JP2004210384A - Washing head packing for barrel washing machine and filling head packing for barrel filling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing head packing for a barrel washing machine and a filling head packing for a filling barrel machine which prevent a microorganism from getting in a barrel. <P>SOLUTION: The annular face inside diameter of a washing head packing to be mounted on the washing head of a barrel washing machine for washing the inside of a barrel contacting the metal cap end part of a barrel is larger than the inside diameter of the metal cap. Notches continuous in the peripheral direction are formed along the inside edge of the annular face. A protrusion 96 capable of coming into face contact with a bushing end continuously in the peripheral direction is formed at the top face 95, in a filling head packing 94 to be mounted on the filling head of a barrel filling machine for filling a beverage. A groove 100 communicating with the outside of the filling head from the gap in a spiral part between the metal cap and the bushing is formed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cleaning head packing mounted on a cleaning head of a keg washing machine for cleaning the inside of a keg for beverage, and a filling head mounted on a filling head of a keg filling machine for filling a beverage in a keg for beverage. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a packing, and more particularly to a cleaning head packing and a filling head packing capable of preventing microorganisms from being mixed together when filling a keg with a beverage.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 10, a barrel 10 conventionally used for storing and transporting draft beer is provided with a base 12 in the center of the upper surface of the barrel, and a fitting 14 is screwed inside the base 12. ing.
The fitting 14 includes a bush 16, a down tube 18, a discharge valve 20, and a gas valve 22. The bush 16 houses the base end 24 of the down tube 18, the discharge valve 20, and the gas valve 22 inside, and the screw portion 17 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bush 16 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the base 12. The bottom of the bush 16 protrudes into the barrel 10. Further, a gas hole 26 communicating with the inside of the bush 16 is opened on the outer peripheral surface of the bush 16 located in the barrel 10.
[0003]
Further, a base end portion 24 of the down tube 18 is inserted into the bush 16 so as to be able to move up and down. The down tube 18 hangs down from the bush 16 into the barrel 10 and forms a delivery path for draft beer to the discharge valve 20. ing. An annular gas valve 22 is mounted on the top of the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18, and the outer peripheral portion of the gas valve 22 is brought into contact with an annular flange 30 provided in the bush 16 by a gas valve spring 28. Is given an upward trend. When the base end 24 of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18 is pushed into the barrel 10 against the gas valve spring 28, a gap is formed between the annular flange 30 and the outer peripheral edge of the gas valve 22, and the gas valve 22 is opened. The inside of the fuel cell 10 is connected to the outside of the barrel 10 through a gas hole 26 and a gas valve 22, so that a gas flow path is formed.
[0004]
Further, inside the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18, there is provided a pouring valve 20 configured to open and close a draft beer delivery path. The discharge valve 20 is given an upward tendency by the discharge valve spring 32 so as to contact the inner peripheral portion of the gas valve 22, and pushes the discharge valve 20 into the barrel 10 against the discharge valve spring 32. A gap is formed between the discharge valve 20 and the inner peripheral portion of the gas valve 22 to open the discharge valve 20, and the inside of the barrel 10 is connected to the outside of the barrel 10 via the down tube 18 and the discharge valve 20, The configuration is such that a flow path through which draft beer flows is formed.
[0005]
As described above, the screw portion 17 of the bush 16 and the screw portion 13 of the base 12 are screwed together, but a slight gap 34 is formed between the screw portion 13 and the screw portion 17. (In the following description, the "gap formed between the screw portion of the bush and the screw portion of the base" is referred to as a "threaded portion gap.") An end portion of the threaded portion gap 34 is formed in an annular shape between the end portion of the bush 16 and the end portion of the base 12 so as to open to the outside to form an opening portion 36.
[0006]
The barrel 10 having such a configuration is filled with draft beer in the barrel 10 and shipped from a draft beer manufacturing factory. The draft beer is consumed in a beer hall or the like, and the empty barrel 10 is collected by the draft beer manufacturing factory, and the exposed portion of the barrel 10 is exposed. , A sealing test of the fitting 14, and a residual pressure test in the barrel 10, and after cleaning the inside of the barrel 10, the barrel 10 is filled with draft beer and shipped.
[0007]
The internal cleaning of the collected barrel 10 and the filling of the draft beer are performed in the internal cleaning and filling line 40 in the draft beer manufacturing factory. As shown in FIG. 11, the internal washing and filling line 40 is provided with a keg washing machine 50 and a keg filling machine 80.
As shown in FIG. 12, the keg washing machine 50 includes a washing head 52 connected to the base 12 of the keg 10, and a washing medium supply means 70 for supplying a washing medium such as caustic soda, hot water, water, steam, and air. Has become.
[0008]
The cleaning head 52 has a guide cylinder 54 having an open upper end at the center of the upper part thereof so as to be vertically slidable. A flange 55 is formed at the upper end of the guide cylinder 54. A hollow rod 56 is inserted into the guide cylinder 54 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A small-diameter probe 58 is formed at the tip of the rod 56, and the probe 58 is configured to be able to push the discharge valve 20 into the barrel 10 from inside the gas valve 22. A plurality of holes 60 are opened at the tip of the probe 58, and the holes 60 are connected to a cleaning medium supply means 70 outside the cleaning head 52 via a hollow portion in the rod 56. Further, a gap 62 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the rod 56 and the inner peripheral surface of the guide cylinder 54 (in the following description, "a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the rod and the inner peripheral surface of the guide cylinder"). Is referred to as a “guide cylinder gap”. The guide cylinder gap 62 is open above the guide cylinder 54 and is connected to a drain outside the cleaning head 52.
[0009]
A ring-shaped cleaning head packing 64 is mounted on the flange 55. The cleaning head packing 64 is made of an elastic material such as ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM). The inner diameter of the ring is approximately the same as the inner diameter at the end of the bush 16, and the outer diameter depends on the outer diameter of the base 12. And the upper surface is a flat surface. Further, a probe seal 68 made of the same material as that of the cleaning head packing 64 is attached to a step between the rod 56 and the probe 58.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the keg filling machine 80 includes a filling head 82 connected to the base 12 of the keg 10, a steam generation unit 104, and a draft beer supply unit 106.
The filling head 82 has a guide cylinder 84 having an open upper end at the upper center so as to be vertically slidable, and a flange 85 is formed at the upper end of the guide cylinder 84. A hollow rod 86 is inserted into the guide cylinder 84 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A small-diameter probe 88 is formed at the tip of the rod 86, and the probe 88 can push the discharge valve 20 into the barrel 10 from inside the gas valve 22. A plurality of holes 90 are opened at the tip of the probe 88, and the holes 90 are connected to a drain outside the filling head 82 via a hollow portion in the rod 86. Further, a guide cylinder gap 92 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the rod 86 and the inner peripheral surface of the guide cylinder 84, and the guide cylinder gap 92 is open upward inside the guide cylinder 84, It is connected with the generating means 104 and the draft beer supply means 106.
[0011]
A ring-shaped filling head packing 94 is mounted on the flange 85. The filling head packing 94 is made of an elastic material such as ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), and has a ring inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the bush 16 and an outer diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the base 12. Yes, the upper surface is a flat surface. Further, a probe seal 102 made of the same material as that of the filling head packing 94 is mounted on a step between the rod 86 and the probe 88.
