JP6830858B2 - Filling device and filling method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a filling device and a filling method capable of suppressing a decrease in filling accuracy while prolonging the filling time of a product liquid.

A bag-shaped resin bag having an opening is used as a container for storing the product liquid. This resin bag is made of a soft resin film.
For the resin bag, for example, an opening step of expanding the opening of the resin bag held by the carrier conveyed on the guide rail, a filling step of filling the resin bag with the product liquid, and a sealing step of sealing the opening of the resin bag. And, manufactured via a filling line with.

This filling line employs an intermittent transfer method in which the resin bag repeatedly stops and moves. The resin bag is stopped in the region corresponding to each of the opening step, the filling step, and the sealing step, and each step is executed for the stopped resin bag.
In this filling line, various proposals have been made in order to match the amount of the product liquid to be filled in the resin bag with a predetermined content, that is, to obtain high filling accuracy.

Patent Document 1 proposes a liquid filling device that fills a container with a liquid from the nozzle by operating a valve that opens and closes a nozzle that discharges the liquid into the container. According to the liquid filling device of Patent Document 1, the filling accuracy of the product liquid in the container can be improved by controlling the valve with high accuracy.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2003-226302

By the way, in the filling line of a resin bag, a resin bag having a different volume may be filled with a product liquid, but in order to fill a resin bag having a large volume with a product liquid, a resin bag having a small volume is filled with the product liquid. It is necessary to make the filling time longer than that. On the other hand, the time required for the opening process and the sealing process is hardly affected by the size of the container.
When the resin bag is transported intermittently, the resin bag is stopped for the same time in the opening step, the filling step, and the sealing step described above. Therefore, if the time of the filling step is lengthened to fill a container having a large volume, the resin bag is unnecessarily stopped for a time even though the work has already been completed in the other steps.

In order to eliminate the unnecessary stoppage of the resin bag, for example, if the product liquid is filled in two steps, the filling time can be lengthened as a whole and the stoppage time for each step is shortened. And the coordination of the stop time can be matched.
However, it is desirable to avoid filling in two parts from the viewpoint of filling accuracy. This is because an error with respect to the target filling amount is likely to occur based on the opening and closing of the nozzle due to filling, and therefore, if filling is performed in a plurality of times, it is easily predicted that the error with respect to the target filling amount will accumulate.

From the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filling device capable of prolonging the time spent filling the product liquid without lowering the filling accuracy.

In the filling device of the present invention, the product liquid is supplied from a filling nozzle whose position is fixed to a transport unit that transports a plurality of containers along a transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side and a container that is transported along the transport path. A filling region to be filled, an upstream region in which a single or a plurality of processing steps are applied to a container to be transported through a transport route on the upstream side of the filling region, and a single or a container to be transported in a transport route on the downstream side of the filling region. It includes a downstream area for performing a plurality of processing steps.
The filling region includes a first filling region having a first filling nozzle as a filling nozzle, and a second filling region provided adjacent to the downstream side of the first filling region and having a second filling nozzle as a filling nozzle. Then, the preceding container is conveyed to the second filling region, the filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle, and then the subsequent container is conveyed to the first filling region, and the product liquid is conveyed from the first filling nozzle. It is characterized in that the time spent for filling the preceding container and the time spent for filling the subsequent container partially overlap with each other.

In the filling device of the present invention, the preceding container and the succeeding container form a filling group in which the time spent for filling the preceding container and the time spent for filling the succeeding container partially overlap. Multiple filling groups may be formed along the transport path, and the leading container of the subsequent filling group may be transported in the upstream region with a time interval between the container and the tail container of the preceding filling group. preferable.

The transport unit in the filling device of the present invention transports containers in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers, and a processing step is performed in units of groups in the upstream region and the downstream region, and the container precedes in the filling region. The container of the unit of the group to be transported to the second filling region, the filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle, and then the container of the unit of the subsequent group is transported to the first filling region. Starting from the filling nozzle to fill the product liquid, the time spent filling the preceding container and the time spent filling the subsequent container by the container of the unit of the preceding group and the container of the unit of the succeeding group. It is preferable to form a filling group in which and is partially overlapped.

In the filling device of the present invention, in each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region, a plurality of containers are transported by one section in units of groups, and the number of groups constituting the filling group is N, and each is Assuming that the number of other groups located on the downstream side of the group is A, each group is the number N minus each number A of the group from the upstream region toward the filling region (NA). It is preferable that the same number of sections as above is transported.
N: Natural number of 2 or more A: 0 and natural number

In the filling device of the present invention, assuming that the order from the beginning of each group is the ordinal number B, each group has an ordinal number B from the beginning of a plurality of groups constituting the filling group from the filling region to the downstream region. It is preferable that the same number of sections as the above is transported.
B: Natural number

In the filling device of the present invention, it is preferable that the respective processing steps and filling performed in the upstream region and the downstream region are performed with the container stopped.

It is preferable that the transport unit in the filling device of the present invention independently controls the transport speed and position of each of the plurality of containers.

In the filling apparatus of the present invention, the time T2 spent for filling the container of the product liquid in the filling region is preferably longer than the time T1 spent for each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region.

Further, in the filling device of the present invention, the transport speed V2 of the container in the filling region is preferably faster than the transport speed V1 of the container in the upstream region and the downstream region.

Further, in the filling device of the present invention, the filling region is provided adjacent to the first filling region, the second filling region, and the downstream side of the second filling region, and includes a third filling nozzle as a filling nozzle. It has a third filling region, the preceding container is transported to the third filling region, the filling of the product liquid is started from the third filling nozzle, and then the subsequent container is transported to the second filling region. (Ii) The filling of the product liquid may be started from the filling nozzle, and then the subsequent container may be further conveyed to the first filling region, and the filling of the product liquid may be started from the first filling nozzle.

