JP2002029507A - Method and device for replacing gas in head space of container - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a fast and efficient gas replacement to be carried out in the case of performing a gas replacement at a head space in a container after it is filled and before it is sealingly closed while continuously transferring many containers without making a manufacturing line into a complex or complicated system. SOLUTION: There is provided a method for replacing air in a head space of a filled container 1 with inert gas in a transferring path for the container 1 directing form a filling step 3 toward a sealing step 4. A film 6 for sealingly closing the container 1 is fed substantially in parallel with a transferring conveyor 2 above the container 1 at a predetermined transferring segment upstream side of the transferring operation from the sealing step 4. Inert gas injected (by a gas injection unit 5) from a slant upper part at a starting end of the transferring segment toward the opening part of the container 1 is injected toward the transferring downstream side, thereby the inert gas is flowed in a space between the container 1 and the film 6 moved together toward the sealing step 4.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for replacing air in a headspace in a container with an inert gas such as nitrogen before sealing the container filled with the contents, and to such a method. Device for performing the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a packaging container in which a desired content is filled in a container such as a cup and the opening of the container is sealed with a film, in order to prevent oxidation of the content such as food, the content is reduced. Prior to sealing a filled container, it has been conventionally performed to replace the air in the head space in the container with an inert gas such as nitrogen, and a gas replacement method for such a head space in the container. As a method for solving the problem of the so-called vacuum chamber system in which an inert gas is injected after evacuating in a vacuum area, a method of replacing air in a head space with an inert gas under atmospheric pressure is known, for example. JP-A-56-23421, JP-A-56-13
It has been conventionally known, for example, from Japanese Patent No. 1119.

[0003] In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-23421, a container filled with contents is introduced into a gas replacement chamber, and a replacement gas (inert gas) is injected into the upper surface of the container in the gas replacement chamber. By forming a flow and discharging the air in the head space in the container from the exhaust duct together with the jetting flow of the replacement gas, the gas in the head space in the container is replaced, and then the container is covered with a cover film and then replaced. A method is described in which the container exiting the chamber is sealed.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-131119 discloses that in a container sealing step, a container filled with contents and transported is provided with a plurality of gas outlets on one side with a longitudinal direction parallel to the transport direction. A film for sealing the container opening and a film (gas-impermeable film) for feeding the gas injector having the gas injection device so that one side of the flange of the container is located below the gas injection port of the gas injector. ) Is sent to the upper side of the gas injector and the container opening, and the film is heat-sealed to the container flange portion except for the insertion portion of the gas injection port. By excluding the air in the container from the gap and the unsealed portion to the outside of the container, the gas in the head space in the container is replaced, and then the container flange and the unsealed portion of the film are heat-sealed to seal the container. Is described There.

[0005]

By the way, the above-mentioned conventional gas replacement method performed under atmospheric pressure is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Sho 56-23421. In addition to complicating the production line by requiring a dedicated gas replacement chamber, and in the gas replacement chamber, gas is injected toward the upstream of the transport of the container being transported, Even if the gas replacement at the gas injection position is insufficient, it is sent to the sealing process as it is, and even if the gas replacement at the gas injection position is sufficient, the sealing at the downstream side of the gas injection position is conveyed. By the time the process is performed, there is a possibility that air may be mixed into the head space again.

Further, according to the method described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 56-131119, it is not possible to carry out gas replacement while transporting containers, and to transport containers in multiple rows. In order to perform gas replacement, it is necessary to install gas injectors for each row and perform gas replacement individually for each row. However, it is difficult in practice, and when performing gas replacement for a multi-row container,
The installation of the gas injector for each row complicates the production line.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to replace a gas in a head space in a container after filling and before sealing, without complicating a production line, by continuously connecting a large number of containers. It is an object of the present invention to make it possible to quickly and efficiently perform gas replacement while efficiently transporting.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is to convert the air in the head space of a filled container into an inert gas in a container transfer route from a filling process to a sealing process. In the method for replacing, in a predetermined transport section on the upstream side of the transport from the sealing step, while feeding a film for sealing the container substantially parallel to the transport conveyor above the container, at the start end side of this transport section, By injecting the inert gas to the opening of the container from an obliquely upward direction toward the downstream side of the conveyance, the inert gas is injected into the space between the container and the film that move together toward the sealing process. It is characterized by flowing.

According to the above-described method, a dedicated apparatus such as a gas replacement chamber is not required, and an inert gas is simply injected from an injection nozzle, without complicating a production line. Gas replacement of a large number of containers that are continuously transported can be quickly performed, and the injected inert gas can always flow without diffusing into the transport path up to the sealing process. Therefore, air is not mixed again into the head space from the gas injection position to the time when the gas is conveyed to the sealing process. Since the gas replacement is sufficiently performed before the transfer, the gas replacement rate can be increased.

