Filling system

Abstract

To provide a system for conveying containers.SOLUTION: A filling system includes: first and second filling machines for filling gas into containers; a first lane for moving containers to the first filling machine; a second lane for moving containers to the second filling machine; a third lane for moving containers from the first filling machine to a first carry-out place; and a fourth lane for moving containers from the second filling machine to a second carry-out place.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a filling system, and more particularly to a filling system for filling a container (cylinder) with LP (liquefied petroleum) gas at a filling station for LP gas cylinders.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, LP gas is transported from a producing country to a port by, for example, a tanker and imported. The imported LP gas is stored at an import base on the coast or a relay base inland that stores LP gas. Further, the stored LP gas is transported to various LP gas filling stations by, for example, a tank truck. The transported LP gas is filled into a container at the LP gas filling station.

[0003] A container filled with LP gas is transported from an LP gas filling station to a container storage by, for example, a trailer towed by a tractor. The transported container is unloaded from the trailer into the storage or temporarily stored in the storage using the trailer as the storage. For example, when a container needs to be replaced at a customer's home, the stored container is loaded onto a delivery truck that transports it from the storage to each home, etc., and delivered to the customer's home by the delivery truck.

[0004] A container recovered after replacement is transported from a customer's home to a container storage by, for example, a delivery truck. The container transported to the storage is unloaded from the delivery truck into the storage and temporarily stored. Among the stored containers, those whose filling expiration date has not expired are loaded onto a trailer towed by a tractor and transported from the storage to an LP gas filling station by the trailer. The term "filling expiration date" indicates the deadline by which LP gas can be filled without undergoing the next reinspection based on regulations. The container transported to the LP gas filling station is filled with LP gas.

[0005] Containers that have expired are loaded onto dedicated container collection trucks and transported from the storage facility to a container inspection facility. At the inspection facility, the containers undergo inspections in preparation for the next refill. Containers that pass the inspection are transported to an LP gas filling station for the next refill.

[0006] Regarding equipment for transporting LP gas containers, there is a known gas container transport system that connects the container inlet and outlet of various devices that perform operations such as residual gas recovery, inspection, and gas filling, with the container receiving and shipping ports, and that automatically loads and unloads containers onto delivery vehicles (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 09-178092 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] However, at the filling plant, there was a problem in that it was not possible to quickly transport a large number of containers from the container arrival area, through the location of the filling machine assigned to each container, to the container departure area assigned to each container.

[0009] There was also the problem that it took a long time to transport containers that had passed inspection but were past their filling deadline from the container inspection facility to the filling facility.

[0010] This invention has been made in view of these problems, and its objective is to provide a filling system for rapidly transporting a large number of containers by combining multiple filling machines and lanes. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] To achieve this objective, one aspect of the present invention includes first and second filling machines for filling a container with gas, a first lane for moving the container to the first filling machine, a second lane for moving the container to the second filling machine, a third lane for moving the container from the first filling machine to a first discharge location, and a fourth lane for moving the container from the second filling machine to a second discharge location, wherein the starting point of the second lane is connected to the first lane. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to quickly transport a large number of containers from the loading point to the unloading point while filling a large number of containers with LP gas. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This is a top view illustrating a filling system according to one aspect of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a plan view illustrating a part of a filling system according to one aspect of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a front view illustrating a part of a filling system according to one aspect of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a schematic diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a filling system according to one aspect of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same reference numerals indicate the same elements.

[0015] Figure 1 is a top view illustrating a filling system according to one aspect of the present invention. The filling system for filling containers with LP gas includes conveyors 101, 1011, 10121~10128, 10131~10133, 10141~10146, 10151~10154, 101511, 101521, 101601~101618, 1017, 10171~10172, 10181~10184, which are automated devices for continuously transporting containers 105 each having a one-dimensional code attached to it for identification; branching units 1021~1028 that align the transported containers 105 in a predetermined direction of travel; cameras 10301~10310 that recognize the containers 105 and read the one-dimensional code attached to them; and filling machines 1041~1043 that fill the containers with LP gas.

[0016] Container 105 is, for example, a container after the LP gas it contained has been used in a customer's home or elsewhere. If the refilling deadline has not passed, it is a container that requires refilling with LP gas. If the refilling deadline has passed, container 105 is a container that requires inspection in preparation for the next refill.

