JPH05193627A - Germ-free filling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a germ-free filling device which can sufficiently sterilize the inside of a chamber and a container, and can hygienically and extremely efficiently fill a content in the sufficiently sterilized container in the sufficiently sterilized chamber. CONSTITUTION:The title germ-free filling device, which fills a content in a container in a chamber, is equipped with a container feeding device 1, container carrying means 2, superheated steam sterilizing means 3, ultraviolet ray sterilizing means 4, and a filling machine 5 in a chamber 6. The said germ-free filling device is also equipped with a germicide mist jetting port 71 for a germicide mist generating device 7 in said chamber 6.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an aseptic filling device,
More specifically, the inside of the chamber and the container supplied to the chamber can be sterilized extremely efficiently, and the contents such as margarine can be sanitized in the sufficiently sterilized container in the sufficiently sterilized chamber. The present invention relates to an aseptic filling device that can be filled in a container.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, as a method of filling contents such as foodstuffs into a paper container, a plastic container, etc., the filled contents and the container are sterilized separately under optimum conditions, and aseptic conditions are obtained by an aseptic filling device. Attention has been paid to an aseptic filling method in which the contents are filled in a container and sealed.

The aseptic filling device is usually surrounded by a chamber, and aseptic air is supplied into the chamber to maintain a positive pressure state. By the way, if the inside of the chamber is not sterilized, the contents cannot be filled and sealed in a container under aseptic conditions, so the filling nozzle of the aseptic filling machine and the like are sterilized before starting aseptic filling. It is necessary to sterilize the inside thoroughly. Also, the container filled with the contents in this chamber needs to be sufficiently sterilized in the chamber.

Therefore, in the conventional aseptic filling device,
For example, a means for spraying a liquid germicide such as an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide into the chamber by a two-fluid nozzle, a means for filling the chamber with a germicide gas generated by gasifying the liquid germicide in the chamber, and the like are used. Was there.

[0005]

However, in an aseptic filling apparatus using means for spraying a liquid sterilizing agent such as an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide into the chamber with a two-fluid nozzle, the liquid of the sterilizing agent adhering to the chamber is used. Big drops,
Since a large-capacity heater and a large amount of energy are required only for completely drying and removing the droplets, there is a problem that the efficiency is poor in terms of equipment and energy. In addition, when an obstacle is present in front of the two-fluid nozzle, a large number of nozzles are required because the disinfectant does not reach the area behind the obstacle, and the device becomes complicated. there were.

On the other hand, in the conventional aseptic filling apparatus of the type in which the chamber is sterilized by filling it with a sterilizing gas and leaving it for a long time, a sufficient sterilizing effect is usually obtained if it is not left for 10 hours or more. Because I can't
There was a problem that the efficiency was poor in terms of processing time.

The present invention has been made based on the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to sufficiently sterilize the inside of a chamber and a container, and to sufficiently sterilize in a sufficiently sterilized chamber. An object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic filling device which can hygienically and extremely efficiently fill a sterilized container with contents.

[0008]

Means for Solving the Problems The gist of the present invention for achieving the above object is to provide an aseptic filling device for filling a container with contents in a chamber, a container feeding device, a container conveying means, and superheated steam sterilization. An aseptic filling apparatus comprising: a means, an ultraviolet sterilizing means, and a filling machine in a chamber, and a sterilizing agent mist blowout port of a sterilizing agent mist generating device in the chamber.

[0009]

In the aseptic filling apparatus of the present invention, the germicide mist blowing port of the germicide mist generator is provided in the chamber. The sterilizing agent mist is gently blown into the chamber from the sterilizing agent mist blowout port, and every corner in the chamber provided with a container supply device, a container transporting means, a superheated steam sterilizing means, an ultraviolet sterilizing means, and a filling machine. The bactericide mist is evenly attached up to and the inside of the chamber is efficiently sterilized in a short time. Moreover, since the diameter of the disinfectant mist is extremely small, a great amount of energy is not required for drying and removing the disinfectant mist. Moreover, since the disinfectant mist is left for a few minutes, the sterilization inside the chamber is completed in a very short time compared to the conventional sterilization method in which the disinfectant gas is filled and left alone, and the filling is completed. The container used in (1) is usually sterilized by reaching over 90 ° C. by superheated steam supplied from the superheated steam sterilization means, that is, steam having a temperature of more than 100 ° C. Further, the container is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by an ultraviolet ray sterilizer provided in the chamber and is also sterilized by this ultraviolet ray. Therefore, in the aseptic filling apparatus of the present invention, the contents are filled into the sufficiently sterilized container in the sufficiently sterilized chamber.