[0010]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of a gas replacement method for a head space in a container and an apparatus for carrying out such a method according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a part of a production line for carrying out the gas replacement method of the present invention from a filling step to a sealing step, and FIG. 2 shows a gas installed between such a filling step and the sealing step. 1A and 1B show an example of an injector, respectively, showing (A) the entire gas injector and a gas injection state viewed from above, and (B) an internal structure of a part of the gas injector.

The gas replacement method according to the present embodiment is performed simultaneously on one horizontal row of each of the cup containers conveyed in multiple rows, and is performed in a clean room (class 10,000).
It is to be performed between the filling step and the sealing step of the aseptic filling line installed in the room with higher air cleanliness), and for the part including the filling step and the sealing step of the aseptic filling line, It is installed in a clean booth (a room with higher air cleanliness than class 100) where the air cleanliness is defined as a high level area, and the clean air supplied to this clean booth is supplied from the side of the filling process. It flows to the side of the sealing process.

In the gas replacement method of the present embodiment, which is performed on a multi-row transfer cup container in such an aseptic filling line, as shown in FIG. 1, the gas is transferred by the transfer conveyor 2 on the transfer path of the production line. The inert gas such as nitrogen gas is injected from the injection nozzle of the gas injector 5 into the container 1 from the filling step 3 to the sealing step 4 from obliquely upward toward the container opening. The air in the head space of the container filled with the contents is replaced with an inert gas before the sealing step 4.

That is, a plurality of containers 1 in a horizontal row are conveyed in a multi-row state by a conveyor 2 provided with a large number of holding holes for fitting and holding the cup-shaped containers 1. At the same time, in the filling step 3, the empty sterilized container is filled with a predetermined amount of contents from the filling device, and in the sealing step 4, the filled container is filled with the same speed as the transport speed of the container. The sealing film 6 is cut (only necessary portions are punched out and the rest is wound up and collected) and heat-sealed to seal the container opening.

In the method of the present embodiment, in order to effectively perform gas replacement of the head space in the container in the middle of the transport path between the filling step 3 and the sealing step 4, the sealing step 4 is performed.
The gas injector 5 is installed at a position that is an appropriate distance away from the conveying upstream side of the container, and at least the conveying section from the position where the container receives the gas injection by the gas injector 5 to the sealing step 4 is sealed. The film 6 being fed for use in step 4 is transported above the container 1 by the conveyor 2
And the distance between the upper end of the container 1 and the film 6 in this section is set to be 20 mm or less.

[0015] Then, an inert gas such as nitrogen gas injected from the injection nozzle of the gas injector 5 toward the container opening at an angle of about 45 ° from obliquely upward is injected toward the downstream side of the conveyance. In a transport section from a position where the container receives the gas injection by the gas injector 5 to at least the sealing step 4, a transport path in which each container 1 is transported by the transport conveyor 2, and a transport path substantially similar to the transport path. The inert gas injected from the gas injector 5 is allowed to flow without diffusing into a space sandwiched between the film 6 and the film 6 being fed in parallel.

In the method of the present embodiment, gas is simultaneously exchanged in one horizontal row of each container being transported in a multi-row, and therefore, as shown in FIG. The inert gas is injected from the gas injector 5 in a substantially uniform state continuously without interruption in the width direction of the transport path for transporting the gas, and such gas injection can be performed satisfactorily. As described above, the gas injector 5 has a structure as shown in FIG.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2B, in one gas injector 5 extending over the entire width of the transport path for transporting containers in multiple rows, one gas supply extending in the width direction of the transport path, as shown in FIG. A series of injection nozzles 52 are opened along one side of the pipe 51 along the longitudinal direction thereof,
The interior of the continuous spray nozzle 52 is finely divided into a number of small slits by a number of current plates 53 in the longitudinal direction.

According to the gas replacement method of the present embodiment, which is carried out using such a gas injector 5, a gas having a simple structure can be obtained without requiring a dedicated device such as a gas replacement chamber. By simply installing one injector 5 and injecting an inert gas from the injection nozzle 52, each container 1 can be quickly transferred while continuously transporting a large number of containers 1 without complicating the production line. Can be replaced with an inert gas.

In addition, the gas injection by the gas injector 5 is performed toward the downstream side of the conveyance, and in the conveyance section from the gas injection position to the sealing step 4, the sealing film 6 is placed above the container 1. Is supplied substantially parallel to the conveyor 2 in the sealing process 4 after receiving the gas injection.
The inert gas can be constantly flowed around the container 1 without being diffused until it is conveyed to the container 1, whereby air is again mixed into the head space in the container before being conveyed to the sealing step 4. This does not occur, and even if the gas replacement at the gas injection position is insufficient, the sealing process 4
The gas replacement can be sufficiently performed before the gas is conveyed, and the gas replacement rate can be improved.

