JPH07285596A - Rotating body sealing device in container processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent sealed liquid from flowing out of a ring liquid tank by the blowby of the sealed liquid caused by a sudden pressure fluctuation in a sterile chamber by providing a sealing member between a partition member forming a liquid sealing device and the inner surface of the ring liquid tank. CONSTITUTION:In a connection part between a rotating table part 12 and a fixed part 16 of a device, a ring liquid tank is formed between wall plate members 20 and 21, and a partition member 23 is perpendicularly hung down from the rotating table 12 to divide the ring liquid tank into a first liquid tank part and a second liquid tank part. In addition, supply and recovery pipes 24, 27 are connected to the liquid tank parts, By rotating pumps 25, 28 forward and reverse, sealed liquid is supplied and recovered. The operation of the pump 25 is controlled by a level sensor 26, whereby a level of the sealed liquid in the first liquid tank is controlled within a predetermined range. Furthermore, a sealing member 32 is provided between an L-shaped lower part of the partition member 23 and the bottom surface of the liquid tank to restrict the free flow of the sealed liquid between both the liquid tank parts. In this manner, a stable liquid level can be always obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a container processing apparatus for performing various processing operations such as filling operation in a sterile room, wherein the sterile room is set to a slight positive pressure, and When the lower chamber, which is arranged so as to be partitioned from the aseptic chamber and in which the drive system and the like are arranged, is set to a negative pressure with respect to the positive pressure, the boundary between the rotor side and the fixed side of the device The present invention relates to an improved technique of a liquid sealing device applied to a connecting portion.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a container processing apparatus such as a filling system which operates in this type of aseptic condition, a sealing liquid has been used in order to maintain airtightness at a connecting portion between a rotating body and a fixed side of the apparatus. A liquid seal device is known (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-154501).

[0003]

However, in the liquid sealing device of the above-mentioned prior art, since the flow of the sealing liquid itself is free in the liquid tank, the positive pressure and the negative pressure may be suddenly generated due to some cause. When the differential pressure suddenly fluctuates, there is a problem that the sealing liquid blows through the liquid tank and flows out to the outside due to the pressure acting on the sealing liquid surface. In this case, sterilizing oxonia or the like is often used as the sealing liquid in this type of container processing apparatus, and since this type of liquid is also highly corrosive, it enters the lower part of the rotating body or the gap. And its handling was very troublesome. Further, even if the pressure fluctuation is small, the liquid level of the sealing liquid tends to fluctuate following the pressure fluctuation, and therefore there are many problems from the viewpoint of controlling the liquid level of the sealing liquid itself. The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the purpose thereof is as follows. (1) It is possible to prevent the seal liquid from flowing out of the annular liquid tank due to the blowout of the sealing liquid due to the fluctuation of the differential pressure, especially the sudden pressure fluctuation in the sterile room. (2) The liquid level of the seal is stabilized against the fluctuation of the differential pressure, and the liquid level control is facilitated.

[0004]

According to the present invention, an annular liquid tank for storing a sealing liquid is formed on the fixed side of an apparatus, and a partition member is provided on the rotor side so as to hang down in the annular liquid tank. In a container processing device that divides into a positive pressure side and a negative pressure side through a liquid sealing action by a member, and the positive pressure side is a sterile room, a sealing member is provided between the partition member and the inner surface of the annular liquid tank. By partitioning the inside of the annular liquid tank into a first liquid tank portion and a second liquid tank portion, the fluidity of the seal liquid in the annular liquid tank is limited, and at least the positive pressure-side first portion is partitioned by the seal member. It is characterized in that the liquid level of the seal liquid in the one-liquid tank unit is controlled.

[0005]

According to the present invention, the seal member disposed between the partition member constituting the liquid sealing device and the inner surface of the annular liquid tank directly controls the fluctuation of the differential pressure and the fluctuation of the sealing liquid surface. The follow-up relationship is cut off. Therefore, even if a sudden pressure change occurs, the liquid level does not change following it, and the seal liquid does not flow out due to blow-by. Since the sealing member is attached to limit the fluidity of the sealing liquid and to interrupt the follow-up relationship between the pressure fluctuation and the liquid level fluctuation, a strict sealing function is not required, Some leakage is acceptable.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a filling machine. As shown in the figure, the working area of the filling machine 1 is isolated from the outside air by the cover body 2 and is a sterile room A. By supplying aseptic air to the aseptic chamber A through the upper supply ports 3 and 4, and discharging the aseptic air through the lower exhaust ports 5 and 6, a new aseptic air is always filled and a good aseptic condition is obtained. Is configured to be maintained. Further, the inside of the aseptic chamber A is set to a slight positive pressure with respect to the lower chamber B and the like in which a drive system and the like are arranged so that outside air and the like do not flow in through the gap. In the present embodiment, the lower chamber B communicates with the outside air and constitutes the negative pressure side.

