JPS6130976B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a sterilization packaging method, and more specifically, the steps of sterilization, drying of sterilizing liquid, filling of contents, sealing of lid material, and product discharge are sequentially performed while the container is intermittently transferred. In a sterilization packaging method, if a sterilization-defective container is generated in the sterilization process, it relates to a method for removing it before or during the product discharge process.

Conventionally, in this type of sterilization packaging system, a sterilization liquid (e.g. hydrogen peroxide solution, chlorine water, etc.) is supplied as a spray into a container to sterilize it, and then the sterilization liquid is dried.
After that, the contents are filled inside and the lid is closed.

However, it is not known during the sterilization packaging process whether the container has been properly sterilized or whether too much sterilization liquid has been supplied. Therefore, the adequacy of sterilization can be determined by conventional sampling after discharging the product, or by referring to the results, supplying a somewhat larger amount of sterilizing liquid and extending the drying process to optimize sterilization. It is planned.
However, prolonging the drying process reduces production efficiency or increases the length of the equipment.

On the other hand, if the sterilizing solution is supplied in excess, the sterilizing solution will remain even after the drying process, which is undesirable from a sanitary standpoint. In view of this, the present invention makes it possible to detect the amount of sterilizing liquid spray supplied to the container, so that the amount supplied can be the minimum amount necessary for sterilization, and furthermore, if the amount is If the minimum amount is broken due to a problem or if there is an excess amount, it is assumed that the sterilization process has failed and the container is not filled with the contents.

In other words, the present invention irradiates the sterilizing liquid spray with a light flux, measures the amount of transmitted light, compares it with a predetermined reference value, determines whether or not the sterilization process is appropriate, and if the process is defective, sends a corresponding signal to the product discharge process. This is a command to send the product before or during the process to separate defective products from non-defective products.

The embodiments shown in the drawings will be described below.

FIG. 1 illustrates the case where the present invention is applied to a sterile packaging machine that performs sterilization using a sterilizer equipped with a two-fluid nozzle. This aseptic packaging machine consists of a container accumulation and holding section A, a container supply section B, a container sterilization section C, a sterilizing solution drying section D, a filling section E, a lid sealing section F, a lid supply supply section G, a lid drying section H, and a cutting section. Department I, product discharge department J
and a pre-formed container, i.e.
Containers made of materials that can be formed into containers, such as Al, paper, thermoplastic resin, or composite materials thereof, are collected and stacked as shown. Of course, the shape of the container is not limited to that shown in the drawings.

The containers 10 are stacked vertically in the accumulation holding frame 1.
2 and is further maintained vertically by four pillars 14.

And at the bottom there is a claw 16 supported by a spring.
supports the bottom of the container 10, and when the lowest container is removed with a certain amount of force, the claw 16 loosens and only one container becomes free.

The lower part of the accumulation holding frame 12 is attached to the machine frame of this apparatus in a airtight state, and the sterile chamber 18 inside the machine frame is connected to the inside of the accumulation holding frame 12. The bottom of the container 10 is suctioned by a suction plate 26 at the tip of a suction plate holding rod 24 that swings around a fulcrum 22 by an air cylinder 20, and the container 10 is placed in a sterile chamber 18.
The computer is placed on a shutter 28 provided inside the computer. The shooter 28 is connected to the container 1 as shown in FIG.
The suction plate 26 passes between the shutters 28 and descends sufficiently below.

Needless to say, the suction plate holding rod 24 holds the inside of the sterile chamber 18 airtight with the bellows 30 and the like.

The containers 10 that have slipped on the shooter 28 are placed on the container holder 3 of the conveyor 32 provided inside this device.
4 into the hole 36 (Fig. 3).

At this time, the suction plate holding rod also passes through the space between the shooters 28 and rises to pick up the next container 10.
These series of movements are performed with good timing.
The containers 10 are guided to a container sterilization section C by a conveyor 32. The container sterilization section C is filled with sterile air like the container supply section B, and a container sterilization device as shown in FIG. 3 is installed therein.

