JP7531345B2 - Filling Equipment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a filling device.

Conventionally, a filling device for filling highly viscous filling materials such as frozen desserts has been known that fills a container with a measured amount of filling material by rotating a switching rotor inserted in a block to switch the filling path (e.g., Patent Documents 1 and 2).

In this type of filling device, the filling material gets into the gap between the block and the switching rotor during filling, so cleaning is necessary after use. However, in order to remove the filling material that has gotten into the gap between the block and the switching rotor, the switching rotor must be removed from the block and cleaned, making the cleaning process cumbersome.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-236435 JP 2001-88806 A

The present invention aims to provide a filling device that can be easily cleaned without removing the switching rotor and can also be automatically cleaned.

The present invention has the following aspects.
[1] A filling device comprising a block and a cylindrical switching rotor inserted into an insertion portion in the block,
The switching rotor is provided with a plurality of filling switching parts and a plurality of cleaning switching parts that switch the filling path by rotating the switching rotor around an axis, and the plurality of filling switching parts are alternately provided in the axial direction,
The cleaning switching portion of the switching rotor is formed with a first recess that is recessed radially inward of the switching rotor,
The block has a plurality of second recesses formed therein, the second recesses being recessed radially outward at positions facing the first recesses during filling,
A filling device in which the switching rotor is moved in the axial direction to move the cleaning switching part to a position of the filling switching part during filling, and the adjacent first recess and second recess are communicated with each other.
[2] The block is formed with a first flow path for drawing in the filler into the block, a second flow path for discharging the filler out of the block, and a third flow path located between the first flow path and the second flow path around the axis of the switching rotor,
A switching flow path that is bent when viewed from the axial direction of the switching rotor is formed in the filling switching portion of the switching rotor,
The filling device described in [1], wherein rotation of the switching rotor switches between a filling path connected to the first flow path, the switching flow path, and the third flow path, and a filling path connected to the third flow path, the switching flow path, and the second flow path.
[3] Further comprising a storage section for storing a filling material, a quantification section for quantifying the filling material, and a filling nozzle;
The filling device described in [2], wherein the storage section is connected to the first flow path, the metering section is connected to the third flow path, and the filling nozzle is connected to the second flow path.
[4] A filling device described in any one of [1] to [3], wherein the first recess is formed in an annular shape around the entire axis of the switching rotor.
[5] A filling device described in any one of [1] to [4], wherein the second recess is formed in an annular shape around the entire axis of the switching rotor.
[6] A filling device described in any one of [1] to [5], further comprising a rotor drive unit that moves the switching rotor in the axial direction.
[7] A filling device described in any of [1] to [6], further comprising a container conveying unit that conveys containers to be filled with the filling material, a container supplying unit that supplies containers to the container conveying unit, and a container sealing unit that seals the containers filled with the filling material.

The present invention provides a filling device that can be easily cleaned without removing the switching rotor and can also be automatically cleaned.

1 is a schematic diagram showing a filling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a partial cross-sectional view seen from the front for explaining a state during filling of the filling section of the filling device of FIG. 1. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view seen from the side, illustrating a state during filling of the filling section of the filling device of FIG. 1. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view seen from the front for explaining a state during filling of the filling section of the filling device of FIG. 1. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view seen from the side, illustrating a state during filling of the filling section of the filling device of FIG. 1. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view seen from the front for explaining a state during cleaning of the filling unit of the filling device of FIG. 1. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view illustrating the filling operation and cleaning operation of the filling device of FIG. 1. 2 is a partial cross-sectional side view illustrating the filling operation and cleaning operation of the filling device of FIG. 1. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view seen from the front for explaining the filling operation and cleaning operation of the filling device of FIG. 1. 2 is a partial cross-sectional view seen from the front for explaining the filling operation and cleaning operation of the filling device of FIG. 1. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a switching rotor cut perpendicularly to the axial direction at a cleaning switching portion. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of another example of a switching rotor cut perpendicularly to the axial direction at a cleaning switching portion. FIG.

