JP2002275483A - Lubricant composition for conveyor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a water-soluble lubricant composition for conveyors for transporting containers such as bottles, cans, etc., to be packed with foods such as cow's milk, beer, sake, refreshing beverage, etc., medicines, cosmetics, etc., which is not influenced by hardness of diluted water and in which a hardly microorganism decomposable chelating agent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetate is not used like a conventional lubricant composition. SOLUTION: This lubricant composition comprises a compound represented by general formula (1) (R is a 8-20C straight-chain or branched-chain alkyl group or alkenyl group; EO is an ethylene oxide; n is 2 or 3; M is hydrogen, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium or an amine) and 55 wt.% of components in a range of n+1 to n-1 of the formula or more as a main component and is obtained by diluting the compound with water to give >=50 ppm of the compound to give a diluted aqueous solution and, if required, using the diluted aqueous solution and >=5 ppm hypochlorite or >=5 ppm peracetic acid applying the diluted aqueous solution to a conveyor and using the conveyor.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to milk, beer, liquor,
Foods such as soft drinks, drugs, bottles to fill cosmetics, etc., relates to a lubricant composition for the conveyor of containers such as cans, particularly,
The present invention relates to a water-soluble lubricant composition for conveyors which is not affected by the hardness of dilution water and does not use a chelating agent which is hardly decomposable by microorganisms such as conventional ethylenediaminetetraacetate.

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Foods such as milk, beer, liquor and soft drinks,
In the process of filling chemicals, cosmetics, and the like into bottles and cans, as a means for transporting the bottles and cans, a conveyor having many plates connected endlessly in a conveying direction is widely used.

[0003] Usually, these conveyors are continuously operated by automatic control. Therefore, even if the flow of containers on the conveyor is stopped, only the conveyor is continuously operated as it is. In this case, friction occurs between the container and the surface of the plate of the conveyor, resulting in an abnormal increase in the load on the motor, damage to the container, and the like. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the friction. On the other hand, in order to put the containers transported from the washing machine directly on the flow of the conveyor, an appropriate static friction force is required on the plate surface of the conveyor.

[0004] As a lubricant satisfying the above requirements,
Lubricants based on higher fatty acid soaps have been used. For example, coconut oil fatty acid potassium soap or amine oleate soap is used as the main component,
The aqueous solution diluted to 400 times was applied as a lubricant to the plate surface of the conveyor and used.

[0005] However, these lubricant compositions mainly composed of higher fatty acid soaps are excellent in lubricity, but produce water-insoluble metal soaps under the influence of the hardness of dilution water. And this product closes the nozzle hole of the spray at the time of supplying the aqueous solution of the lubricant, contaminates the surface of the conveyor, or further, these contaminants become a hotbed of microorganisms and form bacterial nests on the conveyor. It is also the cause.

In order to solve such a problem, conventionally,
A large amount of a chelating agent such as ethylenediaminetetraacetate is added to a lubricant composition containing a higher fatty acid soap as a main component. However, since this chelating agent does not biodegrade,
Even if the wastewater containing this is treated in an activated sludge tank, it does not decompose.

On the other hand, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks caused by higher fatty acid soap, aliphatic typified by N-oleyl-1.3-diaminopropane, N-lauryl-1.3-diaminopropane and the like instead of the chelating agent. A lubricant composition using an acetate or hydrochloride of an alkylamine as a main component has been proposed. (See Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-35516).

[0008] Lubricants mainly composed of acetates and hydrochlorides of these aliphatic alkylamines have excellent bactericidal and detergency without being affected by the hardness of dilution water.
Although it is superior to conventional higher fatty acid soaps, it has poor lubrication performance and poor wettability, so the lubricant does not spread on the conveyor surface, so it is necessary to select a supply spray nozzle and supply an excessive amount. I will be forced.

