Granule feeding device

Abstract

A granule feeding device (1) comprises: a hopper (2) in which granules that are a flavoring source are stored; and a transfer unit (4) that transfers the granules from the hopper (2) to a container (6) that constitutes a cartridge. The hopper (2) forms a granule layer (20) by fluidizing the granules. The transfer unit (4) has a cylinder array in which a plurality of cylinders (16) for capturing granules from the granule layer (20) are arrayed. The granule layer (20) has formed therein an insertion area (50) into which the cylinder array is inserted. The hopper (2) has a leveling guide (36) that, while exposing the insertion area (50), covers the surface of the granule layer (20) in a range spanning from the upstream side to the downstream side of the insertion area (50) in the direction of granule flow.

Description

Granule filling equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a granule filling device, and more particularly to a granule filling device for filling a cartridge with granules that are a flavor source.

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cartridge manufacturing device for a non-combustion flavor inhaler, which includes a hopper storing flavor source granules and a transfer unit that transfers the granules from the hopper to a cartridge container. Specifically, the hopper has a cylindrical sidewall, an annular tray disposed radially inside the sidewall, a rotation drive unit disposed radially at the center of the tray for rotating the tray, and an upper lid that covers the tray.

[0003] The hopper has an annular chamber surrounded by the sidewalls, tray, rotary drive unit, and top cover, as described above. The hopper rotates the tray in one direction using the rotary drive unit, causing the granules to flow in the direction of rotation and forming a granule layer within the chamber. The transfer unit has a cylinder array in which multiple cylinders are arranged. The cylinder array is inserted into the granule layer through an insertion port formed in the top cover and then pulled out, capturing the granules with each cylinder. A reciprocating piston is arranged within each cylinder.

[0004] The transfer unit configured in this manner fills the cartridge container with granules by lowering the piston to push the granules out of the cylinder. A leveling plate is provided in the hopper at a position that does not contact the tray, extending in the direction of tray rotation (i.e., the direction of granule flow) and at a predetermined angle relative to the direction of granule flow. The leveling plate makes the thickness of the granule layer uniform by contacting the surface of the granule layer and smoothes the surface of the granule layer. This ensures that the weight of the granule agglomerates captured in each cylinder is uniform.

[0005] International Publication No. 2020 / 084765

[0006] An insertion zone into which the cylinder array is inserted is formed in the granule layer near the side wall. The leveling plate is located upstream of the insertion zone in the direction of granule flow in the chamber and smooths the surface of the granule layer upstream of the insertion zone. However, because centrifugal force acts on the granules as the tray rotates, the thickness of the granule layer after being smoothed by the leveling plate increases slightly as it reaches the insertion zone for the cylinder array.

[0007] Furthermore, the thickness of the granule layer gradually increases from the insertion area toward the side wall of the hopper due to the action of centrifugal force, which causes variations in the insertion depth of each cylinder into the granule layer, resulting in variations in the amount of granules captured by each cylinder and ultimately variations in the weight of granules filled into the cartridge, making it impossible to stabilize the quality of the cartridge.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and has an object to provide a granule filling device that can stabilize the quality of cartridges filled with granules.

[0009] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, one embodiment of a granule filling device comprises a hopper in which granules that are a flavor source are stored, and a transfer unit that transfers the granules from the hopper to a container that constitutes a cartridge, the hopper forms a granule layer by causing the granules to flow, the transfer unit has a cylinder row in which multiple cylinders are arranged to capture granules from the granule layer, an insertion area into which the cylinder row is inserted is formed in the granule layer, and the hopper has a leveling guide that exposes the insertion area and covers the surface of the granule layer in a range from the upstream side to the downstream side of the insertion area in the direction of flow of the granules.

[0010] According to the above aspect, it is possible to stabilize the quality of the cartridge filled with granules.

