JP2002037391A - Carbonated beverage manufacturing line - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the pH value by making a washing liquid absorb carbon dioxide, and increase the sterilizing force when a container is washed with the washing liquid containing a hypochlorous acid. SOLUTION: This carbonated beverage manufacturing line is equipped with a rotary type rinser 2 which washes containers, and a gas packing-filling machine 4. The rotary type rinser 2 is equipped with a plurality of washing nozzles, container holding means, and a liquid feeding pipe 10. In this case, the plurality of washing nozzles are provided on a rotating body 6 in the circumferential direction with equal intervals. The container holding means are provided in a manner to correspond with respective washing nozzles. The liquid feeding pipe 10 feeds the washing liquid to the washing nozzles. To respective washing nozzles, the washing liquid is fed from the liquid feeding pipe 10 in a specified division during the rotation, and respective washing nozzles jet the washing liquid into the containers. In the meantime, on the filling machine 4, a collecting chamber 36 which collects carbon dioxide which is used at the time of filling is provided. In this case, the chamber 36 and the liquid feeding pipe 10 are connected with an air feeding pipe 44 equipped with a blower 40. In the washing liquid which is fed by the liquid feeding pipe 10, the carbon dioxide which is fed through the air feeding pipe 44 dissolves in. Thus, the pH value is reduced, and the sterilizing action is increased.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a gas-filled beverage production line provided with a cleaning device for cleaning a container with a cleaning liquid supplied from the outside and a gas filling and filling machine for filling the container with a liquid such as a beverage. In particular, the present invention relates to a gas-filled beverage production line provided with a cleaning device for performing cleaning with a cleaning liquid containing a sterilizing agent such as hypochlorous acid.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a washing apparatus for washing a container for filling a beverage or the like is provided with a plurality of washing nozzles provided at equal intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of a rotating body, and a plurality of washing nozzles provided corresponding to each of these washing nozzles. Provided with a plurality of container holding means, and a liquid supply pipe for supplying a cleaning liquid from the outside to the cleaning nozzle. The cleaning nozzle is provided for the container delivered from the conveyor to the container holding means of the cleaning apparatus. The washing liquid is sprayed from the washing machine.

[0003] In the cleaning apparatus, a sterilizing agent such as hypochlorous acid is dissolved in a cleaning liquid sent from an external cleaning liquid supply source to a cleaning nozzle via a liquid supply pipe to enhance the sterilizing effect of the cleaning liquid. This has been done conventionally.

[0004] Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and the like are widely used as disinfecting agents to be dissolved in a cleaning solution of a cleaning device. When sterilizing with hypochlorous acid, sodium hypochlorite (NaOC) is used as a chemical to be added to the cleaning solution.
l) is commonly used. When this sodium hypochlorite is mixed in the washing water, the following chemical reaction occurs. Na
OCl + H ₂ O → HOCl + NaOH

That is, when hypochlorous acid is used as a disinfecting agent, hypochlorous acid is alkaline, and the pH of the cleaning solution after dissolving in water tends to be alkaline. At this time, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and hypochlorite ion (OCl ⁻ ) are present in the cleaning solution at a certain distribution ratio, and when the pH is high, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) decreases, The amount of hypochlorite ion (OCl ⁻ ) tends to increase. In general, it is known that the bactericidal activity is strong in the hypochlorous acid (HOCl) state, and the bactericidal activity is remarkably reduced when the oxidized state is OCI ⁻ .

When carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) is caused to react with the cleaning solution in which hypochlorous acid is dissolved and inclined toward the alkali side as described above, the pH of the cleaning solution is lowered, and the hypochlorous acid ( It is clear that the ratio of hypochlorite ion (OCl ⁻ ) can be reduced while increasing the ratio of (HOCl). Therefore, by absorbing carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) into the cleaning liquid containing hypochlorous acid, the sterilizing ability of the cleaning liquid can be increased. When carbon dioxide gas comes into contact with the aqueous solution of hypochlorous acid, the following chemical reaction occurs. CO ₂ + H ₂ O → CO ₃ ²⁻ + 2H ⁺ OCl ⁻ + H ⁺ → HOCl Therefore, hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is increased and the sterilization ability is improved, and the sterilization time can be shortened to reduce the size of the device. Will be possible.

However, in order to supply a carbon dioxide gas into the cleaning solution to lower the pH value, it is necessary to provide a separate carbon dioxide gas supply means in the conventional cleaning device, which increases the size of the device and increases the cost. There was a problem of becoming.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and utilizes carbon dioxide gas used in a washing apparatus and a gas filling and filling machine provided in a series of beverage production lines. It is another object of the present invention to provide a gas-filled beverage production line capable of improving the sterilizing power of the cleaning liquid and lowering the cost by lowering the pH in the cleaning liquid.

