JPH0123370B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention relates to an inert gas supply device for supplying inert gas into a container.

``Prior art'' Conventionally, for example, in a container filled with a chemical solution, the remaining space of the container is filled with an inert gas such as N ₂ gas, air is exhausted from the remaining space, and capping is performed in this state. Care has been taken to ensure that the chemical solution does not deteriorate due to the air in the remaining space. Furthermore, conventionally, an inert gas is supplied into the container prior to filling the container with a chemical solution, and the chemical solution is then filled while supplying the inert gas or after the supply of the inert gas is finished. .

Inert gas supply devices that supply inert gas into the container are generally of line type and rotary type, but both have multiple gas nozzles that supply inert gas into the container, and each gas nozzle and an inert gas supply device. It is equipped with an on-off valve provided in the middle of the gas passage communicating with the active gas supply source, and when the on-off valve is opened, the inert gas from the above supply source is supplied into the container from each gas nozzle. ing.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" However, in the conventional inert gas supply device, when inert gas is supplied into the container from each gas nozzle, the inert gas is actually supplied from the gas nozzles into the container. There was no detection as to whether or not the gas was present, and there was a risk that capping would be performed without inert gas being supplied into the container.

"Means for Solving the Problem" In view of such circumstances, the present invention provides a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of inert gas in the gas passage downstream of the on-off valve, and also provides detection means for detecting the presence or absence of inert gas in the gas passage downstream of the on-off valve. A control device is provided for detecting that inert gas is not being supplied to the gas nozzle based on the state and a signal from the detection means, and the control device further detects that inert gas is not being supplied to the gas nozzle. At least one of an alarm and a mechanism for discharging defective containers is provided.

"Operation" According to such a configuration, the control device can detect that inert gas is not being supplied to the gas nozzle even if the on-off valve is opened, so that defective containers to which inert gas is not supplied can be detected. This can prevent it from being treated as a normal container.

“Examples” The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated examples.
In FIG. 1, a container 2 filled with a predetermined amount of filling liquid by a filling machine (not shown) and transported by a conveyor 1 is synchronized with the rotation of a rotary capper 3 by a timing screw (not shown). Capacitor 3 via supply side star wheel 4
are sequentially introduced onto a large number of lifting tables 5 arranged around the outer periphery of.

When the container 2 is introduced onto the lifting table 5, the lifting table 5 rises to lift the container 2, thereby causing the gas nozzles 6 (FIG. 2) disposed above each lifting table 5 to move relative to each other. Insert into container 2. When the gas nozzle 6 is inserted into the container 2, an inert gas such as _N2 gas is injected from the gas nozzle 6, and the inert gas is supplied to the remaining space above the filling liquid filled in the container 2.

When the remaining space inside the container 2 is filled with inert gas, the injection of inert gas from the gas nozzle 6 is stopped, and the elevating table 5 is slightly lowered to relatively move the gas nozzle 6 from inside the container 2. The gas nozzle 6 that has been pulled out and further pulled out from the container 2 is retreated from the position directly above the container 2.

When the gas nozzle 6 is retreated from the position directly above the container 2, the picker, which holds a rubber stopper (not shown) by suction, moves forward to the position directly above the container 2 and descends, further releasing the stopper from the suction. and place the stopper over the mouth of the container 2. after that,
The above-mentioned stopper retreats from the position directly above the container, and comes to adsorb and hold a new stopper supplied from a not-shown chute provided at a desired position.

On the other hand, when the stopper is placed over the mouth of the container 2, the container 2 is lowered to its original height by the lowering of the elevating table 5, and is discharged onto the conveyor 1 by the discharge side star wheel 7. Then, while the container 2 is being conveyed by the discharge star wheel 7, the rubber stopper is press-fitted into the opening of the container 2 by a pressing roller (not shown) provided above, thereby capping the container 2.

