Patent Publication Number: US-2023147368-A1

Title: Filling method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a divisional application of the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/178,189, filed on Feb. 17, 2021, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-025650, filed on Feb. 18, 2020. The contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a filling method. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A liquid tank of the filling system is pressurized when filling carbonated drinks or fizzy drinks into a vessel and a gas phase portion of the liquid tank and a sealed vessel are connected via a gas passage such as a vent tube so that the pressure in the liquid tank and the vessel are kept equal while filling the liquid. On the other hand, the pressurization of the liquid tank is generally unnecessary when filling non-carbonated drinks or non-fizzy drinks. Nevertheless, when the filling system is applied to both non-carbonated drinks and carbonated drinks, the pressurization is necessary for discharging residual liquid remaining in the vent tube after rising there during the filling operation carried out for the previous vessel. Therefore, when a non-carbonated drink is filled in a pliable vessel, the vessel could be deformed by the pressure. Accordingly, non-carbonated drinks are filled from the liquid tank opened to the atmosphere and a snifting valve is opened when or before the gas passage is vented and the pressure inside the vessel is exposed to the atmosphere. Therefore, the liquid remaining inside the vent tube is discharged to the vessel and the next filling operation can proceed without pressurization, see Japanese Patent No. 3555184 Publication. 
     However, in the case of sterilized filling in which the vessel is filled in a sterile environment, the non-carbonated drink is filled from the pressurized liquid tank to prevent inflow of foreign matter. Therefore, as for the configuration of Japanese Patent Publication No. 3555184, in which the vessel is in communication with the liquid tank during the filling operation, the pressurized gas is supplied inside the sealed vessel so that the shape of a vessel composed of a pliable material could change when a liquid is filled therein. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a filling method includes storing liquid in a liquid tank; pressing a seal member of a filling head against a mouth of a vessel to seal the mouth of the vessel by the seal member; providing a liquid valve in a liquid passageway which connects an inside of the liquid tank to the vessel via the filling head; providing a gas valve in a gas passageway connecting a headspace of the liquid tank to the vessel via the filling head; providing a snifting valve in a snifting passage which connects the vessel to an outside via the filling head; detecting an amount of the liquid supplied to the vessel; and when the liquid is a non-fizzy liquid, opening the liquid valve to supply the liquid to the vessel while a compressor pressurizes the inside of the liquid tank, the gas valve is closed, the snifting valve is opened, and the mouth of the vessel is sealed by the seal member. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The objects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description with references to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a plan view schematically illustrating a configuration of a part of a filling line of the first embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a side view schematically illustrating the configuration of the filling machine of the first embodiment when filling a fizzy liquid; 
         FIG.  3    is a side view schematically illustrating the configuration of the filling machine of the first embodiment when filing a non-fizzy liquid; 
         FIG.  4    is a side-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the filling head of the first embodiment; 
         FIG.  5    is an enlarged side-sectional view of the filling head around the tip end portion; 
         FIG.  6    is a side sectional view of a filling head of a second embodiment; and 
         FIG.  7    is a side sectional view of a filling head of a second embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The embodiments of the present invention are described below with reference to the drawings.  FIG.  1    is a plan view schematically illustrating a configuration of a part of a filling line of the first embodiment. 
     The filling line  10  of the first embodiment is a facility that is used to fill fizzy liquid containing dissolved gas (e.g., carbonated drinks) and non-fizzy liquid containing no gas (e.g., water which does not contain dissolved carbon dioxide) into a vessel V under sterile conditions. The filling line  10  includes a rotary-type rinser  12 , a filling machine  14 , and a capper  16 . The rinser  12 , the filling machine  14  and the capper  16  are each located inside sterile chambers  12 A,  14 A and  16 A, respectively. 