The sterilizer includes an upper chamber 38 and a lower chamber 40, which are fixed so as to face each other across a container holder 34, that is, a container travel path.

More specifically, they face each other across the upper running path of the conveyor 32, and the lower running path passes through the lower chamber (FIG. 1). The spray from the lower nozzle, which will be described later, passes through the hole 36 of the container holder 34 in the lower travel path to the container 10.
Care has been taken to reach this goal. Of course, it is also possible to provide a lower chamber 40 or the like between the upper and lower running paths of the conveyor 32.

Disposed within the upper and lower chambers 38, 40 are spray nozzles 42 for sterilizing liquid, respectively.
These nozzles are two-fluid type that create spray using airflow, and are equipped with an annular slit and a sterilizing liquid ejection hole at the tip to constantly eject heated sterile air, and send compressed air to the cylinder cavity 44. By opening the needle valve against a spring, the sterilizing liquid is ejected as a spray 46 by the ejecting action of sterile air.

Sterile air is generated by atmospheric air passing through the filter 48, then passing through the heater 50, and the flow rate regulating valve 52, and is constantly blown out from the annular slit.

On the other hand, the sterilizing liquid is, for example, hydrogen peroxide solution, chlorine water, etc., which is preheated in the tank 54 by a heater 56, and further heated by a heater 58 to reach the nozzle hole.

Incidentally, the containers may be run in a single line, but preferably they are run in multiple lines.
Therefore, the upper and lower chambers 38, 40 are sized to cover the entire width of the container 10, and a plurality of nozzles 42 are also provided (not shown) corresponding to each row of containers.

The needle valve is for intermittent supply of sterilizing liquid to the nozzle 42, but this operation is
is carried out when there is a gap between the upper and lower chambers. That is, in the figure, a motor 60, a reduction gear 62, a Geneva gear 64, and a sprocket 66 move the conveyor 32 intermittently in synchronization with the movement of the supply section B, but from this system, a gear 68, a cam 70, a switch 72, etc. The solenoid valve 74 can be opened and closed by extracting a signal. The solenoid valve 74 may be shared by all nozzles,
It may be provided for each nozzle or for each nozzle group.

Note that exhaust pipes 76 and 78 are provided in each chamber to prevent excess spray from being generated within the chambers 38 and 40. Negative pressure is applied to the exhaust pipe, and the excess spray is discharged from the chamber within the time required for the container 10 to move between the chambers for escape, for example by using the solenoid valve 80 using the signal.

Further, in order to prevent excess sterilizing liquid from adhering to the container 10, a heater 58 is provided near the nozzle and near the sterilizing liquid supply path 82 leading to the nozzle. Therefore, even when the sterilizing liquid is not being injected, the liquid exiting the tank 54 is smoothly supplied or injected without cooling down. Moreover, since these heaters are close to both the upper and lower chambers, chambers 38,
40 is also heated, and even when the spray contacts the inner wall of the chamber, it is difficult to form droplets. Even if a droplet is generated, the lower end of the upper chamber 38 has a flange-like protrusion 84.
Since the groove 86 is provided therein, the water does not drip into the container 10.

In this way, the spray is ejected from the upper and lower nozzles 42 each time the container 10 arrives, and the container 10 is heated appropriately by the heated sterile air that is constantly ejected outside of injection, and is also heated in the middle of the supply path 82. This spray becomes more uniform and fine and adheres well to the entire surface of the container. Since the chambers 38 and 40 are also heated with sterile air, it is difficult for liquid droplets to form, and even if some droplets are formed, the protrusion 84 prevents the liquid from dripping into the container, so that excess sterilizing liquid does not enter the container. No more sticking.

The container onto which the sterilizing liquid has been sprayed as described above is then sent to the sterilizing liquid drying section D. The drying section is configured such that sterile heated air is guided from a conduit 88 into an air box 90 and is injected from a nozzle 92 toward the container.

Once the sterilizing liquid has been dried off, the container 10 is then sent to the filling station E.

In the filling section E, the contents of the completely sterilized food are sent from the pipe 94 and filled into the container 10 by a filling nozzle 96 in a fixed amount. 97 is a solenoid valve for intermittent filling.

