JP2003112713A - Sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a sterilizer for which durable plastic materials are selected and which is formed by using functional parts and the like made of the same selected plastic materials, concerning functional parts and/or sliding parts to be repeatedly stressed in an environment of a temperature, being 60 deg.C or more, of a hydrogen peroxide solution or a peracetic acid sterilizing agent prepared by mixing acetic acid with the hydrogen peroxide solution. SOLUTION: The sterilizer sterilizes inner faces and/or inner and outer faces of containers such as PET bottles and their caps during the transfer thereof by injecting a hydrogen peroxide solution or a peracetic acid solvent prepared by mixing the hydrogen peroxide solution with acetic acid, at a temperature raised up to 60 deg.C or more. In this sterilizer, functional parts and/or sliding parts, which slide in the state of being in contact with each other in the plane, repeatedly undergo internal stresses, such as tension, compression and bending, in their contact state with a liquid of the sterilizing agents. Accordingly, these parts are made of a 9 plastic material whose tensile strength is 10 MPa (100 kgf/cm<2> ) or more at 60-65 deg.C and whose surface pressure strength is 10 MPa (100 kgf/cm<2> ) or more at 60-65 deg.C.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to beverage containers such as PET bottles, bottles and caps before filling (hereinafter referred to as "containers"
Called. ), The durability can be maintained for a reasonable period even when exposed to hydrogen peroxide water heated to 60 ° C. or higher or a peracetic acid-based bactericide mixed with hydrogen peroxide water and acetic acid. The present invention relates to a sterilization device including a functional component and / or a sliding component made of a plastic material.

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a peracetic acid-based germicide or hydrogen peroxide solution, which is a mixture of acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide solution, has come to be often used as a germicide used in a container sterilizer. . In this case, in order to facilitate cleaning by removing the disinfectant after sterilizing the containers with the disinfectant solution, the concentration of the disinfectant solution should be as low as possible, and the temperature of the disinfectant solution should be increased so that a sufficient disinfecting effect can be obtained. It is said that it is desirable to set the temperature to 60 ° C. or higher. Corrosion resistant metals such as stainless steel are used for the functional parts of the sterilizer. In addition, parts such as cam rollers, guide rollers, and cams that receive rolling and repeated compression forces, and functional parts that slide on bearing bushes and guide rails and receive frictional forces swell in water or disinfectant solution. In addition, since it has a small friction coefficient, it does not need to use a lubricating oil, and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene and the like, which are light in weight but strong and inexpensive, have been widely used. However, when an internal stress is generated by repeatedly receiving stress in a temperature environment of 60 ° C. or higher and in an environment in which hydrogen peroxide solution or a peracetic acid-based disinfectant in which hydrogen peroxide solution and acetic acid are mixed is used, Functional parts made of such materials as ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. may have reduced strength and early environmental stress corrosion cracking may occur.

[0002]

As described above, the functional parts of the conventional sterilizer include ultra high molecular weight polyethylene,
Polypropylene and the like have been used, but when the processing temperature of the sterilizer exceeds 60 ° C, the strength of these materials becomes insufficient, causing damage and corrosion at an early stage. There must be. The present invention is
Regarding functional parts and / or sliding parts that are repeatedly stressed under a temperature environment of 60 ° C or higher of hydrogen peroxide water or a peracetic acid-based bactericide mixed with acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide water, the strength is reduced even in the environment. Select a plastic material with less
It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilizer equipped with functional parts that can maintain durability for a reasonable period.

[0003]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention aims to solve the problems by the means described in the following items. (1) The inner surface and / or the inner and outer surfaces of containers such as PET bottles and caps that are being transported using hydrogen peroxide water heated to 60 ° C. or higher or a peracetic acid solvent mixed with hydrogen peroxide water and acetic acid. In the sterilizing device for sterilizing, contacting the sterilizing agent, pulling, compressing, generating repeated internal stress such as bending, a functional component that constitutes the sterilizing device and / or a sliding component that slides to match the surface, tensile strength at 60 to 65 ° C. is 10MPa (100kgf / cm ²⁾ or more and the surface pressure strength bactericidal apparatus made of plastic material having a 10MPa (100kgf / cm ²⁾ or more properties. (2) In the sterilizer of (1), the functional component and / or the sliding component is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material.