     The vessels V, of which the insides and outsides were washed by the rinser  12  inside the sterile chamber  12 A, are delivered to the filling machine  14  inside the sterile chamber  14 A via a supply wheel  13 . The filling machine  14  may fill either a fizzy liquid or non-fizzy liquid in the vessels V. 
     The vessels V that have been filled with a liquid are delivered to the capper  16  inside the sterile chamber  16 A via an intermediate wheel  15  and capped. The vessels V that have been capped are then delivered to a discharge conveyor  20  via a discharge wheel  18  and discharged outside the sterile chamber  16 A. 
     For example, the vessel V is a resin bottle having a flange portion or a transfer bead so that the upper and lower part of the flange portion are gripped by grippers on each wheel arranged for conveying the vessel V from the rinser  12  to the capper  16 . Incidentally, from the discharge conveyor  20 , the vessels V are conveyed with their base supported by the conveying surface. 
     Each of the sterile chambers  12 A,  14 A and  16 A is partitioned to be hermetically separated from the outside. When a sterile filling process is carried out, the pressure inside each of the chambers is maintained at a predetermined value (e.g., about 0.005 MPa) that is higher than the external ambient pressure (e.g., the atmospheric pressure) by a pressure regulator (not shown). 
       FIGS.  2  and  3    are side views schematically illustrating the configuration of the filling machine  14  of the present embodiment.  FIG.  2    shows the state when filling a fizzy liquid and  FIG.  3    shows the state when filing a non-fizzy liquid. 
     The filling machine  14  includes a main part  22  arranged inside the sterile chamber  14 A and a liquid tank  24  located outside the sterile chamber  14 A above the main part  22 . The main part  22  of the filling machine  14  includes a rotary wheel and a plurality of filling heads  26  arranged along the circumference of the wheel. Furthermore, the rotary wheel is also provided with grippers  28  for holding the vessels V at the positions corresponding to each of the filling heads  26  (see  FIG.  4   ). 
     Filling liquid F, either a fizzy liquid or non-fizzy liquid, is supplied to the liquid tank  24  through a liquid supply line  24 A. A pressurized gas from the compressor (not shown) is supplied to the headspace of the liquid tank  24  through a gas supply line  24 B. In the case of filling a fizzy liquid, a pressurized gas such as the carbon dioxide is supplied and the pressure inside the headspace of the liquid tank  24  is maintained, for example, at about 0.3 MPa. On the other hand, in the case of filling a non-fizzy liquid, the pressurized sterile air is supplied and the pressure inside the headspace of the liquid tank  24  is maintained, for example, at about 0.03 MPa. 
     A liquid passage  30  for supplying the filling liquid F to the filling heads  26  is connected to the bottom of the liquid tank  24 . The liquid passage  30  is branched in the main part  22  of the filling machine  14  and the filling liquid F is supplied to each of the filling heads  26  via a flowmeter  30 A, see  FIG.  4   . The filling head  26  hermetically contacts the mouth of the vessel V for supplying the filling liquid F to the vessel V. As detailed later with reference to  FIG.  4   , the filling head  26  includes a hollow nozzle body  32  configured by the outer shell of the filling head  26  and a valve rod  34  liftably provided inside the nozzle body  32 . The liquid passageway  30  is defined between the valve rod  34  and the nozzle body  32 . The valve rod  34  and the nozzle body  32  also configure a liquid valve  31  for opening and closing the liquid passageway  30 . The filling head  26  injects the filling liquid F into the vessel V at a predetermined timing by opening and closing the liquid valve  31 . 
     The valve rod  34  is provided with a gas passageway  36  for connecting the headspace inside the liquid tank  24  with the gas space of the vessel V sealed by the filling head  26 . The gas passageways  36  from each of the filling heads  26  are connected to a gas manifold  36 B via gas valves  36 A and integrated into one gas passageway  36  connected to the top part of the liquid tank  24 . 