Next, as a lid for the container 10, a continuous lid material such as Al, plastic, or a laminated material of plastic and paper is supplied and sealed in alignment with the flange portion.

The continuous lid material 98 is made into a rolled body 100, and is passed from the lid material supply section G through a tension roll 102 as in a general aseptic system, and then sterilized with a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide or chlorine water in a sterilizing tank 104. It comes to the drying section H via the turn roll 106. The drying section is a sterile room because the sterilizing solution and the partition 108 of the sterilizing agent tank 104 serve as a seal from the outside air.

The continuous lid material 98 is used for a plurality of drying nozzles 1 attached to a drying nozzle support stay 110 in a drying section.
Heated air is blown from 12 to dry it completely.

The lid material 98 passes through a pitch correction roll 116 on the way to the seal portion turn roll 114. After passing through the sealing part turn roll 114, it is applied to the lid material in advance at the sealing part F. The container is sealed with a heated sealant, and at this time, the container pedestal 34 rests on a seal pedestal 120 that is moved up and down by a crank 118 to keep the container in a fixed position.

Once the position is reached, press air cylinder 1 from the top.
The sealing piece attached to the heating element 124 driven aseptically by the sealing member 22 is lowered, and the lid member 98 is heat-pressed onto the container 10 by the protrusion on the sealing piece to completely seal it.

A plurality of heaters are built inside the heating component 124, and the sealing piece is controlled to have an appropriate temperature. This seal is container 10
It is carried out at a constant width along the circumference of the flange. Thereafter, the container 10 is in the form of a continuous seal in a continuous closure and is then conveyed by a conveyor to the cutting station I for cutting or punching.
In the cutting section, a cutting blade 128 attached to a blade fixture 126 that moves up and down cuts off the lid material on the container pedestal 34.

Through the above steps, a sterile airtight container filled with the contents is completed, and is transported to the product discharge section J by the conveyor 32.

During conveyance, the guide bar 130 that supports the container flange portion pushes the container 10 upward, and the container completely rides on the bottom support stay 132 and leaves the conveyor 32.

Immediately after the container 10 leaves the conveyor, it is sent out by the discharge conveyor 134.

The above device is filled with sterile air during these steps, that is, from A to J, and the sterile air is supplied to the spray port 1.
36 into the sterile chamber, and is blown out from the accumulation holding frame 12 and the device outlet to prevent bacteria from entering from outside, and is highest in the right side of the sterilizing section C in the sterile chamber 18. , container accumulation holding section A at the front and product discharge section J at the rear, respectively.
Care has been taken to ensure that bacteria that adhere to the container from the outside do not enter the chamber where the container is sterilized and that mist leaking from the container sterilization section C does not reach the container drying section D. There is.

Here, the following measures have been taken to detect excess or deficiency in the amount of sterilizing liquid sprayed inside the chamber, and to issue an alarm, stop filling the contents, remove containers with defective sterilization treatment, etc. That is, in order to detect the amount of spray, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the sterilizing liquid spray injected into the chamber is irradiated with a light beam from the light projector 138, and the transmitted light is received by the light receiver 140. It's becoming like that. In the present invention, the detection of excess or deficiency in the amount of spraying is equivalent to the detection of excess or deficiency in the adhesion of the sterilizing liquid to the container. Therefore, the light beam is preferably set to pass near the container,
They are provided at the top and bottom of the container 10, respectively.

When the transmitted light hits fog particles in the chamber, losses such as reflection and absorption occur, and the light increases or decreases depending on the density of the fog. You can know the amount of spray inside. However, since the chamber is a nearly closed system, the spray will add up over time. It is believed that this addition occurs within the sterilization time of each container or even within the sterilization time of a certain lot of containers.

Therefore, it is not possible to determine the appropriate amount of mist for sterilization by detecting the amount of transmitted light in a moment. Therefore, we decided to consider the total amount within a certain period of time, and by integrating the amount of transmitted light within a certain period of time, we compared the integrated amount with the integrated amount of the desired amount of fog that was measured in advance. We are trying to recognize whether there is too much or too little sterilizing solution on the surface.