[0017] The one-dimensional code affixed to container 105, although not shown in the illustration, may be a barcode or the like. Furthermore, instead of a one-dimensional code, any data that can uniquely identify the container and that cameras 10301-10310 can read may be used, such as a two-dimensional code including a QR code (registered trademark). Note that the container 105 shown in Figure 1 is a side view rather than a top view for illustrative purposes.

[0018] In the description herein, it is assumed that a large number of containers are transported by conveyors 101, 1011, 10121-10128, 10131-10133, 10141-10146, 10151-10154, 101511, 101521, 101601-101618, 1017, 10171-10172, and 10181-10184. However, for the sake of simplification, only one container, container 105, is shown in Figure 1.

[0019] The cameras 10301 to 10310 may be any device that can read a one-dimensional code pasted on the container 105, such as a barcode reader, a scanner, etc. In one aspect, the cameras 10301 to 10310 are installed at a position 5 meters above the upper surface of the conveyor. In FIG. 1, the number of cameras is 1 with respect to the conveyor where the camera is installed, but in another aspect, a plurality of cameras may be installed with respect to the conveyor where the camera is installed. In another aspect, the number of each camera installed with respect to each conveyor where the camera is installed may be the same or different.

[0020] The branch units 1021 to 1028 may be any machine that can maintain or change the traveling direction of the container 105 being transported by the conveyors 101, 1011, 10121 to 10128, 10131 to 10133, 10141 to 10146, 10151 to 10154, 101511, 101521, 101601 to 101618, 1017, 10171 to 10172, 10181 to 10184. The term "branch unit" used in this specification may be called an "automatic branch guide".

[0021] As will be described later with reference to FIG. 4, the branch units 1021 and 1022 cooperate with the camera 10301, the branch unit 1023 cooperates with the camera 10302, the branch unit 1024 cooperates with the camera 10303, the branch units 1025 and 1026 cooperate with the camera 10304, the branch unit 1027 cooperates with the camera 10306, and the branch unit 1028 cooperates with the camera 10310.

[0022] The filling machines 1041 to 1043 are each rotating clockwise in accordance with the speed of the conveyor while filling one or more containers with LP gas. The filling machines 1041 to 1043 may be any automatic device that continuously fills containers with LP gas, such as a 14-series fully automatic rotary filling machine.

[0023] The conveyors 101, 1011, 10121~10128, 10131~10133, 10141~10146, 10151~10154, 101511, 101521, 101601~101618, 1017, 10171~10172, and 10181~10184 can be any mechanical device that safely and automatically transports the container 105 in a continuous manner, such as a belt conveyor or a roller conveyor. Conveyors 101, 1011, 10121-10128, 10131-10133, 10141-10146, 10151-10154, 101511, 101521, 101601-101618, 1017, 10171-10172, and 10181-10184 can transport containers 105 not only in one direction but also in the opposite direction. The term "lane" as used herein refers to a device consisting of conveyors, which are automated devices for continuously transporting containers, but the terms "lane" and "conveyor" may be used interchangeably herein. Physical sensors, such as those that perform a visual function, can be installed on the lane at regular intervals, for example, about 20-40 cm, to detect containers 105 on it. Hereafter, this specification will describe one embodiment in which physical sensors are installed on the lane. However, it goes without saying that the filling system may be configured to detect containers at regular intervals in each lane by using cameras that read one-dimensional codes, without using physical sensors.

[0024] Conveyor 101 continues from the place where containers 105 are brought in, but for the sake of simplification, it is omitted in Figure 1 using a broken line. Conveyor 101601 is installed at the place where containers 105 are unloaded. Conveyor 10154 continues to the storage area where containers 105 are temporarily stored when the unloading area is unavailable due to the use of other containers, but for the sake of simplification, it is omitted in Figure 1 using a broken line.

[0025] The arrows shown in Figure 1 indicate the directions in which the container 105 can move. For example, the arrows in Figure 1 indicate the direction in which the container 105 moves from top to bottom toward Figure 1 by conveyor 101, the direction in which the container 105's direction of travel is changed by branching unit 1021 and moves from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 1011, the direction in which the container 105's direction of travel is maintained by branching unit 1022 and moves from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10121, the direction in which the container 105's direction of travel is maintained and moves from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10122, the direction in which the container 105 moves almost a full circle clockwise around the filling machine 1041 by conveyor 10131 and moves from top to bottom toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10141, and then moves from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10142. In Figure 1, arrows are omitted for the sake of simplification, but in this specification, we will mainly describe the case where container 105 moves from bottom to top by conveyor 10151, its direction of travel is changed by branching unit 1025, and it moves from left to right in Figure 1 by conveyor 101601. In this case, container 105 is filled with LP gas by filling machine 1041 and then transported out from the location where conveyor 101601 is installed.

