solved by performing the said liquid level raising process and a defoaming process in the state holding the opening part side edge of the said pouch container.
In the invention according to claim 3, in addition to the configuration of the defoaming method according to claim 1 or 2, the opening expanding step is performed simultaneously with the liquid level rising step or before the liquid level rising step. Thus, the problem is solved.
In the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the configuration of the defoaming method according to claim 2 or claim 3, the holding step grips both sides of the edge on the opening side of the pouch container. The opening expanding step increases the opening area of the opening by bringing both sides of the gripped pouch container closer to each other, thereby solving the above problem.

The invention according to claim 5 is a defoaming device that reduces or eliminates bubbles on the liquid level of the contents filled from the opening of the pouch container, and holds the edge on the opening side of the pouch container A holding means for expanding an opening area of the opening of the container, a liquid level raising means for pressing the side surface of the pouch container filled with contents to raise the liquid level of the contents, and the pouch container And a defoaming means for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid level of the contents, the defoaming means from above the opening of the pouch container. Including a shock wave projecting mechanism that projects a shock wave toward the surface, and the rise of the liquid level of the contents and the reduction or disappearance of bubbles on the liquid level of the contents extend the opening area of the opening of the container performed, the shock wave projection mechanism, pulsed by condensing a pulsed laser beam A laser irradiation section for generating a wave, and a waveguide for guiding the generated pulsed sound wave and projecting it as a shock wave, wherein the waveguide has a tapered section and an end on the incident hole side of the pulsed laser light the Rukoto such from the straight portion of the part opening side, is intended to solve the above problems.

The invention according to the claims 6, in addition to the configuration of the defoaming device according to claim 5, pressing the liquid level raising means is to be moved toward a pair and the pressing member, the pressing member of the pair By having a drive part, the said subject is solved.
In addition to the configuration of the defoaming device according to claim 5 or claim 6, the invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the liquid level raising means also serves as a deaeration means used when sealing the pouch container. The problem is solved.
In the invention according to claim 8, in addition to the configuration of the defoaming device according to any one of claims 5 to 7 , the holding means holds both sides of the end portion on the opening side of the pouch container. By having a pair of gripping portions and an opening driving portion that moves the pair of gripping portions in the approaching direction, the above-described problem is solved.

According to the defoaming device in accordance with the defoaming process and the claims 5 according to the claim 1, by raising the liquid surface of the filled contents by pressing the pouch container, the foam on the liquid surface pouch Since it can be raised to the vicinity of the opening of the container, it is possible to reduce or eliminate the foam on the liquid surface of the contents in a state where the distance to the foam is short, and without causing the foam to splash outside, at high speed and It can be effectively reduced or eliminated.
Also, by pressing the pouch container, the pouch container can be shaped into a predetermined shape, and the liquid level can be set at a predetermined position. Therefore, even when the defoaming mechanism is fixed, It is possible to always optimize the relationship, and it is possible to reduce or eliminate bubbles quickly and effectively with a simple configuration.

In addition, since it is not necessary to place the shock wave projection position in the container, it is possible to bring the projection position close to the bubbles without degrading the shock wave projection mechanism, and the bubbles can be reduced or eliminated at high speed and effectively. It becomes possible.
Furthermore, by increasing the opening area of the opening of the pouch container, it becomes possible to reduce or eliminate it quickly and effectively.
In addition, since the shock wave generation point can be kept away from the liquid surface and the pouch container, it is possible to reduce or eliminate bubbles quickly and effectively without degrading the optical system and The degree of freedom in design can be improved and a simple configuration can be achieved.
Furthermore, by projecting as a shock wave from the upper part of the opening of the pouch container toward the liquid surface of the contents by the waveguide consisting of the tapered part on the incident hole side of the pulsed laser light and the straight part on the end opening side, The pulsed sound wave of the reflected wave traveling in each direction that is directed toward the end opening direction of the waveguide facing the liquid surface is reduced in time until it reaches the end opening, and is intensively projected in the liquid surface direction. be able to.
According to the configuration of the second aspect of the present invention, since the shape of the opening can be optimally maintained even when the pouch container is pressed when the liquid level rises, the defoaming step can be performed reliably, and high speed And can be reduced or eliminated effectively.

