JP2007308197A - Method of filling bag containers with products - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a quick complete removal of residual products, the residual products remaining in a filling head and in the inlet port of a bag container after filling a bag container with fluid products. <P>SOLUTION: The filling head that has a chamber joined to the tip of the inlet port of the bag container is placed in contact with the bag, and after the fluid products are filled into the bag container by tearing apart a first membrane at the outer end of its inlet port, the interior of the chamber of the filling head and the interior of the inlet port of the bag container are flushed with steam, while, during the flushing, a heat sealing head is pressed against the outer peripheral section of a second membrane from the face side opposite to the one where the inlet port of the bag container is provided, thus starting the sealing of the inlet port, while the state of pressing the heat sealing head against the second membrane is kept for a prescribed sealing duration, during which the warm-water rinse of the interior of the chamber of the filling head and the interior of the inlet port is performed, and furthermore, during the sealing, the interior of the chamber of the filling head and interior of the inlet port are re-flushed with steam. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a bag container product filling method for filling a fluid product into a bag container provided with a product inlet.

  As a fluid product container, a product injection port having first and second membranes is provided, the first membrane of the injection port is cut and filled with a fluid product, and then the second membrane is used. There is a bag container in which the inlet is sealed.

  FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the bag container, where (a) shows a state before product filling, (b) shows a state during product filling, and (c) shows a state after sealing the inlet.

  This bag container 1 is provided with a product injection port 3 in a part of a bag main body 2 having airtightness, and the bag main body 2 has an outer peripheral portion of a pair of sheet-like bag materials 2a and 2b extending over the entire periphery. It has a welded configuration.

  In addition, although a pair of bag material 2a, 2b is simplified and shown in the figure, these bag material 2a, 2b is from the double sheet | seat which provided the heat insulation space between them, for example, and piled up. It has become.

  Further, the product injection port 3 has a cylindrical mouth member 4 which is inserted into the bag body 2 and welded to the bag body 2 in an airtight state, and an opening surface at the distal end of the mouth member 4 is sealed. And a second membrane 6 in which a plurality of outer peripheral portions are temporarily welded to the base end face of the mouth member 4.

  The mouth member 4 is made of, for example, a polyethylene molded product. A bag main body welded plate portion 4a is formed on the outer periphery of the base end, and a flange portion 4b is formed on the outer periphery of the distal end.

  Each of the first and second membranes 5 and 6 is made of a resin film, and the first membrane 5 is welded to the front end surface of the mouth member 4 along the entire outer periphery thereof. The opening surface at the front end of the member 4 is sealed, and the second membrane 6 is temporarily welded to the base end surface of the mouth member 4 at a plurality of locations on the outer periphery thereof, and the non-welded portion with respect to the mouth member 4 and the base end surface of the mouth member 4 The product inflow part is formed between the two.

  The product inlet 3 is fitted with an inlet mounting hole 7 provided in a part of one bag material 2 a of the bag body 2 at the base end of the mouth member 4. The bag main body welding plate portion 4a is welded to the inner surface of the bag material 2a and attached to the one bag material 2a.

  This bag container 1 is mainly used for fluid foods and beverages such as alcoholic beverages and fruit sauces, and fluid products such as fluid pharmaceuticals that are altered or deteriorated by bacteria in the atmosphere. The bag body 2 and the product inlet 3 (the space between the first and second membranes 5 and 6 in the mouth member 4) are sterilized by irradiation or the like, and are carried into the fluid product filling line.

  Filling the bag container 1 with a fluid product is performed by a bag container filling device including a filling head in which a supply system such as steam and a fluid product supply system are connected (see Patent Document 1).

