JP3239386B2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention sterilizes cartons formed in various liquid paper containers, such as milk or juice, which are referred to as a gabelle top type, and applies the sterilized cartons to a liquid filling device. Concerning the sterilizer to send

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, paper containers for containing liquid beverages are
It is formed from a laminated material in which paper is the main material and polyethylene, aluminum, etc. are laminated. In the case of manufacturing such a paper container, a cylindrical carton having a rectangular cross section with both ends opened is formed. After the carton is completely sterilized, one end of the carton is heated, temporarily folded, and sealed by a forming and filling apparatus to form a bottom portion into a flat bottom shape. Thereafter, the required liquid beverage is filled, and the upper end is formed in a gable shape to complete the paper container.

An example of a sterilizer for sterilizing such a carton is described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-43330. This conventional sterilizing apparatus is placed in a sterile room which is entirely closed. In this sterile room, a sterilizing tank containing a sterilizing solution and a cleaning tank containing sterile water for cleaning are juxtaposed with each other. The sterilizing tank and the cleaning tank are wound around a drive sprocket above the sterile room. And the lower end of the endless chain which is suspended from now enters. On the outer periphery of these endless chains,
A large number of carton holders for holding the carton in a state of being slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal direction are mounted, and are intermittently rotated by a driving sprocket in synchronization with each other.

Further, above the sterilizing tank and the washing tank, the carton holder is disposed at an angle equal to the inclination angle of the carton holder and reciprocates in synchronization with the endless chain. A transport rod provided with a plurality of claw members which are locked and sent to the next step is arranged.

When the endless chain of the sterilization tank is rotated, the cartons held in the carton holder are sequentially immersed in the sterilization tank to sterilize the entire inner and outer surfaces, and then lifted up. When the endless chain is stopped, the carton that has been sterilized is pressed from one end side by the claw member of the transport rod and extruded from the carton holder, and further attached to the carton holder of the endless chain running in the cleaning tank. You. The carton, which is also immersed in the washing tank and raised from this, is washed off the disinfectant.

According to the conventional sterilizing apparatus, since each carton holder is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, the sterilizing agent and aseptic water flow down from the inside of the carton from the lower end side when being lifted from the sterilizing tank and the washing tank. In addition to reducing carry-in of the germicide into the washing tank, removal of water droplets from the carton is facilitated, so that the carton can be sterilized and the germicide can be removed efficiently.

[0007]

However, in this conventional sterilizing apparatus, the carton holders of the respective endless chains are arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, so that the carton is conveyed by the conveying rod in the same direction. In order to match with an accessory device or a molding / filling device in a later process, there is a great restriction in mechanical design and mechanical assembly. Further, since each carton is transported along its longitudinal direction, the size of the sterilizing device in the transporting direction becomes longer, and the entire sterilizing device becomes larger.

[0008] The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing apparatus capable of efficiently sterilizing a carton and removing a sterilizing agent and reducing the space of the entire apparatus.

[0009]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a carton formed in a liquid paper container having both ends opened, and sending the sterilized carton to a liquid filling apparatus. A sterilization tank for immersing and sterilizing the carton, a cleaning tank that is juxtaposed with the sterilization tank, and a cleaning tank for washing off the sterilizing agent attached to the carton, and disposed inside the sterilization tank and the cleaning tank, respectively, A plurality of carton holders for holding both open ends in the vertical direction at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and intermittently rotating in synchronization with each other in the tank, and when each of these tank turrets stops. It has at least two carton holders arranged coaxially above one carton holder of each turret in each tank, rotates intermittently in synchronization with each turret in each tank, and rotates the turret in the sterilization tank. Receive cartons from bets and characterized in that it comprises a transfer turret to transfer the carton to which the Tank turret of the cleaning tank.

This sterilizing apparatus has a plurality of radially arranged mandrels having a sterile air jet nozzle at a tip end thereof, and a water drop removing apparatus which rotates intermittently in synchronization with the turrets in each of the tanks in a vertical plane. The plurality of mandrels
One of the turrets is disposed coaxially above one of the carton holders in the tub in the cleaning tank when the rotation of the water drop removing device is stopped, and is fed from the turret in the tank in the cleaning tank. The inner surface of the carton can be blown with sterile air to remove water droplets.

