Filling device

Abstract

To improve followability of a second lifting shaft relative to a first lifting shaft provided on a filling valve.SOLUTION: A filling valve 6 includes: a first lifting shaft 12 that is movable up and down within a valve housing 11; a second lifting shaft 14 that includes a piston 13 and a valve body Bb; electric drive means 15 that moves the first lift shaft 12 up and down; and air supply means 16 that supplies air to a pressure chamber R1 formed above the piston 13, a magnet 26 is provided to magnetically attract the first shaft and the second lift shaft. When liquid is discharged, electric drive means 15 raises the first lift shaft 12, and the second lift shaft 14 and the first lift shaft 12 are raised together by the magnetic force of the magnet 26. When the discharge of liquid is stopped, air supply means 16 supplies air to the pressure chamber R1, and the second lift shaft 14 separates from the first lift shaft 12 against the magnetic force of the magnet 26 and descends.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling device, and more particularly to a filling device that fills a container with a filling liquid by opening and closing a filling valve with an electric drive means. [Background technology]

[0002] Background Art There is known a filling device for filling a container with a filling liquid, which includes a cylindrical valve housing having a liquid passage formed therein and a discharge port and a valve seat formed at a lower end thereof, a lifting shaft arranged to be capable of moving up and down within the valve housing and having a valve body formed at its lower end, and an electric drive means for lifting and lowering the lifting shaft. According to the filling device, the electric drive means raises and lowers the lifting shaft, thereby seating the valve body on the valve seat of the valve housing, and opening and closing the discharge port to fill the filling liquid. One known example of such a filling device is one that has a second lifting shaft equipped with a piston below a first lifting shaft that can be raised and lowered by an electric drive means, and an air supply means that supplies air to a pressure chamber formed above the piston (Patent Document 1). According to the filling device of Patent Document 1, when the valve body is detached from the valve seat and the air supply means supplies air to the pressure chamber, the second lifting shaft detaches from the first lifting shaft and descends, making it possible to seat the valve body on the valve seat. This makes it possible to quickly close the discharge port, and prevents the liquid from dripping from the discharge port, particularly when filling the nozzle with a highly viscous liquid. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2022-26852 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the case of the filling device of Patent Document 1, a second pressure chamber is formed below the second lifting shaft, and the second lifting shaft is urged upward by constantly supplying air to the second pressure chamber. Therefore, when the valve body is seated on the valve seat and the electric drive means raises the first lifting shaft to open the discharge port, the air in the second pressure chamber causes the second lifting shaft to rise following the first lifting shaft. However, when the air pressure in the second pressure chamber is low, even if the electric drive means raises the first lifting shaft, the second lifting shaft cannot follow, and the timing at which the valve body leaves the valve seat is delayed, which may result in variation in the amount of filling liquid. On the other hand, if the pressure of the air supplied to the second pressure chamber is set high, it is possible to cause the second lifting shaft to follow the first lifting shaft, but it becomes necessary to increase the driving force of the electric driving means for seating the valve body on the valve seat and the pressure in the first pressure chamber formed above the piston, resulting in the need to use a larger electric driving means and compressor. In view of such problems, the present invention provides a filling device capable of improving the follow-up ability of the second lifting shaft in response to the upward movement of the first lifting shaft. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] That is, the filling device according to the invention of claim 1 is a filling device equipped with a filling valve for filling a container with a filling liquid, The filling valve is a cylindrical valve housing having a liquid passage and a valve seat formed therein and a discharge port formed at a lower end thereof; A first lift shaft that is provided so as to be capable of moving up and down within the valve housing; a second lift shaft provided below the first lift shaft so as to be movable up and down within the valve housing, the second lift shaft having a piston and a valve body provided below the piston; an electric drive means for raising and lowering the first lift shaft; an air supply means for supplying air to a pressure chamber formed above the piston; a magnet provided on at least one of the first lift shaft and the second lift shaft to magnetically attract the first lift shaft and the second lift shaft; The filling valve further includes a control means for controlling the electric drive means and the air supply means of the filling valve. When discharging liquid from the discharge port, the control means causes the first lift shaft to rise by the electric drive means, and thereby causes the second lift shaft to rise integrally with the first lift shaft in a state where the second lift shaft is magnetically attached to the first lift shaft by the magnetic force of the magnet, thereby causing the valve body to separate from the valve seat; When the discharge of liquid from the discharge port is to be stopped, air is supplied to the pressure chamber by the air supply means, and the second lift shaft is separated from the first lift shaft against the magnetic force of the magnet and lowered, thereby pressing the valve body against the valve seat. Effect of the Invention