[0026] Furthermore, if the conveyor allocated for the transport of a container filled with LP gas by the filling machine 1041 is unavailable due to other containers, in one embodiment, the container will be transported by another available conveyor from among conveyors 101601 to 101606 and transported away from the location where that conveyor is installed. If all of conveyors 101601 to 101606 are unavailable due to other containers, in one embodiment, the container will be transported from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyors 101511 and 10152, and if necessary, further transported from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyors 101521 and 10153, and then transported by an available conveyor from among conveyors 101607 to 101618 and transported away from the location where that conveyor is installed. If all of the conveyors 101601 to 101618 are unavailable for use by other containers, in one embodiment the containers are transported to a storage area by conveyor 10154 and temporarily stored.

[0027] Furthermore, the arrows shown in Figure 1 represent, for example, a container moving from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 1011, then having its direction of travel changed by branching unit 1022, moving from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10123, then having its direction of travel changed by branching unit 1023, moving from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10124, moving from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10125, then almost completing a full clockwise rotation around filling machine 1042 by conveyor 10132, moving from top to bottom toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10143, and finally moving from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10144. In this case, the container is filled with LP gas by the filling machine 1042, and in one embodiment, it is transported from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by the conveyor 10152, then transported by one of the conveyors 101607 to 101612 that is assigned for unloading, and unloaded from the location where that conveyor is installed.

[0028] Furthermore, if the conveyor allocated for the transport of a container filled with LP gas by the filling machine 1042 is unavailable due to other containers, in one embodiment, the container will be transported by another available conveyor from among conveyors 101607 to 101612 and transported away from the location where that conveyor is installed. If all of conveyors 101607 to 101612 are unavailable due to other containers, in one embodiment, the container will be transported from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyors 101521 and 10153, and then transported by another available conveyor from among conveyors 101613 to 101618 and transported away from the location where that conveyor is installed. If all of the conveyors 101607-101618 are unavailable for use by other containers, in one embodiment the container is transported from top to bottom toward Figure 1 by conveyors 101511 and 10152, then transported by one of the available conveyors 101601-101606 and removed from the location where that conveyor is installed. If all of the conveyors 101601-101618 are unavailable for use by other containers, in one embodiment the container is transported from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10153 and temporarily stored.

[0029] Furthermore, the arrows shown in Figure 1 represent, for example, a container moving from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10123, the direction of travel of the container being maintained by branching unit 1023, the direction of travel of the container being moved from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10126, the direction of travel of the container being changed by branching unit 1024, the direction of travel of the container being moved from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10127, the direction of travel of the container being moved from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10128, the direction of travel of the container being moved from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10133, almost completing a full clockwise rotation around filling machine 1043, the direction of travel of the container being moved from top to bottom toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10145, and then the direction of travel of the container being moved from left to right toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10146. In this case, the container is filled with LP gas by the filling machine 1043, and in one embodiment, it is transported from bottom to top toward Figure 1 by the conveyor 10153, then transported by one of the conveyors 101613 to 101618 that is assigned for unloading, and unloaded from the location where that conveyor is installed.

[0030] Furthermore, if the conveyor allocated for the transport of a container filled with LP gas by the filling machine 1043 is unavailable due to other containers, in one embodiment, the container will be transported by another available conveyor from among conveyors 101613 to 101618 and transported away from the location where that conveyor is installed. If all of conveyors 101613 to 101618 are unavailable due to other containers, in one embodiment, the container will be transported from top to bottom toward Figure 1 by conveyors 101521 and 10153, and if necessary, further transported from top to bottom toward Figure 1 by conveyors 101511 and 10152, and then transported by an available conveyor from among conveyors 101601 to 101612 and transported away from the location where that conveyor is installed. If all of the conveyors 101601 to 101618 are unavailable for use by other containers, in one embodiment the containers are transported to a storage area by conveyor 10154 and temporarily stored.

[0031] The arrows located directly above filling machines 1041-1043 indicate the rotation direction of each filling machine.

