JP2004182273A - Method and apparatus for continuously packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method and an apparatus for continuously sterile-packaging which is inexpensive owing to its simplified structure and can easily sterilize a conveyance structure. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for continuously sterile-packaging fills a container having the sterilized interior with sterile contents and seals the container with a sterilized lid. A body of a flanged container (1) is fitted into a container holding aperture (12a) opened at a predetermined interval in the direction of the advance of a belt-like conveyer (12) suspended between pulleys (2 and 2). The container is sterilized, filled with the contents and sealed while the conveyer (12) and the container (1) are moved in an aseptic chamber substituted by nitrogen gas, having the flange (1a) of the container supported by the periphery (12b) of the aperture (12a). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for continuously filling a container such as a cup or tray-like container with processed contents such as a soft drink, a milk drink, cooked rice, prepared food and the like, and sealing the container.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, in Patent Literature 1 or the like, a container such as a cup before sealing and its lid material are continuously supplied into a sterile room maintained at a positive pressure by nitrogen gas, and the container is sterilized in the sterile room to remove the contents. An aseptic filling machine is known which fills a container and replaces and seals the head space of the container with nitrogen gas.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2-45323
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In these conventional aseptic filling machines, the containers are all supplied to a pedestal attached to a transport chain, and the pedestal is transported by the transport chain and sequentially performs steps of container washing (sterilization), filling, sealing, and container discharging. It is structured to be sent. However, in this filling machine, it is necessary to manufacture a large number of pedestals to be attached to the transport chain, and the production cost of the pedestals increases, and a large motor is required to transport the large number of pedestals. There is a disadvantage that the purchase cost and the operation cost increase. In order to perform filling and sealing in an aseptic environment, these transport structures must be sterilized. However, there is a problem that cleaning and sterilization are difficult due to the complicated structure.
[0005]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above-described conventional aseptic filling machine, and a continuous packaging method capable of easily and reliably sterilizing a transport structure at a low cost with a more simplified structure. It is intended to provide a device.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The continuous packaging method for achieving the object of the present invention is a continuous packaging method in which the contents are filled in a container and the container is sealed with a lid material, wherein the container holding openings opened at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the belt-shaped conveyor. The container body with the flange is fitted into the portion, and while the conveyor and the container are moved in a state where the flange portion of the container is supported on the peripheral portion of the opening, the filling of the contents and the sealing of the container are sequentially performed. Features.
[0007]
In one aspect of the invention, the continuous packaging method further comprises replacing the headspace of the container with nitrogen gas before and / or after filling the contents.
[0008]
According to one aspect of the present invention, in a continuous packaging method of filling a sterilized container with a sterile content and sealing the container with a sterilized lid material, a container holding device opened at a predetermined interval in a traveling direction of a belt-shaped conveyor is provided. Filling the contents and sealing the container while moving the conveyor and the container in the sterile room in a state where the main body of the container with the flange is fitted in the opening for the container and the flange of the container is supported on the peripheral portion of the opening. Are sequentially performed, and a continuous aseptic packaging method is provided.
[0009]
In another aspect of the present invention, the continuous aseptic packaging method further comprises replacing the headspace of the container with nitrogen gas before and / or after filling the contents.
[0010]
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a continuous packaging method comprising sterilizing a container and the conveyor before filling the contents.
[0011]
A continuous packaging device that achieves the object of the present invention is a continuous packaging device that fills a container with contents and seals the container with a lid.
A belt-shaped conveyor having a container holding opening opened at a predetermined interval in the traveling direction,
A driving device for driving the conveyor,
A filling device for filling the contents to be moved by the conveyor,
And a sealing device for sealing the container filled with the contents.
In one aspect of the present invention, in a continuous packaging apparatus for filling a container having sterilized inside with aseptic contents and sealing the container with a sterilized lid material,
A belt-shaped conveyor having a container holding opening opened at a predetermined interval in the traveling direction,
A driving device for driving the conveyor,
A sterile chamber that movably accommodates the conveyor and the container in a state where the main body of the container with a flange is fitted into the container holding opening, and the flange of the container is supported on the peripheral edge of the opening.