That is, the filling of the fluid product into the bag container 1 is performed in the state where the filling head is brought into contact with the tip of the inlet 3 of the bag container 1, and first the first in the filling head and the inlet 3 of the bag container 1. After the outer surface of the membrane 5 is sterilized with steam, the first membrane 5 is cut by a membrane cutter provided in the filling head, so that the fluid product A can be obtained as shown in FIG. The bag container 1 is filled through between the base end face of the mouth member 4 and the non-welded portion of the second membrane 6, and thereafter, heat sealing is performed from the side opposite to the face provided with the inlet of the bag container. The head is pressed against the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane 6 by crushing the portion corresponding to the inlet 3 of the bag container 1, so that the entire circumference of the second membrane 6 is welded to the base end surface of the mouth member. The filling port 3 is sealed, and then the inside of the filling head and the filling port 3 of the bag container 1 are flushed with aseptic gas such as steam, and the bag container filled with the fluid product A is used. 1, after the sealing and flushing of the injection port 3, the seal head is retracted, and the filling head is separated from the injection port 3 and carried out.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 6-88585

  In the filling of the fluid product A into the bag container 1, flushing with aseptic gas after filling the bag container 1 with the fluid product A removes the residue (fluid product) in the filling head and the inlet of the bag container 1. It is done to remove and clean.

  However, in the inlet 3 of the bag container 1, the first membrane 5 that has been cut prior to the filling of the fluid product A remains as shown in FIG. 8C, and the flushing gas is retained by the first membrane 5. Therefore, in order to completely remove the residue in the inlet 3 of the bag container 1, it is necessary to perform flushing for a long time, which greatly reduces the filling efficiency.

  The present invention provides a product filling method for a bag container that can completely remove residues in the filling head and the bag container inlet after filling the bag container with a fluid product in a short time. It is intended.

The present invention includes a cylindrical mouth member, a base end portion of which is fitted in an inlet mounting hole provided in the bag body and welded in an airtight state to the bag body, and a part of the bag body; A fluid product is applied to a bag container provided with a product inlet comprising a first membrane that seals the opening surface at the tip of the member, and a second membrane that is temporarily welded to the base end surface of the mouth member at a plurality of outer peripheral portions. In the filling method,
An annular inlet contact portion that is in airtight contact with the distal end surface of the inlet of the bag container, a first chamber that opens at an end surface surrounded by the inlet contact portion, and the first chamber A second chamber that communicates with the valve portion, and a valve member that opens and closes the valve portion and a membrane cutter that tears the first membrane at the inlet of the bag container are provided inside the first chamber, A fluid supply system and a fluid discharge system for sterilization, flushing and washing are connected to the chamber, and a filling head having a product supply system connected to the second chamber is brought into contact with the tip of the inlet of the bag container;
Steam is supplied from the fluid supply system to the first chamber of the filling head with the valve portion of the filling head closed, and the outer surface of the first membrane in the first chamber and the inlet of the bag container is steamed. Sterilize, then tear the first membrane with the membrane cutter, open the valve portion of the filling head, and supply the fluid product supplied from the product supply system to the second chamber and the first chamber of the filling head. , After filling the bag container through between the inlet of the bag container and the base end surface of the mouth member and the non-welded part of the second membrane, the valve part of the filling head is closed,
Thereafter, aseptic gas is supplied from the fluid supply system to the first chamber of the filling head to flush the first chamber and the inside of the inlet of the bag container with the aseptic gas. During the flushing, the bag container An inlet seal that presses a heat seal head against the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane from the side opposite to the surface on which the inlet is provided, and welds the entire circumference of the second membrane to the base end surface of the mouth member. And the pressure state of the heat seal head against the second membrane is maintained for a predetermined sealing time, and the fluid supplied from the fluid supply system to the first chamber of the filling head during the sealing time. The first chamber and the inlet are washed with warm water by switching to aseptic hot water, and further from the fluid supply system to the first chamber of the filling head during the sealing time. Said first chamber and said injection mouth by switching the supply fluid to a sterile gas, characterized in that re-flushed by the sterile gas.

  In the filling method of the present invention, the flushing before the start of the inlet seal after filling the bag container with the fluid product and closing the valve portion of the filling head is connected to the first chamber of the filling head. It is desirable to perform the flushing and warm water cleaning after the fluid discharge system is closed and discharging the flushing gas and warm water to the fluid discharge system after the start of the inlet seal.