An example of the filling device of the present invention will be described below.
In addition, the dimensions of the figures illustrated in the following description are merely examples, and the present invention is not necessarily limited to them, and can be implemented with appropriate modifications within the scope that does not change the gist of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, the filling apparatus 100 of this embodiment includes a container conveying section 1 that conveys a container 5 to be filled with a filling material, a container supplying section 2 that supplies the container 5 to the container conveying section 1, a filling section 3 that fills the container 5 with the filling material, and a container sealing section 4 that seals the container 5 filled with the filling material.
The configurations of the container conveying unit 1, the container supplying unit 2 and the container sealing unit 4 are not particularly limited, and known configurations can be adopted.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the filling section 3 includes a block 110, a switching rotor 112, and a storage section (hopper) 114 for storing the filling material.
A storage section 114 is provided on the upper part of the block 110. The shape and dimensions of the storage section 114 are not particularly limited and can be set appropriately.

The block 110 is roughly rectangular and has an insertion section 111 formed of a space with a circular cross section that extends in the longitudinal direction. A cylindrical switching rotor 112 is inserted into the insertion section 111 in the block 110.

The shape and dimensions of the block 110 are not limited to a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and can be set appropriately as long as it has an insertion portion 111 that can receive the cylindrical switching rotor 112 .
The block 110 is formed with a first flow passage 116 , a second flow passage 118 , a third flow passage 120 , and a fourth flow passage 122 , each of which extends from the outer surface of the block 110 to the insertion portion 111 .

The first flow path 116 extends upward from the insertion portion 111. The second flow path 118 extends downward from the insertion portion 111. The third flow path 120 extends from between the first flow path 116 and the second flow path 118 around the axis of the switching rotor 112. In this example, the third flow path 120 extends horizontally from the midpoint between the first flow path 116 and the second flow path 118 around the axis of the switching rotor 112. The fourth flow path 122 extends horizontally from the opposite side of the third flow path 120 of the insertion portion 111 inside the block 110.

In this example, the block 110 has two each of a first flow passage 116, a second flow passage 118, a third flow passage 120, and a fourth flow passage 122 formed therein.
Each of the first flow passage 116, the second flow passage 118, the third flow passage 120, and the fourth flow passage 122 is arranged at the same position in the axial direction of the switching rotor 112, forming one set. The two sets of the first flow passage 116, the second flow passage 118, the third flow passage 120, and the fourth flow passage 122 are arranged at intervals in the axial direction of the switching rotor 112.
The number of the first flow passage 116, the second flow passage 118, the third flow passage 120, and the fourth flow passage 122 is not limited to two, and may be one, or three or more.

The first flow path 116 is a flow path that draws the filler into the block 110, and is connected to a discharge portion 114a of a storage portion 114 provided at the top of the block 110. The second flow path 118 is a flow path that discharges the filler out of the block 110, and is connected to a filling nozzle 124 provided at the bottom of the block 110. The third flow path 120 is a flow path that draws the filler into a quantification portion 126, and is connected to the quantification portion 126 that measures the amount of the filler on the front side of the block 110.
The diameters of the first flow passage 116, the second flow passage 118 and the third flow passage 120 can be set appropriately and can be, for example, 10.0 to 32.0 mm.

The fourth flow path 122 is a flow path that supplies the cleaning liquid into the block 110 , and is connected to a pipe 128 provided on the opposite side of the block 110 to the metering section 126 .
The diameter of the fourth flow passage 122 can be set appropriately and can be, for example, 10.0 to 32.0 mm.

The switching rotor 112 is cylindrical and can rotate around its axis within the insertion portion 111 of the block 110, and can also move back and forth in the axial direction within the insertion portion 111. The rotation and axial movement of the switching rotor 112 are performed by the rotor drive unit 130.