     A snifting passage  38  is connected to the gas passageway  36  at a position between the filling head  26  and the gas valve  36 A for connecting the space inside the sealed vessel V to an outer space such as the sterile chamber  14 A. The snifting passage  38  connected to each of the gas passageways  36  is provided with a snifting valve  38 A, respectively. The snifting passages  38  are integrated into one snifting passage  38  through a snifting manifold  38 B and discharged into the sterile chamber  14 A. 
     In  FIGS.  2  and  3   , an open valve is depicted by a white valve and a closed valve is depicted by a black valve. Furthermore, in each state, a passageway (or a portion thereof) supplied with a pressured gas is depicted by a thick line. 
       FIG.  4    is a side-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the filling head  26 .  FIG.  5    is an enlarged side-sectional view of the filling head  26  around the tip end portion in  FIG.  4   . In  FIG.  4   , the filling head  26  is located above the vessel V at a predetermined distance and the liquid valve  31  of the liquid passageway  30  is closed. Furthermore, in  FIG.  5   , the tip end of the filling head  26  is pressed against the mouth of the vessel V and the vessel V is hermetically sealed. 
     The vessel V treated in the filling line  10  may be a resin bottle such as a PET bottle. However, the type of the vessel V varies according to whether a fizzy liquid or non-fizzy liquid is used as the filling liquid F. Namely, a pressure-resistant PET bottle may be adopted when a fizzy liquid is treated and a sterile filling PET bottle may be adopted when a non-fizzy liquid is treated. 
     The vessel V includes a cylindrical portion V 1  formed with a mouth Vm at the top end, a shoulder portion V 2  connected to the cylindrical portion V 1  and a body portion V 3  connected to the shoulder portion V 2 . The inner diameter of the mouth Vm and the cylindrical portion V 1  is relatively rapidly enlarged to the inner diameter of the body portion V 3  through the shoulder portion V 2 . A vessel V treated in the present embodiment is provided with the flange portion Vf on the periphery of the cylindrical portion V 1 . In the filling machine  14 , the vessels V are gripped under the flange portion Vf by the gripper  28 . 
     The filling head  26  includes the nozzle body  32  with an elongated hollow structure and the valve rod  34  that is liftably provided inside the nozzle body  32  along the hollow section. The nozzle body  32  includes a lower shell member  32 A and an upper shell member  32 B for lifting the valve rod  34 . The liquid passageway  30  for supplying the filling liquid F to the filling head  26  is connected to an upper portion of the side surface of the lower shell member  32 A. 
     Between the valve rod  34  and the lower shell member  32 A, the annular liquid passageway  30  through which the filling liquid F flows is formed around the valve rod  34 . The bottom end of the valve rod  34  slightly protrudes from the bottom end of the lower shell member  32 A. 
     The gas passageway  36  is longitudinally provided within the valve rod  34  and as aforementioned, connects the vessel V to the headspace of the liquid tank  24  via the gas valve  36 A and is also connected to the snifting passage  38 , thereby connecting the vessel V to the sterile chamber  14 A via the snifting valve  38 A. 
     The valve rod  34  includes a first small-diameter portion  34 A configuring the lower portion of the valve rod  34 , a first large-diameter portion  34 C located above the first small-diameter portion  34 A, and a first tapered-diameter portion  33 B connecting the first large-diameter portion  34 C and the first small-diameter portion  34 A. Inside the lower shell member  32 A, a first shell small-diameter portion  33 A, a first tapered-diameter portion  33 B and a first large-diameter portion  33 C are provided from bottom to top corresponding to the profile of the valve rod  34  to form the liquid passageway  30 , and thereby the bottom end opening of the first shell small-diameter portion  33 A is formed as an outlet  33 D of the nozzle body  32 . 