[0012]
In the internal cleaning and filling line 40 having such a configuration, the barrel 10 is sequentially sent to the three cleaning heads 52 with the base 12 being turned upside down to perform internal cleaning. Filled with draft beer. In the internal cleaning and internal cleaning in the filling line 40, the fitting 14 is not normally disassembled and removed from the base 12 of the barrel 10, and the fitting 14 remains attached to the base 12.
[0013]
Specifically, first, the base 12 of the barrel 10 turned upside down is connected to the first cleaning head 52. With the center axis of the base 12 and the center axis of the guide tube 54 aligned on the same line, the barrel 10 is set on the washing head 52, the guide tube 54 slides upward, and the end of the base 12 and The end of the bush 16 is pressed onto the cleaning head packing 64 so as to be in close contact therewith, the rod 56 slides upward in the guide cylinder 54, and the probe 58 moves against the discharging valve spring 32 to move the discharging valve 20 to the barrel 10. Push in. Then, the discharge valve 20 is opened, and the first flow from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the barrel 10 through the hollow portion in the rod 56, the hole 60 at the tip of the probe 58, the discharge valve 20, and the down tube 18. A path is formed. This first flow path serves as a flow path for the cleaning medium. At the same time, the probe seal 68 is pressed against the gas valve 22, the rod 56 slides upward, and the gas valve 22 and the proximal end 24 of the down tube 18 are pushed into the barrel 10 against the gas valve spring 28, and the gas valve 22 is moved. When opened, a second flow path is formed from the inside of the barrel 10 to the drain outside the filling head 82 through the gas valve 22 and the guide cylinder gap 62. The cleaning medium flows from the inside of the barrel 10 to the drain outside the barrel 10 through the second flow path. In this state, the upper surface of the cleaning head packing 64 is elastically deformed according to the shape of the pressed end of the bush 16 and the end of the base 12, and the end of the bush 16 and the end of the base 12 are cleaned. The opening 36 at the end of the threaded portion gap 34 is closed by the cleaning head packing 64.
[0014]
Then, the remaining beer remaining in the barrel 10 is discharged from the second channel to the drain. After discharging the remaining beer to the drain, the pre-cleaning in the barrel 10 is performed with water. Water flows from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10 via the first flow path, and the water that has washed the inside of the barrel 10 is discharged from the second flow path to the drain. Thereafter, cleaning with caustic soda is performed. Like caustic water, caustic soda is poured from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10, and the washed caustic soda is discharged to a drain.
[0015]
When the washing with the caustic soda is completed, the rod 56 and the guide cylinder 54 are slid downward, the discharge valve 20 and the gas valve 22 are closed, and the barrel 10 is removed from the first washing head 52 and connected to the second washing head 52. . The connection between the barrel 10 and the second cleaning head 52 is made in the same manner as the connection with the first cleaning head 52. Then, similarly to the case of the preliminary washing, the inside of the barrel 10 is washed with hot water.
[0016]
When cleaning with hot water is completed by the second cleaning head 52, the barrel 10 is removed from the second cleaning head 52 and connected to the third cleaning head 52. The connection between the barrel 10 and the third cleaning head 52 is performed in the same manner as the connection with the first cleaning head 52. Then, as in the case of the preliminary cleaning, the inside of the barrel 10 is again cleaned with hot water, and thereafter steam is sterilized by flowing steam from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10.
[0017]
The inner peripheral surface of the bush 16 is also cleaned by the series of internal cleaning of the barrel 10.
Then, the barrel 10 having completed the internal cleaning is removed from the third cleaning head 52 and sent to the filling head 82, and the base 12 of the barrel 10 is connected to the filling head 82. First, the barrel 10 is set on the filling head 82 with the center axis of the base 12 and the center axis of the guide cylinder 84 aligned on the same line, and the end of the base 12 and the end of the bush 16 are filled with the filling head packing 94. It is pressed down on and adheres. In this state, the upper surface of the filling head packing 94 is elastically deformed according to the shape of the pressed end of the bush 16 and the end of the base 12, and the end of the bush 16 and the end of the base 12 are filled. The opening 36 of the threaded portion gap 34 is closed by the filling head packing 94. Further, the rod 86 remains in the guide cylinder 84, and the discharge valve 20 and the gas valve 22 remain closed. At this time, a third flow path from the steam generating means 104 to the inside of the bush 16 through the guide cylinder gap 92 is formed.
[0018]
Then, steam is spouted from the steam generation means 104 through the third flow path into the inside of the bush 16, and steam sterilization of the inside of the bush 16, the gas valve 22 and the injection valve 20 is performed.
After performing the steam sterilization, the rod 86 slides upward, and the probe 88 pushes the discharge valve 20 into the barrel 10 against the discharge valve spring 32. Then, the pouring valve 20 is opened, and the fourth tube connected from the inside of the barrel 10 to the drain outside the filling head 82 through the down tube 18, the pouring valve 20, the hole 90 at the tip of the probe 88, and the hollow portion in the rod 86. A channel is formed. The fourth flow path serves as a flow path for air discharged from the inside of the barrel 10 to the outside of the barrel 10 when filling draft beer. At the same time, the probe seal 102 is pressed against the gas valve 22, the rod 86 slides upward, and the gas valve 22 and the proximal end 24 of the down tube 18 are pushed into the barrel 10 against the gas valve spring 28, and the gas valve 22 is moved. Opening, a fifth flow passage is formed from the draft beer supply means 106 to the inside of the barrel 10 through the guide cylinder gap 92, the gas valve 22, and the gas hole 26. This fifth flow path serves as a flow path for draft beer to be filled into the barrel 10.
[0019]
Then, the draft beer is filled into the barrel 10 via the fifth flow path. When filling draft beer, the air in the barrel 10 is discharged out of the barrel 10 from the fourth flow path. After filling a predetermined amount of draft beer, the guide cylinder 84 and the rod 86 are slid downward to close the discharge valve 20 and the gas valve 22, and the filling of the barrel 10 with draft beer is completed. Then, the barrel 10 is shipped from the draft beer manufacturing factory.
[0020]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the cleaning of the inside of the barrel 10 in each of the cleaning heads 52, cleaning of the threaded portion gap 34 is not performed. That is, the cleaning head packing 64 is in close contact with the end of the base 12 and the end of the bush 16, and the opening 36 of the threaded portion gap 34 is also closed by the cleaning head packing 64. Independent of the flow path through which the cleaning medium flows, the threaded gap 34 is not cleaned by the cleaning medium.
[0021]
There is a possibility that microorganisms may be present in the threaded gaps 34 that have not been washed by the washing medium, and when microorganisms are mixed into draft beer in the barrel 10, the draft beer poured out of the barrel 10 becomes cloudy. Become. Although this microorganism is not harmful, it is desirable to prevent the microorganism from being mixed into the draft beer filled in the barrel 10 in order to prevent the turbidity of the draft beer.