[0006] According to the above invention, when air is supplied to the pressure chamber formed above the piston, the second lifting shaft can be separated from the first lifting shaft and lowered against the magnetic force of the magnet, so that the valve body can be quickly seated on the valve seat to close the discharge port. On the other hand, when the valve body is removed from the valve seat to open the discharge port, the first lifting shaft is raised, and the second lifting shaft, which is magnetically attracted by the magnet, rises as a unit. This allows the discharge port to be opened quickly and eliminates the need for a large electric drive means or compressor. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a filling system including a filling device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Diagram 2] Filling valve cross section [Diagram 3] Cross-sectional view of the main part showing the filling valve in a completely closed state [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of the main part showing the filling valve in a small-throw state [Diagram 5]Cross-sectional view of the main part showing the filling valve in full-open state [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of the main part showing the filling valve closed in the first mode [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of the main part showing the filling valve closed in the second mode [Figure 8] Graph showing filling valve operation [Figure 9] Cross-sectional view of the main part showing the filling valve in an emergency closed state [Figure 10] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of a filling valve according to a second embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] The present invention will now be described with reference to the illustrated embodiment. FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a filling system 1 equipped with a filling device 2 that fills a container V (see FIG. 2) with a filling liquid, and is controlled by a control means 3 (see FIG. 2) consisting of a computer or the like. The filling system 1 includes first to fifth turntables 4A to 4E, and the outer periphery of each of the turntables 4A to 4E is provided with a gripper 5 (see FIG. 2) for gripping a container V. Among these, the third turntable 4C constitutes the turntable of the filling device 2 according to the present invention, and is provided with filling valves 6 (see FIG. 2) for filling the containers V with filling liquid at the same intervals as the grippers 5. With this configuration, when an empty container V is transported by the first and second turntables 4A, 4B located upstream, the container V is handed over at a position close to the second turntable 4B and the third turntable 4C. Then, at the third rotating table 4C, as the third rotating table 4C rotates, the filling valve 6 fills a predetermined amount of filling liquid into the container V, and then each container V filled with filling liquid is handed over to a subsequent process (not shown) by the fourth and fifth rotating tables 4D and 4E located downstream of the third rotating table 4C.

[0009] Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the filling valve 6 provided on the third rotary table 4C. The configuration of the filling valve 6 will now be described with reference to Figs. 3 to 5 in addition to Fig. 2. Each filling valve 6 comprises a cylindrical valve housing 11 having a liquid passage formed therein and with a discharge port 11a and a valve seat Ba at its lower end, a first lifting shaft 12 arranged to be able to move up and down within the valve housing 11, a second lifting shaft 14 arranged to be able to move up and down below the first lifting shaft 12 inside the valve housing 11, having a piston 13 and a valve body Bb at its lower end, and an electric drive means 15 for raising and lowering the first lifting shaft 12. In addition, the filling device 2 of this embodiment is equipped with an air supply means 16 that supplies air to each filling valve 6, and a conduit 17 arranged between each filling valve 6 and the air supply means 16 is provided with an solenoid valve 18 controlled by the control means 3. According to the filling device 2 having the above-mentioned configuration, the control means 3 controls the electric drive means 15 and the solenoid valve 18 of the air supply means 16 to open and close the discharge port 11a in the filling valve 6, thereby filling the container V located below the discharge port 11a with the filling liquid.