FIG. 4 shows a signal processing device 141 for performing such operations. In the figure, 14
Numerals 2 and 144 are opposed small holes provided in the chamber, and 146 and 148 are small cavities connecting the holes and the light emitter and receiver, respectively. The small cavities are provided to allow air curtains 150, 152 to pass through. The air in the air curtain is as sterile air as it is supplied to the nozzle 42, and by passing through the slots 154 provided above and below the small cavity, it becomes a curtain and is sprayed onto the glass plate 156 in front of the light emitter and receiver. Prevent from adhesion.

Here, it is assumed that a certain container 10 is supported by the pedestal 34 and enters the chamber. Then, the computer 158 (Fig. 4) or the switch 72 (the third
A spray 46 is fired into the chamber by a signal from FIG. At the same time, a light emitter 138 is caused to emit light by a start/stop circuit 160 controlled by a computer, or a light receiver 140 is constantly receiving light.
The gap from the signal to the amplifier 162 is closed. Therefore, if the spray is supplied for a predetermined period of time when the container is stopped in the chamber, as shown in FIG. 5A, the amount of light transmitted will rapidly decrease as the time passes, as shown in FIG. 5B. . When this transmission amount is inverted by the inversion circuit 164, it becomes the amount as shown in FIG. 5C,
This corresponds to a change in the amount or density of the spray at each time.

At the same time, the amount of transmitted light in Figure 5C is
The signal is divided by a pulse generator 159 regulated by a pulse generator 58 and successively integrated by an integrating circuit 166.

The integral value obtained in this way is as shown in FIG.
68 for comparison.

In Fig. 5D, a indicates excessive spraying, b indicates proper spraying,
If C is insufficient, the integral value of b after a predetermined spraying time has elapsed can be used as the reference value. The reference value is expressed as an integral value of the amount of transmitted light with respect to the amount of sterilizing liquid spray required to sterilize the container in the chamber within a predetermined time (for example, the time when the container is stopped).

Then, an integral value corresponding to a certain spray after a predetermined period of time has elapsed is set as a test value, and by detecting the magnitude with respect to the above-mentioned reference value, excessive or insufficient amount of spray is detected. Alternatively, an integral value corresponding to a certain spray during the elapse of a predetermined period of time is used as a test value, and excess or deficiency in the amount of spray is detected by detecting whether the time to reach the reference value is early or late.

FIG. 6 shows a comparison using the comparator 168 in the former case, where the reference value is the integrated value of the amount of transmitted light after a predetermined period of time for spraying a suitable amount of sterilizing liquid, and the reference value has a range. It shows the law. In the figure, a' corresponds to a, b' corresponds to b, and c' corresponds to c, respectively, and a signal indicating overspraying or underspraying is output from the comparator 168 whose test value is outside the upper and lower demarcation points X and Y. It turns out.

Specifically, the reference value is stored in the computer 158, and the comparator 1 is
68, where it is compared with the test value after the same time period coming from the integrating circuit 166, thereby causing the computer 158 to issue a signal. This signal is sent to the display device 170 to warn of an abnormal spray amount, and to the indicator device 172 to the sterilized defective container removal device 1.
74, stopping and stopping the electromagnetic valve 97 of the filling section E, adjusting the amount of sterile air supplied to the nozzle 42, etc., is used for various purposes.

Further, the comparison between the test value and the reference value can also be carried out using an apparatus as shown in FIG. In this case, receiver 1
The signal coming from 40 is taken as the test value after a predetermined period of time and enters two comparators 168a, b, while the signal is sent from an appropriate input source 176 to analog memory 17.
8. A reference value signal enters each of the comparators 168a, b via the amplifier 180 and the volumetric volume 182a, b corresponding to each comparator. The volumes 182a and 182b have been adjusted in advance to correspond to the upper and lower demarcation points shown in FIG. The comparators are both connected to an AND circuit 184 and a NOR circuit 186, and further connected to another AND circuit 18.
8,190 is also connected. Further, a timing signal from the computer 158 or the switch 72 is input to the analog memory 178 and the AND circuits 188 and 190.