In the filling method of the present invention, the product liquid is supplied from a filling nozzle whose position is fixed to a transport unit that transports a plurality of containers along a transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side and a container that is transported along the transport path. A filling region to be filled, an upstream region in which a single or a plurality of processing steps are applied to a container to be transported through a transport route on the upstream side of the filling region, and a single or a container to be transported in a transport route on the downstream side of the filling region. It is a filling method using a filling device including a downstream region for performing a plurality of processing steps.
The filling region includes a first filling region having a first filling nozzle as a filling nozzle, and a second filling region provided adjacent to the downstream side of the first filling region and having a second filling nozzle as a filling nozzle. Then, the preceding container is conveyed to the second filling region, the filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle, and then the subsequent container is conveyed to the first filling region, and the product liquid is conveyed from the first filling nozzle. It is characterized in that the time spent for filling the preceding container and the time spent for filling the subsequent container partially overlap with each other.

According to the present invention, the preceding container is started to be filled with the product liquid from the second filling nozzle, and then the subsequent container is started to be filled with the product liquid from the first filling nozzle by a plurality of containers. It is possible to form a filling group of the containers in which the filling steps partially overlap. As a result, the product liquid can be filled in the container which is intermittently conveyed without lowering the filling accuracy over a longer period of time than when the predetermined treatment performed in the upstream region and the downstream region is performed.

The characteristic portion of the filling system according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown in a simplified manner. It is a figure which shows the operation of the filling system of this embodiment, and (a)-(g) follow the elapsed time. It is a graph which shows the speed of the carrier for each process of the filling system of this embodiment. It is a figure which shows the operation of the filling system of the modification of this embodiment, and (a)-(g) follow the elapsed time.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
In the filling device 1 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, a product liquid L forms a linear transport unit 10 for transporting a bag-shaped container 80 having an opening 81 and an opening 81 of the container 80 to be transported. The container opening 20 that opens so that the container 80 can be filled, the first filling portion 30 and the second filling portion 40 that fill the container 80 with the product liquid L such as beverages, and the opening 81 of the container 80 filled with the product liquid L are heated. A container sealing portion 50 that welds and closes the container, and a cooling portion 60 that cools the closed container 80 are provided. The filling device 1 includes a linear transport section 10, a container opening 20, a first filling section 30, a second filling section 40, a container sealing section 50, and a control section 70 that controls the operation of the cooling section 60.
The filling device 1 partially overlaps the time spent filling the container 80 of the preceding group G1 and the time spent filling the container 80 of the subsequent group G2.

In the filling device 1, the containers 80 constituting the group G are supplied by the supply device S in the supply region 17A included in the upstream region 17 on the upstream side of the filling region 18. Then, the container 80 of the group G is filled with the product liquid L in either the first filling portion 30 or the second filling portion 40 in the filling region 18. At the time of filling, a filling group F in which the time spent for filling partially overlaps is formed for each of the two groups G. After the filling step, the discharge device E discharges the discharge in the discharge region 19C included in the downstream region 19 on the downstream side of the filling region 18.
In the filling device 1, each of the container opening 20, the first filling section 30, the second filling section 40, the container sealing section 50, and the cooling section 60 constituting the filling device 1 receives a predetermined treatment when the container 80 receives a predetermined treatment. When it is stopped and the predetermined processing is completed, it is intermittently transported to the downstream β.

Hereinafter, each element of the filling device 1 will be described.
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the upstream side α and the downstream side β are defined with reference to the direction in which the container 80 is conveyed.

Further, with respect to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, an example in which three containers 80 are transported in one group G will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the number of containers 80 constituting the group G is arbitrary.
Then, the preceding group G is designated as group G1, and the group G transported thereafter is designated as group G2, group G3, and group G4 in that order. When it is not necessary to distinguish groups G1, G2, G3, and G4, they may be simply expressed as group G. The same applies to the filling group F1 and the filling group F2.
In the present embodiment, based on the fact that the filling device 1 includes two filling portions, the two groups G form a filling group F in which the time T2 spent for filling partially overlaps. A plurality of filling groups F are formed along the transport path. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the preceding filling group F1 is formed by the group G1 and the group G2, and the succeeding filling group F2 is formed by the group G3 and the group G4.

[Linear transport unit 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the linear transport unit 10 transports a plurality of containers 80 received from the supply device S from the upstream side α to the downstream side β.

As shown in FIG. 1, the linear transport unit 10 includes a guide rail 13 forming an endless circulation path, and a plurality of transport bodies 11 each independently traveling along the guide rail 13. A permanent magnet 12 is provided on each of the transport bodies 11, and an electromagnetic coil 14 is provided along the guide rail 13, so that the linear transport unit 10 includes a linear motor.

Each carrier 11 includes a plurality of grippers 15 that grip the container 80. The plurality of grippers 15 are fixed to the carrier 11 so as to face the outside of the guide rail 13. The gripper 15 is opened and closed by an external force, and grips the container 80 when it is closed. The gripper 15 is also provided together with the transport body 11 over the entire circumference of the guide rail 13, but FIG. 1 shows only a part of the grippers 15.

The linear transport unit 10 independently controls the movement and stop of each transport body 11 according to the instruction of the control unit 70. Therefore, the linear transport unit 10 can arbitrarily change the position of each transport body 11, that is, the position of each gripper 15.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, in order to simultaneously fill the three containers 80 constituting the group G with the product liquid L, the three transport bodies 11 corresponding to the respective containers 80 maintain a predetermined interval. At the same time, running and stopping are repeated at the same time.

As shown in FIG. 1, the linear transport unit 10 includes an upstream region 17, a filling region 18, and a downstream region 19 on the transport path in order from the upstream side α.
The upstream region 17 has a supply region 17A and an opening region 17B.
The filling region 18 has a first filling region 18A and a second filling region 18B.
The downstream region 19 has a closed region 19A, a cooling region 19B, and a discharge region 19C.
As shown in FIG. 3, the container 80 is stopped for a time T1 in each of the above-mentioned regions included in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19. Each of these regions has a length in the transport direction that can accommodate three containers 80 arranged at a predetermined interval in the transport direction. That is, these areas are partitioned by the same length on the transport path.

