JP3345766B2 - Water supply device for aseptic room - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for supplying sterile water to a sterile room in a sterile space isolated from the outside.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing an example of a conventionally known general filling system, in which a large number of containers continuously transported by a container transport conveyor 2 are placed.
The liquid is supplied into the filler (filling machine) 6 through the inlet starwheel 4, and while the filler 6 rotates a predetermined angle, the filling valve is opened and closed to fill the container with the liquid. Thereafter, the container after the filling is discharged from the filler 6 via the intermediate star wheel 8 and sent to the next capper 10, where the capping is performed and the inside of the container is sealed. Next, the container is discharged onto the container transport conveyor 2 through the outlet starwheel 12, and is sent to a subsequent process on the downstream side. And the above filler 6
In the case of drinking water or chemicals that need to prevent contamination of the content liquid into the container by germs or the like, the filler 6, the capper 10, and the star wheels 4, 8, 12, etc. Is housed and placed in a sterile space (sterile room) 14 which is shielded from the outside.
4 to perform filling and capping.

In recent years, as a container filled with a liquid by the filler 6, a material made of a soft material such as plastic has been widely used. In the case of a container made of such a soft material, for example, in the filler 6, the container is placed on the container base and raised, and the filling valve arranged above the container base is pushed up by the mouth of the container to be opened. When performing capping by lowering and rotating the capping head in the capper 10, the container may be crushed by a load from above. Therefore, a neck guide for supporting the neck of the plastic container from below is usually provided when filling or capping is performed. However, friction occurs in relatively sliding parts such as between the neck guide and the neck of the container. Therefore, for the purpose of lubrication and cooling, sterile water is supplied to a sliding portion between the neck guide and the container.

The inlet starwheel 4 for supplying the container to the filler 6, the intermediate starwheel 8 for transferring the container from the filler 6 to the capper 10, and the outlet starwheel 12 for discharging the container from the capper 10 are all provided.
The containers are forcibly slid and conveyed on fixed bottom guides 4a, 8a, 12a arranged below the outer peripheral portions of the star wheels 4, 8, 12. On the outer surface side of the container rotated and conveyed by the star wheels 4, 8 and 12, fixed peripheral guides 4b, 8b and 12b for guiding the outer surface of the conveyed container are provided, and these bottom guides 4a are provided. , 8a, 12a and the peripheral surface guides 4b, 8
b, 12b and the outer surface of the container also cause friction,
It is necessary to supply sterile water to these sliding portions for the purpose of lubrication and cooling.

[0005]

As described above, in the case of a filling system in which a filler or a capper is disposed in a sterile room to perform a filling operation, a water supply pipe penetrating a wall of the sterile room is internally provided. The sterilized water that has been introduced into the sterile room and sterilized by heat treatment outside the sterile room is sent into the sterile room through the above-mentioned pipes, and the sliding part between the neck guide, the bottom guide, the peripheral surface guide, etc. and the container is sterilized. Water is being supplied. When supplying aseptic water to the aseptic chamber through an external pipe as described above, even if the aseptic water is supplied, it is difficult to maintain a high level of aseptic state when the sterile water is supplied for a long time. There was a problem that is. Also,
When the aseptic water generated outside is supplied as described above, there is a problem that a system for sterilizing the system for supplying the aseptic water itself is required.

The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks, and it is possible to supply aseptic water for a long time by generating aseptic water inside a sterile chamber and supplying it to required parts. It is an object of the present invention to provide a water supply device for a sterile room capable of maintaining a high level of sterility.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A device for supplying water to a sterile room according to the present invention is a device for supplying sterile water to a predetermined portion in the sterile room, and particularly supplies cooling water to the sterile room from outside. A pipe, a pipe for discharging the cooling water supplied to the aseptic chamber to the outside, and a pipe for supplying steam to the aseptic chamber are provided, and the cooling water supply pipe, the cooling water discharge pipe or these pipes are connected to these pipes. Injecting steam from the steam pipe to the outer surface of the member through which cooling water flows, generates aseptic water by dew condensation, and supplies aseptic water to a predetermined portion in the aseptic chamber. is there.

[0008]

In the above-mentioned water supply device for the aseptic chamber, steam sent from the outside of the aseptic chamber is jetted onto the outer surface of a member such as a pipe through which cooling water flows inside the aseptic chamber, and the steam is rapidly cooled. Produces sterile water by condensation. By supplying this aseptic water to a predetermined portion such as a portion where the conveyed container slides, a lubrication and cooling action is performed.

