JP2007076704A - Electron beam sterilizer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electron beam sterilizer for sterilizing a bottle cap at a low cost. <P>SOLUTION: This electron beam sterilizer is provided with a first transfer part for guiding a PET bottle along the first pathway, a second transfer part for guiding a bottle cap along the second pathway and an electron beam irradiating device for irradiating the first pathway with an electron beam generated by an electron beam generator at the first timing and for irradiating slantingly the second pathway at the second timing. Provision cost is reduced because the bottle and the cap are sterilized in parallel by one electron beam generator. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for sterilizing a bottle cap.

  In the process of manufacturing food containers such as PET bottles, filling the contents, and attaching the bottle caps, sterilization technology is important. Usually, sterilization is performed using a chemical exemplified by hydrogen peroxide.

  A technique for sterilizing using an electron beam instead of using a drug has been studied. Since sterilization using an electron beam does not use a drug, it is excellent in that the cost of the drug is unnecessary and a process of rinsing the drug is not required.

Patent Document 1 discloses a cap sterilization apparatus that can perform sterilization in a short time, enables high-speed operation of the line, and does not require an increase in the size of the entire apparatus. Is described.
JP 2002-128030 A

An object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam sterilization apparatus that enables a bottle cap to be sterilized reliably.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam sterilizer having a simple configuration.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive electron beam sterilizer.

  In the following, means for solving the problem will be described using the numbers used in [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention] in parentheses. These numbers are added to clarify the correspondence between the description of [Claims] and [Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention]. However, these numbers should not be used to interpret the technical scope of the invention described in [Claims].

  The electron beam sterilizer according to the present invention includes a first transport unit that guides the first transported object (52) along the first path (18), and a second transported object (54) along the second path (20). A second transport section for guiding the electron beam and an electron beam generator (36), and the electron beam generated by the electron beam generator (36) is irradiated to the first path (18) at a first timing to generate an electron beam. An electron beam irradiation device (21) that deflects an electron beam generated by the device (36) at a second timing and irradiates the second path (20);

  According to such a configuration, efficient sterilization can be performed by time-sharing a single electron beam generator for a sterilization object conveyed along each of a plurality of paths, for example, a bottle and a bottle cap. Is possible. There may be three or more transport paths. In that case, the electron beam generator irradiates the electron beam by time sharing with respect to three or more paths.

  In the electron beam sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, the second transport unit supports the cap (54) attached to the container (52) as the first transported object as the second transported object.

  In the electron beam sterilizer according to the present invention, the electron beam irradiation device (21) irradiates the first path (18) with an electron beam along the first scanning direction (y). The projection of the first scanning direction (y) onto the horizontal plane is inclined with respect to the projection of the first path (18) onto the horizontal plane.

  In the electron beam sterilizer according to the present invention, the electron beam irradiation device (21) irradiates the second path (20) with an electron beam along a second scanning direction substantially parallel to the first scanning direction (y).

  In the electron beam sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, the first path (18) and the second path (20) are substantially parallel. The electron beam irradiation device (21) irradiates the second path (20) with an electron beam along a second scanning direction parallel to the second path (20).

  In the electron beam sterilization apparatus according to the present invention, the first path (18) and the second path (20) have different heights in the vertical direction.

In the electron beam sterilizer according to the present invention, the electron beam irradiation device (21) includes a first scan horn that spreads from the electron beam generator (36) in the direction of the first path (18) at a first scan angle (θ _M ). And a second scan horn extending from the electron beam generator (36) in the direction of the second path (20) at a second scan angle (θ _S ) smaller than the first scan angle.

  In the electron beam sterilizer according to the present invention, the second transport unit guides the second transported object (54) along the second path (20) so as to pass through the second path (20) with rotation.

  In the filling system according to the present invention, the electron beam sterilizer according to the present invention, the sterilization chamber (4) in which the electron beam sterilizer is installed, and the first transported object irradiated with the electron beam in the sterilization chamber are automatically carried. A filling chamber (8), a filling device (30) which is installed in the filling chamber and fills the content through the opening of the first conveyed product, and the first conveyed product and the sterilization chamber filled with the content in the filling chamber The capper chamber (10) in which the second transported object irradiated with the electron beam is automatically carried, and the capper device installed in the capper chamber and closing the opening of the first transported object by mounting the second transported object (32).