[0010]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing the aseptic filling apparatus of this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, this aseptic filling device is
The container supply device 1, the container transporting device 2, the superheated steam sterilizing device 3, the ultraviolet sterilizing device 4, and the filling machine 5 are provided in the chamber 6, and the chamber 6 has the sterilizing agent mist generating device 7 sterilized. An agent mist outlet is provided.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the portion of the container supply device 1 for supplying an empty container 81 excluding the container intake 10 and the product carry-out port 11 is a chamber 6.
Are covered by. Further, the chamber 6 is provided with an air supply port 8a and an exhaust port 8b, and the inside of the chamber 6 has a positive pressure so as not to impair the sterilization atmosphere. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 12 is a chamber discharge part.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container supply device 1 comprises a container intake 10 for taking in an empty container 81 and a container supply port 13 for supplying the container 81 into the chamber 6. Further, in the container supply device 1 in the device of the present embodiment, the containers 81 are rotated at a predetermined interval by abutting the flanges formed on the peripheral edge of the container 81 and suspending the containers 81, and thereby the containers 81 are arranged at predetermined intervals. A flange support screw 14 is provided to feed onto the conveying means 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, the container conveying means 2 is formed by mounting a chain conveyor 23 between a drive sprocket 21 and a guide sprocket 22. As shown in FIG. 2, between the chain conveyors 23, pallets 25 having container holders 24 are sequentially arranged along the moving direction of the chain conveyors 23.

The superheated steam sterilizing means 3 sprays steam having a temperature of more than 100 ° C., so-called superheated steam (super steam), onto the empty container 81 supplied onto the container transporting means 2 in the chamber 6 to remove the container 81. Sterilize. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, superheated steam in which hot air and water vapor are mixed is sprayed onto the container 81 from the superheated steam spraying nozzle 31 provided in the chamber 6. Here, a hot air air generator and a steam suction blower (both not shown) are connected to the superheated steam blowing nozzles 31, and each superheated steam blowing nozzle 31 is provided with a steam amount adjusting device. In FIG. 1, 90 is a preheater for preventing water droplets from adhering to the surface of the container 81 in the chamber 6.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ultraviolet sterilization means 4 comprises an ultraviolet sterilization lamp 41.
1 irradiates the empty container 81 on the container transporting means 2 with ultraviolet rays to sterilize the surface of the container 81.

In the aseptic filling apparatus of this embodiment, the container 81 is conveyed from the container supply apparatus 1 side (see FIG. 1).
(Indicated by an arrow), the superheated steam sterilization means 3 and the ultraviolet sterilization means 4 are arranged in this order, but the order is not limited, and the ultraviolet sterilization means 4 and the superheated steam sterilization means 3 are arranged in this order. Good.

As shown in FIG. 1, the filling machine 5 is provided with a storage tank 51 for filling contents and a filling nozzle 52, and the filling contents in the storage tank 51 are filled by a predetermined amount.
To fill the container 81. In FIG. 1, 1
Reference numeral 01 denotes a container lift, and the container lift lifts an empty container 81 held by the container holder 24 constituting the container transfer means 2 toward the filling nozzle 52 when filling the filling contents.

As shown in FIG. 1, the filled container 82 filled with the filling contents by the filling machine 5 is conveyed by the container conveying means 2 to just below the inner lid supply device 9. The inner lid supply device 9 holds the inner lid by vacuum, releases the holding of the inner lid at a predetermined position, and places the inner lid on the opening of the filled container 82, and the inner lid holder 91. 9
The inner lid sterilizer 92 irradiates the inner lid held by No. 1 with ultraviolet rays to sterilize the inner lid. Here, the inner lid sterilizer 92 is configured by an ultraviolet irradiator 93. The inner lid holder 91 rotates while holding the inner lid supplied from the inner lid supply port 94, and the inner lid held by the inner lid holder 91 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays from an ultraviolet irradiator 93. Sterilization of the lid is performed. In FIG. 1, 9
Reference numeral 5 denotes an inner lid pressing mechanism that presses the inner lid placed on the opening of the filled container 82, and 102 and 103 denote the filled container 82 for the inner lid feeding device 9 and the inner lid pressing mechanism 95, respectively.
It is a container lift that lifts in the direction of. In addition, the inner lid is usually supplied into the chamber 6 in a state where it has been sterilized with ethylene oxide gas (EOG) in advance.