  Furthermore, the flushing before the start of the inlet seal is preferably performed intermittently.

  The warm water cleaning is preferably performed with warm water obtained by condensing the flushing steam.

  In the bag container product filling method according to the present invention, the bag container is filled with a fluid product, the valve portion of the filling head is closed, and then a sterile gas is supplied to the first chamber of the filling head to supply the first container. The inside of the bag container and the inside of the bag container are flushed with the sterilized gas, and during the flushing, a heat seal head is placed on the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane from the side opposite to the surface on which the bag container is provided with the inlet. The inlet seal is pressed to weld the entire circumference of the second membrane to the base end surface of the mouth member, and then the fluid supplied to the first chamber of the filling head is switched to aseptic hot water. In order to clean the inside of the one chamber and the inside of the inlet with hot water, the flushing of the fluid product remaining in the first chamber of the filling head and in the inlet of the bag container after filling the bag container with the product is performed. Further, the inner surface of the first chamber and the inner surface of the injection port are pushed into the bag container from between the base end surface of the mouth member and the non-welded portion of the second membrane, and after the start of the injection port seal Residues adhering to (the inner peripheral surface of the mouth member and the inner surface of the mouth member of the second membrane) can be removed by the flushing and subsequent hot water cleaning.

  Therefore, according to this filling method, the residue in the first chamber of the filling head and the inlet of the bag container after filling the bag container with the fluid product can be completely removed in a short time.

  Moreover, in the filling method of the present invention, after the hot water cleaning, the fluid supplied to the first chamber of the filling head is switched to aseptic gas, and the first chamber and the inlet are re-flushed with the aseptic gas. Washing hot water remaining in the first chamber and the inlet can be removed by blowing away by the re-flushing.

  Furthermore, the filling method of the present invention maintains the pressing state of the heat seal head against the second membrane for a predetermined sealing time, and performs the warm water cleaning and the re-flushing during the sealing time. The second membrane having the outer peripheral portion welded to the base end face of the mouth member is not peeled off by the hot water pressure during the hot water cleaning and the gas pressure during the re-flushing.

  In the filling method of the present invention, the flushing before the start of the inlet seal after filling the bag container with the fluid product and closing the valve portion of the filling head is connected to the first chamber of the filling head. The fluid discharge system is closed, and the flushing and hot water cleaning after the start of the inlet seal is preferably performed while discharging the flushing gas and the cleaning hot water to the fluid discharge system. The fluid product A remaining in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 after filling the bag container 1 can be pushed into the bag container 1 with almost no waste, and the inlet seal After the start, the residue adhering to the inner surface of the first chamber 12 and the inner surface of the inlet 3 is flushed by the steam flushing and the subsequent hot water cleaning. It can be discharged to the fluid discharge system with the gas and washing hot water.

  Further, it is preferable that the flushing before the start of the inlet seal is intermittently performed, so that the fluid product remaining in the first chamber and the inlet can be more efficiently transferred into the bag container. The amount of flushing gas that can be pushed into the bag container together with the fluid product can be reduced.

  The warm water cleaning is preferably performed with warm water obtained by condensing the flushing steam. By doing so, the equipment cost for filling the product can be reduced.

  1 to 6 show a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a filling device for filling a bag container with a fluid product.

  The filling apparatus includes a filling head 10, a fluid supply system 19 and a fluid discharge system 35 for sterilization, flushing, and cleaning, and a product supply system 38.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the filling head 10. The filling head 10 includes an annular inlet contact portion 11 that comes into contact with the front end surface of the product inlet 3 of the bag container 1 shown in FIG. The first chamber 12 that opens to the end surface surrounded by the inlet contact portion 11, the second chamber 14 that communicates with the first chamber 12 via the valve portion 13, and the valve portion 13 A valve member 15 that opens and closes and a membrane cutter 17 that tears the first membrane 5 of the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 are provided.