[0009]

A gas-filled beverage production line according to the present invention comprises a supply pipe for supplying a cleaning liquid containing a sterilizing agent, and a plurality of cleaning nozzles provided in communication with the liquid supply pipe. A cleaning device that cleans the container with the cleaning liquid supplied through these cleaning nozzles, and a filling device that fills the liquid from the filling nozzle after introducing and replacing carbon dioxide gas in the container, Further, a chamber provided with a chamber for collecting carbon dioxide gas used in the gas filling and filling step in the filling apparatus, and an air feeding means for feeding the carbon dioxide gas collected in the chamber to a supply pipe of the cleaning liquid are provided. It is.

A gas-filled beverage production line according to a second aspect of the present invention is a liquid supply pipe for supplying a cleaning liquid containing a sterilizing agent, and the liquid supply pipe is provided on the outer periphery of a rotating body at equal intervals in a circumferential direction. A washing device that has a plurality of washing nozzles that can communicate with the container and a shroud that accommodates the rotating body, and that cleans a container with a washing liquid supplied through the washing nozzle, and that is replaced by introducing carbon dioxide gas into the container. Later, a filling device for filling the liquid from the filling nozzle is provided, further, a chamber for collecting the carbon dioxide gas used in the gas filling and filling step in the filling device, and the carbon dioxide gas recovered in this chamber, And an air supply means for supplying air into the shroud of the cleaning device.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view showing the entire configuration of a gas-filled beverage production line according to one embodiment of the present invention. This beverage production line is provided with a container cleaning device (rotary rinser) arranged on the upstream side. ) 2 and a gas filling and filling machine 4 arranged on the downstream side.

The rotary type rinser 2 includes a plurality of cleaning nozzles (not shown) provided at regular intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the rotating body 6, and a plurality of containers arranged corresponding to the respective cleaning nozzles. A holding means (not shown) and a liquid supply pipe 10 for supplying a cleaning liquid from the external cleaning liquid supply source 8 to each of the cleaning nozzles are provided. Each of the cleaning nozzles is connected to the cleaning liquid supply pipe 10 via a rotary valve (not shown), and is connected to the liquid supply pipe 10 in a predetermined section during rotation of the rotating body 6. The cleaning liquid supplied by spraying is sprayed onto a container (not shown) held by the container holding means to perform cleaning.

The containers continuously conveyed by the conveyor 12 are cut into the rotary rinser 2 at predetermined intervals by a screw 14, and are sequentially supplied via an inlet starwheel 16 to each of them. It is held by the container holding means. The container holding means turns the held container upside down by inverting as the rotating body 6 rotates. The washing nozzle is arranged to face the mouth of the inverted container, and the washing liquid sent from the liquid supply pipe 10 is sprayed from the washing nozzle into the container to perform washing. Then, the container after the washing is the outlet star wheel 1
It is discharged onto a conveyor 20 via 8 and sent to the next gas filling and filling machine 4. In addition, the rotary type rinser 2
Is a rinser cleaning chamber 24 surrounded by a shroud 22
Is located within.

The gas filling and filling machine 4 installed on the downstream side includes:
A plurality of filling nozzles provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the rotating body 26 (all components of the filling machine 4 are not shown), and a plurality of filling nozzles respectively arranged below these filling nozzles It is provided with a bottle stand, a filling liquid passage for sending a filling liquid from the filling liquid tank to each of the filling nozzles, a gas passage for sending carbon dioxide (CO ₂ ) to each filling nozzle, and the like.
In the filling machine 4, after the containers conveyed by the conveyor 20 are positioned at predetermined intervals by the screws 28, the containers are supplied via the inlet starwheel 30 onto the respective bottle bases of the rotating body 26, and are rotated. After the carbon dioxide gas is introduced into the container and replaced, a liquid such as a beverage is filled, and then the carbon dioxide gas remaining in the container is discharged. After the filling process is completed, the container is discharged onto the conveyor 34 through the outlet starwheel 32 and sent to the next process.

Further, in this embodiment, the chamber 36 for recovering the carbon dioxide gas discharged from the gas filling and filling machine 4 is provided as described above, and the carbon dioxide gas used at the time of filling is supplied to the atmosphere. Collect without releasing. This carbon dioxide gas recovery chamber 36 is connected to the liquid supply pipe 10 of the rotary type rinser 2 via an air supply means 38 (an air supply pipe 44 provided with a blower 40 and an on-off valve 42).

The operation of the gas-filled beverage production line according to the above configuration will be described. The containers conveyed by the conveyor 12 are separated at predetermined intervals by screws 14 and delivered to the inlet starwheel 16. The container delivered to and held by each container holding means of the rotating body 6 via the inlet starwheel 16 is turned upside down by the container holding means being inverted as the rotating body 6 rotates. The cleaning liquid sent from the cleaning liquid supply source 8 via the liquid supply pipe 10 in a predetermined rotation section is supplied to the cleaning nozzle located below the inverted container by switching a rotary valve (not shown), and the inside of the container. And the inside of the container is washed.

