JP2005176864A - Cleaning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device capable of surely detecting the jetting defects of cleaning liquid jetted from a nozzle to a container with a simple configuration. <P>SOLUTION: This cleaning device 1 is provided with: an inner side sterilization nozzle 11 for jetting heated cleaning liquid to the inside of the container (bottle) 9 and sterilizing the container (bottle) 9; and a temperature detector (infrared ray sensor) 15 for detecting the surface temperature of the bottle 9, thereby detecting the jetting defects of the cleaning liquid on the basis of a detected result by the temperature detector (infrared ray sensor) 15. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a cleaning device that detects an ejection failure of a cleaning liquid that sterilizes a container.

  In the prior art described in Patent Document 1, the ejection of the cleaning liquid is confirmed by detecting the swing of the receiver that receives the cleaning liquid ejected from the nozzles between the containers being carried out.

  On the other hand, in the prior art described in Patent Document 2, the cleaning liquid ejected from the nozzle toward the container becomes a bubble at the bottom of the container, and the state of the bubbles in each container is photographed with a CCD camera. An ejection failure is detected by comparing the number of pixels.

JP-A-11-179314 JP 2001-4556 A

  However, since the conventional technique described in Patent Document 1 described above is configured to detect nozzle ejection defects between containers, it is not possible to detect defective cleaning in an actual container. In addition, there is a problem that the configuration is complicated because a mechanical mechanism that swings the receptor that receives the cleaning liquid ejected from the nozzle is required.

  The prior art described in Patent Document 2 receives reflected light of bubbles generated in the cleaning liquid and compares the brightness of the pixels of the CCD camera, but the state of the bubbles is not necessarily uniform in each container. Moreover, since it changes with atmospheric pressure, humidity, etc., there exists a problem that it is inferior in reliability.

  An object of this invention is to provide the washing | cleaning apparatus which can detect reliably the ejection defect of the washing | cleaning liquid which ejects toward a container from a nozzle with a simple structure.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, an invention described in claim 1 is directed to an inner sterilization nozzle that sterilizes a container by ejecting heated cleaning liquid into the container, and a temperature detector that detects the surface temperature of the container. And detecting a jet failure of the cleaning liquid based on a detection result by the temperature detector.

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1, the temperature detector detects the surface temperature of the side surface of the body portion of the container.

  The invention described in claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention described in claim 1 or 2, an outer sterilization nozzle for injecting the heated cleaning liquid toward the outer side of the container is provided.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the heated cleaning liquid is about 60 ° C. or higher, and the temperature detector starts 3 after the start of the ejection of the cleaning liquid. It is characterized in that the surface temperature of the container is detected after elapse of more than a second.

  The invention described in claim 5 is characterized in that in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4, it further comprises a counting means for counting the number of containers whose temperature is detected by the temperature detector. .

  The invention described in claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the temperature detector is an infrared sensor.

  The invention described in claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the temperature detector detects the temperature over a continuous time, and the container continuously conveyed is A continuous surface temperature of the container surface is detected across the temperature measurement point of the temperature detector.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the heated cleaning liquid is sprayed from the inner sterilization nozzle into the container, the sprayed heated cleaning liquid hits the bottom of the container, and then the inner wall surface of the container. The spilling container is sterilized. When the heated cleaning liquid is ejected into the container, the heat of the cleaning liquid is transferred to the inner wall surface of the container, the temperature of the container rises, and the container wall surface temperature is in thermal equilibrium with the temperature of the cleaning liquid.

  In this way, when the heated cleaning liquid is normally ejected from the sterilization nozzle, the heat of the heated cleaning liquid is transmitted to the entire container, and the container is in thermal equilibrium with the cleaning liquid. There is a difference in the container temperature from the case without it. Therefore, by detecting the actual surface temperature of the container, it can be surely confirmed that the heated cleaning liquid is normally ejected from the sterilization nozzle and whether or not the container is actually sterilized.

  Moreover, since the defective ejection of the heated cleaning liquid can be detected simply by detecting the surface temperature of the container with the temperature detector, the configuration is simple.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 can be obtained, and the side surface of the body portion of the container is thinner than the bottom part, so that the heat of the heated cleaning liquid is The container temperature tends to be in equilibrium with the temperature of the cleaning liquid. Therefore, accurate temperature detection is possible. Further, since the change in thickness of the side surface of the body portion of the container is less than that of the bottom portion, variations in surface temperature due to the change in thickness can be suppressed.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, when the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 or 2 is obtained, and ejection failure occurs in at least one of the inner sterilization nozzle and the outer sterilization nozzle. Since there is a difference in the surface temperature of the container compared to when both nozzles operate normally, reliable detection of ejection failure is possible even when both the inner and outer sterilization nozzles are provided. is there.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the same effect as that of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3 can be obtained, and as a result of the experiment, ejection of heated cleaning liquid heated to 60 ° C. or higher is started. Thereafter, after 3 seconds or more have elapsed, the surface temperature is in equilibrium with the temperature of the cleaning liquid, so that the ejection failure of the cleaning liquid can be accurately detected.

