JPH07110660B2 - Sterilization method - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sterilization method for sterilizing a tubular blank for a paper container for storing milk or juice, which is called a Gobeltop type.

[Prior Art] FIG. 6 shows a Gobel-top type paper beverage container 1. When manufacturing this container 1, as shown in FIG. 7, after sterilizing a cylindrical blank 2 of a fixed length with both ends opened, heating,
After the temporary folding and sealing steps, the bottom portion 3 is formed into a flat bottom shape as shown in FIG. After this, fill the required beverage and
As shown in the figure, the upper portion 4 is formed into a gable shape, and the container 1 is completed.

The sterilization process of this container is generally performed by spraying a hydrogen peroxide solution as a sterilizing agent on the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the open blank, and then drying with hot air. Further, after the bottom of the blank is shaped into a flat bottom, a sterilizing solution is sprayed while it is transported on the chain and dried with hot air.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in sterilization by spraying a sterilizing solution, the spraying of the sterilizing solution may be non-uniform or the amount of spray may be insufficient, in which case sterilization failure may occur. . On the other hand, if the whole blank is immersed in the sterilizing solution, the fear of sterilization failure is eliminated, but it is difficult to remove the sterilizing agent by subsequent hot air drying, and the sterilizing agent may remain on the inner surface of the container.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization method capable of completely sterilizing a blank and efficiently removing a bactericide from the blank.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention includes a step of sterilizing a hollow beverage container blank having open both ends with a sterilizing solution in a sterilizing tank, and a step of removing the sterilizing solution attached to the blank with sterile compressed air. Then, the first and second dryers are installed side by side, and hot air is blown from one opening side of the blank toward the other opening side by the first dryer, and then the first dryer is operated by the second dryer. And a step of blowing hot air to the blank from the opposite direction to dry the blank with hot air.

In the present invention, it is preferable to sterilize a hollow beverage container blank having both ends opened with a sterilizing solution, further wash the blank with sterile water, remove the sterilizing solution adhering to the blank, and dry with hot air. At this time, it is effective to sterilize the blank in a tilted state or to perform aseptic water washing, and further, to perform aseptic water washing, it is more effective to perform hot water washing at 60 ° C. or higher. As the sterilizing liquid according to the present invention,
For example, H ₂ O ₂ solution can be mentioned.

[Operation] According to the method of the present invention, the hollow beverage container blank having both ends open is first immersed in a sterilizing tank containing a sterilizing solution, for example, an H ₂ O ₂ solution, for sterilization. After this, the completely sterilized blank is removed of the sterilizing liquid adhering to the blank with sterile compressed air. Next, the blank is, for example, washed with aseptic water, for example, warm water of 60 ° C. or more in a tilted state, or is sent to the first and second hot air drying stations in sequence and is blown with hot air to dry the entire blank with hot air. , The germicide is completely removed.

By tilting the blank circulating in the sterilization tank or the cleaning tank, the surface of the blank is brought into complete contact with the sterilizing solution or the cleaning solution, and the blank is uniformly sterilized and cleaned. Further, when the blank comes out from the sterilization tank and the cleaning tank, the sterilization liquid and the cleaning liquid in the blank flow down, and the remaining amount inside the blank can be sent to the next step in a small amount. Further, by performing aseptic water washing at a temperature of 60 ° C. or higher as described above, the sterilizing solution can be removed more completely.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sterilizing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. This sterilizing apparatus is used, for example, in an aseptic filling and packaging machine for filling and packaging the gobel top type container 1 shown in FIG. It is what is done.

The sterilizer 21 is entirely housed in a sterile chamber,
A blank 2 in the shape of a hollow prism having open both ends is supplied from a supply station 22 on the right side of the drawing. Next, the blank 2 is sterilized in the sterilization station 23, washed in the cleaning station 24, blown with the sterilizing solution in the sterilizer removal station 25, and finally, the first and second hot air drying stations 26 ₁ , 26 ₂ It is dried in and discharged to the next process from the discharge station 27.