Thus, if the test value is higher than the reference value
A signal indicating excessive spraying is obtained through the AND circuit 184 and another AND circuit 188, and if it is within the reference value XY, the spray amount is determined to be appropriate and no signal is generated, and if it is lower than the reference value Y, the NOR circuit 186 and the AND circuit 190
to obtain a signal as underspray.

In the latter case, that is, when detecting whether the amount of sterilizing liquid sprayed reaches the appropriate amount quickly or slowly, the test value is the integral value of the amount of transmitted light sequentially during the elapse of a predetermined period of time. put out. Then, depending on whether the test value reaches a preset predetermined time quickly or slowly, a signal indicating overspraying or underspraying is output. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the time counter 192 starts counting at the same time as spraying starts, and the counted number is sent to the comparator 168 as a test value, while the integral value up to each count is also The signal is sent from the integrating circuit to the comparator 168. Then, the computer 158 sends the pre-stored reference value and the corresponding integral value to the comparator 168.

If the test value reaches the set reference value earlier than a preset predetermined time, an overspray signal is generated from the comparator 168, and if it is too late, an underspray signal is generated from the comparator 168. Note that it is desirable to set a tolerance range shown by a hatched portion 194 as shown in FIG. 5D as the reference value or set time. Also, an integrating circuit 166, a display device 170
is cleared by a clear circuit 196 receiving a command from the computer 158 after a series of steps within the cycle time is completed, and is kept on standby until the start of the next cycle operation.

By the way, if the amount of spray is insufficient, it corresponds to a defective sterilization treatment of the container. Products filled with such containers have poor shelf life and may be defective when placed on the market.

On the other hand, excessive spraying also corresponds to poor sterilization treatment. That is, the sterilizing solution remains in the container even after drying, which is undesirable from the standpoint of safety and hygiene. Therefore, it is necessary to desirably not fill containers with improperly sterilized contents, and to remove them at the product discharge section and separate them from sterilized products.

Such a processing method will be described below. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of each process performed by the sterilization packaging apparatus. The numbers in each block correspond to the respective parts in FIG. Further, in this case, the drying step D is performed over four stations.

Shift pulse as shown in FIG.
SP is regularly generated corresponding to each of the above steps,
Further, the inverted pulse is generated by a NOT circuit. For example, the shift pulse is generated by the motor 6.
0, a switch 72, etc., and is generated in synchronization with the intermittent movement of the conveyor 32.
While these pulses SP pass through the sequence circuit including the circuits shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the signal indicating insufficient or excessive spray becomes the pulse X shown in FIG. Once inside, the pulse X is sequentially shifted and released just before the filling process E and the product discharge process J to stop filling and remove products that are defective in the sterilization process. In addition, a display device 170 as shown in FIG. 12 displays the location of the defective sterilization container and the suitability of spray supply.

Here, we will discuss a case where a sterilization failure occurs in a certain container. In this case, since the amount of sterilizing liquid sprayed within the chamber is too small or too large, the comparator 168 or the AND circuits 188, 190 generates a sterilizing process failure signal. This signal enters the JK-FF (flip-flop) C in the sequence circuit (Fig. 10) as a pulse X, and also enters the NOT circuit 19.
The signal inverted by 8 also enters. Pulse X and pulse SP are both synchronized with the intermittent movement of the conveyor 32, so JK-FF C is synchronized.
to go into.

Therefore, from the characteristics of JK-FF, a pulse Q (FIG. 9) corresponding to one cycle of the shift pulse is generated. In pulse QC, if a sterilization defect occurs for only one container, one will occur, and if it occurs consecutively, it will occur continuously. Pulse QC reaches the next JK-FF D-1, from which pulse QD-1 is generated.
Pulse QC and QD-1 are shifted by the conveyance time of one intermittent movement of the conveyor.