As shown in FIG. 1, the aseptic filling apparatus of this embodiment further includes a seal mechanism 16 and an outer lid supply device 17. The sealing mechanism 10 has a heating unit 16a, and is placed on the opening of the filled container 82 in the inner lid supply device 9 and the peripheral edge portion of the inner lid which is brought into close contact with the filling contents by the inner lid pressing mechanism 95. The periphery of the filled container 82 is heat-sealed. At this time, the filled container 82 is the container lift 1
It is lifted from the container holder 24 of the container transport means 2 by 04.

The outer lid supply device 17 has an outer lid supplied from the outer lid supply port 17a and a filled container 82 in which the inner lid is sealed.
This container 82 is provided with an outer lid discharge port 17b for covering
The outer lid placed on the container is attached to the filled container 82 by the outer lid loading mechanism 18. Here, like the inner lid, the outer lid is supplied into the chamber 6 in a state of being sterilized by ethylene oxide gas (EOG), for example. In FIG. 1, 105 is a container lift. The filled container 82 to which the outer lid is attached is unloaded from the product unloading port 11 by the product conveyor.

As shown in FIG. 1, the disinfectant mist generator 7 is provided on the side of the guide sprocket 22 of the container supply device 1 in the chamber 6, and the disinfectant mist outlet 71 is provided in the chamber 6. In addition, the aseptic filling apparatus according to the present embodiment includes the germicide mist generator 7 as a unit.
Although provided with a base, it is also possible to provide a plurality of bactericide mist generators 7 as needed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the disinfectant mist generator 7 includes a disinfectant supply unit 72 for supplying a liquid disinfectant.
And a vaporizing section 74 for heating the liquid germicide supplied from the germicide supply section 72 to a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point by the heating means 73 to vaporize it.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing details of an example of the bactericide mist generator 7. As shown in FIG. 3, a supply unit main body 72a forming the sterilizing agent supply unit 72 is similar to the conventional two-fluid spray. A nozzle 72b is connected to the supply unit main body 72a via an extension pipe 75. This is because the heat from the vaporization tube 74a forming the vaporization section 74 closes the upper portion of the vaporization tube 74a and the aluminum plug 76 and the nozzle 72b.
Is transmitted to the supply unit main body 72a via
This is to prevent a from being heated. Vaporization tube 74a
Is a heating means formed of, for example, an outer cylinder 77 made of asbestos ribbon, an inner cylinder 78 made of a sanitary pipe forming the inner wall of the vaporization pipe 74a, and a ribbon heater provided between the outer cylinder 77 and the inner cylinder 78. And 73. A nozzle 79 is connected to the lower end of the vaporization tube 74a to inject vaporized liquid germicide such as vapor of hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution, peracetic acid aqueous solution and a mixture thereof. In addition,
In FIG. 3, 111 is a liquid germicide inlet, and 112 is an atomizing air inlet for supplying compressed air.

In the vaporization tube 74a, it is important that there is no place with a low temperature or a place where the temperature easily drops in order to average the vaporization, and for that purpose, the heating means 73, such as a ribbon, is provided over the entire length of the vaporization tube 74a. A heater is provided. Further, the diameter of the vaporization pipe 74a is set so that pressure is not applied to the inside of the pipe when a liquid sterilizing agent such as an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide is sprayed from the nozzle 72b connected to the supply unit main body 72a via the extension pipe 75. The vaporizing pipe 74a is set to be sufficiently large, and the vaporizing pipe 74a extends vertically so that the liquid sterilizing agent vaporized in the pipe can easily escape, and the inner surface of the pipe is formed smooth.

In the disinfectant mist generator 7, the liquid disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution supplied from the disinfectant supply unit 72 is equipped with a vaporizing tube 74 equipped with a heating means 73.
When it is heated to a temperature above the boiling point in a and completely vaporized, and the vaporized germicide is blown out into the chamber 6 through the germicide mist outlet 71, it is condensed in the air in the chamber 6 and becomes a fine germicide. It becomes the mist 85 and diffuses and fills the chamber 6.