The switching rotor 112 is provided with multiple filling switching sections 132 and multiple cleaning switching sections 134 arranged alternately in the axial direction, which switch the filling path by rotating the switching rotor 112 around its axis.

When the filling material is filled, the position of the filling switching part 132 is aligned with the positions of the first flow path 116, the second flow path 118, and the third flow path 120 in the axial direction of the switching rotor 112. The outer peripheral surface 132a of the filling switching part 132 in the switching rotor 112 and the inner peripheral surface 111a of the part where the first flow path 116, the second flow path 118, and the third flow path 120 are located in the insertion part 111 of the block 110 are in sliding contact with each other.

The filling switching section 132 of the switching rotor 112 has a switching flow path 136 that is bent when viewed from the axial direction of the switching rotor 112. In this example, the switching flow path 136 is bent at 90° when viewed from the axial direction of the switching rotor 112.

By rotating the switching rotor 112 while the filling material is being filled, the filling path is switched between a filling path in which the first flow path 116, the switching flow path 136, and the third flow path 120 are connected as shown in FIG. 3, and a filling path in which the third flow path 120, the switching flow path 136, and the second flow path 118 are connected as shown in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning switching portion 134 of the switching rotor 112 has a first recess 142 recessed radially inward of the switching rotor 112. In addition, a plurality of second recesses 144 recessed radially outward are formed in the insertion portion 111 of the block 110 at a position facing the first recess 142 when filled with the filler. In this example, a plurality of second recesses 144 recessed radially outward are also formed in the insertion portion 111 of the block 110 on the tip side of the filling switching portion 132 that is located at the most tip side when filled with the filler.

In the cleaning state in which the switching rotor 112 is moved axially from the filled state with the filling material and the cleaning switching part 134 is moved to the position of the filling switching part 132 during filling, the first recess 142 and the second recess 144, which are adjacent to each other in the axial direction, are connected to each other as shown in FIG. 6.

In conventional filling devices, there is generally a small gap where the block and the switching rotor slide against each other during filling, and the filling material gets into that gap. However, in conventional filling devices, the gap between the block and the switching rotor is small, so the cleaning liquid is not sufficiently supplied to the gap during cleaning, making it difficult to remove the filling material that has gotten into the gap. For this reason, it is necessary to remove the switching rotor from the block and clean it.

In contrast, in the filling device 100, when the switching rotor 112 is moved axially from the filled state to the cleaning state as described above, the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 adjacent to each other in the axial direction communicate with each other. As a result, the gap between the switching rotor 112 and the block 110 becomes large in the portion where the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 communicate with each other, so that the cleaning liquid can be easily and sufficiently supplied. Therefore, the filling that has entered the gap between the switching rotor 112 and the block 110 can be washed and removed without removing the switching rotor 112 from the block 110.

In this example, the first recess 142 is formed in an annular shape over the entire circumference around the axis of the switching rotor 112. In addition, the second recess 144 is formed in an annular shape over the entire circumference around the axis of the switching rotor 112.
In the present invention, as in this example, it is preferable that the first recess and the second recess are formed in an annular shape around the entire axis of the switching rotor, so that the first recess and the second recess communicate with each other around the entire axis of the switching rotor in the cleaning state, and the cleaning liquid can be easily spread all around the switching rotor in the insertion part, making cleaning even easier.

In addition, in the present invention, either or both of the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 may be formed partially or intermittently around the axis of the switching rotor 112. In such an embodiment, by supplying cleaning liquid to the portion where the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 communicate with each other, and rotating the switching rotor 112 around the axis, the filler that has entered the gap between the switching rotor 112 and the block 110 can be removed.

The average step between the first recess 142 and the filling switching section 132 in the switching rotor 112 is preferably 3.0 to 10.0 mm, and more preferably 5.0 to 10.0 mm. If the average step between the first recess 142 and the filling switching section 132 is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the range, it becomes easier to clean the gap between the switching rotor 112 and the block 110.

