Carbon dioxide injection device and injection method

Abstract

To provide a carbon dioxide injection device and injection method capable of injecting low pressure carbon dioxide up to a gas volume of a liquid made to fill a container.SOLUTION: A carbon dioxide injection device 10 includes: a gas cartridge 14 filled with carbon dioxide CG; a gas pipe 18 whose one end is connected to the gas cartridge 14; a regulator 20 for adjusting the carbon dioxide CG discharged from the gas cartridge 14 to a predetermined pressure or less; a container connection part 22 to which the other end of the gas pipe 18 is connected and a container 12 is connected so as to inject the carbon dioxide CG to liquid LQ; a gas injection part 28; and a release mechanism 30 having a release path part 32 whose one end is connected to the inside of the container 12 and which has an open / close part 37 configured in an openable / closable manner on the other end side so as to form a path for releasing the gas inside the container 12 when opened, and a control part 38 for controlling the open / close part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a carbon dioxide gas injection device and injection method. [Background technology]

[0002] There has been a need for carbonated drinks for the purpose of providing a refreshing feeling when drinking them. In recent years, the need for carbonated drinks has expanded in the form of a need for carbonated drinks with a high gas volume to provide a stronger refreshing feeling, and a need for injecting carbon dioxide into drinking water by oneself in conjunction with an increase in health consciousness, etc. Patent Document 1 discloses a carbonation system including a carbonation head for carbonating the liquid in the bottle and a pressure release unit for gradually releasing excess pressure from the bottle after carbonation.

[0003] However, the carbonation system disclosed in Patent Document 1 is premised on injecting the carbon dioxide gas in the gas cylinder at high pressure into the liquid in the bottle. The internal pressure of the gas cylinder gradually decreases as the carbon dioxide gas is used, so it becomes gradually more difficult to inject the carbon dioxide gas at high pressure into the liquid. This may make it difficult to stabilize the gas volume of the carbon dioxide gas injected into the liquid, and may result in a relatively short period of use of the gas cylinder. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2015 / 0151258 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a carbon dioxide gas injection device and method capable of injecting low pressure carbon dioxide gas up to a high gas volume into a liquid filled in a container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a carbon dioxide gas injection device comprising: a gas supply source filled with carbon dioxide gas; a gas supply path having one end connected to the gas supply source; an adjustment mechanism provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path and adjusting the carbon dioxide gas released from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or less; a container connection portion to which the other end of the gas supply path is connected and to which a container is connected in order to inject carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source into a container filled with liquid; a gas injection portion for injecting carbon dioxide gas from the other end of the gas supply path into the liquid inside the container; one end of the gas supply path is connected to the inside of the container, and at the other end side, a release path portion having an opening / closing portion configured to be openable and closable so as to form a path for releasing gas inside the container when opened, and a control portion for controlling the opening and closing of the opening / closing portion.

[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carbon dioxide gas injection device comprising: a gas supply source filled with carbon dioxide gas; a gas supply path having one end connected to the gas supply source; an adjustment mechanism provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path and adjusting the carbon dioxide gas released from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or lower; a container connection portion to which the other end of the gas supply path is connected and to which a container is connected in order to inject carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source into a container filled with liquid; a gas injection portion for injecting carbon dioxide gas from the other end of the gas supply path into the liquid inside the container; a release mechanism having one end connected to the inside of the container and having a path for releasing gas inside the container from the other end and having an expansion portion configured to be able to expand the cross-sectional area of ​​the path; and a control portion for controlling the expansion of the expansion portion.

[0008] Furthermore, according to the present invention, there is provided a carbon dioxide gas injection device comprising: a gas supply source filled with carbon dioxide gas; a gas supply path having one end connected to the gas supply source; an adjustment mechanism provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path for adjusting the carbon dioxide gas released from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or lower; a container connection section to which the other end of the gas supply path is connected and to which a container is connected in order to inject carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source into a container filled with liquid; a gas injection section for injecting carbon dioxide gas from the other end of the gas supply path into the liquid inside the container; one end of the gas supply path is connected to the inside of the container, and at the other end side, a release path section having an opening / closing section configured to be openable and closable so as to form a path for releasing gas inside the container when opened; and a control section for controlling the opening and closing of the opening / closing section. The carbon dioxide gas injection method includes a first release step of releasing gas at a flow rate less than the carbon dioxide gas injected into the liquid inside the container, and a second release step of releasing gas at a flow rate greater than that in the first release step.