[Supply area 17A]
As shown in FIG. 1, the supply area 17A is an area for receiving the container 80 from the supply device S, and the carrier 11 stops at the supply area 17A when receiving the container 80.
The supply region 17A is provided on the most upstream side α of the outward path R1 in the linear transport unit 10. When the transport body 11 reaches the supply region 17A, the transport body 11 stops and receives the container 80 from the standby supply device S. Here, the fact that the container 80 reaches the region means that all of the three containers 80 are included in the region. The same applies to other areas.
In the container 80 received by the transport body 11, the two sheet materials constituting the container 80, including the opening 81, overlap each other with almost no gap.

[Aperture area 17B]
The opening region 17B is an region that opens the opening 81 of the container 80 received by the carrier 11 so that the product liquid L can be filled.
As shown in FIG. 1, the opening region 17B includes a container opening 20 that opens the opening 81 of the container 80, and the container opening 20 opens the opening 81 of the container 80 that stops in the opening region 17B.

[First filling area 18A]
The first filling region 18A is a region in the group G constituting the filling group F1 in which the product liquid L is filled in the container 80 of the group G2 located behind in the transport direction.
As shown in FIG. 1, the first filling nozzle 31 of the first filling portion 30 is arranged in the first filling region 18A.
The container 80 of the group G1 which has been conveyed in advance passes through the first filling region 18A as it is and heads for the second filling region 18B.
On the other hand, the container 80 constituting the group G2 that has been transported stops when it reaches the first filling region 18A, and filling is started. Filling is done for time T2 only. As shown in FIG. 3, the time T2 is longer than the time T1 spent on other steps included in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19.

[Second filling area 18B]
The second filling region 18B is a region in the group G constituting the filling group F1 in which the product liquid L is filled in the container 80 of the group G1 located in the front in the transport direction.
As shown in FIG. 1, the second filling nozzle 41 of the second filling portion 40 is arranged in the second filling region 18B.
When the container 80 constituting the group G1 that has been transported reaches the second filling region 18B, the container 80 is stopped and filling is started. Filling is done for time T2 only. As shown in FIG. 3, the time T2 is longer than the time T1 spent on other steps included in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19.
On the other hand, the container 80 of the group G2 passes through the second filling region 18B as it is after the product liquid L is filled in the first filling region 18A.

[Sealed area 19A]
The closed region 19A is a region for closing the opening 81 of the container 80 filled with the product liquid L.
As shown in FIG. 1, the closed region 19A includes a container closed portion 50 that closes the opening 81 of the container 80, and the container closed portion 50 closes the opening 81 of the container 80 that stops in the closed region 19A and heats. Fuse.

[Cooling area 19B]
The cooling region 19B is a region that cools the heat-sealed opening 81 and seals the opening 81.
As shown in FIG. 1, the cooling region 19B includes a cooling unit 60 that cools the opening 81, and the cooling unit 60 cools the opening 81 that stops in the cooling region 19B.

[Discharge area 19C]
The discharge area 19C is an area for delivering the container 80 to the discharge device E.
In the discharge region 19C, the container 80 whose transportation has been stopped is delivered to the discharge device E. As shown in FIG. 1, the transport body 11 that has delivered the container 80 to the discharge device E in the discharge region 19C travels on the return path R2 and returns to the supply region 17A.

[First filling part 30]
The first filling unit 30 fills the container 80 of the group G2 transported to the first filling region 18A by the linear transport unit 10 with the product liquid L from the first filling nozzle 31 described later.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first filling portion 30 includes a first filling nozzle 31 that discharges the product liquid L toward the opening 81 of the container 80, a main body 34 that is connected to the first filling nozzle 31, and a first filling. A supply tank 32 for storing the product liquid L to be supplied to the nozzle 31 and a supply pipe 33 for supplying the product liquid L from the supply tank 32 to the first filling nozzle 31 via the main body 34 are provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the first filling unit 30 includes three first filling nozzles 31 corresponding to the three containers 80 constituting the group G2. These first filling nozzles 31 are arranged at the same interval as the interval in the transfer direction of the three containers 80 constituting the group G2, and are arranged above the transfer path of these containers 80.

Each first filling nozzle 31 or supply pipe 33 is provided with an on-off valve (not shown). The on-off valve is selected to be opened or closed according to an instruction from the control unit 70, and when it is opened, the product liquid L is discharged from each of the first filling nozzles 31.

When the container 80 reaches the first filling region 18A, the first filling unit 30 opens the on-off valve that has been closed until then and discharges the product liquid L from the first filling nozzle 31 according to the instruction from the control unit 70. Start filling. Then, when the time T2 elapses, the on-off valve that has been open up to that point is closed and filling is completed according to the instruction from the control unit 70.

[Second filling part 40]
The second filling unit 40 fills the container 80 of the group G1 transported to the second filling region 18B by the linear transport unit 10 with the product liquid L from the second filling nozzle 41.

As shown in FIG. 1, the second filling portion 40 includes a second filling nozzle 41 that discharges the product liquid L toward the opening 81 of the container 80, a main body 44 that is connected to the second filling nozzle 41, and a second filling. A supply tank 42 for storing the product liquid L to be supplied to the nozzle 41 and a supply pipe 43 for supplying the product liquid L from the supply tank 42 to the second filling nozzle 41 via the main body 44 are provided. It has the same configuration as the filling unit 30.

As shown in FIG. 1, the second filling unit 40 includes three second filling nozzles 41 corresponding to the three containers 80 constituting the group G1. These second filling nozzles 41 are arranged at the same interval as the interval in the transfer direction of the three containers 80 constituting the group G1, and are arranged above the transfer path of these containers 80.

Each second filling nozzle 41 or supply pipe 43 is provided with an on-off valve (not shown). The on-off valve is selected to be opened or closed according to an instruction from the control unit 70, and when it is opened, the product liquid L is discharged from each of the second filling nozzles 41.

When the container 80 of the group G1 reaches the second filling region 18B, the second filling unit 40 opens the on-off valve that has been closed until then and charges the product liquid L from the second filling nozzle 41 according to the instruction from the control unit 70. Discharge and start filling. Then, when a predetermined time elapses, the on-off valve that has been open up to that point is closed and filling is completed according to the instruction from the control unit 70.

