JP2000283910A - Dust monitoring device for sterile filling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a measured value from becoming an abnormal value, and to prevent a sensor from being damaged, by preventing a large quantity of moisture included in the air inhaled from inside a sterile filling area from coming in direct contact with a sensor part of a dust measuring device, in a dust monitoring device for sterile filling for measuring suspended dust in the air inside the sterile filling area. SOLUTION: In this dust monitoring device 1 for sterile filling for measuring suspended dust in the air inside a sterile filling area, by inhaling the air from a proper position inside the sterile filling area defined for executing a sterile filling method, and by passing the air through a sensor part 8 of a dust measuring device, a trap 4 for remaining the dust as it is and for discharging only moisture to the outside of a piping 2 is arranged in the middle of the piping 2 for supplying the sensor part 8 of the dust measuring device with the air inhaled from inside the sterile filling area.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an aseptic filling method applied to the production of some canned beverages, bottled beverage plastics, and also canned foods containing solids, and the like. The present invention relates to a dust monitoring device for aseptic filling for measuring dust (fine particles) floating in an area.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In some beverage cans and beverage plastic bottles, the heat history of the beverage is reduced as much as possible at the time of production, so that the product retains the original taste, aroma and color of the beverage as much as possible. The sterilized beverage which has been sterilized at high temperature for a short time and rapidly cooled is sterilized in a substantially aseptic atmosphere by clean air (in a high-level clean air area of about class 10 to 100). Conventionally, various so-called aseptic filling methods have been proposed and implemented in which the main body is filled and then sealed with a sterilized lid.

[0003] In other words, in conventional sterilization treatment methods such as a retort sterilization method and a hot filling method (hot pack), the contents of the beverage are maintained at a high temperature for a relatively long time. Drinks originally (for example,
Fresh juices for fruit juice drinks, freshly made coffee, black tea, green tea, oolong tea, etc.) cause the problem of the taste or aroma falling or changing color. If it is possible to manufacture a product while keeping the original taste, aroma and color of the beverage substantially, and because there is no long-time heat sterilization process such as the retort sterilization method, it is possible to reduce the production equipment, Manufacturing time can be reduced.

[0004] For such an aseptic filling method, for example,
As an air purification system to maintain a sterile atmosphere, such as maintaining the area for filling and sealing beverages in the space in the clean room to a higher class air cleanliness than other spaces, It has been conventionally known from the official gazette of the present applicant (JP-A-4-79956).

[0005] For example, regarding the case where beverage cans are manufactured by the aseptic filling method, among the canning production lines installed in a clean room with a low level of air cleanliness (class 100,000) provided in a factory building, In particular, for the transport path of the sterilized empty can, the supply path of the sterilized can lid, around the beverage filling machine, the transport path from the beverage filling machine to the can lid wrapping machine, and around the can lid wrapping machine, As a clean booth which is an aseptic filling area for filling and sealing with a can lid in a substantially aseptic atmosphere, air cleanliness is maintained at a high level (class 100) and furthermore, such aseptic filling is performed. A clean room with a medium level of air cleanliness (class 1,000) and a low level of air cleanliness (class 100,
000) in a clean room.

[0006] The class of air cleanliness is N
Standard particles (particle diameter 0.5 micron or more) existing per predetermined space (ft ³ ) according to the ASA standard
Indicates the cleanliness of the air by the number of
00 indicates that the number of reference particles is 11 to 100 particles / ft ³ , class 1000 indicates 101 to 1000 particles / ft ³ , and class 10
0000 is 10,000 to 100,000 pieces / ft ³
It is. (In class 1, the number of reference particles is 0 to 1 / ft.
³ Class 10 is 2 to 10 / ft ³ . )

On the other hand, apart from the aseptic filling method described above,
In the production of semiconductors and the like, the presence of dust (fine particles) floating in the air at the manufacturing site has a significant effect on the quality of the product. In order to check whether the cleanliness of the air in such a clean room is properly controlled, air is sucked in from the right place in the clean room, and a dust measuring device is used. The measurement of dust floating in the air in a clean room is performed by passing the sensor through the sensor section.