[0011]

According to the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention, the carton is immersed in the sterilizing tank, and the whole is sterilized with the sterilizing agent while being rotated by the turret in the tank with both open ends arranged vertically. When the carton reaches the position where it is arranged coaxially with the carton holder of this upper transfer turret, it is fed from the carton holder of the turret in the tank of the sterilization tank to the carton holder of the transfer turret. The carton is fed with both open ends facing up and down, with the fungicide flowing down from the carton. Then, when the transfer turret rotates and the carton holder holding the carton reaches a position coaxially arranged with the carton holder of the turret in the cleaning tank, the carton is sent from the transfer turret to the turret in the tank of the cleaning tank. . In the same manner as in the sterilizing tank, the carton is rotated by the turret in the tank with both open ends arranged up and down, so that the sterilizing agent is washed off from the whole.

Further, in the sterilization apparatus provided with the water drop removing device, the carton is sent from the turret in the tank to a mandrel arranged coaxially with the carton holder on the turret in the tank in the washing tank. When the carton is mounted on the mandrel, water droplets are removed by aseptic air ejected from the aseptic air ejection nozzle at the tip of the mandrel. When the mandrel with the carton rotates to the required position, the carton is sent out from the mandrel for the next process.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0014]

1 and 2 show a sterilizing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
0, the sterilizer 10 is, for example, the aforementioned gate.
This is used for an aseptic filling and packaging machine for filling and packaging a bell-top type container.

The sterilizing apparatus 10 has a housing 12 and is entirely housed in a sterile room formed in the housing 12. The carton 9 formed in the beverage paper container is supplied from a supply station 14 on the right side of the drawing, sterilized by a sterilization station 16, washed by a cleaning station 18, and removed by a water drop removal station 20. The germicide is blown off together with the water drop. The carton sterilized by the sterilizer 10 is carried out to the next molding device, where one end is heated,
It is temporarily folded and sealed to form a flat bottom. In the subsequent packaging device, the required liquid beverage is filled, and the upper end is formed in a gable shape to complete a paper container. Reference numeral 22 denotes a bottom forming device having a plurality of mandrels for mounting the carton 9.

FIG. 2 shows a supply station 14 disposed along one longitudinal side of the housing 12 of the sterilizer 10.
1 shows a series of stations from to a water drop removing station 20. The aseptic apparatus 10 may have a double-type configuration in which a series of such stations are arranged in a pair in the housing 12, or a single-type sterilizing apparatus in which each station is disposed in a sterile chamber, or each station. May be used as a sterilization device in which three or more are disposed side by side. Reference numeral 24 denotes a traverse chain for feeding the carton 9 from the disinfectant removing station 20 to the bottom forming device 22.

The sterilizing station 16 is provided with a sterilizing tank 26 containing, as a sterilizing agent, 35% by weight of hydrogen peroxide heated to about 80 ° C., for example. Further, a washing tank 28 is arranged in the washing station 18, and sterile water completely sterilized by an aseptic filter is stored in the washing tank 28 as a washing liquid. In order to more completely remove the germicide, the washing liquid is preferably maintained at a temperature of 60 ° C. or more and about 80 ° C., and the concentration of the germicide is preferably maintained at a predetermined value or less until new sterile hot water is supplied.

In the sterilizing tank 26, the carton 9 sent from the supply station 14 is received, and a turret 30 in the tank that rotates in the sterilizing tank 26 while holding both open ends of the carton in a vertical direction is arranged. I have. A turret 70 in the tank is also arranged in the cleaning tank 28.
In order to provide a structure similar to that of the sterilization tank 26, only the in-tank turret 30 of the sterilization tank 26 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 3, the in-tank turret 30 has a drive shaft 34 arranged substantially vertically, and the tip of each of the turning arms 38 extending at equal intervals from a boss portion 36 at an intermediate portion of the drive shaft 34. , A cell, that is, a carton holder 40 is fixed.

The lower end of the drive shaft 32 is connected to the sterilization tank 2.
6 is supported by a bearing block 32 fixed to the bottom wall. The upper end side extends through the housing 12 (FIG. 1) and is intermittently rotated, for example, by 30 degrees by a drive mechanism (not shown). The rotation of the drive shaft 32 causes the twelve (see FIG. 2) pivot arms 38 in this embodiment and the carton holder 40 at the tip thereof to rotate in the sterilization tank 26.