[0009] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carbon dioxide gas injection device comprising: a gas supply source filled with carbon dioxide gas; a gas supply path having one end connected to the gas supply source; an adjustment mechanism provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path for adjusting the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas released from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or lower; a container connection portion to which the other end of the gas supply path is connected and to which a container is connected in order to inject carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source into a container filled with liquid; a gas injection portion for injecting carbon dioxide gas from the other end of the gas supply path into the liquid inside the container; a release mechanism having: one end connected to the inside of the container and having a path for releasing gas inside the container from the other end, the release path portion having an expansion portion configured to be able to expand the cross-sectional area of ​​the path; and a control portion for controlling the expansion of the expansion portion. The carbon dioxide gas injection method includes a first release step of releasing gas at a flow rate less than the carbon dioxide gas injected into the liquid inside the container, and a second release step of releasing gas at a flow rate greater than that of the first release step. Effect of the Invention

[0010] According to the carbon dioxide gas injection device of the present invention, an adjustment mechanism is provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path to adjust the carbon dioxide gas released from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or less. Therefore, carbon dioxide gas can be injected into the liquid inside the container at a low pressure. The carbon dioxide gas injection device also includes a release mechanism having a release path part that is connected to the inside of the container at one end and can form a path for releasing the gas inside the container from the other end. The release mechanism also has an opening / closing part configured to be able to open and close the path, or an expansion part configured to be able to expand the cross-sectional area of ​​the path, and a control part that controls them. Therefore, the carbon dioxide gas injection device can release the gas inside the container in parallel with and / or before and after the injection of carbon dioxide gas into the container. Since a space containing air (hereinafter referred to as head space) usually exists on the container connection part side of the container into which the liquid is injected, a mixture of air and carbon dioxide gas exists in the head space immediately after the start of injection of carbon dioxide gas into the container. The release mechanism can release a part of the mixed gas in the head space by releasing the gas inside the container while the injection of carbon dioxide gas into the container reaches the desired gas volume. Since further carbon dioxide gas can be injected into the head space from which part of the mixed gas has been released, the concentration (amount of substance) of carbon dioxide gas in the head space can be increased, and thus the concentration (amount of substance) of carbon dioxide gas in the liquid can be increased.

[0011] According to Henry's law, if the temperature inside the container is constant, it is known that the amount of carbon dioxide (gas) that can be dissolved in a certain amount of liquid (solvent) is proportional to the pressure of the carbon dioxide. The release mechanism allows part of the mixed gas to be released and new carbon dioxide to be injected, so the concentration (amount of substance) of carbon dioxide can be increased in the headspace. Since the volume of the headspace inside the container hardly changes (increases), the pressure of the carbon dioxide in the headspace can be increased. This allows a large gas volume of carbon dioxide to be injected into a container with liquid injected, without pre-pressurizing the pressure inside the container to a high level or increasing the pressure of the carbon dioxide to be injected into the container.

[0012] According to the carbon dioxide gas injection method of the present invention, the method has a first release step of releasing gas at a flow rate less than that of the carbon dioxide gas injected into the liquid inside the container, and a second release step of releasing gas at a flow rate greater than that of the first release step. In the first release step, by releasing gas at a flow rate less than that of the carbon dioxide gas injected into the liquid inside the container, it is possible to release a part of the mixed gas from the head space while suppressing the outflow of the injected carbon dioxide gas, so that the carbon dioxide gas can be injected efficiently. Furthermore, by releasing gas at a flow rate greater than that of the first release step in the second release step, it is possible to reduce (release) the pressure in the container after the injection of the carbon dioxide gas into the liquid is completed in a short time, and it is possible to suppress or prevent an excessive pressure rise in the container during the injection of the carbon dioxide gas into the liquid. This allows low-pressure carbon dioxide gas to be injected into the liquid up to a high gas volume in a short time.