A gas replacement device for replacing the air in the sterile room with a sterile gas other than the atmosphere,
A filling device for filling aseptic contents,
And a sealing device for sealing the container filled with the contents.
[0012]
In another aspect of the present invention, the aseptic chamber is provided with a filling device for filling aseptic contents and a sealing device for sealing a container filled with the contents.
[0013]
In another aspect of the present invention, the sealing device includes a seal head that presses and seals a lid material to a flange portion of the container, and a sealing head that moves down to a lower position that does not hinder the movement of the container when the conveyor moves. It is characterized by having a seal support which sometimes rises to an upper position supporting the flange of the container in cooperation with the seal head.
[0014]
In another aspect of the present invention, a continuous packaging apparatus is provided with a punching blade for trimming an excessive peripheral portion of a lid material sealed to a container, and a lowering position which does not hinder the movement of the container when the conveyor moves, thereby trimming. It further includes a trimming support that sometimes rises to an upper position that supports the flange portion of the container in cooperation with the punching blade.
[0015]
According to still another aspect of the present invention, the sterilization chamber is further provided with a sterilizer for sterilizing the container and the belt-shaped conveyor.
[0016]
Further, in the present invention, it is preferable that the belt-shaped conveyor is made of a steel belt.
[0017]
[Action]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the main body of the container with a flange fits in the container holding opening part opened at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the belt-shaped conveyor, and the container and the flange part of the conveyor are supported by the peripheral part of this opening part. In such a state, the conveyor and the container are moved in the sterile room, and the filling of the contents and the sealing of the container are sequentially performed. Therefore, a complicated structure such as a roller chain and a large prime mover are not required, and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified. In addition, since the structure is simple, washing and sterilization at the time of filling and sealing under an aseptic environment are facilitated, the reliability is improved, and the reliability can be improved.
[0018]
When a steel belt is used as the belt-shaped conveyor as one embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that positioning accuracy is high because rigidity is high and there is almost no elongation. Furthermore, if a stainless steel belt is used, it is suitable for use in a sterile room because of high corrosion resistance and heat resistance, high conductivity, and low dust generation.
[0019]
According to one aspect of the present invention, a sealing device includes a seal head that presses and seals a lid material on a flange portion of a container, a sealing head that moves down to a lower position that does not hinder the movement of the container when the conveyor moves, and that closes when the container is sealed. Since a seal support which rises to an upper position supporting the flange portion of the container in cooperation with the seal head is provided, there is no container cradle supporting the flange portion of the container at the time of sealing in the conventional filling machine. Also, the lid can be securely sealed to the container.
[0020]
In another aspect of the present invention, a punching blade for trimming an excess peripheral portion of a lid material sealed in a container, and a lowering position which does not hinder the movement of the container when the conveyor moves, cooperates with the cutting blade during trimming. Since the trimming support, which rises to an upper position for supporting the flange portion of the container by being operated, is further disposed, the trimming of the lid member can be reliably performed without the container receiving base.
[0021]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a side view for explaining one embodiment of a continuous aseptic packaging apparatus to which the method of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a belt-shaped conveyor, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG.
[0022]
In FIG. 1, a continuous aseptic packaging device is a device that uses a PP cup as a packaging container and fills a liquid content such as juice, and includes a cup supply unit A, a cup and conveyor sterilization unit K, a cup and conveyor drying unit. L, aseptic gas replacement section B, lid material drying section D, lid material supply section E, lid material first seal section F, lid material second seal section G, cooling section H, trimming section I, and cup discharge section J ing. The cup and conveyor sterilizing section K, the cup and conveyor drying section L, and the aseptic gas replacement section B constitute a first aseptic chamber M, a part of the lid supply section E, the lid first seal F, and the lid second. The seal part G, the cooling part H and the trimming part I constitute a second sterile room N. The lid material first seal portion F and the lid material second seal portion G constitute a sealing device of the present invention.