An air supply pipe 44 from the carbon dioxide gas recovery chamber 36 is connected to the liquid supply pipe 10.
The cleaning liquid sent to the cleaning nozzle through the gas filling and filling machine 4 is supplied to the cleaning nozzle through the carbon dioxide recovery chamber 3.
The collected carbon dioxide gas is sent to 6. When carbon dioxide gas is fed into the supply pipe 10 for supplying the cleaning liquid and the carbon dioxide gas is absorbed in the cleaning liquid, the pH value of the cleaning liquid decreases, and the ratio of hypochlorous acid (HOCl) in the cleaning liquid increases. Since the ratio of hypochlorite ion (OCl ⁻ ) decreases, the bactericidal effect is improved. By dissolving carbon dioxide gas in the cleaning solution of the rotary type rinser 2, the sterilizing effect is enhanced, and sterilization can be performed in a short time. Therefore, the size of the entire apparatus can be reduced. In addition, since the excess carbon dioxide gas discharged from the gas filling and filling machine 4 is used, no extra cost is required.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a gas-filled beverage production line according to a second embodiment, and the same or corresponding parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Is omitted. In this embodiment, the air supply pipe 44 connected to the carbon dioxide gas recovery chamber 36 that collects the carbon dioxide gas discharged from the gas filling and filling machine 4 is different from the cleaning liquid supply pipe 10 as in the above-described embodiment. It is connected inside a shroud 22 that accommodates the rotary type rinser 2.

In this configuration, the carbon dioxide gas sent from the recovery chamber 36 on the side of the filling machine 4 is not directly dissolved in the cleaning liquid supplied by the liquid supply pipe, but is discharged into the rinser cleaning chamber 24 in the shroud 22. Is done. Also in this case, the carbon dioxide gas in the cleaning chamber 24 is absorbed by the cleaning liquid sprayed from the cleaning nozzle toward the container, and the pH value of the cleaning liquid in which hypochlorous acid is dissolved decreases, thereby improving the sterilizing effect. I do. In this embodiment, the illustration of the liquid supply pipe for supplying the cleaning liquid from the cleaning liquid supply source to each cleaning nozzle is omitted, but the cleaning liquid is supplied in the same manner as in the above-described embodiment or by another configuration. Needless to say.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the main part (finish cleaning section 100) of the immersion cleaning apparatus according to the third embodiment. In this cleaning device, a large number of container holders are attached to a carrier chain 104 wound around a plurality of sprockets 102, and containers are respectively held and conveyed in each of these holders. Do). The container held and transported by the holder is immersed in a cleaning liquid tank in which a cleaning liquid such as caustic soda is stored and washed, and then the finish cleaning is performed by the finish cleaning unit 100 shown in FIG.

Above the finish cleaning section 100, first cleaning nozzles 106 and 106 for performing primary finish cleaning, second cleaning nozzles 108 and 108 for performing secondary finish cleaning, and A third cleaning nozzle 110 for performing sterilization cleaning with an aqueous chlorite solution is provided in order. The first supply nozzle 1 is provided to the first cleaning nozzles 106 and 106.
The recovered water or fresh water from the liquid tank is supplied via 12;
It is sprayed onto the container to perform primary finishing cleaning. In addition, the second supply nozzle 1 is connected to the second cleaning nozzles 108 and 108.
The recovered water or fresh water from the liquid tank is supplied via 14;
It is sprayed onto the container to perform secondary finishing cleaning. Further, a cleaning liquid containing hypochlorous acid is supplied to the third cleaning nozzle 110 via the third supply pipe 116, and the cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the container held and transported by the container holder to perform sterilization cleaning. Do.

A third supply pipe 116 for supplying a cleaning liquid to the third cleaning nozzle 110 is provided with an air supply pipe 118 of an air supply means for supplying carbon dioxide gas discharged from a gas filling and filling machine (not shown) and collected into a carbon dioxide gas recovery chamber. Is connected, and carbon dioxide gas is dissolved in the cleaning solution containing the hypochlorous acid solution supplied by the third supply pipe 116. Also in this embodiment, since the pH value is lowered by absorbing carbon dioxide in the cleaning liquid containing hypochlorous acid injected into the container, the sterilizing effect is high, and sterilization can be surely performed in a short time. . In addition, since the carbon dioxide gas discharged from the gas filling and filling machine in the same line is used, the cost is low and the apparatus is not enlarged.