[Operation of filling device 1]
Next, the operation of the filling device 1 will be described.
As shown in the row (G1) of FIG. 3, this operation includes a supply step of supplying the container 80 constituting the group G and an opening step of opening the opening 81 of the supplied container 80 performed in the upstream region 17. The first filling step of filling the container 80 of the preceding group G1 with the product liquid L performed in the filling region 18, the second filling step of filling the container 80 of the subsequent group G2 with the product liquid L, and the downstream region 19 A sealing step of welding and sealing the opening 81 of the container 80 filled with the product liquid L, a cooling step of cooling the welded portion of the container 80, and a discharging step of discharging the cooled container 80 to the outside are performed. Have.
As shown in FIG. 3, the first filling step and the second filling step are two steps of each step performed in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19 as shown in rows (G1) and rows (G2) of FIG. Minute time is spent.
Further, as shown in the row (G1) of FIG. 3, in each step performed in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19, the container 80 is stopped for the time T1, whereas the first filling step and the second filling step are performed. Stops the container 80 for T2 longer than the other steps.

As shown in FIG. 1, each step of the filling device 1 is performed for each group G composed of three containers 80.
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the groups G1, G2, G3, and G4 are conveyed to the filling region 18 in this order, and the product liquid L is filled in this order.
The operation of the filling device 1 will be described assuming that the filling group F1 is composed of the group G1 and the group G2, and the filling group F2 to be transferred to the filling step after that is composed of the group G3 and the group G4. ..
In the filling device 1, among the groups G constituting the filling groups F1 and F2, the container 80 of the first group G1 and G3 in the transport direction is filled with the product liquid L by the second filling portion 40, and the tailing group G2 is filled. , G4 container 80 is filled with the product liquid L by the first filling portion 30.
The filling device 1 is characterized in that the time spent for filling the two groups G constituting the filling group F is partially overlapped.

[Supply process]
In the supply process, the three transport bodies 11 corresponding to the container 80 of the group G1 are transported to the supply region 17A (FIG. 1). The carrier 11 that has reached the supply region 17A stops for a time T1 and receives the container 80 (FIGS. 2 (a) and 3 (a)). After that, the container 80 of the group G1 gripped by the transport body 11 is transported from the supply region 17A toward the opening region 17B (FIG. 3A).

[Opening process]
In the opening step, the container 80 of the group G1 is conveyed from the supply region 17A to the opening region 17B (FIGS. 2 (b) and 3 (b)). The maximum speed of the container 80 transported from the supply region 17A to the opening region 17B is the speed V1. The container 80 of the group G1 that has reached the opening region 17B is stopped for a time T1 and each opening 81 is opened by the container opening 20. After that, the container 80 of the group G1 is transported from the opening region 17B toward the second filling region 18B.

On the other hand, the container 80 of the group G2 is transported corresponding to the container 80 of the group G2 in the supply process as the container 80 of the group G1 is transported toward the opening region 17B. It is delivered to the body 11 (FIG. 2 (b), FIG. 3 (b)).

[First filling process]
In the first filling step, the container 80 of the group G1 is conveyed from the opening region 17B to the second filling region 18B (FIGS. 2 (c) and 3 (c)). That is, the container 80 of the group G1 is conveyed from the opening region 17B by two sections (FIGS. 2B and 2C).
The maximum speed of the container 80 conveyed from the opening region 17B to the second filling region 18B is a speed V2, which is faster than the speed V1.

In the first filling step, when the container 80 of the group G1 reaches the second filling region 18B from the opening region 17B, the control unit 70 instructs the second filling nozzle 41 of the second filling portion 40 to open, so that the group Filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of G1 is started (FIGS. 2 (c) and 3 (c)).

Then, in the opening step of the container 80 of the group G2, each opening 81 is opened by the container opening 20 in the same manner as the container 80 of the group G1 (FIGS. 2 (c) and 3 (c)).
Then, after the opening 81 is opened, the container 80 of the group G2 is conveyed from the opening region 17B toward the first filling region 18A (FIG. 3C).

The filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G1 is continuously performed for the time T2 (FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (d)). As will be described later, when the filling of the container 80 of the group G1 is continued, the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G2 is started.
Then, when the time T2 elapses from the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G1, the on-off valve that has been open up to that point is closed according to the instruction from the control unit 70, and the product liquid L is charged from the second filling nozzle 41. Finish filling. Then, the container 80 of the group G1 is conveyed from the second filling region 18B toward the closed region 19A (FIGS. 2 (e) and 3 (e)). That is, the container 80 of the group G1 is transported from the second filling region 18B by one section (FIGS. 2 (d) and 2 (e)).
The maximum speed of the container 80 transported from the second filling region 18B to the closed region 19A is the speed V1.

[Second filling process]
In the second filling step, the container 80 of the group G2 is conveyed from the opening region 17B to the first filling region 18A (FIGS. 2 (d) and 3 (d)). That is, the container 80 of the group G2 is conveyed from the opening region 17B by one section (FIGS. 2 (c) and 2 (d)).
The maximum speed of the container 80 conveyed from the opening region 17B to the first filling region 18A is the velocity V1.

In the second filling step, when the container 80 of the group G2 reaches the first filling region 18A from the opening region 17B, the control unit 70 instructs the first filling nozzle 31 of the first filling portion 30 to open the product. Filling of the liquid L is started (FIGS. 2 (d) and 3 (d)).
When the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G2 is started, the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G1 is continued (FIGS. 2 (d) and 3 (d)). As described above, the time spent for filling the container 80 of the group G1 and the time spent for filling the container 80 of the group G2 partially overlap.

The filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G2 is continuously performed for the time T2 (FIGS. 3 (d) and 3 (e)). Then, when the time T2 elapses from the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G2, the on-off valve that has been open up to that point is closed according to the instruction from the control unit 70, and the product liquid L is charged from the first filling nozzle 31. Finish filling. Then, the container 80 of the group G2 is conveyed from the first filling region 18A toward the closed region 19A. That is, the container 80 of the group G2 is transported from the first filling region 18A by two sections (FIGS. 2 (e) and 2 (f)).
The maximum speed of the container 80 transported from the first filling region 18A to the closed region 19A is a speed V2, which is faster than the speed V1.