[0008]

In the aseptic filling method for beverage cans and beverage plastic bottles, the presence of dust floating in the air in the aseptic filling area does not directly cause a problem. Although the presence of microorganisms in the filling area is a problem, since microorganisms are often attached to dust floating in the air, as a result, it is conventionally used in the manufacture of semiconductors and the like In the same way as described above, air is sucked from the appropriate place in the aseptic filling area and passed through the sensor unit of the dust measurement device to measure dust floating in the air in the aseptic filling area, and based on that, aseptic The air cleanliness in the filling area is managed.

On the other hand, in the aseptic filling method, unlike the case of manufacturing semiconductors and the like, the existence of microorganisms eventually becomes a problem, so that the presence of microorganisms in the aseptic filling area is maintained in a substantially aseptic state. In order to manage, it is necessary to perform sterilization with a sterilizing solution and cleaning with sterile water before using the device in the aseptic filling area, and to perform cleaning with a cleaning solution and sterile water after using the device, In addition, when there is a possibility that the inside of the aseptic filling area may be contaminated in order to resolve the trouble during use of the device, it is necessary to sterilize with a sterilizing solution or wash with sterile water each time. Therefore, when cleaning or sterilizing in the aseptic filling area, stop measuring dust and stop inhaling air to prevent absorption of moisture such as cleaning liquid and sterilizing liquid. To have.

[0010] However, even if the measurement of dust is stopped when such cleaning or sterilization is performed, depending on the installation location of the air suction unit for dust measurement, it may be used during the operation of cleaning or sterilization and sterile. Moisture such as cleaning solution and sterilizing solution remaining in the filling area, and moisture such as vapor and mist of the content solution generated during manufacturing may be sucked into the piping together with air when measuring dust. If a large amount of water sucked into the pipe is carried by the air flow and comes into direct contact with the sensor of the dust measurement device, the measured value may become an abnormal value or the sensor may be damaged. It will be.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and more specifically, a dust monitoring device for aseptic filling for measuring dust floating in air in an aseptic filling area. In, the large amount of water contained in the air inhaled from the aseptic filling area so as not to directly contact the sensor unit of the dust measurement device,
It is an object of the present invention to prevent a measured value from becoming an abnormal value or a sensor from being damaged.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to inhale air from an appropriate place in an aseptic filling area defined for performing an aseptic filling method,
In the aseptic filling dust monitoring device that measures the dust floating in the air in the aseptic filling area by passing the sensor part of the dust measuring device, the dust inhaled in the aseptic filling area is measured A trap for discharging only moisture to the outside of the pipe while leaving dust in the air as it is is provided in the middle of the pipe for feeding to the sensor unit of the device.

According to the above configuration, even when moisture is sucked into the pipe together with the air for dust measurement, most of the moisture in the air is discharged to the trap before reaching the sensor section of the dust measurement device. The dust in the air is left as it is, and the air is sent to the sensor unit of the dust measurement device, so that a large amount of moisture does not come into direct contact with the sensor unit of the dust measurement device. And measurement of dust in the air.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, an embodiment of a dust monitoring apparatus for aseptic filling according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of a beverage canning production line by the aseptic filling method to which the dust monitoring apparatus of the present invention is applied, and FIG. 2 shows an aseptic filling area in the beverage canning production line by the aseptic filling method. 1 schematically shows a structure for providing the above.

In a production line for canned beverages by the aseptic filling method as shown in FIG. 1, an untreated empty can continuously supplied by an empty can supply conveyor is conveyed, and first, in a chemical spraying device on the outer surface of the can. A chemical solution for sterilization (an aqueous solution of 5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide) on the outer surface of the can body and the outer surface of the can bottom
After spraying, a chemical solution for sterilization treatment (aqueous solution of 5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide) is further sprayed on the inner surface of the empty can through a chemical solution spraying device on the inner surface of the can, and then sent into a heat sterilization oven.

In the heat sterilization oven, the inside of the inner canister and the outer canister, which are sprayed with the chemical solution, are heated by a high-temperature (about 250 ° C.) hot air generated by a heating furnace so that the attached chemical solution is hydrogen peroxide. Is disassembled and removed to complete the sterilization of the empty can.