[0009]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part showing a case where a device for supplying water to a sterile room according to one embodiment of the present invention is applied to a filling system as shown in FIG. In the interior of the sterile room 14, the filler 6, the capper 10, and the filler 6 and the capper 1 are provided.
An inlet starwheel 4, an intermediate starwheel 8, an outlet starwheel 12, and the like for supplying and discharging the container 16 with respect to 0 and 0 are arranged. In the capper 10 of this embodiment, container stands 20 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction near the outer periphery of the rotating body 18, and a capping head 22 is provided above each of the container stands 20. In each container base 20,
A torso holding member 24 which is disposed slightly above and holds the torso 16a of the container 16; and a neck guide 26 which is disposed above and supports the collar 16b formed on the outer periphery of the neck of the container 16 from below. Is provided.

The capping head 22 arranged above
Is provided with a chuck 22a for holding the cap 28, and the capping head 22 descends and rotates toward the lower container 16, and rotates the cap 28 held on the chuck 22a around the opening 16c of the container 16. It is designed to be screwed into. When the capping head 22 screws the cap 28 into the mouth 16C of the container 16 in this manner, the neck guide 26 supports the lower surface of the collar 16b formed on the outer periphery of the neck of the container 16 from below.

A pipe 30 for supplying cooling water and a pipe 32 for discharging cooling water are attached to the wall surface of the sterile chamber 14 through seal members 34 and 36, respectively. They are connected in the chamber 14 while maintaining liquid tightness. Therefore, there is no possibility that the cooling water flowing through the pipes 30 and 32 leaks into the aseptic chamber 14. The above neck guide 2
6, an inclined surface 26a that expands upward toward the outer peripheral end is provided on the outer peripheral side of the cooling water supply pipe 30.
Extends upward through the enlarged portion of the neck guide 26 and is connected to the discharge side pipe 32. The neck guide 2 of the pipes 30 and 32 for supplying and discharging the cooling water
6 extends vertically above the inclined surface 26a, and a box 3 for producing sterile water is provided around the vertical portion.
8 are attached.

A steam supply pipe 40 penetrates a wall surface of the sterile chamber 14 through a seal member 42.
Steam can be supplied from the outside of the aseptic chamber 14 to the inside. An injection port (inside opening) 40a of the steam supply pipe 40 faces a box 38 attached to the cooling water supply and discharge pipes 30,32. Valves 44 and 46 are provided outside the sterile chamber 14 of the cooling water supply pipe 30 and the steam supply pipe 40, respectively, so that the supply of cooling water or steam can be stopped.

The operation of the apparatus for supplying water to a sterile room according to the above configuration will be described. First, the valve 44 of the cooling water supply pipe 30 is opened to supply cooling water to the inside of the sterile chamber 14. The cooling water passes through the supply pipe 30, the inside of the outer peripheral portion of the neck guide 26, the inside of the box 38, the cooling water discharge pipe 32, and the like, and is discharged outside the aseptic chamber 14. In this way, the steam is supplied into the aseptic chamber 14 by opening the valve 46 of the steam pipe 40 while passing the cooling water from the supply pipe 30 through the discharge pipe 32. When the steam is injected from the injection port 40a to the outer surface of the box 38, the steam is rapidly cooled by the cooling water flowing inside the box 38 to form dew. Since the steam is heat-sterilized, the water produced by liquefaction of the steam is sterile water, and the sterile water is dripped from the outer surface of the box 38 onto the inclined surface 26a of the neck guide 26, and the sterilized water flows on the inclined surface 26a. It flows and is sent to the sliding portion between the neck of the container 16 and the neck guide 26. The aseptic water provides lubrication and cooling between the neck of the container 16 and the neck guide 26.

As described above, in the apparatus of the present embodiment, as in the conventional apparatus, aseptic water produced by heat sterilization outside is introduced into the aseptic chamber via pipes or the like, but is not introduced into the aseptic chamber 14. Since sterile water is generated inside and supplied directly to required parts, it is possible to supply sterile water for a long time, and it is possible to maintain a high level of sterile state . In the above embodiment, the box 38 for dew condensation of steam is attached to the pipes 30 and 32 for supplying and discharging the cooling water, and the steam is sprayed toward the box 38. It is not necessary to attach a member such as a separate box 38 for dew condensation to steam on the cooling water pipes 32 and 32, and it is possible to produce aseptic water by directly spraying steam on the cooling water pipes 30 and 32 themselves to cause dew condensation. You may do it. Further, in the above embodiment, aseptic water generated by condensation is dropped on the inclined surface 26a formed on the outer peripheral end of the neck guide 26, and the neck guide 26 and the container 16 are allowed to flow down on the inclined surface 26a. Although water is supplied to the sliding portion between the flange portion 16b, aseptic water generated by dew condensation may be directly dropped on both sliding portions without flowing down the inclined surface 26a.