The rotating body 7 constituting the filling section is rotatably arranged in the center of the filling machine 1, is connected to a drive system (not shown) in the lower chamber B, and is rotationally driven. Further, the upper part thereof is located in the sterile room A,
The filling liquid supplied through the upper supply pipe 8 is filled with a filling nozzle 9
It is configured to fill the container 11 on the elevating table 10 via. A required number of lifts 10 are provided around the rotary table 12 that constitutes the rotary body 7, and the rotary bases 7 are mounted via the cam followers 14 attached to the lift shafts 13.
It is configured to move up and down along the shape of the cam plate 15 in accordance with the rotation angle of. In addition, a liquid sealing device 17, which will be described in detail later, is provided on the peripheral portion of the rotary table portion 12 in order to maintain the airtightness of the connection portion with the fixed side 16. The container 11 is placed on each of the lifts 10
The filling work is sequentially performed while moving up and down according to the rotation of the rotating body 7. In the figure, reference numeral 18 denotes a transfer device, and the filled container 11 is transferred to the capper, which is the next work step, via the transfer device 18. Reference numeral 19 is a bellows-shaped seal member attached to the elevating shaft 13 for maintaining airtightness.

Next, the liquid sealing device 17 arranged at the connecting portion between the rotary table portion 12 which constitutes the rotating body 7 of the main filling machine 1 and the fixed side 16 of the apparatus will be described in detail. FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing the liquid seal device 17 in an enlarged manner. In the figure, 20 to 22 are annular wall plate members provided upright on the peripheral portion of the fixed side 16 of the apparatus, and between the wall plate members 20 and 21, there is an annular liquid tank for storing the seal liquid. An overflow tank is formed between the wall plate members 21 and 22. Further, between the wall plate members 20 and 21, a partition member 23 attached to the peripheral portion of the rotary table portion 12 on the rotating side is hung so that the annular liquid tank serves as the first liquid tank portion (a). It is divided into two parts in the second liquid tank section (b). A supply / recovery pipe 24 of the seal liquid is connected to the first liquid tank section (a), and the seal liquid is supplied and recovered by the forward and reverse rotations of the pump 25. In the figure, reference numeral 26 is a level sensor, and by controlling the operation of the pump 25 by the output of the level sensor 26, the liquid level of the seal liquid in the first liquid tank section (a) is set to the upper limit level H during normal operation and Control within the range of the lower limit level L. When the level of the seal liquid falls below the abnormal level LL, it is considered that an abnormality has occurred and the operation of the apparatus itself is stopped and controlled. A supply / recovery pipe 27 for the seal liquid is connected to the second liquid tank section (b), and the seal liquid is supplied and recovered by the forward and reverse rotations of the pump 28. The supply / recovery pipe 27 is mainly used for recovering and supplying the seal liquid before and after the cleaning work. The liquid level difference of the seal liquid between the first liquid tank portion (a) and the second liquid tank portion (b) is due to the pressure difference between the positive pressure and the negative pressure. Further, between the wall plate members 21 and 22, a barrier member 29 attached to the peripheral portion of the turntable portion 12 is provided.
Is hung, and it functions as a barrier against the occurrence of scattering when an overflow occurs for some reason. In the overflow tank between the wall plate members 21 and 22, the suction pipe 3
0 is connected to the vacuum pump 31 and is used to collect the overflowing sealing liquid at all times or based on the output signal from the level sensor.