[0032] Conveyor 1017 is used to move expired containers, identified by data read by camera 10301, from left to right in Figure 1. Conveyors 10171 and 10172 move expired containers from top to bottom in Figure 1 to the inspection station where the containers are inspected. Conveyors 10171 and 10172 continue to the inspection station, but are omitted in Figure 1 using broken lines for simplification.

[0033] Conveyor 10181 moves containers that have been inspected and passed the inspection from the inspection station towards Figure 1, from bottom to top. Conveyor 10181 continues from the inspection station, but for the sake of simplification, it is omitted in Figure 1 using a broken line. Conveyor 10182 moves containers that have passed the inspection from right to left towards Figure 1. Conveyor 10183 moves containers from bottom to top towards Figure 1 when the direction of travel of containers moving from right to left towards Figure 1 by conveyor 10182 is changed by branching unit 1028, and moves the containers to conveyor 10121. In this case, in one embodiment, containers that have passed the inspection will be filled with LP gas by filling machine 1041.

[0034] Furthermore, when the direction of travel of the containers moving from right to left toward Figure 1 by conveyor 10182 is maintained by branching unit 1028, conveyor 10184 moves the containers from bottom to top toward Figure 1, and moves the containers to conveyor 1011. In this case, containers that pass inspection will, in one embodiment, be filled with LP gas by filling machine 1042 or filling machine 1043.

[0035] In one embodiment, conveyors 101601 to 101606 are installed at a location for unloading containers filled with LP gas by filling machine 1041. In another embodiment, conveyors 101601 to 101606 may be used to unload containers filled with LP gas by filling machine 1041, filling machine 1042, or filling machine 1043.

[0036] In one embodiment, conveyors 101607-101612 are installed at a location where containers filled with LP gas by filling machine 1042 are discharged. In another embodiment, conveyors 101607-101612 may be used to discharge containers filled with LP gas by filling machine 1041, filling machine 1042, or filling machine 1043.

[0037] In one embodiment, conveyors 101613-101618 are installed at a location for unloading containers filled with LP gas by filling machine 1043. In another embodiment, conveyors 101613-101618 may be used to unload containers filled with LP gas by filling machine 1041, filling machine 1042, or filling machine 1043.

[0038] In one embodiment, the maximum number of containers that can be placed at each location where conveyors 101601 to 101618 are installed is 40. In this case, for example, the maximum number of containers that can be placed at the locations where conveyors 101601 to 101606 are installed is 240, which may coincide with the maximum number of containers that can be loaded onto one trailer.

[0039] The conveyor, branching unit, camera, filling machine, loading area for unloading containers from trailers, loading area for loading containers onto trailers, and inspection station of the filling system shown in Figure 1 are for illustrative purposes only, and the number of conveyors, branching units, cameras, filling machines, loading areas, loading areas, and inspection stations can be changed as needed. The term "loading area" as used herein may be referred to as a stockyard.

[0040] Those skilled in the art will be able to identify conveyors and branching units whose symbols have been omitted for the sake of simplification, and will also be able to fully understand their functions and other aspects from what has been described above.

[0041] This configuration makes it possible to quickly transport large quantities of containers at the filling plant.

[0042] Figure 2 is a plan view illustrating a part of a filling system according to one aspect of the present invention. Part of the filling system for filling containers with LP gas includes conveyors 2011 and 2012, which are automated devices for continuously transporting containers 2051 to 2053, each having a one-dimensional code attached to it for identification; a branching unit 202 that aligns each of the transported containers 2051 to 2053 to a predetermined direction of travel; and cameras 2031 and 2032 that recognize each of the containers 2051 to 2053 and read the one-dimensional code attached to each of them. Note that parts of conveyors 2011 and 2012 are omitted by broken lines.

[0043] Referring to Figure 1, we explained the case where there is one camera on the conveyor. Referring to Figure 2, we will now explain the case where there are two cameras on the conveyor.

[0044] In Figure 2, conveyor 2012 moves the container from top to bottom toward Figure 2, and conveyor 2011 moves the container from left to right toward Figure 2. Figure 2 shows container 2051 moving from top to bottom toward Figure 2 by conveyor 2012, having its direction of travel changed by branching unit 202, and then moving from left to right toward Figure 2 by conveyor 2011, while containers 2052 and 2053 are moving from top to bottom toward Figure 2 by conveyor 2012, and camera 2031 or camera 2032 is reading a one-dimensional code attached to container 2052.