[0023]
In the cup supply section A, the PP cup 1 is transported in the direction of arrow P by the belt conveyor 20, and the belt-like conveyor 12 (FIG. 2) composed of a steel belt that moves in the direction of arrow Q downward from the tip of the belt conveyor 20. It is dropped and held in the cup holding opening 12a opened at a predetermined interval in the direction. The diameter of the cup holding opening 12a is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the upper end of the main body of the cup 1, and only the flange 1a of the cup 1 has a peripheral portion of the opening 12a of the belt-shaped conveyor 12. 12b (FIG. 2).
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 2, a belt-shaped conveyor 12 made of an endless steel belt is suspended on a pair of pulleys 2 and 2, one of the pulleys 2 and 2 is a driving pulley and is driven by an electric motor (not shown). Driven. The pulleys 2, 2 have positioning pins 13 implanted at predetermined intervals at both ends in the axial direction thereof, while the belt-shaped conveyor 12 has positioning holes 14 at both ends in the width direction corresponding to the distance between the positioning pins 13. The belt-shaped conveyor 12 is driven and transported by sequentially fitting the positioning pins 13 corresponding to the positioning holes 14 as the pulleys 2 and 2 rotate. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the cups 1 are fitted into several cup holding openings 12a of the belt-shaped conveyor 12.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 3, the first aseptic chamber M includes a top plate 30, both side plates 31, 31, and a bottom plate 32 whose central portion is opened in the longitudinal direction, and has a cross-sectional shape similar to the cross-sectional shape of the belt-shaped conveyor 12. A flat rectangular cylindrical conveyor accommodating portion 33 having an area slightly larger than the cross section of the belt-shaped conveyor 12 and a length of the first aseptic chamber M protruding below the opening 34 of the opened bottom plate 32. The cup housing 35 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape having an area slightly larger than the cross-section of the cup 1. As described above, the cross section of the first sterile chamber M is formed by the conveyor accommodating portion 33 having a cross section similar to that of the belt-shaped conveyor 12 and the cup accommodating portion 35 having a cross section slightly larger than the cross section of the cup 1. The configuration of the substantially T-shaped aseptic chamber enables the volume of the aseptic chamber M to be designed to a minimum necessary size to allow the belt-shaped conveyor 12 and the cup 1 to pass through. Even in the case of using nitrogen gas, the required minimum amount of nitrogen gas is required, and the economic efficiency can be improved.
[0026]
In the cup and the conveyor chemical spraying section K located at the end of the first aseptic chamber M on the upstream side in the cup transfer direction, the disinfectant nozzles 54-1 and 54-2 are arranged in tandem at a predetermined interval. A hydrogen peroxide solution is supplied to these sterilizing agent nozzles 54-1 and 54-2 from a sterilizing agent tank 53 outside the sterile room, and the nozzles 54-1 and 54-2 spray the hydrogen peroxide solution to form a cup 1 And it sprays on the surface of the belt-shaped conveyor 12.
Disinfectant drying nozzles 55-1 and 55-2 are cascaded at predetermined intervals in the cup and the conveyor drying section L located downstream of the cup and conveyor chemical liquid spraying section K. The nozzles 55-1 and 55-2 are supplied with sterilized dry air at 130 ° C. from the dry air generator 15 outside the sterile room via the sterilized filter 46, and sprayed with a hydrogen peroxide solution. When the cup 1 and the belt-shaped conveyor 12 pass through the drying section L, the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the surface is vaporized and dried, and is sterilized.
[0027]
Here, the nozzle is arranged only above the cup and the conveyor, but it is also possible to arrange the nozzle below and sideways as necessary to sterilize and dry the outer surface of the cup and the lower surface of the conveyor.
[0028]
Nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-5 for replacing the head space of the cup 1 with nitrogen gas are provided in the upper space of the belt-shaped conveyor 12 of the aseptic gas replacement section B. Liquids for filling the cup 1 with liquid contents 3 such as juice are arranged between the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-2 and 4-3 at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the belt-shaped conveyor 12. A content filling nozzle 5-1 is provided, and a liquid content filling nozzle 5-2 is provided between the nitrogen gas nozzle 4-3 and the nitrogen gas nozzle 4-4. Nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas generator 17 outside the sterile chamber M is supplied to the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-5 through a sterilized filter 16 after being sterilized. The aseptic liquid contents from the aseptic liquid contents tank 18 outside the aseptic chamber M are supplied to the liquid contents filling nozzles 5-1 and 5-2.