Thus, in FIG. 2, inert gas from a supply source (not shown) is introduced into conduit 10 in rotary cap 3 via a rotary joint (not shown), and from there into each of three conduits 11, 12, 13. The provided regulator 14 distributes each suitable flow rate and branches into the respective conduits 11 to 13.

The first conduit 11 is a conduit for supplying inert gas to each gas nozzle 6, and this conduit 11
The inert gas from is filtered through Pall filter 15 and further introduced into manifold 17 via conduit 16. The same number of conduits 18 as the gas nozzles 6 are connected to this manifold 17, and the inert gas flowing through each conduit 18 is supplied to a first electromagnetic on-off valve 19, a conduit 20 and a variable throttle 2.
1 to each gas nozzle 6.

The inert gas flowing through the second conduit 12 is used as pilot pressure to control the opening and closing of the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19, and the inert gas is passed through the manifold 25 to the same number of gas nozzles 6. The pressure is branched into conduits 26, and further introduced as pilot pressure into the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 via a sensor 27 provided in each conduit 26 and a conduit 28.

The sensor 27 has the openings of the conduits 26 and 28 facing each other at a predetermined distance,
When the plate 29 is not interposed within the interval, the inert gas from the conduit 26 flows into the conduit 28, thereby supplying the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 with a very small pilot pressure. and the first
When the electromagnetic on-off valve 19 detects the pilot pressure, it excites a solenoid (not shown) to open the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 and supply inert gas to the gas nozzle 6.

On the other hand, when the plate 29 is interposed between the openings of the conduits 26 and 28, the inert gas from the conduit 26 is blocked by the plate 29 and is not supplied to the conduit 28. At this point, no pilot pressure is introduced into the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19, so the solenoid is deenergized and the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 is closed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the plate 29 is formed in an arc shape along the movement locus of the sensor 27, and is arranged and fixed over a 180 degree range on the side of the pair of star wheels 4 and 7. Therefore, inert gas is not injected from the gas nozzle 6 in that range.

Next, the third conduit 13 is provided to detect whether inert gas is actually supplied to the gas nozzle 6, and the inert gas from this conduit 13 is passed through the manifold 30. The gas is branched into the same number of conduits 31 as the gas nozzles 6, and is further supplied to the cylinder device 34 via a second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 provided in the conduit 31 and a conduit 33.

The second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 is the first electromagnetic on-off valve 1
When the pilot pressure is received from the conduit 35 branched from the conduit 20 on the downstream side of the gas nozzle 9, that is, when the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 is opened and inert gas is supplied to the gas nozzle 6. It is designed to open when there is no pilot pressure and close when there is no pilot pressure. Note that 36 and 37 are variable throttles provided in the conduit 35.

Cylinder device 34 similar to the gas nozzle 6 described above
are respectively attached to the rotary body 40 of the capper 3 facing outward in the radial direction, and when the second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 is opened and inert gas is supplied, the tip of the piston rod 41 is attached to the rotary body 40 of the capper 3. 40
On the other hand, when the second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 is closed and the supply of inert gas is stopped, a spring (not shown) returns it to the inactive position in the radial direction. It's getting old.

Further, the second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 includes an exhaust pipe 42.
The inert gas discharged from each cylinder device 34 is passed through the exhaust pipe 42 to the manifold 43 and collected, and is further connected to the capacitor 3 through one exhaust pipe 44 and a rotary joint (not shown). It is designed to be discharged to the outside.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG.
A proximity switch 45 is disposed at a position further forward in the rotational direction of the rotating body 40.
5 supplies inert gas so that the tip of the piston rod 41 protruding radially outward can be detected and the signal can be input to a control device 46 such as a microcomputer.
This control device 46 simultaneously receives a signal from the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 to detect its open/close state, and depending on the open/close state of the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 and the signal from the proximity switch 45, It is possible to detect that inert gas is not being supplied to the gas nozzle 6.

