JP4141534B2 - Nozzle and filling method using the nozzle - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a nozzle for filling a container having an inflatable and cylindrical mouth portion with a liquid and a liquid filling method using the nozzle.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As a container having an inflatable and cylindrical mouth portion, a packaging bag with a spout, a bag-in-box inner bag, and the like are known. In these containers, the container is often filled with liquid via the mouth.
[0003]
Examples of the liquid filling state in the container are shown in FIGS. Reference numeral 1 denotes a mouth, and a cylindrical nozzle 2 is fitted to the upper end of the mouth 1 so as to be coaxial from above. Further, in the container of FIG. 2, a tapered surface 2 a that forms a mortar shape upward is formed on the lower end surface of the nozzle 2, and the maximum diameter of the tapered surface 2 a is larger than the outer diameter of the mouth portion 1. ing. As a result, with the fitting with the nozzle 2, the upper end surface 1a of the mouth portion 1 is covered from above by the tapered surface 2a. On the other hand, in the container of FIG. 3, a tapered portion 2 b that is temporarily reduced in diameter downward is formed on the lower end surface of the nozzle 2, and the lower end diameter of the tapered portion 2 b is smaller than the inner diameter of the mouth portion 1. . As a result, with the fitting with the nozzle 2, the tapered portion 2b is inserted into the mouth portion 1 from above.
[0004]
Then, in the state shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the liquid is supplied from the nozzle 2 to the mouth portion 1, thereby filling the container with the liquid. After filling, after the nozzle 2 is raised and the container is removed from the nozzle, the container is sealed by closing the upper end surface 1a of the mouth portion 1 with a seal or a cap.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the case of the nozzle 2 shown in FIG. 2, since the upper end surface 1a of the mouth part 1 is covered from the upper side by the taper surface 2a, the upper end surface 1a is exposed to the liquid in the nozzle 2 during filling of the liquid. As a result, liquid may adhere to the upper end surface 1a, and the upper end surface 1a may be insufficiently sealed, or the inner wall of the cap may become dirty, and mold or germs may propagate.
[0006]
Further, in both of the nozzles 2 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is a fear that the liquid drops from the nozzle 2 that has risen after filling, and the upper end surface 1a is soiled. Furthermore, since the liquid is always foamed to some extent with the filling, the foam may overflow from the excess space (head space) at the upper end of the mouth portion 1 and may contaminate the upper end surface 1a.
[0007]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to eliminate the adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface 1a at the time of filling the container with the liquid due to the above cause.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention relates to a nozzle that is used for filling liquid into a container having at least a part of which can be inflated and has a cylindrical mouth portion, and an outer cylinder that is erected in a vertically movable manner. A cylinder that is slidably inserted from above into the cylinder, and the cylinder has a first flow path that penetrates the cylinder up and down, and the lower end of the outer cylinder has the lower end at the lower end. A tapered portion is formed by temporarily reducing the diameter of the outer cylinder downward until it becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the mouth, and the side of the outer cylinder is provided with an inside of the outer cylinder as the cylinder rises. A second flow path is formed, and at the lower end portion of the cylinder, a taper portion corresponding to the inner shape of the taper portion of the outer cylinder and having a diameter reduced temporarily as it goes downward is formed. The taper part of the cylinder lowers the cylinder. More, is characterized in that it is capable of abutting the inner surface of the tapered portion of the outer tube.
[0009]
In this case, it is desirable to form a concave surface on the lower surface of the cylinder. The concave surface is recessed upward so that the lower surface faces the first flow path and forms a mortar shape.
[0010]
The present invention also relates to a method of filling the container with the liquid using the nozzle having the above-described configuration, by bringing the outer surface of the tapered portion of the outer cylinder into contact with the inner peripheral edge of the upper end surface of the mouth portion. The step of fitting the outer cylinder into the mouth from above, the cylinder is raised, and the liquid is supplied from the second flow path by communicating the second flow path and the inside of the outer cylinder. Supplying the liquid into the mouth through an outer cylinder, lowering the cylinder until the tapered part of the cylinder comes into contact with the inner surface of the tapered part of the outer cylinder, and stopping the supply of the liquid; A step of ejecting gas from one flow path to remove the liquid adhering to the outer cylinder and the cylinder into the mouth portion, and expanding the container to lower the liquid level; and And the step of separating from the part sequentially That.
