JP2737536B2 - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing a tubular carton, such as a paper container for packaging food such as milk or juice, which is called a goebel top type.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 5 (A) to 5 (C) show a gobel top type paper beverage container 1. FIG. In the case of manufacturing the container 1, as shown in FIG. 5 (B), after sterilizing a cylindrical carton 2 having a fixed length with both ends opened, heating, temporary folding, and sealing steps are performed, as shown in FIG. 5 (C). The bottom 3 is formed into a flat bottom as described above. Thereafter, the required beverage is filled, and the upper part 4 is formed in a gable shape as shown in FIG.
This container 1 is usually 1000 ml, 500 ml, 250 m
In many cases, they have the same cross-sectional shape and differ only in length.

Conventionally, in order to sterilize a cylindrical carton,
The carton was sterilized by dipping or spraying in an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ). However, it is necessary to remove H ₂ O ₂ used for this sterilization by washing and drying in the next step. Hereinafter, the conventional sterilization apparatus 5 will be described with reference to FIG.

[0004] The entire sterilizing apparatus 5 is accommodated in a sterile room 5a, and a cylindrical carton 2 having both ends opened is supplied from a supply station 6 on the right side of the figure. The carton 2 is sterilized at a sterilizing station 7, washed at a washing station 8, blown up with a sterilizing agent at a sterilizing agent removing station 9, and finally dried at hot air drying stations 10 and 11 and discharged from a discharging station 12 to the next. It is carried out to the filling and packaging process.

[0005] For example, 80
A sterilizing tank 13 containing, as a sterilizing agent, a hydrogen peroxide solution containing 35% by weight of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) heated to about ° C.
The carton 2 is circulated in the sterilizing tank 13 while being held in the lateral direction by an endless circulation device 14.

As shown in FIG. 7, the circulating device 14 is formed in the form of two parallel chains having mounting links 14a arranged at predetermined intervals, and these mounting links 14a are provided at the corners of the carton 2 in the vertical direction. A holding member 16 having four guide rails 15 having an L-shaped cross section for slidingly guiding is mounted. These holding members 16 are arranged so as to hold the carton 2 at an angle of, for example, 2 to 5 degrees with respect to the horizontal axis.

The circulating device 14 is rotated by a driving sprocket mounted on a slide shaft 17 above the sterile chamber 5a, so that the cartons 2 are sequentially immersed in the sterilizing tank 13 and pulled up from the sterilizing tank. Since the carton 2 is immersed in the sterilization tank 13 with both ends open and inclined with respect to the horizontal axis, the sterilizing agent completely spreads to the inner surface of the carton 2 and sterilization unevenness due to adhesion of air bubbles and the like does not occur. When it is lifted, the disinfectant flows from the inside of the carton, and the remaining amount adhering to the inside is small.

The carton 2 that has been sterilized is sent to a washing station 8.

As shown in FIG. 6, a washing tank 18 containing a washing liquid is disposed in the washing station 8, and a circulating device for holding the carton 2 at an angle by a holding member in the same manner as in the sterilizing station 7. 14 is the drive shaft 17
When the carton 2 is intermittently rotated by the driving sprocket, the carton 2 is sequentially immersed in the washing tank 18, pulled up from this, and the disinfectant attached to the surface flows down together with the washing liquid.

In the cleaning tank 18, a certain amount of sterile water, which has been completely sterilized by a sterile filter or boiling sterilization, is stored as a cleaning liquid. This washing liquid is preferably maintained at about 60 to 80 ° C. in order to more completely remove the germicide.

The carton 2 which has been washed with the germicide in the washing station 8 is sent to the germicide removal station 9 while the circulation device 14 is stopped. Preferably, the inlet and outlet of the carton 2 at this washing station 8 are arranged at different heights to prevent the disinfectant from entering the subsequent stations.