[0013] The carbon dioxide gas injection device and injection method according to the present invention make it possible to inject low pressure carbon dioxide gas into a liquid filled in a container up to a high gas volume. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a carbon dioxide gas injection device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows a flowchart of the carbon dioxide gas injection method according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a carbon dioxide gas injection device according to a modified example of the first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a carbon dioxide gas injection device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0015] (First embodiment) Hereinafter, a carbon dioxide gas injection device and an injection method according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Similar or corresponding elements are given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted. For ease of understanding, the scale of the drawings may be changed.

[0016] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of a carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 (hereinafter referred to as injection device 10) according to this embodiment as viewed from the side. The internal structure of injection device 10 is usually covered by a housing (not shown), but for the sake of explanation, the state without the housing is shown here. In the figure, arrows indicate the up-down direction and the horizontal direction of the device when injection device 10 is placed on a horizontal surface. In the figure, UP indicates the upper side of the device, and W indicates the horizontal direction of the device.

[0017] The injection device 10 is a device for producing a carbonated beverage by attaching a container 12 (beverage container) partially filled with a beverage liquid LQ such as water or juice, and injecting carbon dioxide gas CG into the attached container 12. This makes it possible to produce a carbonated beverage with a high gas volume that provides a stronger refreshing feeling (stimulation). The container 12 only needs to have the strength to withstand a predetermined internal pressure, and may be formed from various materials such as resin, metal, glass, etc.

[0018] A gas cartridge 14 filled with carbon dioxide gas CG and serving as a gas supply source is disposed on one side of the injection device 10 in the horizontal direction of the device. The carbon dioxide gas CG discharged from a gas discharge portion 16 of the gas cartridge 14 is supplied to the container 12.

[0019] A regulator 20 serving as an adjustment mechanism is connected to the gas release section 16, and the gas cartridge 14 is connected to one end of a gas pipe 18 serving as a gas supply path via the regulator 20. The regulator 20 is configured to adjust the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas CG released from the gas cartridge 14 to a predetermined pressure (e.g., 1.0 MPa) or less.

[0020] The other end of the gas pipe 18, opposite to the gas release section 16, is connected to a container connection section 22 for mounting the opening 12A of the container 12. Carbon dioxide gas CG supplied from the gas cartridge 14 is injected into the container 12 from a gas injection section 28, which is the end of the gas pipe 18 on the container connection section 22 side. A container mounting section 24, through which the gas pipe 18 passes and to which the container 12 is mounted, is provided in the approximate center of the container connection section 22. The container mounting section 24 is formed to be detachable from the container connection section 22 so that it can be replaced in accordance with various shapes of the opening 12A of the container 12, and a plurality of container mounting sections 24 are provided.

[0021] The container attachment portion 24 includes a substantially cylindrical fitting portion 26 for fitting the opening 12A therein, and the inner peripheral surface of the fitting portion 26 is formed to correspond to the shape of the outer peripheral surface of the opening 12A of the container 12. For example, a female thread portion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of one of the fitting portions 26 so as to correspond to the container 12 having a male thread portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the opening 12A (both are not shown), and the opening 12A of the container 12 can be screwed into the fitting portion 26. This allows the container 12 to be stably fixed to the injection device 10. Note that, in this embodiment, the container 12 is described as being attached by being screwed into the container attachment portion 24, but this is not limited thereto, and the container may be attached to the container attachment portion by fitting without using a screw.

[0022] The injection device 10 is provided with a release mechanism 30 for releasing the gas inside the head space HS of the container 12 to the outside of the container 12. The release mechanism 30 has one end connected to the inside of the head space HS, and has a metallic release path portion 32 formed in a hollow tube shape so as to form a path for releasing the gas inside the head space HS from the other end side. Note that in the following description, the release path portion 32 will be described as being made of metal, but is not limited thereto, and may be made of other materials such as resin having a predetermined rigidity.