[0011]
In this case, the sum of the volume of the gas and the liquid supplied from the first flow path into the container and the volume of the gas remaining in the container at the time of filling the liquid is the maximum of the container. It is desirable to control the volume of gas supplied from the first flow path into the container so as not to exceed the volume during expansion.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
An example of a nozzle according to the present invention is shown in FIG. The nozzle 10 has a cylindrical shape, and is roughly constituted by an outer cylinder 11 erected so as to be movable up and down, and a cylinder 12 slidably inserted into the outer cylinder 11 from above.
[0013]
The lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is formed with a tapered portion 11a whose diameter is temporarily reduced toward the lower side. As a result, the lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is formed on the mouth 1 of the container to be filled with liquid. The diameter is smaller than the inner diameter. A flow path (second flow path) 13 that communicates with the inside of the outer cylinder 11 as the cylinder 12 is raised is connected to the side surface of the outer cylinder 11 from obliquely above.
[0014]
On the other hand, a taper portion 12a corresponding to the inner shape of the taper portion 11a is formed at the lower end portion of the cylinder 12, and the diameter of the cylinder 12 is temporarily reduced toward the lower side. It is said that. A flow path (first flow path) 12c penetrating the cylinder 12 up and down is formed at the center of the cylinder 12, and the lower surface of the cylinder 12 is shaped like a mortar toward the flow path 12c. The concave surface 12d is recessed upward.
[0015]
Next, a method of filling the liquid into the container using the nozzle 10 having the above configuration will be described.
When filling the liquid, first, after placing the empty container so that the mouth portion 1 is positioned directly below the outer cylinder 11, the nozzle 10 is lowered, and the outer cylinder 11 is fitted into the mouth portion 1 of the container from above. Combine. In this case, since the lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is smaller than the inner diameter of the mouth portion 1, the lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is inserted into the mouth portion 1 as shown in FIG. The upper end surface 1a of the part 1 is in contact with the tapered part 11a from the outside at the inner peripheral edge thereof.
[0016]
Next, the cylinder 12 is raised to the position indicated by the symbol A in FIG. 1, and the flow path 13 and the inside of the outer cylinder 11 are communicated. In this state, the container is filled with the liquid by supplying the liquid from the flow path 13 into the mouth portion 1 through the outer cylinder 11.
[0017]
When the filling of the liquid is completed, the cylinder 12 is lowered until the tapered portion 12a contacts the inner surface of the tapered portion 11a, and the supply of the liquid from the nozzle 10 is stopped. And gas, such as air, is ejected from the flow path 12c, the liquid adhering to the outer cylinder 11 and the cylinder 12 is excluded in the opening part 1, and a container is expanded by the ejected gas.
[0018]
Here, the volume of the gas supplied from the flow path 12c to the container is the volume of the gas and liquid supplied from the flow path 12c into the container and the volume of the gas remaining in the container when the liquid is filled. The sum is controlled not to exceed the maximum expanded volume of the container. As a result, the container is expanded with an appropriate internal pressure as the gas is supplied from the flow path 12c to the container. The reason why the volume of the gas supplied from the flow path 12c to the container is controlled as described above is that the container is damaged due to an increase in the internal pressure accompanying the supply of gas, and the outer peripheral surface of the tapered portion 11a and the inner peripheral edge of the upper end surface 1a. This is to prevent the liquid from exuding from the gap.
[0019]
On the other hand, the amount of gas supplied from the flow path 12c to the container is calculated from the rotation angle of the tube pump or the amount of expansion / contraction of the plunger pump, and is controlled to a predetermined amount.