[0029]
In the cover material supply section E, the band-shaped cover material 7 fed from the cover material supply roller 6 is guided by guide rollers 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, and 48 to cover material take-up roller. It is wound by 10. The guide roller 45 is disposed in the conveyor accommodating portion 63 (FIG. 4) at the upstream end of the second sterile chamber N, and the guide roller 46 is disposed outside the second sterile chamber N on the downstream side in the traveling direction. The band-shaped lid member 7 passes through the second aseptic chamber N in a section between the guide rollers 45 and 46.
[0030]
The chemical solution immersion section C is disposed in the passage of the lid 7 outside the first and second sterile chambers M and N, and includes a tank 50 for storing a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide for sterilizing the lid 7. . The hydrogen peroxide solution adheres to the surface of the lid member 7 while passing through the disinfectant in the tank 50.
[0031]
The lid material drying section D is a duct-shaped chamber provided outside the aseptic chambers M and N in the passage of the lid 7 between the chemical solution immersion section C and the opposite end of the aseptic chambers M and N, and generates dry air. Aseptic dry air at 130 ° C. is supplied from the apparatus 15 through a sterilized filter 46. When the lid 7 passes through the lid drying section D, the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the surface is vaporized and dried, and sterilization is performed.
[0032]
Downstream from the outlet of the first sterile chamber M, a part of the lid material supply unit E, the lid material first seal part F, and the lid material second which sequentially constitute the second sterile chamber N in the traveling direction of the belt-shaped conveyor 12. A seal portion G, a cooling portion H, and a trimming portion I are provided, and a cup discharge portion J is provided outside the outlet of the second sterile chamber N downstream of the trimming portion I.
[0033]
As shown in FIG. 4, the second aseptic chamber N includes a top plate 60, both side plates 61, 61, and a bottom plate 62 having a central portion opened in the longitudinal direction. The second sterile room N accommodates the belt-shaped conveyor 12 and a seal head described below. A flat rectangular cylindrical conveyor accommodating portion 63 having a sufficient cross-sectional area, and formed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the second sterile chamber N so as to protrude below the opening of the opened bottom plate 62, The cup housing section 65 has a rectangular cross-sectional shape having a lateral width larger than the diameter of the cup 1 by a predetermined value and a longitudinal length almost twice the length of the cup 1.
[0034]
The frame bodies 36, 36 of the pair of devices provided below the second sterile room N extend upward, and are fixed to both sides of the conveyor housing portion 63 of the second sterile room N. , 36a, and holds the second sterile room N.
[0035]
The upstream end face 69 (FIG. 1) of the first sterile chamber M in the cup advancing direction is closed except for the space where the belt-shaped conveyor 12 and the cup 1 can enter, and the downstream end face 68 of the second sterile chamber N in the cup advancing direction. (FIG. 1) is also closed except for the space where the belt-shaped conveyor 12 and the cup 1 can be discharged. Further, the end surfaces of the first aseptic chamber M on the downstream side in the cup advancing direction and the end surfaces of the second aseptic chamber N on the upstream side in the advancing direction of the cup exclude the space in which the belt-shaped conveyor 12 can advance in the portions of the conveyor housings 33 and 63. The cup 1 communicates with the cup housing portions 35 and 65 so that the cup 1 can advance from the first sterile room M to the second sterile room N. The lower part of the upstream end surface of the cup housing portion 65 of the second sterile chamber N is closed by an end wall 67.
[0036]
Nitrogen gas is additionally supplied between the lid material first seal portion F and the lid material second seal portion G of the second sterile chamber N in order to maintain the inside of the sterile chambers M and N at a positive pressure with sterile nitrogen gas. A nitrogen gas nozzle 4-6 is provided, and nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas generator 17 outside the sterile chamber N is sterilized and supplied via a sterilized filter 16.