  The valve portion 13 is a vertical circular hole, and the valve member 15 is a round bar-like member that is in airtight contact with the circumferential surface of the circular hole, and a membrane cutter 17 is provided at the tip of the valve member 15. .

  The valve member 15 is fixed to the tip of a rod 16 which is inserted in the filling head 10 in an airtight state so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. The valve portion 13 is closed by a rod lifting mechanism (not shown) and the membrane. The position at which the cutter 17 is retracted into the first chamber 12 (position in FIG. 2), the valve portion 13 is closed, and the membrane cutter 17 is protruded downward from the inlet contact portion 11. The position is moved to a position where the valve portion 13 is drawn into the second chamber 14 to open the valve portion 13 and the first chamber 12 and the second chamber 14 are communicated with each other.

  Further, the filling head 10 has a shield chamber 18 formed so as to surround the periphery of the rod 16 in an upper portion of the second chamber 14.

  Further, the filling head 10 includes a fluid supply port 12 a and a fluid discharge port 12 b communicating with the first chamber 12, a product supply port 14 a communicating with the second chamber 14, and the shield chamber 18. A steam supply port 18a and a discharge port 18b communicating with each other are provided.

  Although not shown in the figure, the filling head 10 clamps the injection port 3 of the bag container 1 and presses the injection port 3 against the injection port abutting portion 11 at the distal end surface thereof. 10 is provided with an injection port fixing mechanism for fixing to 10.

  The sterilization, flushing, and cleaning fluid supply system 19 selectively supplies sterilization / flushing steam and hot water for cleaning into the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10, as shown in FIG. As described above, a steam supply pipe 20 connected to a steam source such as a boiler (not shown), a condenser 21 that condenses sterilization / flushing steam from the steam supply pipe 20 by heat exchange with water, and warms the water, A water supply pipe 33 for supplying water to the condenser 21, a sterilization / flushing steam from the steam supply pipe 20, and a steam for supplying hot water for washing from the condenser 21 into the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10. -It consists of a hot water supply pipe 29.

  3 and 4 are cross-sectional views along the length direction and radial direction of the condenser 21, and the condenser 21 is provided with a steam inlet 25a at one end and a hot water outlet 25b at the other end. A cylindrical sealed casing 22 provided with a water inlet 26a and a drain outlet 26b for passing water into one end side and the other end side, and one end communicating with the steam inlet 25a in the casing 22, The other end is composed of a plurality of steam through pipes 27 having thermal conductivity provided in communication with the hot water outlet 25b.

  In addition, chambers 23a and 23b defined by partition walls 22a and 22b are formed at both ends in the casing 22, respectively, the steam inlet 25a communicates with the chamber 23a on one end side, and the hot water outlet 25b It communicates with the chamber 23b on the other end side.

  The plurality of steam through pipes 27 are formed in a plurality of through holes provided in the partition walls 22a and 22b at both ends of the steam through pipes 27 in the portion between the partition walls 22a and 22b in the casing 22. 24, respectively, are connected to the steam inlet 25a and the hot water outlet 25b via the chamber 23a on one end side and the chamber 23b on the other end side. The casing 22 is provided in communication with both end portions of the portion between the partition walls 22a and 22b.

  The condenser 21 guides the steam flowing in from the steam inlet 25 a at one end of the casing 22 into a plurality of steam passage pipes 27, and condenses the steam by heat exchange with water (room temperature water) flowing in the casing 22. The hot water having a high temperature of 80 to 90 degrees, which is sterile and excellent in detergency, is sent out from the hot water outlet 25 b at the other end of the casing 22.

  On the other hand, the steam supply pipe 20 is connected to a steam / hot water supply pipe 29 via a steam supply valve 28, and the condenser 21 includes a branch pipe 20 a branched from the steam supply pipe 20 and the steam. A steam inlet 25a is connected to the branch pipe 20a and a hot water outlet 25b is connected to the hot water supply pipe 31 between the hot water supply pipe 31 connected to the hot water supply pipe 29 via a hot water supply valve 32. Has been placed.