[0020]
When the container expands, the nozzle 10 is raised, the container is sent to an adjacent sealing means (not shown), and the upper end 1a of the mouth portion 1 is sealed with a seal, a cap or the like by the sealing means.
[0021]
Here, according to the nozzle 10 according to the present invention, during filling of the liquid, the lower end of the outer cylinder 11 is inserted into the mouth portion 1, and the upper end surface 1 a of the mouth portion 1 is from the outside at the inner peripheral edge thereof. It is in contact with the taper portion 11a. Accordingly, the upper end surface 1a does not come into contact with the liquid during the filling of the liquid, and as a result, the adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface 1a and the accompanying sealing failure on the upper end surface 1a, contamination of the inner wall of the cap, and the like are prevented. .
[0022]
In addition, after filling, gas is ejected from the flow path 12c, and excess liquid adhering to the outer cylinder 11 and the cylinder 12 due to filling is removed into the mouth portion 1, so that the liquid drops from the nozzle 10 are increased. Contamination of the end face 1a is prevented. In particular, since the lower surface of the cylinder 12 is a concave surface 12d that is recessed upward so as to form a mortar shape toward the flow channel 12c, the gas ejected from the flow channel 12c flows obliquely downward on the concave surface 12d. The exclusion property of the liquid adhering to the concave surface 12d by gas improves. Since the sprayed area of the excluded liquid is restricted by the concave surface 12d, there is an effect that the excluded liquid is not easily scattered around.
[0023]
Furthermore, the bubbles generated with the filling are those in which the filled liquid entrains the air that was present in the container from the beginning, and this air becomes bubbles and rises to the mouth 1. In the case of the nozzle 10 according to the present invention, since the mouth portion 1 is covered from above by the outer cylinder 11 even after the liquid is filled, bubbles accompanying the filling do not overflow the head space and stain the upper end surface 1a. Moreover, since the container is expanded by the gas continuously supplied to the container and the liquid level is lowered after the liquid is filled, the liquid does not reattach to the outer cylinder 11 and the cylinder 12 even if the amount of bubbles is large. . That is, in the present invention, by controlling the amount of gas supplied into the container in accordance with the amount of bubbles generated, a space capable of absorbing bubbles is secured by forced expansion of the container.
[0024]
In this case, defoaming effect can be obtained only by gas ejection, but if the liquid is liable to foam, mixing the gas with a suitable defoaming agent such as alcohol or silicone can make the liquid more defoamed more reliably. Therefore, reattachment of the liquid to the outer cylinder 11 and the cylinder 12 is prevented. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface 1a at the time of filling the container with the liquid.
[0025]
Furthermore, the gas ejected from the flow path 12c may be an inert gas such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide gas, and after raising the nozzle 10, the air in the head space may be replaced with the inert gas. In this case, since the upper end surface 1a of the mouth portion 1 can be sealed while the head space is replaced with an inert gas, the liquid after the blockage is denatured by contact with air stored in the head space. Is prevented.
[0026]
Note that the shape of the nozzle 10 according to the present invention is not necessarily limited to that shown in the drawing, and the diameter and cross-sectional shape of the outer cylinder 11, particularly the tapered portion 11 a, may be appropriately set according to the size and shape of the mouth portion 1. Is possible. In other words, the nozzle 10 and the filling method using the nozzle 10 according to the present invention can be applied to containers of any shape as long as they are inflatable containers having a cylindrical mouth portion 1.
[0027]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the nozzle of the present invention, during filling of the liquid, the lower end of the outer cylinder is inserted into the mouth portion of the container, and the upper end surface of the mouth portion is a tapered portion from the outside at the inner peripheral edge thereof. Abut. Therefore, during filling of the liquid, the upper end surface does not come into contact with the liquid, and as a result, the adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface and the accompanying sealing failure on the upper end surface and contamination of the inner wall of the cap are prevented.