[0023] The release path section 32 has, on the other end side, a first path 33 formed in communication so as to be able to constantly release the gas inside the head space HS, and a second path 34 branching off from the first path 33 and forming a path that communicates so as to release the gas inside the head space HS when opened. Therefore, when the second path 34 is closed, the gas flowing into the release path section 32 from one end side connected to the inside of the head space HS is released to the outside of the container 12 only from the first path 33.

[0024] The cross-sectional areas of the first path 33 and the second path 34 are formed to be smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path of the gas pipe 18. In addition, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first path 33 is formed to be larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second path 34. For this reason, for example, when a fluid having the same flow velocity is passed through, the flow rate of the first path 33 is larger than the flow rate of the second path 34.

[0025] The second path 34 has an opening / closing section 37 provided with a solenoid valve 36, and the opening / closing section 37 is configured to open or close the second path 34 by opening or closing the solenoid valve 36. Note that in the following description, the second path 34 is described as being provided with the solenoid valve 36, but this is not limiting, and the second path may be provided with another mechanism, such as a pressure valve that mechanically opens when the pressure reaches or exceeds a predetermined pressure.

[0026] The release mechanism 30 is provided with a control unit 38 for controlling the opening and closing of the opening / closing unit 37 by controlling the solenoid valve 36. The control unit 38 can control the opening and closing of the solenoid valve 36, for example, to close the opening / closing unit 37 for a predetermined time and then open the opening / closing unit 37 for a predetermined time. Specifically, for example, the solenoid valve 36 can be controlled to close the solenoid valve 36 for a predetermined time from when the injection of carbon dioxide gas CG from the gas injection unit 28 into the liquid LQ inside the container 12 is started until the gas volume GV of the liquid LQ reaches a desired value, and to open the solenoid valve 36 for a predetermined time when the gas volume GV reaches the desired value, thereby releasing (releasing) excess gas (carbon dioxide gas) inside the head space HS from the second path 34.

[0027] The time interval for opening and closing the solenoid valve 36 can be preset in the control unit 38. Furthermore, without being limited thereto, the injection device 10 may be configured so that the user of the injection device 10 can open and close the opening / closing unit 37 by operating an operation panel (not shown) provided on the housing side of the injection device 10. This allows the user to manually perform operations such as starting and stopping the injection of carbon dioxide gas CG into the container 12, closing the opening / closing unit 37 for a predetermined time, and then opening the opening / closing unit 37 for degassing for a predetermined time.

[0028] The gas pipe 18 may be provided with, for example, a check valve or the like to prevent the carbon dioxide gas CG from flowing back into the gas cartridge 14 when the carbon dioxide gas CG in the container 12 is released.

[0029] The operation and effects of the present invention will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0030] When the user starts to inject carbon dioxide gas CG into the container 12 by operating an operation panel or the like, in step S10, the control unit 38 operates the solenoid valve 36 to close the opening / closing unit 37. Therefore, immediately after the injection of carbon dioxide gas CG into the container 12, the mixed gas of air and carbon dioxide gas CG present inside the container 12 is released (discharged) to the outside of the container 12 only through the first path 33. Here, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first path 33 is formed to be smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the flow path of the gas pipe 18. Therefore, it is possible to release the mixed gas at a flow rate less than the flow rate of carbon dioxide gas CG injected into the liquid LQ inside the container 12 (first release). This makes it possible to inject carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ inside the container 12 while suppressing or preventing the carbon dioxide gas CG injected from the gas cartridge 14 from excessively flowing out (escaping) from the first path 33.

[0031] The release mechanism 30 releases a portion of the mixed gas in the head space HS of the container 12 in parallel with the injection of the carbon dioxide gas CG into the container 12. Since further carbon dioxide gas CG can be injected into the head space HS from which part of the mixed gas has been released, it is possible to increase the amount of carbon dioxide gas CG in the head space HS, and thereby to increase the amount of carbon dioxide gas CG in the liquid LQ.