  Further, a water supply pipe 33 and a drain pipe 34 for flowing heat exchange water into the casing 22 are always connected to the water inlet 26a and the water outlet 26b of the condenser 21 during the filling operation. Is supplied with room temperature water such as city water (tap water), and the return water discharged from the drain pipe 34 is sent to other equipment (not shown) in order to reuse it.

  The steam / hot water supply pipe 29 is provided with a steam / hot water supply valve 30, and sterilization / flushing steam from the steam supply pipe 20 closes the hot water supply valve 32, By opening the steam / hot water supply valve 30, the hot water from the condenser 21 is supplied into the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10, the steam supply valve 28 is closed, and the hot water supply valve 32 is connected to the steam / hot water supply valve 32. The hot water supply valve 30 is opened to be supplied into the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10.

  The steam / hot water supply pipe 29 is connected to a fluid supply port 12 a communicating with the inside of the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10.

  The fluid discharge system 35 for sterilization, flushing, and washing includes a steam / hot water discharge valve 37 and is connected to a fluid discharge port 12 b communicating with the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10. It consists of a discharge pipe 36.

  Further, the product supply system 38 includes a product supply pipe 39 connected to a product supply source including a product tank and a product delivery pump (not shown). The product supply pipe 39 is a second part of the filling head 10. Is connected to a product supply port 14 a communicating with the interior of the chamber 14.

  The product supply pipe 39 is sterilized with the product supply path including the product supply pipe 39, the second chamber 14 of the filling head 10 and the product supply port 14a before the filling operation into the bag container 1 is started. In order to do this, steam is supplied for a certain period of time, after which the fluid product is supplied continuously during the filling operation. In addition, after the filling operation is finished, in order to wash the product filling path, first, cleaning water is supplied for a predetermined time, and then the steam is supplied for a predetermined time.

  Further, a steam supply port 18 a and a discharge port 18 b communicating with the inside of the shield chamber 18 of the filling head 10 include a shield steam supply pipe 40 that supplies a shield steam into the shield chamber 18, and the inside of the shield chamber 18. A shield steam discharge pipe 42 for discharging the shield steam is connected. The shield steam supply pipe 40 is branched from the steam supply pipe 20.

  The shield steam supply pipe 40 and the shield steam discharge pipe 42 are provided with normally open valves 41 and 43 that are opened before the filling operation of the bag container 1 is started and closed after the filling operation is finished, respectively. The slide portion of the rod 16 slidably inserted into the filling head 10 is always shielded by steam in the shield chamber 18 during the filling operation of the bag container 1.

  Next, the filling method of the fluid product A into the bag container 1 by the filling device will be described. FIG. 5 is a filling process diagram of the fluid product A. The filling of the fluid product A into the bag container 1 is as follows. The procedure is as follows.

  First, in the state where the filling head 10 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 2, that is, the valve member 13 is closed, and the membrane cutter 17 is retracted into the first chamber 12 in the position shown in FIG. The inlet 3 is brought into contact with the tip of the inlet 3 in an airtight state, and the inlet 3 is fixed to the filling head 10 by an inlet fixing mechanism (not shown).

  At this time, the steam supply valve 28, the steam / hot water supply valve 30, the steam / hot water discharge valve 37, and the hot water supply valve 32 are closed.

  In addition, as described above, heat exchange water (city water) is constantly flowing in the casing 22 of the condenser 21 during the filling operation, and the condenser is supplied from the steam supply pipe 20 through the branch pipe 20a. The sterilization steam supplied to 21 is warmed by heat exchange with the water and remains in the condenser 21 and the hot water supply pipe 31.

  After the filling head 10 is brought into airtight contact with the tip of the inlet 3 of the bag container 1, the steam supply valve 28 and the steam / hot water supply valve 30 are closed with the valve portion 13 of the filling head 10 closed. The steam / warm water discharge valve 37 is opened, the sterilization / flushing steam from the steam supply pipe 20 is supplied to the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10, and the steam is discharged to the fluid discharge system 35. The steam is flowed into the first chamber 12, and the inside of the first chamber 12 and the outer surface of the first membrane 5 at the inlet of the bag container 1 are steam sterilized for a predetermined time.