Further, the above-mentioned lubricant forms a water-repellent film on the surface of the container, which has an adverse effect on the manufacturing operation. That is, when the container is a glass bottle, when the container passes through an empty bottle inspection machine, washing water is usually applied to the bottom and side surfaces of the bottle to wash away bubbles. At this time, since the bottle is a water-repellent film, it does not wet uniformly and repels water to generate water droplets. The above-mentioned inspection machine reads this water droplet as a defect such as dirt, which greatly impairs the workability during manufacturing.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lubricating property and a wettability that are comparable to those of a conventional lubricant composition containing a higher fatty acid soap as a main component, and that the lubricating property and the diluting water hardness are different. A water-soluble conveyor lubricant composition that is not affected and therefore does not require the use of a chelating agent that is hardly decomposed by microorganisms such as ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and improves on the disadvantages of the prior art. Is to do.

[0011]

To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provided a compound represented by the general formula

Embedded image And wherein the range from n + 1 to n-1 is 55, preferably 60% by weight or more, as a main component.

Further, in order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention, the general formula

Embedded image And diluting a compound having a range of n + 1 to n-1 of 55, preferably 60% by weight or more in water at a concentration of 50 ppm or more into a diluted aqueous solution, and preferably further containing 5 ppm or more of hypochlorite. Alternatively, a diluted aqueous solution is prepared by using peracetic acid in combination, and the diluted aqueous solution is applied on a conveyor and used.

In the above general formulas [3] and [4], R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms, EO is ethylene oxide, n is 2 or 3, and M is hydrogen. Atom, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or amine.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

The compound used in the present invention is a polyoxyethylene alkyl or alkenyl acetic acid represented by the general formula [3] or [4] or a salt thereof. Where:
R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 20, preferably 10 to 18 carbon atoms.

Specifically, for example, octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, decyl, decylene, lauryl,
Examples include a dodecylene group, a myristyl group, a palmityl group, a stearyl group, an oleyl group, and a coconut oil alkyl group, and preferably, a decyl group, a decylene group, a lauryl group, an oleyl group, and a coconut oil alkyl group.

In the above general formula, EO is ethylene oxide, n is the number of moles of ethylene oxide added, n
= 2 or 3. When n is an integer smaller than 2, the hardness of the dilution water is easily affected, and when n is an integer larger than 3, lubricity is poor. Comparing the case where n is 2 and 3, the case of 2 exhibits preferable performance with respect to lubricity.

Furthermore, the compounds of the above general formula according to the invention have a range from n + 1 to n-1 of 55% by weight or more, preferably 60% by weight or more. In the present invention, this weight percentage value is referred to as "narrowness", and the weight percentage of the number of moles of ethylene oxide added in the range of n + 1 and n-1 with respect to the total number of moles of ethylene oxide added is referred to as n. It is represented by Yi. When the narrowness Yi value is 55% by weight or less, the hardness is easily affected by the hardness of the dilution water, and the lubricity is also poor.

For example, as is apparent from the comparative examples and examples described below, higher fatty acid soap and narrowness Y
In a composition having an i-value of 55% by weight or less and containing polyoxyethylene (n = 2) lauryl ether acetic acid and polyoxyethylene (n = 3) lauryl ether acetate alkali salt as main components, ethylenediamine as a chelating agent When tetraacetate is not blended, city water (hardness Ca
When diluted with (60 ppm of CO ₃ ), it becomes cloudy and precipitates of metallic soap. To prevent this phenomenon, it is necessary to add a chelating agent.

On the other hand, when the narrowness Yi value becomes 55% by weight or more, an alkali salt or an alkylamine of polyoxyethylene (n = 2) lauryl ether acetic acid and polyoxyethylene (n = 3) lauryl ether acetic acid is used as a main component. In a composition which does not contain any chelating agent, the phenomenon of white turbidity is not observed even when the composition is diluted with city water.

Further, from the viewpoint of lubricating performance, the higher fatty acid soap has excellent lubricating properties from the initial stage of the operation of the conveyor, while the number of moles of ethylene oxide having a narrowness of 55% by weight or less is 2 mol, 3 mol or less. Moles, 4 moles (n = 2, 3, 4) of a composition mainly composed of an alkali salt of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether acetate and a composition mainly composed of an aliphatic alkylamine, in the initial stage of the conveyor operation. Lubricity is poor, and the lubricity gradually increases as the operating time elapses.