[0045] The explanations for containers 2051-2053, conveyors 2011 and 2012, branching unit 202, cameras 2031 and 2032, and one-dimensional codes are the same as the explanations for containers, conveyors, branching units, cameras, and one-dimensional codes in Figure 1, and are therefore omitted.

[0046] For example, if we associate conveyor 2012 with conveyor 101, conveyor 2011 with conveyor 1011, branching unit 202 with branching unit 1021, and camera 2032 with camera 10301, we can see that a part of the filling system shown in Figure 2 corresponds to a part of the filling system shown in Figure 1. However, as mentioned above, the number of cameras shown in Figure 1 is different from the number of cameras shown in Figure 2.

[0047] Figure 3 is a front view illustrating a part of a filling system according to one aspect of the present invention. The part of the filling system shown in Figure 3 is the same as the part of the filling system shown in Figure 2. Note that a part of the conveyor 2011 is omitted by the broken line.

[0048] In Figure 3, conveyor 2012 moves the container from back to front in Figure 3, and conveyor 2011 moves the container from left to right in Figure 3. Figure 3 shows container 2051 moving from back to front in Figure 3 by conveyor 2012, having its direction of travel changed by branching unit 202, and then moving from left to right in Figure 3 by conveyor 2011, while container 2052 is moving from back to front in Figure 3 by conveyor 2012, and camera 2031 or camera 2032 is reading a one-dimensional code attached to container 2052.

[0049] Note that, for the sake of simplification, the equipment and facilities for installing cameras 2031 and 2032 are not shown in Figure 3.

[0050] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the hardware configuration of a filling system according to one aspect of the present invention. The filling system 100 includes a group of lanes 402, each of which continuously transports containers; a group of branching units 403, each of which aligns the direction of travel of the containers to a predetermined direction; a group of cameras 404, each of which recognizes a container and reads a one-dimensional code attached to the container; a group of physical sensors 405, each of which is installed in the lane and detects a container; a group of filling machines 406, which fills the containers with LP gas; and a control device 401 that controls the group of lanes 402, the group of branching units 403, the group of cameras 404, the group of physical sensors 405, and the group of filling machines 406, all of which are interconnected via a network.

[0051] The control device 401 can be anything that can send and receive signals to the lane group 402, branching unit group 403, camera group 404, physical sensor group 405, and filling machine group 406 to control the filling system 100, such as a computing system, server, personal computer, tablet, smartphone, or computing device.

[0052] Lane group 402 corresponds to conveyors 101, 1011, 10121-10128, 10131-10133, 10141-10146, 10151-10154, 101511, 101521, 101601-101618, 1017, 10171-10172, and 10181-10184 in Figure 1.

[0053] The branching unit group 403 corresponds to branching units 1021 to 1028 in Figure 1. The camera group 404 corresponds to cameras 10301 to 10310 in Figure 1.

[0054] The filling machine group 406 corresponds to filling machines 1041-1043 in Figure 1.

[0055] The control device 401 can pre-store data for each container that associates the container identifier, one-dimensional code, and filling deadline. The control device 401 can pre-store data for each lane of the lane group 402, each branching unit of the branching unit group 403, each camera of the camera group 404, each physical sensor of the physical sensor group 405, and each filling machine of the filling machine group 406, regarding their respective identifiers. The control device 401 can pre-store data that associates the lane with each branching unit, camera, physical sensor, and filling machine. The control device 401 can pre-store data for the identifier of the container discharge location, and data that associates the discharge location with the lane installed at the discharge location. The control device 401 can pre-store data for the identifier of the inspection station, and data that associates the inspection station with the lane installed at the inspection station.

[0056] When the control device 401 reads the one-dimensional code attached to a container using a camera installed at the entrance of the filling plant, it identifies each container based on the read one-dimensional code and determines whether the identified container is to be filled or to be inspected.

[0057] If the identified container is a container to be filled, the control device 401 assigns a discharge location and a filling machine from the filling machine group 406 to the identified container. For example, for container 105, the discharge location where conveyor 101601 is installed and the filling machine 1041 are assigned. Based on pre-held data, the control device 401 identifies the lane associated with the discharge location and filling machine from the lane group 402. Furthermore, based on pre-held data, the control device 401 identifies branching units from the branching unit group 403 for the identified lane. For example, for container 105, conveyors 101, 1011, 10121, 10122, 10131, 10141, 10142, 10151, and 101601 are identified, and branching units 1021, 1022, and 1025 are also identified.