Pulses, QC, QD obtained as above
-1 acts on the NAND circuit 200 and NOT circuit 202 to generate the lamp blinking pulse C' (FIG. 9). This pulse lights up the lamp 204 of the drying process D-1 of the display device 170. And the pulse X, is the subsequent JK-FF D-2, D-3,
D-4, E, F, and I (not shown) are sequentially shifted, and during that time, the corresponding lamps in each step are turned on by operating the respective NAND circuits and NOT circuits. Therefore, as the sterilized defective container (for example, the second row from the left in a four-row vehicle) moves, the lighting of the lamps also shifts sequentially.
If all the lamps in the second row turn on at the same time, all the containers in that row have been sterilized incorrectly, and it is detected that a failure has occurred in the nozzle 42 or the sterilizing liquid supply system.

Further, while the pulse X is being shifted, the lamp lighting signal D-4' is taken out by the circuit configuration as shown in Fig. 11 before the content filling process E.
A signal D-4'' is generated in order to prevent other contents from being filled into a container that has not been sterilized.Specifically, the shift pulse SP and the pulse QD-4 are sent to the NAND circuit 20.
6 and NOT circuit 208 into a filling instruction signal D-4'', causing solenoid valve 97 (FIG. 1) of nozzle 96 to open only when this signal is generated.

Further, in the same manner as above, a pulse I (FIG. 9), which is a delayed version of the pulse D-4'', is generated immediately before the product discharge step J to remove containers that are not sterilized.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show an example of a device for removing containers that are not sterilized. This is preferably fully equipped within a sterile room 18.

In the figure, 210 is a cylinder extending radially from the shaft 212, 214 is a rod, 216 is a suction cup, 218 is a motor, 220 is a vacuum pump, 2
22 is a conveyor that intersects with the conveyor 32.

Therefore, when the pulse I is generated, the rod 2
14 extends and suctions the defective sterilization container corresponding to the pulse with a suction cup 216. In this case, since the lid of the container is sealed regardless of the presence or absence of contents, suction is applied to the lid portion. After suction, the shaft 212 is rotated by a predetermined angle by the action of the motor 218, and during rotation, the rod 214 is gradually extended toward the conveyor 222 by compressed air against a spring built into the cylinder 210. When the suction cup 216 is stretched, the suction of the suction cup 216 is released and the defective products are allowed to fall onto the conveyor 222. Also, the supply of compressed air into the cylinder 210 is released and the rod 214 is retracted to its old position. Defective products are discharged outside the sterile room by the conveyor 222.

Next, the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned spray method using the jet from the nozzle 42, but can also be applied to a spray method using ultrasonic waves as shown in FIG. This sterilizing liquid atomizing device 224 constitutes a sterilizing device together with a chamber 226 shown in FIG. 16, and is incorporated into the sterilizing section C.

The sterilizing liquid atomizing device 224 causes an ultrasonic vibrator 230 to resonate via a coaxial cable 228 using an ultrasonic oscillator circuit (not shown), oscillates ultrasonic waves from there, and sprays the sterilizing liquid using hot water 232 as a medium. 234
The aim is to propagate the fog to produce fog. The oscillation frequency of ultrasonic waves is, for example, 1.0MHz ~
It is 2.0MHz. Sterilizing liquid 23 to which ultrasonic waves have been added
4 forms a fountain 236 by ultrasonic dispersion, and further becomes a smoky mist. Most of the fog particles have the same size and are extremely fine. The particle size is for example 20-50 microns.

A mist of sterilizing liquid is generated substantially continuously within the chamber 238 and is discharged into the sterilizing chamber from an exhaust pipe 242 at the top of the chamber on a stream of sterile air heated by a heating element coming from a conduit 240. Ru. The temperature of sterile air is specifically 50-100
It is ℃. During this time, the selection plate 244 removes droplets that are too large. A heater 246 is also provided in the chamber 238 to constantly warm the rising mist. Specifically 50~80℃
Warm the inside of the chamber. Additionally, 248 is a return port for excess fog.

The final mist thus obtained has a particle size of, for example, 20
It is homogeneous, around microns in size, and is kept at 50 to 80 degrees Celsius and heated with a heating element before being sent to the container.

