Apparatus for charging viscous fluid and method of charging the same

Abstract

 A delivery pipe 2 having an upper portion communicating with a supply chamber 12 for viscous fluid formed in a frame 1 and having an opened lower portion is allowed to hang from the lower portion of the frame 1, a fluid supply hole 3 connected to fluid supply means d is formed in one of the surfaces of the supply chamber 12 of the frame 1, a valve 5 is disposed in the supply chamber 12 of the frame 1 to allow and stop the flow of the fluid by the vertical movement of a valve rod 4 of the valve 5 realized by opening/closing means 6, a suction port 8 connected to suction means 19 and communicating with a draft hole 9 of a draft passage 17 of the valve rod 4 is formed in one of the surfaces of the suction chamber 7 in the frame 1, and a suction pipe 10 for sucking excess fluid is disposed in the delivery pipe 2 so that an apparatus and a method of charging viscous liquid are provided with which the viscous fluid can be charged into containers while uniforming the fluid levels even if the capacities of the containers are not the same.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for charging viscous fluid which is capable of quickly and assuredly charging the viscous fluid into containers by a predetermined quantity for use in a charging and wrapping field for charging fluid into the containers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

[0002] Hitherto, viscous fluid, for example, ketchup, mayonnaise or sauce, is charged into transparent containers by usually using a piston-type charger.

[0003] In a charger 50 of the foregoing type, fluid in a fluid supply tank 51 is supplied to a measuring vessel 52 by a predetermined quantity to be measured.

[0004] A delivery piston 53 disposed in the measuring vessel 52 charges the fluid from a nozzle 55 into a container 57 positioned on a table 56 via a pipe 54 (see Fig. 3).

[0005] The fluid supplied into the measuring vessel 52 by a predetermined quantity is measured in the measuring vessel 52 by a so-called "capacity control method". Therefore, if the accuracy in the capacity of the molded container 57 is unsatisfactory (in particular, if the container 57 is made of glass), the fluid levels of the fluid charged into each container 57 by a predetermined quantity cannot be made the same among the containers 57. Therefore, the charged containers 57 put on show in a shop, to the contrary to the fact, impress persons that the containers 57 are defective products of a type lacking for a predetermined quantity. Hence, the quality of the containers 57 deteriorates considerably.

[0006] Therefore, the fluid levels in the containers can be made the same among the containers by employing a charging method of a type controlling the fluid level.

[0007] An apparatus 60 adapted to the foregoing method, as shown in Fig. 4, charges the fluid into a container 57 through a nozzle 61 by gravitational drop or by pressure.

[0008] When the fluid reaches a predetermined fluid level or immediately before the same reaches the predetermined fluid level, the supply of the fluid is stopped. Further, a suction pipe 62 inserted into the container port and having a suction port corresponding to the fluid level is used to suck up the excess fluid so that the fluid levels in the containers 57 are made the same. As a result, the foregoing problem has been overcome.

[0009] However, when the viscous fluid, is charged into the container by the gravitational drop method, unsatisfactory fluidity of the fluid passage caused from the viscosity of the fluid takes a too long time to complete the charging operation.

[0010] Since bubbles can easily be mixed into the fluid at the time of charging the fluid, capacity change takes place, causing the quantity of the changed fluid to be dispersed considerably. Therefore, the fluid cannot be charged by an accurate quantity.

[0011] Since the conventional charging method cannot control the charging speed at the time of the completion of the charging operation, the fluid level of the viscous fluid cannot be flattened in the container after the fluid has been discharged through the nozzle. The raised fluid level is maintained for a long time.

[0012] Since the raised portion of the fluid is sucked up by the suction pipe in the charging method of a type controlling the fluid level, the fluid cannot be charged into the container by a predetermined quantity.

[0013] The method of supplying the fluid with pressure encounters a considerable dispersion of the fluid level, a difficulty in controlling the pressure for supplying the fluid and the impossibility of controlling the charging speed at the time of the completion of the charging operation. Therefore, the phenomenon of the rise of the fluid level cannot be overcome.