In each of the above embodiments, the case where hypochlorous acid is used as the sterilizing agent has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to hypochlorous acid, and the pH value is lowered by supplying carbon dioxide gas. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to other drugs as long as it can improve the sterilizing power. In the above embodiment, the air supply means 38
Although the blower 40 is provided to feed the carbon dioxide gas, the invention is not limited to the blower 40, and a compressor or the like may be used.

[0024]

As described above, the present invention has a liquid supply pipe for supplying a cleaning liquid containing a sterilizing agent and a plurality of cleaning nozzles provided in communication with the liquid supply pipe. In a gas-filled beverage production line comprising a cleaning device for cleaning a container with a cleaning liquid supplied through the container and a filling device for filling a liquid from a filling nozzle after introducing and replacing carbon dioxide gas in the container, By providing a chamber for collecting the carbon dioxide gas used in the gas filling and filling step in the filling device, and an air supply means for supplying the carbon dioxide gas collected in the chamber to a supply pipe of the cleaning liquid, Carbon dioxide gas is absorbed in the cleaning liquid supplied by the liquid tube, the pH value is lowered, the sterilizing effect can be improved, and the sterilizing time can be shortened. In addition, since the consumption of the sterilizing agent required to obtain the same sterilizing effect can be reduced, it is possible to reduce the amount of the sterilizing agent that has been added to foods, such as sodium hypochlorite, in a safer and smaller amount. An equivalent bactericidal effect is obtained. In addition, since the carbon dioxide gas of the gas filling and filling machine which has been discharged and disposed to the outside is reused, the cost is low.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a liquid supply pipe for supplying a cleaning liquid containing a sterilizing agent, and a plurality of cleaning pipes provided at equal intervals in a circumferential direction on an outer periphery of a rotating body and capable of communicating with the liquid supply pipe. A cleaning device that has a nozzle and a shroud accommodating the rotating body, and cleans the container with the cleaning liquid supplied through the cleaning nozzle, and introduces carbon dioxide into the container and replaces the liquid. In a gas-filled beverage production line having a filling device for filling, a chamber for collecting carbon dioxide gas used in a gas filling and filling step in the filling device, and a carbon dioxide gas collected in this chamber are supplied to a shroud of the cleaning device. By providing an air supply means for supplying air into the inside, the cleaning liquid injected from the cleaning nozzle absorbs carbon dioxide in the shroud, lowers the pH value, and improves the sterilizing effect. Is to be able to, it is possible to shorten the sterilization time. In addition, since the consumption of the sterilizing agent required to obtain the same sterilizing effect can be reduced, it is possible to reduce the amount of the sterilizing agent that has been added to foods, such as sodium hypochlorite, in a safer and smaller amount. An equivalent bactericidal effect is obtained. In addition, since the carbon dioxide gas of the gas filling and filling machine which has been discharged and disposed to the outside is reused, the cost is low.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing the entire configuration of a gas-filled beverage production line according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view schematically illustrating the entire configuration of a gas-filled beverage production line according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view illustrating a main part of a gas-filled beverage production line according to a third embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Cleaning device (rotary type rinser) 4 Filling device (gas filling and filling machine) 6 Rotating body 10 Liquid supply pipe 22 Shroud 36 Chamber (carbon dioxide gas recovery chamber) 38 Air supply means

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3B116 AA22 AB17 AB44 BB02 BB23 CC01 CD22 3B201 AA22 AB17 AB44 BB02 BB23 BB92 BB98 CC01 CD22 3E079 AA02 BB05 CC30 DD43 FF03 GG01

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A supply pipe for supplying a cleaning liquid containing a sterilizing agent and a plurality of cleaning nozzles provided so as to be able to communicate with the liquid supply pipe, and a container is provided by the cleaning liquid supplied through these cleaning nozzles. In a gas-filled beverage production line comprising a washing device for washing the container, and a filling device for filling the liquid from the filling nozzle after introducing and replacing carbon dioxide gas in the container, the gas filling filling process in the filling device is used. A gas-filled beverage production line, comprising: a chamber for collecting the collected carbon dioxide gas; and an air supply means for feeding the carbon dioxide gas collected in the chamber to a liquid supply pipe for the cleaning liquid. 2. A supply pipe for supplying a cleaning liquid containing a sterilizing agent, a plurality of cleaning nozzles provided on the outer periphery of the rotating body at equal intervals in a circumferential direction and capable of communicating with the liquid supply pipe, and the rotating body. A cleaning device having a shroud to be housed therein, and cleaning the container with a cleaning liquid supplied through the cleaning nozzle;
After introducing and replacing the carbon dioxide gas in the container, in a gas-filled beverage production line including a filling device for filling a liquid from a filling nozzle, the carbon dioxide gas used in the gas filling and filling step in the filling device is recovered. A gas-filled beverage production line, comprising: a chamber; and an air supply means for supplying carbon dioxide gas collected in the chamber into a shroud of the cleaning device.