On the other hand, when the container 80 of the group G2 reaches the first filling region 18A, the container 80 of the group G3 is received by the transport body 11 corresponding to the container 80 of the group G3 in the supply process in the same manner as the container 80 of the group G2. Passed (Fig. 2 (d), Fig. 3 (d)). As shown in FIGS. 3B to 3D, the container 80 of the group G3 has an upstream region between the group G2 which is the tail of the group G constituting the filling group F1 and the group G3 which is the head of the filling group F2. It is delivered to the transport body 11 in the supply step, which is the most upstream α step, with a time interval of one step of the step performed in 17.

In the container 80 of the group G3, the opening 81 is expanded in the opening region 17B while the container 80 of the group G2 is continuously filled with the product liquid L. Then, the container 80 of the group G4 is delivered to the corresponding transport body 11 in the same manner as the container 80 of the group G3 (FIG. 2 (e)).

[Seal process]
The container 80 of the group G1 which has completed the first filling step and is filled with the desired amount of the product liquid L is transported from the second filling region 18B to the closed region 19A (FIGS. 2 (e) and 3 (e)). ).
The container 80 of the group G1 that has reached the closed region 19A is stopped for a predetermined time, and each opening 81 is heat-welded by the container sealing portion 50. After that, the container 80 of the group G1 is transported from the closed region 19A toward the cooling region 19B (FIG. 3 (e)).

On the other hand, the container 80 of the group G2 is transported to the closed region 19A as the container 80 of the group G1 is transported toward the cooling region 19B (FIGS. 2 (f) and 3 (f)).
Then, the container 80 of the group G3 is transported to the second filling region 18B as the container 80 of the group G2 is transported to the closed region 19A, and the product liquid L is filled in the same manner as in the group G1. (Fig. 2 (f), Fig. 3 (f)). Further, in the container 80 of the group G4, each opening 81 is opened by the container opening 20 in the opening region 17B, similarly to the container 80 of the group G3 (FIG. 2 (f)).

[Cooling process]
When the sealing step is completed, the container 80 of the group G1 is transported from the sealing region 19A to the cooling region 19B (FIGS. 2 (f) and 3 (f)).
The maximum speed of the container 80 transported from the closed region 19A to the cooling region 19B is the speed V1.
The container 80 of the group G1 that has reached the cooling region 19B is stopped for a predetermined time, and the welded portion of the opening 81 is cooled by the cooling portion 60. After that, the container 80 of the group G1 is transported from the cooling region 19B toward the discharge region 19C (FIG. 3 (f)).

On the other hand, the container 80 of the group G2 is transported from the closed region 19A to the cooling region 19B as the container 80 of the group G1 is transported toward the closed region 19A (FIGS. 2 (f) and 3 (FIG. 3). f)).
Further, in the container 80 of the group G3, the product liquid L is continuously filled for the time T2 (FIGS. 2 (f) and 2 (g)).
Further, in the container 80 of the group G4, each opening 81 is opened by the container opening 20 in the opening step, similarly to the container 80 of the group G3 (FIG. 2 (f)).

[Discharge process]
When the cooling step is completed, the container 80 of the group G1 is transported from the cooling region 19B to the discharge region 19C (FIGS. 2 (g) and 3 (g)).
The maximum speed of the container 80 transported from the cooling region 19B to the discharge region 19C is the speed V1.
The container 80 of the group G1 that has reached the discharge area 19C is stopped for a predetermined time and is delivered from the transport body 11 to the discharge device E.
As shown in FIG. 1, the transport body 11 that has delivered the container 80 to the discharge device E travels on the return path R2 and returns to the supply region 17A.

On the other hand, the container 80 of the group G2 is transported from the closed region 19A to the cooling region 19B as the container 80 of the group G1 is transported from the cooling region 19B toward the discharge region 19C (FIG. 2 (g)). , FIG. 3 (g)).
Then, when the cooling step is completed, the container 80 of the group G2 is also transported from the cooling region 19B to the discharge region 19C in the same manner as the container 80 of the group G1, and is delivered from the transport body 11 to the discharge device E.
Further, the container 80 of the group G3 that has completed the first filling step and the container 80 of the group G4 that has completed the second filling step are also sequentially subjected to the sealing step and the cooling step, and then discharged from the transport body 11 in the discharging step. Handed over to E.

The filling device 1 is a number obtained by subtracting the number A of the group G located in front of the group G from the number N of the group G constituting the filling group F from the opening region 17B to the filling region 18 of the container 80 of the group G. Transport the same number of sections as (NA).
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, in the group G1, the filling group F1 is composed of two groups G, the group G1 and the group G2 (N = 2), and the group G1 is located at the head and is a group in front of the group G1. Since G is not located (A = 0), it is conveyed from the opening area 17B by two sections (FIGS. 2 (b) and 2 (c)). Since the group G1 is located in front of the container 80 of the group G2 (A = 1), the container 80 is transported from the opening area 17B by one section (FIGS. 2C and 2D).
N: Natural number of 2 or more A: 0 and natural number

Then, each group G is transported from the filling region 18 to the closed region 19A by the same number of sections as the ordinal number B from the beginning of the plurality of groups G constituting the filling group F.
That is, since the container 80 of the group G1 is the first from the beginning, it is conveyed from the second filling region 18B by one section (FIGS. 2 (d) and 2 (e)). Since the container 80 of the group G2 is the second from the beginning, it is conveyed from the first filling region 18A by two sections (FIGS. 2 (e) and 2 (f)).
B: Natural number

Further, as the filling device 1 increases the time spent in the filling step performed in the first filling region 18A by one step, the container 80 of the head group G of the subsequent filling group F precedes. It is supplied to the carrier 11 with a time interval between it and the group G at the tail of the filling group F for the increased number of steps.
That is, as shown in FIG. 2, since the filling device 1 spends the time for two steps by increasing the time for one step in the second filling step performed in the first filling region 18A, the subsequent filling The container 80 of the group G3 at the head of the group F2 is supplied to the transport body 11 with a time interval of one step between the container 80 of the group G2 at the tail of the preceding filling group F1 and the container 80 (FIG. 2). (B) to (d)).