[0014] As described above, a variety of problems arise when the viscous fluid is charged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention is directed to overcome the foregoing problems and therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method of charging viscous liquid with which the viscous fluid can be charged into containers while uniforming the fluid levels even if the capacities of the containers are not the same by an arrangement that a delivery pipe having an upper portion communicating with a supply chamber for viscous fluid formed in a frame and having an opened lower portion is allowed to hang from the lower portion of the frame, a fluid supply hole connected to fluid supply means is formed in one of the surfaces of the supply chamber of the frame, a valve is disposed in the supply chamber of the frame to allow and stop the flow of the fluid by the vertical movement of a valve rod of the valve realized by opening/closing means, a suction port connected to suction means and communicating with a draft hole of a draft passage of the valve rod is formed in one of the surfaces of the suction chamber in the frame, and a suction pipe for sucking excess fluid is disposed in the delivery pipe.

[0016] With the apparatus and the method of charging viscous fluid, viscous fluid can be efficiently be charged by a predetermined quantity in a short time while making the fluid levels to be the same even if containers have dispersed capacities. Therefore, the quality as the product can be improved when the containers are put on show in a shop.

[0017] Since the delivery of the viscous fluid by means of the fluid supply means is performed at a high speed to supply a large quantity immediately before the completion of the charging operation into the container and then the viscous fluid is supplied at a low speed by a small quantity, the time taken to complete the charging operation can be shortened considerably. Further, the rise of the fluid level in the container at the time of the completion of the charging operation can be prevented. Therefore, excess removal of the viscous fluid can be prevented, and accordingly, a peculiar effect can be obtained in that the fluid can be charged accurately.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 

Fig. 1 is a schematic view which illustrates an embodiment of an apparatus for charging viscous fluid according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a partially enlarged cross sectional view which illustrates the charging nozzle portion shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view which illustrates a piston-type charger of a conventional charging apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is a view which illustrates a pressure (gravity) supply-type charger of a conventional charging apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] An embodiment of an apparatus for charging viscous fluid and a charging method according to the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.

[0020] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, symbol A represents an apparatus for charging viscous fluid for use in a charging and wrapping field and so forth.

[0021] The apparatus A performs a process for charging viscous fluid, such as ketchup, mayonnaise or sauce, by a predetermined quantity into a container made of glass or plastic, the apparatus being basically constituted by a charging nozzle c and fluid supply means d.

[0022] The charging nozzle c comprises a frame 1, a delivery pipe 2, a fluid supply hole 3, a valve rod 4, a valve 5, an opening/closing means 6, a suction chamber 7, a suction port 8, a draft hole 9 and a suction pipe 10.

[0023] The foregoing frame 1 is fastened to a support member 11 while including a hollow space to form a supply chamber 12 into which viscous fluid is introduced from a fluid supply means d to be described later.

[0024] The support member 11 can be moved arbitrarily and vertically for a predetermined stroke by an elevating means 14 fastened to a frame 13. As a result, the delivery pipe 2 and the suction pipe 10 can be introduced into the container b filled with the fluid and ejected from the same.

[0025] The elevating means 14 is moved upwards/downwards by the operation of an air cylinder 15 secured to the frame 13 and having a rod 16 fastened to the support member 11. As an alternative to this, a conventional means of a cam type or a thread type using a servo motor or the like is employed.

[0026] The delivery pipe 2 is formed into a hollow shape hanging from the lower portion of the frame 1 by a predetermined length such that the upper portion of the delivery pipe 2 communicates with the supply chamber 12. The lower portion of the delivery pipe 2 is opened to enable the viscous fluid to be delivered.

[0027] The fluid supply hole 3 is so formed in one of the surfaces of the supply chamber 12 in the frame 1 as to communicate with the fluid supply means d.

[0028] The valve rod 4 is inserted into the frame 1 as to be capable of moving upwards/downwards by the opening/closing means 6 while being concentric with the delivery pipe 2, the valve rod 4 being formed into a hollow shape so that a draft passage 17 is formed which has the opened lower end portion.

[0029] The valve 5 is disposed in the supply chamber 12 of the frame 1 to allow/stop the flow of the fluid by the vertical movement of the valve rod 4 thereof. The valve 5 has a sealing surface to be brought into contact with a valve seat 18 positioned in the lower portion of the supply chamber 12 so that the supply chamber 12 is closed. The opening/closing operation of the valve rod 4 of the valve 5 is performed by the opening/closing means 6.

[0030] It should be noted that the opening/closing means 6 may be a known means such as a fluid cylinder or an electromagnetic solenoid. The opening/closing means 6 has an operation member which is connected to the upper end portion of the valve rod 4.