FIG. 6 shows the disinfectant removing station 9
As shown in the figure, a disinfectant removing device 40 for blowing sterile air onto the inner surface of the carton is arranged. The disinfectant removing device 40 is provided with six mandrels 19, and a peripheral portion on each mandrel 19 has an L-shaped cross section that guides a corner of the carton 2.
A book guide rail 20 is arranged. Each of these mandrels 19 is arranged radially at equal intervals around a drive shaft 21 and circulates in a plane parallel to a lower running surface when the circulation device 14 of the washing station 8 immerses the carton 2 in the washing tank 18. It turns intermittently in synchronization with this circulation device. When stopped, the mandrel 19 is inclined downward at a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal plane so as to be arranged coaxially with the carton 2 of the washing station 8.

The distal end of each mandrel 19 is formed in a rectangular shape, and the carton 2 fitted from the distal end is held by a guide rail 20 around the periphery. A sterile air jet nozzle is opened on the outer periphery of the tip, and when the carton 2 is fitted on the mandrel 19, water sprayed from the inner surface of the carton by the air jetted from the sterile air jet nozzle. Is blown away.

In addition, aseptic air is blown to the outer surface of the carton 2 between the sterilizing station 7 and the washing station 8 and between the washing station 8 and the sterilizing agent removing station 9 to remove the sterilizing agent attached to the outer surface of the carton. In some cases, a blow-off nozzle device is provided.

The carton 2 from which the disinfectant has been removed at the disinfectant removal station 9 is sent to a hot air drying station 10.

The hot air drying station 10 circulates the carton 2 in a hot air drying tank 22 by a circulation device 14 similar to the sterilization station 7 and the washing station 8,
From the hot air nozzle 24 arranged along the traveling path of the circulating device 14 to dry.

In the hot air drying station 11, a drying tank
At 25, a hot air nozzle 26 in the opposite direction to the drying tank 22 is arranged.

The dried carton 2 is sent to the carton discharge station 12, from which the carton 2 is carried out to the next step by the traverse chain 27.

As shown schematically in FIG. 6, a transport mechanism 30 for transporting each carton 2 to the next station is provided in the sterilizing tank 5 between the supply station 6 and the sterilizing agent removing station 9. Interval and disinfectant removal station 9
And the discharge station 12.

The transport mechanism 30 includes a plurality of claw members 31 each of which locks an end of the carton 2 at a leading end thereof, and a moving shaft 32 which pivotally connects intermediate portions of these claw members 31 at predetermined intervals.
Each of these claw members 31 has a rear end portion pivotally connected by a tie rod. The moving shaft 32 is reciprocated in parallel with the transport path of the carton 2 by, for example, a pinion gear 33 and a rack gear 34. When the moving shaft 32 is reciprocated, the tip end of the claw member 31 is moved by a swing mechanism, and the feed position protrudes into the carton conveyance path between the stations.
It is swung between the retracted position retracted from the transport path. When in the feed position, the tip of the claw member 31 locks the rear end of the carton 2 and moves toward the next station,
When in the retracted position, the tip of the claw member 31 is the carton 2
Without returning to the original position.

The pinion gear 33 reciprocating on the moving shaft 32 may be driven by, for example, a reversible servomotor. Here, when a servo motor is used, the gear 33 is synchronized with the movement of the carton 2 at each station.
Can be easily controlled.

[0022]

However, according to the conventional sterilizing apparatus, in the step of cleaning the carton 2, the carton 2 is placed in sterile water in the cleaning tank 18 of the cleaning station 8.
Is immersed and washed off, H ₂ O _{2 of} the previous process (sterilization process) adhered to the inner and outer surfaces of the carton 2 continuously enters the washing station 8, and the H ₂ O ₂ in the washing station 8 is sterilized. There is a problem that the ₂ O ₂ concentration increases.

By the way, in order to keep the H ₂ O ₂ concentration at a low level, it is necessary to increase the amount of sterile water supplied to the washing station 8, but this increases the cost. In addition, H in the cleaning station 8
That rise in ₂ O ₂ concentration can affect the residual concentration of H ₂ O ₂ contents to be filled in the filling process of the subsequent step has been found experimentally. Therefore, it is necessary to keep the H ₂ O ₂ concentration of the sterile water inside the carton washing station as low as possible.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and provides a sterilizer capable of suppressing the concentration of H ₂ O _{2 in} sterile water in a washing tank as low as possible by improving the washing tank of the washing station. The purpose is to do.

