JPH03269232A - Beer leakage detecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to detect beer leakage simply and positively by detecting alcohol component generated by the leakage of beer from a beer container such as a beer barrel. CONSTITUTION:When beer leakage occurs in a beer container 1, alcohol component is evaporated around a plug 2. The alcohol component is collected with an inspecting head 7 and guided into an alcohol sensor 9 through a pipe 14 and a solenoid valve 11 by the sucking action of a vacuum pump. Thus the alcohol is detected. In this way, detection can be performed over a broad range without the contact state. Attaching and removing workings of the plug and the like are not required, and the leakage inspecting efficiency can be improved.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] <Industrial Application Field> The present invention relates to a beer leak detection device for detecting beer leakage from a beer storage container such as a beer barrel, and a device for detecting alcohol content generated due to beer leakage. This makes it possible to easily and reliably detect beer leaks.

<Prior Art> In beer storage containers such as beer barrels, beer leaks due to, for example, the way the stopper is tightened. Beer leakage causes the evaporation of carbon dioxide and alcohol contained in the beer in the tank, reducing quality, so by detecting this,
Leakage must be prevented. FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of a conventional beer leak detection device, in which a cap 3 is placed on the stopper 2 of a beer barrel 1, and pure water 5 is injected into the cap 3 through a water injection pipe 4. The conductivity of the pure water 5 was detected by a probe 6 guided inside the cap 3. 30 is a gasket that prevents water from leaking. When beer leaks from the tap 2, the conductivity of the pure water 5 changes, so beer leakage can be detected.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, the conventional beer leak detection device described above has the following problems.

(A) Expensive pure water must be used as the detection medium. Moreover, this pure water is discarded every time a detection operation is performed. Furthermore, in order to handle water, the surrounding area needs to be constructed to be waterproof. This results in high costs.

(B) Since a series of operations such as attaching the cap 3 to the stopper 2, pouring water, and removing the cap 3 are required, inspection operations are troublesome and work efficiency is low.

(C) The beer leak detection area is limited to only the flat area filled with pure water 5. For example, beer leakage from around the stopper 2 that is not filled with pure water 5 cannot be detected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a beer leak detection device that can solve the above-mentioned conventional problems and easily and reliably detect beer leaks over a wide range.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a beer leak detection device that detects beer leakage from a beer storage container, and detects alcohol content generated by beer leakage to detect beer leakage. It is characterized by detecting.

<Function> Carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in beer, and if beer leaks, alcohol will evaporate along with the carbon dioxide gas. In the present invention, paying attention to this, beer leakage is detected by detecting the alcohol content generated as a result of beer leakage.

Alcohol generated by beer leaks spreads to the surrounding area. Therefore, beer leakage can be detected over a wide range. Moreover, the detection can be performed in a non-contact manner without contacting the stopper, and there is no need to attach or remove the stopper or the like. As a result, leakage inspection efficiency is significantly improved.

If beer leaks, carbon dioxide gas will also evaporate,
Beer leakage can also be detected by detecting carbon dioxide gas. However, there are usually 3
Since carbon dioxide gas of about 0.00 PPM is present, and carbon dioxide gas is also produced by human breathing, false detection is likely to occur. In contrast, the alcohol content in the atmosphere is almost zero under normal conditions. Therefore, by detecting the alcohol content, even a slight leakage of beer can be reliably detected.

<Embodiment> FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a beer leak detection device according to the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a beer storage container such as a beer barrel, 2 is its stopper, 7 is an inspection head, 9 is an alcohol sensor, 10 is a vacuum pump, 11 to 13 are electromagnetic valves,
14 to 18 are piping, and 19 is a processing device.

The inspection head 7 collects alcohol leaking from the top surface, side surface, etc. of the stopper 2 of the beer storage container 1. The alcohol component drains from the stopper and diffuses around it. Therefore, since the inspection head 7 only needs to collect the τ surrounding air around the stopper 2 of the beer storage container 1, there is no need to attach it to the stopper 2, and it can be placed in a non-contact state. For this reason, attachment to the stopper,
No work such as removal is required. The alcohol collected by the test head 7 is guided to the alcohol sensor 9 through the piping 14 and the electromagnetic valve 11 by the swelling action of the vacuum pump 10 .