According to the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to separately provide a processing time for the opening expansion process, and therefore the overall processing time including filling and sealing is not increased.
According to the configurations of the fourth and eighth aspects of the present invention, since the processing of the opening expanding step and the holding step can be performed by the same mechanism, the entire facility can be configured more simply. It becomes.
According to the configuration described in claim 6 , the liquid level of the contents can be increased with a simple configuration.
According to the structure of this Claim 7 , it becomes possible for the whole installation to be made a simpler structure because a liquid level raising means serves as a deaeration means.

Schematic explanatory drawing of the defoaming method and defoaming apparatus which concern on embodiment of this invention. Process explanatory drawing of the defoaming method which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the liquid level raising means of the defoaming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. Explanatory drawing of the shock wave projection mechanism of the defoaming apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

The defoaming method of the present invention is a defoaming method for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid level of the contents filled from the opening of the pouch container, and expanding the opening area of the opening of the pouch container A liquid level raising step for raising the liquid level of the filled contents by pressing the pouch container, and a defoaming step for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid level of the raised contents. The foaming process is a shock wave projecting process in which a shock wave is projected onto the liquid level of the contents rising from above the opening of the pouch container, and the liquid level rising process and the defoaming process are performed by The shock wave projecting step is performed by expanding the opening area , the pulsed laser beam is condensed to generate laser induced breakdown, and the pulsed sound wave generated by the impact of the laser induced breakdown is converted into the pulsed sound wave. Laser light If it shall be projected as a shock wave toward the liquid surface of the contents from the upper opening of the pouch container by waveguide consisting of a straight portion of the tapered portion of the entrance pupil side and end opening side, the specific Any configuration may be used.
The defoaming device of the present invention is a defoaming device that reduces or eliminates bubbles on the liquid level of the contents filled from the opening of the pouch container, and holds the edge on the opening side of the pouch container. Holding means for expanding the opening area of the opening of the container, liquid level raising means for pressing the side surface of the pouch container filled with the contents to raise the liquid level of the contents, and the opening of the pouch container And a defoaming means for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid level of the contents, and the defoaming means generates a shock wave from above the opening of the pouch container toward the liquid level of the contents. Including a shock wave projection mechanism to project, the rise of the liquid level of the contents and the reduction or disappearance of the bubbles on the liquid level of the contents are performed by expanding the opening area of the opening of the container , the shock wave projection mechanism, Laser irradiation unit that collects pulsed laser light and generates pulsed sound waves, and generation Was to induce the pulsed sound wave and a waveguide that projects as a shock wave, waveguide at shall such from the straight portion of the tapered portion and the end portion opening side of the entrance pupil side of the pulsed laser beam If it has a simple structure and can reduce or eliminate the bubbles on the liquid surface of the contents filled from the opening of the pouch container quickly and effectively without scattering to the outside, its specific The general configuration may be any.

The outline of the defoaming method and defoaming apparatus of the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the defoaming apparatus 100 includes a defoaming means 110 and a liquid level raising means 120. The defoaming means 110 is disposed immediately above the opening 102 of the pouch container 101, and the liquid level raising means 120 is configured such that a pair of pressing members 121 disposed on the sides of the pouch container 101 can be pressed by sandwiching the pouch container 101 by a pressing drive unit 122.
As shown in FIG. 2, the pouch container 101 is held at the edge near the opening 102 by a pair of gripping portions 131 of the holding means 130 (in FIG. 1, the holding means 130 exists in the front and back direction of the drawing). (The illustration is omitted.) A configuration in which the opening area of the opening 102 can be changed by moving the pair of gripping parts 131 in the contact / separation direction by a driving unit (not shown) while holding the edge near the opening 102. Has been.

The pouch container 101 is flexible and irregular in shape, and as shown in FIG. 2 (b), it is held only in the vicinity of the opening 102 by the holding means 130, and the contents 103 are filled with the opening 102 opened upward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1A, the intermediate portion is swollen and the liquid level is in a position far from the opening 102.
From this state, with the holding means 130 fixed, the pair of pressing members 121 are driven in the direction approaching each other by the pressing drive unit 122, and the pouch container 101 is sandwiched as shown in FIG. By raising the liquid level of the object 103, the bubbles 104 on the liquid level rise near the opening 102, and the bubbles 104 are reduced quickly and effectively by the defoaming means 110 disposed immediately above the opening 102. Or it can be extinguished.

