JP2004149172A - Sterilization method for bottled drink and equipment therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To effectively and efficiently sterilize the contacting part of a cap inside face and a bottle and the contacting part of the cap inside face and a bottle neck outer face in manufacturing a bottled drink. <P>SOLUTION: This sterilizing equipment for a bottled drink is structured to heat and sterilize the contacting part of a cap C and a bottle BO by spraying hot water from the outside of the cap C in addition to heat sterilization using a drink liquid L. The equipment performs heat sterilization by the liquid L and heat sterilization with the hot water simultaneously. By this, there is almost no discharge of heat from the cap C to the outside because heat by the hot water sprayed from the outside of the cap C is transmitted in addition to the heat transmitted from the liquid L, and the part of the inside face of the cap C and the inside face of the bottle BO where the liquid L does not contact is effectively and efficiently sterilized. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for producing a bottled beverage in which a tea beverage or soft drink is sealed in a resin container, and particularly to a method for sterilizing a bottled beverage and an apparatus therefor which can perform an effective and efficient sterilization treatment. It is related.
[0002]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, a resin container (hereinafter referred to as a bottle) made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is filled with a drink such as tea drink or soft drink, and the bottle mouth is sealed with a cap made of polypropylene or the like. Beverages are widespread. In the production thereof, it is essential to sterilize the inner surfaces of the bottles and caps in order to prevent spoilage of beverages and propagation of various germs, and one of the methods is a method called a hot pack. In this method, as shown in FIG. 6A, a bottle B is filled with a beverage L in a high temperature state of about 70 to 85 ° C., and the inner surface of the bottle B is sterilized by the heat. Further, in order to sterilize the space formed in the upper part of the bottle B and the inner surface of the cap C, the bottle B is tilted as shown in FIG. The technique called is adopted. Then, after performing the overturning sterilization, it is also essential to sterilize the contact portion between the inner surface of the cap C and the outer surface of the bottle neck BN, that is, the screwing portion of the screws formed on both sides. The pasterizer sterilization which passes through the pasterizer P as shown in FIG. 5 and sterilizes by the hot water shower 8 is also used.
[0003]
As a device for performing the overturning sterilization, an overturning sterilization device is used, and by disposing the overturning sterilization device and the past riser P in series, the two types of sterilization methods are continuously performed. Will be implemented.
However, since the contact portion between the inner surface of the cap C and the outer surface of the bottle neck BN is substantially a resin layer having a thickness of several mm, it takes time for sufficient heat for sterilization to be conducted to this portion, As a result, the pasteurizer sterilization, which is the second sterilization step, requires a long time.
[0004]
[Technical issues to be solved]
The present invention has been made in view of such a background, and particularly in the production of bottled beverages, effectively sterilizes the contact portion between the inner surface of the cap and the bottle and the contact portion between the inner surface of the cap and the outer surface of the bottle neck. The technical object of the present invention is to develop a novel method for sterilizing bottled beverages and an apparatus therefor which can be performed efficiently.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
That is, the method for sterilizing a bottled beverage according to claim 1 is characterized in that, after filling a heated beverage into an upright bottle, the bottle mouth is sealed with a cap, and then the bottle is tilted. In a method of heating and sterilizing a portion of the inner surface of the cap and the inner surface of the bottle where the beverage was not in contact with the beverage in an upright state, in addition to the heat sterilization by the beverage, The hot water is sprayed from the outside to heat sterilize the contact portion between the cap and the bottle, and the heat sterilization using the beverage and the heat sterilization using the hot water are simultaneously performed.
According to the present invention, in addition to the heat transmitted from the beverage contained in the bottle, heat is also transmitted from the hot water sprayed from the outside of the cap to the cap. In addition, sterilization is performed effectively and efficiently at a portion of the inner surface of the cap and the inner surface of the bottle that is not in contact with the beverage in the upright state. In addition, since the cap and the bottle neck can be sent to the next step while maintaining the temperature at a high temperature, sterilization in the next step using a pasterizer or the like can be performed effectively and efficiently.
[0006]
Furthermore, the method for sterilizing a bottled beverage according to a second aspect is characterized in that, in addition to the requirement according to the first aspect, the spraying of the hot water is performed on the entire side circumference of the cap.
According to the present invention, the cap can be uniformly heated, and more uniform sterilization can be performed.