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the same effect as in the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 4 can be obtained, and ejection is performed by counting the containers whose temperature is detected by the temperature detector. When a defect occurs, it is possible to easily identify a container that has not been sterilized normally.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, the same effects as those of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 5 can be obtained, and by using a highly versatile infrared sensor, It can be configured at low cost without contact.

  According to the invention described in claim 7, the same effect as that of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 6 can be obtained, and the measurement point is on the surface through which the continuously conveyed container passes. By continuously detecting the surface temperature across the surface, it is possible to cope with variations in temperature detection due to changes in the wall thickness of the container, and the detection accuracy is higher than in the case of detecting with a point.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a part of the cleaning apparatus shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state of detection of the surface temperature of the container by the temperature detector shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. The graph which shows the detection result of the surface temperature of a container, FIG. 4 is a top view which shows roughly the washing | cleaning apparatus based on 1st Embodiment.

  The cleaning device 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention sterilizes and cleans the empty bottle 9 for aseptic filling, and cleans the bottle 9 while rotating and transporting the transported empty bottle 9. A cleaning wheel 5 to be performed, a supply side wheel 3 for feeding the bottle 9 to the cleaning wheel 5, and a discharge side wheel 7 for transporting the bottle 9 of the cleaning wheel 5 to the next rinsing step are provided.

  The cleaning wheel 5 includes an inner sterilization nozzle 11 of the bottle 9, and the bottle 9 covers the tip of the inner sterilization nozzle 11 with the mouth portion 9 a facing downward. In addition, an outer sterilization nozzle 13 is provided in a predetermined region of the cleaning wheel 5 to eject a cleaning liquid heated toward the body outer surface 9 b of the bottle 9, and the outer sterilization nozzle 13 and the inner sterilization nozzle 11 The inner and outer surfaces of the bottle 9 are sterilized and washed. The heated cleaning solution (chemical solution) used in the present embodiment is at a temperature of 60 ° C. or higher, for example.

  In addition, an infrared sensor (temperature detector) 15 for detecting the surface temperature of the bottle 9 is provided at a side position of the bottle 9 in the cleaning wheel 5, and the body outer side surface 9 b of the bottle 9 being rotated and conveyed. The surface temperature is continuously detected. The bottle 9 to be transported is counted by the counting means 19 every time it passes through the infrared sensor 15 so that the count value corresponds to the waveform of the surface temperature detected by the infrared sensor 15. It has become.

  The temperature detection signal detected by the infrared sensor 15 is transmitted to the control means 17 and the detection result is displayed on the monitor 20 and stored in a storage means (not shown) so that the history can be confirmed.

  Next, the effect | action concerning this Embodiment is demonstrated. The bottle 9 is conveyed to the supply side wheel 3 with the mouth 9a facing upward. The bottle 9 conveyed to the supply side wheel 3 is transferred to the cleaning wheel 5 at a position where it is in contact with the cleaning wheel 5, and the bottle 9 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow in the figure with the mouth portion 9a down. Be transported. And if the bottle 9 is conveyed to a predetermined area | region, injection of the cleaning liquid heated toward the inside of the bottle 9 from the inner side sterilization nozzle 11 will be started.

  The sprayed heated cleaning liquid hits the bottom 9c of the bottle 9, and then the inside of the bottle 9 is sterilized while flowing down along the inner wall surface of the bottle 9. When the heated cleaning liquid is ejected into the bottle 9, the heat of the heated cleaning liquid is transferred from the inner wall surface of the bottle 9 to the surface of the bottle 9, and the temperature of the bottle surface is in equilibrium with the temperature of the heated cleaning liquid.

  On the other hand, on the outside of the bottle 9, the heated cleaning liquid is ejected from the outer sterilization nozzle 13 toward the body outer surface 9 b of the bottle 9, and the cleaning liquid flows down along the outer wall surface of the bottle 9, so As it is done, heat is transferred to the entire bottle 9.

  During the cleaning of the bottle 9 by the inner sterilization nozzle 11 and the outer sterilization nozzle 13, the surface temperature of the bottle 9 is detected by the infrared sensor 15 provided at the side position of the bottle 9, and the number of the bottles 9 is counted by the counting means 19. Is counted. The detected surface temperature of the bottle 9 is transmitted to the control means 17 by the infrared sensor 15, and the waveform of the surface temperature is displayed on the monitor 20. When the control means 17 determines that the cleaning liquid is not normally ejected from the sterilization nozzles 11 and 13, an alarm is displayed or the conveyance of the bottle 9 is stopped.

  Next, the detection result of the surface temperature of the bottle 9 passing through the infrared sensor 15 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, the horizontal axis represents elapsed time, and the vertical axis represents temperature. As shown in FIG. 3, every time the bottle 9 passes the infrared sensor 15, it was confirmed that the surface temperature of the bottle 9 was instantaneously increased and balanced with the temperature of the cleaning liquid. In addition, each peak value of the waveform showed almost the same value.

  Thus, when the cleaning liquid heated from the sterilization nozzles 11 and 13 is normally ejected, the heat of the cleaning liquid is transmitted to the entire bottle 9, so that the heated cleaning liquid is ejected and the case where it is not ejected. Temperature difference of the bottle 9 occurs. Therefore, by detecting the actual surface temperature of the bottle 9, it can be surely confirmed that the cleaning liquid is normally ejected from the sterilization nozzles 11 and 13 and whether or not the bottle 9 is sterilized.

  When the cleaning liquid is not normally ejected from the sterilization nozzles 11 and 13, the peak waveform does not appear, or the peak value of the waveform shows a significantly lower value than other waveforms.

  Moreover, since the ejection failure of the cleaning liquid can be detected only by detecting the surface temperature of the bottle 9 by the infrared sensor 15, the configuration is simple.

  Since it is confirmed whether or not the cleaning liquid heated for each of the sterilization nozzles 11 and 13 is normally ejected, sterilization can be guaranteed for each bottle 9.

  The infrared sensor 15 continuously detects the surface temperature across the surface through which the continuously transported bottle 9 passes, so that it can cope with variations in the surface temperature due to changes in the thickness of the bottle 9. The detection accuracy is higher than when detecting with.

  Since the wall portion outer surface 9b of the bottle 9 is thinner than the bottom portion 9c, the heat of the heated cleaning liquid is easily transmitted to the surface of the bottle 9, and the temperature of the bottle 9 is easily balanced with the temperature of the cleaning liquid. Therefore, accurate temperature detection is possible. In addition, since the change in thickness of the body outer surface 9b of the bottle 9 is less than that of the bottom 9c, variations in temperature detection due to the change in thickness can be suppressed.

  By associating the count value of the transported bottle 9 with the detected waveform of the surface temperature detected by the infrared sensor 15, the bottle 9 that has not been sterilized normally due to the occurrence of ejection failure can be easily identified.

  Next, other embodiments will be described. In the description, parts having the same functions and effects as those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted. In the description of the above, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described. The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

  In the second embodiment, an infrared sensor 15 is provided above the bottle 9 as shown in FIG. 5, and the surface temperature of the bottom 9c of the bottle 9 being conveyed is detected. According to 2nd Embodiment, as shown in FIG.6 and FIG.7, after washing | cleaning of the bottle 9 in the inner side sterilization nozzle 11 and the outer side sterilization nozzle 13, it complete | finishes with the infrared sensor 15 provided in the upper position of the bottle 9. Then, the surface temperature of the bottom 9c of the bottle 9 after the cleaning is completed is detected. Thereafter, the detected surface temperature of the bottom 9c of the bottle 9 is transmitted to the control means 17, and the detection result is displayed on the monitor screen.

  The bottom portion 9c of the bottle 9 is thicker than the body outer surface 9b of the bottle 9 and has a large change in thickness. However, as shown in FIG. The waveform of the wall temperature was confirmed. Therefore, even when the infrared sensor 15 is provided in the upper position of the bottle 9, the temperature difference of the bottle 9 is clearly different between when the cleaning liquid is ejected and when it is not ejected. Therefore, it can be confirmed reliably that the cleaning liquid is normally ejected from the sterilization nozzles 11 and 13.

  In the third embodiment, only the inner sterilization nozzle 11 is arranged as shown in FIG. Moreover, the infrared sensor 15 is provided in the side position of the bottle 9, and has detected the surface temperature of the trunk | drum outer side surface 9b of the bottle 9 conveyed. Also in the third embodiment, the temperature difference of the bottle 9 between the case where the cleaning liquid is ejected and the case where it is not ejected is clearly different, and it is ensured that the cleaning liquid is normally ejected from the inner sterilization nozzle 11. I can confirm.

  In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, only the inner sterilizing nozzle 11 is disposed, and the infrared sensor 15 is provided above the bottle 9, and the outer side surface 9b of the body 9 of the bottle 9 being conveyed. The surface temperature of is detected. Also in the fourth embodiment, it can be surely confirmed that the cleaning liquid is normally ejected from the inner sterilization nozzle 11 as in the third embodiment.

  Next, since a comparative experiment was performed on the present invention, the experimental results will be described with reference to FIGS. The cleaning device used in the comparative experiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment. The first experimental example is a comparative experiment on the relationship between the measurement position and the surface temperature of the bottle 9, and as shown in FIG. 10, the heel portion 9d in the vicinity of the bottom portion 9c of the bottle 9 and the outer surface of the trunk portion The surface temperature at each position with 9b was detected by the infrared sensor 15. The results are shown in FIGS. As shown in FIG. 13, in the heel portion 9 d, it is found that there is a difference in the peak value for each waveform, and there is a variation in the surface temperature for each bottle 9. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, on the trunk outer surface 9b, there is no difference in peak value in each waveform, and there is no variation in surface temperature for each bottle 9, and stable measurement results are obtained. .

  As described above, the variation in surface temperature is not observed on the outer side surface 9b of the heel portion 9d compared to the heel portion 9d, whereas the heel portion 9d is thick and has a change in thickness. This is because the outer side surface 9b has a small thickness and little change in the thickness. Therefore, it is desirable to measure the surface temperature at the position of the body outer surface 9b of the bottle 9.

  The second experimental example is an experiment on the relationship between the measurement time and the surface temperature of the bottle 9. FIG. 11 shows the detection result 3 seconds after the start of the ejection of the cleaning liquid, and FIG. 12 shows the start of the ejection of the cleaning liquid. The detection result after 10 seconds is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 11, the detection results vary after 3 seconds from the start of the ejection of the cleaning liquid. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 12, after 10 seconds from the start of the ejection of the cleaning liquid, no variation was found in the detection results, and stable measurement results could be obtained.

  Thus, if the surface temperature of the bottle 9 is detected after 3 seconds or more have elapsed since the start of the ejection of the cleaning liquid, and preferably after 10 seconds, the surface temperature of the bottle 9 reaches thermal equilibrium with the cleaning liquid. By the measurement, it is possible to surely confirm the defective ejection of the cleaning liquid from the nozzle.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

  The container is not limited to the resin bottle 9 but may be a bottle or a can.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a part of the cleaning device shown in FIG. 4. It is a perspective view which shows the detection state of the surface temperature of the container by the temperature detector shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows the detection result of the surface temperature of a container by a temperature detector. It is a top view which shows roughly the washing | cleaning apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows schematically a part of washing | cleaning apparatus which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the detection state of the surface temperature of the container by the temperature detector shown in FIG. It is a graph which shows the detection result of the surface temperature of a container by a temperature detector. It is a perspective view which shows roughly a part of washing | cleaning apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows roughly a part of washing | cleaning apparatus concerning 4th Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the temperature measurement position in a comparative experiment. It is a graph which shows the detection result of the surface temperature in 3 seconds after the ejection start of a washing | cleaning liquid. It is a graph which shows the detection result of the surface temperature 10 seconds after the ejection start of a washing | cleaning liquid. It is a graph which shows the detection result of the surface temperature of the container in a heel part.

Explanation of symbols

1 Cleaning device 9 Bottle (container)
9b Body outer surface of container 9c Bottom of container 11 Inner sterilization nozzle 13 Outer sterilization nozzle 15 Infrared sensor (temperature detector)
19 Counting means

Claims (7)

  Equipped with an inner sterilization nozzle that sterilizes the container by spraying the heated cleaning liquid into the container, and a temperature detector that detects the surface temperature of the container. A cleaning device characterized by detecting.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the temperature detector detects a surface temperature of the side surface of the body portion of the container.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising an outer sterilization nozzle that sprays the heated cleaning liquid toward the outer side of the container.   The heated cleaning liquid is about 60 ° C. or higher, and the temperature detector detects the surface temperature of the container after 3 seconds or more have elapsed from the start of the ejection of the cleaning liquid. The cleaning apparatus according to item.   The cleaning apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a counting unit that counts the number of containers whose temperature is detected by the temperature detector.   The cleaning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the temperature detector is an infrared sensor. The temperature detector detects the temperature over a continuous time, and the continuously conveyed container detects the continuous surface temperature of the container surface across the temperature measurement point of the temperature detector. The cleaning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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