     The valve rod  34  is liftable inside the lower shell member  32 A, whereby the first tapered-diameter portion  34 B performs the function of a valve plug and the first shell tapered-diameter portion  33 B performs the function of a valve seat. Namely, the inner diameter of the first shell small-diameter portion  33 A is larger than the outer diameter of the first large-diameter portion  34 C, whereby the first tapered-diameter portion  34 B abuts against the first shell tapered-diameter portion  33 B when the valve rod  34  is descended. Thereby, a ring seal member  34 D provided on a peripheral portion from the bottom edge of the first large-diameter portion  34 C to the first tapered-diameter portion  34 B is pressed against the first shell tapered-diameter portion  33 B, so that the liquid passageway  30  hermetically occludes. 
     The valve rod  34  is ascended and descended by an actuator  40  provided inside the upper shell member  32 B. The actuator  40  may include a cylinder  40 A formed inside the upper shell member  32 B and a piston  40 B provided on the valve rod  34 , which engages with the cylinder  40 A. The valve rod  34  is motivated by taking air in and out to or from spaces defined above and below the piston  40 B inside the cylinder  40 A, whereby the spaces are hermetically separated by the piston  40 B. Air inflow and outflow to/from the space above and below the piston  40 B is controlled by a selector valve  29  connected to an air compressor  42 . 
     To isolate the liquid passage  30  from the actuator  40  of the valve rod  34 , a corrugated tube or bellows  44  that freely expands and contracts in the vertical direction together with the vertical motion of the valve rod  34  is provided around the valve rod  34  inside the lower shell member  32 A with its top end hermetically attached to the bottom end of the upper shell member  32 B and its bottom end hermetically attached to the valve rod  34 . Thereby, the liquid passageway  30  is separated from a sliding portion between the upper shell member  32 B and the valve rod  34 . 
     As mentioned above, the gas passageway  36  formed inside the valve rod  34  is connectable to the headspace of the liquid tank  24  via the gas valve  36 A and communicable with the sterile chamber  14 A via the snifting valve  38 A. 
     A flare portion  46 , which extends radially outward toward the bottom, is provided at the bottom end of the valve rod  34 . Thereby, an inclined surface  46 A is formed around the periphery of the bottom end of the first small-diameter portion  34 A. Furthermore, a plurality of swirl vanes  50 , which have a helically form, is provided on the periphery of the first large-diameter portion  34 C above the seal member  34 D attached in the vicinity of the first tapered-diameter portion  34 B. The external dimensions of the swirl vanes  50  are about the same size as the inner diameter of the first shell large-diameter portion  33 C of the lower shell member  32 A and thereby helical channels are configured by the outer peripheral surface of the first large-diameter portion  34 C, the swirl vanes  50  and the inner peripheral surface of the first shell large-diameter portion  33 C. Incidentally, the periphery of the outlet  33 D formed at the bottom end of the lower shell member  32 A is provided with a ring seal member  52  that is pressed onto the mouth Vm of the vessel V during the filling process to seal the mouth Vm. 
     With reference to  FIGS.  2 - 5   , the filling process carried out by the filling machine  14  of the present embodiment is explained. 
     The filling machine  14  includes a first filling mode for filling a fizzy liquid and a second filling mode for filling a non-fizzy liquid. Both modes are performed by switching between opening and closing the gas valve  36 A and the snifting valve  38 A.  FIG.  2    illustrates the filling process in the first filling mode and  FIG.  3    illustrates the filing process in the second filling mode. Note that the operation of the filling head  26  is the same in both the first filling mode and second filling mode. 
       FIG.  4    illustrates a state when the valve rod  34  is lowered by the actuator  40  to close the liquid valve  31 .  FIG.  5    illustrates a state when the filling liquid F is filled into the vessel V via the filling head  26 . Namely, in  FIG.  5   , the mouth Vm of the vessel V is pressed against the seal member  52  provided on the bottom end of the filling head  26  and the first tapered-diameter portion  34 B is separated from the first shell tapered-diameter portion  33 B so that the liquid valve  31  is in the open state. 
     When the liquid valve  31  is open, the flare portion  46  at the bottom end of the valve rod  34  protrudes from the outlet  33 D at the bottom end of the lower shell member  32 A and is positioned inside the cylindrical portion V 1  of the vessel V. In the present embodiment, a spread angle θ of the flare portion  46 , which is defined as the angle between the tangent of the inclined surface  46 A in the radial direction at the peripheral and the downward axial direction of the small-diameter member  34 A, is about 60 degrees. Incidentally, when the valve rod  34  is arranged at the opening position of the valve, the position of the upper end where the inclined surface  46 A of the flare portion  46  begins to spread is substantially the same level as the position of the upper end of the mouth portion Vm of the vessel V. 
     Just before the filling operation is started, the filling head  26  is closed and maintained in the state illustrated in  FIG.  4   . Namely, the valve rod  34  is lowered by the actuator  40  and the seal member  48  of the tapered-diameter portion  34 B is pressed against the first shell tapered-diameter portion  33 B so that the liquid passageway  30  is closed. 
     At the start of the filling operation when the vessel V is delivered to the filling machine  14 , the gripper  28  is lifted and as illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the mouth Vm of the vessel V held by the gripper  28  is pressed against the seal member  52  provided on the bottom end of the lower shell member  32  A. Thereby, the vessel V is hermetically isolated from the surrounding atmosphere and sealed. 
     When the mouth Vm of the vessel V is pressed against the filling head  26 , the valve rod  34  is lifted by the actuator  40  and the liquid valve  31  is opened. In the first filling mode, the gas valve  36 A is opened and the snifting valve  38 A is closed before the liquid valve  31  is opened. The liquid valve  31  is opened after the pressure inside the vessel V equalizes with the pressure inside the headspace of the liquid tank  24 . This condition is maintained while the liquid valve  31  is open. Thereby, the filling liquid F inside the pressurized liquid tank  24  is injected into the vessel V through the liquid passageway  30  and the gas inside the vessel V flows into the headspace of the liquid tank  24  through the gas passageway  36 . Incidentally, illustrated on the right side of  FIG.  2    is the situation of the filling operation being carried out in the first filling mode (where the filling liquid F is half filled in the vessel V.) 
     When the liquid valve  31  is opened, the filling liquid F inside the liquid tank  24  flows through the liquid passageway  30 . When the valve rod  34  is lifted to the upper limit position by the actuator  40 , the flare portion  46  on the bottom end of the valve rod  34  reaches the position where the top end of the inclined surface  46 A reaches about the same level as the outlet  33 D, as illustrated in  FIG.  5   . The filling liquid F that flows down through the liquid passageway  30  is given a tangential flow component by the spiral flow passage configured by the swirl vanes  50 . Thereby, the filling liquid F spirally flows down the liquid passageway  30  formed between the outer periphery of the first tapered-diameter portion  34 B of the valve rod  34  and the inner periphery of the first shell tapered-diameter portion  33 B of the lower shell member  32 A. 
     When the filling liquid F reaches the outlet  33 D, the filling liquid F is spread radially outward from the valve rod  34  with the tangential flow component due to the centrifugal force of the spiral flow and with the aid of the expanded area of the inclined surface  40 A of the flare portion  46  so that the filling liquid F is sprayed on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion V 1  of the vessel V. At the beginning of the filling operation, the centrifugal force of the spiral flow induced by the swirl vanes  50  is not sufficient. Therefore, at this moment, the filling liquid F is guided to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion V 1  via the inclined surface  46 A of the flare portion  46  as well as the spiral effect of the filling liquid F. However, once the spiral flow is sufficiently developed, the spiral effect by itself is enough to guide the filling liquid F to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion V 1 . 