In this example, the cross-sectional shape of the first recess 142 located between the two filling switching sections 132 is rectangular when cut along the axis of the switching rotor 112. The cross-sectional shape of the first recess 142 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may be, for example, a semicircular shape.

The average depth of the second recess 144 is preferably 3.0 to 10.0 mm, and more preferably 5.0 to 10.0 mm. If the average depth of the second recess 144 is equal to or greater than the lower limit of the range, it becomes easier to clean the gap between the switching rotor 112 and the block 110.

In this example, the cross-sectional shape of the second recess 144 when cut along the axis of the switching rotor 112 is rectangular. The cross-sectional shape of the second recess 144 is not limited to a rectangular shape and may be, for example, a semicircular shape.

Similar to the switching flow path 136 of the filling switching part 132, the switching part 134 of the switching rotor 112 is formed with a switching flow path 145 that is bent when viewed from the axial direction of the switching rotor 112. In this example, the switching flow path 145 is bent at 90° when viewed from the axial direction of the switching rotor 112. The switching part 134 is formed with the switching flow path 145, so that the cleaning liquid can be easily spread around the switching rotor 112.
The diameter of the switching flow passage 145 can be set appropriately and can be, for example, 10.0 to 32.0 mm.

In this example, exhaust pipes 146 are provided at the positions of the second recesses 144 on both axial ends of the lower part of the block 110. This allows the cleaning liquid to be efficiently discharged from the portion where the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 communicate during cleaning, and prevents the cleaning liquid from remaining in the second recess 144.

The metering section 126 includes a cylinder 148 connected to the third flow path 120, a piston rod 150 that moves back and forth within the cylinder 148, and a stopper plate 152 that prevents the filler and cleaning liquid from leaking downstream of the cylinder 148. A pipe 154 is connected to the cylinder 148 on the block 110 side of the stopper plate 152.

An example of the filling operation and cleaning operation by the filling device 100 will be described below.
When filling the filler, as shown in Fig. 2, the position of the filling switching part 132 is aligned with the positions of the first flow path 116, the second flow path 118, and the third flow path 120 in the axial direction of the switching rotor 112. As shown in Fig. 3, the tip of the piston rod 150 is aligned with the tip of the cylinder 148 on the block 110 side.

The switching rotor 112 is rotated around the axis to form a filling path in which the first flow path 116, the switching flow path 136, and the third flow path 120 are connected. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the piston rod 150 is pulled to suck the filling material A in the storage section 114 into the cylinder 148 through the first flow path 116, the switching flow path 136, and the third flow path 120. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the switching rotor 112 is rotated around the axis to switch to a filling path in which the third flow path 120, the switching flow path 136, and the second flow path 118 are connected, and the piston rod 150 is pushed in to discharge the filling material A from the filling nozzle 124. By repeating this operation, the filling material A can be filled into a container supplied below the filling nozzle 124 while being measured in a fixed amount.

An example of a method for cleaning the filling device 100 is a method including the following steps (a) to (f).
(a) Rinse the reservoir 114 and the fill path with water.
(b) Rinse the inner surface of the block 110, the switching rotor 112, the inner surface of the cylinder 148, and the piston rod 150 with water.
(c) The inside of the storage portion 114 and the filling path are washed with a washing liquid.
(d) The inner surface of the block 110, the switching rotor 112, the inner surface of the cylinder 148, and the piston rod 150 are washed with a cleaning liquid.
(e) Rinse the inner surface of the block 110, the switching rotor 112, the inner surface of the cylinder 148, and the piston rod 150 with water.
(f) Rinse reservoir 114 and the fill channel with water.

(Step (a))
In the axial direction of the switching rotor 112, while the position of the filling switching section 132 remains aligned with the positions of the first flow path 116, the second flow path 118, and the third flow path 120, the switching rotor 112 is rotated around its axis to form a filling path in which the first flow path 116, the switching flow path 136, and the third flow path 120 are connected.