[0037]
As shown in FIG. 4, the lid material first seal portion F presses the lid material 7 supplied so as to cover the top surface of the cup 1 to the flange portion 1a by a seal head 71 which moves up and down by a cylinder device 70. To perform preliminary sealing. At this time, a seal support 73 is used to support the flange 1a and the belt-shaped conveyor 12 against the pressing force applied to the flange 1a by the seal head 71. The seal support 73 has a diameter and a length capable of covering the main body of the cup 1 and is formed of a cylindrical member having a top edge portion having a size matching the flange portion 1a. Move up and down. The seal support 73 is lowered to a lower position that does not hinder the movement of the cup 1 when the belt-shaped conveyor 12 moves, and supports the flange portion 1a of the cup 1 in cooperation with the seal head 71 when sealing the lid 7. It rises to the upper position (the position in FIG. 4).
[0038]
The lid material second seal portion G thermally bonds the pre-sealed lid material 7 on the cup 1 to the flange portion 1 a of the cup 1. Similarly, in the case of heat fusion, the flange portion 1a is supported by cooperation of the seal head 74 (FIG. 1) and the seal support 75 (FIG. 1) having the same structure as the seal support 73.
[0039]
The heat-sealed cup 1 and lid 7 are sent to the next cooling section H. In the cooling section H, the heat fusion section is cooled by a cooling head 74 'cooled by cooling water supply means (not shown), and a seal is completed. Similarly, in the case of cooling, the flange 1a is supported by the cooperation of the cooling head 74 '(FIG. 1) and the cooling support 75' (FIG. 1). The cooling step is also performed by the cooperation of the seal head 74 'and the seal support 75'.
[0040]
The trimming portion I is cut out by punching out a surplus peripheral lid member 7 other than the lid member thermally fused to the cup 1 with a punching blade 76 (FIG. 1). In this case, similarly, a trimming support 77 (FIG. 1) having the same structure as the seal support 73 is used. The trimming support 77 is lowered to a lower position where the movement of the cup 1 is not hindered when the conveyor 12 is moved, and is raised to an upper position for supporting the flange portion 1a of the cup 1 in cooperation with the punching blade 76 during trimming.
[0041]
The cup discharge portion J provided outside the outlet of the second sterile chamber N pushes up a push-up lever 52 provided below the traveling belt-shaped conveyor 12 to hold the cup 1 for holding the cup of the belt-shaped conveyor 12. It is made to fly out of the opening 12a and discharged as a product 11 out of the system.
[0042]
Next, the operation of the above device will be described.
The end face of the first aseptic chamber M on the upstream side in the cup advancing direction and the end face of the second aseptic chamber N on the downstream side in the cup advancing direction are closed except for the space through which the belt-shaped conveyor 12 and the cup 1 can pass as described above. The nitrogen gas injected from the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-5 and the auxiliary nitrogen gas nozzle 4-6 for maintaining the positive pressure in the sterile chamber to replace the gas in the head space of the cup 1 is supplied to the first sterile chamber M. By being radiated into the atmosphere from the upstream end and the downstream end of the second sterile chamber N, the inside of the sterile chambers M and N is kept at a slightly positive pressure to prevent the air from flowing into the sterile chambers M and N. To prevent. As a result, the interior of the aseptic chambers M and N is constantly maintained in an aseptic state by aseptic nitrogen gas during operation. The nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-6 constitute a gas replacement device for replacing the atmosphere in the sterile room with a sterile gas other than the atmosphere in the present invention.
[0043]
The PP cup 1 falls from the cup supply section A to the cup holding opening 12 a of the belt-shaped conveyor 12 and is transferred to the first sterile room M. In the first sterile room M, the belt-shaped conveyor 12 moves in the conveyor accommodating portion 33, and the cup 1 moves in the cup accommodating portion 35 to the downstream side.