     The filling operation is performed while the rotary wheel of the filling machine  14  is rotated. On the left side of  FIG.  2    is illustrated the condition when the filling operation is completed. The amount of the filling liquid F supplied to each of the filling heads  26  is measured by the flowmeter  30 A and the valve rod  34  is descended by the actuator  40  to close the liquid valve  31  when the amount of the filling liquid F supplied to the vessel V reaches a predetermined amount. The gas valve  36 A is then closed and the snifting valve  38 A is opened so that the pressure inside the vessel V adapts to the pressure inside the sterile chamber  14 A (outside pressure.) Then, the vessel V is lowered by the gripper  28  and the mouth portion Vm of the vessel V is released from the filling head  26 . 
     On the other hand, in the second filling mode in which a non-fizzy liquid is filled, the gas valve  36 A is closed while the snifting valve  38 A is opened and the liquid valve  31  is opened, as illustrated on the right side of  FIG.  3   . The open and closed conditions of the gas valve  36 A and the snifting valve  38 A are maintained during the filling operation of the second filling mode. Namely, the vessel V is disconnected from the headspace of the liquid tank  24 , but connected to the sterile chamber  14 A through the snifting passage  38  at all times. When the filling liquid F is injected into the vessel V, the air inside the vessel V is discharged to the sterile chamber  14 A through the snifting passage  38 . 
     Note that the operation of the valve rod  34  and the flow of the filling liquid F are the same as that of the first filling mode. 
     As described above, according to the filling system of the first embodiment, the pressure inside the vessel can be maintained at approximately the same level as the outside pressure while filling a non-fizzy liquid with the liquid tank pressurized higher than the outside pressure so that the deformation of the vessel is prevented even when a pliable vessel is used. Accordingly, the system can be used for both a fizzy liquid and non-fizzy liquid even when pressurized filling is required for filling a non-fizzy liquid as in the sterile filling. 
       FIG.  6    and  FIG.  7    are side sectional views of a filling head of a second embodiment. With reference to  FIGS.  6  and  7   , the configuration of the filling head of the second embodiment is explained. 
     The filling head  60  in the filling system of the second embodiment is able to open the liquid passageway  30  at two different settings of opening degrees. For example, a large opening degree is selected when filling a fizzy liquid and a small opening degree is selected when filling a non-fizzy liquid. The other structures are the same as those of the first embodiment so that for the same components the same reference numerals have been adopted and their explanations omitted.  FIG.  6    illustrates the filling head  60  with the small opening degree and  FIG.  7    illustrates the filling head  60  with the large opening degree. 
     The filling head  60  includes an upper shell member  62 B, which is used to raise and lower a valve rod  64  and a lower shell member  62 A. Similar to the filling head  26  of the first embodiment, the filling head  60  includes the liquid valve  31 , which is comprised of the lower shell member  62 A and the valve rod  64 . The valve rod  64  is provided with swirl vanes  50  above the liquid valve  31 . Furthermore, above the swirl vanes  50 , a flow control portion  66  is provided for reducing the flow speed of the liquid passing through the liquid passageway  30  by narrowing the liquid passageway  30  by the valve rod  64  lifted inside the lower shell member  62 A. 
     Above the first shell large-diameter portion  33 C, the lower shell member  62 A is provided with a second shell large-diameter portion  68 A having a larger inner diameter than the first shell large-diameter portion  33 C and a second shell tapered-diameter portion  68 B connecting the second shell large-diameter portion  68 A and the first shell large-diameter portion  33 C. Further, above the first large-diameter portion  34 C, the valve rod  64  is provided with a second large-diameter portion  70 A having a larger outer diameter than the first large-diameter portion  34 C and a second tapered-diameter portion  70 B connecting the second large-diameter portion  70 A and the first large-diameter portion  34 C. 
     The second tapered-diameter portion  70 B is located at the same level as the second shell tapered-diameter portion  68 B. The outer diameter of the second large-diameter portion  70 A is configured so that it is slidable inside the first large-diameter portion  33 C. Furthermore, a plurality of grooves  70 C along the vertical direction is provided around the second tapered-diameter portion  70 B. 