[0010] The valve housing 11 comprises a cylindrical main body portion 21 that accommodates the first lifting shaft 12 and the piston 13, and a nozzle portion 22 that accommodates the second lifting shaft 14 and has a discharge port 11a formed at its lower end. The main body 21 has a cylindrical shape and constitutes a cylinder that accommodates the piston 13 so that it can rise and fall. The first lift shaft 12 passes through the upper part of the main body 21 while maintaining airtightness, and the second lift shaft 14 passes through the lower part while maintaining airtightness. Inside the main body 21, a pressure chamber R1 is formed above the piston 13, and the pressure chamber R1 is connected to the air supply means 16 via an air passage 21a formed on the side of the main body 21. The solenoid valve 18 provided in the conduit 17 is controlled by the control means 3 so as to be switchable between an air supply position in which the conduit 17 is connected to the air supply means 16 and an exhaust position in which the conduit 17 is not connected to the air supply means 16 and the air from the pressure chamber R1 is exhausted to the outside of the conduit 17. On the other hand, an escape chamber R2 is formed below the piston 13, and the escape chamber R2 communicates with the outside via an escape passage 21b formed in the side surface of the main body portion 21.

[0011] The first lifting shaft 12 has an upper end connected to an electric driving means 15 provided on the top of the main body 21, and a lower end located within the pressure chamber R1 and opposed to the upper end of the piston 13. The electric drive means 15 is fixed to the upper part of the main body 21, and comprises a servo motor (not shown) that rotates forward and backward, and a nut member that is screwed into the threaded portion of the drive shaft of the servo motor and can be raised and lowered, and the first lifting shaft 12 is connected to the nut member. The control means 3 controls the rotational position and rotational speed of the servo motor, and also controls the lifting position and lifting speed of the first lifting shaft 12 by recognizing the rotational position and rotational speed of the servo motor via a rotary encoder provided in the servo motor.

[0012] The nozzle portion 22 has a cylindrical shape, and its upper end is connected to the main body portion 21 in an airtight manner, a liquid passage R3 is formed therein, and the second lifting shaft 14 is provided so as to be able to rise and fall. A liquid supply passage 22a communicating with the liquid passage R3 is provided on the upper side surface of the nozzle portion 22, and is connected to a liquid supply means 24 for supplying filling liquid via a flowmeter 23. The liquid supply means 24 in this embodiment is configured to supply filling liquid pressurized to a predetermined pressure, and the filling liquid is supplied to the nozzle portion 22 at a required flow rate under the predetermined pressure. The nozzle portion 22 has a lower end formed with the discharge port 11a, a tapered tip, and a valve seat Ba formed on the inner surface of the tapered tip so as to surround the discharge port 11a. In contrast, the second lifting shaft 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape, with a tapered shape formed at its lower end, and a ring-shaped valve body Bb is attached to the tapered shape so as to abut against the valve seat Ba of the nozzle portion 22 from above. When the valve body Bb and the valve seat Ba are brought into a seated state in which they are in close contact with each other, the discharge port 11a is closed and the discharge of the filling liquid is stopped. Conversely, when the valve body Bb is separated from the valve seat Ba into an unseated state, the discharge port 11a is opened and the filling liquid in the liquid passage R3 is discharged.

[0013] The piston 13 has a hollow cylindrical shape, the pressure chamber R1 is formed above the piston 13, and the piston 13 faces the lower end of the first lift shaft 12 so as to be movable toward and away from the lower end of the first lift shaft 12. An internal space 13a (see Figures 4 and 5) is formed inside the piston 13 to accommodate the upper end of the second lifting shaft 14, and the second lifting shaft 14 and the piston 13 are arranged so as to be able to move relative to each other vertically, and the upper end of the second lifting shaft 14 faces the ceiling of the internal space 13a. In addition, a flange portion 14a is formed on the second lifting shaft 14, which is located above a through hole formed in the lower part of the piston 13, and a spring 25 is elastically mounted between the flange portion 14a and the ceiling surface of the internal space 13a. With this configuration, the second lift shaft 14 is constantly biased downward by the spring 25, and a gap is formed between the upper end of the second lift shaft 14 and the ceiling surface of the internal space 13a (see Figures 4 and 5).