In addition, although not shown, fog may be generated within the chamber 238 by providing an ultrasonic nozzle in place of the ultrasonic vibrator and ultrasonic oscillation circuit. An ultrasonic nozzle is a device that atomizes the sterilizing liquid by ejecting a sterilizing liquid and sterile air from the nozzle and colliding with a resonance box attached to the tip of the nozzle to generate intense sonic energy of, for example, around 30KHz. In this case, the fog particle size is specifically 10
It is on the order of microns.

Alternatively, the sterilizing liquid may be atomized using a device called an atomizer.

The atomizer is installed in a cavity having an opening in the wall of the chamber 238 with its nozzle facing the chamber side, and an ultrasonic vibrator is fixed to the rear end.
The sterilizing liquid is supplied into the atomizer from the supply pipe.
Ultrasonic waves of 30 to 100 KHz are applied and a mist with a particle size of 20 to 50 microns is emitted from the nozzle.

In this way, a uniform mist of particles is constantly supplied from the sterilizing liquid atomizer 224 into the chamber 226 and adheres to the container 10.

The sterilization chamber 226 is provided to sandwich the conveyor 32. In Figure 16, 2
50 is a guide rail for guiding the plate-shaped container holder 34, and 252 is a ball or roller. The guide rail 250 is built into the wall of the chamber, and forms an airtight chamber together with the wall of the chamber.

The chamber 226 is composed of an upper member and a lower member with the guide rail 250 as a boundary, and has a rectangular box shape as a whole. The upper part of the container holder is an upper sterilization chamber 254, and the lower part is a lower sterilization chamber 256. Each chamber is provided with a supply port 258 for introducing the mist from the sterilization liquid atomizing device 224, and an exhaust port 258. An outlet 260 is provided. The mist of the sterilizing solution fills both the upper and lower sterilizing chambers 254 and 256, and the container 1
0, and excess mist is exhausted.

The mist moves within the chamber 226 on the sterile heated air flow from the atomizer 224, and is heated by the heater 262 so that the size of the mist particles does not change. The heaters are embedded in both the upper and lower members of the chamber, respectively. The heater should be installed at least in the ceiling of the chamber 226, thereby reducing the fog around the container 10 by 35%.
In the case of hydrogen peroxide, the temperature is maintained at 50 to 80°C, preferably around 60°C, to maintain the mist state, while the mist that touches the inner wall of the chamber is heated and gasified. The gasification temperature of hydrogen peroxide is approximately 80℃~
It is 100℃. According to experiments conducted by the present inventors, it is thought that when hydrogen peroxide water is gasified, its sterilizing effect weakens and a long sterilizing time is required. Therefore, container 10
The area around the container is heated to keep the size of the fog particles at the same level as when it was generated, while the other areas are heated more and gasified to prevent the fog from turning into droplets and dripping into the container. It's put away.

Further, the ceiling portion of the upper member is provided with a curved surface 264 so that even if mist forms drops, they will not drip toward the container. A drain 266 is provided in the lower member for discharging drops. In addition, the drain 266 and the supply port 268
A plate 270 that regulates the flow direction of the mist is provided between the two. This plate causes a portion of the mist to rise toward the bottom of the container, while the other portion is pushed down toward the drain where it is cooled and condensed on the wall surface.

Here, if the spray fills and moves smoothly in the chamber 226, the characteristics of the ultrasonic spray can be utilized to deposit the sterilizing liquid as a uniform thin film over the entire surface of the container.

However, for some reason, the spray may not be properly supplied to the container. Therefore, the present invention is applied in the same manner as in the embodiment described above. That is, the first
As shown in FIG. 6, light emitters and receivers 138 and 140 are provided at the top of the chamber. Then, air curtains 150, 152, etc. are added as shown in FIG. 4, and detection processing as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 7 is performed.

The sterilization failure signal X thus detected is utilized in the same manner as in the previous embodiment.