[0011] 9 is a side view including a partial cross section of a granule filling device. FIG. 9 is a partial cross section of a hopper when granules are captured by a cylinder. FIG. 9 is a cross section of the container and base when granules are filled into the container. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the hopper as seen from above. FIG. 9 is a top view of a leveling guide. FIG. 9 is a cross section of the granule layer after each cylinder is inserted through the opening in the case of FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the weight of each cartridge filled with granules captured by each cylinder, the average weight of each cartridge, and the variation in weight when the weights are measured multiple times in a conventional granule filling device. FIG. 9 is a graph showing the weight of each cartridge filled with granules captured by each cylinder, the average weight of each cartridge, and the variation in weight when the weights are measured multiple times in the granule filling device of this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a top view of a leveling guide according to a modified example. FIG. 9 is a cross section of the granule layer after each cylinder is inserted through the opening in the case of FIG.

[0012] A granule filling device 1 according to an embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a side view including a partial cross section of the granule filling device 1. The granule filling device 1 is provided in a manufacturing device for cartridges (sometimes called capsules) connected to a non-combustion type flavor inhaler. Note that the configuration other than the granule filling device 1 is the same as that described in the aforementioned Patent Document 1, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. The granule filling device 1 includes a hopper 2 in which granules, which are a flavor source, are stored, and a transfer unit 4 that transfers the granules from the hopper 2 to a container 6 that constitutes the cartridge.

[0013] The cartridge is connected to a flavor inhaler, and a flavor aerosol is generated by aerating or heating the granules in the container 6 with the flavor inhaler, and the user inhales the aerosol. The granules are in a powder form with predetermined viscosity and cohesiveness, and contain, for example, tobacco material. The containers 6 are supplied to a plurality of pockets 10 formed in the base 8 by a container supply unit (not shown). The base 8 is attached to a drum (not shown) that rotates intermittently at a predetermined pitch.

[0014] The transfer unit 4 has a disk 14 that is rotated and elevated by a rotary / elevating mechanism 12. A cylinder row consisting of, for example, ten cylinders 16 that are open downward and arranged in a straight line is attached to the disk 14 in pairs facing each other in the horizontal direction. A piston 18 is disposed within each cylinder 16 so that it can reciprocate up and down. Each piston 18 is elevated and lowered in synchronization with the elevation and lowering of the disk 14. Note that the number of cylinders 16 that constitute the cylinder row and the arrangement of the cylinder row can be changed.

[0015] The disk 14 is intermittently rotated 180 degrees by the rotary lifting mechanism 12 in synchronization with the intermittent rotation of the drum, and the cylinder rows are intermittently positioned above the base 8 and above the hopper 2. In synchronization with this positioning, the disk 14 is lowered by the rotary lifting mechanism 12, and the lower end of each cylinder 16 of one of the cylinder rows (the right side as viewed in FIG. 1 ) is inserted from above into the granule layer 20 formed in the hopper 2.

[0016] 2 shows a partial cross-sectional view of the hopper 2 when granules are captured by the cylinders 16. Each cylinder 16 inserted into the granule layer 20 rises in the direction of the arrow as the disk 14 rises, capturing the granules in the space formed below the piston 18 in the cylinder 16. This forms a sinkhole 22 in the granule layer 20. Granules that protrude from the lower end of the cylinder 16 when capturing the granules are blown away and removed by air ejected from the air scraper 24.

[0017] The granules captured in the cylinder 16 become a columnar mass 26 in which many powder particles are bound together by their mutual adhesiveness and cohesiveness. The mass 26 is held to the inner surface of the cylinder 16 by its own adhesive force (or frictional force), and therefore does not fall from the cylinder 16. Note that the capture of the granules from the granule layer 20 is not limited to being performed in the space formed below the piston 18 in the cylinder 16. For example, the granules may be sucked up and captured from the granule layer 20 by generating a suction pressure in the cylinder 16.

[0018] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the container 6 and the base 8 when granules are filled into the container 6. The cylinder row including the cylinder 16 shown in Figure 2 moves to the position of the other cylinder row (on the left side as viewed in Figure 1) as shown in Figure 1 by rotating the disk 14 180 degrees. Then, the lower end of each cylinder 16 is positioned close to the opening of the container 6 arranged in each pocket 10 of the base 8 or inside the container 6 when the disk 14 descends.

[0019] As the other row of cylinders is positioned, the pistons 18 disposed in the cylinders 16 simultaneously descend, and the masses 26 captured in the cylinders 16 are pushed out by the pistons 18, and as shown in Figure 3, they fall and fill each container 6. Next, the disks 14 and pistons 18 ascend, and one row of cylinders is withdrawn from the granule layer 20.

[0020] At the same time, the other row of cylinders moves away from each container 6, and the disks 14 are rotated 180° to wait for the next filling process. Meanwhile, the mass 26 transferred to and filled in the container 6 is compressed inside the container 6 by a pusher (not shown). A filter (not shown) is then supplied to the container 6, and finally the opening of the container 6 is welded with a cap (not shown) to complete the manufacture of the cartridge.

[0021] Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the hopper 2 as seen from above. For ease of explanation, the top lid covering the tray 32 and the granule layer 20 are not shown in Figure 4. Also, the aforementioned Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 4. The hopper 2 is provided with a cylindrical side wall 30, an annular tray 32 disposed radially inside the side wall 30, a rotation drive unit 34 disposed at the radial center of the tray 32 and rotating the tray 32, a top lid covering the tray, a leveling guide 36, and two leveling plates 38.

[0022] The hopper 2 has a ring-shaped chamber 40 surrounded by a side wall 30, a tray 32, a rotary drive unit 34, and a top lid. The hopper 2 rotates the tray 32 in one direction indicated by the arrow using the rotary drive unit 34, causing the granules to flow in this direction of rotation and forming a granule layer 20 in the chamber 40. The top lid is also provided with a level sensor 44 for detecting the thickness of the granule layer 20, a granule inlet 46, and an insertion port 48 for the cylinder array, as shown by the dashed lines in Fig. 4 .

[0023] The amount of granules introduced through the introduction port 46 is controlled in accordance with the layer thickness detected by the level sensor 44. This allows the granule layer 20 to reach a predetermined layer thickness in the chamber 40. Each leveling plate 38 is shaped like an elongated plate and is located downstream of the insertion port 48 in the direction of granule flow in the chamber 40. On the other hand, the leveling guide 36, which will be described in detail later, is composed of a block portion 52 and a plate portion 54, and covers the surface of the granule layer 20 surrounding the insertion region 50 of the cylinder row located directly below the insertion port 48.

[0024] The leveling guide 36 and each leveling plate 38 extend along the rotation direction of the tray 32, i.e., the flow direction of the granules, substantially at a predetermined angle relative to the flow direction of the granules, and are arranged in positions in the chamber 40 so as not to contact the tray 32, and are fixed to one or two support posts 42. Each support post 42 is supported by the upper lid and protrudes from the upper lid toward the tray 32. The leveling guide 36 and each leveling plate 38 make the thickness of the granule layer 20 uniform and smooth the surface of the granule layer 20.

[0025] 5 shows a top view of the leveling guide 36. An insertion region 50 into which the cylinder row is inserted is formed in the granular layer 20 near the side wall 30. The leveling guide 36 of this embodiment exposes the insertion region 50 directly below an insertion opening 48 (see FIG. 4 ) for the cylinder row formed in the top cover, and covers the surface of the granular layer 20 in a range from the upstream side P1 to the downstream side P2 of the insertion region 50 in the flow direction of the granules, and extending to the side wall 30.

[0026] More specifically, the leveling guide 36 of this embodiment is composed of a block portion 52 and a plate portion 54. As shown in Fig. 2, the block portion 52 is formed in a block shape including a first guide wall 56 and a second guide wall 58. The first guide wall 56 extends at a predetermined angle with respect to the flow direction of the granules, and guides some of the granules on the upstream side P1 that tend to flow toward the insertion region 50 and the side wall 30 due to the action of centrifugal force in a direction along the first guide wall 56, causing them to flow toward the downstream side P2.

[0027] The second guide wall 58 is positioned opposite the side wall 30 and is formed as a step portion continuing from the block portion 52 to the plate portion 54. The plate portion 54 is formed in a plate shape continuing to the block portion 52 via the second guide wall 58. An opening 60 is formed in the plate portion 54 between the side wall 30 and the second guide wall 58, exposing the insertion region 50.