[0022]
Further, when the barrel 10 is connected to the filling head 82 and the draft beer is filled, the inside of the bush 16 is first steam-sterilized, but the heat of the steam is transmitted to the threaded portion gap 34 via the bush 16. The air existing in the threaded portion gap 34 expands due to heat and increases pressure, leaks and passes through the close contact surface between the filling head packing 94 and the end of the bush 16, and enters the bush 16. Would. When microorganisms are present in the threaded portion gap 34, the microorganisms enter the bush 16 together with the expanded air in the threaded portion gap 34. Then, the microorganisms that have entered the bush 16 enter the barrel 10 together with the draft beer to be filled, and may render the draft beer poured out of the barrel 10 turbid. In addition, since draft beer cannot be heat-treated, it is not possible to heat draft beer in barrel 10 and then treat microorganisms in barrel 10 after filling draft beer in barrel 10.
[0023]
The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-described problems of the conventional technology, and the purpose thereof is to prevent microorganisms from entering the barrel together with the beverage to be filled in the barrel. The present invention provides a washing head packing for a keg washing machine capable of removing microorganisms from a gap formed in a threaded portion between a base of a keg and a bush of a fitting at the time of washing in a keg. An object of the present invention is to provide a filling head packing for a keg that can prevent any remaining microorganisms from entering the keg.
[0024]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has the following configuration to solve the problem. According to the first aspect of the present invention, a base is provided with a base, and a gas valve communicating with the inside of the barrel, a base end of a down tube which is suspended in the barrel and communicates with the inside of the barrel, and a beverage from the inside of the barrel are provided. A fitting provided with a bush for accommodating an ejection valve to be sent out to the inside is mounted in the base, and a screw part on an inner peripheral surface of the base and a screw part on an outer peripheral surface of the bush are screwed together. The washing head packing is attached to the washing head of a keg washing machine for washing the inside of the barrel, and the washing head packing is formed of a ring-shaped elastic member. While being continuously in contact with the end of the base in the circumferential direction, it is not in close contact with at least a part of the end of the bush, and is formed so as to communicate from the cleaning head into the barrel through the inside of the bush. Cleaning The flow path of the body, which is the mouthpiece and washing barrel machine cleaning head gasket in which the end portion of the gap has been configured to openings formed in the threaded portion between said bushing.
[0025]
According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the barrel is connected to the cleaning head of the keg washing machine and the cleaning head packing is pressed against the base of the keg, the cleaning head packing is elastically deformed and comes into close contact with the end of the base, so that the bushing is formed. A flow path of the cleaning medium that connects the cleaning head and the inside of the barrel via the inside is formed. At this time, the cleaning head packing does not block the entire opening at the end of the threaded portion gap between the base and the bush, and this threaded portion gap is open to the flow path of the cleaning medium. The cleaning medium flowing in the flow path of the cleaning medium also flows into the threaded portion gap from this opening, and the threaded portion gap is cleaned by the cleaning medium. Therefore, the microorganisms are prevented from entering the barrel from the screw gap.
[0026]
The elastic bodies forming the cleaning head packing include ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), which is a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and diene, ethylene propylene rubber (EPM), which is a copolymer of ethylene and propylene, and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), fluorine rubber, Teflon (registered trademark), silicon, and the like.
[0027]
The beverage in the barrel may include draft beer, wine, juice, and the like.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine according to the first aspect, wherein the inner diameter of the ring-shaped surface that is in close contact with the end of the base has a dimension equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the base. Washing head packing for barrel machines.
[0028]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the inner diameter of the cleaning head packing is larger than the inner diameter of the base, the cleaning head packing does not block the opening at the end of the threaded gap between the base and the bush. Therefore, the cleaning medium flows into the threaded portion gap, and the threaded portion gap is cleaned by the cleaning medium.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cleaning head packing for a keg washing machine according to the second aspect, wherein a notch that is circumferentially continuous along an inner edge of a ring-shaped surface that is in close contact with an end of the base. This is a washing head packing for a keg washing machine in which is formed.
[0029]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the volume of the flow path of the cleaning medium reaching the opening at the end of the threaded gap between the base and the bush is increased. Accordingly, the flow rate of the cleaning medium flowing into the opening at the end of the threaded portion gap also increases, and the threaded portion gap is cleaned with a large amount of cleaning medium.
The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that a base is provided on the surface of the barrel, a gas valve communicating with the barrel, a base end of a down tube that is suspended in the barrel and communicates with the barrel, and a beverage from the barrel. A fitting provided with a bush for accommodating an ejection valve to be sent out to the inside is mounted in the base, and a screw part on an inner peripheral surface of the base and a screw part on an outer peripheral surface of the bush are screwed together. A filling head packing, which is mounted on a filling head of a keg filling machine for filling a beverage into a keg, and is formed of a ring-shaped elastic member, wherein the base and the filling head are connected to each other. Is continuously and circumferentially adhered to at least one of the end portion and the inner peripheral surface of the bush, and the end of a gap formed in a threaded portion between the base and the bush is filled with the filling head packing. Is covered Away a barrel packer for filling head gasket having a configuration for closing.
[0030]
According to the invention of claim 4, the barrel is connected to the filling head of the keg filling machine, and the filling head packing is pressed against the bush. At this time, the surface of the filling head packing that comes into contact with the end or the inner peripheral surface of the bush is elastically deformed by the pressed bush, and the bush is recessed into the surface of the filling head packing. The area of the portion that is in close contact with the surface continuously in the direction becomes larger. Then, the threaded gap between the base and the bush is partitioned from the inside of the bush by a large contact surface formed between the filling head packing and the bush. That is, the threaded portion gap is independent of the beverage flow path formed inside the bush.
[0031]
Therefore, even if the air existing in the threaded portion gap thermally expands, it becomes difficult to pass through the large contact surface between the filling head packing and the bush, and leakage to the beverage flow path is prevented. As a result, even if microorganisms are present in the screw gap, it is possible to prevent the microorganisms from being mixed into the beverage filled in the barrel.
[0032]
In addition, as an elastic body forming the cleaning head packing, EPDM, EPM, NBR, HNBR, fluoro rubber, Teflon (registered trademark), silicon, and the like can be given.
Further, the industrial application field of the invention of claim 4 relates to the field of cleaning and filling of barrels for beverages, and is the same as the industrial application field of the invention of claim 1. Furthermore, a problem to be solved by the invention of claim 4 is to prevent microorganisms from being mixed into a beverage barrel, which is the same as the problem to be solved by the invention of claim 1.
[0033]
In addition, examples of the beverage filled in the barrel include draft beer, wine, juice, and the like.
The invention according to claim 5 is the filling head packing for a keg filling machine according to claim 4, wherein, in the connection state, the surface of the bush is opposed to the end of the base and the end of the bush. This is a filling head packing for a barrel filling machine having a projection which can be brought into surface contact with the end portion in the circumferential direction.
[0034]
According to the invention of claim 5, when the filling head of the keg is connected to the keg, the ring-shaped projection of the filling head packing is pressed against the end of the base of the keg and the end of the bush. At this time, the protrusion of the filling head packing is elastically deformed according to the shape of the end of the bush, and the end of the bush is recessed into the protrusion, and the area of the end of the bush that comes into contact with the filling head packing increases. I have. Therefore, it is difficult for air to leak through the large contact surface into the bush from the gap between the threaded portion between the base and the bush.