[0031] The suction chamber 7 is so formed in the upper portion of the supply chamber 12 in the frame 1 as to surround the inserted valve rod 4. The valve rod 4 has the draft hole 9 formed in the upper portion of the draft passage 17 thereof, the draft hole 9 facing the suction chamber 7.

[0032] The suction port 7 is opened in one of the surfaces of the suction chamber 7 so that the suction port 7 is connected to a suction means 19 such as a blower pump or a vacuum pump.

[0033] The suction pipe 10 is inserted into the delivery pipe 2 so that the suction pipe 10 is able to move upwards/downwards in the delivery pie 2. The upper portion of the suction pipe 10 is fastened to the lower end of the valve rod 4, while the lower end of the same has a sealing member 20 which substantially coincides with the shape of the lower end portion of the delivery pipe 2 when the valve 4 closes the supply chamber 12.

[0034] In the suction chamber 7, the suction force of the suction means 19 therefore acts on the lower opening of the suction pipe 10 via the draft hole 9 and the draft passage 17 so that the fluid in the container b is sucked up.

[0035] Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, reference numeral 21 represents a guide for the container b arranged to press the opening portion of the container b placed on a retainer frame 22 in order to prevent an undesirable movement of the container b occurring at the time of the fluid charging operation. The guide 21 for the container b is so fastened to a connection rod 23 connected to an elevating member (omitted from illustration) as to be capable of moving upwards/downwards.

[0036] The fluid supply means d supplies the fluid to the charging nozzle c by a predetermined quantity, that is, a quantity desired to be injected into the container b. The fluid supply means d supplies the fluid in a fluid supply tank 24 to a measuring means 26 via a closing valve 26. After a predetermined quantity of the fluid has been measured, the fluid is, under pressure, supplied to the fluid supply hole 3 of the supply chamber 12 via a pipe 28 by a delivery means 27.

[0037] The measuring means 26 has a cylinder 29 an end portion of which is connected to the closing valve 25, the cylinder 29 including a suction/discharge piston 30. Therefore, when the closing valve 25 is opened and the piston is moved downwards, the fluid in the fluid supply tank 24 is introduced into the cylinder 29.

[0038] The delivery means 27 moves upwards/downwards the suction/discharge piston 30 to introduce/deliver the fluid.

[0039] An elevating member 32 connected to an operation rod 31 positioned in the lower portion of the suction/discharge piston 30 is moveably received by a support guide 33. By driving a thread shaft 35, to which a female-thread block 34 of the elevating member 32 is engaged, by a drive member 36 such as a servo motor which can be numerically controlled, the suction/discharge piston 30 can be moved by a predetermined quantity.

[0040] By controlling the quantity and the speed of the movement of the suction/discharge piston 30 by a proper control means (omitted from illustration), the charging speed and the quantity of the fluid delivered from the delivery pipe 2 can be determined.

[0041] In the process for the apparatus A according to the embodiment of the present invention to charge the viscous fluid, such as ketchup, into the container B as described above, a preparation for the charging operation is completed when the lower portion of the delivery pipe 2 of the charging nozzle c is moved downwards by the elevating means 14 to be inserted into the container b.

[0042] In the foregoing state, the measuring means 2 of the fluid supply means d measures the quantity of the fluid which is determined while considering the capacity of the container b. When the closing valve 25 is opened to move downwards the suction/discharge piston 30 by the delivery means 27, the fluid in the fluid supply tank 24 is introduced into the cylinder 29.

[0043] Since the servo motor 36 is rotated in accordance with data set to the control means, the stroke corresponding to the quantity of the rotation of the servo motor 36 is given to the suction/discharge piston 30. As a result, a desired quantity of the fluid to be charged is set.

[0044] When the closing valve 25 is closed and then the motor 36 is rotated by the rotation numbers set to the control means, the fluid in the cylinder 29 is, by pressure, supplied to the fluid supply hole 3 via the pipe 28.

[0045] Since the fluid is introduced into the supply chamber 12 in the frame 1, the valve 5 opened by the opening/closing means 6 causes the fluid to be charged into the container b from the lower portion of the delivery pipe 2.

[0046] When the fluid reaches a level in the neighborhood of the opening of the container b due to the forward movement of the piston 30 for charging the fluid, the control means to which the predetermined data has been set operates the foregoing delivery means 27 to considerably reduce the quantity of the fluid to be injected as compared with the initial quantity. Therefore, the fluid is charged by a small quantity so that the raised level of the viscous fluid supplied into the container b due to the previous charging operation is gradually flattened. Further, rise of the fluid level can be prevented.