  Next, the steam supply valve 28, the steam / hot water supply valve 30 and the steam / hot water discharge valve 37 are closed to stop the steam sterilization, and then the valve member 15 of the filling head 10 is closed to the valve portion 13, and The membrane cutter 17 is moved to a position protruding below the inlet contact portion 11, and the first membrane 5 of the inlet 3 is cut by the membrane cutter 17.

  Next, the valve member 15 is drawn into the second chamber 14 to open the valve portion 13, and the fluid product A supplied from the product supply system 38 (product supply pipe 39) is supplied to the second of the filling head 10. The bag container 1 is filled through the chamber 14 and the first chamber 12 and between the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 and the base end surface of the mouth member 4 and the non-welded portion of the second membrane 6.

  The bag container 1 is filled with the fluid product A for a predetermined time according to the filling amount. When the bag container 1 is filled with a predetermined amount of the fluid product A, the valve member 15 is moved to the position shown in FIG. The valve 13 of the filling head 10 is closed again, and the filling of the fluid product A is stopped.

  Next, steam, which is a sterilized gas, is supplied from the fluid supply system 19 to the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 so that the inside of the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 (the mouth member 4). The inside is flushed with the steam, and during the flushing, a heat seal head (not shown) is pressed against the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane 6 from the side opposite to the surface where the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 is provided. In addition, an injection port seal for welding the entire circumference of the second membrane 6 to the proximal end surface of the port member 4 is started, and the pressing state of the heat seal head against the second membrane 6 is maintained for a predetermined sealing time. During the sealing time, the fluid supplied from the fluid supply system 19 to the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 is switched to sterile hot water condensed with the steam. 12 and the inlet 3 are washed with warm water, and during the sealing time, the fluid supplied from the fluid supply system 19 to the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 is switched to the steam and the first chamber is switched. The inside of 12 and the inside of the inlet 3 are re-flushed by the steam.

  In this filling method, the steam flushing before the start of the inlet seal after filling the bag container 1 with the fluid product A and closing the valve portion 13 of the filling head 10 is performed in the first chamber of the filling head 10. The fluid discharge system 35 connected to 12 is closed, and the flushing and warm water cleaning after the start of the inlet seal is performed while discharging the flushing steam and the cleaning warm water to the fluid discharge system 35.

  FIG. 6 is a time chart of the steam flushing, hot water washing and re-flushing after product filling. In the steam flushing after product filling, the bag container 1 is filled with the fluid product A, and the valve portion 13 of the filling head 10 is shown. The steam supply valve 28 and the steam / warm water supply valve 30 are immediately opened to start the operation. The steam flushing is performed without flowing the flushing steam through the fluid discharge system 35 with the steam / hot water discharge valve 37 closed.

  When steam flushing is performed in the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 and the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 in this manner, the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 are filled after the bag container 1 is filled. The remaining fluid product A is pushed into the bag container 1 from between the base end face of the mouth member 4 and the non-welded portion of the second membrane 6 by the steam flushing.

  Since the steam flushing is performed with the fluid discharge system 35 closed, the fluid product A remaining in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 is not discharged to the fluid discharge system 35. The fluid product A remaining in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 can be pushed into the bag container 1 with little waste.

  At this time, flushing steam enters the bag container 1 together with the fluid product A, but the steam is an aseptic fluid, and the amount of entering the bag container 1 is very small. The fluid product A filled in the bag container 1 is not adversely affected.

  In the filling method of this embodiment, the steam flushing is performed intermittently by opening and closing the steam / hot water supply valve 30 a plurality of times in a short time as shown in FIG. The fluid product A remaining in the inlet 3 is pushed into the bag container 1 more efficiently, and the amount of flushing steam entering the bag container 1 together with the fluid product A is reduced.