[0014] In this embodiment, a magnet 26 is provided on the upper part of the piston 13, and the magnet 26 magnetically attracts the first lift shaft 12 and the piston 13 to each other. The magnetic force of the magnet 26 is set so that, when the first lifting shaft 12 is raised by the electric driving means 15, the first lifting shaft 12 and the second lifting shaft 14 are raised together while keeping the first lifting shaft 12 and the piston 13 magnetically attached to each other. On the other hand, when the air supply means 16 supplies air to the pressure chamber R1, the magnetic adhesion is released by the pressure in the pressure chamber R1, and the piston 13 is separated from the first lift shaft 12.

[0015] 3 to 7 are diagrams for explaining the operation of filling valve 6 having the above-mentioned configuration, and FIG. 8 is a graph showing the flow rate of filling liquid discharged from discharge port 11a versus elapsed time. As shown in FIG. 8, the filling system 1 of this embodiment can be operated by switching between a first mode (dashed line) in which a low-viscosity filling liquid is filled, and a second mode (solid line) in which a high-viscosity filling liquid is filled. First, when a container V is supplied to the third rotating table 4C that constitutes the filling device 2, the gripper 5 provided on the third rotating table 4C grasps the container V, and the filling valve 6, which is in the completely closed state as shown in Figure 3, is positioned above the container V.

[0016] First, the first mode for filling a low-viscosity filling liquid will be described. In FIG. 8, at time T0, the filling valve 6 is in the completely closed state shown in FIG. In the closed state shown in FIG. 3, the first lift shaft 12 is positioned at the lower end by the electric drive means 15, and air from the air supply means 16 is supplied to the pressure chamber R1. As a result, the piston 13 is urged downward by the air supplied to the pressure chamber R1, and the piston 13 is separated from the first lift shaft 12 against the magnetic force of the magnet . As a result, the second lifting shaft 14 is forced downward by the air supplied to the pressure chamber R1, and the air pressure presses the valve body Bb of the second lifting shaft 14 against the valve seat Ba, thereby maintaining the discharge port 11a in a closed state.

[0017] Next, from T0 to T1, the control means 3 raises the first lift shaft 12 of the filling valve 6 to set it to the small-pour state shown in FIG. The position of the first lift shaft 12 in the small-dispensing state is registered in advance in the control means 3, and the control means 3 raises the first lift shaft 12 at a set speed by the electric drive means 15. Specifically, the control means 3 moves the solenoid valve 18 to the exhaust position to stop the air supply to the pressure chamber R1, thereby enabling the air to be exhausted from the pressure chamber R1. Then, the piston 13 rises due to the biasing force of the spring 25, and the piston 13 is magnetically attached to the first lifting shaft 12 by the magnet 26. Thereafter, as the first lifting shaft 12 rises, the second lifting shaft 14 rises together with the piston 13, and the valve body Bb of the second lifting shaft 14 leaves the valve seat Ba, opening the discharge port 11a. Thereafter, the control means 3 raises the first lift shaft 12 to the small-dispense position, whereby the distance between the valve body Bb of the second lift shaft 14 and the valve seat Ba is determined, resulting in a small-dispense state in which the discharge amount from the discharge port 11a is small. Here, in the internal space 13a of the piston 13, the second lifting shaft 14 is caused to leave the top surface of the internal space 13a due to the biasing force of the spring 25 and move relatively downward. However, as the piston 13 continues to rise with the flange 14a in contact with the bottom surface of the internal space 13a of the piston 13, the valve body Bb provided at the tip of the second lifting shaft 14 is caused to leave the valve seat Ba. In addition, when the piston 13 rises, the volume of the escape chamber R2 provided below the piston 13 increases accordingly. However, since air flows into the escape chamber R2 via the escape passage 21b, this does not provide resistance to the rise of the piston 13.