(3) In the sterilizer of (1) above,
A sterilizer in which the functional component and / or the sliding component is made of a polyamideimide (PAI) material. (4) In the sterilizer of (1) above, the functional component and / or the sliding component is made of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. (5) In the sterilizer of (1) to (4) above, the functional component and / or the sliding component is a guide that slides on a cam roller, a guide roller, a bearing bush of a stainless shaft, a cam, and a stainless guide rail. A sterilizer which is one or more selected from spool valves operated by sliders and cams.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A state in which a functional part and a sliding part made of a plastic material according to an embodiment of the present invention are used in a rotary type sterilizer for sterilizing beverage PET bottles before filling, based on the drawings. Explain. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an outline of a rotary type sterilizer, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container holder assembly of the sterilizer shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of an opening / closing valve of the container holder assembly of FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rotary lever of the container holder assembly shown in FIG. 2, particularly showing a bearing bush made of resin.

In FIG. 1, containers 8 such as empty plastic bottles conveyed by a conveyor 1 are indexed one by one by a timing screw 2 and fed to a rotary type sterilizer 10 by a star wheel 3. The rotary disc 4 of the rotary type sterilizer 10
Container holder assembly 11 provided at a constant pitch on the outer periphery of the container
Is passed to. When the rotary disk 4 is continuously rotated and the container 8 is rotationally moved, the container 8 is rotated 180 ° so that the container mouth is directed downward, and the nozzle 24 provided in the container holder assembly 11 (see FIG. 2). The sterilizing agent (hydrogen peroxide solution) heated to 60 to 65 ° C. is sprayed into the container 8, and at the same time, 60 to 65 ° C. is applied to the outside of the container 8 from a nozzle (not shown) provided on the outside of the container 8. The sterilizing agent that has been heated is ejected to sterilize the inner and outer surfaces of the container 8. As the sterilizing agent, a peracetic acid-based sterilizing agent in which acetic acid is mixed with hydrogen peroxide solution can be used instead of hydrogen peroxide solution. The rotation angle a of the rotary disk 4 shown in FIG. 1 is a 180 ° rotation zone of the container 8, the rotation angle b is a sterilization zone of the container 8, and the rotation angle c is a 180 ° rotation zone for returning the container 8 to its original posture. Is shown. The sterilized container 8 is received by the star wheel 5,
Then, it is delivered to the conveyor 6. Reference numeral 10 is an enclosure covering the rotary type sterilizer and its peripheral portion so that the germicide does not scatter to the outside.

2 is a perspective view of the container holder assembly 11
The details of the configuration will be described. Multiple container holder assembly 11
, Are mounted on the outer circumference of the rotary disk 4 on the container holder support 12 at the same radial positions at equal pitches. The container holder support 12 includes a pair of arms 12 a that support the shaft 13. Arms 12a and 12 of shaft 13
The rotation lever 14 is rotatably supported by 180 degrees about the center line X-X of the shaft 13 between a and a. As shown in FIG. 4, bushes 20 with flanges are fitted in the shaft hole of the rotary lever 14. The rotation lever 14 includes a container holder arm 14a and a cam lever shaft support arm 14
b, 14c and a guide slider support arm 14d are integrally provided. A container gripper 21 that holds the container 8 is attached to the container holder arm 14a. The cam lever shaft support arms 14b and 14c fix and support both sides of the pin 15, and the pin 15 rotatably supports the cam lever 16 about a center line Y as an axis. The guide slider support arm 14d has a shaft 22 fixed thereto, and the shaft 22 rotatably supports a guide slider 23.

