DEVICE FOR FILLING SPECIFIED AMOUNT OF LIQUID

Abstract: A device for filling a specified amount of liquid comprising a vertical tubular filling cylinder (14), and at least one perforated plate (41) attached to the lower end of the nozzle for preventing the liquid from flowing out of the nozzle by the surface tension of the liquid against gravity.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for filling containers with a specified amount of liquid, such as flowable food, comprising a tubular filling nozzle and means attached to the lower end of the nozzle for preventing the liquid from flowing out of the nozzle body under gravity by the surface tension of the liquid. Such a device is known from DE-B-2 601 421 wherein said means is formed by expanded foam with open cells. EP-A-0 138 234 discloses a device having a metal netting as a means for preventing the liquid from flowing out of the nozzle body. The metal netting has portions where the constituent warp and weft wires overlap each other. When the nozzle is to be cleaned and sterilized, it is difficult to remove the liquid from the overlapping portions, so that the metal netting can not be cleaned and sterilized efficiently. If the liquid contains the flesh of fruit or fibrous substance, such substance becomes lodged in wire lapping portions and is extremely difficult to remove. The main object of the present invention is to provide a liquid filling nozzle free of the above problem. The device of the invention for filling a specified amount of liquid into containers comprises at least one perforated plate attached to the lower end of the nozzle for preventing the liquid from flowing out of the nozzle by the surface tension of the liquid against gravity. The perforated plate attached to the lower end of the filling nozzle according to the invention has no wire lapping portion unlike the metal netting. The nozzle can therefore be cleaned and sterilized effectively. The drawings show an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 is a view in vertical section; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a perforated plate; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 includes fragmentary plan views showing modified perforated plates; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing another modified perforated plate. An embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows a liquid filling device which comprises a filling cylinder 14 connected by a pipe 11 to an unillustrated tank containing the liquid to be filled and having upper and lower check valves 12, 13, a metering cylinder 17 connected by a pipe 15 to a lengthwise intermediate portion of the filling cylinder 14 by a pipe 15 and having a piston 16 therein, and a filling nozzle 18 connected to the lower end of the filling cylinder 14. Of the components of the filling device, those other than the filling nozzle 18 are known and will not be described. The filling nozzle 18 comprises a tubular nozzle body 21 having an open lower end, four perforated plates 41 arranged one above another at a spacing and covering the open lower end, and a tubular mount member 23 for removably attaching these perforated plates 41 to the lower end of the nozzle body 21. The nozzle body 21 comprises an upper large-diameter portion 31 having substantially the same diameter as the filling cylinder 14 and a lower small-diameter portion 32. The large-diameter portion 31 has a flange 33 around its upper end. A flanged nut 34 is screwed on an externally threaded portion 36 of the filling cylinder 14, with a flange 35 of the nut 34 engaged with the flange 33 from below, whereby the nozzle body 21 is connected to the filling cylinder 14. The lower small-diameter portion 31 is externally threaded as at 37 at its lengthwise midportion. An annular spacer 42 is interposed between the peripheral edges of each two adjacent perforated plates 41. The mount member 23 has an inner surface generally fittable to the outer surface of the lower small-diameter portion 32 of the nozzle body 21 and has an internally threaded upper end 51 and a lower end formed with an inward flange 52. The four perforated plates 41 are placed on the flange 52 along with the spacers 42. The internally threaded end 51 is screwed on the externally threaded part 37 of the lower small-diameter portion 32, and the assembly of the perforated plates 41 and the spacers 42 is clamped at its peripheral portion from above and below by the small-diameter portion 32 and the flange 52. With reference to Figs. 2 and 3, the perforated plate 41 has a circular contour conforming to the shape of the lower end opening of the nozzle body 21 and is made of stainless steel. The plate 41 has square openings formed by etching and accordingly appears like metal netting when seen from the front. The perforated plate 41 will be described with reference to specific numerical values. The plate is 0.5 to 1.0 mm in thickness T. The plate has insufficient strength if thinner and is difficult to etch if thicker. The size of the openings is limited by the etching process, so that the length L of one side of the opening is not smaller than the thickness T multiplied by 0.8. For example, when the thickness T is 0.5 mm, the minimum size of the opening is 0.4 mm × 0.4 mm. If the thickness T is 1.0 mm, the minimum size of the opening is 0.8 mm × 0.8 mm. The linear lattice-like straight portions defining the openings are not smaller than 0.1 mm in width W to assure proper etching. Accordingly, the opening pitch P is not smaller than the length L of one side of the opening multiplied by 0.1 mm. The opening ratio of the perforated plate will herein be defined as follows, and the opening ratio will be calculated specifically with reference to some examples of perforated plates. Opening ratio (Q) = (Total volume of openings only of plate/Total volume of plate inclusive of openings × 100 (%) = [L²·T/(L + W)²·T] × 100 (%) Suppose the plate thickness T is 0.5 mm, the length L of one side of the opening is 0.4 mm, and the width W of the opening-defining straight portion is 0.1 mm, the ratio is given by: Opening ratio (Q) = [0.4² × 0.5/(0.4 + 0.1)² × 0.5]× 100 = 64 (%). Further suppose the thickness T is 1.0 mm, the length L of one side of the opening is 0.8 mm, and the width W of the opening-defining straight portion is 0.1 mm. The opening ratio Q is given by: Opening ratio (Q) = [0.8² × 1.0/(0.8 + 0.1)² × 1.0] × 100 = 79 (%). For reference, the opening ratio of wire nets conventionally used will be calculated. With a 20-mesh net which is 0.4 mm in wire diameter, the opening ratio is 47%. A 40-mesh net, 0.25 mm in wire diameter, has an opening ratio of 37%. The four perforated plates 41 used in the above embodiment are not limitative; one to about six perforated plates 41 are usable. The openings of the perforated plate 41, which are square in the embodiment, may alternatively be circular, triangular or hexagonal as shown in Fig. 5 (a), (b) and (c), respectively. Further as seen in Fig. 6, the perforated plate may be provided with a spacer 42 which is integral with its peripheral edge.