[0032] Since the release mechanism 30 simultaneously releases the mixed gas and injects the carbon dioxide gas CG, the amount of carbon dioxide gas CG in the head space HS increases stepwise. At this time, since the volume of the head space HS of the container 12 hardly changes, the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas CG in the head space HS can be increased. This makes it possible to inject carbon dioxide gas CG at a low pressure of, for example, 1.0 MPa or less into the liquid LQ injected into the container 12 up to a high gas volume GV of 4.0 GV or more, without pre-pressuring the pressure inside the container 12 to a high level or increasing the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas CG injected into the container 12.

[0033] Furthermore, when the control unit 38 determines that the gas volume GV of the liquid LQ in the container 12 has reached a desired value, in step S20, the control unit 38 operates the solenoid valve 36 to open the second path 34. Therefore, excess carbon dioxide gas CG present inside the container 12 is discharged to the outside of the container 12 via the first path 33 and the second path 34. Therefore, it is possible to discharge the carbon dioxide gas CG to the outside of the container 12 at a flow rate greater than the mixed gas by the first release (second release). This makes it possible to adjust (reduce) the pressure inside the container 12 after the injection of the carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ is completed in a short time, and the injection of the carbon dioxide gas CG ends in step S30. In addition, the second path 34 can be used to suppress or prevent an excessive pressure rise inside the container 12 during the injection of the carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ.

[0034] Furthermore, the cross-sectional area of ​​the second path 34 is configured to be smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the first path 33. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent a sudden increase in the flow rate of the carbon dioxide gas CG released to the outside of the container 12 due to the second release. This makes it possible to adjust (reduce) the pressure inside the container 12 in a short time without unnecessarily reducing the gas volume GV of the liquid LQ that has reached the desired gas volume GV.

[0035] As described above, the injection device 10 can inject low-pressure carbon dioxide CG up to a high gas volume GV into the liquid LQ in a short time by injecting carbon dioxide CG with the first release and the second release. Specifically, for example, carbon dioxide CG at a pressure of 1.0 MPa or less is injected for 8 seconds with the first release, and then the second release is performed for 5 seconds after the injection, so that the gas volume GV of the liquid LQ can be made 4.0 GV or more by operating the injection device 10 for a total of 13 seconds. Note that these time intervals may be adjusted as appropriate depending on the capacity of the container 12, the amount, type, and temperature of the liquid LQ, etc.

[0036] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, since the carbon dioxide gas CG can be injected with the first release and the second release, even if the container 12 is partially filled with the liquid LQ and a head space HS is formed, the carbon dioxide gas CG can be injected at a high gas volume GV by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide gas CG in the head space HS. This makes it possible to easily inject low-pressure carbon dioxide gas CG up to a high gas volume GV without pressurizing the container 12 to a high level in advance.

[0037] Here, the embodiment in which the injection of carbon dioxide gas CG is completed by one injection of carbon dioxide gas CG accompanied by the first release and one second release is performed has been described, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in Fig. 2, the injection of carbon dioxide gas CG accompanied by the first release may be performed up to a predetermined gas volume GV, and the pressure inside the head space HS may be adjusted once by the second release, and then the injection of carbon dioxide gas CG accompanied by the first release and the second release may be repeated once or multiple times.

[0038] As described above, the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 and injection method according to this embodiment make it possible to inject low-pressure carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ filled in the container 12 up to a high gas volume GV.

[0039] (First Modification) Hereinafter, a modified example of the carbon dioxide gas injector 40 (hereinafter referred to as the injector 40) according to this embodiment will be described. Elements similar to or corresponding to those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0040] 3 shows an injection device 40 according to a modified example. A release path portion 45 of a release mechanism 42 provided in the injection device 40 has a first path 43 and a second path 44 that are formed independently and separately.

[0041] By providing the separate first path 43 and second path 44, the injection of carbon dioxide gas CG accompanied by the first release can be smoothly performed. This makes it possible to inject low-pressure carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ up to a high gas volume GV in a short time.