[0058] If the identified container is the container to be inspected, the control device 401 assigns an inspection station to the identified container. Based on pre-held data, the control device 401 identifies the lane associated with the inspection station from the lane group 402. Furthermore, based on pre-held data, the control device 401 identifies a branching unit from the branching unit group 403 for the identified lane.

[0059] The control device 401 transmits a signal to the identified branching unit for transporting the identified container. For example, data for transporting container 105 is transmitted to branching units 1021, 1022, and 1025.

[0060] When a branching unit receives a signal from the control device 401 to transport an identified container, it directs the transported container in the direction of travel based on the received signal. For example, branching unit 1021 directs container 105 toward conveyor 1011, branching unit 1022 toward conveyor 10121, and branching unit 1025 toward conveyor 10151.

[0061] Each lane in the lane group 402 moves a container.

[0062] When a moving container approaches, each camera in the camera group 404 reads the one-dimensional code attached to the approaching container and transmits the data of the read one-dimensional code to the control device 401.

[0063] Each physical sensor in the physical sensor group 405 transmits data to the control device 401 indicating that it has detected a moving container when the container passes in front of it.

[0064] When the control device 401 receives one-dimensional code data from the camera group 404, it identifies the container and, if the identified container is to be filled, identifies the discharge location and filling machine assigned to the identified container. If the identified container is to be inspected, it identifies the inspection station assigned to the identified container. Based on pre-held data, the control device 401 identifies the lane associated with the discharge location and filling machine, respectively, or the lane associated with the inspection station. Based on the data detecting the container received from the physical sensor group 405, the control device 401 determines whether there is an available lane in the identified lane.

[0065] If it is determined that there is an available lane in the identified lane, the control device 401 maintains the assigned discharge location and filling machine or inspection station for the identified container. If it is determined that there is no available lane in the identified lane, the control device 401 releases the assigned discharge location and filling machine or inspection station for the identified container and assigns a new available discharge location and filling machine or inspection station based on the container detection data received from the physical sensor group 405. For example, if there is no available space on conveyor 101601 for container 105, then if there is space on conveyors 101602 to 101606, the container will be reassigned to the unloading area and filling machine 1041 where an available conveyor is installed. If there is no space on conveyors 101602 to 101606 and there is space on conveyors 101607 to 101612, the container will be reassigned to the unloading area and filling machine 1042 where an available conveyor is installed. Alternatively, if there is no space on conveyors 101602 to 101612 and there is space on conveyors 101613 to 101618, the container will be reassigned to the unloading area and filling machine 1043 where an available conveyor is installed. If none of the conveyors 101601 to 101618 are available, in one embodiment, the filling system 100 will stop until other containers are unloaded from the unloading area and one of the conveyors 101601 to 101618 becomes available.

[0066] The control device 401 can repeat the process described above each time it receives one-dimensional code data from the camera group 404. Eventually, the recognized container is filled with LP gas by the filling machine of the filling machine group 406.

[0067] After the recognized container is filled with LP gas by the filling machine of the filling machine group 406, the control device 401, upon finally receiving the one-dimensional code data from the camera group 404, determines, based on the container detection data received from the physical sensor group 405, whether there is an empty lane corresponding to the discharge location assigned to the container identified by the received data. If there is an empty lane, the assigned discharge location is maintained, and the container identified by the received data is discharged from the maintained discharge location. For example, when the control device 401 receives the one-dimensional code data of container 105 from camera 10304, it determines whether there is an empty conveyor 101601 corresponding to the discharge location assigned to container 105. If there is an empty lane, the discharge location where conveyor 101601 is installed is maintained, and container 105 is discharged from the discharge location where conveyor 101601 is installed.

[0068] If the received data determines that there are no available lanes corresponding to the discharge location assigned to a container identified by that container, the control device 401 will release the container from its assigned discharge location and, based on the data received from the physical sensor group 405 detecting the container, will newly assign it to an available discharge location. For example, for container 105, if there are available conveyors 101602 to 101606, it will newly assign a discharge location with an available conveyor; if there are no available conveyors 101602 to 101606 and there are available conveyors 101607 to 101612, it will assign a discharge location with an available conveyor; or if there are no available conveyors 101602 to 101612 and there are available conveyors 101613 to 101618, it will newly assign a discharge location with an available conveyor. If none of the conveyors 101601 to 101618 are available, in one embodiment, the container 105 is transported to the storage area by conveyor 10154.