  Further, when the holding means is fixed and the pair of pressing members 121 are brought close to a certain position, the pouch container 101 is always in a constant shape, and the liquid level position is also constant if the amount of the contents 103 is constant. Therefore, the defoaming means 110 disposed immediately above the opening 102 may be fixedly provided at an optimum position, and no equipment for movement or adjustment according to the liquid surface position is required, and the entire equipment is configured. Can be simplified.

An example of an apparatus for manufacturing a pouch product to which an antifoaming method and an antifoaming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention are applied and an example of a manufacturing process thereof will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, the manufacturing apparatus 200 for the pouch product 105 includes a plurality of holding means 130 arranged on the turret 210 at equal intervals on the circumference, and each turret 210 rotates intermittently, thereby holding each holding device. The means 130 is configured to face each processing unit of the container supply unit 211, the content filling unit 212, the defoaming sealing unit 213, and the container discharge unit 214 to perform processing of each process described later.

First, in the container supply part 211, the pouch container 101 is supplied from the outside, and the edge near the opening part 102 is held by the pair of gripping parts 131 of the holding means 130 (holding process).
In the content filling unit 212, the content supply means 220 is disposed above the pouch container 101. In the content filling unit 212, the pair of gripping parts 131 of the holding means 130 is brought close to the pouch container 101. The opening 102 is expanded so that the contents can be filled (opening process), and the contents are filled from the contents supply means 220 (filling process).
The opening process may be performed immediately after the holding process in the container supply unit 211 or may be performed while the turret 210 is rotating.
Moreover, you may add the means to expand the upper direction of the pouch container 101 from a side in an opening process.

The antifoaming device 100 described above is disposed in the antifoam sealing part 213. That is, the defoaming means 110 is disposed above the pouch container 101, and a pair of pressing members 121 of the liquid level raising means 120 are disposed on the side of the pouch container 101.
Further, a welding means 230 for welding the edge on the opening 102 side of the pouch container 101 is disposed.
In this embodiment, the holding means 130 of the defoaming apparatus 100 described above is the holding means 130 disposed on the turret 210.
In the defoaming sealing part 213, the pair of gripping parts 131 of the holding means 130 are brought close to each other so that the opening area of the opening part 102 of the pouch container 101 is expanded to the maximum (opening expansion process). Drive in the approaching direction, sandwich the pouch container 101 to raise the liquid level of the contents 103 (liquid level raising process), and operate the defoaming means 110 to reduce or eliminate bubbles on the liquid level (defoaming process) ).
The opening expansion process may be performed immediately after the filling process in the content filling unit 212, may be performed while the turret 210 is rotating, or may be performed simultaneously with the liquid level raising process.
Further, the opening area of the opening 102 may be expanded to the maximum in the above-described opening process, and the opening process may also serve as the opening expanding process.

Then, the pair of gripping portions 131 of the holding means 130 are separated to close the opening 102 of the pouch container 101 (closing process), and the opening 102 on the upper side of the pouch container 101 is sealed by the welding means 230 (sealing process). .
In addition, although deaeration is performed by the liquid level raising process described above, a similar deaeration process or a gas replacement process using an inert gas such as nitrogen gas may be provided as necessary. It may be provided separately.
In the container discharge part 214, the holding of the edge of the holding means 130 in the vicinity of the opening 102 by the pair of gripping parts 131 is released, and the pouch container 101 (pouch product 105) filled with the contents and sealed is discharged to the outside. (Discharge process)

In the present embodiment, the holding means 130 is arranged on the turret 210 every 90 °, and intermittently rotates so as to face the four processing units arranged every 90 °. However, the number of holding means 130 is increased. The arrangement of the processing units and the angle of intermittent rotation may be changed accordingly, and each processing step may be subdivided to increase the processing units.
Further, when it is desired to lengthen the welding time in the sealing process, one or more additional sealing parts provided with welding means 230 for performing the sealing process are provided immediately after the defoaming sealing part 213, or a pouch container that has become hot due to welding. A cooling unit that cools the upper side of 101, an inspection unit that inspects the sealing quality of the pouch product 105, and the like may be provided in front of the container discharge unit 214.