In the supply station 22 of the sterilizer, the blank 2 is placed in a flatly folded state, and the flattened blank 2 is sequentially drawn out by a suction cup to form a hollow prismatic shape. FIG. 2 shows an air cylinder 28 that operates this suction cup.
Is schematically shown. Then, the hollow prismatic blank 2 is sent to the sterilization station 23 by a lateral feed chain 29a having laterally protruding claws.

The sterilization station 23 is provided with a sterilization tank 30 containing, as a sterilization liquid, 35% by weight hydrogen peroxide solution heated to, for example, about 80 ° C., the sterilization tank 30 has an endless shape. The blank 2 is laterally held and circulated by the circulation device 31.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the circulation device 31 is formed, for example, in the form of two parallel chains in which a plurality of link plates are connected endlessly, and is held outside the running surface at a predetermined interval. The member 32 is attached via the attachment link 31a. The holding member 32 is formed by four guide rails 33 having an L-shaped cross section that slides and guides the corners of the blank 2, and a pair of brackets 34 that fix the guide rails 33. Mounting holes 34a and 34b for fixing to the mounting link 31a of the chain are formed in the 34, respectively. These mounting holes 34a and 34b are arranged so that when the holding member 32 is fixed to the corresponding mounting link 31a, the holding member 32 holds the blank 2 at an angle of, for example, 2 to 5 ° with respect to the horizontal axis. It is arranged. In addition,
As shown in FIG. 4, the guide rail 33 of the holding member 32 is preferably widened on the right inlet side so that it can be smoothly fed by the transverse feed chain 29a.

Then, when the circulation device 31 is intermittently rotated in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1 by an appropriate drive sprocket 36 mounted on the drive shaft 35 on the upper side of the sterilization tank 30, the blanks 2 are sequentially sterilized. And is pulled up from the sterilization tank 30. Since the blank 2 is immersed in the sterilization tank 30 in a state where both ends are open and inclined with respect to the horizontal axis, the sterilizing solution completely spreads to the inner surface of the blank 2 and uneven sterilization due to adhesion of bubbles and the like does not occur. , The sterilizing liquid flows from the inside of the blank, and the remaining amount inside becomes small.

The sterilized blank 2 is sent to the washing station 24 through the fixed guide rails 33 by the lateral feed chains 29a and 29b.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a cleaning tank 37 containing a cleaning liquid is arranged in the cleaning station 24, and the blank 2 is inclined and held by a holding member as in the sterilization station 23. When the circulating device 31 to be rotated is intermittently rotated by the drive shaft 35 and the sprocket 36,
The blank 2 is successively dipped in the cleaning tank 37, and the blank 2 is pulled up from this and the sterilizing liquid adhering to the surface flows down together with the cleaning liquid.

In the cleaning tank 37, a fixed amount of sterile water completely sterilized by a sterile filter is stored. This sterile water may be kept at 60 ° C. or higher and about 80 ° C. for more complete removal of the sterilizing solution.

Blank 2 washed with sterilizing solution at washing station 24
Is sent to the disinfectant removal station 25 by the transverse feed chain 29d while the circulation device 31 is stopped. The inlet and outlet of the blank 2 in the washing station 24 are preferably arranged at different heights to prevent germicidal liquid from entering the subsequent stations. Also, the transverse feed chain 29d
It is preferable to provide an aseptic water nozzle for ejecting aseptic water to wash away the sterilizing liquid adhering to the transverse feed chain and minimize the sterilizing liquid to be carried into the subsequent stations.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, four mandrels 38 to which the blank 2 is fitted are radially arranged at equal intervals in the sterilizing agent removing station 25.
38 circulates intermittently along a plane parallel to the lower traveling surface of the circulation device 31 of the cleaning station 24 in synchronization with this circulation device. In this stop position, the mandrel 38 is tilted so that its tip portion is aligned with the outlet side of the cleaning station 24, so that the blank 2 can be easily mounted.

The mandrel 24 has a rectangular tip portion 39 as shown in detail in FIG. 5, and the blank 2 fitted from the tip portion 39 is held by a guide rail 40 at the peripheral portion. A sterile air jet nozzle 38a is continuously opened on the outer periphery of the tip 39, and when the blank 2 is fitted onto the mandrel 38 by being entrained by the claw 47 of the transverse feed chain 29d, the sterile air is blown out. Water droplets of the sterilizing solution are blown off from the inner surface of the blank by the air jetted from the jet nozzle 38a.

Further, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, aseptic air is blown to the outer surface of the blank 2 between the sterilization station 23 and the cleaning station 24 and between the cleaning station 24 and the sterilizing agent removal station 25. A nozzle device 41 having the same structure is provided to blow off the sterilizing liquid adhering to the inner surface of the blank.

As shown in FIG. 5, this nozzle device 41 is a three-sided nozzle whose one side is opened so as not to interfere with the transverse feed chain.
41a and a one-sided nozzle 41b arranged on the opening side, and these nozzles 41a, 41b are columns 42a, 42b, respectively.
Is fixed in place by. While transferring the blank 2 by the traverse chains 29c, 29d, aseptic air is blown from the nozzle openings 42a, 42b continuously opened on the inner surfaces of the nozzles 41a, 41b to remove the sterilizing solution from the outer surfaces of the blanks. .

The blank 2 from which the sterilizing liquid on the outer surface is removed by the nozzle device 41 and the sterilizing agent on the inner surface is removed by the sterilizing agent removing station 25 is sent to the first hot air drying station 26 ₁ by the lateral feed chain 29e. The hot-air drying station 26 _1, the circulation device 31 similar to sterilization station 23 and cleaning station 24, circulates blanks 2 in a hot-air drying chamber 43,
The hot air sent from the supply pipe 44 is jetted from the one opening side of the blank 2 toward the other opening side of the blank 2 by the hot air nozzle 45 arranged along the traveling path of the circulation device 31, and dried. In the drying tank 43, an appropriate detection device 46 for detecting the amount of hydrogen peroxide contained in the air in the tank is provided, and it is confirmed whether or not the sterilizing liquid is efficiently removed by the sterilizing agent removing station 26. To do. The first hot air drying station 26 ₁
Then, the circulation device 31 which circulates in the drying tank 43 may hold the blank 2 horizontally and circulate it.

The blank 2 which is blown with hot air from one opening side to the other opening side by the first hot air drying station 26 ₁ is sent to the second hot air drying station 26 ₂ by the lateral feed chain 29g. Here, the blank 2 is moved by the circulation device 31 as in the case of the first hot air drying station 26 ₁ described above, hot air is jetted from the other opening side of the blank 2 toward one opening side, and is dried again. Is done.

And, the blank 2 that has been dried is 25 g of the transverse feed chain.
Is carried out from the blank discharge station 27 to the next step.

The circulation device 31 of the sterilization station 23, the washing station 24 and the drying station is intermittently rotated by the drive shaft 35, and the mandrel 38 and each transverse feed chain of the sterilizing agent removal station 26 are driven in synchronization with each other. The blank 2 is smoothly transferred at the station.

