JP2002255126A - Container sterilizing method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container sterilizing method capable of performing a uniform irradiation of an electron beam to a container after its washing. SOLUTION: When a PET bottle 20 is washed with washing water 22 added with a surface active agent, the washing water 22 left in the PET bottle 20 after washing operation does not become water droplets but forms a uniform thin film 22a. That is, a shape of the water droplet of the washing water 22 is controlled by the surface active agent to enable an irregular irradiation of the electron beam 24 to be prevented. The thin film 22a of the washing water 22 after irradiating the electron beam 24 is washed by pure water 26, thereby it can be removed from the PET bottle 20. The water droplet 26a left the PET bottle 20 is dried with a heater 27 and it can be removed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing containers.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a sterilizing apparatus to which a conventional container sterilizing method is applied (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-11403).
No. 0).

This sterilizing apparatus is a sterilizing method for sterilizing an empty plastic container 1 by irradiating the empty plastic container 1 with an electron beam, and a supply mechanism 2 for supplying the empty plastic container 1 and a mutual operation of the supplied empty plastic container 1. A moving mechanism 3 for moving the plastic empty container 1 while maintaining the relative distance and maintaining the relative distance, and an electron beam irradiating mechanism 4 for irradiating the plastic empty container 1 with an electron beam during the movement.
And a cooling mechanism (not shown) that cools a moving mechanism that performs the moving step, and a discharging mechanism 5 that discharges the plastic empty container 1 that has been irradiated with the electron beam.

[0004]

When dust enters a container such as an empty plastic container for some reason, it is necessary to wash the container with washing water to remove the dust.

However, when the container after cleaning is irradiated with an electron beam to sterilize the container, the cleaning water remains as water droplets, so that there is a problem that irradiation with the electron beam as it is results in uneven irradiation.

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems and to provide a method for sterilizing a container, which can uniformly irradiate the washed container with an electron beam.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, a method for sterilizing a container according to the present invention comprises washing a container with washing water to which a surfactant has been added, and adding a surfactant to the container. The container is sterilized by irradiating the container with an electron beam in a state where the washing water adheres.

[0008] In addition to the above constitution, in the container sterilization method of the present invention, it is preferable to wash the washing water attached to the container with pure water after the irradiation with the electron beam.

In addition to the above constitution, in the container sterilization method of the present invention, it is preferable that the container is washed with pure water and then dried by a drying means.

FIG. 2 is a principle diagram of the container sterilization method of the present invention.

When the object to be irradiated 11 is washed with the washing water 10 to which the surfactant is added, the washing water 10 remaining on the object to be irradiated 11 after washing forms a uniform water film without forming water droplets. Irradiation of the electron beam 12 to the irradiation object 11 in this state does not cause irradiation unevenness.

That is, according to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the irradiation unevenness of the electron beam by controlling the shape of the water droplet of the cleaning water with the surfactant. The washing water after the irradiation with the electron beam can be removed from inside and outside of the container by washing with pure water. Pure water remaining in the container can be removed by drying with a drying means.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (g) are process diagrams showing one embodiment of the container sterilization method of the present invention. In this embodiment, a case where a PET bottle is sterilized will be described.

After holding the empty PET bottle 20 in an inverted state and inserting a nozzle 21 for washing water into the inside of the PET bottle 20 through the opening 20a, the washing water 22 to which the surfactant is added from the nozzle 21. PET bottle 2
0 is washed (FIG. 1A).

After washing the PET bottle 20, the nozzle 21 is pulled out of the PET bottle 20, and the washing water 22 in the PET bottle 20 is naturally discharged. At this time, the cleaning water 22 remaining in the PET bottle 20 forms a uniform thin film 22a without forming water droplets (FIG. 1B).

After inverting the PET bottle 20 to an erect state, the PET bottle 20 is irradiated with an electron beam 24 from an electron beam irradiation device 23. Cleaning water 2 is placed on the inner wall of the PET bottle 20.
Since the second thin film 22a is uniformly attached, the electron beam 24
Is uniformly irradiated (FIG. 1C).

PET bottle 2 after irradiation with electron beam 24
0 is re-inverted to an inverted state, and a nozzle 25 for pure water is inserted from the mouth 20a of the PET bottle 20 while maintaining the inverted state, and then pure water 26 is injected from the nozzle 25 to make PET.
The inside of the bottle 20 is washed again (FIG. 1D).

After the PET bottle 20 is washed again, the nozzle 25
Is removed from the PET bottle 20 and the pure water 26 in the PET bottle 20 is naturally discharged. At this time, water drops 26a of the pure water 26 adhere to the PET bottle 20 (FIG. 1).
(E)).

After inverting the PET bottle 20 to an upright state, the PET bottle 20 is heated by a heater 27 as a drying means to evaporate water droplets 26a in the PET bottle 20. However, the heater 27
Needless to say, the heating temperature is such that the PET bottle 20 does not deform (FIG. 1 (f)).

The drying process ends when the pure water in the PET bottle 20 evaporates (FIG. 1 (e)).

The above steps are preferably performed in a clean room, and a germicidal lamp is preferably turned on in the clean room. The concentration of the surfactant may be such that the detergent is capable of forming a uniform thin film and is low enough not to foam.

In the present embodiment, the case where the PET bottle is sterilized has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be applied to sterilization of medical tools, medicine containers, cosmetic containers, and the like.

[0024]

In summary, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects are exhibited.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a method for sterilizing a container which can uniformly irradiate the washed container with an electron beam.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 (a) to 1 (g) are process diagrams showing one embodiment of the container sterilization method of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a principle view of the container sterilization method of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a sterilization apparatus to which a conventional container sterilization method is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 20 PET bottle (container) 21, 25 Nozzle 22 Cleaning water 22a Thin film 23 Electron beam irradiation device 24 Electron beam 26 Pure water 26a Water drop 27 Heater (drying means)

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Tadahide Shirakawa 3-1-1-15 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. Tokyo Engineering Center (72) Inventor Yoshimichi Kataoka 3-1-1 Toyosu, Koto-ku, Tokyo No. 15 Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries, Ltd. Tokyo Engineering Center F term (reference) 4C058 AA16 AA25 BB06 CC06 CC07 EE26 KK03

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A container is washed with washing water to which a surfactant is added, and the container is irradiated with an electron beam in a state where the washing water to which the surfactant is added adheres to the container. A method for sterilizing a container, comprising sterilizing the container. 2. The method for sterilizing a container according to claim 1, wherein the washing water attached to the container after irradiating the electron beam is washed with pure water. 3. The method for sterilizing a container according to claim 2, wherein the container is washed with pure water and then dried by a drying means.