The carton holder 40 of this embodiment is formed in a hollow box shape having a cross section larger than that of the carton 9. The edge of the upper end opening into which the carton 9 is inserted and sent out is widened outward, and a vertical groove 42 is formed on the outer peripheral side wall to prevent interference with a feeding mechanism described later. A substantially U-shaped fall prevention plate 44 is attached to the bottom of the carton holder 40, and an appropriate window is formed on the side wall. It reduces medium resistance. This allows
When the carton holder 40 is rotated in the sterilization tank 26, the four corners of the carton 9 are firmly held to prevent the carton 9 from being crushed into a flat state, and the fall prevention plate 44 prevents the carton 9 from falling off.

In order to supply the carton 9 to the carton holder 40, a carton supply device 48 is arranged at the carton supply station 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, the carton supply device 48 includes a hopper 50 containing a large number of cartons 9 which are folded flat, and a suction device 52 which moves in and out of the hopper 50 in a horizontal direction. The suction device 52 has a suction cup 51 facing the hopper 50. This sucker 5
Numeral 1 is connected to an external vacuum pressure source, and can abut against the side wall of the carton 9 to suck it.

When the carton 9 is supplied by the supply device 48, the suction device 52 is advanced, and the suction cup 51 sucks the side wall of the carton 9. Thereafter, the suction device 52 is retracted, and the carton 9 is pulled out from the hopper while suctioning the side wall. The carton 9 is unfolded along the forming plate 54 having a curved surface shape and is pulled out to a position coaxially arranged above the carton holder 40 as shown in FIG. And is held by a guide rail 56 having an L-shaped cross section. At this time, the suction cup 51 is shut off from the vacuum pressure source,
The carton 9 is formed in a rectangular sleeve shape supported by the guide rail 56 and the rail portion 55. And it is sent out to the carton holder 40 of the turret 30 in a tank by a sending mechanism.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the feed mechanism 58
Is formed by winding a chain 64 around a pair of upper and lower sprockets 60 and 62, and attaching a claw member 66 bent in a key shape for delivering the carton 9 to the chain 64. The driving sprocket 62 rotates continuously, and the chain 64 and the claw member 66 are moved in the direction indicated by an arrow X as shown in FIG.
Run in the direction of. As shown in FIG. 4B, the pawl member 66 abuts on the upper end of the carton 9 supported by the guide rail 56 and the rail portion 55, and slides the carton 9 downward to attach it to the carton holder 40. It is fed and immersed in the sterilization tank 26.

FIG. 5 shows details of such a feed mechanism 58. As shown in FIG. 5B, the base 66 of the claw member 66 is formed.
a is rotatably attached to a chain 64 by a pin 63. The base 66a is provided with legs 65, 65 which are in sliding contact with a claw guide 67 described later, and a pressing portion 66b extends in a key shape from the opposite side of the leg 65. The tip of the pressing portion 66b is formed in a curved surface so as not to be damaged when it comes off the carton 9. Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, a guide plate 67 extends along the traveling path of the chain 64. The guide plate 67 is provided with a notch 67a at a position facing the traveling path of the chain 64 on the side close to the carton 9, and a rail-shaped claw guide 69 is arranged in the notch 67a. The upper end 69a of the claw guide 69 is formed to be tapered, and a guide pin 59 is disposed at a position facing the upper end 69a with the chain 64 interposed therebetween. The guide pin 59 is engaged with the base end of the claw member 66 to make the claw member 66 stand upright.

Therefore, the pawl member 6 together with the chain 64
When the base member 6 is moved and the base end thereof abuts on the guide pin 59, the claw member 66 falls down and the claw guide 69 is brought into contact with the leg 65,
65 are fitted. The pawl member 66 feeds the rectangular sleeve-shaped carton 9 supported by the guide rail 56 and the rail portion 55 to the lower carton holder 40 while being guided upright with respect to the chain 64 (FIG. 4). Thereafter, when reaching the lower end of the claw guide 69, the tip of the claw member 66 is moved by the guide plate 67 to the chain 6 as shown in the lower side of FIG.
4 and the engagement with the carton 9 is released. The claw member 66 is further moved while its tip is guided by the guide plate 67, and the above cycle is repeated.

In the feed mechanism 58, only one claw member 66 is attached to the chain 64, and by continuously running the chain 64, the time for the claw member 66 to press and move the carton 9 and the engagement with the carton 9 are achieved. Ratio of empty time (ie the length of carton 9 and sprockets 60,6)
It is easy to match the running timing with respect to the in-tank turret 30 by the ratio with the distance between the two.

After the carton 9 is fed from the supply station 14 to the carton holder 40 of the in-tank turret 30 by such a feed mechanism 58, the feeder 48 is again fed from the hopper 50 as shown in FIG. 9 is pulled out, the in-tank turret 30 is rotated, for example, by 30 degrees and stopped, and the above process is repeated. Then, when the carton 9 rotates by 180 degrees in the sterilizing tank 26, the sterilizing step is completed.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 1
Inside 2, a transfer turret 72 is arranged so as to straddle the sterilizing tank 26 and the washing tank 28.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the transfer turret 72 has at least two carton holders 72a coaxially arranged above one carton holder 40 of each of the in-tank turrets 30, 70. , And intermittently rotate, for example, by 180 degrees in synchronization with the turrets 30 and 70 in the tank, and move from the turret 30 in the tank of the sterilization tank 26 to the cleaning tank 28.
The carton 9 can be transferred to the turret 70 in the tank. Carton holder 72a of this transfer turret 72
Can be formed by four guide rails having an L-shaped cross section for slidingly guiding the four corners of the carton 9 as shown.
In addition, the carton holder 40 of the turret 30 in the tank
However, in this case, the fall prevention plate 72 (FIG. 3) is not required, and the lower end is spread outward to facilitate the insertion and removal of the carton 9. In each case,
A predetermined gap is provided between the carton holders 72a, 72a,
It is desirable not to interfere with the feed mechanisms 71a and 71b arranged between them.

FIG. 6B shows a feed mechanism 71a for feeding the carton 9 to the carton holder 72a of the transfer turret 72.
Is shown. In the feed mechanism 71a, the pawl member 73 is attached to the chain 74 by two pins. One of the pins is guided in an arc-shaped guide groove 73 a formed in the claw member 73, and between the protruding position where the tip of the claw member 73 protrudes from the traveling path of the chain 74 and the retracted position where the claw member 73 is retracted toward the chain 74. Can be moved. Further, a guide rail 74 extends along the traveling path of the chain 73 close to the carton 9. When the claw member 74 reaches a position facing the lower end of the carton 9, the claw member 73 is arranged at the projecting position by the guide rail 74, and is returned to the retracted position when the movement of the carton 9 is completed. Transfer turret 7
The feed mechanism 71b for feeding the carton 9 from the second carton holder 72a to the turret 70 in the washing tank 28 is the same as the above, and only the feeding direction is different.

In the transfer turret 72, two carton holders 72a are provided. If necessary, the carton holder 72a may be provided as shown in FIG.
The number may be eight, or may be eight, and it is preferable to rotate intermittently by 90 degrees when four carton holders 72a are arranged and by 45 degrees when eight carton holders 72a are arranged.

The carton 9 held by the carton holder 40 of the transport turret 30 is moved by the feed mechanism 71a.
After being vertically lifted from the sterilizing tank 26, it is sent to the carton holder 72a of the transfer turret 72, so that most of the sterilizing agent attached to the carton 9 flows down into the sterilizing tank 26.

Then, when the carton 9 held by the transfer turret 72 rotates 180 degrees and is arranged coaxially with the carton holder of the turret 70 in the tank of the cleaning tank 28, the turret 70 in the tank is fed by the feed mechanism 71b. Sent to the carton holder. When the turret 70 in the tank rotates 180 degrees in the washing tank 28, washing of the germicide is completed, and the turret 70 is sent from the washing station 18 to the water drop removing station 20.

The water drop removing station 20 is provided with a water drop removing device 76 in which eight mandrels 78 for mounting the carton 9 are radially arranged. As shown in FIG. 1, the water drop removing device 76 intermittently rotates in the vertical plane along the arrow Y direction, for example, 45 degrees at a time, and this intermittent rotation is appropriately performed via a shaft penetrating the housing 12 in the longitudinal direction. The driving is performed in synchronization with the in-tank turret 70 in the cleaning tank 28. Reference numeral 74 in FIG. 1 denotes a support mechanism for the through shaft. Then, the water drop removing device 76
Is stopped, the lowermost mandrel 78 is arranged coaxially with the carton 9 which has been washed.

