Abstract: A plurality of vessel holder means 14 are mounted around a revolving body 12 at an equal circumferential spacing. Each vessel holder means 14 includes two holders 26, 26 for carrying two vessels 4, 4 in vertical alignment. A path along which the revolving body 12 revolves contains an inversion interval C-D and an upright transfer interval D-B and A-C. Inversion means 16 which inverts the vessel holder means 14 about a tangential axis O1 is located within the inversion interval C-D while an electron beam irradiator 24 is located within the upright transfer interval A-C. Vessels which are fed at a vessel feed position A and carried by the holders 26 are subject to the irradiation of the electron beam at an electron beam irradiation position E, then inverted, and when it reaches the electron beam irradiation position E again, the opposite surface is subject to the irradiation of the electron beam. Vessels 4 are inverted again and then discharged at a vessel discharge position B.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which sterilizes vessels 4 carried by vessel holder means 14 and conveyed within an aseptic chamber 82 by irradiating the vessels with an electron beam from an electron beam irradiator 24. An injector 87 which injects H2O2 gas is disposed within the aseptic chamber 82 to maintain H2O2 gas atmosphere in the aseptic chamber 82. In this manner, a vessel sterilizer having a high reliability can be provided by avoiding the likelihood that germs which are introduced into the aseptic chamber 82 by being attached to the vessels 4 may be re-attached to the sterilized vessels 4 if the germs remain floating.

Abstract: A plurality of vessel holder means 14 are mounted around a revolving body 12 at an equal circumferential spacing. Each vessel holder means 14 includes two holders 26, 26 for carrying two vessels 4, 4 in vertical alignment. A path along which the revolving body 12 revolves contains an inversion interval C-D and an upright transfer interval D-B and A-C. Inversion means 16 which inverts the vessel holder means 14 about a tangential axis O1 is located within the inversion interval C-D while an electron beam irradiator 24 is located within the upright transfer interval A-C. Vessels which are fed at a vessel feed position A and carried by the holders 26 are subject to the irradiation of the electron beam at an electron beam irradiation position E, then inverted, and when it reaches the electron beam irradiation position E again, the opposite surface is subject to the irradiation of the electron beam. Vessels 4 are inverted again and then discharged at a vessel discharge position B.

Abstract: A valve housing 46 which is internally formed with a filled liquid passage 48 and a liquid valve 50 which allows or interrupts a communication of the filled liquid passage are provided, and a liquid valve opening/closing air cylinder 54 opens or closes the liquid valve 50 to perform a filling operation of a filled liquid. An outlet portion located at the bottom end of the valve housing 46 is formed by a separate liquid outlet member 82 or 108. A first liquid outlet member 82 which is connected with a gas exhaust passage 86 and used for a carbonated filling operation and a second liquid outlet member 108 which carries a screen 110 on its bottom end and used for a non-carbonated filling operation are interchangeably used. A filling valve 8 which permits a combined use with a carbonated filling operation and a non-carbonated filling operation enables an accommodation for a filling operation which should take place in a clean environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filling valve which affords an excellent sterilization capability and a high maintenance capability. The valve includes a tubular nozzle 4, an operating rod 6 which is fitted in the nozzle 4 so as to be elevatable, and an opening/closing valve 22 formed by a valve seat 10a on the internal surface of the nozzle 4 at its bottom end and a valve element 6a formed at the bottom end of the operating rod 6. A portion 10c of a reducing diameter which gradually reduces the cross-sectional area of the filled liquid passage 10 in a downward direction and a portion 10e of an increasing diameter which gradually increases the cross-sectional area of the filled liquid passage 10 in the downward direction are formed on the internal surface of the nozzle 4 at an upper portion thereof. A plurality of straightening vanes 36 are formed on the internal surface of the nozzle 4 at a location below the portion 10e of an increasing diameter.