Further, as shown in rows (G1) to (G3) of FIG. 3, the filling device 1 has a time T2 spent in the filling step longer than the time T1 spent in the other steps described above. The transport speed V2 is faster than the transport speed V1.

[Effect of filling device 1]
Hereinafter, the effect of the filling device 1 will be described.
The filling device 1 transports the container 80 of the group G to the first filling portion 30 or the second filling portion 40 by the transport body 11 of the linear transport unit 10 whose transport speed and position can be individually adjusted. The time for the container 80 to stop in each step other than the filling step is constant at time T1, whereas in the filling step for the product liquid L, the container 80 is stopped for a time T2 longer than the time T1.

Here, in order to lengthen the filling time of the product liquid L, a comparative example in which one filling portion is provided in the filling device 1 is assumed. In this comparative example, the filling step is sequentially performed for each of the containers 80 of one group G transported by the transport body 11 of the linear transport unit 10. In this comparative example as well, as shown in row (I) of FIG. 3, the time spent for filling the product liquid L is longer than the time spent for other steps.
In this comparative example, in order to ensure that the container 80 that has completed the opening step is continuously transported to the filling step, as shown in row (II) of FIG. 3, the container 80 of the subsequent group G is the preceding group. At the same time that the container 80 of G shifts from the filling step to the sealing step, the supply step is performed at intervals of two steps so that the filling step can be shifted. Then, as shown in row (III) of FIG. 3, the subsequent group G container 80 is also supplied with a time interval of two steps. As described above, in the comparative example, the production capacity is lowered because the time interval for two steps is required for each supply of the container 80 constituting the group G.

In contrast to the comparative example, the present embodiment includes the first filling portion 30 and the second filling portion 40 in this order from the upstream side α, and the filling of the container 80 of the preceding group G1 is the second filling portion 40. The subsequent filling of the container 80 of the group G2 is performed in the first filling unit 30.
In this way, by filling the container 80 of the preceding group G1 in the second filling portion 40 of the downstream side β, the container 80 of the subsequent group G2 is continuously filled while the filling of the container 80 of the group G1 is continued. The first filling unit 30 can be used for filling with. As a result, the time T2 spent for filling the preceding container 80 in the second filling region 18B and the time T2 spent for filling the succeeding container 80 in the first filling region 18A are partially divided. Can be duplicated.
By duplicating the time T2 in this way, the production time can be shortened as compared with the comparative example in which only one filling portion is provided. Therefore, the production capacity of the filling device 1 can be improved while prolonging the filling time of the product liquid L.

Since the filling device 1 employs the linear transport unit 10 as a means for transporting the transport body 11, intermittent transport with different transport distances can be performed. Therefore, when each container 80 of the groups G1 and G2 is transported from the opening region 17B to the filling region 18, each is transported by a different number of sections, and the corresponding first filling region 18A or the second filling region 18A or the second filling is promptly carried. Region 18B can be reached. Then, when they are transported from the filling region 18 to the closed region 19A, they can be transported by a different number of sections and quickly transported to the closed region 19A.
Further, since the transport speed of the container 80 can be arbitrarily set, the container 80 of the group G1 can be transported at the transport speed V2 when transporting two sections from the opening region 17B to the second filling region 18B. Further, the container 80 of the group G2 can be transported in two sections from the first filling region 18A to the closed region 19A at a transport speed V2.
As described above, by adopting the linear transport unit 10, the time T2 for filling the container 80 with the product liquid L can be lengthened. Further, since it is not necessary to lengthen the time of other steps in accordance with the lengthening of the filling time of the product liquid L in the filling step, the production capacity of the filling device 1 can be improved.

Further, in the filling device 1, the container 80 of the head group G of the subsequent filling group F is separated from the container 80 of the trailing group G of the preceding filling group F by one step, and the transport body 11 is separated. Is supplied to. As a result, even if the time for two steps of each step performed in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19 is spent in the first filling step and the second filling step, the subsequent filling group F2 is followed by the preceding filling group F1. Filling can be done continuously. As a result, the filling portion can be continuously used for each filling group F, so that the production capacity of the filling device 1 can be improved.

[Modified example of the embodiment]
Next, a modified example of the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 4, the same components as those in the embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals as those in the embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In this modification, as shown in FIG. 4, the filling group F is composed of three group G containers 80.
In this modification, in addition to the first filling portion 30 and the second filling portion 40, a third filling portion 90 having the same configuration as these is provided. Further, this modification includes a third filling region 18C between the closed region 19A and the second filling region 18B. The third filling portion 90 is arranged in the third filling region 18C.

Next, the operation of this modification will be described. In the following, the differences from the embodiments will be mainly described. This modification includes a third filling step described later.
In this modification, as shown in FIG. 4, groups G1, G2, and G3 form a preceding filling group F3, and groups G4, G5, and G6 form a succeeding filling group F4.

Also in this modification, the containers 80 of the groups G1, G2, and G3 are delivered to the corresponding transport body 11 in the supply region 17A, transported to the opening region 17B, and after the opening 81 is opened, the filling region is opened. It is transported to No. 18 (FIGS. 4 (a) to 4 (e)).

However, in this modification, the container 80 of group G1 is transported from the opening region 17B toward the third filling region 18C (FIG. 4C). Then, when the container 80 of the group G1 reaches the third filling region 18C, the product liquid L is discharged from the third filling nozzle 91 to start filling, and the first filling step is performed as in the embodiment (FIG. 4 (c), (d)).
In this modified example, since the number N of the group G constituting the filling group F3 is 3, the head group G1 is transported by three sections (FIGS. 4B and 4C).

Next, the container 80 of the group G2 is conveyed from the opening region 17B toward the second filling region 18B (FIG. 4D). When the container 80 of the group G2 reaches the second filling region 18B, the second filling step is performed as in the embodiment (FIGS. 4 (d) and 4 (e)). In this modification, since the number N of the group G constituting the filling group F3 is 3 and the number A is 1 because the group G1 is located in front of the group G2, only the fractions of 2 sections are transported (FIG. 4 (FIG. 4). c), (d)).