As shown in FIG. 7, four guide rails 84 having an L-shaped cross section are arranged around the periphery of each mandrel 78, and the cartons 9 are guided at the four corners by these guide rails 84 so that the mandrel is guided. 78 is attached. And FIG.
As shown in (B), a sterile air jet nozzle 82 is provided around the rectangular distal end portion 80 of each mandrel 78. When the water droplet removing device 76 stops rotating, this sterile air As shown by an arrow AS from the air ejection nozzle 82, aseptic air ejected in the form of an air knife is blown onto the inner surface of the carton 9.

As shown in FIG. 7A, the turret holder 4 of the in-tank turret 70 is disposed coaxially.
A guide member 86 for guiding the carton 9 is provided between 0 and the mandrel 78. The guide member 86 is provided with a nozzle for injecting aseptic air in the form of an air knife toward the inside.
Water droplets adhering to the outer surface of the carton 9 are removed by aseptic air blown onto the outer surface of the carton 9 while guiding the carton 9 into which the mandrel 78 is fed. From the carton holder 40 of the turret 70 in the tank, the mandrel 78
The feeding of the carton 9 into the container is performed by a feeding mechanism 88 shown in FIG.

The feed mechanism 88 winds a chain 94 around a pair of upper and lower sprockets 90 and 92, and
4 is formed by attaching a claw member 96 curved in a key shape. The drive sprocket 90 rotates continuously, and moves the chain 94 and the claw member 96 in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. The feed mechanism 88 may be formed in the same manner as that shown in FIG. 5 or FIG.

When the carton 9 is fed from the turret 70 in the tank to the water drop removing device 76 by the feed mechanism 88,
Aseptic air is blown onto the inner and outer surfaces of the carton 9 from the guide member 86 and the tip 80 of the mandrel 78,
The water droplets adhering to are removed. When the carton 9 is completely fed into the mandrel 78, the water drop removing device 76
Is rotated again by, for example, an angle of 45 degrees, and then the carton 9 is fed to the mandrel 78 coaxially arranged with the carton holder 40 of the in-tank turret 70. During the rotation of the water droplet removing device 76, the ejection of the sterile air is stopped.

When the carton 9 from which the water droplets have been removed is placed horizontally, it is fed to the bottom forming device 22 by the traverse chain 24 shown in FIG.

According to the sterilizing apparatus 10, the cartons 9 in the hopper 50 which are folded flat at the supply station 14 are pulled out one by one by the suction device 52, and are developed into an upright rectangular sleeve shape. Thereafter, the paper is sent to the carton holder 40 of the in-tank turret 30 arranged in the sterilization tank 26 by the feed mechanism 58. The feed mechanism 58 is formed by attaching only one claw member 66 to a chain 64 that runs in the vertical direction, and adjusts the timing with the intermittently rotating turret 30 in the tank. Send 9 Since the force of the carton 9 to return to the original flat state acts on the side wall of the carton holder 40 and is firmly held, even if the turret 30 in the tank rotates in the sterilization tank 26, the carton 9 is removed from the carton holder 40. There is no risk of coming off. Further, since the upper and lower ends of the carton holder 40 are open and the side walls are also formed with openings, the entire carton 9 is sterilized evenly.

When the carton 9 is rotated through 180 degrees in the sterilization tank 26, the sterilization is completed, and the carton 9 is vertically fed into the carton holder of the transfer turret 72 arranged above by the same feeding mechanism. The agent flows down, and the amount of the germicide carried into the subsequent washing tank 28 becomes extremely small. Then, when the transfer turret 72 rotates the carton 9 by, for example, 180 degrees and reaches a position coaxially aligned with the carton holder 40 of the in-tank turret 70 arranged in the washing tank 28, the feed mechanism moves the in-tank from the transfer turret 72. The turret 70 is fed vertically downward toward the carton holder 40. The in-tank turret 70 rotates in the washing tank 28 while holding the carton 9 vertically like the in-tank turret 30 to completely wash out the disinfectant.
The cleaning is completed when the rotation is performed by 80 degrees.