[0035]
The invention according to claim 6 is the filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to claim 4, wherein in the connected state, an inner edge of a ring-shaped surface facing an end of the base and an end of the bush. A filling head packing for a keg filling machine, wherein a projection is formed along the circumference so as to be able to make surface contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bush continuously.
According to the invention of claim 6, when the filling head of the barrel filling machine is connected to the barrel, the outer peripheral side of the projection of the filling head packing comes into contact with the inner peripheral side of the bush, and the outer peripheral surface of the projection of the filling head packing and the outer periphery of the bush. The contact area with the inner peripheral surface increases. It is difficult for air to leak through the gap between the base and the bush into the inside of the bush through the large-area contact surface.
[0036]
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the filling head packing for a keg filling machine according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, wherein the connecting head is formed at a threaded portion between the base and the bush in the connected state. A filling head packing for a keg filling machine having an air vent passage communicating from the end of the gap to the outside of the keg filling machine filling head.
According to the invention of claim 7, when the filling head of the keg filling machine and the keg are connected to steam-sterilize the inside of the bush, the heat in the steam expands the air in the screw gap between the base and the bush. Even so, the inflated air exits the filling head for the barrel filling machine from the air vent passage. Therefore, the air in the threaded portion gap is prevented from having a high pressure, and is prevented from leaking into the bush.
[0037]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. Note that the same components as those of the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
In the draft beer manufacturing plant, an internal cleaning and filling line for performing internal cleaning of the collected draft beer barrel 10 and filling of the draft beer is provided. This internal cleaning and filling line is different from a conventional internal cleaning and filling line. Similarly, a keg washing machine 50 and a keg filling machine 80 are provided.
[0038]
First, the configuration of the barrel 10 in which the internal cleaning and filling of the draft beer are performed in the internal cleaning and filling line will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the barrel 10 has the same configuration as a conventional barrel used for storing and transporting draft beer. That is, the barrel 10 has a base 12, and a fitting 14 is screwed inside the base 12, and the fitting 14 includes a bush 16, a down tube 18, a discharge valve 20 and a gas valve 22, and the bush 16 is The base end 24 of the down tube 18, the injection valve 20, and the gas valve 22 are housed inside, and the screw 17 of the bush 16 is screwed with the screw 13 of the base 12. A gas hole 26 is opened in the barrel 10 on the outer periphery of the bush 16. Further, the base end 24 of the down tube 18 is inserted into the bush 16 so as to be vertically movable. A gas valve 22 is provided at the top of the base end 24 of the down tube 18, and the gas valve 22 is in contact with the annular flange 30 by a gas valve spring 28. When the base end 24 of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18 is pushed into the barrel 10, the gas valve 22 is opened, and a gas flow path extending from the inside of the barrel 10 to the outside of the barrel 10 through the gas hole 26 and the gas valve 22 is formed. It is configured to be. An injection valve 20 is provided inside the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18, and the injection valve 20 is in contact with the gas valve 22 by an injection valve spring 32, and the injection valve 20 is connected to the barrel 10. When it is pushed into the barrel, the pouring valve 20 is opened, and a draft beer flow path is formed from inside the barrel 10 to the outside of the barrel 10 through the down tube 18 and the pouring valve 20.
[0039]
In addition, the screw portion 17 of the bush 16 and the screw portion 13 of the base 12 are screwed together, and a screw gap 34 is formed between the screw portion 13 and the screw portion 17. Further, an opening portion 36 is formed in which the end portion of the threaded portion gap 34 opens in an annular shape outside between the end portion of the bush 16 and the end portion of the base 12.
Next, the configuration of the keg washing machine 50 will be described. The keg washing machine 50 includes three washing heads 52 and a washing medium supply unit 70. The configuration of each cleaning head 52 has the same configuration as the conventional cleaning head except for the configuration of the cleaning head packing 64. That is, the cleaning head 52 has a guide tube 54 slidably in the vertical direction, the guide tube 54 has a flange 55 at the upper end, and a hollow rod 56 is inserted into the guide tube 54 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A probe 58 is provided at the tip of the rod 56, and a hole 60 is opened at the tip of the probe 58. A hollow portion in the rod 56 is connected to the cleaning medium supply means 70, and a guide cylinder gap 62 is formed between the rod 56 and the guide cylinder 54. The guide cylinder gap 62 is connected to an external drain. ing. A probe seal 68 made of EPDM is attached to a step between the rod 56 and the probe 60.
[0040]
On the flange 55 of the guide cylinder 54, a cleaning head packing 64 made of EPDM is mounted. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning head packing 64 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional shape in the form of a flange that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and the inner diameter of a hole at the center thereof is the same as the inner diameter of the guide cylinder 54. The outer diameter of the packing 64 has a size corresponding to the outer diameter of the end of the base 12 of the barrel 10. A notch 66 that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed along the inner edge of the upper surface 65 of the cleaning head packing 64. The notch 66 forms a slope having a constant slope from the middle height of the hole to the upper surface 65, and the inner diameter of the hole at the center of the upper surface 65 is the same as the inner diameter of the base 12. ing.
[0041]
Further, the cleaning medium supply means 70 has a configuration similar to that of the conventional one, and is configured to be able to supply caustic soda, hot water, water, steam, air, etc. as a cleaning medium to the hollow portion in the rod 56.
Next, the configuration of the kegging machine 80 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the kegging machine 80 includes a cleaning head 52, steam generating means 104, and draft beer supplying means 106. The configuration of the filling head 82 has the same configuration as the conventional filling head except for the configuration of the filling head packing 94. That is, the filling head 82 has a guide tube 84 slidably in the vertical direction, the guide tube 84 has a flange 85 at the upper end, and a hollow rod 86 is inserted into the guide tube 84 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A probe 88 is provided at the tip of the rod 86, and a hole 90 is opened at the tip of the probe 88. A hollow portion inside the rod 86 is connected to a drain outside the filling head 82, and a guide cylinder gap 92 between the rod 86 and the guide cylinder 84 is connected to the steam generating means 104 and the draft beer supply means 106. At the step between the rod 86 and the probe 88, a probe seal 102 made of EPDM is mounted.
[0042]
A filling head packing 94 made of EPDM is mounted on the flange 85 of the guide cylinder 84. As shown in FIG. 4, the filling head packing 94 has a substantially square cross-sectionally flange-like shape that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and the inner diameter of the hole at the center thereof is the same as the inner diameter of the guide cylinder 84. The outer diameter of the packing 94 has a size corresponding to the outer diameter of the base 12. A projection 96 that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed along the inner edge of the upper surface 95 of the filling head packing 94. The protrusion 96 has a cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter of the tube forming the protrusion 96 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the end of the bush 16 of the barrel 10 at the root of the protrusion 96, and the end of the bush 16 at the tip of the protrusion 96. It is slightly smaller than the inside diameter. On the upper surface 95 of the filling head packing 94, a single strip extending from a position radially outward from the root portion of the projection 96 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the end of the bush 16 to the outer edge of the upper surface 95. The groove 100 is formed as an air vent passage.