On the other hand, the number of moles of ethylene oxide having a narrowness of 55% by weight or more is 2 moles and 3 moles.
The composition mainly composed of moles of the alkali salt of polyoxyethylene lauryl ether acetate has excellent lubricity from the beginning of the operation of the conveyor, and its performance becomes higher when the narrowness is increased to 60% by weight or more.

The compound having the above-mentioned general formula can be used in an amount of 50 ppm when the conveyer used is, for example, a resin conveyer.
The above is diluted in water to obtain a diluted aqueous solution, and the diluted aqueous solution is applied on a conveyor and used for use. In the present invention,
By further using 5 ppm or more of hypochlorite or 5 ppm or more of peracetic acid in combination with such a diluted aqueous solution, the conveyor and its periphery may be sterilized.

In particular, in recent years, the concept of hygiene in food processing plants has increased, and a higher level of sterilization effect has been required.
It is required to further enhance the sterilizing effect of the conveyor surface. The present inventor has attempted to improve the sterilizing effect in consideration of this point, and has found the above-described sterilizing method. That is, 0.25 to 0.5 of the lubricant composition for conveyors based on polyoxyethylene alkyl ether acetate of the present invention.
Percent dilute aqueous solution, preferably 0.5% or more dilute aqueous solution, hypochlorite 5 ppm or more or peracetic acid 5 ppm or more is added and used in combination, and the diluted aqueous solution is applied on a conveyor, and sterilization on and around the conveyor is performed. Is performed.

This method does not show a remarkable effect on the bactericidal effect in a composition containing a higher fatty acid soap as a main component.
In the case of the composition of the present invention, it is effective to add a very low concentration of hypochlorite or peracetic acid. Further, if desired, the composition of the present invention can contain a synthetic anionic surfactant, a nonionic surfactant, an antifoaming agent, and an alkali salt of a higher fatty acid in such an amount as not to be affected by the hardness of dilution water. is there.

The validity of the present invention will be described with reference to the examples, but the present invention is not limited to these examples.

[0027] In proportion to that described in Example -1 Table 1, Comparative Example A~ Example 1-5
G conveyor lubricant was prepared. In this experiment, Table 1
As shown in Table 2, a predetermined amount of isopropyl alcohol was added as a solubilizing agent to tap water to promote solubilization. The obtained lubricant according to the present invention and the lubricant according to the comparative example were subjected to various tests for lubricity, wettability, hard water resistance and bactericidal effect, and the results are shown in Table 1.

[0028]

[Table 1]

These tests were performed as follows. Lubricity test Place the test container on a stainless steel conveyor plate and dilute each lubricant 400 times (diluted with tap water: total hardness 60p)
pm), the state of transport of the container when operated for 10 minutes was observed. Evaluation ◎: Very good lubrication performance at the beginning of operation of the conveyor and after 10 minutes. ：: Excellent lubrication performance at the beginning of the conveyor operation and after 10 minutes. Δ: The container was shaken, but the workability was not affected. ×: The workability is impaired, and the container falls.

Wettability test After the lubricity test, the wet state of the conveyor plate and the bottom surface of the test container was observed.

Hard water resistance test Each lubricant was diluted 400 times with tap water, and the appearance when left at room temperature for 1 day was confirmed.

Bactericidal effect test An aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite was added to tap water at 5 pp of effective chlorine.
m, 50 ppm, peracetic acid was added to 5 ppm, and each lubricant was diluted 400-fold with these aqueous solutions to obtain a sample. The mixture was mixed at 20 ° C. for 10 minutes, and one platinum loop of the mixed solution was brought into contact with a liquid medium, and the presence or absence of bacterial growth was determined at 37 ° C. for 8 hours.