[0042] (Second Modification) Injection device 40 according to the second modification is provided with a pressure sensor (not shown) inside release path portion 45. Control portion 38 is configured to monitor the pressure inside release path portion 45 detected by the pressure sensor, and operate solenoid valve 36 to open it when the pressure exceeds a predetermined pressure.

[0043] The control unit 38 can determine the timing to switch from the first release to the second release based on the pressure values ​​inside the release path 45 and in the head space HS connected thereto detected by the pressure sensor. Specifically, by detecting an increase in the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas CG in the head space HS accompanying an increase in the gas volume GV of the liquid LQ, the control unit 38 can grasp the gas volume GV of the liquid LQ and determine the timing to switch from the first release to the second release. This makes it possible to efficiently inject the carbon dioxide gas CG accompanied by the first release and the second release. Furthermore, it is possible to accurately determine an excessive pressure rise inside the container 12 during the injection of the carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ, and to switch from the first release to the second release in order to reduce the pressure.

[0044] (Third Modification) According to injection device 40 of the third modified example, opening / closing section 37 or the entire release path section 45 including opening / closing section 37 is, for example, a rubber tube or the like configured to have a hollow tube shape made of an elastically deformable material such as rubber. Furthermore, opening / closing section 37 of second path 44 is provided with a pressing mechanism (not shown) configured to be able to press opening / closing section 37 from the outside. The pressing mechanism is configured to be operated by control section 38. The pressing mechanism can close second path 44 by pressing opening / closing section 37 from the outside, and can open second path 44 when not pressed.

[0045] The release path section 45 has the second path 44 configured to be openable and closable by a pressing mechanism, and thus can release excess carbon dioxide gas CG present in the head space HS of the container 12 in which the liquid LQ that has reached the desired gas volume GV is stored, to the outside of the container 12 at a flow rate greater than that of the mixed gas by the first release. This makes it possible to adjust (reduce) the pressure inside the container 12 in which injection of the carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ has been completed in a short time. Furthermore, since the release path section 45 has a simple configuration consisting of only a rubber tube or the like and a pressing mechanism, the injection device 40 can be configured simply, and the manufacturing costs and the number of steps required for manufacturing can be reduced.

[0046] Second embodiment A carbon dioxide gas injecting device 50 (hereinafter referred to as the injecting device 50) according to a second embodiment will be described below. Elements similar to or corresponding to those in the first embodiment will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted.

[0047] 4 shows an injection device 50 according to a second embodiment. One end of a release mechanism 52 of the injection device 50 according to this embodiment is connected to the head space HS of the container 12, and the other end has a release path portion 54 having a path for releasing gas within the head space HS. This allows the gas within the head space HS to be constantly released to the outside of the container 12.

[0048] The release path section 54 has an expansion section 56 configured to be able to expand the cross-sectional area of ​​the path. In addition, the release path section 54 is provided with an expansion mechanism 57 for expanding the expansion section 56, and the cross-sectional area of ​​the path can be expanded. Specifically, the expansion mechanism 57 is, for example, an electromagnetic valve attached with the expansion section 56 opened to a certain degree, or the above-mentioned pressing mechanism attached with the expansion section 56 of the release path section 54 configured to be elastically deformable opened to a certain degree (both are not shown). Note that the expansion mechanism 57 is not limited to these, and may be another mechanism for expanding the path of the release path section 54 opened to a certain degree.

[0049] When the user starts to inject carbon dioxide CG into the container 12 by operating the operation panel or the like, the control unit 38 stops the operation of the expansion mechanism 57 and opens the expansion unit 56 to a certain degree. Therefore, immediately after the injection of carbon dioxide CG into the container 12, the mixed gas of air and carbon dioxide CG present inside the container 12 is released (discharged) to the outside of the container 12 through the release path unit 54 that is opened to a certain degree (first release). Therefore, the carbon dioxide CG injected from the gas cartridge 14 into the container 12 can be suppressed or prevented from excessively flowing out (escaping) from the release path unit 54, and then the carbon dioxide CG can be injected into the liquid LQ inside the container 12. Furthermore, it is possible to inject carbon dioxide CG at a low pressure of, for example, 1.0 MPa or less into the liquid LQ up to a high gas volume GV of 4.0 GV or more into the container 12 without pressurizing the pressure inside the container 12 to a high level in advance or increasing the pressure of the carbon dioxide CG injected into the container 12.