Further, in the above embodiment, the sterile water generated on the outer surface of the box 38 is dropped on the neck guide 26 to supply the sterile water to the sliding portion between the neck guide 26 and the neck of the container 16. But it is not limited to this part. For example, a sliding portion between the bottom guides 4a, 8a, 12a disposed below the star wheels 4, 8, 12 and the bottom surface 16d of the container 16, or an outer periphery of the star wheels 4, 8, 12 Sterile water produced inside the aseptic chamber 14 may be supplied to the sliding portion between the peripheral guides 4b, 8b, 12b provided on the side and the outer peripheral surface of the body 16a of the container 16. good.

FIG. 3 shows an embodiment in which aseptic water is generated on a bottom guide 104a for guiding the bottom surface 116d of the container 116 and supplied to a sliding portion between the bottom guide 104a and the container 116. Things. In this embodiment, the wall surfaces of the sterile chamber 114 are sealed with the sealing members 134 and 136.
A cooling water supply pipe 130 and a discharge pipe 132 which are attached to the bottom guide 104a are connected to the bottom guide 104a so that the cooling water flows therethrough. Similarly, the steam pipe 140 also penetrates the wall surface of the sterile chamber 114 via the seal member 142, and the steam injection port 140a on the inner side thereof opens toward the upper surface of the bottom guide 104a. The bottom guide 104a
The portion of the steam pipe 140 facing the injection port 140a is slightly inclined upward and lower toward the portion where the container 116 is placed. The cooling water supply pipe 130 and the steam supply pipe 140 are provided with valves 144 and 146, respectively.

In this configuration, the cooling water is supplied from the supply pipe 130 and discharged from the discharge pipe 132 while cooling water is supplied from the bottom guide 1.
In a state where the gas flows through the inside of the bottom pipe 104a, steam is injected from the steam pipe 140 toward the upper surface of the bottom guide 104a. The injected steam is the bottom guide 10
It is rapidly cooled by the cooling water flowing inside 4a and liquefied. The aseptic water generated by the liquefaction of the steam flows along the inclined surface of the bottom guide 104a, and supplies the sliding portion between the fixed bottom guide 104a and the bottom surface 116d of the container 116 being conveyed. The lubrication and cooling functions are performed.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention, a supply pipe for supplying cooling water from outside to a sterile room and a pipe for supplying steam are provided, and the supply pipe for cooling water or a pipe connected to this pipe is provided. Steam is injected from the steam pipe to the outer surface of the member through which the cooling water flows, and sterile water is generated by dew condensation, so that the sterile water is supplied to a predetermined portion in the sterile room. This makes it possible to supply sterile water for a long time, and
A high level of sterility can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of a device for supplying water to a sterile room according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically showing an arrangement of a general filling system to which a water supply device for an aseptic chamber according to the embodiment is applied.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main part of a water supply device for a sterile room according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 14 aseptic chamber 30 cooling water supply pipe 32 cooling water discharge pipe 38 member (box) through which cooling water flows 40 steam supply pipe

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Kazuo Miyazaki 1-1-1 Ichigaya-Kaga-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-3-182 (JP, A) Kaihei 6-63535 (JP, A) JP-A 4-113600 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) C02F 1/02

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A device for supplying sterile water to a predetermined portion in a sterile room, a pipe for supplying cooling water from the outside to the sterile room, a pipe for discharging the cooling water supplied to the sterile room to the outside, A pipe for supplying steam into the aseptic chamber is provided, and the supply pipe for the cooling water, the discharge pipe for the cooling water, or the outer surface of a member connected to these pipes and through which the cooling water flows, is provided with steam from the steam pipe. A water supply device for a sterile room, wherein sterile water is generated by spraying and dew condensation to supply sterile water to a predetermined portion in the sterile room. 2. A container processing apparatus such as a filler disposed in a sterile chamber, a supply unit for supplying a container into the container processing unit and a discharge unit for discharging the container, the container processing unit, a container supplying unit, In a container processing system in a sterile room provided with a sliding member that slides on a container conveyed by a discharge unit or the like, a pipe for supplying cooling water from outside to the inside of the sterile room, and cooling supplied to the sterile room. A pipe for discharging water to the outside and a pipe for supplying steam from the outside of the aseptic chamber to the inside are provided. Injecting steam from the steam pipe to the outer surface of the flowing member, generating aseptic water by dew condensation, and supplying the aseptic water to the sliding contact portion between the container and the sliding member. Water supply device to.