Next, while transporting the sterilized empty cans carried out of the heat sterilization oven, the surrounding air is cleaned by a clean air replacement device in a transport tunnel in a substantially sterile atmosphere (air cleanliness class 100). After that,
By spraying sterile water with a sterilized empty can cooling device, the empty can is washed and the heated empty can is cooled to near the filling temperature of the contents. 100) to a beverage filling machine installed in the clean booth.

Then, in a beverage filling machine (filler) installed in a clean booth in a substantially aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness class: 100), the cooled sterilized empty cans are heated and shortened by a beverage sterilizing apparatus. A predetermined amount of sterilized beverage that has been heated and sterilized for a time and then cooled to the filling temperature is filled in a predetermined amount, and then the beverage is filled through a can body transport path in a transport tunnel in a substantially aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness class 100). The can is supplied to a can lid winding machine.

Approximately sterile atmosphere (air cleanliness class 10
In the can lid winder (seamer) installed in the clean booth of (0), a can in a substantially aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness is class 100) from the can lid sterilizer for each can filled with beverage. After being put on the sterilized can lid supplied through the container, the container is wound and sealed by a can lid winding machine, and then transported as a sterilized product of a beverage can to a predetermined place outside the clean room by a conveyor.

Although not shown, if necessary, depending on the beverage to be filled, before the can lid is wrapped around the can-filled can in the can lid winding machine, the inside of the can filled with the beverage is filled. The air in the upper head space is replaced with sterilized nitrogen gas supplied from a separate sterilized nitrogen gas supply device. By doing so, deterioration due to oxidation during storage of the beverage can can be prevented. When a can having a thin body wall is used, a predetermined amount of sterilized liquid nitrogen is added to the can before the can lid is covered by a liquid nitrogen filling device (not shown), and then the can lid winding machine is used. Preferably, the can is sealed.

In the production line of beverage cans by the aseptic filling method as described above, the transport path of the sterilized empty can (transport tunnel covering the transport conveyor), the supply path of the sterilized can lid (transport tunnel covering the chute), the beverage The area around the filling machine (clean booth), the transport path from the beverage filling machine to the can lid wrapping machine (transport tunnel covering the conveyor), and the area around the can lid wrapping machine (clean booth) are aseptic filling areas with air cleanliness. Are maintained at a high level (class 100).

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, a clean room with a low level of air cleanliness (class 100,000) is provided in the factory building, and the air cleanliness for accommodating most of the beverage canning production line is high. Medium level air cleanliness (class 1,000) in low level clean room
A clean booth (and a clean booth in which the air cleanliness is maintained at a high level (class 100) by a ULPA clean unit as an aseptic filling area in a clean room having a medium air cleanliness. A transport tunnel communicating therewith is provided.

The air pressure in the aseptic filling area having a high level of air cleanliness (each clean booth and a transport tunnel communicating therewith) is maintained at a pressure slightly higher than the pressure in a clean room having a medium level of air cleanliness. Has been
The air pressure in the clean room with the medium air cleanliness is maintained slightly higher than the air pressure in the clean room with the low air cleanliness. The air pressure is slightly higher than or equal to the air pressure in the building.

In the aseptic filling area where the air cleanliness is maintained at a high level (class 100) as described above, a beverage filling machine (filler) and a can lid winding machine (seamer) installed in the aseptic filling area are provided. ), Etc., are initially sterilized by spraying steam heated to 350 ° C. by a super steam device into a clean booth through a super steam pipe and maintaining the state for about 10 minutes after the temperature reaches 150 ° C. The sterilization by such super steam is carried out thereafter, usually in an execution cycle of about once every several weeks to once a month.

In addition to the sterilization by the super steam, the cleaning and sterilization of the surface of the can lid winding machine and the cleaning and sterilization of the inner wall of the clean booth are performed by the spray nozzle provided in the clean booth. The chemical spray, hot water, and hot water are sequentially sprayed on the surface of the device and the inner wall of the clean booth, so that the process is carried out before and after the end of daily production, respectively.