     The valve rod  64  is vertically moved by an actuator  72  provided inside the upper shell member  62 B. The actuator  72 , for example, includes cylinders  72 A and  72 B formed inside the upper shell member  62 B and pistons  64 A and  64 B provided on the valve rod  64  that engage with the cylinders  72 A and  72 B, respectively. The cylinder  72 A and the cylinder  72 B are formed as one space vertically connected together with the inner diameter of cylinder  72 A smaller than that of cylinder  72 B. Namely, the outer diameter of the piston  64 A is smaller than that of the piston  64 B. 
     The cylinder  70 A is vertically divided in two parts hermetically by the piston  64 A. Furthermore, the cylinder  72 B is vertically divided in two parts hermetically by the piston  64 B. Thereby, the pistons  64 A and  64 B divide the space inside the cylinders  72 A and  72 B in three spaces  74 A,  74 B and  74 C from the bottom. The spaces  74 A,  74 B and  74 C are connected to the air compressor  42  through air supply tubes  76 A,  76 B and  76 C, respectively, and the air supply tubes  76 A,  76 B and  76 C are each provided with valves  78 A,  78 B and  78 C. 
     When the liquid valve  31  provided in the liquid passage  30  is opened at the large degree, only valve  78 A is opened and valves  78 B and  78 C are closed. Thereby, as illustrated in  FIG.  7   , the valve rod  64  is lifted to the upper limit (the third height) so that the liquid valve  31  and the flow control portion  66  are opened wide. Namely, the filling head  60  is set at the large opening degree. 
     When the liquid valve  31  provided in the liquid passageway  30  is opened at the small degree, valves  78 A and  78 C are opened and valve  78 B is closed. Thereby, as illustrated in  FIG.  6   , the piston  64 B presses down the piston  64 A from the state illustrated in  FIG.  7    so that the valve rod  64  is slightly lowered (the second height) and thereby the opening degree of the liquid valve  31  is reduced. Accordingly, the filling head  60  is set at the small opening degree. At this time, the bottom part of the second tapered-diameter portion  70 B fits into the top part of the first shell large-diameter portion  33 C and the filling liquid F flows between the grooves  70 C provided around the second tapered-diameter portion  70 B at the flow control portion  66  so that the speed of the filling liquid F is suppressed. 
     When the liquid valve  31  provided in the liquid passageway  30  is closed, only the valve  78 B is opened and valves  78 A and  78 C are closed. Thereby, the valve rod  64  is lowered to the lower limit (the first height) so that the bottom end of the second large-diameter portion  70 A is slightly inserted into the first shell large-diameter portion  33 C and the seal member  34 D at the first tapered-diameter portion  34 B is pressed against the first shell tapered-diameter portion  33 B to close the liquid passageway  30 . 
     As described above, according to the second embodiment, the same effect as the first embodiment is also obtained. In addition, the filling rate can be adjusted according to the type of filling liquid. For example, when filling a non-fizzy liquid into the vessel, the gas passageway, which connects the vessel to the liquid tank, is closed and the snifting passage is opened to the sterile chamber  14 A. Thereby, a flow rate of the filling liquid is accelerated by the difference between the pressure inside the liquid tank (e.g., 0.03 MPa) and the pressure inside the sterile chamber (e.g., 0.005 MPa.) In the second embodiment, the flow rate is suppressed by opening the liquid valve  31  at the small degree when filling a fizzy non-carbonated drink into the vessel so that the filling liquid is prevented from bubbling in the vessel. Furthermore, when a carbonated drink is filled into the vessel, the liquid valve  31  can be opened at the large degree so that the opening degree of the liquid valve  31  can be selected according to the type of liquid filled into the vessel. 
     Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, obviously many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in this art without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The present disclosure relates to subject matter contained in Japanese Patent Application No. 2020-025650 (filed on Feb. 18, 2020), which is expressly incorporated herein, by reference, in its entirety.