JPH059358Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (Industrial Application Field) The present invention relates to a liquid filling valve for filling liquid into containers such as bottles and cans.

(Prior Art) In FIG. 2 showing a vertical cross-sectional view of a conventional liquid filling valve, 1 is a filler tank in which a liquid 2 to be filled is stored. Reference numeral 3 denotes a valve body which is fluid-tightly fixed to the bottom of the filler tank 1 via a seal 16. Reference numeral 12 denotes a liquid valve, which is slidably inserted into the lower end of the valve body 3, and is sealed from the other by a seal 17 interposed on the sliding surface. 15 is a centering cup fixed to the lower surface of the liquid valve 12; 7 is a container such as a bottle; 8 is a vent tube fixed to the valve body 3; 13 is the lower surface of the upper flange of the valve body 3 and the lower flange of the liquid valve 12. A spring 14 interposed between the vent tube 8 and the upper surface is a seal attached to the outer periphery of the lower end of the vent tube 8.

Now, in FIG. 2, when filling with liquid, the container 7 is pushed up as shown by a lift cylinder (not shown). When the upper end of the container 7 enters the centering cup 15 and comes into contact with the lower surface of the centering cup 15, the container 7 is corrected to be coaxial with the vent tube 8, and then comes into close contact with the lower surface of the centering cup 15. The inside of the container 7 is isolated from the atmosphere. When the container 7 further rises, the liquid valve 12 is pushed up against the spring 13 via the centering cup 15, and as a result, the lower end of the vent tube 8 advances below the lower end of the liquid valve 12, and the liquid outlet 6
and a gas inlet 9 opens into the container 7 .

As a result, the liquid 2 stored in the filler tank 1 flows between the liquid inlet 4 formed in the upper part of the valve body 3, the inner peripheral surfaces of the valve body 3 and the liquid valve 12, and the outer peripheral surface of the vent tube 8. The liquid passes through the liquid passage 5 and flows into the container 7 from the liquid outlet 6. As the liquid 2 flows into the container 7, the gas in the container 7 flows from the gas inlet 9 to the gas passage 1 in the vent tube 8.
0 and flows from the gas outlet 11 into the gas phase region above the liquid level of the liquid 2 in the filler tank 1. As the liquid flows into the container 7, the liquid level in the container 7 gradually rises, and when this liquid level exceeds the gas inlet 9, a part of the liquid enters the gas passage 10, so that the liquid level in the container 7 rises. The resistance of the gas increases, and as a result, the flow rate of the liquid 2 flowing into the container 7 decreases.

Therefore, the bubbles that are caught up in the liquid flowing into the container 7 and enter the container 7 float to the surface of the liquid, and the bubbles return to the filler tank 1 through the gas passage 10. When the bubbles return, the liquid in the container 7 begins to rise in the gas passage 10, and when the liquid and water head in the gas passage 10 are in equilibrium with the water head of the liquid 2 in the filler tank 1, the liquid 2 begins to rise. The flow into the container 7 is stopped, and filling of the liquid is completed.

When the liquid filling is completed, the lift cylinder descends, and the container 7 descends accordingly. The spring 13 pushes down the liquid valve 12 and the centering cup 15, and as a result, the vent tube 8 is inserted into the liquid valve 12. The seal 14 is moved back and the liquid valve 12
Closely adheres to the inner circumferential surface of the Therefore, the liquid outlet 6 and the gas inlet 9 are shut off, and the inside of the container 7 is insulated from the inside of the filler tank 1. Thereafter, the container 7 filled with liquid is transferred to the next step, and its upper end opening is closed with a lid.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) The capacity of the conventional liquid filling valve is that the gas passage 1
The time during which gas flows through 0, that is, the normal filling time,
It is determined by the time the bubbles flow through the gas passage 10, that is, the bubble escape time. However, the rate of inflow of liquid into the container 7 during the bubble escape time is several tenths of the inflow rate during the normal filling time. Moreover, the flow rate of the liquid during the normal filling time and the amount of bubbles caught in this liquid are proportional, so if you try to shorten the normal filling time by increasing the flow rate during the normal filling time, the amount of bubbles will increase. This increases the bubble escape time, making it impossible to shorten the time required for filling the liquid as a whole and making it impossible to increase the capacity of the liquid filling valve.

As described above, in order to increase the capacity of the liquid filling valve, it is necessary to shorten the bubble escape time, and for this purpose, it is effective to reduce the flow resistance of the bubbles flowing in the gas passage 10. When organic substances contained in liquids such as food are exposed to light (infrared rays, etc.), they absorb light of a specific wavelength depending on the type of substance. The light absorption phenomenon is
This is nothing more than the energy of light exciting the vibrations of molecules. This molecular vibration is converted into thermal energy by the friction between molecules, so the stronger the light energy, the greater the thermal energy generated, which causes the water contained in the foam film to evaporate, tear the film, and stop foaming. reach.