[0025]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, there is provided a sterilization station for sequentially circulating a cylindrical carton having both open ends through a sterilization tank, and a sterilizer is removed by washing the carton sent from the sterilization station. A sterilization apparatus having a washing station having a washing tank, wherein a partition provided in the washing tank between the side where the carton sinks into the liquid in the washing tank and the take-out side, and a side where the carton sinks A sterilization apparatus comprising: a drain pipe provided on a washing tank wall; and a pipe provided on the washing tank wall on the side from which the carton is taken out, for supplying fresh sterile water into the washing tank. is there.

[0026]

According to the present invention, a partition is arranged in a washing tank between a side where a carton sinks in sterile water in a washing tank and a take-out side, and a used sterile tank is provided on a wall of the washing tank where the carton sinks. A drain pipe for discharging water is provided, and a sterile water supply pipe for supplying fresh sterile water into the cleaning tank is provided on the cleaning tank wall on the carton take-out side. Therefore, most of the aseptic water from the aseptic water supply pipe flows in the direction opposite to the direction of transport of the carton (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2), and the aseptic water overflows from the washing tank to be naturally discharged. The contamination of the contaminated water immediately after entering the station and the fresh sterile water immediately before exiting the station can be prevented, and an increase in the concentration of H ₂ O ₂ in the sterile water can be suppressed. Further, since the carton is washed with fresh sterile water when leaving the washing tank, H ₂ O ₂ for sterilization can be more completely washed away. Further, a post-process (drying) for removing H ₂ O ₂ can be omitted, and the cost for producing sterile water can be reduced.

[0027]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. Here, FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of a sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of a cleaning tank according to the apparatus viewed from a filling step side, and FIG. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of a main part of the apparatus.
However, the same members as those in the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 41 denotes a housing which is a component of the sterilizer. Reference numeral 42a denotes a circulation mechanism. The sterilization tank 13 described above, a pair of drive sprockets 44 mounted on the drive shaft 43 above the sterilization tank 13, and a lower end portion that is wound around these drive sprockets 44 and sterilized. A plurality of carton holders 46 are provided at equal intervals on an endless chain 45 extending into the tank 13. Reference numeral 42b also denotes a circulation mechanism, and the washing tank 18 described above, a pair of drive sprockets 44 mounted on a drive shaft 43 above the washing tank 18, and a lower end sterilized by being wound around these drive sprockets 44. A plurality of carton holders 46 are provided at equal intervals on an endless chain 45 extending into the tank 13. A bactericide removal turret 47 mounted on the drive shaft 43 is disposed above the cleaning tank 18,
The sterilizing agent has a function of blowing sterile air onto the inner surface of the carton 2 which has been washed with the disinfectant and removing the disinfectant along with water droplets. A sterile air supply device 49 is connected to a nozzle 48, which is one component of the germicide removing turret 47, via a connection tube (not shown). In addition, the sterilization station 7
The washing station 8 is surrounded by a chamber (41a), and a partition plate (41b) is formed between the sterilizing station 7 and the washing station 8. By enclosing the chamber (41a) in this way, the adhesion of microorganisms from the outside can be prevented. Also, by forming the partition plate (41b), the H ₂ O ₂ generated in the sterilization station 7 is formed.
It is possible to prevent the carton 2 from being re-contaminated (adhesion of H ₂ O ₂ ) by the steam in the washing station 8.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, a series of mechanisms including a circulating mechanism and a conveying means are respectively arranged in two, and the sterilizing tank 13 and the cleaning tank 18 are shared.

As is apparent from FIG. 2, the pair of circulating mechanisms 42b, 42b each comprising a driving sprocket 44, an endless chain 45, and a carton holder 46 are in the form of a ferris wheel. , A plurality of carton holders 46 move in the directions of arrows X and Y. In the washing tank 18 between the side where the carton 2 sinks in the sterile water in the washing tank 18 and the take-out side, as shown in FIG. 4, three divided partitions 53a, 53b and 53c are respectively arranged. Have been. Here, the partition walls 53a and 53c are provided in the cleaning tank 18.
The remaining partition wall 53b is fixed to a fixed shaft 45a for fixing a lower sprocket 44a around which the endless chain 45 is wound.