Specifically, for example, before the start of daily production, Oxonia (product name manufactured by Ecolab Co., Ltd.) 4-5
% × 70 ° C × 5 minutes of chemical solution sterilization, sterile hot water washing at 70 ° C × 5 minutes, sterile hot water 90 ° C × 5 minutes hot water washing, and after completion of daily production, sterile hot water 70% ° C x 2
Water washing, Topax (product name: Ecolab Co., Ltd.) 2-5% × 70 ° C. × 5 minute chemical cleaning, and sterile hot water 7
Washing with water at 0 ° C. × 5 minutes is sequentially performed.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an aseptic filling area (clean booth) in which the internal facilities are sterilized and washed and the air cleanliness is maintained at a high level (class 100). Although not shown, a dust monitoring device for measuring dust floating in the air in the clean booth will be provided in order to check whether the air cleanliness in the clean booth is properly managed.

FIG. 3 shows a dust monitoring device (a piping route including a sensor section) provided for a clean booth (sterile filling area). In the dust monitoring device 1, a pipe 2 is provided at an appropriate position in the clean booth. An air suction unit 3 is provided, and a vacuum pump 11 is provided near the end of a pipe 2 extending to the outside of the clean booth. Air can be sucked.

In the middle of the pipe 2, a trap 4, an opening / closing valve 5, a vibrator 6, an opening / closing valve 7, and a particle sensor 8 are provided in this order from the upstream side of the pipe 2 to the downstream side of the pipe. Further, a bypass pipe 9 is provided so as to connect the intake upstream side of the opening / closing valve 7 and the intake downstream side of the particle sensor 8, and an opening / closing valve 10 is provided in the middle of the bypass pipe 9.

The particle sensor 8 disposed in the middle of the pipe 2 detects dust in the air passing through the sensor unit as a sensor unit of the dust measuring device, and includes a personal computer and a display. A dust measuring device that is connected to a main body (not shown) of the apparatus and includes such a particle sensor and the main body of the apparatus has conventionally been used for dust measurement in a clean room for manufacturing semiconductors and the like. There is no particular difference from those generally used.

As for the vibrator 6 provided in the middle of the pipe 2, the pipe 2 in a range from the air suction section 3 to the particle sensor 8 (ie, a range surrounded by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3) is substantially one. The structure of the vibrator 6 itself for this purpose is based on a conventionally known appropriate vibrator structure and is not a special structure.

As shown in FIG. 4, the trap 4 provided in the middle of the pipe 2 is formed as a water drop storage chamber 41 in which a part of an air passage of the pipe 2 is projected downward. Both ends of the storage chamber 41 (upstream and downstream)
Are formed on an inclined surface 42 of about 45 °, a space between the inclined surfaces 42 is formed in a water reservoir 43, and a drain discharge pipe 4 is provided on a bottom surface of the water reservoir 43 which is a lower part of the water droplet storage chamber 41.
4 is communicated, and an opening / closing valve 45 is provided at an inlet of the drain discharge pipe 44.

The use state of the dust monitoring apparatus 1 for aseptic filling according to the present embodiment in which the means 4, 6, 8 as described above are provided in the middle of the pipe 2 will be described below. During this operation, each open / close valve (at least the open / close valve 5) is closed, and the vacuum pump 11 is stopped.

When the measurement of dust in the air in the clean booth is started after the sterilization or cleaning is completed, first, before the measurement is started, the open / close valve 7 upstream of the particle sensor 8 is closed and the open / close valve 5 is closed. By opening the opening / closing valve 10 and driving the vacuum pump 11, dust accumulated in the pipe 2 during the sterilization and cleaning and moisture entering the pipe 2 can pass through the bypass pipe 9 without passing through the particle sensor 8. Then, the air is discharged to the outside of the pipe 2 together with the air sucked from the clean booth.

At this time, in the present embodiment, the vibrator 6 is driven to vibrate the pipe 2 in a range from the air suction section 3 to the particle sensor 8 substantially uniformly, so that the pipe 2 is deposited in the pipe 2. Dust and moisture that has entered the pipe 2 can be reliably discharged to the outside of the pipe 2 together with the inhaled air.

Then, dust and moisture in the pipe 2 are removed
After being discharged to the outside, the on-off valve 7 upstream of the particle sensor 8 is opened, and the on-off valve 10 of the bypass pipe 9 is closed, so that the air sucked into the pipe 2 from the air suction part 3 in the clean booth is trapped. 4, open / close valve 5,
7, the particles are sent to the particle sensor 8 and the dust in the air passing through the particle sensor 8 is measured.