A gripper lever 17 is integrally fixed to the cam lever 16, and a roller 19 is rotatably supported by a pin 18 fixed to the tip of the cam lever 16. When the container 8 is transferred from the star wheel 3 to the container holder assembly 11 of the rotary disk 4 which is rotating at the same peripheral speed, the cam 32 fixed externally causes the return spring 33.
The cam lever 16 is rotated via the roller 19 against the spring force of (attached between the gripper lever 17 and the container holder arm 14a and urging them in the closing direction). After the gripper lever 17 rotates to widen the space between the gripper lever 21 and the container gripper 21 and receives the neck portion of the container 8, the convex portion of the cam 32 ends and the gripper lever 17 returns by the spring force of the return spring 33, so that the container gripper 2
The container 8 is grasped and held by 1 and.

The rotating rotary disk 4 is shown in FIG.
When reaching the 180 ° rotation zone of the container 8 divided by a, the guide slider 23 sliding along the gripper guide 31 fixedly attached to the external fixing member is guided to the curve of the gripper guide 31 and guided to the container 8 Is rotated 180 ° about the XX axis (the position shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 2). When the container 8 is upside down, the nozzle 24 is fitted into the seat 12b of the container holder support 12 directly below the container mouth, and is heated by the nozzle 24 in the sterilization zone of FIG. 1b. The disinfectant (hydrogen peroxide solution) is sprayed into the container 8, and at the same time, the heated disinfectant (hydrogen peroxide solution) is applied to the outside of the container 8 from a nozzle (not shown) provided outside the container 8. It is jetted to sterilize the inner and outer surfaces of the container 8. In the rotation zone c of the rotary disk 4, the gripper guide 31 rotates the rotation lever 14 through the guide slider 23 by 180 ° so as to return the container 8 to the original posture. After that, the convex portion of the cam 32 attached to the external fixing member acts to release the neck portion of the container 8 and transfers the container 8 to the star wheel 5 and then to the conveyor 6.

The open / close valve 26 is attached to the lower surface of the rotary disk 4 below the container holder assembly 11 via a support member 27. As shown in FIG. 3, the on-off valve 26 includes an on-off valve body 35, a spool valve 36, a roller 37 attached to an end of the spool valve 36, a plug 38, a compression spring 39.
The spool valve 36 is pushed into the on-off valve body 35 by the cam 29 attached to the external fixing member at the timing of the sterilization zone b to open the valve, and closes at the end of the sterilization zone b. Sterilizer is pipe fitting 4
1 is fed by pressure from a pipe 28 connected to the pipe nut 42 in the direction shown by an arrow, and when the spool valve 36 is opened, it is injected from the nozzle 24 through the pipe 25 into the container 8. To be done.