Abstract: A plurality of vessel receptacles and load cells are mounted along the outer periphery of a revolving body at an equal circumferential spacing. A filling device is disposed above each of the vessel receptacles. In a first operational mode for filling the receptacles, the tare of each vessel which is supplied onto one of the vessel receptacles is measured and such data is fed to a controller which determines and stores a mean value of measured tares. Subsequently, the operation is switched to a second operational mode for a filling operation. In the second operational mode, no measurement of the tare is made, and the mean value is regarded as representing the tare of supplied vessels for purposes of a filling operation. After a given time interval or after a given number of vessels have been filled, the operation is again switched to the first operational mode where the mean value is again measured. If the new mean value is different from the previous mean value, the stored mean value is rewritten.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filling valve which affords an excellent sterilization capability and a high maintenance capability. The valve includes a tubular nozzle 4, an operating rod 6 which is fitted in the nozzle 4 so as to be elevatable, and an opening/closing valve 22 formed by a valve seat 10a on the internal surface of the nozzle 4 at its bottom end and a valve element 6a formed at the bottom end of the operating rod 6. A portion 10c of a reducing diameter which gradually reduces the cross-sectional area of the filled liquid passage 10 in a downward direction and a portion 10e of an increasing diameter which gradually increases the cross-sectional area of the filled liquid passage 10 in the downward direction are formed on the internal surface of the nozzle 4 at an upper portion thereof. A plurality of straightening vanes 34 are formed on the internal surface of the nozzle 4 at a location below the portion 10e of an increasing diameter.

Abstract: A plurality of vessel receptacles 16 and load cells 18 are mounted along the outer periphery of a revolving body 14 at an equal circumferential spacing. Filling means 24 is disposed above each of the vessel receptacles 16. For an operation in a first operational mode, the tare of a vessel 4 which is supplied from the outside onto one of the vessel receptacle 16 is measured and such data is fed to a controller 20 which determines a mean value of measured tares and store it. Subsequently, the operation is switched to a second operational mode for purpose of a filling operation. In the second operational mode, no measurement of the tare is made, and the mean value is regarded as representing the tare of supplied vessels for purpose of a filling operation. After a given time interval or after a given number of vessels have been filled, the operation is again switched to the first operational mode where the mean value is again measured.

Abstract: A weight filler 6 is provided which allows a bottle 16 to be conveyed while gripping its neck 16a. Load cell 58 is mounted around the outer periphery of a revolving body 54 in order to detect a vertical load. A horizontal rod or load applicator 64 projects radially outward from the load cell 58. A gripper 50 which grips the bottle 16 under the resilience of tension springs 82 is mounted on the free end 64a of the rod 64. As the bottle 16 is urged into the gripper 50 in a direction opposite from the direction in which, the rod 64 projects, the gripper 50 is once opened against the tension springs 82 and then closed to grip the neck 16a of the bottle 16. A filling nozzle 52 is disposed above the bottle 16 which is gripped by the gripper 50, and fills the bottle 16 with liquid. During the filling operation, the load cell 58 detects a load applied, thus allowing a filling of a given amount in accordance with the detection.

Abstract: A resin bottle 16 has an opening at its top end in which a thread 16a is formed, and also has a neck including a cylindrical portion 16b and a flange 16c which are disposed below the opening. An intermediate wheel 8 is disposed between a filler 6 which fills the resin bottle 16 and a capper 10 which caps the filled bottle 16. The intermediate wheel 8 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced grippers 22 each gripping the cylindrical portion 16b of the resin bottle 16, and rotatively conveys the bottle while it is suspended by gripping the neck of the resin bottle. A support 32 is disposed above each gripper 22 for abutment against the opening of the resin bottle 16, whereby in the event the bottom of the bottle 16 is swung radially outward, the opening which is located above the cylindrical portion 16b that is gripped by the gripper 22 is urged by the support 32 from the radial inside, thus allowing the bottle to be maintained in its upright position.

Abstract: An apparatus for inspecting vessels for the presence of foreign matters inspects the vessel as it undergoes a reverse rotation which follows a forward rotation. A receptacle on which the vessel is driven for rotation is mounted on a rotatable body, and a receptacle is driven by a control motor for rotation in the forward and the reverse direction. A controller which controls the control motor detects any change in the speed of rotation of the rotatable body, and responds to such change by controlling the motor so that a given, predetermined permissible inspecting condition of the vessel is maintained during its forward and reverse rotation in the presence of a change in the speed of rotation of the rotatable body.