[0044]
The cup 1 and the belt-shaped conveyor 12 include a hydrogen peroxide solution sprayed from the disinfectant nozzles 54-1 and 54-2 in the cup and conveyor chemical liquid spraying section K, and a disinfectant drying nozzle 55 in the next cup and conveyor drying section L. The sterilization is performed by vaporizing and drying the chemical solution with the high-temperature dry sterile air injected from -1, 55-2, and sent to the next-stage sterile gas replacement section B. In the aseptic gas replacement section B, nitrogen gas is sequentially blown out from the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 and 4-2 as the cup 1 advances to expel air existing in the cup 1 and perform nitrogen gas replacement. Further, nitrogen gas is sequentially blown out from between the liquid content filling nozzles 5-1 and 5-2 and the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-3 to 4-5 disposed next, and the content 3 is filled. After that, the head space in the cup 1 is replaced with nitrogen gas.
[0045]
In the aseptic gas replacement section B, the nitrogen gas in the cup is replaced, and the cup 1 filled with the contents 3 and the gas replacement of the head space is completed is discharged from the downstream end (outlet) of the first aseptic chamber M. The preliminary sealing of the lid 7 via the lid first sealing section F, the second lid sealing section G, the cooling section H, and the trimming section I of the second aseptic chamber N, heat fusion of the seal, and heat fusion After the cooling of the attachment portion and the punching of the lid material are sequentially performed, the cup 1 is discharged from the downstream end (outlet) of the second sterile chamber N, and is discharged out of the system as a product by the cup discharge portion J.
[0046]
In the above embodiment, a steel belt is used as a preferable belt-shaped conveyor. However, the belt-shaped conveyor is not limited to this, and may be an endless belt made of rubber and synthetic resin having sufficient rigidity and a material having a small elongation. Can be used.
[0047]
Further, only the lid material first seal portion F and the lid material second seal portion G are accommodated in the second sterile room N, and the cooling portion H and the trimming portion I are arranged outside the second sterile room N. Good.
[0048]
If the sterile chambers M and N can be maintained at a slightly positive pressure by the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-5, the auxiliary nitrogen gas nozzle 4-6 can be omitted.
[0049]
In the above embodiment, the hydrogen peroxide solution is used for sterilizing the cup, the conveyor, and the lid member, but this does not limit the present invention, and other known sterilizing agents can be applied. Although the PP cup is used as the packaging container, a container made of another material such as PS or PET may be used.
[0050]
In the above embodiment, since the cup is used as the container, the container holding opening of the belt-shaped conveyor is circular, but when a rectangular tray is used as the container, for example, the shape of the container holding opening is different from this. The shape of the container holding opening, such as a rectangular shape, is formed in accordance with the shape of the container.
[0051]
The present invention can be applied not only to the continuous aseptic packaging device as in the above embodiment, but also to a continuous filling and sealing device without a sterile room. In addition, the present invention is a method in which a sterile space is formed by an entire aseptic room that covers the entire apparatus, and a method in which a sterile space is formed in a clean room as well as a method in which a sterile space is formed as small as possible in the above-described embodiment. It can also be applied to filling and sealing devices.
[0052]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the main body of the container with the flange is fitted into the container holding opening formed at a predetermined interval in the traveling direction of the belt-shaped conveyor, and the container of the container is fitted on the periphery of the opening. The contents and sealing of the container are sequentially performed while moving the conveyor and the container while the flange portion is supported, so that a receiving stand conventionally required for the container transfer becomes unnecessary, and the container transfer is performed. A complicated structure such as a roller chain and a large prime mover are not required, and the structure of the apparatus can be simplified. In addition, since the structure is simple, washing and sterilization at the time of filling and sealing under an aseptic environment are facilitated, the reliability is improved, and the reliability can be improved.
[0053]
When a steel belt is used as the belt-shaped conveyor as one embodiment of the present invention, there is an advantage that positioning accuracy is high because rigidity is high and there is almost no elongation. Furthermore, if a stainless steel belt is used, it is suitable for use in a sterile room because of high corrosion resistance and heat resistance, high conductivity, and low dust generation.