[0069] Furthermore, if the control device 401 needs to reverse the direction in which containers are transported to a lane in the lane group 402, it can send a signal to the lane where the container transport direction needs to be reversed. For example, if there is no space on conveyors 101607 to 101618 for a container filled with LP gas by the filling machine 1042, it may be necessary to reverse the direction in which containers 105 are transported to conveyor 101511. For example, if there is no space on conveyors 101607 to 101618 for a container filled with LP gas by the filling machine 1043, it may be necessary to reverse the direction in which containers 105 are transported to conveyors 101511, 10152, and 101521.

[0070] Such a system makes it possible at filling stations to rapidly transport large quantities of containers, fill them with LP gas, inspect them, and then remove them. [Industrial applicability]

[0071] This makes it easier to use the same filling facility not only for one's own containers but also for containers from other companies. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0072] 100 Systems 101 Conveyor 1011 Conveyor 10121 Conveyor 10122 Conveyor 10123 Conveyor 10124 Conveyor 10125 Conveyor 10126 Conveyor 10127 Conveyor 10128 Conveyor 10131 Conveyor 10132 Conveyor 10133 Conveyor 10141 Conveyor 10142 Conveyor 10143 Conveyor 10144 Conveyor 10145 Conveyor 10146 Conveyor 10151 Conveyor 101511 Conveyor 10152 Conveyor 101521 Conveyor 10153 Conveyor 10154 Conveyor 101601 Conveyor 101602 Conveyor 101603 Conveyor 101604 Conveyor 101605 Conveyor 101606 Conveyor 101607 Conveyor 101608 Conveyor 101609 Conveyor 101610 Conveyor 101611 Conveyor 101612 Conveyor 101613 Conveyor 101614 Conveyor 101615 Conveyor 101616 Conveyor 101617 Conveyor 101618 Conveyor 1017 Conveyor 10171 Conveyor 10172 Conveyor 10181 Conveyor 10182 Conveyor 10183 Conveyor 10184 Conveyor 1021 Branch Unit 1022 Branch Unit 1023 Branch Unit 1024 Branch Unit 1025 Branch Unit 1026 Branch Unit 1027 Branch Unit 1028 Branch Unit 10301 Camera 10302 Camera 10303 Camera 10304 Camera 10305 Camera 10306 Camera 10307 Camera 10308 Camera 10309 Camera 10310 Camera 1041 Filling machine 1042 Filling machine 1043 Filling machine 105 Container 2011 Conveyor 2012 Conveyor 202 Branch Unit 2031 Camera 2032 Camera 2051 Container 2052 Container 2053 Container 401 Control Unit 402 lanes 403 Branch Unit Group 404 Camera Group 405 Physical Sensor Group 406 Filling Machine Group

Claims

1. A first and second filling machine for filling a container with gas, A first lane for moving the container to the first filling machine, A second lane for moving the container to the second filling machine, A third lane connected to the first lane, which moves the container from a first position to a second position around the first filling machine, wherein the first filling machine rotates at the same speed as the third lane moves the container, and fills the container with the gas while the container is moving from the first position to the second position, A fourth lane connected to the second lane, which moves the container from a third position to a fourth position around the second filling machine, wherein the second filling machine rotates at the same speed as the fourth lane moves the container, and fills the container with the gas while the container is moving from the third position to the fourth position, A fifth lane connected to the third lane and used to move the container from the first filling machine to the first discharge location, A sixth lane connected to the fourth lane and used to move the container from the second filling machine to the second discharge location, the sixth lane being different from the fifth lane, A seventh lane is connected to the fifth and sixth lanes, and moves the containers in a direction that moves them from the second filling machine to the first discharge location if the lane at the second discharge location is unavailable, and moves the containers in a direction that moves them from the first filling machine to the second discharge location if the lane at the first discharge location is unavailable. A filling system comprising the above, wherein the starting point of the second lane is connected to the first lane.

2. The filling system according to claim 1, further comprising an eighth lane for moving the containers to a storage area.

3. The filling system according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a ninth lane for transporting the containers to the inspection station.

4. The filling system according to claim 3, further comprising a tenth lane for moving the containers from the inspection station to the filling machine.

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