[0050] When the control unit 38 determines that the gas volume GV of the liquid LQ in the container 12 has reached a desired value, it operates the expansion mechanism 57 to expand the expansion unit 56. As a result, excess carbon dioxide gas CG present inside the container 12 is released to the outside of the container 12 via the expanded release path unit 54 (second release). As a result, it is possible to release a greater flow rate of carbon dioxide gas CG to the outside of the container 12 than the mixed gas by the first release. This makes it possible to adjust (reduce) the pressure inside the container 12 in a short period of time after injection of the carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ has been completed.

[0051] As described above, the carbon dioxide gas injecting device 50 and the injecting method according to this embodiment make it possible to inject low-pressure carbon dioxide gas CG into the liquid LQ filled in the container 12 up to a high gas volume GV.

[0052] Although the embodiments of the carbon dioxide gas injecting apparatus 10, 40, 50 and the injecting method have been described, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiments. Various modifications of the above-mentioned embodiments are included in the embodiments of the present invention within the scope of the concept of a person skilled in the art.

[0053] Here, the carbon dioxide gas injection device 10 has been described as a device that injects carbon dioxide gas CG into a container 12 filled with a liquid LQ as a beverage, but the invention is not limited to this. The carbon dioxide gas injection device may be used, for example, as a device for injecting carbon dioxide gas into a barber's liquid, beauty serum, or the like filled in a container, to produce a barber's liquid, beauty serum, or the like containing carbon dioxide gas. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 10 Carbon dioxide gas injection device 12 containers 12A opening 14 Gas cartridge (gas supply source) 16 Gas release section 18 Gas pipe (gas supply line) 20 Regulator (adjustment mechanism) 22 Container connection 28 Gas Injection Section 30 Release mechanism 32 Release path section 33 Route 1 34 2nd Route 36 Solenoid valve 37 Opening and closing section 38 Control Unit 40 Carbon dioxide gas injection device 42 Release mechanism 43 Route 1 44 Route 2 45 Release Path Section 50 Carbon dioxide gas injection device 52 Release mechanism 54 Release path section 56 Extension CG Carbon Dioxide LQ Liquid

Claims

1. a gas source filled with carbon dioxide gas; a gas supply path having one end connected to the gas supply source; an adjusting mechanism provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path, which adjusts the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas discharged from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or lower; a container connection portion to which the other end of the gas supply path is connected and to which the container is connected in order to inject carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source into the container into which the liquid has been injected; a gas injection section that injects carbon dioxide gas into the liquid inside the container from the other end of the gas supply path; a release mechanism having one end connected to the inside of the container and the other end having an opening / closing part configured to be openable and closable so as to form a path for releasing gas inside the container when the opening / closing part is opened; and a control part for controlling the opening and closing of the opening / closing part. A carbon dioxide gas injection device equipped with the above.

2. 2. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 1, wherein the release path portion has a first path that constantly releases gas inside the container, and a second path having the opening and closing portion.

3. 3. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 2, wherein a cross-sectional area of ​​the first passage is larger than a cross-sectional area of ​​the second passage.

4. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit opens and closes the opening / closing unit at predetermined time intervals.

5. 5. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit opens the opening / closing unit when the pressure inside the release path unit exceeds a predetermined pressure.

6. 6. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 1, wherein the release mechanism has an electromagnetic valve for opening and closing the opening / closing portion.

7. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 1 , wherein the opening and closing portion is configured to be elastically deformable.