Claims: A device for filling containers with a specified amount of liquid comprising a vertical tubular filling nozzle (18), and means attached to the lower end of the nozzle (18) for preventing the liquid from flowing out of the nozzle (18) under gravity by the surface tension of the liquid, characterised in that said means is formed by at least one perforated plate (41). A device as defined in claim 1 wherein the openings of the perforated plate (41) are square to rectangular in shape. A device as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein the perforated plate (41) is made of stainless steel and is 0.5 to 1.0 mm in thickness (T) and the length (L) of one side of an opening is not smaller than the thickness of the plate multiplied by 0.8 in the perforated plate. A device as defined in any of claims 1-3 wherein a plurality of perforated plates (41) are arranged one above another with a spacing between said perforated plates. A device as defined in claim 4 wherein an annular spacer (42) is interposed between the peripheral edges of each two adjacent perforated plates (41) arranged one above the other. A device as defined in claim 5 wherein the spacer (42) is integral with the perforated plate (41). A device for filling containers with a specified amount of liquid comprising : a vertical filling cylinder (14) having an upper check valve (12) and a lower check valve (13) and communicating with a tank containing the liquid through the upper check valve (12), a metering cylnder (17) having a piston (16) therein and connected to the filling cylinder (14) at a portion thereof between the upper and lower check valves (12, 13), a vertical tubular filling nozzle (18) connected to the lower end of the fillng cylinder (14), and means provided at the lower end of the filling nozzle and arranged one above another at a spacing for preventing the liquid from flowing out of the nozzle by the surface tension of the liquid against gravity, characterised in that said means are formed by perforated plates (41) having square to rectangular openings, the perforated plates being made of stainless steel and being. 0.5 to 1.0 mm in thickness and the length of one side of each opening being not smaller than the thickness of the plate multiplied by 0.8.

Inventors: SHOHEI, OHTA
Applicants: SHIKOKU KAKOKI CO., LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: B65B39
IPC codes: B65B39, B67C3