Further, a seal member 32, which is a feature of the present invention, is provided between the lower L-shaped portion of the partition member 23 and the inner surface forming the annular liquid tank, and the seal member 32 is provided with respect to the seal liquid. The free flow between the first liquid tank section (a) and the second liquid tank section (b) is restricted. The seal member 32 is made of an appropriate elastic material such as soft resin, rubber, or sponge, and is held by the locking wall 33 and the stopper 34.
Since the seal member 32 is provided to limit the free flow of the seal liquid and to interrupt the follow-up relationship between the pressure fluctuation and the liquid level fluctuation, a strict sealing function is not necessary, but rather a little. There is no problem with the leak. Further, if it is in the sealing liquid, it is possible to change the specific shape, mounting direction, mounting position, etc. of the sealing member 32. It should be noted that as the seal liquid, one having a sterilizing power such as oxonia is used to prevent the invasion of bacteria from the outside. In the figure, reference numeral 35 denotes a cutting portion for preventing the cleaning liquid or filling liquid from above from mixing in the sealing liquid, and 36 denotes a cleaning nozzle for cleaning the lower portion of the cutting portion 35.

However, if a sudden pressure change occurs in the sterile room A due to some cause during the filling operation,
The pressure fluctuation will act on the sealing liquid surface of the first liquid tank section (a), but as described above, the fluidity of the sealing liquid is limited by the sealing member 32. In addition, the seal liquid is prevented from immediately blowing through the annular liquid tank and flowing out. Further, even if the pressure fluctuation acts on the seal liquid surface, the influence on the seal liquid surface level is blocked by the restriction of the fluidity by the seal member 32, so that a stable liquid surface level can always be obtained. As a result,
Automatic level control of the sealing liquid level in the first liquid tank section (a) by the level sensor 26 and the pump 25 becomes extremely easy.

In the above description of the embodiments, the case where the present invention is applied as the sealing means for the aseptic chamber of the filling machine has been described as an example, but the present invention is applicable to various other containers such as rinsers and cappers. It can be similarly applied as a sealing means for a sterile room in the processing apparatus.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) Since the fluidity of the seal liquid in the annular liquid tank is limited, even if a sudden pressure change suddenly occurs in a sterile room, etc., an outflow phenomenon due to blow-through of the seal liquid is prevented. The safety as a system is improved. (2) Since the follow-up relationship between the pressure fluctuation and the liquid level fluctuation of the sealing liquid is interrupted by the restriction of the fluidity of the sealing liquid, the liquid level of the sealing liquid becomes stable, and the automatic level control becomes extremely easy. Also, the outflow of the sealing liquid to the outside is reliably prevented. (3) Since the sealing member disposed in the sealing liquid limits the fluidity of the sealing liquid itself, the effect is direct, and some leakage of the sealing liquid is not a problem. Processing of the seal member is also easy.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a main part of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a filling machine.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view showing an enlarged main part of the embodiment.

[Explanation of Codes] 1 ... Filling machine, 2 ... Cover body, 3, 4 ... Supply port, 5, 6 ...
Discharge port, 7 ... Rotating body, 8 ... Supply pipe, 9 ... Filling nozzle, 1
0 ... Lifting platform, 11 ... Container, 12 ... Rotary table section, 13
… Lifting shaft, 14… Cam follower, 15… Cam plate, 16…
Fixed side, 17 ... Liquid sealing device, 18 ... Conveying device, 19
... bellows-shaped seal member 20 to 22 ... wall plate member, 23 ... partition member, 24 ... supply / recovery pipe, 25 ... pump, 26 ... level sensor, 27 ... supply / recovery pipe, 28 ... pump, 29
... barrier member, 30 ... suction tube, 31 ... vacuum pump,
32 ... Seal member, 33 ... Locking wall, 34 ... Stopper, 35
… Heat part, 36… Nozzle for cleaning

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Yoshio Nishida 1-1-1, Ichigaya-Kagacho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Dai Nippon Printing Co. Ltd. No. 1 Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An annular liquid tank for storing a sealing liquid is formed on the fixed side of the apparatus, and a partition member is provided on the rotating body side so as to hang down in the annular liquid tank, and a liquid sealing action by the partition member is provided. In a container processing device that divides into a positive pressure side and a negative pressure side, and the positive pressure side is a sterile room, a seal member is provided between the partition member and the inner surface of the annular liquid tank to provide a first inside of the annular liquid tank. By partitioning the liquid tank portion and the second liquid tank portion, the fluidity of the seal liquid in the annular liquid tank is limited, and
A rotary member sealing device in a container processing device, wherein the liquid level of the sealing liquid in the positive pressure side first liquid tank part partitioned by at least the sealing member is controlled.