[0028] In the case shown in Fig. 5, the opening 60 is formed as a single slit-like elongated hole, and each cylinder 16 constituting the cylinder row is inserted into the granular layer 20 through the opening 60. As shown in Fig. 2, the upper surface 54a of the plate portion 54 is formed lower than the upper surface 52a of the block portion 52, and the lower surface 54b of the plate portion 54 is formed flush with the lower surface 52b of the block portion 52. Furthermore, as shown in Fig. 2, the wall height H of the first guide wall 56 is large enough to prevent granules flowing in the granular layer 20 from flowing toward the plate portion 54.

[0029] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. 5 , showing the granular layer 20 after each cylinder 16 constituting the cylinder row has been inserted through the opening 60. The edge of the opening 60 of the plate portion 54 is positioned immediately adjacent to the insertion region 50 of the cylinder row in the granular layer 20, and the surface of the granular layer 20 other than the insertion region 50 is covered by the plate portion 54. This makes it possible to suppress variations in the layer thickness t of the granular layer 20 in the insertion region 50, and also suppresses variations in the depth d of each depression 22 into which each cylinder 16 has been inserted.

[0030] Meanwhile, each leveling plate 38 collapses and eliminates the depressions 22 formed by the extraction of each cylinder 16 from the granular layer 20, leveling the granular layer 20 downstream of the insertion region 50. This reduces the variation in the thickness of the granular layer 20, resulting in a granular layer 20 with a smooth surface and a uniform granular distribution. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively reduce the variation in the weight of the lumps 26 captured by each cylinder 16.

[0031] 4, the hopper 2 is further provided with a stirring rod 62. The stirring rod 62 is disposed at a position approximately 90° from the insertion opening 48 to the direction of granule flow with the rotation drive unit 34 as the center. The stirring rod 62 is curved, extends across the entire radial width of the chamber 40, and is supported by two support columns 42 disposed nearby. When a sinkhole 22 is formed by the extraction of each cylinder 16 from the granule layer 20, a mass of granules compressed by the insertion of each cylinder 16 is formed below the sinkhole 22 in the granule layer 20, and this mass may stick to the tray 32 or the side wall 30.

[0032] The stirring rod 62 stirs the granules by scraping up the lower layer of the granule layer 20 and the vicinity of the side wall 30 as the granules flow, thereby suppressing the formation of granule agglomerates as described above and removing granule agglomerates that have stuck to the tray 32 and the side wall 30. By providing the stirring rod 62, it is possible to form the granule layer 20 with a uniform granule distribution and to more effectively suppress variations in the weight of the granules captured by the insertion of the cylinder 16.

[0033] 7 is a graph showing the weight of each cartridge filled with granules captured in each cylinder 16, the average weight of each cartridge, and the weight variation when the weights were measured multiple times in a conventional granule filling device. The target weight of the cartridge is 510 mg, and the bar graphs located from "ch.1" to "ch.10" in the figure show the weight of each cartridge corresponding to each cylinder 16, and "Total" shows the average weight of each cartridge, expressed as W (mg). The line graphs corresponding to the bar graphs show the weight variation of each cartridge corresponding to each cylinder 16 and the average weight variation of each cartridge, expressed as σ (mg).

[0034] In the conventional example shown in Figure 7, long leveling plates similar to the leveling plates 38 (as in Patent Document 1) are placed at the positions of the leveling guides 36, and these leveling plates level the surface of the granular layer 20 upstream of the insertion region 50. In this case, because the granules flow in the chamber 40 while being subjected to centrifugal force, the thickness of the granular layer 20 after being leveled by the leveling plates increases slightly as it reaches the insertion region 50. In addition, the thickness of the granular layer 20 gradually increases from the insertion region 50 toward the side wall 30 of the hopper 2.

[0035] This causes variations in the insertion depth of each cylinder 16 into the granule layer 20, which in turn causes variations in the amount of granules captured by each cylinder 16, and ultimately increases the variation in the weight of the granule mass 26 filled into the cartridge. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, the weight W and the variation average weight σ of each cartridge from "ch.1" to "ch.10" vary significantly, and as shown in "Total," the average of the variation average weight σ of each cartridge is as high as 10 mg.

[0036] On the other hand, Figure 8 is a graph showing the weight of each cartridge filled with granules captured in each cylinder 16, the average weight of each cartridge, and the weight variation when the weights were measured multiple times in the granule filling device 1 of this embodiment. As is clear from Figure 8, the variation in the weight W and the average weight variation σ of the cartridges "ch.1" to "ch.10" is smaller than in the conventional case of Figure 7, and the average of the average weight variation σ of each cartridge is 6.8 mg, which is about two-thirds of the variation in the case of Figure 7. As a result, the product rejection rate of manufactured cartridges, which are rejected as unacceptable products, was reduced to less than one-quarter of the conventional rate.

[0037] As described above, the leveling guide 36 provided in the granule filling apparatus 1 of this embodiment exposes the insertion region 50 of the cylinder row, while covering the surface of the granule layer 20 in the range from the upstream side P1 to the downstream side P2 of the insertion region 50 in the flow direction of the granules. This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the thickness of the granule layer 20 immediately upstream of the insertion region 50 and an increase in the thickness of the granule layer 20 in the region from the insertion region 50 toward the side wall 30 of the hopper 2, which are caused by the action of centrifugal force.

[0038] Therefore, the variation in the depth d of each depression 22, i.e., the insertion depth of each cylinder 16 into the granule layer 20, is reduced, and the variation in the amount of granules captured by each cylinder 16 is reduced, which in turn reduces the variation in the weight of the granule mass 26 filled into the container 6, i.e., the cartridge, thereby stabilizing the quality of the cartridge. More specifically, the leveling guide 36 has a block portion 52 and a plate portion 54. The block portion 52 is formed in a block shape and includes a first guide wall 56 extending at a predetermined angle with respect to the flow direction of the granules, and a second guide wall 58 positioned opposite the side wall 30.

[0039] The plate portion 54 is formed in a plate shape and connected to the block portion 52 via the second guide wall 58, and includes an opening 60 that exposes the insertion region 50 between the side wall 30 and the second guide wall 58. This allows the first guide wall 56 of the block portion 52 to guide some of the granules on the upstream side P1 in a direction along the first guide wall 56, while allowing them to flow smoothly toward the downstream side P2. In addition, the cylinder row can be smoothly inserted into the granule layer 20 through the opening 60 of the plate portion 54.

[0040] Furthermore, the wall height H of the first guide wall 56 is large enough to prevent granules flowing in the granule layer 20 from flowing toward the plate portion 54. As a result, granules whose flow into the insertion region 50 is restricted by the block portion 52 will not climb over the block portion 52 and flow toward the plate portion 54. This allows the aforementioned granule guidance and insertion of the cylinder rows to be performed more reliably and without hindrance.

[0041] Although the description of the embodiment of the present invention has been completed, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, as shown in Fig. 9, an opening 60 may be formed in the plate portion 54 for each individual cylinder 16. In this case, each cylinder 16 is inserted into the insertion region 50 of the granular layer 20 through each opening 60, and the surface of the granular layer 20 around the depression 22 formed by the insertion of the cylinder 16 is covered with the plate portion 54, as shown in Fig. 10.

[0042] This makes it possible to suppress an increase in the thickness of the granular layer 20 immediately upstream of the insertion region 50, an increase in the thickness of the granular layer 20 in the region from the insertion region 50 toward the side wall 30 of the hopper 2, and an increase in the thickness of the granular layer 20 around the sinkhole 22 in the insertion region 50. Therefore, it is possible to more strictly suppress variations in the insertion depth of each cylinder 16, variations in the amount of granules captured by each cylinder 16, and ultimately variations in the weight of the granular mass 26 filled in the container 6, i.e., the cartridge, and therefore it is possible to more effectively stabilize the quality of the cartridge.

[0043] Furthermore, the leveling guide 36 is not strictly limited to the shape of the above embodiment, as long as it covers the surface of the granular layer 20 in the range from the upstream side P1 to the downstream side P2 of the insertion region 50 and up to the sidewall 30 while exposing the insertion region 50. Specifically, as described above, the upper surface 54a of the plate portion 54 is formed lower than the upper surface 52a of the block portion 52, and the lower surface 54b of the plate portion 54 is formed flush with the lower surface 52b of the block portion 52. However, the leveling guide 36 is not limited to this, and various shapes can be adopted as long as it can cover the surface of the granular layer 20 in the above-described range.

[0044] Furthermore, some or all of the above embodiments can be expressed by describing the respective aspects shown below: (Aspect 1) A granule filling device including a hopper storing granules that are a flavor source, and a transfer unit that transfers the granules from the hopper to a container that constitutes a cartridge, wherein the hopper forms a granule layer by causing the granules to flow, the transfer unit has a cylinder row in which a plurality of cylinders are arranged to capture the granules from the granule layer, an insertion area into which the cylinder row is inserted is formed in the granule layer, and the hopper has a leveling guide that exposes the insertion area and covers the surface of the granule layer in a range from the upstream side to the downstream side of the insertion area in the flow direction of the granules.

[0045] (Aspect 2) The leveling guide of the granule filling device described in Aspect 1 has: a block portion formed in a block shape including a first guide wall extending at a predetermined angle with respect to the flow direction of the granules and a second guide wall positioned opposite the side wall of the hopper; and a plate portion connected to the block portion via the second guide wall and formed in a plate shape including an opening between the side wall and the second guide wall that exposes the insertion area.

[0046] The granule filling device according to claim 2, wherein the first guide wall has a wall height that is large enough to prevent the granules flowing in the granule layer from flowing toward the plate portion.

[0047] (Aspect 5) The hopper has a cylindrical side wall, an annular tray arranged radially inside the side wall, a rotation drive unit arranged in the radial center of the tray to rotate the tray, and an upper lid that covers the tray, and an annular chamber is formed surrounded by the side wall, the tray, the rotation drive unit, and the upper lid, and the tray is rotated in one direction by the rotation drive unit to flow the granules in that rotation direction, thereby forming the granule layer in the chamber, in the granule filling device described in Aspect 1.

[0048] (Aspect 6) A granule filling device as described in aspect 5, wherein each cylinder is inserted into the granule layer through an insertion port formed in the top lid and then pulled out to capture the granules, and each cylinder has a piston arranged therein that can move back and forth, and the piston is lowered to push the granule mass out of the cylinder and fill the mass into the container.

[0049] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 granule filling device 2 hopper 4 transfer unit 6 container 16 cylinder 18 piston 20 granule layer 26 lump 30 side wall 32 tray 34 rotation drive unit 36 ​​leveling guide 40 chamber 48 insertion opening 50 insertion area 52 block portion 54 plate portion 56 first guide wall 58 second guide wall 60 opening H wall height

Claims

1. A granule filling device comprising a hopper in which granules that are a flavor source are stored, and a transfer unit that transfers the granules from the hopper to a container that constitutes a cartridge, wherein the hopper forms a granule layer by causing the granules to flow, the transfer unit has a cylinder row in which a plurality of cylinders are arranged to capture the granules from the granule layer, an insertion area into which the cylinder row is inserted is formed in the granule layer, and the hopper has a leveling guide that exposes the insertion area and covers the surface of the granule layer in a range from the upstream side to the downstream side of the insertion area in the flow direction of the granules.

2. A granule filling device as described in claim 1, wherein the leveling guide has: a block portion formed in a block shape including a first guide wall extending at a predetermined angle with respect to the flow direction of the granules and a second guide wall positioned opposite the side wall of the hopper; and a plate portion connected to the block portion via the second guide wall and formed in a plate shape including an opening that exposes the insertion area between the side wall and the second guide wall.

3. A granule filling device as described in claim 2, wherein the wall height of the first guide wall is large enough to prevent the granules flowing in the granule layer from flowing toward the plate portion.

4. A granule filling device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the openings are formed in the plate portion for each of the cylinders.

5. The granule filling device of claim 1, wherein the hopper has a cylindrical side wall, an annular tray arranged radially inside the side wall, a rotary drive unit arranged in the radial center of the tray for driving the tray to rotate, and an upper lid for covering the tray, and wherein an annular chamber is formed surrounded by the side wall, the tray, the rotary drive unit, and the upper lid, and the tray is rotated in one direction by the rotary drive unit, thereby causing the granules to flow in that rotational direction and forming the granule layer in the chamber.

6. A granule filling device as described in claim 5, wherein each of the cylinders captures the granules by inserting it into the granule layer through an insertion port formed in the top lid and then pulling it out, and each of the cylinders has a piston arranged therein that can move back and forth, and the piston is lowered to push the granule mass out of the cylinder and fill the mass into the container.

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