The alcohol sensor 9 detects alcohol collected by the inspection head 7 and further guided through the piping 14 and the electromagnetic valve 11. As the alcohol sensor 9, those that have been proposed so far or may be proposed in the future can be used. Among currently known alcohol sensors, semiconductor alcohol sensors are the most suitable. This is because the semiconductor alcohol sensor is highly sensitive and can reliably detect even the slightest amount of alcohol caused by beer leakage. The detection signal detected by the alcohol sensor 9 is
is supplied to a processing device 19 composed of a computer or the like,
Necessary processing such as determining the presence or absence of leakage, displaying and recording is performed.

The solenoid valve 12.13 and the piping 17.18 are connected to the inspection head 7.
, constitutes a water cleaning system and an air cleaning system to prevent alcohol from remaining in the pipe 14. These cleaning systems can also be omitted. Solenoid valve 12.13
When the solenoid valve 11 is open, the solenoid valve 11 is closed.

If beer leaks from beer storage container 1, stopper 2
Alcohol evaporates around the. Alcohol content: 1.
It is collected by the inspection head 7, and guided by the suction action of the vacuum pump 10 through the piping 14 and the electromagnetic valve 11 to the alcohol sensor 9, where it is detected.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the specific structure of the detection section, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view. 20 is a drive device that drives the inspection head 7. At the tip of the drive device 20, two inspection heads 7.7 are arranged at a predetermined angular interval. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the inspection head 7, in which the end of the pipe 14 is introduced from the outside to the inside of the head main body 71 formed in a bowl shape. 72 is a coupling for fixing the piping, d
1 indicates the direction in which alcohol is inhaled.

The drive device 20 drives the inspection head 7.7 to swing as shown by arrows a and b.

21 is a conveyor. It is assumed that the conveyor 21 moves in the front and back directions of the page. On both sides of the conveyor 21 there are respectively arranged fixing devices 22, 23 for fixing the beer storage container 1 in a predetermined position on the conveyor 21. The fixing device 22.23 is attached to the presser head 222.23 at the tip of a linear drive device 221.231 such as a hydraulic cylinder or an air cylinder.
The structure is equipped with 232.

The beer storage container 1 is sandwiched from both sides by the holding heads 222 and 232 of the fixing device 22 or 23, which are driven in opposite directions as shown by arrows C1 and C2.
It is fixed directly below the drive device 20. Then, it is inspected by either one of the inspection heads 7.7. Inspection head 7
．． 7 are alternately driven by the drive device 20 to swing as indicated by arrows a and b, so that when one is performing the beer leak detection operation, the other is facing in the horizontal direction. During this time, necessary treatments such as cleaning can be performed. Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, the beer leak detection operation and the cleaning operation can be performed efficiently.

Without the fixing devices 22 and 23, the inspection head is moved in the direction of movement for a predetermined period of time in synchronization with the beer storage container 1 moving on the conveyor 21 in a state close to the stopper 2 of the beer storage container 1. If 7 is moved, even trace amounts of alcohol can be detected.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

(a) Since the alcohol content generated as a result of beer leakage is detected, it is possible to provide a beer leakage detection device that can detect non-contact conditions in a wide range of areas, including areas that cannot be detected conventionally.

(b) It is possible to provide a beer leak detection device that does not require work such as attaching or removing a stopper, etc., and has extremely high leak detection efficiency.

(C) Since the alcohol component that hardly exists in the air under normal conditions is detected, it is possible to provide a beer leak detection device that can reliably detect even a slight beer leak.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the beer leak detection device according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a front view showing the specific structure of the detection section, Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan partial cross-sectional view, and Fig. 4 is an inspection FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway cross-sectional view showing the specific structure of the head, and FIG. 5 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a conventional beer leak detection device. 1...Beer storage container 7...Inspection head 9...Alcohol sensor 10...Vacuum pump 14.15.16...Piping Fig. 1

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A beer leak detection device for detecting beer leakage from a beer storage container, characterized in that the beer leakage detection device detects beer leakage by detecting alcohol content generated by beer leakage. (2) The beer leak detection device according to claim 1, comprising: an inspection head that collects alcohol leaking from the beer storage container; and an alcohol sensor that detects the alcohol collected by the inspection head.