[0007]
Further, the bottled beverage sterilizing apparatus according to claim 3 is configured such that, after filling the inside with a heated beverage, the bottle whose bottle mouth is sealed with a cap is received in an upright state by a transport apparatus, and thereafter, the bottle is transported by the transport apparatus. By tilting the bottle in the process of transporting the bottle, the beverage liquid is brought into contact with a portion of the inner surface of the cap and the inner surface of the bottle where the beverage was not in contact with the bottle in an upright state, and the device is heated and sterilized at this location. In the above, the hot water ejector is provided in an area where the bottle in the transfer device is in a falling state, a nozzle is positioned outside a cap attached to the bottle in a falling state, and hot water is blown from the nozzle to form a cap. It is characterized in that it is configured to perform heat sterilization of a contact portion between the glass and the bottle.
According to the present invention, in addition to the heat transmitted from the beverage contained in the bottle, heat is also transmitted from the hot water sprayed from the outside of the cap to the cap. In addition, sterilization is performed effectively and efficiently at a portion of the inner surface of the cap and the inner surface of the bottle that is not in contact with the beverage in the upright state. In addition, since the cap and the bottle neck can be sent to the next step while maintaining the temperature at a high temperature, sterilization in the next step using a pasterizer or the like can be performed effectively and efficiently.
[0008]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for sterilizing a bottled beverage, wherein the nozzle is provided in a nozzle head having a variable set position in the axial direction of the bottle, in addition to the requirements described in the third aspect. Things.
According to the present invention, bottles having different dimensions can be processed by the same apparatus.
[0009]
Furthermore, in the bottled beverage sterilizing apparatus according to claim 5, in addition to the requirements described in claim 3 or 4, the nozzle includes a transport surface of a transport device and a bottle neck of a bottle located on the transport surface. Characterized in that it is flat so that it can be located in the space between the two.
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, even when handling the bottle whose bottle opening is located on the transport surface of the transport device, the bottle can be located in a state where the nozzle has entered between the transport surface and the cap. Therefore, it is possible to spray hot water not only on the bottle neck and cap but also around the bottle shoulder, and sterilization can be performed more effectively.
[0010]
Furthermore, in the bottled beverage sterilizing apparatus according to claim 6, in addition to the requirements described in claim 4 or 5, the transport apparatus is configured such that a forward slat is positioned higher than a backward slat. And a nozzle head moving mechanism on a base arranged so as to cover the slats on the return path.
According to the present invention, since the base provided so as to cover the slats on the return path can be used as an installation space for various members, particularly the moving mechanism of the nozzle head, the width of the transfer device can be set short, Can be reduced in size.
The object of the present invention is achieved by the inventions described in these claims.
[0011]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the "sterilization method and apparatus for bottled beverages" of the present invention will be specifically described. First, a tipping sterilization apparatus D, which is a sterilization apparatus for bottled beverages, will be described, and then together with the operation mode of this apparatus. A method for sterilizing bottled beverages will be described.
The overturning sterilizer D comprises a transport device 1 on a machine frame F, receives the bottled beverage B in an upright state, and then transports the bottled beverage B in an overturned state. This is an apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of B0 and thereafter returning the bottled beverage B to an upright state and sending it to the next step. The transfer device 1 is located in a housing 2 provided on a machine frame F. Further, the overturning sterilizer D is provided with a receiving mechanism 3 for receiving the bottom of the bottled beverage B being conveyed, and further provided with a hot water ejector 5 for blowing hot water onto the cap C.
[0012]
Hereinafter, each component of the overturning sterilizer D will be described in detail.
First, the transfer device 1 will be described. The transfer device 1 includes a slat 11 which moves along a rail 10 laid on a machine frame F. As shown in FIGS. The bottled beverage B is held between the slats 11 of FIG. The slat 11 is wound around a drive pulley 12 and a driven pulley 13 provided at both ends of a machine frame F, and is driven by a motor M1 as a power source. By laying the rail 10 in a twisted state, the slats 11 are set so as to be substantially vertical at both ends of the rail 10 and substantially horizontal in a section therebetween.
In this embodiment, the slat 11 on the left side in FIG. 3 is located higher than the slat 11 on the right side.
[0013]
Next, the seating mechanism 3 will be described. This is a slat conveyor attached only to the forward path of the transport device 1 and its transport surface is set to be orthogonal to the transport surface of the transport device 1. is there. Specifically, the slats 31 in the receiving mechanism 3 receive the bottom of the bottled beverage B by the individual slats 31, and the slats 31 in the transport device 1 are enlarged as shown in FIGS. The rail 30 is laid in a twisted state similarly to the transfer apparatus 1 so that this state is always maintained, and is driven in synchronization with the transfer apparatus 1. is there.