[0028]
In addition, after filling, gas is ejected from the first flow path, and excess liquid adhering to the outer cylinder and the cylinder accompanying filling is removed into the mouth, so that the upper end surface of the container due to dripping of liquid from the apparatus is removed. Contamination is prevented. In particular, since the bottom surface of the cylinder is a concave surface that is recessed upward so as to form a mortar shape toward the first flow path, the gas ejected from the first flow path flows obliquely downward on the concave surface, and as a result , The elimination property of the liquid adhering to the concave surface due to the gas is improved. Since the sprayed area of the excluded liquid is regulated by the concave surface, there is an effect that the excluded liquid is not easily scattered around.
[0029]
Furthermore, the bubbles generated by the filling are those in which the filled liquid entrains the air that was present in the container from the beginning, and this air becomes bubbles and rises to the mouth. In the case of the nozzle according to the invention, even after the liquid is filled, the mouth portion is covered with the outer cylinder from above, so that bubbles accompanying filling do not overflow the head space and stain the upper end surface of the mouth portion. Further, after the liquid is filled, the container is continuously expanded by the gas supplied to the container and the liquid level is lowered. Therefore, even if the amount of bubbles is large, the liquid does not reattach to the outer cylinder and the cylinder. That is, in the present invention, by controlling the amount of gas supplied into the container in accordance with the amount of bubbles generated, a space capable of absorbing bubbles is secured by forced expansion of the container.
[0030]
Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate the adhesion of the liquid to the upper end surface of the mouth portion when the container is filled with the liquid to the limit.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a nozzle according to the present invention and a liquid filling state by the nozzle.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional nozzle and the state of liquid filling by this nozzle.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a conventional nozzle and the state of liquid filling by this nozzle.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 mouth part 1a upper end surface 10 of mouth part 11 nozzle 11 outer cylinder 11a taper part ( taper part of outer cylinder)
12 cylinders
12a Taper (taper of cylinder)
12c channel (first channel)
12d Concave surface 13 Channel (second channel)

Claims (4)

A nozzle that is used for filling liquid into a container having at least a portion that is inflatable and having a cylindrical mouth portion;
An outer cylinder erected so as to be movable up and down, and a cylinder slidably inserted into the outer cylinder from above;
The cylinder is formed with a first flow path that vertically penetrates the cylinder. At the lower end of the outer cylinder, the outer cylinder is directed downward until the lower end becomes smaller than the inner diameter of the mouth. A tapered portion formed with a reduced diameter is formed, and a second flow path communicating with the inside of the outer cylinder as the cylinder rises is formed on the side surface of the outer cylinder ,
The lower end of the cylinder is formed with a taper portion corresponding to the inner shape of the taper portion of the outer cylinder and having a diameter that decreases temporarily as it goes downward. The taper portion of the cylinder descends the cylinder. By making it, the nozzle characterized by being able to contact | abut to the inner surface of the taper part of the said outer cylinder .   2. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein a concave surface is formed on the lower surface of the cylinder. The concave surface is formed by recessing the lower surface upward toward the first flow path so as to form a mortar shape. A method of filling a liquid into the container using the nozzle according to claim 1 or 2,
Fitting the outer cylinder to the mouth from above by bringing the outer surface of the tapered portion of the outer cylinder into contact with the inner peripheral edge of the upper end surface of the mouth;
Raising the cylinder, and supplying to said second flow path and the mouth portion and the interior communicates via the outer tube the liquid from the second flow path of the outer tube,
Lowering the cylinder until the tapered portion of the cylinder contacts the inner surface of the tapered portion of the outer cylinder, and stopping the supply of the liquid;
Ejecting gas from the first flow path, removing the liquid adhering to the outer cylinder and cylinder into the mouth, and expanding the container to lower the liquid level ;
Separating the outer cylinder from the mouth;
Are sequentially performed.   The sum of the volume of gas and liquid supplied from the nozzle into the container and the volume of gas remaining in the container at the time of filling the liquid does not exceed the volume at the time of maximum expansion of the container. The filling method according to claim 3, wherein the volume of gas supplied from the nozzle into the container is controlled.

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