[0047] Therefore, the fluid can be charged to a predetermined level while maintaining the flat level.

[0048] If the predetermined capacity of the container b is reduced due to defective molding or the like of the container b, the operation for charging the fluid performed by the measuring means 26 charges the fluid into the container b by an excessive quantity. Therefore, the fluid level is raised excessively. However, the suction pipe 10 included in the delivery pipe 2 is used to act the suction force by the suction means 19 (the suction force may be previously given or it may be operated by the control means after a predetermined charging operation has been performed) . As a result, the fluid is sucked by a quantity corresponding to the raised level from the lower end of the suction pipe 10. Therefore, the excess fluid in the container b can be removed.

[0049] The suction portion in the lower portion of the suction pipe 10 is adjusted to a predetermined height by the elevating means 14. Therefore, even if the capacities of the containers b are not the same, the fluid levels in a multiplicity of the arranged containers b can always be made coincide with a line.

[0050] After the operation for charging the fluid performed by the delivery means 27 has been completed, the opening/closing means 6 acts to close the valve 5. The suction pipe 10 is, at this time, also moved upwards to close the delivery passage of the delivery pipe 2 by the sealing member 20 thereof so that the fluid is stopped and the fluid leakage is prevented.

[0051] The discharging speed and the quantity of the fluid realized by the delivery means 27 can be arbitrarily determined by properly adjusting the moving speed of the piston 30 in accordance with a command to be issued to the control means. Therefore, the speed and the quantity can be determined to be adaptable to the conditions and the like of the fluid to be charged.

[0052] The apparatus A according to this embodiment of the present invention can, of course, be used as a normal piston-type charger which does not use the suction means 19.

Claims

1. An apparatus for charging viscous fluid comprising:
   a support member;
   a frame fastened to said support member and includes a supply chamber for supplying the viscous fluid;
   a delivery pipe for delivering the viscous fluid hanging below the lower portion of said frame, having an upper portion communicating with said supply chamber and having an opened lower portion;
   fluid supply means connected to a fluid supply hole formed in one of the surfaces of said supply chamber in said frame;
   a hollow valve rod so concentrically inserted into said frame with said delivery pipe as to be capable of moving upwards/downwards and having a draft passage so formed as to have an opened lower end;
   a valve disposed in said supply chamber of said frame to allow and stop the flow of the fluid by the vertical movement of said valve rod;
   opening/closing means fastened to the upper portion of said valve rod to open/close said valve;
   a suction chamber which is disposed in said frame and into which said valve rod is inserted;
   suction means connected to a suction port opened in one of the surfaces of said suction chamber;
   a draft hole corresponding to said suction chamber in said draft passage formed in said valve rod; and
   a suction pipe inserted into said delivery pipe, fastened to the lower end of said valve rod in the upper portion thereof and made coincide with the lower end portion of said delivery pipe when the lower end of said suction pipe is closed by said valve.

2. An apparatus for charging viscous fluid according to claim 1, wherein
   said fluid supply means includes a fluid supply tank, fluid measuring means connected to said fluid supply tank and delivery means for supplying the measured fluid to said fluid supply hole of said supply chamber by pressure,
   said measuring means has a suction/discharge piston included in a cylinder, one end of which is connected to a closing valve, and
   said delivery means has an elevating member so connected to an operation rod below said suction/discharge piston as to be moveably received by a support guide, said elevating member having a female-thread block engaged to a thread shaft which is driven by a drive member which can be numerically controlled.

3. An apparatus for charging viscous fluid according to claim 1, wherein a sealing member, which substantially coincides with the lower end portion of said delivery pipe, is disposed in the lower end portion of said suction pipe.

4. A method of charging viscous fluid by using a delivery pipe hanging from the lower portion of a frame including a supply chamber formed therein so that the viscous fluid is charged into a container through said delivery pipe by fluid supply means connected to said supply chamber of said frame, said method of charging viscous fluid comprising the steps of:
   supplying a large quantity of the viscous fluid by said fluid supply means immediately before the completion of charging of the viscous fluid into said container; and
   supplying a small quantity of the viscous fluid at a low speed after charging of the viscous fluid by a large quantity has been completed.

Drawing