[0014]
Next, the hot water ejector 5 will be described. As an example, a slide base 51 is arranged on a base 50 arranged so as to cover the return path of the transfer device 1, and a rod of a cylinder 52 is attached to the slide base 51. The rod 53 is slidably supported, and a nozzle head 54 is provided at the tip of the rod 53. By adopting such a configuration, the nozzle 55 included in the nozzle head 54 can move in parallel to face the cap C of the bottled beverage B that has fallen on the slat 11 in the transport device 1. Is what you do. Further, an appropriate hot water supply device is connected to the nozzle 55, from which hot water is spouted.
[0015]
In this embodiment, four hot water ejectors 5 are provided in a region where the slats 11 in the transport device 1 are in a horizontal state. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, two flat nozzles 55 having a large number of ejection holes 56 are provided so as to sandwich the cap C from above and below. Further, in this embodiment, the nozzle 55 can be located in a space between the forward slat 11 which is the transport surface of the transport device 1 and the bottle neck BN of the bottle B0 located on the slat 11. Therefore, even in the case of handling the bottle B0 in which the bottle mouth BM is located on the slat 11, the nozzle 55 may be located between the slat 11 and the cap C in a state where the nozzle 55 is sunk. it can.
[0016]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the nozzle 55 may have a curved shape in a side view so as to conform to the shape of the cap C, and can individually sterilize the individual bottled beverages B. Of course, when this type of nozzle 55 is employed, although not shown, a configuration is required such that the slide base 51 can be moved in a fixed range in the moving direction of the slat 11. Then, the cap C is positioned between the upper and lower nozzles 55 by the advancement of the rod 53, and in this state, the cap C is sterilized by hot water while moving the slide base 51 at a constant speed 3 at the same speed as the slat 11. It is.
[0017]
The overturning sterilization apparatus D, which is an apparatus for sterilizing bottled beverages of the present invention, is configured as described above as an example. Next, a pasterizer P, which is a sterilization apparatus used in combination with the overturning sterilization apparatus D, will be described.
The past riser P comprises a hot water shower 8 and a cold water shower 9 above a conveyor 7 disposed in a housing 6 as shown in FIG. 5, and a bottle on the conveyor 7 by hot water spouted from these showers. This is a device for performing heat sterilization and subsequent cooling of the stuffed beverage B.
[0018]
Hereinafter, the “sterilization method for bottled beverages” using the overturning sterilization device D and the pasterizer P as the “sterilization device for bottled beverages” of the present invention will be described.
First, as shown in FIG. 6, a bottled beverage B is formed by filling a bottle B0 mainly made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) with a beverage L such as a tea beverage or a soft drink and forming a bottle neck at a bottle neck BN. The BM is sealed with a cap C made of polypropylene or the like. As a material of the bottle B0 and the cap C, other synthetic resins compliant with the Food Sanitation Law and metals such as aluminum and steel can be used.
[0019]
Then, a bottled beverage B is obtained by an appropriate filling device and fastening device (not shown). At this time, a method called a hot pack is used to fill the bottle B0 with the beverage L. That is, the bottle B0 is filled with the beverage liquid L at a high temperature of about 70 to 85 ° C., and the heat is used to sterilize the inner surface of the bottle B0. Then, the bottle mouth BM is sealed with the cap C to form the bottled beverage B, and the bottled beverage B is sent to the overturning sterilizer D by an appropriate conveyor device when the inside of the bottle B0 is sterilized by standing for an appropriate period of time. .
[0020]
The bottled beverage B put into the tipping sterilizer D is transported by the slats 11 which are substantially in an upright state at the transport start end of the transporting device 1 in the tipping sterilizer D, and the slats 11 are tilted as they progress. It is in a substantially horizontal state, that is, a falling state. At this time, the drinking liquid L comes into contact with the space formed in the upper part of the bottle B0 and the inner surface of the cap C in the upright state, and these parts are sterilized. In this embodiment, the length of the transporting device 1 is set to 15 m as an example, and the traveling speed of the slat 11 is set to 50 cm / s so that the bottled beverage B is kept falling for about 30 seconds.
[0021]
In a region where such a bottled beverage B falls (in this embodiment, a range of about 12 m), four hot water ejectors 5 are provided as an example, and a cap attached to the bottle B0 is provided. The nozzle 55 is positioned outside C, and hot water (70 to 85 ° C.) is sprayed from the nozzle 55 to heat and sterilize a contact portion between the cap C and the bottle neck BN. It is desirable that the hot water be sprayed on the entire side circumference of the cap C.