8. a gas source filled with carbon dioxide gas; a gas supply path having one end connected to the gas supply source; an adjusting mechanism provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path, which adjusts the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas discharged from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or lower; a container connection portion to which the other end of the gas supply path is connected and to which the container is connected in order to inject carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source into the container into which the liquid has been injected; a gas injection section that injects carbon dioxide gas into the liquid inside the container from the other end of the gas supply path; a release mechanism including: a release path portion having one end connected to the inside of the container and a path for releasing gas inside the container from the other end, the release path portion having an expansion portion configured to be able to expand a cross-sectional area of ​​the path; and a control portion for controlling the expansion of the expansion portion; A carbon dioxide gas injection device equipped with the above.

9. The carbon dioxide gas injector according to claim 8 , wherein the control unit expands the expansion unit at predetermined time intervals.

10. 10. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit expands the expansion portion when the pressure inside the release path portion exceeds a predetermined pressure.

11. 11. The carbon dioxide gas injector according to claim 8, wherein the release mechanism includes a solenoid valve for expanding the expansion portion.

12. The carbon dioxide gas injector according to claim 8 , wherein the expansion section is configured to be elastically deformable.

13. 13. A carbon dioxide gas injection device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the release of gas inside the container includes a first release that releases gas at a flow rate less than the carbon dioxide gas injected into the liquid inside the container, and a second release that releases gas at a flow rate greater than the gas released by the first release.

14. 14. The carbon dioxide injector of claim 1, wherein the container is partially filled with liquid when connected to the container connection.

15. 15. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas flowing from the gas supply source to the gas supply passage is less than 1.0 MPa.

16. 16. The carbon dioxide gas injection device according to claim 1, wherein a gas volume of the carbon dioxide gas injected into the container is approximately 4.0 GV or more.

17. a gas source filled with carbon dioxide gas; a gas supply path having one end connected to the gas supply source; an adjusting mechanism provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path, which adjusts the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas discharged from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or lower; a container connection portion to which the other end of the gas supply path is connected and to which the container is connected in order to inject carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source into the container into which the liquid has been injected; a gas injection section that injects carbon dioxide gas into the liquid inside the container from the other end of the gas supply path; a release mechanism having one end connected to the inside of the container and the other end having an opening / closing part configured to be openable and closable so as to form a path for releasing gas inside the container when the opening / closing part is opened; and a control part for controlling the opening and closing of the opening / closing part. A carbon dioxide gas injection device comprising: a first releasing step of releasing a gas at a flow rate less than the flow rate of carbon dioxide gas injected into the liquid inside the container; a second releasing step of releasing gas at a flow rate greater than that of the first releasing step; A carbon dioxide gas injection method comprising the steps of:

18. a gas source filled with carbon dioxide gas; a gas supply path having one end connected to the gas supply source; an adjusting mechanism provided between the gas supply source and the gas supply path, which adjusts the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas discharged from the gas supply source to a predetermined pressure or lower; a container connection portion to which the other end of the gas supply path is connected and to which the container is connected in order to inject carbon dioxide gas from the gas supply source into the container into which the liquid has been injected; a gas injection section that injects carbon dioxide gas into the liquid inside the container from the other end of the gas supply path; a release mechanism including: a release path portion having one end connected to the inside of the container and a path for releasing gas inside the container from the other end, the release path portion having an expansion portion configured to be able to expand a cross-sectional area of ​​the path; and a control portion for controlling the expansion of the expansion portion; A carbon dioxide gas injection device comprising: a first releasing step of releasing a gas at a flow rate less than the flow rate of carbon dioxide gas injected into the liquid inside the container; a second releasing step of releasing gas at a flow rate greater than that of the first releasing step; A carbon dioxide gas injection method comprising the steps of:

19. 19. The carbon dioxide gas injection method according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the pressure of the carbon dioxide gas flowing from the gas supply source to the gas supply passage is less than 1.0 MPa.

20. 20. A carbon dioxide gas injection method as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 19, wherein the gas volume of carbon dioxide gas injected into the inside of the container after the second release step is set to be approximately 4.0 GV or more.

Images