Example 2 Lubricity Test A test container was placed on a resin conveyor plate, and a 2,000-fold diluted lubricant (diluted with tap water: total hardness of 60 ppm) prepared at the mixing ratio shown in Table 2 was supplied. While 10
The state of conveyance of the container when operated for one minute was observed. Evaluation Same as Example-1

As is clear from the results in Table 1, Comparative Example A
-G, the lubricant composition mainly composed of a polyoxyethylene (n = 2 to 4) lauryl ether acetic acid alkali salt having a narrowness Yi of 55% by weight or less, and a higher fatty acid soap as a main component, Because it is easily affected by the hardness, it is necessary to compound a chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetate, and even if this chelating agent is compounded,
In the case of an alkali salt of polyoxyethylene (n = 2 to 4) lauryl ether acetic acid, there is a problem in lubricity. In the case of a lubricant composition containing a higher fatty acid soap as a main component, when a chelating agent is blended, the hardness of the dilution water becomes less susceptible to the influence of the dilution water, and the lubricity is greatly improved. It has no bactericidal activity even when used in a small amount, and it is necessary to add a high concentration of hypochlorite in order to find a bactericidal effect.

On the other hand, although the lubricant composition comprising an aliphatic alkylamine is not affected by the hardness of the dilution water,
The wettability of the conveyor surface and the container surface is poor, and the lubricity is slightly poor.

On the other hand, Examples 1 to 5 of the present invention are not affected by the hardness of the dilution water and do not require the addition of a chelating agent. In addition, the surface of the conveyor and the surface of the container are excellent in wettability, and the lubrication performance is also good, so that no trouble occurs in the filling operation. In addition, it was also confirmed that the composition of this example was able to obtain a high bactericidal effect by adding a trace amount of hypochlorite or a very low concentration of peracetic acid to the dilution water and using the mixture in combination.

[0037]

[Table 2]

As is clear from the results in Table 2, when the composition of the present invention was used on a resin conveyor, the dilution ratio was 20%.
00 times, polyoxyethylene (n = 2) lauryl ether acetic acid and alkali salts of polyoxyethylene (n = 2) oleyl ether acetic acid, which are the main components of the composition of the present invention, are applied on a conveyor at a concentration of 50 ppm or more each. As a result, it was confirmed that the material had excellent lubricity and did not cause any major trouble in the operation of the conveyor.

[0039]

As described above, the lubricant composition for a water-soluble conveyor of the present invention is as follows. (1) It is not necessary to use a chelating agent which is hardly decomposable, and it is completely biodegradable in a wastewater treatment plant. The COD value of the treated wastewater is low, and its environmental impact is small.

(2) Lubricity during operation of the conveyor and excellent lubrication performance even after the operation time elapses.

(3) It has excellent wettability on the surface of the conveyor and on the conveyed container, has a relatively small amount of use, and has little malfunction in the inspection machine.

(4) By using an extremely low concentration of hypochlorite or peracetic acid in combination, a high sterilizing effect is obtained, so that the sanitary condition around the conveyor can be maintained at a high level.

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Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A compound of the general formula And a compound having as a main component a compound having a range of n + 1 to n-1 of 55% by weight or more. However, in the general formula [Chemical formula 1], R is a linear or branched alkyl group or alkenyl group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms, EO is ethylene oxide, n is 2 or 3, M is a hydrogen atom,
An alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or amine. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein n of the general formula [1]
The lubricant composition for a conveyor according to claim 1, wherein the main component is a compound in which the range from +1 to n−1 is 60% by weight or more. 3. A compound of the general formula And diluting a compound in which the range of n + 1 to n-1 is 55% by weight or more into water at a concentration of 50 ppm or more to prepare a diluted aqueous solution, and applying the diluted aqueous solution onto a conveyor to use the diluted aqueous solution. A lubricant composition for conveyors, characterized by: However, in the general formula of [Formula 2],
R is a linear or branched alkyl or alkenyl group having 8 to 20 carbon atoms, EO is ethylene oxide, n is 2 or 3, M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, ammonium, or an amine. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the range of n + 1 to n-1 of the diluted compound represented by the general formula [Formula 2] is 60.
The lubricant composition for a conveyor according to claim 3, which is at or above weight percent. 5. The lubricant composition for a conveyor according to claim 3, wherein the diluted aqueous solution further contains 5 ppm or more of hypochlorite or 5 ppm or more of peracetic acid.