In this embodiment, the pouch container 101 is moved to each processing unit by intermittent rotation of the turret 210 in which a plurality of holding means 130 are arranged. However, the holding means 130 can be moved by any means. Alternatively, the pouch container 101 may be moved by another means, and a fixed holding means may be provided in each processing unit.
Further, according to the movement operation of the pouch container 101, the processing units may be appropriately designed such as being arranged linearly or zigzag.

Next, as a specific example of the defoaming means 110 of the present invention, a laser irradiation unit 112 that collects pulsed laser light to generate pulsed sound waves, and induces the generated pulsed sound waves. A structure constituted by a shock wave projection mechanism 111 having a waveguide 113 that projects as a shock wave will be described with reference to FIG.
A pulsed laser beam oscillator 114 that generates pulsed light L, a condensing optical system 115 that focuses the pulsed laser beam L oscillated from the pulsed laser beam oscillator 114 at a focal point S, and a waveguide 113, and the end opening 116 of the waveguide 113 is disposed so as to face upward in the vertical direction with respect to the liquid surface to be defoamed.
In this embodiment, a waveguide 113 is vertically arranged above the pouch container 101 filled with the contents 103 in the antifoam sealing part 213, and the pulsed laser light L is emitted from the axial direction of the waveguide 113. A pulsed laser beam oscillation device 114 and a condensing optical system 115 are arranged so as to irradiate.

  As the pulsed laser beam oscillation device 114, a device that oscillates pulsed laser beam capable of emitting the energy stored in the laser medium at once as an optical pulse is suitable. Examples of the pulsed laser include femtosecond lasers such as a YAG laser capable of Q-switch oscillation, a YVO4 laser, a YLF laser, and a TiS laser. These pulsed lasers have a repetition period of several Hz to several tens of kHz, but the energy stored during this repetition period is very short in a time width of several femtoseconds (fs) to several tens of nanoseconds (ns). discharge.

Therefore, a high peak power can be efficiently obtained from a small input energy.
In addition to the above, the pulsed laser beam oscillation device 114 may be a pulsed laser beam oscillation device that oscillates various laser beams, such as a CO2 laser, an excimer laser, and a semiconductor laser. Moreover, the harmonic light produced | generated by the wavelength conversion element from the fundamental wave of these laser lights can also be used. These pulsed laser beams include continuous wave (CW) pulsed laser beams. In this case as well, pulsed light can be generated using a light control member such as a shutter.

The condensing optical system 115 in the present embodiment shows one condensing lens 117 disposed between the pulsed laser beam oscillation device 114 and the waveguide 113, but is not necessarily limited thereto. is not.
The condensing optical system 115 may be formed separately from the pulsed laser beam oscillation device 114, but may be provided integrally with the pulsed laser beam oscillation device 114.
Further, a prism or a reflecting mirror is provided in the condensing optical system 115 to bend and condense the pulsed laser light L, and the irradiation direction of the pulsed laser light oscillation device 114 is other than the axial direction of the waveguide 113. You may arrange | position so that it may become a direction.

  The waveguide 113 is composed of a tapered portion 113t on the laser light incident hole 118 side and a straight portion 113s on the end opening 116 side, and the tapered portion 113t opens at the end portion from at least the focal point S of the pulsed laser beam or in the vicinity thereof. The inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface increases toward 116. The pulsed laser light L condensed by the condensing optical system 115 is irradiated from the laser light incident hole 118 so that the focal point S is located in the internal space of the tapered portion 113t of the waveguide 113. The

  As a result of this laser irradiation, the pulsed sound wave P generated by the impact of the laser induced breakdown propagates as a spherical wave. Therefore, when the pulsed sound wave P is generated in free space, the sound intensity per unit area is the distance Although it attenuates rapidly in inverse proportion to the square, by adopting the waveguide 113, the reflected wave of the pulsed sound wave P on the inner peripheral surface of the waveguide 113 is the end of the waveguide 113 facing the liquid surface. The time difference until the pulse-like sound wave P of the reflected wave traveling in the direction directed toward the part opening 116 reaches the end part opening 116 is reduced and concentratedly projected in the liquid surface direction.