  An electron beam sterilization apparatus according to the present invention stores a first path and a second path, and includes a sterilization chamber having a higher cleanliness than the outside. A part of the surface of the electron beam irradiation apparatus including the electron beam irradiation port is located inside the sterilization chamber. The other part of the surface is located outside.

ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electron beam sterilizer which makes it possible to sterilize a bottle cap reliably is provided.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, an electron beam sterilization apparatus with a simple configuration is provided.
Furthermore, according to the present invention, an inexpensive electron beam sterilizer is provided.

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

(First embodiment)
The cap sterilization apparatus in the present embodiment is used to sterilize the plastic bottle 52 and the bottle cap 54. FIG. 23 shows the configuration of the bottle cap 54. The bottle cap 54 has a cylindrical shape that is substantially rotationally symmetric about the central axis 66. The bottle cap 54 has a side surface 80 that is a cylindrical curved surface exposed to the outside when attached to the plastic bottle 52. The side surface 80 is provided with irregularities orthogonal to the circumferential direction. The bottle cap 54 has an upper surface 82 that is a circular surface exposed to the outside when the bottle cap 52 is attached to the plastic bottle 52. An opening 86 for screwing into the plastic bottle 52 is provided on the opposite side of the upper surface. On the inner side surface 84 on the inner side of the opening 86, a female screw that is screwed with a male screw provided on the PET bottle 52 is provided.

  FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a food container filling system to which the bottle cap sterilizer according to the present embodiment is applied. The food container filling system 2 includes a sterilization chamber 4, a rinse rinser chamber 6, a filling chamber 8, and a capper chamber 10 in order from the upstream side along the flow of the PET bottle 52. These rooms are all clean rooms.

  The sterilization chamber 4 has a bottle inlet 12 for introducing a plastic bottle 52 filled with a beverage into the sterilization chamber 4 and a predetermined bottle path 18 from the bottle inlet 12 to the inlet of the rinse chamber 6. And a transport device that transports along In the middle of the bottle path 18, an electron beam irradiation device 21 for sterilizing the plastic bottle 52 by irradiating it with an electron beam is installed. The sterilization chamber 4 further includes a cap inlet 14 for introducing the bottle cap 54 into the sterilization chamber 4 and a transport device for guiding the bottle cap 54 introduced from the cap inlet 14 to the outside of the sterilization chamber 4 along the cap path 20. Prepare. A part of the cap path 20 is located in the irradiation range of the electron beam by the electron beam irradiation device 21. A cap feeding device 16 for sending the bottle cap 54 to the electron beam irradiation device 21 is installed on the upstream side of the irradiation range. On the downstream side of the irradiation range, a cap receiving device 24 for receiving the bottle cap 54 sent from the electron beam irradiation device 21 and sending it to the downstream side is installed. The bottle cap 54 sent from the cap receiving device 24 is transported from the sterilization chamber 4 to the capper chamber 10 in a sterile environment along the cap path 26.

  The rinse rinser chamber 6 includes a rinse rinser 28 which is a device for rinsing the plastic bottle 52 conveyed from the sterilization chamber 4 with water, air, and the like, and a conveyance device for conveying the rinsed plastic bottle 52 to the filling chamber 8. The filling chamber 8 includes a filling machine 30 that is a device that fills the plastic bottle 52 that has been transported from the rinse rinser chamber 6 and a transport device that transports the plastic bottle 52 filled with the beverage to the capper chamber 10. The capper chamber 10 includes a capper 32 which is a device for mounting the bottle cap 54 transported through the cap path 26 to the PET bottle 52 transported from the filling chamber 8, and the PET bottle 52 mounted with the bottle cap 54. And a transport device for transporting to the bottle outlet 34.

  FIG. 2 is a front view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. The electron beam irradiation device 21 is installed so that the positive direction of the z axis in the orthogonal coordinate system depicted in the drawing, that is, the upper side of FIG. The electron beam irradiation device 21 includes an electron beam supply unit 36. The electron beam supply unit 36 can supply the electron beam while scanning in the y-axis direction of FIG. The energy of the electron beam is about 900 KeV.

  The electron beam irradiation device 21 further includes a scan horn 22a. The scan horn 22a has a cavity through which an electron beam supplied by the electron beam supply unit 36 passes. The cavity has a tapered shape extending from the electron beam supply unit 36 downward in the vertical direction in the scanning direction of the electron beam. The cavity inside the scan horn 22a is bifurcated in the x-axis direction as will be described later. The lower end of the first branched cavity is sealed with a thin film attached to the main electron beam irradiation port 38. The lower end of the second branched cavity is sealed with a thin film attached to the sub electron beam irradiation port not drawn because it overlaps the main electron beam irradiation port 38.

  The main electron beam irradiation port 38 and the sub electron beam irradiation port face the inside of the sterilization chamber 4. Of the electron beam irradiation device 21, the portion excluding the main electron beam irradiation port 38 and the sub electron beam irradiation port is preferably located outside the sterilization chamber 4. Outside, the required cleanliness is lower than in the sterilization chamber 4. According to such a structure, it is easy to maintain the part located outside the sterilization chamber in the electron beam generator.

  A path through which the plastic bottle 52 passes is installed in an irradiation range where the electron beam is irradiated by the electron beam irradiation device 21. The PET bottle 52 is supported by the support member from below. The pipe screw 40-1 conveys the PET bottle 52 in a direction parallel to the rotation axis by rotating around the rotation axis supported by the bearing 42-1. A reflection plate 46 that reflects an electron beam is installed on the lower side in the vertical direction of the conveyance path of the PET bottle 52. On the upper side of the pipe screw, a reflection plate 48 that reflects an electron beam is installed at a position where the height of the upper portion of the PET bottle 52 overlaps. On the opposite side of the pipe screw 40-1 with respect to the bearing 42-1, a reflecting plate 44-1 is installed at a position where the height of the pipe screw 40-1 overlaps with the conveying path of the plastic bottle 52. .

  FIG. 3 is a top view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. As described above, the lower end of the scan horn 22a branches into the main electron beam irradiation port 38 and the sub electron beam irradiation port 50a. In FIG. 3, the electron beam supply unit 36 and the scan horn 22a are omitted, and the main electron beam irradiation port 38, the sub electron beam irradiation port 50a, and the configuration vertically below the main electron beam irradiation port 38 are depicted.

  The longitudinal direction of the main electron beam irradiation port 38 and the longitudinal direction of the sub electron beam irradiation port 50a are substantially parallel. Below the main electron beam irradiation port 38, a conveyance path for the PET bottle 52 is installed. The projection on the horizontal plane in the conveyance direction of the PET bottle 52 and the projection on the horizontal plane in the longitudinal direction of the main electron beam irradiation port 38 are not parallel but inclined. In FIG. 3, the plastic bottle 52 is transported in the positive direction of the y-axis and is transported in the negative direction of the x-axis at a lower speed than the y-direction.

  The PET bottle 52 is centered on the bearing 42-2 with one side in contact with the reflector 44-1 and the other side in contact with the pipe screw 40-2 in the upstream region of the electron beam irradiation range. It is conveyed downstream by the rotation of the pipe screw 40-2.

  The PET bottle 52 has one side in contact with the pipe screw 40-1 in the middle region of the electron beam irradiation range (that is, the downstream side of the bearing 42-1 and the upstream side of the bearing 42-2). With the side surface in contact with the pipe screw 40-2, the pipe screws 40-1 and 40-2 rotating at the same speed are conveyed downstream.

  In the PET bottle 52, one side surface is in contact with the reflector 44-2 and the other side surface is in contact with the pipe screw 40-1 in the downstream region of the electron beam irradiation range (that is, downstream side of the bearing 42-2). In this state, it is conveyed downstream by the rotation of the pipe screw 40-1.

  A cap path 20a through which the bottle cap 54 passes is installed below the sub electron beam irradiation port 50a. In the electron beam irradiation range, the longitudinal direction of the sub electron beam irradiation port 50a and the flow direction of the cap path 20a are substantially parallel.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. The cc cross section of FIG. 3 is depicted. The scan horn 22a is bifurcated downward from the electron beam supply unit 36. The scan horn 22a ensures a main electron beam path through which the main electron beam 56 passes and a sub electron beam path 58 through which the sub electron beam 58 passes. The path of the main electron beam 56 and the path of the sub electron beam 58 form an angle α. The main electron beam scanning angle θ _M shown in FIG. 2 is the scanning angle of the main electron beam 56. The sub electron beam irradiation angle θ _S is a scanning angle of the sub electron beam 58. In the present embodiment, the main electron beam scanning angle θ _M = the sub electron beam scanning angle θ _S.

  In the cap path 20a, the bottle cap 54 is disposed so that the opening 86 faces the sub electron beam irradiation port 50a. By arrange | positioning in this direction, the inner surface 84 which contact | connects the space filled with a drink is disinfected more highly.

FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing a method for controlling the electron beam supply unit 36 by a control device (not shown) included in the electron beam irradiation device 21. The electron gun provided in the electron beam supply unit 36 is supplied with a current at a predetermined cycle to generate an electron beam pulse. In synchronization with the generation timing of the electron beam, a current is passed through the scanning magnet for deflecting the direction of the electron beam in the scanning direction (y-axis direction). Due to the magnetic field generated by the scanning magnet, the electron beam scans the angle θ _M = θ _S during one pulse.

  In FIG. 5, a current is supplied to the sub-scanning magnet for deflecting the electron beam in the sub-scanning direction once every six pulses of the electron beam. At this time, the electron beam is deflected in the sub-scanning direction (x-axis direction). When no current is supplied to the sub-scanning magnet, the electron beam is supplied in the direction of the main electron beam 56. When current is supplied to the sub-scanning magnet, the electron beam is supplied in the direction of the sub-electron beam 58.

  FIG. 18 shows a configuration in the vicinity of the cap path 20. In the cap path 20, a cap feeding device 16a is installed on the upstream side of the electron beam irradiation range. A cap receiving device 24a is installed on the downstream side of the electron beam irradiation range.

  FIG. 19 is an enlarged view of the bottle cap 54 and the cap path 20 as viewed from a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the cap path 20. The cap path 20 includes a first side guide 60, a second side guide 62, and an upper surface guide 64. These are hollow stainless steel tubes arranged parallel to each other with the extending direction of the cap path 20 as the longitudinal direction. These are installed to be inclined so that the downstream side is positioned lower than the upstream side.

  When the cap feeding device 16a is given a sufficient initial speed to the bottle cap 54, the cap path 20 may be installed such that the extending direction is horizontal.

  The first side guide 60 and the second side guide 62 contact the side surface 80 from the lower side in the vertical direction. The second side guide 62 is closer to the center of the electron beam irradiation range than the first side guide 60. The second side guide 62 is disposed at a higher position than the first side guide 60. A line connecting the point where the first side guide 60 contacts the bottle cap 54 and the point where the second side guide 62 contacts the bottle cap 54 and the horizontal plane form an angle β.

  The upper surface guide 64 contacts the upper surface 82 from the lower side in the vertical direction. The bottle cap 54 is supported by the first side surface guide 60, the second side surface guide 62, and the upper surface guide 64 with the opening 86 facing obliquely upward.

  In FIG. 19, the central axis 66 forms a positive angle β with respect to the horizontal plane, and the opening 86 faces obliquely upward. Since the electron beam is irradiated from above, it is preferable that the inner surface 84 of the bottle cap 54 is reliably sterilized when the opening 86 faces upward. When the energy of the electron beam irradiated by the electron beam irradiation device 21 is sufficiently high, the inner side surface 84 is surely sterilized even if the opening 86 of the bottle cap 54 does not face upward. In this case, for example, the angle β may be zero, and the upper surface guide 64 may be in contact with the upper surface 82 of the bottle cap 54 from the horizontal direction.

  A cooling fluid, such as cooling water, flows through the first side guide 60, the second side guide 62, and the upper surface guide 64.

  The food container filling system 2 having the above configuration operates as follows.

  The plastic bottle 52 before the bottle cap 54 is attached is introduced into the sterilization chamber 4 from the bottle inlet 12. A bottle cap 54 is introduced into the sterilization chamber 4 from the cap inlet 14. The PET bottle 52 is transported by the transport device and reaches the electron beam irradiation device 21.

  The bottle cap 54 rolls while being accelerated by the cap feeding device 16a. The bottle cap 54 reaches the electron beam irradiation device 21 in a state where the side surface 80 is in rolling contact with the first side surface guide 60 and the second side surface guide 62 and the upper surface 82 is supported from below by the upper surface guide 64.

  The electron beam supply unit 36 supplies an electron beam. The electron beam is deflected in the y-axis direction by a scanning magnet. The main electron beam 56 exits from the main electron beam irradiation port 38 and scans the plastic bottle 52. The PET bottle 52 is sterilized by an electron beam. The pipe screws 40-1 and 40-2 are heated by being irradiated with an electron beam. The cooling water is caused to flow inside the pipe screws 40-1 and 40-2, thereby suppressing an increase in temperature. The sterilized plastic bottle 52 is transported to the rinse rinser chamber 6 by the transport device.

  The electron beam is deflected in the x-axis direction by one sub-scanning magnet every six pulses. The sub electron beam 58 exits from the sub electron beam irradiation port 50a and is irradiated to the bottle cap 54. The bottle cap 54 is sterilized by an electron beam. The first side guide 60, the second side guide 62, and the upper surface guide 64 are heated by being irradiated with an electron beam. As the cooling water flows inside the first side guide 60, the second side guide 62, and the upper surface guide 64, an increase in temperature is suppressed. The sterilized bottle cap 54 is conveyed to the cap receiving device 24 and sent to the capper chamber 10 through the cap path 26.

  The PET bottle 52 is rinsed in the rinse rinser chamber 6, filled with a beverage in the filling chamber 8, and conveyed to the capper chamber 10. The capper 32 attaches a bottle cap 54 to the plastic bottle 52. The plastic bottle 52 to which the bottle cap 54 is attached is carried out from the bottle outlet 34.

  Such a food container filling system 2 is low in cost and compact in equipment because the PET bottle 52 and the bottle cap 54 are sterilized by the electron beam supplied from the same electron gun. Since the PET bottle 52 and the bottle cap 54 are sterilized by the electron beam, no sterilizing / cleaning chemicals are required. Therefore, a means for preventing chemicals from remaining inside the bottle is omitted. Furthermore, since the chemical and water for rinsing the chemical are unnecessary, the running cost is suppressed.

(Second embodiment)
Other configurations may be applied as the electron beam irradiation device 21 of the food container filling system 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. In the electron beam irradiation apparatus 21 according to the present embodiment, the sub electron beam irradiation port 50b is located higher than the main electron beam irradiation port 38. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment. The scanning angle θ _M of the main electron beam and the scanning angle θ _S of the sub electron beam are the same angle. Therefore, the sub electron beam irradiation port 50 b is shorter in the scanning direction than the main electron beam irradiation port 38.

  FIG. 7 is a top view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. FIG. 8 is a side view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. The upper end of the cap path 20 b is at a position higher than the lower end of the main electron beam irradiation port 38. FIG. 9 is a timing chart showing a method in which a control device (not shown) provided in the electron beam irradiation device 21 controls the electron beam supply unit 36.

  According to such a configuration, the branch of the scan horn 22b on the sub-electron beam side and the position of the cap path 20b are higher than those in the first embodiment, and are further away from the conveyance path of the plastic bottle 52. Therefore, the positions of the transport device, the reflecting plate, etc. of the PET bottle 52 and the position of the transport device, the reflecting plate, etc. of the bottle cap 54 are difficult to interfere. As a result, design becomes easy and maintenance becomes easy.

(Third embodiment)
Still another configuration can be applied as the electron beam irradiation device 21 of the food container filling system 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is a front view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. In the present embodiment, the irradiation angle θ _S of the sub electron beam is smaller than the irradiation angle θ _M of the main electron beam, for example, θ _S = (1/2) θ _M. In FIG. 10, one end of the scanning angle of the main electron beam overlaps one end of the scanning angle of the sub electron beam, but the sub electron beam irradiation port should be installed at a position where the bottle path 18 and the cap path 20 do not interfere with each other. Is desirable.

  FIG. 11 is a top view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. The cap path 20c is refracted at a position downstream of the electron beam irradiation range by the sub electron beam irradiation port 50c and upstream of the downstream end of the main electron beam irradiation port 38. In particular, it is preferable to refract upward. FIG. 12 is a side view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21.

FIG. 13 is a timing chart showing a method of controlling the electron beam supply unit 36 by a control device (not shown) included in the electron beam irradiation device 21. When the sub-scanning magnet current flows, that is, when the electron beam is deflected toward the sub-electron beam irradiation port 50c, the scanning magnet current irradiates the main electron beam so that the sub-electron beam scans the angle θ _S. It changes in a smaller range than when you do.

  According to such a configuration, the branch on the sub-electron beam side of the scan horn 22c is smaller than that in the first embodiment. Further, since the cap path 20c is refracted, the branch on the sub-electron beam side of the scan horn 22c is made compact so that there is no empty space, or another member can be arranged. As a result, there is room in system design and maintenance is facilitated. From such a viewpoint, it is also preferable that the sub electron beam irradiation port 50c is arranged higher than the main electron beam irradiation port 38. In that case, it is more preferable that the upper end of the cap path 20 c is disposed above the lower end of the main electron beam irradiation port 38.

(Fourth embodiment)
Still another configuration can be applied as the electron beam irradiation device 21 of the food container filling system 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 14 is a front view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21. In the present embodiment, the sub-electron beam irradiation angle θ _S is smaller than the main electron beam irradiation angle θ _M , for example, θ _S = (1/2) θ _M. It is preferable that one end of the scanning angle of the main electron beam overlaps one end of the scanning angle of the sub electron beam.

  FIG. 15 is a top view showing the configuration of the electron beam sterilizer. The cap path 20 d is installed in parallel with the bottle path 18. The bottle path 18 is not parallel to the main electron beam irradiation port 38 but is inclined. The sub electron beam irradiation port 50d is provided in parallel to the cap path 20d. The projection of the sub electron beam irradiation port 50d onto the horizontal plane is not parallel to the projection of the main electron beam irradiation port 38 onto the horizontal plane, but is inclined.

  The cap path 20d is refracted at a position downstream of the electron beam irradiation range by the sub electron beam irradiation port 50d and upstream of the downstream end of the main electron beam irradiation port 38. In particular, it is preferable to refract upward. FIG. 16 is a side view showing the configuration of the electron beam irradiation device 21.

FIG. 17 is a timing chart showing a method in which a control device (not shown) included in the electron beam irradiation device 21 controls the electron beam supply unit 36. When the sub-scanning magnet current flows, that is, when the electron beam is deflected toward the sub-electron beam irradiation port 50c, the scanning magnet current irradiates the main electron beam so that the sub-electron beam scans the angle θ _S. It changes in a smaller range than when you do. When the sub-scanning magnet current is not applied, the electron beam is directed toward the main electron beam irradiation port 38. When a larger sub-scanning magnet current flows, the electron beam is deflected in a direction away from the main electron beam irradiation port 38 in the x-axis direction. In the present embodiment, since the sub electron beam irradiation port 50d is inclined with respect to the main electron beam irradiation port 38, the sub scanning is performed so that the sub electron beam 58 is irradiated along the sub electron beam irradiation port 50d. The magnet current changes as the scanning magnet current changes.

  According to such a configuration, since the bottle path 18 and the cap path 20 are parallel, the space of the transport line is compact.

(Fifth embodiment)
Instead of the configuration in the vicinity of the cap path 20 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, other configurations can be adopted. As such a configuration, FIG. 20 shows a cross-sectional view seen from a direction perpendicular to the extending direction of the cap path 20 of FIG. The cap path 20 includes an L-shaped member 68. A cooling pipe 70 through which a cooling fluid flows is provided in contact with the L-shaped member 68.

  The surface of the L-shaped member 68 is a metal. The L-shaped member 68 includes a first metal surface in which a line perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane, and a second metal layer disposed adjacent to the first metal surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. And a metal surface. The bottle cap 54 rolls along the L-shaped member 68. The side surface 80 of the bottle cap 54 is supported from below by the first metal surface and makes rolling contact. The upper surface 82 of the bottle cap 54 is supported on the second metal surface from below. The L-shaped member 68 is inclined so as to become lower toward the downstream side along the longitudinal direction.

  According to such a configuration, the electron beam irradiated from the sub electron beam irradiation port 50 is reflected by the L-shaped member and irradiated to the bottle cap 54. Therefore, the bottle cap 54 is sterilized more efficiently and uniformly.

(Sixth embodiment)
In place of the configuration in the vicinity of the cap path 20 shown in FIGS. 18 and 19, another configuration can be adopted. FIG. 21 is a front view of such a configuration, and FIG. 22 is a top view.

  The cap path 20 includes an upstream conveyor 72 and a downstream conveyor 74. The upper surface of the upstream conveyor 72 is made of metal. This upper surface is arranged horizontally and moves in the positive y-axis direction. The upper surface of the downstream conveyor 74 is made of metal. This upper surface is arranged horizontally and moves in the positive y-axis direction. The upstream conveyor 72 and the downstream conveyor 74 are adjacent to each other in the x-axis direction at the transition portion 76 without a gap.

  A guide rail 78 is fixed above the upstream conveyor 72 and the downstream conveyor 74. The guide rail 78 has a contact surface whose normal is horizontal. This contact surface is located above the upstream conveyor 72 on the upstream side of the transition portion. The contact surface is located above the downstream conveyor 74 on the downstream side of the transition portion 76. The projection of the guide rail 78 on the horizontal plane is inclined with respect to the projection of the sub electron beam irradiation port 50 on the horizontal plane.

  The cap feeding device 16 b supplies the bottle cap 54 to the upstream conveyor 72. The posture of the bottle cap 54 is preferably a posture in which the upper surface 82 is in contact with the upstream conveyor 72 and the opening 86 faces upward. When the energy of the electron beam is sufficiently high, since the bottle cap 54 is sufficiently sterilized without depending on the posture, the posture may be arbitrary. The position where the bottle cap 54 is supplied is upstream of the contact surface of the guide rail 78.

  The bottle cap 54 supplied by the cap feeding device 16 b is given a speed component in the positive direction of the y axis by the upstream conveyor 72 and the downstream conveyor 74. Due to the velocity component, the bottle cap 54 contacts the guide rail 78. The bottle cap 54 is given a velocity component in the positive direction of the x axis by the guide rail 78. The bottle cap 54 is conveyed downstream while maintaining contact with the guide rail 78. The bottle cap 54 rolls into contact with the guide rail 78 on the side surface 80 and rotates around the central axis 66.

  With the above configuration, the bottle cap 54 moves obliquely with respect to the sub electron beam irradiation port 50 and moves while rotating. By these movements, the bottle cap 54 is efficiently and uniformly irradiated with the electron beam. Since the opening 86 of the bottle cap 54 faces upward, the inside of the bottle cap 54 in contact with the space filled with the beverage is more highly sterilized. Since the surface of the conveyor is metal, the electron beam is reflected. The bottle cap 54 is further sterilized by the reflected electron beam. Since the conveyor is divided into the upstream conveyor 72 and the downstream conveyor 74, the bottle cap 54 already sterilized in the upstream conveyor 72 is supplied to the downstream conveyor 74. Is secured.

  As a modification of the above embodiment, the cap path 20 may include a plurality of rows of conveyance lines that convey the bottle caps 54. Furthermore, you may convey the bottle cap 54 with a pipe screw. In that case, the bottle cap 54 is conveyed with the opening 86 facing upward. The side surface 80 of the bottle cap 54 is conveyed by the pipe screw on the opposite side while contacting the fixing member on one side of the line. In the electron beam irradiation region, the bottle cap 54 translates with the pipe screw while rolling and contacting the fixing member.

FIG. 1 shows the configuration of a food container filling system. FIG. 2 shows a front view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 3 shows a top view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 4 shows a side view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the electron beam irradiation timing. FIG. 6 shows a front view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 7 shows a top view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 8 shows a side view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 9 is a timing chart for explaining the electron beam irradiation timing. FIG. 10 shows a front view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 11 shows a top view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 12 shows a side view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 13 is a timing chart for explaining the electron beam irradiation timing. FIG. 14 shows a front view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 15 shows a top view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 16 is a timing chart for explaining electron beam irradiation timing. FIG. 17 shows a front view of the electron beam sterilization unit. FIG. 18 is a front view showing the configuration of the bottle cap transport device. FIG. 19 is a side view of the bottle cap. FIG. 20 is a side view of the bottle cap. FIG. 21 is a front view showing the configuration of the bottle cap transport device. FIG. 22 is a top view showing the configuration of the bottle cap conveying device. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of the bottle cap.