However, since the electromagnetic waves used in microwave ovens have long wavelengths and pass through the foam membrane, they cannot directly vibrate the water in the foam membrane and cannot eliminate the bubbles. Based on this principle, irradiating the bubbles with light leads to defoaming. The present invention attempts to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems by utilizing this phenomenon.

(Means for Solving the Problems) Therefore, the present invention provides a liquid passageway that allows liquid stored in a filler tank to flow down into a container, and a liquid passage that allows gas in the container to flow down to a gas phase region in the filler tank. In a liquid filling valve equipped with a gas passage, a light energy irradiating member such as an optical fiber is introduced from the container entrance, and the bubbles generated in the filling container are irradiated with light energy to destroy the bubbles. This is a means to solve problems.

(Function) The liquid level in the container filled with liquid rises, and eventually bubbles float above the liquid level in the container. When the bubbles are irradiated with light energy, the film forming the bubbles is heated and the bubbles disappear. Therefore, the resistance of the gas passage is reduced, and the bubble escape time is shortened.

(Embodiment) The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 3 is a valve body, 5 is a liquid passage, 6 is a liquid outlet, 7 is a container, 8 is a vent tube, 9 is a gas inlet, 10 is a gas passage, 12 is a liquid valve, 13 is a spring, 14 is a seal, Reference numeral 15 denotes a centering cup, which is the same as the conventional one shown in FIG. 2, so a detailed explanation thereof will be omitted here.

Next, to explain the differences from the conventional one, 21
is an external light source, and an optical fiber 20 connected to the light source 21, for example, is embedded in the centering cup 15, and the tip of the optical fiber 20 is installed near the gas inlet 9.

Next, to explain the action, when filling with liquid,
Light energy is guided in advance from an external light source 21 through an optical fiber 20. Then, when the liquid is allowed to flow into the container 7, the liquid level in the container 7 gradually rises,
A portion of the liquid flows beyond the gas inlet 9 into the gas passage 10. Therefore, the resistance of the gas in the upper part of the container 7 increases and the flow rate of the liquid flowing into the container 7 decreases, so that the bubbles that are caught up in the liquid flowing into the container 7 and enter the container 7 rise above the liquid surface. It seems to float. However, this bubble generates heat when it is irradiated with light energy guided by the optical fiber 20, and the membrane forming the bubble breaks, so that the bubble disappears. In this way, bubbles do not enter into the gas passage 10, and the flow resistance becomes smaller than when bubbles pass through, increasing the gas flow rate. Correspondingly, the speed of liquid flowing into the container 7 increases, so the time required for filling the container 7 with liquid is shortened. Note that it is also possible to use materials other than optical fibers as long as the light travels straight through the interior even when bent, and the light energy is irradiated from the tip.

Figures 3 and 4 show examples of measuring the light absorption spectra of typical beverages. Figure 3 shows an example of measuring beer, Figure 4 shows an example of measuring sake, and Figure 5 shows an example of measuring wine. be. The light absorption spectrum is expressed by the wave number (reciprocal of the light wavelength) on the horizontal axis and the light transmittance on the vertical axis, and the concave part at the bottom of the waveform represents the light absorbed by the components contained in the drink. indicates the wavelength of

As is clear from FIGS. 3 to 5, light of a specific wavelength is absorbed by the components contained in the beverage. Such absorption of light converts energy into vibrations of the molecules it contains. That is, when strong light is applied, energy is converted in the order of light energy → molecular vibration → friction → thermal energy. Thermal energy converted in the foam film causes evaporation, causing the foam film to break and defoaming.

The above is the reason why light causes foaming, and has been confirmed experimentally.

(Effects of the invention) As described above, in the present invention, a light energy irradiation member such as an optical fiber is introduced from the container entrance, and the bubbles generated in the filling container are irradiated with light energy to destroy the bubbles. , the time required for bubbles to escape through the gas passage can be shortened. Therefore, the time required to fill the liquid into the container can be shortened.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a liquid-filled valve showing an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an example of a conventional liquid-filled valve, and Figure 3 is an example of measuring the light absorption spectrum of beer. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of measuring the light absorption spectrum of Japanese sake, and FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of measuring the light absorption spectrum of wine. Explanation of the main parts of the diagram, 1...Filler tank,
2...Liquid, 5...Liquid passage, 6...Liquid outlet, 7
... Container, 8 ... Vent tube, 9 ... Gas inlet, 10 ... Gas passage, 12 ... Liquid valve, 13 ...
Spring, 15...Centering cup, 20
...Optical fiber, 21...External light source.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A liquid filling valve that includes a liquid passage that allows liquid stored in a filler tank to flow down into a container, and a gas path that allows gas in the container to flow down to a gas phase region in the filler tank, in which an optical fiber or the like is used. A light energy irradiation member is introduced from the container entrance,
A liquid filling valve characterized by irradiating light energy to bubbles generated in a filling container to destroy the bubbles.