However, in the case of this spraying method using ultrasonic waves, the supply and movement of mist within the chamber is more stable than in the case of the nozzle spraying method. Further, there is no need to interrupt the supply each time a container arrives. Therefore, the amount of transmitted light is not integrated by the integrating circuit 166, but the amount of light is detected instantaneously, and this is compared with a reference value that is also detected by instantaneous detection, thereby performing the sterilization process. Appropriateness may also be determined.

As described above, the present invention irradiates a light beam onto the spray of sterilizing liquid supplied to a container, compares the amount of transmitted light with a predetermined reference value, determines whether sterilization is appropriate, and generates a sterilization failure signal. This is extracted, delayed during the subsequent process, and taken out before or during the product discharge process to distinguish between containers with poor sterilization treatment and containers with appropriate sterilization treatment.

Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent sterilized defective products from being mixed into non-defective products, and to prevent the occurrence of defective products during the distribution process. Also,
If used in conjunction with the filling stop operation for containers with poor sterilization, it will help to save on the amount of filling material, and in the product discharge process, the product will be much lighter than a good filled product, making it easier to suck it up with a suction cup and removing it. This will make it easier, and it will also be possible to use other means, such as using light and heavy weights to blow away defective products.

In addition, if the sterilization defective signal is sequentially shifted from the sterilizing solution drying process to the cutting process, and a lamp is turned on each time it is shifted, the operator will be able to detect the occurrence of a sterilization defective container and its location during movement. Of course, this can be detected at a glance, but if a series of containers with defective sterilization treatment occur, all the lamp rows will turn on at the same time. Therefore, this case can be detected as a failure of the spray generator or the sterilizing liquid supply device, and appropriate measures can be taken immediately.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical sectional view of an example of an aseptic packaging machine to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the container supply section shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view of an example of a sterilizer to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a vertical cross section of a portion of the present invention and a signal processing block. FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining signal processing. FIG. 6 is a graph showing the relationship between output voltage and test value. FIG. 7 is a block diagram for signal processing. FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing the steps in the sterilization packaging apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a waveform diagram illustrating processing of a sterilization processing failure signal. FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 are circuit diagrams for utilizing the sterilization process failure signal. FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the display device. Figure 13 and 1
FIG. 4 is a side view and a plan view, respectively, showing an example of a device for removing sterilized defective products. FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view of a sterilizing liquid spray generator using ultrasonic waves. FIG. 16 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a chamber for utilizing ultrasonic atomization. 10... Container, 46... Sterilizing liquid spray, 42...
Nozzle, 138... Emitter, 140... Light receiver,
96...Filling nozzle, 97...Solenoid valve, 38,4
0...Chamber, 170...Display device, 224
... Disinfectant spray generator, 226 ... Chamber.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A sterilization packaging method in which the steps of sterilization, drying of sterilizing solution, filling of contents, sealing of lid material, and product discharge are performed in sequence while the container is being transferred intermittently, and the following items are performed during the process. a The above sterilization process is performed by spraying a sterilizing liquid onto the container in the chamber, irradiating the sterilizing liquid spray with a light flux, calculating the integral value of the amount of transmitted light within a predetermined time, and The above-mentioned integral value for the amount of sterilizing liquid sprayed required to sterilize the containers is used as a reference value, and the amount of sterilizing liquid sprayed to be supplied to the containers that are sequentially transferred into the chamber is similarly detected as an integral value, and this integral value and the above-mentioned Determining the suitability of the sterilization process by comparing the magnitude with a reference value or detecting whether the integrated value reaches the reference value early or late, and obtaining a sterilization failure signal. b. The sterilization failure signal is delayed during each process of drying the sterilization liquid, filling the contents, and sealing the lid material, and is taken out immediately before the filling process to prevent filling of the contents into the sterilization failure container, and then Just before the product discharge process, take it out again and use it to distinguish between sterilized products and sterilized products. c While the container corresponding to the sterilization failure signal passes through the sterilization liquid drying process, contents filling process, and lid sealing process, the sterilization failure signal is sequentially shifted at desired intervals, and each time the container is shifted, A lighting display shall be provided.