By spraying such hot water, the heat transmitted to the cap C from the drinking liquid L filled in the bottle B0 and the heat transmitted from the outside of the cap C to the cap C are evenly transmitted. There is almost no release of heat to the outside, and sterilization is effectively and efficiently performed on portions of the inner surface of the cap C and the inner surface of the bottle B0 that are not in contact with the beverage in the upright state.
[0022]
In addition, since the nozzle 55 is provided in the nozzle head 54 in which the set position in the axial direction of the bottled beverage B that has fallen on the slat 11 is variable by the cylinder 52, the nozzle 55 is indicated by an imaginary line in FIG. As shown, the bottles B0 having different dimensions can be accommodated.
[0023]
Then, as described above, after the state in which hot water is sprayed on the cap C while the bottled beverage B is overturned and sterilized is maintained over a section of more than ten meters, the bottled beverage B becomes almost upright again near the transport end. From here, it is sent to the past riser P. In this embodiment, the hot water is jetted out over almost the entire region where the bottled beverage B falls, but the hot water may be jetted out only in a part of this region. Good. Further, the temperature of the liquid ejected from each hot water ejector 5, the ejection pressure, the type of the liquid, and the like may be varied.
[0024]
The pasterizer P has a main purpose of sterilizing a contact portion (threaded portion) between an inner surface of the cap C and an outer surface of the bottle neck BN. Since the parts C and the bottle neck BN can be sent to the past riser P while maintaining the temperature at a high temperature, sterilization by the past riser P can be performed effectively and efficiently.
[0025]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, in the production of the bottled beverage B, the contact portion between the inner surface of the cap C and the bottle B0 and the contact portion between the inner surface of the cap C and the outer surface of the bottle neck BN can be effectively and efficiently sterilized. .
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overturning sterilizer as a sterilizer for bottled beverages of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view and a front view of the same.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a transport device.
FIG. 4 is a front view showing a nozzle having a different form.
FIG. 5 is a front view showing a past riser.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing an upright state and a falling state of the bottled beverage.
[Explanation of symbols]
D Falling sterilizer F Machine frame 1 Conveyor 10 Rail 11 Slat 12 Drive pulley 13 Driven pulley M1 Motor 2 Housing 3 Receiving mechanism 30 Rail 31 Slat M3 Motor 5 Hot water ejector 50 Base 51 Slide base 52 Cylinder 53 Rod 54 Nozzle head 55 Nozzle 56 Spout hole P Paste riser 6 Case 7 Conveyor 8 Hot water shower 9 Cold water shower B Bottled beverage B0 Bottle BM Bottle mouth BN Bottle neck C Cap L Drinking liquid

Claims (6)

After filling the heated beverage into the bottle in the upright state, the bottle mouth is sealed with a cap, and then the bottle is tilted, so that the beverage in the upright state on the inner surface of the cap and the inner surface of the bottle. In a method in which a beverage is brought into contact with a portion that was not in contact with the bottle to heat sterilize the portion, in addition to the heat sterilization with the beverage, a contact portion between the cap and the bottle by spraying hot water from outside the cap. A method for sterilizing bottled beverages, comprising performing sterilization by heating with a beverage and simultaneously performing sterilization by heating with hot water. The method for sterilizing a bottled beverage according to claim 1, wherein the spraying of the hot water is performed on the entire side circumference of the cap. After filling the heated beverage into the interior, the bottle with the bottle mouth sealed by a cap is received in an upright state in the transport device, and then, by inclining the bottle in the process of transporting the bottle by the transport device, In a device that heats and sterilizes a portion of the inner surface of the cap and the inner surface of the bottle where the beverage was not in contact with the beverage in the upright state by contacting the beverage with the portion, the region in the transport device where the bottle is in an overturned state. It is equipped with a hot water ejector, and a nozzle is located outside the cap attached to the bottle in the overturned state, and hot water is sprayed from this nozzle to heat sterilize the contact part between the cap and the bottle. A sterilization apparatus for bottled beverages. The apparatus for sterilizing a bottled beverage according to claim 3, wherein the nozzle is provided in a nozzle head having a variable set position in the axial direction of the bottle. 5. The nozzle according to claim 3, wherein the nozzle has a flat shape so that the nozzle can be located in a space between a transport surface of a transport device and a bottle neck of a bottle located on the transport surface. For sterilizing bottled beverages. The transfer device is configured such that a forward slat is positioned higher than a return slat, and further includes a nozzle head moving mechanism on a base arranged to cover the return slat. The apparatus for sterilizing a bottled beverage according to claim 4 or 5, wherein

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