Water B is supplied from the pipe 156 to rinse the inside of the storage section 114. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the piston rod 150 is pulled, and the water B supplied from the pipe 156 to the storage section 114 is sucked into the cylinder 148 through the first flow path 116, the switching flow path 136, and the third flow path 120. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the switching rotor 112 is rotated around its axis to switch to the filling path to which the third flow path 120, the switching flow path 136, and the second flow path 118 are connected, and the piston rod 150 is pushed in to discharge the water B from the filling nozzle 124. This operation is repeated to discharge the water B from the storage section 114.

(Step (b))
6, the switching rotor 112 is moved in the axial direction from the state where the filler is filled, the cleaning switching part 134 is moved to the position of the filling switching part 132 during filling, and the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 adjacent to each other in the axial direction are communicated with each other. In addition, with the third flow path 120, the switching flow path 136, and the second flow path 118 connected to form a filling path, the piston rod 150 is pushed in and the tip of the piston rod 150 is positioned within the switching flow path 136 of the switching rotor 112.

9 and 10, water B is supplied into the cylinder 148 through the pipe 154 to rinse the cylinder 148 and the piston rod 150. At the same time, water B is supplied through the pipe 128 and the fourth flow path 122 to the communicating portion between the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 between the switching rotor 112 and the block 110 to rinse the inner surfaces of the switching rotor 112 and the block 110. The water B supplied from the pipes 154 and 128 is discharged from the filling nozzle 124 and the discharge pipe 146 provided at the bottom of the block 110.
After the water B has been discharged, the switching rotor 112 is returned to the position where the filler is filled.

(Step (c))
In the axial direction of the switching rotor 112, the position of the filling switching part 132 coincides with the positions of the first flow path 116, the second flow path 118, and the third flow path 120, and the cleaning liquid C is supplied from the pipe 156 into the storage part 114 to perform cleaning. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the piston rod 150 is pulled, and the cleaning liquid C supplied from the pipe 156 to the storage part 114 is sucked into the cylinder 148 through the first flow path 116, the switching flow path 136, and the third flow path 120. Next, as shown in FIG. 8, the switching rotor 112 is rotated around its axis to switch to a filling path to which the third flow path 120, the switching flow path 136, and the second flow path 118 are connected, and the piston rod 150 is pushed in to discharge the cleaning liquid C from the filling nozzle 124. This operation is repeated to clean the filling path with the cleaning liquid C.
The cleaning liquid C is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, an alkaline detergent liquid.

(Step (d))
6, the switching rotor 112 is moved in the axial direction from the filled state of the filler, the cleaning switching part 134 is moved to the position of the filling switching part 132 during filling, and the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 adjacent to each other in the axial direction are communicated with each other. In addition, the piston rod 150 is pulled, and the tip of the piston rod 150 is positioned downstream of the connection part of the cylinder 148 with the pipe 154.

In this state, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, cleaning liquid C is supplied into the cylinder 148 through the pipe 154 to clean the cylinder 148 and the piston rod 150. At the same time, cleaning liquid C is supplied through the pipe 128 and the fourth flow path 122 to the communicating portion between the first recess 142 and the second recess 144 between the switching rotor 112 and the block 110 to clean the inner surfaces of the switching rotor 112 and the block 110. The cleaning liquid C supplied from the pipes 154 and 128 is discharged from the filling nozzle 124 and the discharge pipe 146 provided at the bottom of the block 110.

(Step (e))
In the same manner as in step (b), the inner surface of the block 110, the switching rotor 112, the inner surface of the cylinder 148, and the piston rod 150 are rinsed with water B.

(Step (f))
In the same manner as in step (a), the inside of the storage portion 114 and the filling path are rinsed with water B.