[0043]
Further, the steam generating means 104 and the draft beer supply means 106 have the same configuration as the conventional one, and are configured to be able to supply steam and draft beer to the guide cylinder gap 92.
Each of the washing head 52 and the filling head 82 is provided with a barrel fixing means (not shown) for fixing the barrel 10. The keg fixing means has the same configuration as that provided for fixing the keg in a conventional cleaning head or filling head.
[0044]
This embodiment is configured as described above, and its operation will be described next.
The barrel 10 collected in the draft beer factory is subjected to cleaning of the exposed portion of the barrel 10, a sealing test of the fitting 14, a residual pressure test in the barrel 10, and sent to an internal cleaning and filling line. Note that the fitting 14 is not disassembled and removed from the base 12 of the barrel 10, and the fitting 14 is sent to the internal cleaning and filling line while being attached to the base 12.
[0045]
First, in the internal washing and filling line, as shown in FIG. 1, the barrel 10 is in a state where the base 12 is directed downward, and is connected to the first washing head 52. The barrel 10 is set on the washing head 52 with the center axis of the base 12 and the center axis of the guide cylinder 54 aligned on the same line, and the barrel fixing means fixes the barrel 10 on the washing head 52. Then, the guide cylinder 54 slides upward, and the end portion of the base 12 is pressed onto the cleaning head packing 64 and is brought into close contact therewith. At this time, since the inner diameter of the upper surface 65 of the cleaning head packing 64 is the same as the inner diameter of the base 12 of the barrel 10, the end of the bush 16 does not contact the cleaning head packing 64, and the gap between the bush 16 and the base 12 The opening 36 of the threaded portion gap 34 is not closed by the cleaning head packing 64. Therefore, since the opening 36 is continuous with the inside of the bush 16 and the cutout 66 is formed, a large amount of cleaning is performed when the cleaning medium flows through a flow path of a second cleaning medium described later. The medium can reach the opening 36.
[0046]
Next, the rod 56 is slid upward in the guide cylinder 54, the ejection valve 20 is pushed into the barrel 10 by the probe 58, and the ejection valve 20 is opened, and at the same time, the proximal ends of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18. 24 is pushed into the barrel 10 by the probe seal 68, and the gas valve 22 is opened. When the discharge valve 20 is opened, the first cleaning medium from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the inside of the barrel 10 through the hollow portion of the rod 56, the hole 60 at the tip of the probe 58, the discharge valve 20, and the down tube 18. When the gas valve 22 is opened and the gas valve 22 is opened, the barrel washing machine passes through the gas hole 26 of the bush 16, the gas valve 22, the inside of the bush 16, the inside of the cleaning head packing 64, and the guide cylinder gap 62 from inside the barrel 10. A flow path for the second cleaning medium to the drain outside 50 is formed.
[0047]
Then, air is sent from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10 through the flow path of the first cleaning medium, and the remaining beer remaining in the barrel 10 is pushed out from the flow path of the second cleaning medium to the drain. And discharge. After discharging the remaining beer, the barrel 10 is preliminarily washed with water. The water used in the pre-cleaning is sent from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10 through the flow path of the first cleaning medium, and flows out from the flow path of the second cleaning medium to the drain. In this preliminary cleaning, the water flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium also flows into the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64, reaches the opening 36 of the screwed portion gap 34, and the screwed portion gap 34 has a large amount. Pre-washed with water.
[0048]
Then, air is continuously flown from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the flow path of the first cleaning medium, the inside of the barrel 10, and the flow path of the second cleaning medium to remove water for preliminary cleaning from the inside of the barrel 10. At this time, the water for pre-cleaning remaining in the threaded portion gap 34 is also removed.
After the preliminary cleaning, the caustic soda is continuously flown from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the flow path of the first cleaning medium, the inside of the barrel 10, and the flow path of the second cleaning medium, and the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned with the caustic soda. In the cleaning with the caustic soda, the caustic soda flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium flows into the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 as well as the water for the pre-cleaning, and reaches the opening 36 of the threaded portion gap 34. As a result, the threaded portion gap 34 is cleaned with a large amount of caustic soda. Then, air is continuously flown from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the flow path of the first cleaning medium, the inside of the barrel 10, and the flow path of the second cleaning medium to remove caustic soda from the inside of the barrel 10. At this time, the caustic soda remaining in the threaded portion gap 34 is also removed.
[0049]
After cleaning the cask 10 with caustic soda, the guide tube 54 and the rod 56 slide down and fit into the first cleaning head 52, the discharge valve 20 and the gas valve 22 are closed, and The barrel 10 is opened and the barrel 10 is removed from the first cleaning head 52 and sent to the second cleaning head 52. In the second cleaning head 52, the barrel 10 is set and fixed to the second cleaning head 52 in the same manner as in the first cleaning head 52, the rod 56 slides upward, and the discharge valve 20 and the gas valve 22 is opened, and a flow path for the first cleaning medium and a flow path for the second cleaning medium are formed between the second cleaning head 52 and the barrel 10.
[0050]
Then, in the second cleaning head 52, the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned with hot water. The hot water used for cleaning flows continuously from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the flow path of the first cleaning medium, the inside of the barrel 10, and the flow path of the second cleaning medium, similarly to the water for preliminary cleaning. The hot water flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium also flows into the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64, reaches the opening portion 36 of the threaded portion gap 34, and the threaded portion gap 34 is washed with a large amount of hot water. You. Then, air is continuously flown from the cleaning medium supply unit 70 to the flow path of the first cleaning medium, the inside of the barrel 10, and the flow path of the second cleaning medium, and hot water used for cleaning is removed from the inside of the barrel 10. At this time, the hot water remaining in the threaded portion gap 34 is also removed.
[0051]
After the second cleaning head 52 finishes cleaning the barrel 10 with hot water, the barrel 10 is removed from the second cleaning head 52 and connected to the third cleaning head 52. The operation of removing the barrel 10 from the second cleaning head 52 and connecting it to the third cleaning head 52 is the same as the operation of removing the barrel 10 from the first cleaning head 52 and connecting it to the second cleaning head 52. .
[0052]
Then, in the third cleaning head 52, the inside of the barrel 10 is washed again with hot water, similarly to the washing with hot water in the second washing head 52, and hot water used for washing with air is removed from the inside of the barrel 10. At this time, the screwed portion gap 34 is also washed again with hot water flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium, and the hot water remaining in the screwed portion gap 34 is removed by air.
[0053]
After the second washing of the barrel 10 with hot water is completed, steam sterilization in the barrel 10 with steam is performed. The steam used in the steam sterilization continuously flows from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the flow path of the first cleaning medium, the inside of the barrel 10, and the flow path of the second cleaning medium, similarly to the water for pre-cleaning. The steam flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium also flows into the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64, reaches the opening portion 36 of the threaded portion gap 34, and the threaded portion gap 34 is also steam sterilized by the steam. .
[0054]
By the series of internal washing operations, the inside of the barrel 10 is washed, and at the same time, the screwing portion gap 34 is also washed. Microorganisms that may be present in the screwing portion gap 34 are removed. I will.
The barrel 10 that has been subjected to the steam sterilization in the third cleaning head 52 is removed from the third cleaning head 52 and connected to the filling head 82 of the keg 80. The operation of removing the barrel 10 from the third cleaning head 52 is the same as the operation of removing the barrel 10 from the first cleaning head 52.
[0055]
The barrel 10 is connected to the filling head 82 with the base 12 facing downward, and the barrel fixing means of the filling head 82 fixes the barrel 10 on the filling head 82. With the center axis of the base 12 and the center axis of the guide tube 84 aligned on the same line, the guide tube 84 slides upward, and the end of the base 12 is pressed down onto the filling head packing 94 and is brought into close contact therewith. Then, the projection 96 of the filling head packing 94 enters the inside of the bush 16. At this time, since the outer diameter of the tip of the projection 96 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the bush 16, the projection 96 can smoothly enter the inside of the bush 16. Since the outer diameter of the base of the projection 96 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the bush 16, the outer peripheral surface of the projection 96 is elastically deformed according to the size of the inner peripheral surface of the bush 16, and the inner peripheral surface of the bush 16 is A contact surface having a large area that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed between the bush 16 and the protrusion 96 in close contact with the outer peripheral surface of the 96. A groove 100 is formed on the upper surface 95 of the filling head packing 94 so as to extend to the outer peripheral surface of the filling head packing 94. The threaded portion gap 34 is formed above the opening 36 and the end of the groove 100 on the protrusion 96 side. , And the threaded portion gap 34 communicates with the outside of the filling head 82 by the groove 100. Also, the rod 86 remains in the guide cylinder 84, and the discharge valve 20 and the gas valve 22 remain closed (see FIG. 3). Then, a steam flow path from the steam generating means 104 to the inside of the bush 16 through the guide cylinder gap 92 is formed.
[0056]
When the steam flow path is formed, the steam is jetted into the bush 16 through the steam flow path. The steam ejected inside the bush 16 performs steam sterilization of the inside of the bush 16, the gas valve 22 and the discharge valve 20. The heat of the steam ejected into the bush 16 is transmitted to the bush 16 and expands the air in the screw gap 34. The air expanded in the threaded part gap 34 flows out of the filling head 82 through the groove 100, and the pressure in the threaded part gap 34 does not increase, and the air in the threaded part gap 34 is It prevents leakage into the interior. At this time, the large contact surface existing between the bush 16 and the projection 96 also prevents the air in the threaded portion gap 34 from leaking into the bush 16. Therefore, even if microorganisms may be present in the threaded portion gap 34, the microorganisms are prevented from entering the bush 16.
[0057]
When the steam sterilization in the bush 16 is completed, the rod 86 slides upward, the ejection valve 20 is pushed into the barrel 10 by the probe 88, and the ejection valve 20 is opened, and at the same time, the gas valve 22 and the base of the down tube 18 are opened. The end 24 is pushed into the barrel 10 by the probe seal 102, and the gas valve 22 opens (see FIG. 5). The connection of the guide cylinder gap 92 can be switched from the steam generation means 104 to the draft beer supply means 106. When the discharge valve 20 is opened, an air flow path is formed from the inside of the barrel 10 to the outside of the filling head 82 through the down tube 18, the discharge valve 20, the hole 90 of the probe 88, and the hollow in the rod 86. The air flow path serves as a flow path of the air discharged from the inside of the barrel 10 to the outside of the barrel 10 when the draft beer is filled. Further, a draft flow path for draft beer is formed from the draft beer supply means 106 and connected to the barrel 10 through the guide cylinder gap 92, the gas valve 22, and the gas hole 26, and draft draft is filled in this flow path.
[0058]
Then, the draft beer is filled into the barrel 10 through the draft beer filling channel, and the air in the barrel 10 is discharged out of the barrel 10 from the air channel. In the filling of the draft beer, the inside of the bush 16 is steam-sterilized, and microorganisms are prevented from entering the inside of the bush 16 together with the air from the screwed portion gap 34. Microbial contamination is prevented.
[0059]
After filling a predetermined amount of draft beer, the guide cylinder 84 and the rod 86 are slid downward, the discharge valve 20 and the gas valve 22 are closed, and the filling of the barrel 10 with draft beer is completed. Then, the barrel 10 is shipped from the draft beer manufacturing factory.
Therefore, when the cleaning head 52 equipped with the cleaning head packing 64 is used, when the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned, the threaded portion gap 34 between the base 12 and the bush 16 of the barrel 10 can be cleaned. It becomes possible to wash and remove microorganisms from within the threaded portion gap 34. In addition, when the filling head 82 equipped with the filling head packing 94 is used, it is possible to prevent the microorganisms from entering the inside of the bush 16 when filling the draft beer, and to prevent the microorganisms from being mixed with the draft beer in the barrel 10. Can be. Furthermore, when the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned using the cleaning head 52 equipped with the cleaning head packing 64 and the barrel 10 is filled with draft beer using the filling head 82 equipped with the filling head packing 94, the draft beer in the barrel 10 The microorganisms can be more reliably prevented from being mixed into the water.
[0060]
In this embodiment, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 can be formed as in Modification 1 shown in FIG. That is, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 according to the first modification is formed by a step portion that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and the inner diameter of the cleaning head packing 64 in the notch 66 is vertically continuous. Has the same dimensions as the inner diameter of
[0061]
In addition, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 can be formed as in Modification 2 shown in FIG. 6 (ii). That is, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 according to the second modification is formed by a curved surface that is continuous in the circumferential direction.
Further, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 can be formed as in Modification 3 shown in FIG. 6 (iii). That is, in the cleaning head packing 64 according to the third modification, the notch 66 is continuously formed from the upper surface 65 to the lower surface, and the inner diameter of the cleaning head packing 64 is the same as the inner diameter of the base 12 continuously in the vertical direction.
[0062]
Further, the shape of the projection 96 of the filling head packing 94 can be formed by a projection 96 having a triangular cross section that is continuous in the circumferential direction, as in Modification Example 4 shown in FIG. When the end of the bush 16 is pressed against the protrusion 96 according to this modification, the protrusion 96 is elastically deformed, and the end of the bush 16 is fitted into the protrusion 96. A large circumferentially continuous contact surface is formed between the projection 96 and the end of the bush 16.
[0063]
Further, the shape of the projection 96 of the filling head packing 94 can be formed by a projection 96 having a semicircular cross-section continuous in the circumferential direction, as in Modification Example 5 shown in FIG. 7 (ii). It is also possible to form the projection 96 with a polygonal cross section that is continuous in the circumferential direction. Also in this case, a large circumferentially continuous contact surface is formed between the projection 96 and the end of the bush 16.
[0064]
Further, the shape of the projection 96 of the filling head packing 94 can be formed as in Modification 6 shown in FIG. 7 (iii). That is, the protrusion 96 according to Modification Example 6 has a substantially square cross-section in a circumferentially continuous cylindrical shape, and a semicircular or polygonal cross-section in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the tube of the protrusion 96. One or more continuous small protrusions 98 are formed in a ring shape. The outer diameter of the ring formed by the small projections 98 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the bush 16. The small protrusion 98 is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the bush 16 and is elastically deformed, so that a circumferentially continuous contact surface is formed between the small protrusion 98 and the inner peripheral surface of the bush 16.
[0065]
Further, the position at which the projection 96 of the filling head packing 94 is formed is not limited to being along the inner edge of the upper surface 95 of the filling head packing 94, and the inner peripheral side root portion of the projection 96 and the inner edge of the upper surface 95. There can be a distance between them.
Further, in the filling head packing 94, the groove 100 is assumed to be continuous from a position shifted radially outward from the root of the projection 96 by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the end of the bush 16 to the outer edge of the upper surface 95. It is also possible to form continuously from the base portion 96 to the outer edge of the upper surface 95.
[0066]
Further, in the filling head packing 94, one groove 100 forms an air vent passage. However, it is needless to say that a plurality of grooves can form an air vent passage.
In the filling head packing 94, instead of forming the air vent passage by the groove 100, it is also possible to form the air vent passage by a hole penetrating through the filling head packing 94.
[0067]
The cleaning head packing 64 and the filling head packing 94 are made of EPDM. However, it is needless to say that the cleaning head packing 64 and the filling head packing 94 can be formed of an elastic body such as EPM, NBR, HNBR, fluoro rubber, Teflon (registered trademark), or silicon.
In addition, instead of filling the barrel 10 with draft beer, it is needless to say that drinks such as wine and juice can be filled.
[0068]
Next, the results of the microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test performed on the cleaning head packing for the kegwasher according to the present invention and the results of the microorganism contamination prevention effect evaluation test performed on the filling head packing for the kegging machine will be described.
(1) Microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test 1
The results of the microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test 1 of the cleaning head packing for the keg washing machine according to the present invention are shown below. In this test, the barrel cap and the bush were compared between a keg washing machine equipped with the cleaning head packing according to the present invention (Invention Example 1) and a keg washing machine having the same configuration as the conventional one (Comparative Example 1). The cleaning effect of the screw gap between the two was compared.
[0069]
The barrel washing machine of Inventive Example 1 has the same configuration as the barrel washing machine described in the above embodiment of the present invention. In this test, in order to evaluate the microbial cleaning effect of the cleaning head packing of Inventive Example 1 and the cleaning head packing of Comparative Example 1, the inside of a keg having the following bushes was used in each of the keg washers of Inventive Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. Washing was performed. In other words, a lipstick was applied to the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush of the fitting, and the barrel with the fitting attached to the base was internally washed with each of the barrel washers of Invention Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. The barrel has the same configuration as a conventional barrel except that the crimson is applied to the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush, and the internal cleaning in each barrel washing machine is the same as the conventional one, Pre-cleaning, caustic soda cleaning, twice hot water cleaning, and steam cleaning were performed using the first to third cleaning heads.
[0070]
Then, for each of the barrels having been subjected to the internal washing in each of the barrel washers of Inventive Example 1 and Comparative Example 1, the fitting was removed from the base, and the state of the lipstick applied to the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush was examined. . As a result, in the barrels subjected to the internal washing with the keg wash machine of Inventive Example 1, no reddish coloring remained on the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush. On the other hand, in the barrels subjected to the internal washing with the kegwasher of Comparative Example 1, the reddish crimson remained on the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush.
[0071]
Therefore, by attaching the cleaning head packing according to the present invention to the cleaning head, the screw gap between the barrel bush and the base is cleaned, and the microorganisms present in the screw gap can be washed away. It was confirmed.
(2) Microbial cleaning effect evaluation test 2
Next, the results of the microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test 2 of the cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine according to the present invention will be described. In this test, the inside of 100 barrels having a configuration similar to that of a conventional one was cleaned using a keg washing machine having the same configuration as that of Invention Example 1 (Invention Example 2). For comparison, the inside of 100 barrels having the same configuration as the conventional one was cleaned using a keg washing machine having the same configuration as Comparative Example 1 (Comparative Example 2). Then, for each of the barrels after the internal cleaning, the detection rates of the microorganisms around the opening portion of the screwing gap were compared. Note that a standard agar medium was used for detection of microorganisms.
[0072]
FIG. 8 shows the results of this test. Among the 100 barrels according to Inventive Example 2, three had the microorganisms detected, and the detection rate of the microorganisms was 3%. On the other hand, out of the 100 barrels according to Comparative Example 2, the number of microorganisms detected was 5 and the detection rate was 5%.
Therefore, by attaching the cleaning head packing according to the present invention to the cleaning head, the detection rate of microorganisms from the clearance of the threaded portion after internal cleaning is reduced, and the threaded portion between the barrel bush and the base is reduced. The gap was cleaned, and it was confirmed that it was possible to wash out the microorganisms present in the gap between the screwed portions.
(3) Microorganism contamination prevention effect evaluation test 1
Next, the result of the microorganism contamination prevention effect evaluation test 1 of the filling head packing for the keg filling machine according to the present invention will be described. In the present test, a case where draft beer was filled into a keg using a keg machine equipped with a filling head packing according to the present invention (Invention Example 3), and a keg machine having a configuration similar to that of a conventional one were used. The effect of preventing the incorporation of microorganisms was compared and evaluated when the barrel was filled with draft beer (Comparative Example 3).
[0073]
The keg filling machine according to Inventive Example 3 has the same configuration as the filling head packing according to Modification 4, except that a groove forming an air vent passage is not formed on the upper surface of the filling head packing. The configuration is the same as that of the kegging machine described in the embodiment of the present invention. Then, using the keg filling machine according to Inventive Example 3, 100 draft casks having the same configuration as the conventional one were filled with draft beer, and after filling, the detection rate of the microorganisms inside the bush of each keg was examined. In addition, the inside washing was performed by the barrel washing machine of Comparative Example 1. Further, for comparison, draft beer was filled into 100 barrels under the same conditions as the barrel used in Invention Example 3 using the keg stuffing machine according to Comparative Example 3, and after filling, microorganisms inside the bush of each barrel were filled. Was detected. Note that a standard agar medium was used for detection of microorganisms.
[0074]
FIG. 9 shows the results of this test. Of the 100 barrels according to Invention Example 3, 10 had the microorganisms detected, and the detection rate of the microorganisms was 10%. On the other hand, out of the 100 barrels according to Comparative Example 3, 15 had the microorganisms detected, and the detection rate was 15%.
The barrels used in this test were subjected to internal cleaning with a keg washing machine having the same configuration as that of a conventional one, and the screw gaps were not cleaned, but the cleaning according to the present invention was performed. By attaching the head packing to the cleaning head, microorganisms are prevented from coming inside the bush, the detection rate of microorganisms is reduced, and microorganisms are prevented from entering the barrel with draft beer. Confirmed that.
(4) Microorganism contamination prevention effect evaluation test 2
Next, the results of the microbial contamination prevention effect evaluation test 2 of the filling head packing for the barrel filling machine according to the present invention will be described. In this test, the effect of preventing the incorporation of microorganisms when draft beer was filled using the kegging machine equipped with the filling head packing according to the present invention (Invention Example 4) was examined. In addition, as described below, the shape of the filling head packing according to Inventive Example 4 is different from the shape of the filling head packing according to Inventive Example 3.
[0075]
The kegging machine according to Inventive Example 4 is similar to the kegging machine described in the embodiment of the present invention except that a groove forming an air vent passage is not formed on the upper surface of the filling head packing. Having a configuration. Then, draft beer is filled into the 100 barrels under the same conditions as the barrel used in Invention Example 3 using the keg stuffing machine according to Invention Example 4, and after filling, the detection rate of microorganisms inside the bush of each barrel is checked. Was. Note that a standard agar medium was used for detection of microorganisms.
[0076]
FIG. 9 shows the results of this test. Of the 100 barrels according to Invention Example 4, 7 had the microorganisms detected, and the detection rate of the microorganisms was 7%.
Therefore, by the filling head packing according to Inventive Example 4, the microorganisms are more effectively prevented from coming into the bush, the detection rate of the microorganisms is further reduced, and the microorganisms are put into the barrel together with draft beer. It was confirmed that mixing was further prevented.
(5) Microorganism contamination prevention effect evaluation test 3
Next, the results of the microorganism contamination prevention effect evaluation test 3 of the cleaning head packing for the keg washing machine and the filling head packing for the keg filling machine according to the present invention will be shown. In this test, the internal washing and the filling of draft beer were performed on 100 barrels having the same configuration as the conventional one using the keg washing machine according to Inventive Example 1 and the keg filling machine according to Inventive Example 4 (Invention). For Example 5), the detection rate of microorganisms inside the bush of each barrel was checked after filling with draft beer. Note that a standard agar medium was used for detection of microorganisms.
[0077]
FIG. 9 shows the results of this test. Among the 100 barrels according to Inventive Example 5, three had the microorganisms detected, and the microorganism detection rate was 3%.
Therefore, by using the cleaning head packing and the filling head packing according to the present invention in combination, the detection rate of microorganisms is more effectively reduced, and the microorganisms are more effectively prevented from being mixed into drafts along with draft beer. Confirmed that.
[0078]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is a cleaning head packing for a keg washing machine and a filling head packing for a keg filling machine as described above, and thus has the following effects. In other words, in order to prevent microorganisms from entering the keg together with the beverage to be filled into the keg, the microorganisms are removed from the gap formed in the threaded portion between the base of the keg and the outer cylinder of the fitting during washing of the keg. A possible washing head packing for a keg washing machine can be provided to prevent microorganisms remaining in the gap formed in the screwing part between the base and the outer cylinder of the fitting when filling the keg into the beverage, from entering the keg. There is an effect that a filling head packing for a keg filling machine can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a cleaning head provided with a cleaning head packing for a kegwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaning head packing for a keg washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a partial vertical cross-sectional view of a filling head including a filling head packing for a keg filling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view of a filling head packing for a keg filling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state in which a filling head and a barrel are connected and a barrel discharge valve and a gas valve are opened.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine according to each modification.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filling head packing for a keg filling machine according to each modified example.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of test results of a microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test 2 of a cleaning head packing for a keg washing machine.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of test results of tests 1, 2, and 3 for evaluating the effect of preventing the incorporation of microorganisms into the filling head packing for the kegging machine.
FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a conventional barrel.
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a conventional internal cleaning and filling line.
FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaning head of a conventional barrel washing machine.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filling head of a conventional barrel filling machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 barrels
12 bases
13 Screw part of base
14 Fitting
16 Bush
17 Screw part of bush
18 Down tube
20 Discharge valve
22 Gas valve
24 Down tube base end
26 Gas hole in bush
28 Gas valve spring
30 annular flange
32 Injection valve spring
34 Gap between the bush and the base
36 Opening of threaded gap between bush and base
40 Internal cleaning and filling line
50 kegwashing machine
52 Cleaning head
54 Guide tube
55 flange
56 rod
58 Probe
60 holes
62 Clearance between rod and guide cylinder (guide cylinder gap)
64 Cleaning head packing
65 Top of cleaning head packing
66 Notch
68 Probe seal
70 Cleaning medium supply means
80 barrel filling machine
82 Filling Head
84 Guide tube
85 flange
86 rod
88 probe
90 holes
92 Clearance between rod and guide cylinder (guide cylinder gap)
94 Filling head packing
95 Top of packing head packing
96 protrusions
98 small protrusion
100 grooves
102 Probe seal
104 Steam generation means
106 Draft beer supply means

Claims (7)

A base is provided on the barrel surface, a gas valve communicating with the inside of the barrel, a base end of a down tube that is suspended in the barrel and communicates with the barrel, and a discharge valve that sends the beverage from the barrel to the outside of the barrel. A fitting having a bush that accommodates the inside of the barrel is mounted inside the base, and the inside of the barrel in which the screw portion on the inner peripheral surface of the base and the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush are screwed is washed. In the washing head packing which is attached to the washing head of the keg washing machine and is made of a ring-shaped elastic member,
In a state where the base and the cleaning head are connected, the cleaning head packing is in close contact with an end of the base in a circumferential direction, and is not in close contact with at least a part of an end of the bush,
An end of a gap formed in a threaded portion between the base and the bush is opened in a flow path of a cleaning medium formed from the cleaning head to communicate with the inside of the barrel through the inside of the bush. A washing head packing for a keg washing machine, characterized in that the packing is performed. The washing head packing for a barrel washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of a ring-shaped surface that is in close contact with an end of the mouthpiece is equal to or larger than an inside diameter of the mouthpiece. Cleaning head packing. The cleaning head packing for a keg washing machine according to claim 2, wherein a notch that is continuous in a circumferential direction is formed along an inner edge of a ring-shaped surface that is in close contact with an end of the die. Washing head packing for barrel washers. A base is provided on the barrel surface, a gas valve communicating with the inside of the barrel, a base end of a down tube that is suspended in the barrel and communicates with the barrel, and a discharge valve that sends the beverage from the barrel to the outside of the barrel. A fitting having a bush that accommodates the inside is mounted in the base, and the beverage is placed in a barrel in which a screw portion on the inner peripheral surface of the base and a screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush are screwed. In the filling head packing that is mounted on the filling head of the keg filling machine that fills the
In a state where the base and the filling head are connected, the filling head packing is in close contact with at least any one of the end portion or the inner peripheral surface of the bush in the circumferential direction,
A filling head packing for a barrel filling machine, wherein the filling head packing covers and closes an end of a gap formed in a threaded portion between the base and the bush. The filling head packing for a keg filling machine according to claim 4, wherein, in the connection state, the end portion of the bush is continuous with the end portion of the bush on a surface facing the end portion of the base and the end portion of the bush. A filling head packing for a keg filling machine, wherein projections capable of surface contact are formed. 5. The filling head packing for a keg filling machine according to claim 4, wherein, in the connection state, a circumferential direction is continuous along an inner edge of a ring-shaped surface facing an end of the base and an end of the bush. And a projection capable of making surface contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bush. The filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein, in the connection state, from an end of a gap formed in a threaded portion between the base and the bush. A filling head packing for a barrel filling machine, wherein an air vent passage communicating with the outside of the filling head for the barrel filling machine is formed.

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