[0018] When the filling liquid is filled in the small throw state between T1 and T2, the first lift shaft 12 is further elevated between T2 and T3 to reach the large throw state shown in FIG. Specifically, the control means 3 controls the electric drive means 15 to raise the first lift shaft 12 from the small throw position to the large throw position. This increases the distance between the valve body Bb of the second lift shaft 14 and the valve seat Ba, resulting in a large throw state in which the discharge amount from the discharge port 11a is large. Next, from T4 to T5, the control means 3 controls the electric drive means 15 to lower the first lift shaft 12, returning it to the small dispensing state shown in FIG. 4, and filling the filling liquid by reducing the discharge amount.

[0019] Then, in order to finish filling the filling liquid, the state is changed from the small pouring state shown in FIG. 4 to the closed state of the discharge port 11a shown in FIG. 6 during the period from T6 to T7. Specifically, the control means 3 causes the electric driving means 15 to position the first lift shaft 12 at a preset closed position (lower end). At this time, the lower end of the first lifting shaft 12 remains in contact with the piston 13, and the solenoid valve 18 is positioned in the exhaust position, so that air from the air supply means 16 is not supplied to the pressure chamber R1. The first lifting shaft 12, positioned at its lowered end, is in a position further lower than the state in which the valve body Bb of the second lifting shaft 14 is seated on the valve seat Ba of the nozzle housing 11, and the position of the second lifting shaft 14 remains the same while only the piston 13 is lowered by the first lifting shaft 12, so that the distance between the top surface of the internal space 13a and the upper end of the second lifting shaft 14 becomes closer than when filling as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[0020] Since the liquid passage R3 formed inside the nozzle portion 22 is supplied with the filling liquid from the liquid supply means 24, an upward pressure is applied to the second lift shaft 14 by the filling liquid. The upward pressure of the filling liquid presses the spring 25 upward via the second lift shaft 14, and presses the first lift shaft 12 upward together with the piston 13. At this time, if the pressure due to the filling liquid from the liquid supply means 24 is high, in order to maintain the discharge port 11a in a closed state, an electric drive means 15 that generates a higher torque is required to keep the first lifting shaft 12 positioned at the lower end.

[0021] Therefore, in this embodiment, when the first lifting shaft 12 reaches its lower end as shown in Figure 6 between T6 and T7, the filling valve 6 is brought to the fully closed state shown in Figure 3, the discharge outlet 11a is more securely closed, and the first mode is completed. When the control means 3 recognizes that the first lifting shaft 12 has reached its lower end using the rotary encoder provided on the electric driving means 15, it positions the solenoid valve 18 in the air supply position to supply air from the air supply means 16 to the pressure chamber R1. Then, the piston 13 is urged downward by the air supplied to the pressure chamber R1, and the piston 13 separates from the first lift shaft 12 against the magnetic force of the magnet 26 and descends. When the piston 13 descends, the piston 13 descends relative to the second lift shaft 14 against the biasing force of the spring 25, and the top surface of the internal space 13a of the piston 13 comes into contact with the upper end of the second lift shaft 14. As a result, the second lift shaft 14 is forced downward by the air supplied to the pressure chamber R1, and the air pressure presses the valve body Bb of the second lift shaft 14 against the valve seat Ba, thereby maintaining the above-mentioned closed state. In other words, in the completely closed state, the discharge port 11a is closed by the air supplied to the pressure chamber R1 through the valve body Bb of the second lifting shaft 14, so that no pressure from the filling liquid acts on the first lifting shaft 14 and no load is applied to the electric driving means 15. Here, when the piston 13 descends due to the air supplied to the pressure chamber R1, the volume of the relief chamber R2 formed below the piston 13 decreases accordingly. However, since the air contained in the relief chamber R2 is discharged via the relief passage 21b, this does not provide resistance to the descent of the piston 13.