According to the dust monitoring apparatus 1 for aseptic filling of the present embodiment as described above, first, when starting the measurement of dust in the air in the clean booth after the end of sterilization and washing, each of the pipes 2 By operating the opening / closing valves 5, 7, and 10 to drive the vibrator 6, most of the dust accumulated in the pipe 2 during the sterilization and cleaning and the water entering the pipe 2 pass through the particle sensor 8. Therefore, it is possible to reliably discharge the gas to the outside of the pipe 2.

At the time when the dust is measured by the particle sensor 8, even if the moisture present in the clean booth is sucked into the pipe 2 from the air suction section 3, the trap formed in the pipe 2 4, much of the moisture in the air is exhausted, and the air in the air is sent to the particle sensor 8 while leaving the dust in the air as it is. Therefore, the air passing through the particle sensor 8 removes the dust in the air in the clean booth. The measurement can be performed, and a large amount of moisture is prevented from directly contacting the particle sensor 8.

That is, inside the trap 4, the flow path of the air is the water droplet storage chamber 41 which expands downward following the pipe 2, and the flow velocity of the air flowing into the water droplet storage chamber 41 is reduced. Therefore, the light dust is carried downstream by the air flow as it is, but the heavy water drops by gravity in the water droplet storage chamber 41 and is collected in a water reservoir 43 having both ends formed as inclined surfaces 42. The water accumulated in the water reservoir 43 is discharged to the outside of the pipe 2 through the drain discharge hole 44 by appropriately opening the open / close valve 45 of the drain discharge hole 44.

The embodiment of the dust monitoring apparatus for aseptic filling according to the present invention has been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in some cases, a vibrator may be used. It is also possible to omit and implement the trap, if the structure of the trap is such that only the moisture in the air can be dropped by gravity while leaving the dust in the air as it is, as shown in the embodiment Needless to say, the design is not limited to a specific structure and can be appropriately changed in design.

[0042]

According to the dust monitoring apparatus for aseptic filling of the present invention as described above, even if moisture is sucked into the pipe together with air from inside the aseptic filling area during dust measurement, the sensor of the measuring apparatus is used. During the supply of air to the section, the dust in the aseptic filling area must be reliably measured with the air that passes through the sensor of the measuring device, since only the moisture in the air can be discharged to the outside of the pipe while keeping the dust in the air as it is. In addition to this, it is possible to prevent abnormalities in measured values and damage to the sensor caused by direct contact of a large amount of moisture with the sensor of the dust measuring device.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing an outline of a beverage canning production line by an aseptic filling method, which is one of the objects to be used for the aseptic filling dust monitoring device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a structure for providing an aseptic filling area in a beverage canning production line by an aseptic filling method.

FIG. 3 is a piping route diagram showing one embodiment of a dust monitoring device of the present invention provided for measuring dust in an aseptic filling area.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory side view showing the structure of a trap used in the dust monitoring device shown in FIG. 3;

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dust monitoring device 2 Piping 4 Trap 6 Vibrator 8 Particle sensor (Sensor part of the device for dust measurement) 41 Water droplet storage chamber (of trap) 44 Drain discharge pipe (of trap)

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An air inhalation in an aseptic filling area by sucking air from an appropriate place in an aseptic filling area defined for performing an aseptic filling method and passing the air through a sensor of a dust measuring device. In a dust monitoring device for aseptic filling that measures dust floating in the air, dust in the air is trapped in the middle of piping for feeding air sucked in the aseptic filling area to the sensor unit of the dust measuring device. Is a dust monitoring device for aseptic filling, wherein a trap for discharging only water to the outside of the pipe as it is is arranged. 2. A drain discharge pipe, wherein the trap is formed as a water droplet storage chamber in which a part of an air passage of the pipe projects downward, and the water dropped by gravity in the water droplet storage chamber communicates with the bottom of the water droplet storage chamber. The dust monitoring apparatus for aseptic filling according to claim 1, wherein the dust is discharged from the pipe to the outside of the pipe. 3. A vibrator for vibrating the pipes in the range from the air suction port to the sensor unit of the dust measuring device at a suitable position is provided. The dust monitoring device for aseptic filling according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: