JP2005320051A - Container cap sterilization method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To perform a uniform sterilization by ultraviolet rays for the inner surface of a container cap. <P>SOLUTION: A conveyor 18 can be transferred intermittently. A plurality of caps 2 are arranged on a transferring surface 19 of the conveyor 18 and transferred. A reflecting plate 24 acting as a reflection member is inserted into the inner surface of a head part 7 of the cap 2 being transferred above an intermediate position at the conveyor 18. A reflecting member inserting device I, a first ultraviolet ray radiation device II for use in sterilizing an inside part of the cap 2 into which the reflecting plate 24 is inserted, a reflecting member taking-out device III for taking out the reflecting plate 24 from inside the cap 2 and a second ultraviolet ray radiation device IV for use in sterilizing the inside of the cap 2 from which the reflecting plate 24 is taken are arranged in sequence from the upstream side. When the cap is stopped through an intermittent feeding of the conveyor 18, insertion of the reflection plate 24 into the cap 2, taking the reflection plate 24 out of the cap 2 and its sterilization are carried out. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilization method and apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of a cap that is attached to the mouth of a container filled with contents and that is screwed onto the mouth and neck of the container. Is.

  There are various caps for sealing the mouth of containers made of resin, glass, ceramics, metal, etc. filled with liquids, powders, granules, etc. There is a shape. Among them, the cap is attached to the mouth portion of the container by screwing, and a screw portion is provided on the inner side surface of the cap corresponding to the screw portion provided on the mouth neck portion of the container, and the cap is attached to the mouth of the container. Many types are used in which the threaded portion of the inner surface of the cap is screwed onto the threaded portion of the mouth-neck portion of the container by covering the portion and turning.

  FIG. 6 (a) shows, as an example, a bottle 1 and a cap 2 made of polyethylene terephthalate, which is generally called a PET bottle, and a threaded portion (male thread) 4 is provided on the neck 3 of the bottle 1. It is provided. On the other hand, on the inner side surface of the side surface portion 5 of the cap 2, as shown in FIG. 6B, a screw portion (female screw) 6 that is screwed into the screw portion 4 is provided. The mouth of the bottle 1 can be sealed with the cap 2 by being screwed onto the mouth and neck 3 of the bottle 1. 7 is a head of the cap 2, 8 is a band member that is connected to the opening 9 and remains in the mouth-neck of the container when opened, and 10 is a seal member incorporated in the inner surface of the head 7.

  Conventionally, a container such as the PET bottle 1 and a cap 2 corresponding to the container are separately manufactured and then placed on a production line, and the container is filled with contents before filling the container. On the other hand, the cap inner surface is also sterilized.

  The inside of the container and the inside of the cap are sterilized by a method of continuously irradiating the inside of the container and the inside of the cap with an ultraviolet lamp.

  Among the containers, as shown in FIGS. 6 (A) and 6 (B), the screw portion 4 of the container neck portion 3 to which the screw portion 6 on the inner surface of the cap 2 is screwed is often placed in the oral cavity when the contents are drunk. This is a part to be touched, and the sterilization of the screw portion 4 of the mouth / neck portion 3 of the container is sufficiently performed in the same manner as the inside of the container and the contents itself. However, the inner surface of the cap, in particular, the screw portion 6 on the inner surface shown in FIG. 6 (b) is not directly in contact with the contents housed inside the container, so that the screw portion 6 of the cap 2 is sterilized. The actual situation is that the treatment is not performed as strictly as the sterilization inside the container.

  For this reason, when the screw part 6 of the cap 2 is not sufficiently sterilized, if the germs adhere and remain, the cap in which such germs remain is removed from the mouth and neck of the container that has been sterilized. When the screw is screwed onto 3 and attached, the germs move from the cap side to the mouth and neck 3 side of the container, and even after the cap is removed, the germs adhere to the threaded portion 4 of the mouth and neck portion 3 of the container. May remain.

  In such a state, the sterilizing effect of the mouth and neck of the container is lost, and there is a possibility that it becomes unsanitary.

  In order to prevent such a risk, it is necessary to sterilize the inner surface of the cap as strictly as the sterilization inside the container.