Explanation of symbols

2 ... Food container filling system 4 ... Sterilization chamber 6 ... Rinsing chamber 8 ... Filling chamber 10 ... Capper chamber 12 ... Bottle inlet 14 ... Cap inlet 16 ... Cap feeding device 18 ... Bottle route 20 ... Cap route 21 ... Electron beam irradiation device 22. Scan horn 24 ... Cap receiving device 26 ... Cap path 28 ... Rinsing rinser 30 ... Filler 32 ... Capper 34 ... Bottle outlet 36 ... Electron beam supply unit 38 ... Main electron beam irradiation port 40 ... Pipe screw 42 ... Bearing 44 ... Reflector 46 ... Reflector 48 ... Reflector 50 ... Sub electron beam irradiation port 52 ... Bottle 54 ... Bottle cap 56 ... Main electron beam 58 ... Sub electron beam 60 ... First side guide 62 ... Second side guide 64 ... Upper surface guide 66 ... Center shaft 68 ... L-shaped member 70 ... Cooling pipe 72 ... Upstream conveyor 74 ... Downstream conveyor 76 ... Transition section 78 ... Guy Rail 80 ... side 82 ... upper surface 84 ... inner surface 86 ... opening

Claims (10)

A first transport unit that guides the first transported object along the first path;
A second transport unit for guiding the second transport object along the second path;
An electron beam generator, irradiating the first path with an electron beam generated by the electron beam generator at a first timing, and deflecting the electron beam generated by the electron beam generator at a second timing An electron beam sterilizer comprising: an electron beam irradiation device that irradiates the second path. An electron beam sterilizer according to claim 1,
The said 2nd conveyance part is an electron beam sterilizer which supports the cap with which the container which is said 1st conveyance thing is mounted | worn as said 2nd conveyance object. The electron beam sterilizer according to claim 1 or 2,
The electron beam irradiation device irradiates the first path with an electron beam along a first scanning direction,
The projection onto the horizontal plane in the first scanning direction is inclined with respect to the projection onto the horizontal plane of the first path. An electron beam sterilizer according to claim 3,
The electron beam irradiating apparatus irradiates an electron beam to the second path along a second scanning direction parallel to the first scanning direction. An electron beam sterilizer according to claim 3,
The first path and the second path are substantially parallel;
The electron beam irradiating apparatus irradiates an electron beam to the second path along a second scanning direction substantially parallel to the second path. The electron beam sterilizer according to claim 1,
The electron beam sterilizer is different in height between the first path and the second path in the vertical direction. The electron beam sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The electron beam irradiation device is:
A first scan horn extending from the electron beam generator at a first scan angle in the direction of the first path;
An electron beam sterilizer comprising: a second scan horn extending from the electron beam generator in a direction of the second path at a second scan angle smaller than the first scan angle. The electron beam sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
The second transport unit guides the second transported object along the second path so as to pass through the second path with rotation. Electron beam sterilizer according to claim 1 or 8,
A sterilization chamber in which the electron beam sterilizer is installed;
A filling chamber in which the first transported object irradiated with the electron beam is automatically carried in the sterilization chamber;
A filling device that is installed in the filling chamber and fills the content through the opening of the first transported object;
A capper chamber in which the first conveyed product filled with the contents in the filling chamber and the second conveyed product irradiated with an electron beam in the sterilization chamber are automatically carried;
A capping device that is installed in the capper chamber and closes the opening of the first transported object by mounting the second transported object. The electron beam sterilizer according to claim 1,
Furthermore, the first path and the second path are stored, and a sterilization chamber having higher cleanliness than the outside is provided,
A part of the surface of the electron beam irradiation device including the electron beam irradiation port is located inside the sterilization chamber,
Another part of the surface is located outside the electron beam sterilizer.

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