[0022] Next, the operation of the second mode in which a highly viscous filling liquid is filled will be described. In the second mode, the discharge port 11a is quickly closed, thereby making it possible to prevent the highly viscous filling liquid from dripping. In the second mode, the same operation as in the first mode is performed from T0 to T6, and at the time of T6, the small throw state shown in FIG. 4 is reached. From the small throw state shown in Figure 4, as in the first mode, the electric driving means 15 lowers the first lift shaft 12 at a predetermined speed from T6 to T6', but the control means 3 supplies air to the pressure chamber R1 before the first lift shaft 12 reaches the lowering end. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 7, the control means 3 places the solenoid valve 18 in the air supply position and supplies air to the pressure chamber R1 via the air supply means 16, and the air flowing into the pressure chamber R1 causes the piston 13 to separate from the first lifting shaft 12 together with the second lifting shaft 14. Then, against the biasing force of the spring 25, the ceiling surface of the internal space 13a of the piston 13 comes into contact with the upper end of the second lift shaft 14, and the air pressure causes the piston 13 to press the second lift shaft 14 downward, pressing the valve body Bb against the valve seat Ba, and closing the discharge port 11a. By supplying air to the pressure chamber R1 in this manner, the valve body Bb can be seated on the valve seat Ba within T7' which is shorter than T7 in the first mode, and the discharge port 11a can be quickly closed. Thereafter, the control means 3 continues to lower the first lifting shaft 12, as in the first mode, and then the first lifting shaft 12 reaches the lowering end, thereby reaching the same state as the closed state shown in Figure 3, and the second mode is completed.

[0023] In this way, according to the filling device 2 of this embodiment, by supplying air to the pressure chamber R1 above the piston 13 during the operation of positioning the first lifting shaft 12 at its lowering end in the second mode, i.e., during the operation of seating the valve body Bb on the valve seat Ba, the piston 13 can be detached from the first lifting shaft 12 against the magnetic force of the magnet 26 and the second lifting shaft 14 can be lowered together with the piston 13, so that the discharge port 11a can be closed more quickly than when the piston 13 is lowered by the electric driving means 15 alone. Furthermore, according to the filling device 2 of this embodiment, when the first lifting shaft 12 is raised by the electric driving means 15, the piston 13 and the second lifting shaft 14 are raised together by the magnetic force of the magnet 26, so that the opening of the discharge outlet 11a can be made to follow the rising timing of the first lifting shaft 12. Here, the technique of supplying air to the pressure chamber R1 to separate the second lift shaft 14 from the first lift shaft 12 and close the discharge port 11a is also publicly known in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1. However, in the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, air is constantly supplied to the second pressure chamber provided below the piston, which means that it is necessary to supply high-pressure air to the first pressure chamber provided above the piston to move the piston down against the pressure of the second pressure chamber, making it difficult to adjust the pressures in the first and second pressure chambers. More specifically, in order to remove the piston from the first lifting shaft with less pressure, it is necessary to reduce the pressure in the second pressure chamber; however, if set in this way, even if the first lifting shaft is raised to open the discharge port, there is insufficient force to raise the second lifting shaft, and the piston cannot follow the rise of the first lifting shaft, resulting in a time loss between the opening of the discharge port and the start of the first lifting shaft, which can lead to inaccurate filling flow rate and errors in the amount of filling liquid. On the other hand, if the air pressure in the second pressure chamber is set to be large, the air pressure in the first pressure chamber must be set high in order to move the piston 13 down, which poses the problem that a large compressor is required and a large servo motor that generates a large torque is also required for the electric drive means for lowering the first lifting shaft.