[0054]
According to one aspect of the present invention, a sealing device includes a seal head that presses and seals a lid material on a flange portion of a container, a sealing head that moves down to a lower position that does not hinder the movement of the container when the conveyor moves, and that closes when the container is sealed. Since a seal support which rises to an upper position supporting the flange portion of the container in cooperation with the seal head is provided, there is no container cradle supporting the flange portion of the container at the time of sealing in the conventional filling machine. Also, the lid can be securely sealed to the container.
[0055]
In another aspect of the present invention, a punching blade for trimming an excess peripheral portion of a lid material sealed in a container, and a lowering position which does not hinder the movement of the container when the conveyor moves, cooperates with the cutting blade during trimming. Since the trimming support, which rises to an upper position for supporting the flange portion of the container by being operated, is further disposed, the trimming of the lid member can be reliably performed without the container receiving base.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view for explaining one embodiment of a continuous aseptic packaging device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a belt-shaped conveyor.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line YY of FIG. 1;
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 1 cup 1a flange portion 2 pulley 4-1 to 4-6 nitrogen gas nozzle (gas replacement device)
12 Belt conveyor 12a Cup holding opening M First sterile room N Second sterile room

Claims (12)

In a continuous packaging method in which the contents are filled in a container and the container is sealed with a lid material, the main body of the container with a flange is fitted into a container holding opening opened at a predetermined interval in the traveling direction of the belt-shaped conveyor, A continuous packaging method characterized by sequentially filling the contents and sealing the container while moving the conveyor and the container while the flange portion of the container is supported on the peripheral edge of the opening. The continuous packaging method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of replacing a head space of the container with nitrogen gas before and / or after filling the contents. In a continuous packaging method in which the inside of a sterilized container is filled with aseptic contents and the container is sealed with a sterilized lid material, a container with a flange is provided at a container holding opening opened at a predetermined interval in the traveling direction of the belt-shaped conveyor. Filling the contents and sealing the container sequentially while moving the conveyor and the container in a sterile room in a state where the main body is fitted and the flange of the container is supported on the peripheral portion of the opening. Continuous packaging method. 4. The continuous packaging method according to claim 3, further comprising a step of replacing the head space of the container with nitrogen gas before and / or after filling the contents. 5. The continuous packaging method according to claim 3, wherein the container and the conveyor are sterilized before filling the contents. In a continuous packaging device that fills the contents of the container and seals the container with a lid,
A belt-shaped conveyor having a container holding opening opened at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction,
A driving device for driving the conveyor,
A filling device for filling the contents to be moved by the conveyor,
And a sealing device for sealing a container filled with the contents. In a continuous packaging device that fills the container with sterilized contents with aseptic contents and seals the container with a sterilized lid material,
A belt-shaped conveyor having a container holding opening opened at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction,
A driving device for driving the conveyor,
A sterile chamber that movably accommodates the conveyor and the container in a state where the main body of the container with a flange is fitted into the container holding opening, and the flange of the container is supported on the peripheral edge of the opening.
A gas replacement device for replacing the air in the sterile chamber with a sterile gas other than the atmosphere,
A filling device for filling aseptic contents,
And a sealing device for sealing a container filled with the contents. The continuous packaging device according to claim 7, wherein the filling device and the sealing device are arranged in a sterile room. The sealing device includes a seal head that presses and seals the lid material to the flange portion of the container and a lower portion that does not hinder the movement of the container when the conveyor moves, and cooperates with the seal head when sealing the container. The continuous packaging apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a seal support that rises to an upper position supporting the flange portion of the container. A punching blade for trimming an excessive peripheral portion of a lid material sealed in a container, and a lowering portion which does not hinder the movement of the container when moving the conveyor, and which cooperates with the punching blade during trimming to thereby form a flange portion of the container. 8. The continuous packaging apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a trimming support that rises to an upper position for supporting the continuous packaging. 8. The continuous packaging apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a sterilizer for sterilizing the container and the belt-shaped conveyor is further disposed in the aseptic chamber. The continuous packaging apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the belt-shaped conveyor is made of a steel belt.

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