  That is, by providing the tapered portion 113t of the waveguide 113 on the focal point S side of the laser light, the pulsed sound wave P toward the inner peripheral surface of the waveguide 113 has an angle with the axial direction of the waveguide 113. Reflected so as to be small and travels toward the end opening 116, the reflected wave in each direction in which the pulsed sound wave P travels travels toward the end opening 116 with little time difference. For this reason, the number of reflections of the reflected wave reaching the end opening 116 is reduced, and energy attenuation due to reflection can be reduced. Further, a part of the pulsed sound wave P directed toward the inner peripheral surface of the waveguide 113 becomes a direct wave and travels directly toward the end opening 116 side of the waveguide 113. In the reflected wave and the direct wave, Even the time difference is reduced.

  For this reason, compared with the case where the pulsed sound wave P is generated in free space, the waveguide 113 transmits a relatively long distance without attenuating the energy per unit area of the pulsed sound wave P. By reducing the time difference until the end opening 116 of the reflected wave traveling in each direction reaches the end opening 116, the reduction in energy per time of the pulsed sound wave P acting on the liquid surface is also reduced. Further, it becomes possible to increase the distance of the focal point S of the laser light from the liquid surface, and by using the waveguide 113, the above-mentioned contamination is prevented, and the focal length with good condensing efficiency is short. It becomes possible to improve the light condensing property using a lens.

Theoretically, a pulsed sound wave P other than the direct wave that directly reaches the end opening 116 is reflected only once on the inner peripheral surface of the waveguide 113 and has an inner peripheral surface shape toward the end opening 116. Is ideal.
However, in practice, it is possible to obtain an approximately sufficient effect even if reflection is performed several times on the inner peripheral surface of the waveguide 113. For this reason, the waveguide 113 is at least near the focal point P. It is sufficiently effective that the inner diameter of the inner peripheral surface is increased toward the part opening 116. Specifically, it is only necessary that the inner peripheral surface of the waveguide 113 has a tapered portion 113t toward the end opening 116 as a shape that is easy to manufacture and can easily obtain an effect.
In particular, a remarkable effect is recognized by setting the traveling direction of the reflected wave to 40 ° or less with respect to the axial direction of the waveguide 113. For this purpose, the taper portion on the inner peripheral surface of the waveguide 113 is provided. It is desirable that the taper portion is formed of a single taper portion 113t and has a taper angle of 25 ° to 60 ° with respect to the axial direction.

When the inner peripheral surface of the waveguide 113 is tapered over the entire length, the area of the end opening 116 increases as the distance from the focal point P to the end opening 116 becomes longer. It is preferable that the straight portion 113 s is provided so that the energy of the pulsed sound wave P is concentrated only on the upper surface.
Further, in order to make the shape closer to the ideal inner peripheral surface shape, the tapered portion 113t is composed of a two-step tapered portion in which the taper angle gradually decreases toward the opening of the waveguide 113, It is more desirable that each taper angle is formed at 60 ° to 80 ° and 30 ° to 50 ° with respect to the axial direction.

Furthermore, in order to make the shape closer to the ideal inner peripheral surface shape, the tapered portion 113t has a three-step tapered portion in which the taper angle gradually decreases toward the end opening 116 of the waveguide 113. More preferably, each taper angle is 60 ° to 80 °, 30 ° to 50 °, 10 ° to 20 ° with respect to the axial direction.
Further, the end opening 116 of the waveguide 113 may be formed in a horn shape in order to suppress the propagation loss of the pulsed sound wave in the end opening 116.
The length of the waveguide 113 may be long or short, and is not particularly limited. Further, in the waveguide 113, the position of the focal point S is preferably on the central axis of the waveguide 113 in order to transmit the wavefront of the pulsed sound wave P to the end opening 116 evenly.

  In the present embodiment, the portion close to the bubble 104 on the liquid surface of the content 103 is an end opening 116 of the waveguide 113, and a laser irradiation unit having a pulsed laser light oscillation device 114 and a condensing optical system 115. 112 is arranged at a position far from the bubble 104, so that the end opening 116 of the waveguide 113 is made as close as possible to the opening 102 of the pouch container 101, and the liquid level of the contents 103 is raised to the limit. Bubbles can be reduced or eliminated at high speed and effectively without fouling the system, and the design freedom of the equipment can be improved and a simple configuration can be achieved.