As shown in FIG. 3, a drain pipe 54 for discharging used sterile water is provided on the washing tank wall on the side where the carton 2 sinks. A sterile water supply pipe 55 for supplying fresh sterile water into the cleaning tank is provided at a position lower than the drain pipe 54 on a wall of the cleaning tank on the take-out side of the carton 2. Therefore, the sterile water that has overflowed is naturally discharged from the washing tank 18 to the outside.

Thus, according to the above embodiment, the carton 2 is divided into three partitions 53a, 53b, 53c in the cleaning tank 18 between the side submerged in the sterile water in the cleaning tank 18 and the take-out side. And a drain pipe 54 for discharging used sterile water is provided on the washing tank wall on the side where the carton 2 sinks, and a washing tank 18 is provided on the washing tank wall on the extraction side of the carton 2. Since the configuration is such that the sterile water supply pipe 55 for supplying fresh sterile water is provided, the following effects are obtained.

(1) Since most of the aseptic water from the aseptic water supply pipe 55 flows in the direction opposite to the direction of transport of the carton 2 (the direction of the arrow A in FIG. 2), immediately after the carton 2 enters the washing station 8 This prevents contamination of the contaminated water with fresh sterile water immediately before it emerges, and reduces the amount of H in the sterile water at the washing station 8.
The rise in the ₂ O ₂ concentration can be kept low.

(2) Since the carton 2 is washed with fresh sterile water when leaving the washing tank 18, H ₂ O ₂ for sterilization can be completely washed away.

(3) Post-process for removing H ₂ O ₂ (drying)
Can be omitted.

(4) Since it is not necessary to supply a large amount of sterile water, the cost for producing sterile water can be reduced.

In the above embodiment, the case where the partition is divided into three has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this.
It may be divided into two or four or more, or may be integrated.

In the above embodiment, the case where the position of the drain pipe is higher than the position of the sterile water supply pipe has been described.
It is not limited to this.

[0039]

As described above in detail, according to the present invention, by improving the cleaning tank of the cleaning station, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the sterile water in the cleaning tank can be suppressed as low as possible. It is possible to provide a sterilization apparatus which can be omitted and cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic overall view of a sterilization apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of a main part of the cleaning tank according to the apparatus as viewed from a filling step side.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the same device as viewed from a side where a carton sinks.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a main part of the device.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a carton (container) shown in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a conventional sterilization apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of a circulation mechanism of the sterilization apparatus of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Container, 2 ... Carton, 5 ... Sterilizer, 6 ... Supply station, 7 ... Sterilizer station, 8 ... Washing station, 9 ... Sterilizer removal station, 10, 11 ... Hot air drying station, 13 ... Sterilizer tank, 18 ... Cleaning tank, 19 mandrel, 20 guide rail, 42a, 42b circulation mechanism, 43 drive shaft, 44 drive sprocket, 45 endless chain, 48 nozzle, 53a, 53b, 53c partition wall, 54 drain tube , 55a ...
Sterile water supply pipe 55a.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Hiromitsu Uchiyama 1-5-1, Taito, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Printing Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yuji Kawamura 1-1-1, Taito 1-5-1, Taito-ku, Tokyo Toppan Printing (56) References JP-A-3-289426 (JP, A) JP-A-2-4638 (JP, U)

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A sterilizing station for sequentially circulating cylindrical cartons open at both ends through a sterilizing tank, and a cleaning station having a cleaning tank for cleaning a carton sent from the sterilizing station to remove a sterilizing agent. A partition provided in the washing tank between a side where the carton sinks in the liquid in the washing tank and a take-out side, and a drain provided on the washing tank wall on the side where the carton sinks. Tubes and
A sterilizing device, comprising: a pipe provided on a washing tank wall on the side of taking out the carton, for supplying fresh sterile water into the washing tank.