When the container 80 of the group G2 reaches the second filling region 18B, the container 80 of the group G1 is continuously filled with the product liquid L. As described above, also in this modification, the time spent for filling the container 80 of the preceding group G1 and the time spent for filling the container 80 of the subsequent group G2 partially overlap.

Next, the container 80 of the group G3 is conveyed from the opening region 17B toward the first filling region 18A (FIG. 4D). When the container 80 of the group G3 reaches the first filling region 18A, the third filling step is performed (FIGS. 4 (e) and 4 (f)).
In this modification, since the number N of the group G constituting the filling group F3 is 3 and the number A is 2 because the group G1 and the group G2 are located in front of the group G3, only one section fraction is transported.

In the third filling step, when the container 80 of the group G3 reaches the first filling region 18A, the control unit 70 instructs to open the first filling nozzle 31 of the first filling unit 30, so that the product liquid L is filled. Is started (FIG. 4 (e)).
When the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G3 is started, the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G1 is completed, but the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G2 is completed. Is continuing (Fig. 4 (e)). In this way, the time spent filling the container 80 of the preceding group G2 and the time spent filling the container 80 of the subsequent group G3 partially overlap.
In the third filling step as well, as in the first filling step and the second filling step, the container 80 is continuously filled with the product liquid L for a time T2. Then, when the time T2 elapses from the filling of the product liquid L into the container 80 of the group G3, the on-off valve that has been open up to that point is closed according to the instruction from the control unit 70, and the product liquid L is charged from the first filling nozzle 31. Filling is completed (FIG. 4 (g)).

Then, the containers 80 of the groups G1, G2, and G3 filled with the product liquid L in the filling region 18 are sequentially shifted to the sealing step as in the embodiment. At this time, the first group G1 from the beginning is conveyed by one section, the second group G2 from the beginning is conveyed by two sections, and the third group G3 from the beginning is conveyed by three sections. Then, the filling process is shifted to the sealing process.
Then, the groups G1, G2, and G3 are delivered from the transport body 11 to the discharge device E in the discharge step after passing through the sealing step and then the cooling step (FIGS. 4 (e) to 4 (g)).

On the other hand, the groups G4, G5, and G6 constituting the subsequent filling group F4 are also delivered to the corresponding transport body 11 in the supply region 17A, shift to the opening region 17B, and after the opening 81 is opened, It shifts to the filling region 18 (FIGS. 4 (e) to 4 (g)).
As shown in FIGS. 4C to 4E, the head group G4 of the subsequent filling group F4 corresponds to the group G3 at the tail of the filling group F3 in the supply area 17A with a time interval of one step. It is delivered to the carrier 11 (FIGS. 4 (c) to 4 (e)).
Then, when the group G3 is transported from the first filling region 18A to the downstream side β after shifting to the opening region 17B and the opening 81 is opened, the group G4 is transported toward the third filling region 18C. To. Then, when the container 80 of the group G4 reaches the third filling region 18C, the first filling step is performed in the same manner as in the group G1 (FIG. 4 (g)).

As described above, the number of groups G constituting the filling group F can be increased from two filling portions as in the embodiment to three as in the present modification. Furthermore, the number of group G can be increased to 4 or more.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, other than this, the configurations listed in the above embodiments may be selected or appropriately changed to other configurations as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated. be able to.

For example, the bag-shaped container 80 has been mentioned as an object to be transported, but the present invention is not limited to this, and it can also be used for bottles and cans.
The processing steps performed in the upstream region 17 and the downstream region 19 can be appropriately changed depending on the container to be transported. Further, the number of processing steps can be appropriately changed to a single number or a plurality of processing steps depending on the container to be transported.

In the filling device 1, the first filling portion 30 and the second filling portion 40 may be filled with different product liquids L. Further, the first filling portion 30 and the second filling portion 40 may be filled for different times.

Further, in the embodiment, in the first filling step, the container 80 of the group G1 is transported to the second filling region 18B at a transport speed V2 faster than the transport speed V1, and in the second filling step, the container 80 of the group G2 is sealed. Although the container 80 is transported toward the region 19A at a transport speed V2, the container 80 of the group G may be transported at a transport speed V1 instead of the transport speed V2 in the filling step.
Further, although the container 80 is conveyed at a constant transfer speed V2 in the filling step, the transfer speed V2 may be changed.

1 Filling device 10 Linear carrier 11 Transporter 12 Permanent magnet 13 Guide rail 14 Electromagnetic coil 15 Gripper 17 Upstream area 17A Supply area 17B Opening area 18 Filling area 18A First filling area 18B Second filling area 18C Third filling area 19 Downstream Area 19A Sealed area 19B Cooling area 19C Discharge area 20 Container opening 30 First filling part 31 First filling nozzle 32 Supply tank 33 Supply pipe 34 Main body 40 Second filling part 41 Second filling nozzle 42 Supply tank 43 Supply pipe 44 Main body 50 Container sealing unit 60 Cooling unit 70 Control unit 80 Container 81 Opening 90 Third filling unit 91 Third filling nozzle E Discharge device S Supply device L Product liquid R1 Outward route R2 Return route α Upstream side β Downstream side

Claims (20)