Each of the parts constituting the sterilizer is mainly a screen.
Corrosion resistant metals such as stainless steel are used, but
La 19, roller 37, guide slider 23, bush 2
0, spool valve 36, cam 29, cam 32, etc.
The sliding parts have traditionally not swelled in water or germicides.
No need to use lubricating oil, yet lightweight
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene and polypropylene that are strong and inexpensive
Plastic materials such as ren have been used. Cause
Installed in a sterilizer and exposed to a sterilizer at 60 to 65 ° C.
The rolling or sliding parts used as a liquid should be kept at the temperature
The tensile strength is 10 MPa (100 kgf / c
m^Two), The surface pressure strength is 10 MPa (kgf / cm ^Two)
Required to be above. Use water or germicide near room temperature.
When using, use this ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene
Pyrene, etc. has sufficient strength, and even when subjected to repeated stress,
It is possible to maintain reasonable durability for the maintenance period.
Wear. However, as a bactericide, peracid heated above 60 ° C
Killing peracetic acid system by mixing acetic acid with hydrogen chloride water or hydrogen peroxide water
When using a fungicide, the above ultra high molecular weight polyethylene,
Polypropylene, etc. come in contact with the heated bactericide
Repeated stress in the environment causes the strength to decrease and internal stress
Due to this, the amount of deformation increases and early environmental stress corrosion cracking occurs.
It can occur.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the rolling or sliding parts are replaced with ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, polypropylene or the like, and polyethylene terephthalate (PE) is used.
T), polyamideimide (PAI), polyetheretherketone (PEEK) plastic materials are selected and used. By using these plastic materials, they do not swell even when subjected to repeated stress under the environment of being in contact with hydrogen peroxide solution at 60 ° C or higher or a peracetic acid type germicide containing hydrogen peroxide solution and acetic acid Property can be maintained for a long time, and maintenance becomes easy. The results of the durability test of each of the above plastic materials in an actual machine are as follows. (1) Test target location: Peracetic acid switching valve unit (2) Test environment: 2000p heated to 60 to 65 ° C
Peracetic acid-based bactericide mixed with pm hydrogen peroxide solution and acetic acid (3) Load condition: stress of 74 times per minute (4) Inspection method: Visual inspection for deterioration and corrosion conditions (5) Test parts Durability of: Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene parts cracked and peeled after about 2500 hours.
Polyamideimide (PAI) material parts did not deteriorate even after 3740 hours, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material parts and polyether ether ketone (PEEK) material parts did not show deterioration even after 4360 hours (1 year of actual operation time). . Hydrogen peroxide water has properties similar to those of the peracetic acid type bactericide, and even when hydrogen peroxide water is used as the bactericide, almost the same result as the durability test using the peracetic acid type bactericide is obtained. Expected to be obtained.

[0013]

The functional parts and / or the sliding parts constituting the sterilizer have a tensile strength of 10M at 60 to 65 ° C.
Pa (100 kgf / cm ² ) or more and surface pressure strength of 10
Since it is made of a plastic material having a physical property of MPa (100 kgf / cm ² ) or more, it is brought into contact with hydrogen peroxide solution heated to 60 ° C. or more or a peracetic acid-based bactericide mixed with hydrogen peroxide solution and acetic acid. Even if it is used in an environment, it can be used for a long time, the operation of the sterilizer can be stopped and the frequency of parts replacement can be reduced, and the operation efficiency of the sterilizer can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view showing an outline of a rotary type sterilizer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container holder assembly of the sterilizer shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing details of an opening / closing valve of the container holder assembly of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view of a rotating lever of the container holder assembly of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

2 Timing screw 4 rotary disc 8 containers 10 Rotary type sterilizer 11 Container holder assembly 12 Container holder support 19 Laura 20 bush 23 Guide slider 26 on-off valve 29 cam 32 cams 36 spool valve 37 Roller

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 4C058 AA25 BB07 DD04 EE26 JJ07                       JJ08

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An inner surface of a container such as a PET bottle or a cap being transported using hydrogen peroxide solution heated to 60 ° C. or higher or a peracetic acid-based bactericide mixed with hydrogen peroxide solution and / or acetic acid and / or In a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing inner and outer surfaces, sliding contacting with the sterilizing agent and causing repeated internal stress such as pulling, compression, bending, etc., sliding together with functional parts and / or surfaces constituting the sterilizing apparatus parts of the sterilization apparatus characterized by tensile strength at 60 to 65 ° C. has a 10MPa (100kgf / cm ²⁾ or more and the surface pressure strength is 10MPa (100kgf / cm ²⁾ made of plastic material having the above physical properties. 2. The sterilizer according to claim 1,
A sterilizer, wherein the functional component and / or the sliding component is made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material. 3. The sterilizer according to claim 1,
A sterilizer, wherein the functional component and / or the sliding component is made of a polyamideimide (PAI) material. 4. The sterilizing apparatus according to claim 1,
A sterilizer in which the functional component and / or the sliding component is made of a polyetheretherketone (PEEK) material. 5. The sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the functional component and / or the sliding component is a cam roller,
Guide rollers, bearing bushes for stainless steel shafts, cams, guide sliders that slide on stainless steel guide rails,
A sterilizer, which is one or more selected from cam-operated spool valves.