In order to more efficiently diffuse and fill the bactericide mist in the chamber 6, it is preferable to provide auxiliary means for diffusion. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, in the chamber 6, compression is performed, for example, above the guide sprocket 22, immediately below the inner lid supply device 9, and above the air supply / exhaust port 8a and the air supply / exhaust port 8b. By providing the air blowing nozzle 55 and blowing the compressed air after the germicide mist 85 is generated, the germicide mist 85 can be more efficiently diffused and filled in the chamber 6. Further, instead of the compressed air blowing nozzle 55, fans (not shown) may be provided at several places to form a flow of the germicide mist 85 in the chamber 6. However, in that case, if the residence time of the disinfectant mist 85 in the chamber 6 (the time during which air supply and exhaust is stopped) becomes longer, the amount of the disinfectant mist 85 attached to the blades of the fan increases, and as a result, the fan So-called botching of the bactericide is likely to occur from the blades, and it may be necessary to dry and remove the bactericide.

After the disinfectant mist 85 is allowed to stay in the chamber 6 for a predetermined time, for example, as shown in FIG. 1, the positive pressure air nozzle 57 provided in the chamber 6 is used.
By supplying aseptic air from above, the sterilizing agent mist 85 can be discharged from the exhaust port 8b and the inside of the chamber 6 can be maintained in a positive pressure state. In addition, in a series of sterilization processes, it is possible to cause an efficient flow of the bactericide mist 85 by appropriately closing the discharge port 8b. As a result, if the disinfectant mist 85 is sufficiently diffused in the chamber 6, a large number of disinfectant mist generators are not required. Therefore, the germicide mist 85
As an auxiliary means for efficiently diffusing the gas in the chamber 6, the compressed air blowing nozzle 55 is provided at an appropriate position in the chamber 6, and the disinfectant mist 85 is provided in the chamber 6 in consideration of the position of the discharge port 8b. It is preferable that the flow is generated. In addition, in FIG.
For example, the aseptic filling device for supplying a shallow container such as a margarine container has been shown, but this aseptic filling device is not limited to such a container, for example, a pouch aseptic filling device, a carton aseptic filling device, etc. It can be used for all aseptic filling devices equipped with a chamber mechanism, and sterilization in piping is also possible. It can also be used for experimental equipment such as glove boxes. ◎ Experimental Example Next, a test for confirming the sterilizing effect in the aseptic filling machine of the present invention will be described.

A biological indicator having 10 ⁴ pieces of Bacillus subtilis spores attached per piece was placed on the container conveying means 2 in the aseptic filling apparatus of this embodiment shown in FIG. It was conveyed intermittently in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 at 0.12 m / sec. At this time, superheated steam is sprayed from the superheated steam spray nozzle 31, and ultraviolet rays having a sterilization line illuminance of 27 mW / cm ² are radiated from the ultraviolet sterilization lamp 41, and the sterilizing agent mist generator 7 set to a vaporization part temperature of 250 ° C. By supplying 35% hydrogen peroxide water at a supply liquid pressure of 0.2 kg / cm ² from the sterilizing agent supply port 72, the hydrogen peroxide mist was blown into the chamber 6 at a temperature of 25 ° C. for 90 seconds. Next, after air supply / exhaust was stopped for 90 seconds to allow it to stay, it was dried at a blowing temperature of 25 ° C (room temperature) for 40 minutes.

After that, when the above-mentioned biological indicators were collected and cultivated, it was confirmed that all Bacillus subtilis spores were killed. It should be noted that the inside of the chamber 6 was sufficiently dried in 15 minutes after the above-mentioned drying was started. However, if the blowing temperature into the chamber 6 is heated to about 80 ° C., the drying time can be shortened to 5 minutes. did it.

[0031]

As described above in detail, in the present invention, the container is sterilized by the superheated steam sterilizing means and the ultraviolet sterilizing means, and the sterilizing agent mist generator is used to sterilize the inside of the chamber. It is possible to provide an aseptic filling device capable of extremely efficiently and hygienically filling the contents of a sufficiently sterilized container in a sufficiently sterilized chamber.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of an aseptic filling device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing a part of a container carrying means in the aseptic filling apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example of a germicide mist generating device in the aseptic filling device of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Container supply device 2 ... Container transportation means 3 ... Superheated steam sterilization means 4 ... Ultraviolet sterilization means 5 ... Filling machine 6 ... Chamber 7 ... Sterilizer mist generator 71 ... Sterilizer mist outlet

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An aseptic filling device for filling a container with contents in a chamber, which comprises a container supply device, a container carrying means, a superheated steam sterilization means, an ultraviolet sterilization means, and a filling machine. An aseptic filling device, characterized in that a sterilizing agent mist blowing port of the sterilizing agent mist generating device is provided in the chamber.