A transport unit that transports multiple containers along a transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side,
A filling region for filling the product liquid from a filling nozzle whose position is fixed into the container to be transported along the transfer path, and
On the upstream side of the filling region, an upstream region in which a single or a plurality of processing steps are applied to the container transported through the transport path, and
On the downstream side of the filling region, a downstream region for performing a single or a plurality of processing steps on the container transported through the transport path is provided.
The filling area is
It has a first filling region having a first filling nozzle as the filling nozzle, and a second filling region provided adjacent to the downstream side of the first filling region and having a second filling nozzle as the filling nozzle. And
The preceding container is conveyed to the second filling region, and filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle.
After that, the subsequent container is conveyed to the first filling region, and filling of the product liquid is started from the first filling nozzle.
The time spent for the filling of the preceding container and the time spent for the filling of the subsequent container partially overlap.
A filling device characterized by that. The preceding container and the succeeding container form a filling group in which the time spent for the filling of the preceding container and the time spent for the filling of the succeeding container partially overlap.
A plurality of the filling groups are formed along the transport path,
The filling device according to claim 1, wherein the container at the head of the subsequent filling group is transported in the upstream region between the container at the tail of the preceding filling group and the container at a time interval. The transport unit transports the container in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers.
In the upstream region and the downstream region, the processing step is performed in units of the group.
In the filling region, the container of the preceding group unit is conveyed to the second filling region, and the filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle.
After that, the filling of the product liquid is started from the first filling nozzle, which conveys the container of the unit of the subsequent group to the first filling region.
Part of the time spent filling the preceding container and the time spent filling the subsequent container are due to the container of the preceding group unit and the container of the succeeding group unit. Consists of the overlapping filling groups,
The filling device according to claim 2. In each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region, the plurality of the containers are transported in units of the group for one section.
Let N be the number of the groups constituting the filling group.
Let A be the number of other groups located downstream of each group.
Each of the groups is transported from the upstream region to the filling region by the same number of compartments as the number N minus the number A of each of the groups (NA).
The filling device according to claim 3.
N: 2 or more natural numbers A: 0 and natural numbers Let the ordinal number B be the order from the beginning of each group.
Each of the groups is transported from the filling region to the downstream region by the same number of compartments as the ordinal number B from the beginning of the plurality of the groups constituting the filling group.
The filling device according to claim 4.
B: Natural number With each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region,
The filling is performed by stopping the container.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5. The transport unit
Independently control the transport speed and position of each of the plurality of containers.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. The time T2 spent filling the container with the product liquid in the filling region is
It is longer than the time T1 spent in each of the upstream regions and the respective processing steps performed in the downstream regions.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 7. The transport speed V2 of the container in the filling region is
Faster than the transport speed V1 of the container in the upstream region and the downstream region.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. The filling area is
It has a first filling region, a second filling region, and a third filling region provided adjacent to the downstream side of the second filling region and having a third filling nozzle as the filling nozzle.
The preceding container is conveyed to the third filling region, and the filling of the product liquid is started from the third filling nozzle.
After that, the subsequent container is conveyed to the second filling region, and the filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle.
After that, the subsequent container is further conveyed to the first filling region, and the filling of the product liquid is started from the first filling nozzle.
The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 9. A transport unit that transports multiple containers along a transport path from the upstream side to the downstream side,
A filling region for filling the product liquid from a filling nozzle whose position is fixed into the container to be transported along the transfer path, and
On the upstream side of the filling region, an upstream region in which a single or a plurality of processing steps are applied to the container transported through the transport path, and
A filling method using a filling device including a downstream region on the downstream side of the filling region, in which a single or a plurality of processing steps are applied to the container transported through the transport path.
The filling area is
It has a first filling region having a first filling nozzle as the filling nozzle, and a second filling region provided adjacent to the downstream side of the first filling region and having a second filling nozzle as the filling nozzle. And
The preceding container is conveyed to the second filling region, and filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle.
After that, the subsequent container is conveyed to the first filling region, and filling of the product liquid is started from the first filling nozzle.
The time spent for the filling of the preceding container and the time spent for the filling of the subsequent container partially overlap.
A filling method characterized by that. The preceding container and the succeeding container form a filling group in which the time spent for the filling of the preceding container and the time spent for the filling of the succeeding container partially overlap.
A plurality of the filling groups are formed along the transport path,
The filling method according to claim 11, wherein the container at the head of the subsequent filling group is transported in the upstream region between the container at the tail of the preceding filling group and the container at a time interval. The container is transported by the transport unit in units of a group consisting of a plurality of predetermined containers.
In the upstream region and the downstream region, the processing step is performed in units of the group.
In the filling region, the container of the preceding group unit is conveyed to the second filling region, and the filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle.
After that, the filling of the product liquid is started from the first filling nozzle, which conveys the container of the unit of the subsequent group to the first filling region.
Part of the time spent filling the preceding container and the time spent filling the subsequent container are due to the container of the preceding group unit and the container of the succeeding group unit. Consists of the overlapping filling groups,
The filling method according to claim 12. In each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region, the plurality of the containers are transported in units of the group for one section.
Let N be the number of the groups constituting the filling group.
Let A be the number of other groups located downstream of each group.
Each of the groups is transported from the upstream region to the filling region by the same number of compartments as the number N minus the number A of each of the groups (NA).
The filling method according to claim 13.
N: 2 or more natural numbers A: 0 and natural numbers Let the ordinal number B be the order from the beginning of each group.
Each of the groups is transported from the filling region to the downstream region by the same number of compartments as the ordinal number B from the beginning of the plurality of the groups constituting the filling group.
The filling method according to claim 14.
B: Natural number With each of the processing steps performed in the upstream region and the downstream region,
The filling is performed by stopping the container.
The filling method according to any one of claims 11 to 15. In the transport section
The transport speed and position of each of the plurality of containers are controlled independently.
The filling method according to any one of claims 11 to 16. The time T2 spent filling the container with the product liquid in the filling region is
It is longer than the time T1 spent in each of the upstream regions and the respective processing steps performed in the downstream regions.
The filling method according to any one of claims 11 to 17. The transport speed V2 of the container in the filling region is
Faster than the transport speed V1 of the container in the upstream region and the downstream region.
The filling method according to any one of claims 11 to 18. The filling area is
It has a first filling region, a second filling region, and a third filling region provided adjacent to the downstream side of the second filling region and having a third filling nozzle as the filling nozzle.
The preceding container is conveyed to the third filling region, and the filling of the product liquid is started from the third filling nozzle.
After that, the subsequent container is conveyed to the second filling region, and the filling of the product liquid is started from the second filling nozzle.
After that, the subsequent container is further conveyed to the first filling region, and the filling of the product liquid is started from the first filling nozzle.
The filling method according to any one of claims 11 to 19.

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