By carrying out steps (a) to (f) in this order, the filling device 100 can be cleaned without removing the switching rotor 112 from the block 110.
The method for cleaning the filling device 100 is not limited to the method of performing steps (a) to (f) in this order.

As described above, in the filling device of the present invention, the filling switching section and the cleaning switching section are alternately provided in the axial direction on the switching rotor. Then, when the switching rotor is moved in the axial direction to move the cleaning switching section to the position of the filling switching section during filling, the first recess formed in the cleaning switching section and the second recess formed in the block communicate with each other. Thus, in the present invention, by moving the switching rotor in the axial direction, the first recess and the second recess adjacent to each other in the axial direction communicate with each other, and the gap between the switching rotor and the block widens. Therefore, even if the switching rotor is not removed from the block, the gap between the switching rotor and the block can be easily cleaned by supplying sufficient cleaning liquid to it.

The technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the filling device of the present invention, at least one path for supplying water and cleaning liquid is required to be secured. Specifically, the filling device 100 may not have any one or more of the pipes 128, 154, and 156 for supplying water B and cleaning liquid C, or may have a different arrangement of the pipes.

The first recess provided in the switching rotor does not have to be formed in a ring shape around the axis of the switching rotor. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the filling device may be equipped with a switching rotor 112A in which the first recess 142 is provided around half the circumference of the axis. Also, as shown in FIG. 12, the filling device may be equipped with a switching rotor 112B in which multiple first recesses 142 are provided intermittently around the axis.

Furthermore, within the scope of the spirit of the present invention, the components in the above-described embodiment may be replaced with well-known components as appropriate, and the above-described modifications may be combined as appropriate.

100... filling device, 110... block, 111... insertion section, 112, 112A, 112B... switching rotor, 114... storage section, 116... first flow path, 118... second flow path, 120... third flow path, 122... fourth flow path, 124... filling nozzle, 126... metering section, 132... switching section for filling, 134... switching section for cleaning, 142... first recess, 144... second recess, 148... cylinder, 150... piston rod.

Claims (7)

A filling device comprising a block and a cylindrical switching rotor inserted into an insertion portion in the block,
The switching rotor is provided with a plurality of filling switching parts that rotate the switching rotor around an axis to switch the filling path, and a plurality of cleaning switching parts that move to the positions of the filling switching parts during filling in a cleaning state , alternately provided in the axial direction;
The cleaning switching portion of the switching rotor is formed with a first recess that is recessed radially inward of the switching rotor,
The block has a plurality of second recesses formed therein, the second recesses being recessed radially outward at positions facing the first recesses during filling,
A filling device in which the switching rotor is moved in the axial direction to move the cleaning switching part to a position of the filling switching part during filling, and the adjacent first recess and second recess are communicated with each other. The block is formed with a first flow path for drawing the filler into the block, a second flow path for discharging the filler out of the block, and a third flow path located between the first flow path and the second flow path around the axis of the switching rotor,
A switching flow path that is bent when viewed from the axial direction of the switching rotor is formed in the filling switching portion of the switching rotor,
The filling device described in claim 1, wherein rotation of the switching rotor switches between a filling path connected to the first flow path, the switching flow path, and the third flow path, and a filling path connected to the third flow path, the switching flow path, and the second flow path. The filling device further includes a storage unit for storing a filling material, a metering unit for metering the filling material, and a filling nozzle.
The filling device according to claim 2 , wherein the storage portion is connected to the first flow path, the metering portion is connected to the third flow path, and the filling nozzle is connected to the second flow path. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first recess is formed in an annular shape around the entire circumference of the axis of the switching rotor. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second recess is formed in an annular shape around the entire circumference of the axis of the switching rotor. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a rotor drive unit that moves the switching rotor in the axial direction. The filling device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a container conveying section that conveys the container to be filled with the filling material, a container supplying section that supplies the container to the container conveying section, and a container sealing section that seals the container filled with the filling material.

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