  The defoaming method and defoaming apparatus of the present invention are suitable for defoaming foam generated when filling a pouch container with contents such as liquid, but not limited to filling the contents into a pouch container, As a technique for defoaming bubbles on a liquid surface in a flexible and irregular container similar to a pouch container, it can be used in various industrial fields.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 100 ... Defoaming apparatus 101 ... Pouch container 102 ... Opening 103 ... Contents 104 ... Foam 105 ... Pouch product 110 ... Defoaming means 111 ... Shock wave projection mechanism DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 112 ... Laser irradiation part 113 ... Waveguide 114 ... Pulse-shaped laser beam oscillation apparatus 115 ... Condensing optical system 116 ... End part opening 117 ... Condensing lens 118 ... Laser beam incident hole 120 ... Liquid level raising means 121 ... Pressing member 122 ... Press driving part 130 ... Holding means 131 ... Holding part 200 ... Pouch product manufacturing apparatus 210 ... Turret 211 ・ ・ ・ Container supply unit 212 ・ ・ ・ Content filling unit 213 ・ ・ ・ Defoaming sealing unit 214 ・ ・ ・ Discharge unit 220 ・ ・ ・ Content supply unit 230 ・ ・ ・ Welding unit

Claims (8)

A defoaming method for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid level of the contents filled from the opening of the pouch container,
An opening expansion step for expanding the opening area of the opening of the pouch container;
A liquid level raising step of raising the liquid level of the filled contents by pressing the pouch container;
A defoaming step for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid surface of the raised contents,
The defoaming step is a shock wave projecting step of projecting a shock wave on the liquid level of the contents rising from above the opening of the pouch container,
The liquid level raising step and the defoaming step are performed by expanding the opening area of the opening of the pouch container by the opening expanding step ,
The shock wave projection step condenses the pulsed laser light to generate laser induced breakdown, and the pulsed sound wave generated by the impact of the laser induced breakdown is converted into a tapered portion on the incident hole side of the pulsed laser light. defoaming wherein that you projected as a shock wave toward the liquid surface of the contents from the upper opening of the pouch container by waveguide consisting of a straight portion of the end opening side. Prior to the liquid level raising step, the holding step of holding the edge on the opening side of the pouch container,
The defoaming method according to claim 1, wherein the liquid level raising step and the defoaming step are performed in a state in which the opening side edge of the pouch container is held. The defoaming method according to claim 1 , wherein the opening expanding step is performed simultaneously with the liquid level increasing step or before the liquid level increasing step. The holding step is to grip both sides of the edge of the pouch container on the opening side;
4. The defoaming method according to claim 2 , wherein the opening expanding step expands an opening area of the opening by bringing both sides of the gripped pouch container closer to each other. A defoaming device that reduces or eliminates bubbles on the liquid level of the contents filled from the opening of the pouch container,
Holding means for holding an edge on the opening side of the pouch container and extending an opening area of the opening of the container;
A liquid level raising means for raising the liquid level of the contents by pressing the side surface of the pouch container filled with the contents;
Provided above the opening of the pouch container, and has a defoaming means for reducing or eliminating bubbles on the liquid level of the contents,
The defoaming means includes a shock wave projection mechanism that projects a shock wave from above the opening of the pouch container toward the liquid level of the contents,
The rise of the liquid level of the contents and the reduction or disappearance of bubbles on the liquid level of the contents are performed by expanding the opening area of the opening of the container ,
The shock wave projection mechanism has a laser irradiation unit that collects pulsed laser light to generate a pulsed sound wave, and a waveguide that guides the generated pulsed sound wave and projects it as a shock wave,
Defoaming device the waveguide, characterized in Rukoto such from the straight portion of the tapered portion of the entrance pupil side and end opening side of the pulsed laser beam. 6. The defoaming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the liquid level raising means includes a pair of pressing members and a pressing drive unit that moves the pair of pressing members in a direction of approaching. The defoaming device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the liquid level raising means also serves as a deaeration means used when the pouch container is sealed. The holding means includes a pair of gripping portions that grip both sides of an end portion on the opening side of the pouch container, and an opening driving unit that moves the pair of gripping portions in the approaching direction. The defoaming device according to any one of claims 5 to 7 .

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