JP2006036341A - Spray sterilizing apparatus and spray sterilizing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a spray sterilizing apparatus capable of uniformly sterilizing a packaging material with an arbitrary shape containing a plastic container and a paper container, or a paper cup and a plastic cup, and an electrostatic spray sterilizing method. <P>SOLUTION: The spray sterilizing apparatus is equipped with a spraying member for spraying a mist of sterilizing agent such as a hydrogen peroxide water solution, an electrode core provided near this spraying member and electrostatically charging the mist of sterilizing agent, and a grounding electrode plate provided below the packaging material. As the electric field between the electrode core and the grounding electrode plate exists, the electrostatically charged mist of sterilizing agent is uniformly stuck on the packaging material. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus and a sterilization method for sterilizing a packaging material such as food by spraying a sterilizing agent. Examples of foods include alcoholic beverages such as alcohol, wine and whiskey; non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice, coffee and tea; desserts such as jelly and pudding. In addition to long packaging materials, the packaging materials include paper containers, plastic containers, plastic cups, plastic bottles, and the like.

(1) Prior art 1
An apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 8 is known as an apparatus for sterilizing packaging materials such as food. This apparatus 100 uses an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution or the like as a disinfectant. The apparatus 100 includes an air nozzle 101, a liquid nozzle 102, and a cap 103. The air nozzle 101 protrudes forward in the horizontal direction, and compressed air is discharged from the tip. The liquid nozzle 102 protrudes upward in the vertical direction, the tip thereof is disposed close to the tip of the air nozzle 101, the liquid sterilant is discharged from the tip by the suction action of the compressed air, and adheres to the packaging material and sterilizes. .

(2) Prior art 2
An apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is also known. This apparatus sterilizes long packaging materials, and an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution or the like is used as a sterilizing agent. That is, first, the long packaging material 126 is passed through the solution tank 122 in the chamber 123 (chamber: chamber of air or steam in the machine), heated by the heating unit 124, and then passed through the solution tank 125 again. The solution tanks 122 and 125 store a sterilizing agent 121 and sterilize the packaging material 126. Next, the bactericide 121 adhering to the packaging material 126 is heated by a heating device. By this heating, the disinfectant adhering to the surface of the long packaging material 127 is thermally decomposed or dried.

(3) Prior art 3
Further, a method of using an irradiation lamp as a sterilization method for long packaging materials is also known (see Patent Document 1). In this method, a long packaging material is unwound from the unwinding side, and sterilized by irradiation with light from an irradiation lamp. The wavelength of light is 200 nm to 1100 nm, one irradiation is less than 0.002 seconds, and the cumulative irradiation energy is 12.0 J / cm ² or less. Then, the sterilized packaging material is wound up on the winding side.

(4) Prior art 4
Furthermore, an apparatus 300 shown in FIG. 10 is also known as a packaging container sterilization apparatus (see Patent Document 2). The apparatus 300 uses a gaseous sterilizing agent obtained by vaporizing a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide. Then, this gaseous sterilizing agent is sprayed from the nozzle 131 to adhere to the inner surface of the packaging material 133. On the other hand, the air nozzle 132 blows low-temperature air onto the outer surface of the packaging material 133 to cool the packaging material 133. By simultaneously supplying the gaseous sterilizing agent to the packaging material 133 and cooling the packaging material 133, the sterilizing agent is condensed and sterilized on the surface of the packaging material.

(5) Prior art 5
The following apparatus is also known (see Patent Document 3). That is, first, a liquid having an antibacterial action such as a low concentration hydrogen peroxide solution is attached to the packaging material by spraying or dipping. Next, the packaging material is irradiated with high-powered paras using a xenon lamp.

(5) Prior art 6
Further, the following apparatus is also known (see Patent Document 4). That is, in this apparatus, a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide is sprayed into the cylindrical heater, gasified while being heated, and supplied to the sterilizing agent spray nozzle. At this time, a cylindrical breathable auxiliary heating body is arranged in the cylindrical heater portion to promote vaporization of the bactericide. Then, the gasification disinfectant is sprayed from the disinfectant spray nozzle to sterilize the packaging material such as the carton container body.

(6) Prior art 7
Moreover, the following apparatuses are also known as a sterilization apparatus used for sterilization of PET bottles and paper containers (see Patent Document 5). This sterilizer uses a mixture of a virgin disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide and a used disinfectant. That is, both the virgin disinfectant and the used disinfectant are supplied and sprayed to a disinfectant supply unit using a two-fluid spray device. A sterilizing agent vaporization unit is provided at the tip of the sterilizing agent supply unit, and the sterilizing agent is vaporized and sprayed on the packaging material. On the other hand, it has a sterilizing agent recycling apparatus including an exhaust sampling port, an exhaust supply pipe, a heating device, and a blower, and the used sterilizing agent can be supplied again to the sterilizing agent supply unit.

Prior art documents are shown below.
JP 2000-159209 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-58631 JP 2000-203535 A JP-A-9-286416 JP 11-47242 A

(1) Prior Art 1 In Prior Art 1, since the disinfectant is discharged by the suction action of compressed air, the compressed air must be strengthened. And since strong compressed air has the strong directivity, it tends to result in a lot of sterilizing agents adhering to a part of the packaging material and only slightly adhering to other parts. That is, in Prior Art 1, it is difficult to spray a uniform and sufficient disinfectant on the packaging material.

  Moreover, when the recessed part and the convex part are formed in the packaging material, there exists a problem that it does not adhere to the inner side periphery of a recessed part, or a convex part back side.

  Further, the liquid nozzle may be clogged with the sterilizing agent, or the sterilizing agent may be decomposed in the pipe pipe to generate bubbles, resulting in poor spraying.

(2) About Prior Art 2 In Prior Art 2, after a large amount of a bactericidal agent is attached to a packaging material, it is decomposed by heating. However, when the packaging material is water-absorbing paper or the like, or when the end face of the packaging material is water-absorbing, there is a problem that this part absorbs the bactericidal agent and remains after heating.

  For this reason, there exists a problem that the material of a packaging material which can be applied, or a material structure etc. are restrict | limited.

  Further, since this apparatus has a large amount of sterilizing agent attached to the packaging material, it is necessary to enhance the ability to thermally decompose or dry the sterilizing agent. For this reason, there is a problem that the heating section becomes large and the cost is high.

  In addition, when the packaging material has a recess, the sterilizing agent may accumulate in the bottom portion of the recess, or the sterilizing agent that is not decomposed and dried may remain on the bottom of the recess or the periphery of the bottom.

  In addition, if a machine trouble occurs and the temperature of the heating unit is lowered to check the troubled part, when the operation is performed again, the operation of the sterilizer cannot be performed until the temperature of the heating unit becomes sufficiently high. There's a problem.

(3) Prior Art 3 Prior Art 3 has a problem that the sterilization rate is very slow.

  Moreover, when a packaging material has a recessed part and a convex part, it will become difficult to irradiate a light to the inner peripheral edge of a recessed part, or the part which becomes a wrinkle of a convex part, and there exists a problem that it is difficult to disinfect uniformly.

  In addition, when high luminescence energy is applied to increase the sterilization rate, there is a problem that the irradiated packaging material emits odor or the sealing strength of the irradiated packaging material is lowered. Furthermore, when printing is performed on the packaging material to be irradiated, there is a problem that the printing surface of the packaging material is burnt.

  In addition, the power source and apparatus for irradiation are expensive, and the maintenance cost of the irradiation lamp and the like is high, and the irradiation lamp has a problem that the light emission energy decreases with use.

(4) Prior Art 4 In Prior Art 4, there is a problem that the bactericidal agent condensed due to the shape of the packaging material becomes droplets and accumulates in a part of the packaging material. In addition, there is a problem that the accumulated disinfectant remains without being decomposed and dried.

  Also, depending on the material, material composition or shape of the packaging material to be sterilized, it may be difficult for the cooling temperature from the outer surface to be immediately conducted to the inside, and it takes time to condense the gaseous sterilizing agent attached to the inside. There is a problem that production efficiency is poor.

(5) Prior Art 5 In Prior Art 5, in order to speed up the sterilization apparatus and match the line speed of the filling and packaging machine, it is necessary to cause the xenon lamp to emit light with high light emission energy. However, when trouble occurs, the packaging material may be odorized by irradiation with a xenon lamp, or the sealing strength of the packaging material may be reduced. Furthermore, there is also a problem that the printing surface is burnt when the packaging material is printed.

  In addition, when the packaging material has a relatively small opening area such as a paper container and the height (depth) is high, it is difficult to irradiate in the bottom direction, and the bactericidal effect differs between the opening periphery and the bottom direction. There is a problem.

  Furthermore, when the packaging material has a relatively small area of the opening, such as a paper container, and a recess or protrusion is formed on the side surface, the inner peripheral edge of the recess or the back side of the protrusion is not irradiated, or There is a problem that irradiation energy is weak.

  Further, since the lifetime of the xenon lamp is determined by the number of times of light emission and the light emission energy slightly decreases with use, the xenon lamp is replaced after a certain period of use. For this reason, there is a problem that maintenance costs and the like are required, and further, the power supply and the device are expensive.

(6) Prior Art 6 Since Prior Art 6 is a heater heating method for gasifying the sterilizing agent, it takes time for the heaters of each part to reach an appropriate temperature when operating the sterilizing apparatus. There is a problem that cannot be operated immediately.

  Further, when the packaging material is a packaging material having a concave portion or a convex portion such as a carton container main body, there is a problem that the sterilizing agent is not attached to the inner peripheral edge of the concave portion of the packaging material or the back side of the convex portion.

  Furthermore, when the spray amount of the bactericide must be increased from the primary spray nozzle during operation, there is a problem that it is necessary to wait until the temperature of the heated portion of the cylindrical heater rises to a predetermined temperature. Furthermore, since many heaters for gasification are used, there is a problem that the power supply becomes large and the maintenance cost of the sterilizer becomes high.

  In addition, since the nozzle is used for the primary spraying, there is a problem that the nozzle and the piping pipe for feeding the sterilizing agent are clogged, or the sterilizing agent is decomposed in the piping pipe to generate bubbles, resulting in a spray failure. . In addition, when the device is stopped due to troubles in the sterilizer, etc., each part of the sterilizer is overheated by the heating blower, auxiliary heating or cylindrical heater used in the sterilizer. There is a problem that a lot of damages such as packing used are caused.

(7) Prior Art 7 In Prior Art 7, since the sterilizing agent is heated by the heater heating device, the power source is increased by using many heaters as in Prior Art 6, and the maintenance cost of the sterilizing device is high. There is a problem. Furthermore, since all the means for gasification are performed by heater heating, there is a problem that it takes time to operate the apparatus.

  In addition, since the two-fluid spray device is used, a nozzle or a piping pipe that conveys the sterilizing agent is clogged, and the sterilizing agent is decomposed in the piping pipe to generate bubbles, thereby causing a spray failure.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and an object thereof is to provide the following spray sterilization apparatus and sterilization method. That is, the first object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method capable of sterilizing by uniformly adhering a bactericidal agent such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution to a concave portion or a convex portion of a packaging material having a concave portion or a convex portion. It is.

  Further, the second object of the present invention is to spray the sterilizing agent with a slight injection pressure without using a strong injection pressure, and evenly and sufficiently sterilize the inner surface of the concave portion and the back side of the convex portion. It is an object to provide an apparatus and a method capable of sterilizing an agent.

  The third object of the present invention is to sterilize the packaging material uniformly, sufficiently efficiently and accurately without requiring a wide installation space, low cost, low maintenance cost, and without restricting the packaging material. It is to provide an apparatus and method capable of

In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention provides:
A spray sterilization device for spraying and sterilizing a packaging material with a mist sterilizing agent such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution,
A spray member for spraying a mist-like disinfectant;
An electrode core that is provided near the injection port of the spray member and charges the mist-like disinfectant;
An earth electrode plate provided below the packaging material to which the mist-like disinfectant is sprayed;
It is a spray sterilizer characterized by comprising.

Next, the invention according to claim 2 of the present invention is as follows:
A mist-like disinfectant such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution is charged, and this charged mist-like disinfectant is electrostatically sprayed from the spray port of the injection member toward the packaging material on the opposite side, and attached to the packaging material, and the packaging A spray sterilization method for packaging material, characterized in that the material is sprayed and sterilized toward the packaging material on which a ground electrode plate is arranged.

  The sterilizing apparatus of the present invention charges the mist-like disinfectant and adheres to the packaging material using the static electricity. Therefore, even if the packaging material has a recess or a protrusion, the inner periphery of the recess or the protrusion The disinfectant can be uniformly and sufficiently efficiently attached to the back side of the film.

  In addition, the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention allows the sterilizing agent to adhere uniformly and sufficiently efficiently to the inner surface of the bag, bottle, container, etc., even in a plastic bag, a plastic bottle, or a paper container having a small spout. Can be sterilized.

  Furthermore, since it is not necessary to increase the spraying pressure for spraying the bactericidal agent, the bactericidal agent is rarely sprayed to an extra portion, and the amount of use is reduced.

  Further, the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention can easily replace the sterilizing agent injection member depending on the form of the packaging material, etc., and can uniformly sterilize the sterilizing agent uniformly and sufficiently on the packaging material.

  Moreover, since the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention does not require the use of a spray when atomizing the sterilizing agent, the spray nozzle, the piping pipe for feeding the sterilizing agent, etc. may be clogged or the spray nozzle may be defective. Not at all.

  Also, when the operation is stopped during the sterilization operation due to troubles with the device, and the operation is started again, it is not necessary to wait for the heating temperature of the heating unit to rise to a certain temperature, and the operation is stopped, stopped, and restarted at the same time. Operational operation is possible.

  Moreover, since the sterilization apparatus of the present invention has almost no heater heating portion, there is no damage to the apparatus due to heating.

  Furthermore, the sterilization apparatus of the present invention is compact without complicated structures and mechanisms and can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, by not using a lamp for sterilization irradiation such as a light-emitting lamp, the maintenance cost including the power consumption cost is low.

  In addition, after the sterilizing agent is atomized, it is mixed with hot air in the mixed flow part to form finer particles, so that the sterilizing agent can be reliably and uniformly and sufficiently efficiently attached to the packaging material. .

  A sterilization apparatus and a sterilization method of the present invention will be described in detail according to an embodiment with reference to the drawings. 1 to 7 show an embodiment of the present invention.

  The sterilization apparatus of the present invention is a sterilization apparatus that sterilizes a packaging material such as food by spraying a sterilizing agent. Examples of foods include alcoholic beverages such as alcohol, wine and whiskey; non-alcoholic beverages such as water, juice, coffee and tea; desserts such as jelly and pudding. In addition to long packaging materials, the packaging materials include paper containers, plastic containers, plastic cups, plastic bottles, and the like.

  In addition, the bactericidal agent according to the present invention may be any liquid as long as it has a bactericidal action or an antibacterial action, such as a liquid or solid bactericidal component in the form of an aqueous solution. For example, peracetic acid water, hydrogen peroxide water containing peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide water, ozone water, ethanol, saline, electrolytic acid water, organic acid solution, inorganic acid solution, and the like. In addition, although these bactericides depend on the type of bactericidal component, it is preferable to use those having an active ingredient concentration of 0.1 to 10% by weight in terms of shortening the bactericidal time and removing the remaining antibacterial component.

  The packaging material according to the present invention may be a laminated film obtained by laminating a base film and another film, or a base film coated with a paint. Examples of the base film include low density polyethylene resin, medium density polyethylene resin, high density polyethylene resin, linear low density polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer resin, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. Polymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, ethylene-propylene copolymer, polymethylpentene resin, polybutene polymer resin; polyolefin such as polyethylene or polypropylene Acid-modified polyolefin resin obtained by modifying acrylic resin with unsaturated carboxylic acid such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid; polyvinyl acetate resin, poly (meth) acrylic resin, polyvinyl Films such as thermoplastic resins such as a resin is suitable, it is a film of stretched or unstretched.

  Examples of the other film include polyterephthalic acid ester, polypropylene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyamide, saponified polyvinyl chloride ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic Examples thereof include a film based resin, a film of cellulose acetate, a film such as cellophane, paper, synthetic paper, and aluminum foil.

  Moreover, when a gas barrier property is required for the packaging material, a packaging material having a gas barrier layer can be used. As the gas barrier layer, for example, an inorganic oxide thin film or a gas barrier resin layer can be used.

  Examples of the inorganic oxide thin film include a thin film obtained by making a metal oxide amorphous. Examples of the inorganic oxide include silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), tin (Sn), sodium (Na), boron (B), titanium ( Oxides such as Ti), lead (Pb), zirconium (Zr), yttrium (Y) can be used.

  Gas barrier resin layers include ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer film, polyvinyl alcohol film, saponified ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer film, polyethylene terephthalate film, polyamide film, polyvinyl alcohol film, polychlorinated various films. A film coated with vinylidene, aluminum foil or the like can be used.

Next, FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an outline of one embodiment of the sterilization apparatus of the present invention. In FIG.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a liquid storage tank for storing a bactericide such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution. The liquid storage tank 1 includes a liquid storage transfer pipe 10, and the liquid storage transfer pipe 10 forms a spray via a filter 5, a switching valve 6, a filter 7, a liquid supply pump 3, a filter 24, and an electromagnetic valve 4. Connected to the unit 2.

  In addition, the electromagnetic valve 4 is used for switching to send a necessary sterilizing agent to the spray forming unit 2 and to send an unnecessary sterilizing agent to the liquid storage tank 1.

  In addition, an ultrasonic generator is provided below the bottom of the spray forming unit 2. Then, the disinfectant stored in the spray forming unit 2 is atomized by the ultrasonic generator and introduced into the hot air blowing pipe 28 from the ascending pipe 9.

  On the other hand, the sterilization apparatus of the present invention is provided with an air generation unit 21, which is connected to a hot air blower pipe 28 via a flow control valve 20, a flow meter 19, and an air filter 17. ing. The air generated in the air generating unit 21 is heated by the air heating unit 16 to become hot air, and is mixed with the mist-like disinfectant in the hot air blowing pipe 28.

  Furthermore, the hot air blower pipe 28 is connected to the chamber 25, and the mixed hot air and the mist-like sterilizing agent are introduced into the sterilizing unit 26 in the chamber 25.

  A temperature of about 40 ° C. to 150 ° C. is appropriately selected and used as the temperature of the mist sterilizing agent introduced into the sterilizing unit 26 according to the packaging material.

  Moreover, although the magnitude | size of the atomized germicide particle | grains introduce | transduced into the sterilization part 26 is not specifically limited, The smaller one is preferable, for example, is 10 micrometers-30 micrometers.

  The hot air blowing pipe 28 between the air heating unit 16 and the sterilizing unit 33 is kept warm by a heat insulating material 45.

  Further, although not shown in the drawing, a temperature sensor for controlling the temperature of hot air is provided in the vicinity of the inlet of the sterilizing section 26 of the hot air blowing pipe 28. By this temperature sensor, the disinfectant adhered to the packaging material can always be controlled at an appropriate temperature.

  Further, the mist sterilizing agent is introduced into the sterilizing section 26 of the chamber 25 by the hot air in the hot air blowing pipe 28.

  The filter 5 removes suspended substances and suspended substances or foreign matters mixed in the bactericide. As the filter 5, for example, a filter press (a filtration device for performing a liquid to be filtered through a filter paper or a filter cloth) can be used.

  Furthermore, the switching valve 6 only needs to be capable of switching the liquid feeding direction when the bactericide is fed in the direction of the spray forming unit 2 and when the bactericide in the liquid storage tank 1 is replaced or discarded. . For example, a three-way valve can be used.

  There are many valves such as bronze, cast steel or forged steel, but stainless steel is preferable.

Further, a liquid storage tank drainage switching valve 30 for discharging the bactericidal agent stored in the liquid storage tank 1 is provided on the bottom lower surface of the liquid storage tank 1. The valve 30 may be made of bronze, cast steel or forged steel, but is preferably made of stainless steel.

  Further, a turbo pump can be used as the liquid supply pump 3 of the liquid storage tank 1. For example, a centrifugal pump, a mixed flow pump, or an axial pump.

  A positive displacement pump can also be used as the liquid supply pump 3. For example, a reciprocating pump or a rotary pump. Alternatively, a special pump can be used as the liquid supply pump 3. For example, a vortex pump, a bubble pump, a water hammer pump, a viscous pump, or the like. Among these, a turbo pump that can be applied to the discharge amount and the total head (all heads produced by pump operation) is desirable.

  Further, although not shown in the figure, the concentration of the bactericide stored in the liquid storage tank 1 is also measured by the sensor. For this reason, the density can be adjusted by a signal from the control panel, and the density is always kept constant.

  The air generating unit 21 has an air blower as an air supply source and a filter connected to the air blower via a duct. Further, an air compressor can be used as an air supply source instead of the air blower. In this case, compressed air is supplied from an air compressor. Further, a drain drain pipe 22 for discharging water droplets or the like generated when compressed air or the like is supplied, and a switching valve 23 at the tip of the drain pipe 22 are provided below the air generating section 21.

  Further, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, a flow control valve 20 is provided to change the supply amount of air generated by the air generation unit 21.

  As the flow rate control valve 20, a throttle valve, a slow return valve, a flow rate adjustment valve, a bypass type flow rate adjustment valve, a diversion valve, or the like can be used. The flow rate adjusting valve, bypass type flow rate adjusting valve, diversion valve and the like generally have a pressure compensation function, and can maintain a constant flow rate regardless of a pressure change caused by a back pressure or a load.

  Moreover, in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, the flowmeter 17 which measures the flow volume of air is provided, and it can be confirmed whether the flow volume is blowing as set. As the flow meter 17, for example, a volumetric flow meter, an ultrasonic flow meter, an electromagnetic flow meter, a Karman vortex flow meter, a Thomas meter, a gas meter, or the like can be used. As the volumetric flow meter, for example, a reciprocating piston type, a root type, a vane type, a drum type, and a back type are commercially available at low cost.

  An air filter 18 is provided between the flow meter 17 and the air heating unit 16. The air filter 18 separates gas from solid substances such as dust and solids and liquids. Various types of air filters 18 can be used according to the purpose of use, and there are many types. Examples thereof include a filter using glass wool, glass wool membrane, stainless steel net, sintered alloy, ceramic or the like as a filter element (filter material). The material and the like are appropriately selected according to the size of the filter element mesh and the like depending on the dust particles.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an outline of one embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the hot air blowing pipe 28 and the injection member 40 are connected to each other at the sterilization unit 26 in the chamber 25, and the sterilizing agent is sprayed from the injection port 51 of the injection member 40 toward the surface of the packaging material 35. The

The injection member 40 and the hot air blowing pipe 28 are a ferrule union 46 shown in FIG.
Connected by. The ferrule union 46 is connected by a joint ring 50 via a ferrule gasket according to ferrules 47 and 48. By being connected by the ferrule union 46, the injection member 40 can be easily attached and can be easily removed. Furthermore, sanitary correspondence is made.

  Examples of the ferrule gasket include silicon, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene diene ternary copolymer rubber (EPDM), fluoropropylene methacrylate copolymer (FPM), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), and the like. These materials are appropriately used.

  In addition, an electrode core 34 is embedded in the vicinity of the injection port 51 of the injection member 40, a negative high voltage is applied by the DC power supply 31, and the sprayed mist-like disinfectant 36 is charged with a negative charge by corona discharge. Let

  Furthermore, the strip | belt-shaped member 32 which is drive | working in the same direction as the direction which a packaging material drive | works is provided in the lower direction where the packaging material 35 drive | works. A ground electrode (positive electrode) plate 33 is grounded on the back side of the belt-like member 32.

  The mist-like disinfectant 36 is electrostatically attached to the packaging material 35 by an electric field existing between the electrode core of the ejection member 40 and the ground electrode plate 33. After that, the packaging material is heated by the heating unit 37, and the sterilizing agent 36 is decomposed or dried.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an outline of another embodiment of the packaging material sterilizing apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the chamber 25 is provided with a belt-like member 32, a transport belt 55 on which the packaging material is placed, and a carry-out belt 56 for transferring the sterilized packaging material to the next process. . The packaging material (for example, the paper container 41 shown in FIG. 3 or the plastic bottle 42 shown in FIG. 4) is carried by the conveyor belt 55 and placed on the belt-like member 32. Then, while the belt-like member 32 is traveling, the sterilizing agent 36 is sprayed from the injection port 51 of the injection member 40.

  The sterilizing agent 36 is electrostatically attached to the packaging material 35 by an electric field existing between the electrode core of the ejection member 40 and the ground electrode plate 33. After that, the packaging material is heated by the heating unit 37, and the sterilizing agent 36 is decomposed or dried.

  Next, FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an outline of another embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 5, a cylindrical container 43 having a small opening 54 on the upper surface is applied as a packaging material.

  Conventionally, when the inside of a container having such a shape is sterilized, the mist-like sterilizing agent 36 is sprayed from the opening 54. However, it is difficult to sterilize the inner surface of the upper top plate 44, and the spraying time is lengthened. Or increased spraying pressure for spraying. Even so, it was very difficult to adhere the mist-like disinfectant 36 uniformly and sufficiently on the inner surface of the upper top plate 44.

  Further, in FIG. 5, a tapered injection member 40 configured to be substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the size of the opening 54 of the cylindrical container 43 is used. The injection member 40 is connected to the hot air blowing pipe 28 by a rule union 46. An electrode core 34 is embedded in the vicinity of the injection port 51 of the injection member 40, and a negative high voltage is applied by the DC power supply 31. And the mist-like disinfectant 36 sprayed from the injection port 51 of the injection member 40 is charged with a negative charge by corona discharge.

Further, a band-shaped member 32 is provided in the lower direction where the cylindrical container 43 is placed, and a ground electrode (positive electrode) plate 33 is grounded on the back side of the band-shaped member 32. The mist-like disinfectant 36 is carried and electrostatically attached to the inside of the cylindrical container 43 by an electric field that exists between the electrode core of the ejection member 40 and the ground electrode plate 33. For this reason, the sterilizing agent 36 such as a mist-like hydrogen oxide aqueous solution adheres to the inner surface of the upper top plate 44 of the cylindrical container 43 uniformly and sufficiently efficiently.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an outline of another embodiment of the sterilizing apparatus of the present invention. In FIG. 6, the packaging bag 60 with a spout is used as a packaging material.

  Also in FIG. 6, a taper-shaped injection member 40 provided with an injection port 51 that is substantially the same as or slightly smaller than the size of the injection port opening 52 of the packaging bag with injection port 53 is used. The injection member 40 is connected to the hot air blowing pipe 28 by a rule union 46. An electrode core 34 is embedded in the vicinity of the injection port 51 of the injection member 40, and a negative high voltage is applied by the DC power supply 31. And the mist-like disinfectant 36 sprayed from the injection port 51 of the injection member 40 is charged with a negative charge by corona discharge.

  Further, a band-shaped member 32 is provided in a lower direction where the packaging bag with spout 53 is placed, and a ground electrode (positive electrode) plate 33 is grounded on the back side of the band-shaped member 32. Then, the mist-like disinfectant 36 is carried and electrostatically attached to the inside of the packaging bag with spout 53 by the electric field existing between the electrode core of the ejection member 40 and the ground electrode plate 33. For this reason, the sterilizing agent 36 such as a mist-like hydrogen oxide aqueous solution adheres to the inner surface of the upper top plate 44 of the cylindrical container 43 uniformly and sufficiently efficiently.

  The spray sterilization apparatus of the present invention can be applied to sterilization of long packaging materials or food packaging materials such as plastic containers, plastic cups, and plastic bottles. In addition, it can be used in a wide range of fields, such as sterilization of various equipment used in operating rooms and clean rooms.

It is the schematic which shows the outline of one Example of the spray sterilizer of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of one Example of the sterilization part of the spray sterilization apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of other one Example of the sterilization part of the spray sterilization apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of other one Example of the sterilization part of the spray sterilization apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of other one Example of the sterilization part of the spray sterilization apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of other one Example of the sterilization part of the spray sterilization apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the connection member used for the sterilization part of the spray sterilization apparatus of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the sterilizer currently used conventionally. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the sterilizer currently used conventionally. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the sterilizer currently used conventionally.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Liquid storage tank 2 ... Spray formation part 3 ... Liquid supply pump 4 ... Electromagnetic valve 5 ... Filter 6 ... Switching valve 7 ... Filter 8 ... Filter 9 ... Ascending pipe 10 ... Flow pipe 11 ... Filter 12 ... Return pipe 13 ... Switching Valve 14 ... Mixed flow part 15 ... Air filter 16 ... Air heating part 17 ... Air blow pipe 18 ... Filter 19 ... Flow meter 20 ... Flow control valve 21 ... Air generation part 22 ... Drain pipe 23 ... Switching valve 24 ... Filter 25 ... Chamber DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 26 ... Sterilization part 27 ... Drying part 28 ... Hot air ventilation pipe 29 ... Reservoir drainage pipe 30 ... Reservoir drainage changeover valve 31 ... DC power supply 32 ... Strip member 33 ... Ground electrode plate 34 ... Electrode core 35 ... Packaging material 36: Atomizing hydrogen peroxide solution or other sterilizing agent 37 ... Heating unit 38 ... Unwinding part 39 ... Winding part 40 ... Injection member 41 ... Paper packaging container 42 ... Plastic bottle 43 ... Cylindrical container 44 ... Upper top plate 45 ... Insulating material 46 ... Ferrule union 47 ... Ferrule 48 ... Ferrule 49 ... Ferrule gasket 50 ... Joint ring 51 ... Injection port 52 ... Packaging bag with spout 53 ... Spout opening 54 ... Opening 55 ... Conveying belt 56 ... Unloading belt

Claims (2)

A spray sterilization device for spraying and sterilizing a packaging material with a mist sterilizing agent such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution,
A spray member for spraying a mist-like disinfectant;
An electrode core that is provided near the injection port of the spray member and charges the mist-like disinfectant;
An earth electrode plate provided below the packaging material to which the mist-like disinfectant is sprayed;
A spray sterilization apparatus for packaging material, comprising:   A packaging material characterized by charging a mist sterilizing agent such as an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution and spraying the charged mist sterilizing agent toward the packaging material having a ground electrode plate disposed on the opposite side. Spray sterilization method.

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