  As the cap sterilization apparatus proposed so far, for example, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), it rotates between a plurality of guide rods 13 held by support members 12 arranged at a required interval. And a sterilizing lamp 14 in which a discharge tube 16 and a reflector 17 for reflecting light emitted from the discharge tube 16 are mounted in a lamp house 15. The sterilizing lamp 14 is set parallel to the longitudinal direction of the cap transfer device 11, and one is installed obliquely downward at a position obliquely above the cap transfer device 11 as shown in FIG. A sterilization lamp 14 is installed on the front of the cap transfer device 11 as shown in FIG. The light reflected by the screen 17 is applied to the threaded portion 6 on the inner surface of the cap 2, or a plurality of sterilizing lamps are installed at an obliquely upper position and an obliquely lower position of the cap transfer device, although not shown. Thus, there has been proposed one in which pulsed light emitted from each sterilizing lamp is irradiated on the inner surface of one cap (for example, see Patent Document 1).

  As another cap sterilizer, an electron beam irradiation device is installed on the opening side of the cap across a line for transporting the cap, a reflector is installed on the head side of the cap, and the electron beam irradiation is performed. It has been proposed that the cap is transported in a state in which the axis of the cap is held obliquely with respect to the radiation surface of the apparatus, and further the cap is rotated during transport (for example, Patent Document 2). reference).

  Further, as another cap sterilization apparatus, before a cap sterilized with ultraviolet rays, chemicals, sterilizing water or hot water is attached to the mouth of the bottle with a cap mounting tightening machine, In order to sterilize the peripheral part with ultraviolet rays, a cubic box body is located in the vicinity of the cap conveyance line where the cap of the cap feeder installed in the front stage of the cap mounting device is conveyed in a horizontal state in a downward posture. And a cap transport line including a cap transported by a cap feeder by irradiating ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp through an inner opening of the lamp housing. There is one in which the peripheral part is sterilized (for example, see Patent Document 3).

JP 2001-171624 A JP 2003-066198 A JP 2002-068144 A

  However, in the device described in Patent Document 1, in order to irradiate the light emitted from the discharge tube 16 toward the inside of the cap 2, the light is reflected by the reflector 17. Since only the light is irradiated to the inner side, there is a problem that a shadow portion is generated in the screw portion 6 inside the side surface portion 5 of the cap 2 and sterilization of this portion becomes insufficient.

  Moreover, the thing of patent document 2 sterilizes, conveying a cap with the attitude | position in which the axial center of a cap becomes diagonal with respect to the radiation | emission surface of an electron beam irradiation apparatus. Similarly, there is a problem in that the screw portion on the inner surface of the cap is shaded, and this portion is not sufficiently sterilized.

  Further, in the device described in Patent Document 3, a lamp housing is installed in the vicinity of a line where the cap is conveyed in a downward posture, and ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet lamp inside the lamp housing are irradiated to the cap conveyance line including the cap. And the inside of the cap is not sufficiently sterilized.

  Therefore, the present invention is intended to allow the inner surface of the cap before being attached to the mouth and neck of the container to be sterilized by ultraviolet irradiation so as not to be shaded.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is a method for transporting a cap provided with a reflecting member on the inner surface of the head and irradiating the inner surface of the cap with ultraviolet rays during the transport to sterilize the inner surface of the cap. And a cap provided with a reflecting member on the inner surface of the head is placed on the conveyor so that the opening portion faces upward and is conveyed, and ultraviolet light is applied to the inner surface of the cap above the intermediate position of the conveyor. It is set as the structure which installed the ultraviolet irradiation device which irradiates and sterilizes.

  Also, a cap provided with a reflecting member is transported on the inner surface of the head, and the inner surface of the cap is sterilized by irradiating the inner surface of the cap during the transport, and then the inner surface of the head is reflected during the transport of the cap. After removing the member, a method of sterilizing the inner surface of the head of the cap by irradiating the inner surface of the cap with ultraviolet rays, and a cap provided with a reflecting member on the inner surface of the head so that the opening faces upward The first ultraviolet irradiation device for sterilizing the inner surface of the cap by irradiating the inner surface of the cap with an ultraviolet ray above the intermediate position of the conveyor and the reflection for taking out the reflecting member on the inner surface of the head of the cap It is set as the structure which installed the member extraction apparatus and the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device which irradiates and sterilizes the inner surface of the cap which took out the reflection member in order from the upstream of the conveyance direction of a conveyor.

  And a reflecting member inserting device for inserting the reflecting member into the inner surface of the head portion of the cap above the intermediate position of the conveyor so that the cap is placed on the conveyor so that the opening faces upward. A first ultraviolet irradiation device that sterilizes the inner surface of the cap in which the reflecting member is inserted by irradiating ultraviolet rays, a reflecting member take-out device that takes out the reflecting member on the inner surface of the head of the cap, and an inner surface of the cap from which the reflecting member is taken out It is set as the structure which installed in order from the upstream of the conveyance direction of a conveyor with the 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device which irradiates and sterilizes an ultraviolet-ray.

  In addition, the cap is placed on the conveyor so that the opening is facing upward and transported, and a reflective member is inserted into the inner surface of the head of the cap that has been transported above the intermediate position of the conveyor. For this purpose, a support member having a reflection member attached to the lower end thereof is provided so as to be movable up and down, an ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in the vicinity of the support member, and the support member is lowered to place a reflection member on the inner surface of the head of the cap. Both the insertion member and the support member are raised and the reflection member is taken out from the cap.

According to the container cap sterilization method and apparatus of the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained.
(1) A method of transporting a cap provided with a reflecting member on the inner surface of the head, irradiating the inner surface of the cap with ultraviolet rays during the transport, and disinfecting the inner surface of the cap, and a reflecting member on the inner surface of the head An ultraviolet irradiation device that sterilizes the cap by placing ultraviolet rays on the inner surface of the cap above the intermediate position of the conveyor so that the cap is placed on the conveyor so that the opening faces upward. Since it is configured as installed, the ultraviolet rays reflected by the reflecting member on the inner surface of the cap head when the ultraviolet rays are irradiated to the inner surface of the cap, particularly the screw portion provided on the inner side of the side portion, also below the screw portion. Irradiation is performed uniformly, and a uniform sterilization process is possible without the shadow of the screw portion.
(2) A cap provided with a reflecting member is transported to the inner surface of the head, and the cap inner surface is sterilized by irradiating the inner surface of the cap with ultraviolet rays in the middle of the transport. After removing the reflecting member, the cap inner surface is sterilized by irradiating the inner surface of the cap with ultraviolet rays, and the cap provided with the reflecting member on the inner surface of the head so that the opening portion faces upward. A first ultraviolet irradiation device for sterilizing the inner surface of the cap by irradiating the inner surface of the cap with an ultraviolet ray above the intermediate position of the conveyor, and a reflecting member on the inner surface of the head of the cap are taken out of the intermediate position of the conveyor. The reflecting member take-out device and the second ultraviolet ray irradiating device that sterilizes the inner surface of the cap from which the reflecting member has been taken out by irradiating with ultraviolet rays are arranged in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor. It allows the addition of the effect of (1), the head inner surface of the cap after removal of the reflection member can be further sterilized.
(3) According to the above (1) and (2), the inner surface of the cap can be sterilized more sufficiently and reliably, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, etc. that cause food poisoning can be sterilized, Can meet sterilization requirements.
(4) A reflecting member insertion device that allows a cap to be transported by placing it on a conveyor so that the opening portion faces upward, and that inserts a reflecting member into the inner surface of the head of the cap above the intermediate position of the conveyor. A first ultraviolet irradiation device that sterilizes the inner surface of the cap in which the reflecting member is inserted by irradiating ultraviolet rays, a reflecting member takeout device that takes out the reflecting member on the inner surface of the head of the cap, and an inner surface of the cap from which the reflecting member is taken out The second ultraviolet irradiation device that sterilizes by irradiating with ultraviolet rays is installed in order from the upstream in the conveying direction of the conveyor, so there is no need to put a reflecting member in the cap in advance, and the conveyor is conveyed. By inserting the reflecting member, the threaded portion on the inner surface of the cap can be easily sterilized without shading.
(5) The cap is placed on the conveyor so that the opening is facing upward and transported, and a reflecting member is inserted into the inner surface of the head of the cap that has been transported above the intermediate position of the conveyor. For this purpose, a support member having a reflection member attached to the lower end thereof is provided so as to be movable up and down, an ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in the vicinity of the support member, and the support member is lowered to place a reflection member on the inner surface of the head of the cap. It is not necessary to prepare a large number of reflecting members by adopting a configuration in which ultraviolet rays are irradiated both when inserted and when the supporting member is lifted and the reflecting member is taken out from the cap. Management is easy.
(6) Since a plurality of caps placed on the conveyor can be sterilized one by one at a time, the next plurality of sterilizations can be carried out until they are used up in a subsequent process of attaching to a container sent at high speed.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. Conveyor transport is performed at a position above the transport surface 19 at a position where the conveyor 18 is to be intermittently moved and temporarily stops at a required position. In order from the upstream side of the direction, the reflecting member insertion device I, in which the suction pipe 21 is communicated and attached to the lower end of the air pipe 20 so that the air pipe 20 can be moved up and down and horizontally, the ultraviolet flash lamp 22 and the reflection A first ultraviolet irradiation device II comprising a plate 23, a reflecting member take-out device III having the same configuration as the reflection member inserting device I, and a second ultraviolet irradiation device IV having the same configuration as the first ultraviolet irradiation device II. Is installed.

When the cap 2 on which the opening 9 is placed on the conveying surface 19 of the conveyor 18 is intermittently fed and temporarily stopped at a position below the reflecting member insertion device I, the feeding of the conveyor 18 is stopped. In the meantime, a reflecting plate 24 as a reflecting member sucked and held by the suction cup 21 of the reflecting member insertion device I is inserted so as to be positioned on the inner surface of the head 7 of the cap 2, and the suction of the suction cup 21 is released. Then, the reflecting member insertion device I is raised, and the next reflecting plate 24 is attracted to stand by. During this time, when the cap 2 with the reflector 24 inserted is sent to the downstream side and stopped, the inner surface of the cap 2 is sterilized with the ultraviolet rays directly irradiated from the ultraviolet flash lamp 22 of the first ultraviolet irradiation device II. The inner surface of the cap 2, particularly the screw portion 6 inside the side surface portion 5, is also shaded by the ultraviolet rays that are diffusely reflected by the reflecting plate 23 and irradiated into the cap 2 and the ultraviolet rays that are reflected by the reflecting plate 24 in the cap 2. Be exposed to UV rays in the absence. Next, when the cap 2 is sent to the downstream side and stopped, the reflecting plate 24 in the cap 2 is adsorbed by the suction cup 21 of the reflecting member take-out device III and taken out to the outside of the cap 2. Next, when the cap 2 is sent to the downstream side and temporarily stopped, the inner surface of the cap 2 is irradiated with ultraviolet rays by the second ultraviolet irradiation device IV, and the head 7 hidden by the reflecting plate 24 is irradiated. The inner surface is mainly sterilized. The reflection member take-out device III that has taken out the reflection plate 24 in the cap 2 releases the taken-out reflection plate 24 at another location, and then returns to the transport line to take out the reflection plate 24 in the next cap 2. Therefore, it is made to wait.

  By repeating the above operation, the threaded portion 6 on the inner surface of the cap 2 that is sequentially fed can be sterilized without any shadow.

  2 (a), (b), (c) and (d) show an example in which the basic configuration of FIG. 1 is concretely shown. The conveyor surface 19 of the conveyor 18 is provided at a required interval in the feed direction of the conveyor 18. The cap 2 positioning recess 19a (also shown in FIG. 1) is formed so that a plurality (four in the figure) of the caps 2 can be conveyed in a horizontal row so that the head 7 of the cap 2 can be fitted. To.

The reflection member insertion device I for inserting the reflection plate 24 into the cap 2 positioned and placed on the transport surface 19 of the conveyor 18 and the reflection member extraction device III for taking out the reflection plate 24 from the inside of the cap 2 are the same. A branch pipe part 20b is formed on the header part 20a of the air pipe 20 connected to the vacuum generator 25 such as a vacuum pump by a flexible hose 26 so as to correspond to the caps 2 aligned in the width direction of the conveyor 18. A semicircular suction cup 21 having a size that can be inserted into and removed from the inside of the cap 2 by attaching the reflector 24 to the lower end of each branch pipe portion 20b. By connecting the portion 20b to the inside of the suction cup 21 and operating the vacuum generator 25, the inside of the suction cup 21 is sucked through the air pipe 20 and the reflecting plate 24 is moved. Together will be able to wear the holding, by stopping the operation of the vacuum generator 25, suction of the suction cups 21 are to be released. Furthermore, in order to move the air pipe 20 composed of the header part 20a and the branch pipe part 20b up and down or laterally (side shift), the conveyor 18 A guide rail 27 extending in the width direction is provided, and two carriages 28a, 28b are provided so as to be able to traverse along the guide rail 27. The carriage 28a, 28b is provided with an air pipe 20 and an extendable lifting mechanism, for example, Further, the carriages 28a and 28b are connected together by a connecting member 30 so as to be integrated with each other, and one carriage 28a or 28b is self-propelled, and the air pipe 20 is adapted to the intermittent feeding operation of the conveyor 18. The traversal and vertical movement of the are performed.

  Further, the first ultraviolet irradiation device II and the second ultraviolet irradiation device IV that irradiate the inner surface of the cap 2 with the ultraviolet rays have the same structure, and both are placed on the conveying surface 19 of the conveyor 18 and the width of the conveyor 18. The ultraviolet flash lamps 22 having a length corresponding to the width direction of the conveyor 18 are arranged so as to be parallel to the width direction of the conveyor 18 so that the caps 2 aligned in the direction can be uniformly irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Then, it is attached inside the lamp house 31. Furthermore, a reflection plate 23 that diffuses the ultraviolet rays from the ultraviolet flash lamp 22 toward the inner surface of the cap 2 is attached to the inside of the lamp house 31 so as to face downward above the ultraviolet flash lamp 22. is there.

  The reflecting plate 24 as a reflecting member to be placed inside the cap 2 has a configuration in which the surface is mirror-finished and the outer diameter is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the cap 2. A hemispherical shape or the like can be used.

  2 (a), (b), (c), and (d), caps are provided on the positioning recesses 19a on the conveying surface 19 of the conveyor 18 at the upstream position on the conveying side of the conveyor 18. While the two are placed and aligned, they are conveyed intermittently by driving the conveyor 18.

When the caps 2 are sequentially sent to the downstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor 18, the reflection member insertion arranged in order from the upstream side to the downstream side is performed in the same manner as in the case of the basic configuration shown in FIG. The apparatus I, the first ultraviolet irradiation apparatus II, the reflecting member take-out apparatus III, and the second ultraviolet irradiation apparatus IV are operated in synchronization with the feeding operation of the conveyor 18.

  The reflecting member insertion device I is prepared in advance on the outside of the conveyor 18, and the reflecting plate 24 arranged at intervals between the caps 2 placed in the width direction on the conveyor 18 is moved down the air pipe 20. Then, the suction action by the operation of the vacuum generator 25 causes the suction cup 21 to suck and grip it. After that, when the air pipe 20 is raised and the reflector 24 is lifted, the carriages 28a and 28b travel along the guide rail 27. As a result, the air pipe 20 is caused to traverse in the direction of the conveyor 18 so that it is waiting at a position above the conveyor 18.

  When the four caps 2 in the first row are transported to the lower position of the reflection member insertion device I and stopped, the air pipe 20 of the reflection member insertion device I is lowered by the extension operation of the cylinder 29 in accordance with this timing. Thus, the reflector 24 gripped by the suction cup 21 is inserted into the inner surface of the head of the cap 2 in one row at the same time. Immediately after insertion of the reflector 24, the vacuum generator 25 is stopped, and at the same time, the air pipe 20 is raised by a shortening operation of the cylinder 29.

  The series of movements of the air pipe 20 and the operation of the vacuum generator 25 in the reflecting member insertion apparatus I and the operation of stopping are as shown in the operation diagrams of FIGS. 3 (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e). It is. In FIG. 3A, the air pipe 20 is side-shifted so that the suction cup 21 is positioned above the reflector 24 pre-arranged on the side of the conveyor 18, and the vacuum generator 25 is stopped. is there. In (b), when the air pipe 20 is lowered and the suction cup 21 is brought into contact with the reflection plate 24, the vacuum generator 25 is operated to cause the suction plate 21 to adsorb the reflection plate 24. In (c), the air pipe 20 is moved upward as a whole to lift the reflector 24 and is side-shifted to stand by at a position above the conveyor 18. In (d), as shown in (c), when each cap 2 comes to a position below each reflecting plate 24 and temporarily stops, the entire air pipe 20 is lowered and the reflecting plate 24 is inserted inside the cap 2. After the insertion, the operation of the vacuum generator 25 is stopped and at the same time the air pipe 20 is raised so that the reflector 24 remains in the cap 2 as shown in (e).

  In the intermittent feeding operation of the conveyor 18, when the horizontal row of caps 2 in which the reflectors 24 are inserted come below the first ultraviolet irradiation device II and are temporarily stopped, the ultraviolet flash lamp 22 is turned on and instantly. Directly irradiate the inside of each cap 2 with ultraviolet rays, irradiate the cap 2 with ultraviolet rays reflected by the reflecting plate 23, and further reflect the reflecting plate 24 within the cap 2 to sterilize a plurality of caps 2 simultaneously. To do. At this time, if only the ultraviolet flash lamp 22 and the reflector 23 in the lamp house 31 are irradiated with ultraviolet rays on the inner surface of each cap 2, the screw portion 6 on the inner surface of the cap 2 is shaded by irradiation from above, Although sufficient sterilization treatment cannot be performed, if the reflecting plate 24 is inserted into the inner surface of the head 7 of the cap 2, the ultraviolet rays reflected by the reflecting plate 24 are sufficiently irradiated to the shaded portion generated in the screw portion 6. Therefore, the entire surface can be sterilized uniformly. Further, since the ultraviolet flash lamp 22 is used, the ultraviolet light having a sterilizing power can be flashed in a short time of several seconds as compared with a normal continuous ultraviolet lamp, and sterilization can be performed.

When the horizontal row of caps 2 sterilized by the first ultraviolet irradiation device II is sent to the downstream side by the conveyor 18 and stopped, the reflection member take-out device III is operated as shown in FIG. (E) from the state of (e) to (d) (c) (b) (b) in order, the reflecting plate 24 is taken out from each cap 2 and discharged to the side of the conveyor 18, and then a vacuum is generated. The apparatus 25 is shifted to the upper position of the conveyor 18 while it is stopped, and is made to wait.

  Each cap 2 from which the reflecting plate 24 is taken out is moved downstream, and then the inner surface of the head 7 hidden by the reflecting plate 24 of each cap 2 is sterilized by the second ultraviolet irradiation device IV.

  A plurality of caps 2 that are sequentially conveyed in this way are sterilized through insertion of the reflectors and a sterilization process after removal of the reflectors arranged in a horizontal row, and are sequentially discharged from the downstream side of the conveyor 18. Collected.

In the above, the reflecting member insertion device I, the first ultraviolet irradiation device II, the reflecting member extraction device III, and the second ultraviolet irradiation device IV shown in FIGS. 1, 2 (a), (b), (c) and (d) are conveyors. It is possible to provide a plurality of sets in 18 conveying directions and simultaneously sterilize a plurality of rows of caps 2 such as two or three rows. In this case, the intermittent feeding operation of the conveyor 18 may be performed at a pitch corresponding to a plurality of rows of the caps 2 arranged in the transport direction. In this way, it is possible to efficiently process a plurality of caps 2 in a plurality of rows simultaneously.

  Next, FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the reflection member insertion device I in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is eliminated. That is, the reflecting plate 24 is inserted into the cap 2 in advance until the cap 2 is manufactured at the factory and sterilized, and the cap 2 into which the reflecting plate 24 is inserted is aligned with the conveying surface 19 of the conveyor 18. It is designed to be sterilized by placing it on it. Other configurations are the same as those shown in FIG. 2, and the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  According to this embodiment, since it is possible to omit the installation of the reflection member insertion device I before the first ultraviolet irradiation device II, the device can be simplified.

In this embodiment, the reflecting plate 24 may be inserted when the cap 2 is manufactured, and a receiving and storing portion for the extracted reflecting plate 24 is provided above the conveyor 18. If this is the case, the reflecting member take-out device III can be moved laterally in a direction parallel to the conveying direction of the conveyor 18.

  5 (a) and 5 (b) show still another embodiment of the present invention. In the above embodiment, a suction cup 21 is attached to the air pipe 20 and the suction cup 21 is subjected to vacuum suction by the suction cup 21. The reflector 24 is fixed to the lower end of the support member 32, and the upper end portion of each support member 32 is connected by the connecting rod 33 instead of the one that is grasped and inserted into the cap 2 or taken out. The frame 34 is moved up and down by an elevating device 35 so that each reflector 24 can be inserted into the cap 2 or taken out of the cap 2 at the same time. Further, the frame 34 is sandwiched. An ultraviolet irradiation device 36 comprising an ultraviolet flash lamp 22 for irradiating ultraviolet rays into the cap 2 and a reflecting plate 23 is installed in such a vicinity.

  In this embodiment, while the conveyor 18 is moved and temporarily stopped, first, the reflector 24 integrated with the frame 34 is inserted into the cap 2 and the ultraviolet flash lamp 22 is turned on to directly irradiate ultraviolet rays. In addition, after sterilizing with ultraviolet rays reflected by the reflectors 23 and 24, the frame 34 is raised, the reflector 24 is taken out from the cap 2, and the ultraviolet flash lamp 22 is turned on again to sterilize the ultraviolet rays. Can be.

  According to this embodiment, the reflectors 24 inserted into the caps 2 need only be the number of the caps 2 in a horizontal row on the conveyor 18, and it is not necessary to prepare a large number of them, and the frame 34 It only needs to move up and down, and the operation is simple.

  Also in this embodiment, the shape of the reflecting plate 24 can be any shape such as a flat plate shape, a conical shape, and a hemispherical shape as described above.

In addition, this invention is not limited only to each above-mentioned embodiment, For example, as a number of the caps 2 put on the conveyance surface 19 of the conveyor 18, the case where it arranges in the width direction of the conveyor 18 is illustrated. However, the number of caps 2 arranged in the width direction of the conveyor 18 may be one or a plurality other than four, and a plurality of caps 2 are arranged side by side on the conveying surface 19 of the conveyor 18 and conveyed together. However, the conveyor 18 can be divided into a plurality of rows in the width direction so that the conveyor 18 can be moved in a plurality of rows. Further, the conveying surface 19 of the conveyor 18 does not transmit ultraviolet rays, and only the upper position is irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Although the case where the apparatus is installed is shown, the cap 18 is placed on the conveyor 18 having a mesh shape, and ultraviolet rays are also directed upward from the lower side of the conveyor 18. 1, 2, 4, and 5, a reflector 24 separately prepared before sterilization treatment in the cap 2 is inserted into the cap 2. In this example, the reflector 24 is taken out from the cap 2 and then sterilized again. However, the surface of the seal member 10 that is incorporated in the head of the cap in advance when the cap is manufactured has a mirror surface. For example, a reflection member may be provided on the inner surface of the head 7 to add a reflection function. If the cap has such a configuration, the reflection member insertion device I and the reflection member extraction device III used in each embodiment can be omitted, and two stages of ultraviolet irradiation devices II and IV must be prepared. Therefore, there is an effect that only one stage is required, and therefore the conveyor need not be intermittently fed. Further, the number of the ultraviolet flash lamps 22 used in each of the ultraviolet irradiation devices II and IV is not limited to one as shown in the figure, and other various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is.

1 is a schematic side view showing a basic configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the basic configuration shown in FIG. 1 is concretely shown. (A) is a schematic side view, (B) is a plan view taken along the line A-A in (A), and (C) is in (A). B-B arrow view, (D) is a CC arrow view of (A). 2 shows the operation of inserting the reflector into the cap by the reflector insertion device shown in FIG. 2, wherein (a) shows the state where the air pipe is shifted to the position of the reflector, and (b) shows the air pipe. State diagram of lowering and holding reflector, (c) State of gripped reflector placed above cap on conveyor, (d) Lowering air piping and inserting reflector into cap (E) is a state diagram in which the air pipe is raised while leaving the reflector in the cap. It is a schematic side view which shows the other form of implementation of this invention. The further another form of implementation of this invention is shown, (A) is a schematic side view, (B) is a schematic front view. The state in which the cap is installed in the PET bottle as a container is shown, (a) is a partially cutaway side view, and (b) is a cutaway side view of the cap. Examples of cap sterilizers proposed so far are shown. (A) and (B) show the relationship between a cap and a lamp house conveyed while rotating.

Explanation of symbols

I Reflecting member insertion device
II First UV irradiation device
III Reflector extraction device
IV 2nd ultraviolet irradiation device 2 Cap 6 Screw part 7 Head 9 Opening part 20 Air piping 21 Suction cup 22 Ultraviolet flash lamp 23 Reflector 24 Reflector (reflective member)
25 Vacuum generator 32 Support member 35 Lifting device 36 Ultraviolet irradiation device

Claims (6)

  A cap sterilization method for a container, wherein a cap provided with a reflecting member is conveyed on the inner surface of the head, and the inner surface of the cap is irradiated with ultraviolet rays during the conveyance to sterilize the inner surface of the cap.   A cap provided with a reflective member is transported to the inner surface of the head, and the inner surface of the cap is irradiated with ultraviolet rays during the transport to sterilize the inner surface of the cap. After removing, the cap inner surface is sterilized by irradiating the inner surface of the cap with ultraviolet rays.   A cap provided with a reflection member on the inner surface of the head is placed on the conveyor so that the opening faces upward, and is transported, and the inner surface of the cap is irradiated with ultraviolet rays above the intermediate position of the conveyor. A container cap sterilization apparatus having a configuration in which an ultraviolet irradiation apparatus for sterilization is installed.   A cap provided with a reflection member on the inner surface of the head is placed on the conveyor so that the opening faces upward, and is transported, and the inner surface of the cap is irradiated with ultraviolet rays above the intermediate position of the conveyor. A first ultraviolet irradiation device that sterilizes, a reflecting member take-out device that takes out the reflecting member on the inner surface of the head of the cap, and a second ultraviolet irradiation device that sterilizes by irradiating ultraviolet rays onto the inner surface of the cap from which the reflecting member is taken out, A container cap sterilization apparatus having a configuration in which the apparatus is installed in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor.   A reflecting member inserting device for placing the cap on the conveyor so that the opening portion faces upward and transporting the cap, and inserting a reflecting member into the inner surface of the head of the cap above the intermediate position of the conveyor; A first ultraviolet irradiation device that sterilizes the inner surface of the cap with the member inserted by irradiating ultraviolet rays, a reflection member extraction device that extracts the reflection member on the inner surface of the head of the cap, and ultraviolet rays on the inner surface of the cap from which the reflection member has been extracted. A container cap sterilizer having a configuration in which a second ultraviolet irradiator for sterilizing by irradiation is installed in order from the upstream side in the conveying direction of the conveyor.   The lower end of the cap is placed on the conveyor so that the opening is facing upward and is transported, and the reflecting member is inserted into the inner surface of the head of the cap that has been transported above the intermediate position of the conveyor. A support member with a reflection member attached to the support member so that the support member can be moved up and down, an ultraviolet irradiation device is provided in the vicinity of the support member, and the support member is further lowered and the reflection member is inserted into the inner surface of the head of the cap. And a cap sterilizing apparatus for a container characterized in that when the reflecting member is taken out from the cap by raising the support member, both are irradiated with ultraviolet rays.

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