After the cleaning, the carton 9 is sent vertically upward by the feed mechanism 88 and mounted on the mandrel 78 of the water drop removing device 76. At this time, water droplets on the outer surface of the carton 9 are removed by the aseptic air ejected from the guide member 86, and water droplets on the inner surface of the carton 9 are further removed by the sterile air from the nozzle 82 formed at the tip 80 of the mandrel 78. . The carton 9 from which the disinfectant has been removed together with the water droplets from the entire surface is turned horizontally by the rotation of the mandrel 78, and then sent out to the adjacent bottom forming device 22 by the traverse chain 24. Therefore, the water drop removing device 76 also functions as a direction changing device for the carton 9.

In the above embodiment, the turret 3 in the tank was used.
0 and 70 are provided with 12 carton holders 40 respectively,
Although eight mandrels 78 are provided in the water droplet removing device 76, it is apparent that the number of mandrels is not limited to eight and may be an appropriate number. The turrets 30 and 70 in the tank and the transfer turret 72 are each delivered with the carton 9 when rotated by 180 degrees. However, as long as sterilization and washing are sufficiently performed, the carton 9 is delivered with other positions. You may.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above, according to the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention, the carton can be sterilized and rotated by immersing the open ends of the carton vertically in the sterilizing tank and the washing tank while rotating them. The disinfectant can be efficiently washed off from the carton, and each carton can be transferred vertically between the transfer turret and the turret in each tank, thereby reducing the size of the entire apparatus. it can.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a sterilization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement state of one side in a longitudinal direction of the sterilizing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement state of a carton supply device and a turret in a tank of the sterilization apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory view taken along lines AA and BB in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a feed mechanism of the carton supply device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a transfer turret and a feed mechanism.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing an arrangement state of a turret in a tank and a water droplet removing device and a part of a mandrel of the water droplet removing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

9 ... Carton, 10 ... Sterilizer, 26 ... Sterilizer, 28 ...
Cleaning tank, 30, 70 ... Turret in tank, 40 ... Carton holder, 58, 88 ... Feeding mechanism, 66, 96 ... Claw member,
Reference numeral 72 denotes a transfer turret, 76 denotes a water drop removing device, 78 denotes a mandrel, 80 denotes a tip portion, and 82 denotes a sterile air jet nozzle.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Hiromitsu Uchiyama, Inventor 1-5-1, Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (72) Hirofumi Sato 1-5-1, Taito 1, Taito-ku, Tokyo, Toppan Printing Inside the company (72) Inventor Masaharu Kube 1-5-1, Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-63-67225 (JP, A) JP-A-63-67230 (JP) JP-A-2-98524 (JP, A) JP-A-2-233334 (JP, A) Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-open No. 62-177610 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB Name) B65B 55/04-55/10

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sterilizing device for sterilizing a carton formed in a liquid paper container having both ends opened and sending out the sterilized carton to a liquid filling device, comprising: a sterilizing tank for immersing the carton for sterilization; A plurality of cleaning tanks which are arranged in the sterilization tank and are disposed inside the sterilization tank and the cleaning tank for washing down the sterilizing agent attached to the carton, respectively, and hold the carton with its both open ends facing up and down. A turret in a tank which has carton holders at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and rotates intermittently in synchronization with each other, and a coaxial line above one carton holder of each turret in each tank when each of these turrets in the tank stops. Having at least two carton holders arranged in a zigzag manner, intermittently rotating in synchronization with the turrets in each tank, receiving cartons from the turrets in the sterilization tank, and placing the cartons in the tanks in the cleaning tank. A sterilization apparatus comprising: a transfer turret for transferring a carton to a turret. 2. A water drop removing device having a plurality of radially arranged mandrels having a sterile air jet nozzle at a tip end thereof, and intermittently rotating in synchronization with each of the turrets in a vertical plane in a vertical plane, One of the plurality of mandrels is coaxially disposed above one of the carton holders of the turret in the cleaning tank when the rotation of the water droplet removing device is stopped, and is disposed in the tank in the cleaning tank. The sterilization apparatus according to claim 1, wherein aseptic air is blown onto an inner surface of the carton sent from the turret to remove water droplets.