Particularly, in the transport section where the film 6 is fed above the container 1 substantially in parallel with the conveyor 2, the distance between the upper end of the container 1 and the film 6 is set to be 20 mm or less. Thereby, even if the injection amount of the inert gas from the gas injector 5 is small, the concentration of the inert gas in the transport section can be maintained high.

In the method according to the present embodiment, which is performed in the aseptic filling line, the part of the production line including the filling step 3 and the sealing step 4 is located in the aseptic filling area with a particularly high air cleanliness (class 100). In this aseptic filling area, clean air supplied to the area is changed from the side of the filling step 3 where the most aseptic condition is required to the side of the sealing step 4 The flow of the inert gas toward the sealing step 4 does not reverse to the flow of the air (clean air), and the flow of the inert gas is disturbed and the air is mixed. Nothing is done.

Further, in the method of the present embodiment in which a horizontal row of containers to be transported in a multi-row is simultaneously gas-replaced, the method is continuous without interruption in the width direction of the transport route over the entire width of the transport route for transporting the containers in a multi-row. Therefore, since the inert gas is injected in a substantially uniform state, only the injected inert gas is injected into the container without drawing air from a portion between rows of the container and mixing the inert gas with the inert gas. Can be sprayed on the head space inside.

Further, as described above, in order to continuously inject the inert gas in the width direction of the transport path without interruption, in the apparatus of the present embodiment, the injection nozzle 52 of the gas injector 5 is connected to the transport path. Opening is continuously provided along the width direction, and a structure in which a large number of small slits are finely divided by a large number of rectifying plates 53 in the longitudinal direction thereof is described in, for example, JP-A-56-23421. Compared to a structure in which a large number of injection nozzles are provided at equal intervals in the width direction of the transfer path, the inert gas is continuously and substantially uniform without interruption in the width direction of the transfer path due to a simple structure. It is possible to inject in an appropriate state.

As mentioned above, one embodiment of the gas replacement method and apparatus of the head space in the container of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific examples shown in the above embodiments. However, the method of the present invention can be carried out in a production line other than the aseptic filling line, and can be carried out not only for containers transported in multiple rows but also for containers transported in a single row. Needless to say, it can be changed as appropriate.

[0025]

According to the gas replacement method of the head space in the container according to the present invention as described above, the gas replacement of a large number of containers being continuously transported can be quickly performed without complicating the production line. It can be performed, and furthermore, the air is not mixed again into the head space from the gas injection position to the time when the head is conveyed to the sealing process, and the gas replacement at the gas injection position is insufficient. In addition, the gas replacement can be sufficiently performed before the gas is transferred to the sealing process, the gas replacement rate can be increased, and the gas replacement in the aseptic filling line and the gas replacement in the multi-row transfer line can be performed. It can respond effectively to substitution. Further, according to the apparatus of the present invention described in claim 5, gas replacement in a multi-row transfer line can be effectively performed with a simple structure.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory side view schematically showing a part of a production line for performing a gas replacement method for a head space in a container according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an apparatus for performing the method of the present invention.
(A) Top view showing the entire gas injector and the gas injection state,
(B) A partially cutaway perspective view showing the internal structure of the gas injector.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container 2 Conveyor 3 Filling process 4 Sealing process 5 Gas injector 51 Gas distribution pipe 52 Injection nozzle 53 Rectifier plate 6 Film

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Yoshie Mamoru Yoshida, 2-1-1 Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Daiwa Seikan Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Hironori Tokushima 5-5-1 Nishihashimoto, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture Daiwa Seikan Stock F-term in the company research institute (reference) 3E053 AA01 DA03 FA01 JA01

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A method for replacing air in a head space of a filled container with an inert gas in a transport path of a container from a filling step to a sealing step, the method comprising the steps of: A film for sealing the container is fed substantially parallel to the conveyor above the container, and at the beginning of the transfer section, an inert gas jetted obliquely from above toward the opening of the container is transferred downstream of the container. A method of replacing gas in a headspace in a container, characterized in that an inert gas is caused to flow in a space between the container and the film, which are moved together toward a sealing step, by injecting the gas in the side direction. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between an upper end of the container and the film is set to 20 mm or less in a transport section where the film is fed substantially parallel to the transport conveyor above the container. The gas replacement method for a head space in a container according to claim 1. 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a part from the filling step to the sealing step is installed in an aseptic filling area in which clean air flows from the filling step to the sealing step. Method of replacing gas in headspace in container. 4. The container according to claim 1, wherein the inert gas is injected in a substantially uniform state continuously in the width direction of the transport path for transporting the containers in multiple rows. Headspace gas replacement method. 5. An apparatus for performing the method according to claim 4, wherein the gas injector for injecting gas comprises:
With a structure in which the inside of a continuous injection nozzle opened along the longitudinal direction of one gas distribution pipe extending in the width direction of the transport path is divided into a number of small slits by a number of straightening plates in the longitudinal direction. A gas replacement device for a head space in a container, characterized in that: