JPH0741904B2 - Pre-sterilization method of sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to pre-sterilization of a sterilizing device for sterilizing a tubular blank for a paper container containing milk or juices called, for example, a Gobeltop type. Regarding the method.

[Prior Art] FIG. 7 shows a Gobel-top type paper beverage container 1. When manufacturing this container 1, after sterilizing a cylindrical blank 4 of a constant length with both ends opened as shown in FIG. 5, heating,
After the temporary folding and sealing steps, the bottom portion 2 is formed into a flat bottom shape as shown in FIG. After this, fill the required beverage,
As shown in the figure, the upper portion 3 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. Therefore, the present applicant has a sterilization station that sequentially circulates hollow blanks of beverage containers in a sterilization tank, a cleaning station that receives blanks sterilized in this sterilization tank and sequentially circulates in a cleaning tank, and this cleaning station. We developed a sterilizer equipped with a sterilizing agent removal station that removes the sterilizing agent by transferring the blank to the hot air drying station and blowing sterile air to the inner surface of the blank.

In such a sterilizing device, if the cleaning tank is contaminated, after the sterilization tank is completely sterilized, when the sterilizing agent is washed off from the beverage container blank in this cleaning tank, the blank is re-cleaned. Will be contaminated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, a sterilization station that sequentially circulates a hollow blank of a beverage container in a sterilization tank, and a cleaning station that receives a sterilized blank in this sterilization tank and sequentially circulates in the cleaning tank. While transferring the washed blank to the hot air drying station,
An object of the present invention is to provide a preliminary sterilization method capable of ensuring the sterility of a cleaning tank used in a sterilizer equipped with a sterilizer removal station for removing sterilizer by blowing sterile air onto the inner surface of the blank.

[Means for Solving the Problems] According to the present invention, a sterilization station that sequentially circulates hollow blanks of a beverage container in a sterilization tank and a cleaning that receives the sterilized blanks in this sterilization tank and sequentially circulates in the cleaning tank. A station and a pre-sterilization method of a sterilizing apparatus comprising a sterilizer removing station for transferring the washed blank to a hot air drying station and spraying sterile air on the inner surface of the blank to remove a sterilizer, wherein: Before the cleaning tank is filled with the cleaning agent, the sterilizing nozzle is provided in the cleaning tank to supply the sterilizing agent, and the cleaning tank is filled with the sterilizing agent for initial sterilization. After the initial sterilization, the sterilizing agent is sterilized. A pre-sterilization method is provided, which comprises discharging from a tank and supplying a cleaning liquid from the sterilizing nozzle into the cleaning tank to perform cleaning.

The initial sterilization is preferably performed by supplying a sterilizing agent to the sterilizing nozzle by a sterilizing agent pump that supplies a sterilizing tank from a sterilizing agent tank, and during this period, to a cleaning liquid supply pipeline that supplies a cleaning liquid to the cleaning tank. The sterilized filter inserted is steam sterilized, and the cleaning tank that has been initially sterilized is supplied with a sterilizing nozzle through this sterilizing filter and a bypass line communicating the outlet side of the sterilizing filter with the sterilizing nozzle. It is preferable to wash.

[Operation] In the present invention, the sterilizer is a sterilization station in which the entire hollow blank of a beverage container is immersed in a sterilization tank, and the completely sterilized blank is washed in a washing station, and then in a sterilizing agent removal station. The diluted bactericide is blown from the blank before it is transferred to the hot air drying station by blowing sterile air onto the inner surface of the blank. At the hot air drying station, the entire blank is also hot air dried to remove the germicide.

The cleaning tank of the cleaning station, before filling the cleaning liquid, supplies a sterilizing agent from the sterilizing nozzle to perform initial sterilization by filling the cleaning tank, and after discharging the sterilizing agent, supplies the cleaning agent from the sterilizing nozzle. Wash. Therefore, the sterilization state of the cleaning tank and the cleaning liquid contained in the cleaning tank is ensured before the sterilizer is started.

By the sterilizing agent pump that supplies the sterilizing agent to the sterilizing tank of the sterilizing station, when the sterilizing agent is pressure-fed from the sterilizing agent tank to the sterilizing agent nozzle, no special device is required, and during the initial sterilization, When sterilizing the sterile filter in the cleaning liquid supply pipe line with steam, the sterilizing agent adhering to the cleaning tank can be washed off immediately after completion of the initial sterilization.

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

[Embodiment] FIGS. 1 and 2 show a sterilizer 5 used in an embodiment of the present invention.
This sterilizing device is used in, for example, an aseptic filling and packaging machine for filling and packaging the gobel top type container 1 shown in FIG.

The sterilizer 5 is wholly housed in a sterile chamber, and a hollow prismatic blank 4 having both ends opened is supplied from a supply station 6 on the right side of the drawing. The blank 4 is sterilized in the sterilization station 7, then washed in the cleaning station 8, blown with the sterilizing agent in the sterilizing agent removing station 9, and finally dried in the hot air drying station 10 to be discharged from the discharging station 11 to the next step. Be shipped.

In the supply station 6 of this sterilizer, the blank 4 is placed in a flatly folded state, and the flattened blank 4 is sequentially drawn out by a suction cup to form a hollow prismatic shape. FIG. 2 shows an air cylinder 24 that operates this suction cup.
Is schematically shown. Then, the hollow prismatic blank 4 is sent to the sterilization station 7 by a horizontal feed chain 25a having laterally protruding claws.

The sterilization station 7 is heated to, for example, about 80 ° C.
Sterilization tank containing 35% by weight of hydrogen peroxide as a germicide
12 is provided below, and the blank 4 is circulated in the sterilization tank 12 while being held laterally by an endless circulation device 17. The sterilizing agent in the sterilizing tank 12 is supplied from the sterilizing agent tank 30 illustrated in the lower central part of FIG. 2 and is constantly held at a constant amount.

The circulation device 17 is formed, for example, in the form of two parallel chains in which a plurality of link plates are connected endlessly, and appropriate holding members are attached to the outside of the running surface at predetermined intervals. This holding member is, for example, 2 to 5 with respect to the horizontal axis.
It is preferably arranged to hold the blank 4 at an angle of inclination.

Then, when the circulating device 17 is intermittently rotated in the direction shown by the arrow in FIG. 1 by an appropriate drive sprocket 16 mounted on the drive shaft 22 on the upper side of the sterilization tank 12, the blanks 4 are sequentially sterilized. And then pulled out of this sterilization tank. When the blank 4 is immersed in the sterilization tank 12 with both ends open and inclined with respect to the horizontal axis, the bactericide completely spreads to the inner surface of the blank 4 and uneven sterilization due to adhesion of bubbles or the like occurs. In addition, the disinfectant flows from the inside of the blank, and the remaining amount inside becomes small.

The sterilized blank 4 is sent to the washing station 8 by the lateral feed chains 25b and 25c through the fixed guide rail 21.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a washing tank 13 containing a washing liquid is arranged in the washing station 8, and the blank 4 is tilted by an appropriate holding member as in the case of the sterilization station 7. When the circulating device 17 to be held is intermittently rotated by the drive shaft 22 and the sprocket 16, the blank 4 is successively dipped in the cleaning tank 13 and then pulled up, and the bactericide attached to the surface flows down together with the cleaning liquid.

A certain amount of sterile water completely sterilized by an aseptic filter is stored in the cleaning tank 13 as a cleaning agent. This sterile water should be kept above 60 ° C for more than 80 ° C for more complete removal of germicide.
It may be maintained at about ° C.

Blank 4 washed with disinfectant at washing station 8
Is sent to the germicide removal station 9 by the transverse feed chain 25d while the circulation device 17 is stopped. The blank inlet and outlet in this washing station 8 are preferably arranged at different heights to prevent germicide from entering the subsequent stations. Further, it is preferable to provide a sterile water nozzle for ejecting aseptic water on the transverse feed chain 25d to wash away the germicide attached to the traverse chain and minimize the germicide to be carried into the subsequent stations.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, four mandrels 18 to which the blank 4 is fitted are radially arranged at equal intervals in the sterilizing agent removal station 9, and the mandrels are cleaning stations 8. It circulates intermittently along a plane parallel to the lower traveling surface of the circulation device 17 in synchronization with the circulation device. At this stop position, the mandrel 18 is tilted so that the tip of the mandrel 18 is aligned with the exit side of the cleaning station 8 to facilitate the mounting of the blank 4.

As shown in detail in FIG. 3, the mandrel 18 has a rectangular tip portion 28, and the blank 4 fitted from the tip portion is held by a guide rail 26 at the peripheral portion. And this tip 28
A sterile air jet nozzle 18a is continuously opened on the outer periphery of the blank feed line 25d and is ejected from the sterile air jet nozzle when the blank 4 is fitted onto the mandrel 18 by being entrained by the claw 23 of the transverse feed chain 25d. The air blows off the sterilizing water droplets from the inner surface of the blank.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, sterile air is blown to the outer surface of the blank 4 between the sterilization station 7 and the cleaning station, and between the cleaning station 8 and the disinfectant removal station 9 to adhere to the outer surface of the blank. A nozzle device 19 having the same structure for blowing off the germicide is provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, this nozzle device 19 is a three-sided nozzle whose one side is opened so as not to get in the way of the transverse feed chain.
The nozzle 19a and the one-sided nozzle 19b arranged on the opening side are provided, and these nozzles 19a and 19b are fixed at predetermined positions by columns 29a and 29b, respectively. Blank 4 traverse chain
During transfer by 25c, 25d, sterile air is blown from the nozzle openings 27a, 27b that are continuously opened on the inner surfaces of these nozzles 19a, 19b to remove the germicide from the outer surface of the blank.

The blank 4 from which the sterilizing agent on the outer surface is removed by the nozzle device 19 and the sterilizing agent on the inner surface is removed by the sterilizing agent removing station 9 is sent to the hot air drying station 10 by the lateral feed chain 25e.

The hot air drying station 10 circulates the blank 4 in the hot air drying tank 14 by the circulation device 17 similar to the sterilization station 7 and the cleaning station 8 and causes the hot air sent from the supply pipe 20 to travel along the traveling path of the circulation device 17. Is ejected from the hot air nozzle 15 arranged so as to be dried. An appropriate detector for detecting the amount of hydrogen peroxide contained in the air in the tank is provided in the drying tank 14 so as to confirm whether or not the sterilizing agent is efficiently removed by the sterilizing agent removing station 9. May be.

In this hot-air drying station 10, the circulation device 17 circulating in the drying tank 14 may hold the blank 4 horizontally for circulation, and as shown in FIG. It may be a two-tank type in which the tanks 14a are arranged side by side. This 2
In the case of the tank type, it is preferable to arrange the hot air nozzles 15 of the respective drying tanks in opposite directions.

And the blank 4 that has been dried is the transverse feed chain 25f,
It is carried out from the blank discharge station 11 to the next step by 25 g.

The circulation device 17 of the sterilization station 7, the washing station 8 and the drying station is intermittently rotated by the drive shaft 22, and the mandrel 18 and each transverse feed chain of the sterilizing agent removal station 9 are driven in synchronization with each other. The blank 4 is smoothly transferred at the station.

According to the above sterilization device, the sterilization tank 12 of the sterilization station 7
The blank 4 passed through the circulation device 17 is completely sterilized. After that, while removing the sterilizing agent on the outer surface by the nozzle device 19, it is sent out to the cleaning station 8 by the transverse feed chain 25b, and in the cleaning station 8, the blank 4 is inclined and circulated in the cleaning tank 13 The germicide attached to the surface is washed off. Further, from the cleaning station 8, while the water droplets on the outer surface are removed by the nozzle device 19, the water is sent to the sterilizing agent removing station 9 by the lateral feed chain 25d. This transfer station 9
Then, while the blank 4 is attached to the mandrel 18 from the tip portion 28, sterile air from the nozzle 18a is blown to the inner surface, and the water droplets on the inner surface of the blank are also completely removed. Since the mandrel 17 is slightly tilted 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.

In the drying station 10, since the water droplets on the blank 4 have been removed, the blank 4 is quickly dried by the hot air from the hot air nozzle 15. As a result, the sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide solution is completely removed, and the drink can be filled.

Further, the cleaning tank 13 of the cleaning station 8 is provided with a sterilizing nozzle 35 for supplying a sterilizing agent for performing initial sterilization before the cleaning liquid is filled, that is, before the sterilizing device 5 is operated. Can fill up to 30 fungicides. This is because if the cleaning tank 13 has not been sterilized in advance, even if the blank is completely sterilized in the sterilizing tank 12, there is a possibility that the cleaning tank 13 will be contaminated again.

As shown in FIG. 4, the disinfectant tank 30 contains a heater 30a and is heated to a predetermined temperature by steam supplied from a heated steam pipe 47 having a control valve 47a inserted therein. This fungicide tank
Further, 30 is connected to the sterilization tank 12 via a sterilizing agent supply pipe 32 having a sterilizing agent pump 31 and a control valve 32a inserted therein, and the sterilizing agent in the sterilizing tank 12 exceeding a predetermined amount has a return pipe 33. It can be returned to the sterilization tank 30 via.

Aseptic filter 41 and control valves 40a, 40b are inserted in the cleaning liquid supply pipeline 40 for supplying the cleaning liquid to the cleaning tank 13 so that the cleaning liquid supplied at a predetermined temperature can be sterilized and supplied to the cleaning tank 13. Has become. The cleaning tank 13 may be provided with a circulation or discharge valve at an appropriate position in order to keep the temperature and amount of the cleaning liquid within a predetermined range.

Further, the sterilizing nozzle 35 of the cleaning tank 13 has control valves 34a, 34
An initial sterilization line 34 inserted through b is extended from the outlet side of the sterilizer pump 31, and this initial sterilization line 34 is a control valve 34a,
Between the 34b, by the bypass conduit 42 through the control valve 42a,
The cleaning liquid supply conduit 40 is connected between the control valves 40a and 40b.

Furthermore, in order to steam sterilize the sterile filter 41 before the operation of the sterilizer, a steam pipe line 45 is extended to the inlet side of the sterile filter, and is also connected to the outlet side of the bypass valve 41a.

Initial sterilization before the operation of the sterilizer is performed as follows.

First, the heater 30a heats the disinfectant tank to a predetermined temperature so that the disinfectant, which is, for example, hydrogen peroxide solution, has a temperature at which the optimum disinfecting effect is obtained. After that, the control valve 32a of the disinfectant supply line and the control valve 42a of the bypass line are closed, the control valves 34a and 34b of the initial disinfection line are opened, and the disinfectant pump 31 is operated. As a result, the cleaning tank 13 is filled with the sterilizing agent supplied from the sterilizing nozzle 35 and is initially sterilized. During the initial sterilization, sterilizing steam is supplied to the sterilizing filter 41 from the steam line 45. When the bypass valve 41a and the drain valve of the aseptic filter are opened and the control valve 40a is closed, sterilizing steam is supplied from the inlet side and the outlet side of the aseptic filter 41, and complete sterilization can be performed.

After finishing the initial sterilization, the bactericide accumulated in the cleaning tank 13 is discharged to the bactericide tank. When the disinfectant tank 30 is arranged at the low position as shown in FIG. 2, when the disinfectant pump 31 is stopped and the control valves 34b, 40b, 42a are opened, the cleaning tank 13 is transferred to the disinfectant tank 30. It can be returned by gravity or the germicide pump 31 can be reversed and returned. Then, the cleaning tank 13 that has completed the initial cleaning supplies a cleaning liquid, which is warm water of, for example, 60 ° C. to 80 ° C., from the cleaning liquid supply pipe 40 to wash off the sterilizing agent.

The sterilizing agent is washed off more quickly by supplying the cleaning liquid sterilized by the sterilizing filter 41 to the sterilizing nozzle 35 via the bypass line 42 and to the cleaning tank 13 via the control valve 40b. And it can be done completely.

Thus, after the initial sterilization of the cleaning tank 13 and further washing off the sterilizing agent, while the cleaning liquid of a predetermined amount and a predetermined temperature is filled from the cleaning liquid supply pipe 41, the sterilizing tank 12 also has a predetermined amount of the predetermined temperature from the sterilizing agent tank. A germicide can be supplied.

As a result, the cleaning tank 13 is completely sterilized, and since the bactericide is washed off, when sterilizing the blank as described above, it is possible to secure a sterile state from the beginning of operation, and sterilization is defective. There is no fear of

[Effects] As is clear from the above, a sterilization station that sequentially circulates the hollow blanks of the beverage container in the present invention in the sterilization tank, and a cleaning station that receives the sterilized blanks in this sterilization tank and sequentially circulates in the cleaning tank. While transferring the washed blank to the hot air drying station,
According to the pre-sterilization method of the sterilizer equipped with a sterilizing agent removal station for blowing sterile air on the inner surface of the blank to remove the sterilizing agent, the sterilizing nozzle provided in the cleaning tank before the cleaning tank is filled with the cleaning agent. From the sterilization tank, after this initial sterilization, the sterilizing device is discharged from the sterilization tank, and the cleaning liquid is supplied from the sterilization nozzle to the cleaning tank to clean the sterilization apparatus in the sterilization apparatus. It can be secured from the beginning of operation, and the bactericide can be efficiently removed while preventing recontamination of the blank after the complete sterilization.

Further, by the sterilizing agent pump, the sterilizing agent is supplied from the sterilizing agent tank to the sterilizing nozzle for initial sterilization, and by returning the sterilizing agent after the initial sterilization from the cleaning tank to the sterilizing agent tank,
It can be done easily without the need for special equipment.

Further, the sterilizing device has a cleaning liquid supply pipeline for supplying the cleaning fluid to the cleaning tank, a sterile filter interposed in the cleaning fluid supply pipeline, and a bypass pipeline communicating with the sterilizing nozzle from the outlet side of the sterile filter. When provided, by cleaning the cleaning tank steam-sterilized sterile filter during the initial sterilization, by cleaning with a cleaning liquid supplied to the sterilization nozzle via the sterile filter and bypass pipe, immediately after the end of the initial sterilization cleaning tank It is possible to wash off the disinfectant adhering to and to operate the disinfection device quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing the whole sterilizing apparatus used in the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the arrangement state of the sterilizing apparatus, and FIG. 3 shows the relationship between a cleaning station and a sterilizing agent removing station. Explanatory drawing and FIG. 4 are circuit diagrams of a sterilizer using an embodiment of the present invention. 5 to 7 show a beverage container to be sterilized by the sterilizer of FIG. 1, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the upper part of the blank, FIG. 6 is a perspective view of its lower part, and FIG. 7 is a completed state. It is a perspective view. 1 ... Beverage container, 4 ... Blank, 5 ... Sterilizer, 6
... Supply station, 7 ... Sterilization station, 8 ...
… Cleaning station, 9 …… Bactericide removal station,
10 …… Hot air drying station, 11 …… Discharge station, 12 …… Sterilization tank, 13 …… Washing tank, 17 …… Circulation device, 30
…… Disinfectant tank, 31 …… Disinfectant pump, 32 …… Disinfectant supply line, 35 …… Sterilizing nozzle, 40 …… Cleaning liquid supply line,
41 …… Sterile filter, 45 …… Steam line.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A sterilization station for sequentially circulating hollow blanks of a beverage container in a sterilization tank, a cleaning station for receiving blanks sterilized in the sterilization tank and sequentially circulating them in a cleaning tank, and the cleaned blank. A method of pre-sterilization of a sterilizer equipped with a sterilizing agent removal station that removes the sterilizing agent by blowing sterile air onto the inner surface of the blank while transferring to the hot air drying station, before filling the cleaning tank with the cleaning agent. , Supplying a sterilizing agent from a sterilizing nozzle provided in this cleaning tank, and performing initial sterilization by filling this cleaning tank with the sterilizing agent, after this initial sterilizing, discharging the sterilizing agent from the sterilizing tank and cleaning from the sterilizing nozzle A pre-sterilization method comprising supplying a cleaning liquid into a tank for cleaning. 2. The sterilizing device comprises a sterilizing agent tank and a sterilizing agent pump for supplying the sterilizing agent from the sterilizing agent tank to the sterilizing tank. The pre-sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-sterilization method is performed by supplying the sterilizing agent to perform initial sterilization, and returning the sterilizing agent after the initial sterilization from the cleaning tank to the sterilizing agent tank. 3. The sterilizing apparatus comprises a cleaning liquid supply pipe for supplying a cleaning liquid to a cleaning tank, a sterile filter inserted in the cleaning liquid supply pipe, and a bypass communicating with the sterilizing nozzle from the outlet side of the sterile filter. A pipe line, steam sterilizing the sterile filter while performing the initial sterilization, and washing the initially sterilized cleaning tank with a cleaning liquid supplied to the sterilizing nozzle via the sterile filter and the bypass line. The pre-sterilization method according to claim 2, wherein