[0024] Next, Fig. 9 shows a state in which the filling valve 6 is closed in an emergency when a problem occurs in the filling device 2, for example, when the electric drive means 15 of the filling valve 6 breaks down. Here, it is assumed that a problem occurs when the filling valve 6 is in the full throw state shown in Fig. 5, opening the discharge port 11a, and the first lift shaft 12 is raised. The control means 3, which detects the trouble, immediately places the solenoid valve 18 in the air supply position to supply air from the air supply means 16 to the pressure chamber R1, and causes the piston 13 to move away from the first lift shaft 12 against the magnetic force of the magnet 26. Then, the second lift shaft 14 moves down together with the piston 13, and the valve body Bb can be quickly seated on the valve seat Ba. In this way, when a problem occurs, the discharge port 11a can be quickly closed, thereby preventing the filling liquid from being discharged wastefully from the discharge port 11a.

[0025] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a main part of a filling valve 6 according to another embodiment, in which the second lifting shaft 14 and the piston 13 are integrally formed. Specifically, the piston 13 is integrally formed as a roughly flange-shaped member at a required position on the cylindrical second lifting shaft 14, and the piston 13 is adapted to slide against a cylinder wall formed inside the main body 21 of the valve housing 11. As in the first embodiment, the pressure chamber R1 is formed above the piston 13, and the relief chamber R2 is formed below the piston 13. In this embodiment, the magnet 26 is provided at the upper end of the second lift shaft 14, and the first lift shaft 12 and the second lift shaft 14 are magnetically attracted to each other by magnetic force.

[0026] In the second embodiment, too, by supplying air to the pressure chamber R1, the second lift shaft 14 can be separated from the first lift shaft 12 against the magnetic force of the magnet 26, and as in the first embodiment, the valve body Bb can be quickly seated on the valve seat Ba. On the other hand, when the valve body Bb is to be lifted off the valve seat Ba, if the first lift shaft 12 is lifted by the electric drive means 15 as in the first embodiment, the second lift shaft 14 is lifted integrally with the first lift shaft 12 by the magnet, and the discharge port 11a can be quickly opened.

[0027] In the above embodiment, the magnet 26 is provided on the piston 13 or the second lifting shaft 14 which rises and falls integrally with the piston 13, but the magnet 26 may also be provided on the first lifting shaft, or on both. In the above embodiment, the first and second modes have been described as operations when filling with a filling liquid having a low viscosity or a high viscosity, but they may be applied to other filling liquids. Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the first mode and the second mode are switched to be used for a plurality of filling liquids, but one mode may be used to be used for a single filling liquid. [Explanation of symbols]

[0028] 2. Filling device 3. Control means 6 Filling valve 11 Valve housing 11a Discharge port 12 First lift shaft 13 Piston 14 Second lifting shaft 15 Electric drive means 16 Air supply means 18 Solenoid valve R1 pressure chamber R2 Relief chamber 26 Magnet

Claims

1. A filling device having a filling valve for filling a container with a filling liquid, The filling valve is a cylindrical valve housing having a liquid passage and a valve seat formed therein and a discharge port formed at a lower end thereof; A first lift shaft that is provided so as to be capable of moving up and down within the valve housing; a second lift shaft provided below the first lift shaft so as to be movable up and down within the valve housing, the second lift shaft having a piston and a valve body provided below the piston; an electric drive means for raising and lowering the first lift shaft; an air supply means for supplying air to a pressure chamber formed above the piston; a magnet provided on at least one of the first lift shaft and the second lift shaft to magnetically attract the first lift shaft and the second lift shaft; The filling valve further includes a control means for controlling the electric drive means and the air supply means of the filling valve. When discharging liquid from the discharge port, the control means causes the first lift shaft to rise by the electric drive means, thereby causing the second lift shaft to rise integrally with the first lift shaft in a state where the second lift shaft is magnetically attached to the first lift shaft by the magnetic force of the magnet, thereby causing the valve body to separate from the valve seat, A filling device characterized in that, when the discharge of liquid from the discharge port is stopped, air is supplied to the pressure chamber by the air supply means, and the second lift shaft is separated from the first lift shaft and lowered against the magnetic force of the magnet, thereby pressing the valve body against the valve seat.

2. 2. The filling device according to claim 1, further comprising a relief chamber below said piston, said relief chamber being constantly in communication with the outside air.

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