According to the sterilization method according to the above-mentioned embodiment, the blank 2 is treated with H ₂ O ₂
After sterilizing with a liquid, washing, and removing the sterilizing liquid, first and second hot air drying stations 26 ₁ and 26 ₂ are provided between the disinfectant removal station 25 and the blank discharge station 27, and hot air drying of _one station 26 ₁ is performed. after both ends hot air in the tank 43 was dried by jetting toward the one open side of the hollow blank 2 which is open the other opening side, further the other station 26 ₂ of the hot air drying chamber 43 Then, hot air is jetted to the blank 2 in the opposite direction to the above to perform drying again.
That is, the entire blank 2 that has passed through the sterilization tank 30 of the sterilization station 23 is sterilized, and then the sterilizing liquid on the outer surface is removed by the nozzle device 41, and then the cleaning station 24.
The sterilizing solution is washed off with. Further, after the water droplets on the outer surface are removed by the nozzle device 41, aseptic air from the nozzle 38a is blown onto the inner surface of the blank 2 at the sterilization and removal station 25 while the blank 2 is mounted on the mandrel 38 from the tip. Water drops on the inner surface 2 of the blank are also completely removed. Here, since the mandrel 38 is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal axis and stopped, the water droplets are completely removed by the action of the jetted air and the action of gravity. Further, since the first and second hot air drying stations 26 ₁ and 26 ₂ have two stages of hot air drying, the first hot air drying station 26 ₁ also dries, but more reliable hot air drying is performed and the blank 2 Can be completely sterilized and can be filled with drink.

In fact, a 70 x 70 x 300 mm blank was made into a 35%, 80 ° C H ₂ O ₂ solution.
After soaking for 10 seconds, the washing, removal, and drying (15 seconds) steps were performed under the conditions shown in Table 1 to remove the target value of H ₂ O ₂ remaining.
When it was confirmed whether or not 50 ppb was satisfied, the results shown in the table were obtained.

[Effect of the Invention] As described in detail above, according to the present invention, the entire blank can be completely sterilized by being immersed in the sterilization tank, and the sterilizing liquid is removed by the cleaning station and the sterilizing agent removing station.
Further, it is possible to provide a sterilization method capable of completely sterilizing the blank and efficiently removing the sterilizing liquid from the blank by performing hot air drying in two stages in the first and second hot air drying stations.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the whole sterilization apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the arrangement state of the sterilization apparatus, and FIG.
The figure is an exploded perspective view of a part of a circulation device for holding a blank.
FIG. 4 is a schematic elevational view of a part thereof, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing the relationship between the cleaning station and the disinfectant removal station. 6 to 8 show a beverage container to be sterilized by the sterilizing apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a blank completed state, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a lower portion thereof, and FIG. 8 is an upper portion thereof. It is a perspective view. 1 ... Beverage container, 2 ... Blank, 21 ... Sterilizer, 22
…… Supply station, 23 …… Sterilization station, 24…
… Washing station, 25 …… Bactericide removal station,
26 ₁ , 26 ₂ …… Hot air drying station, 27 …… Discharging station, 30 …… Sterilization tank, 31 …… Circulation device, 32 …… Holding member, 35 …… Drive shaft, 37 …… Cleaning tank, 38 …… Mandrel,
43 ... Drying tank, 44 ... Supply pipe, 45 ... Hot air nozzle, 46 ...
… Detection device.

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A step of sterilizing a hollow beverage container blank having open both ends with a sterilizing solution in a sterilizing tank, and a step of removing the sterilizing solution adhering to the blank with sterile compressed air.
After installing the first and second dryers side by side and blowing hot air from one opening side of the blank toward the other opening side by the first dryer, what is the case of the first dryer by the second dryer? And a step of blowing hot air from the opposite direction to the blank to dry the blank with hot air. 2. The sterilizing method according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizing step is performed, the blank is washed with sterile water, and then the sterilizing liquid adhering to the blank is removed. 3. The blank is sterilized by inclining the blank and using a H ₂ O ₂ solution as a sterilizing solution.
The sterilization method described. 4. The sterilization method according to claim 2, wherein aseptic water washing is performed in a state where the blank is inclined. 5. The sterilization method according to claim 2, wherein the blank is tilted, and the blank is sterilized by using a H ₂ O ₂ solution as a sterilizing solution, and aseptic water washing is performed. 6. The sterilization method according to claim 2, wherein aseptic water washing is performed with warm water at 60 ° C. or higher.