According to the above configuration, under normal conditions, when the sensor 27 passes through the plate 29 and the plate 29 is removed from the inside of the sensor 27 due to the rotation of the rotating body 40, the inert gas from the conduit 26 flows into the conduit 28. Then, a minute pilot pressure is supplied to the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19. Then, the first electromagnetic on-off valve 1
9 is opened to supply inert gas to the gas nozzle 6, and also to supply pilot pressure to the second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 via the conduit 35.

As a result, when the second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 opens, inert gas is supplied to the cylinder device 34, so the tip of the piston rod 41 protrudes outward in the radial direction of the rotating body 40, and the proximity switch remains in that state. 45, the proximity switch 45
detects the passage of the piston rod 41 and inputs the detection signal to the control device 46.

Furthermore, when the rotating body 40 continues to rotate and the plate 29 is inserted relatively into the sensor 27, the pilot pressure that was being supplied from the conduit 26 to the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 is cut off. 1st
The electromagnetic on-off valve 19 closes to stop the supply of inert gas to the gas nozzle 6, and also cuts off the pilot pressure that was being supplied to the second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 via the conduit 35. Then, the second electromagnetic on-off valve 32 is closed, and the supply of inert gas to the cylinder device 34 is stopped, so that the tip of the piston rod 41 is moved against the rotating body 40 by the elastic force of the spring.
radially inward to the inoperative position.

In contrast to the above-mentioned normal operation, even if the plate 29 is removed from the sensor 27 due to the rotation of the rotating body 40 due to a failure of the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 or the sensor 27, or damage to the conduit 20, the gas nozzle 6 If an inert nozzle is not supplied with the
At the same time, no inert gas is supplied to the second solenoid on-off valve 32, so the second solenoid on-off valve 32 remains closed.
The tip end of the rotor 40 remains in the inoperative position radially inward of the rotating body 40.

As a result, even if the tip of the piston rod 41 passes through the front surface of the proximity switch 45, the proximity switch 45 cannot detect the passage of the piston rod 41. Since the controller detects that the proximity switch 45 has been opened, if the signal from the proximity switch 45 is not received at the time when the signal should be received, taking into account the rotational speed of the rotating body 40 that is input separately, the control device 4
6 detects that the inert gas is not supplied to the gas nozzle 6.

When the control device 46 detects this state, it activates an alarm (not shown) or activates a conventionally known discharge mechanism (not shown) provided on the discharge side star wheel 7 at a necessary timing to recover the defective container 2. It will now be discharged onto table 8.

In the above embodiment, the open/close state of the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 is detected directly from the electromagnetic on-off valve, but the invention is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the presence or absence of the plate 29 may be detected, or the presence or absence of the rotating body The open/close state of the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 may be indirectly detected by detecting the timing at which the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 should be opened, such as by detecting the rotation angle position of the first electromagnetic on-off valve 40 .

Furthermore, the detection means for detecting the presence or absence of inert gas in the conduit 20 on the downstream side of the first electromagnetic on-off valve 19 is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment.
It is possible to use a pressure switch that detects the pressure within.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent a defective container to which inert gas is not supplied from being treated as a normal container.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a piping diagram. 2... Container, 6... Gas nozzle, 10, 11,
16, 18, 20... conduit (gas passage), 19...
...First electromagnetic on-off valve, 27...Sensor, 29...Plate, 32...Second electromagnetic on-off valve, 34...Cylinder device, 41...Piston rod, 45...Proximity switch, 46...Control device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A gas nozzle that supplies an inert gas into a container, and an on-off valve provided in the middle of a gas passage that communicates each gas nozzle with an inert gas supply source. In an inert gas supply device in which a valve is opened to supply inert gas from the above supply source into the container from each gas nozzle, the presence or absence of inert gas is detected in the gas passage downstream of the on-off valve. In addition to providing a detection means to
A control device is provided that detects whether inert gas is not being supplied to the gas nozzle based on the open/close state of the on-off valve and the signal from the detection means, and furthermore, this control device detects whether inert gas is being supplied to the gas nozzle. 1. An inert gas supply device comprising at least one of an alarm and a defective container discharge mechanism that are activated when it is detected that there is no defective container.