  Next, after a predetermined time ta from the start of the steam flushing, a heat seal head (not shown) is connected to the inlet of the bag container 1 from the side opposite to the surface where the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 is provided. 3 is crushed and pressed against the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane 6, and an inlet seal that melts the entire circumference of the second membrane 6 into the base end surface of the mouth member 4 is started.

  The heat seal head is always heated to the welding temperature of the second membrane 6 during the filling operation, and the welding of the second membrane 6 to the base end surface of the mouth member 4 is performed by attaching the heat seal head to the bag. It is started simultaneously with pressing against the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane 6 through the crushing portion of the container 1.

  This inlet seal seals the fluid product A remaining in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 from between the base end face of the inlet member 4 and the non-welded portion of the second membrane 6 by the steam flushing. In order to start after being pushed into the bag container 1, the second membrane 6 is inserted into the mouth member 4 with almost no fluid product A between the base end surface of the mouth member 4 and the non-welded portion of the second membrane 6. Therefore, the entire circumference of the second membrane 6 can be reliably welded to the base end surface of the mouth member 4, and the injection port 3 can be sealed with high reliability.

  The sealing time of the injection port 3 (pressing time of the heat seal head against the second membrane 6) may be 3.0 to 5.0 seconds, during which the entire circumference of the second membrane 6 is the port member 4. It is completely welded to the base end face.

  After the start of the inlet seal, the steam / hot water discharge valve 37 is opened and the flushing steam is discharged to the fluid discharge system 35 while maintaining the state where the heat seal head is pressed against the second membrane 6. The steam flushing is continued for a predetermined time tb. The steam flushing after the start of the inlet seal is continuously performed during the time tb.

  At this time, since the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane 6 is in close contact with the base end surface of the mouth member 4 by the pressing force of the heat seal head over the entire periphery, flushing steam is formed in the bag container 1. Never get in.

  Further, since the steam flushing after the start of the inlet seal is performed while discharging the flushing steam to the fluid discharge system 35, the inner surface of the first chamber 1 and the inner surface of the inlet 3 (the inner surface of the mouth member 4). The residue adhering to the liquid can be discharged from the fluid discharge system 35 together with the flushing steam by the steam flushing.

  Next, the pressing state of the heat seal head to the second membrane 6 is maintained, the steam / hot water discharge valve 37 is kept open, the steam supply valve 28 is closed, the hot water supply valve 32 is opened, The fluid supplied from the fluid supply system 19 to the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 is switched to aseptic hot water condensed with the steam, and the inside of the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 are sterilized with hot water. The hot water is washed while being discharged to the fluid discharge system 35.

  Since this warm water cleaning is performed while discharging the cleaning warm water to the fluid discharge system 35, the residue adhering to the inner surface of the first chamber 1 and the inner surface of the inlet 3 is washed with flushing steam by the warm water cleaning. The fluid can be discharged from the fluid discharge system 35 together.

  Further, since this warm water cleaning is performed with warm water having high detergency, the residue in the filling head 10 and the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 can be completely removed in a short time compared with cleaning with normal temperature water. Can be removed.

  Next, the pressing state of the heat seal head to the second membrane 6 is maintained, the steam / warm water discharge valve 37 is kept open, the warm water supply valve 32 is closed, the steam supply valve 28 is opened, The fluid supplied from the fluid supply system 19 to the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 is switched to steam, and the steam is passed through the fluid in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 by the steam. Re-flushing while discharging to 35.

  As described above, when the inside of the first chamber 12 and the inside of the injection port 3 are flushed again with steam, the washing hot water remaining in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 after the hot water cleaning is blown off by the flushing steam. Removed.

  This re-flushing is performed while discharging flushing steam to the fluid discharge system 35, so that the washing warm water remaining in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 is discharged from the fluid discharge system 35 together with the flushing steam. Can be discharged.

  After the re-flushing by the steam, the steam / hot water supply valve 30 is closed, and the flushing steam in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 is discharged to the fluid discharge system 35, and then the steam is discharged. Close the warm water discharge valve 37.

  This re-flushing is completed within the inlet sealing time, and then the heat seal head is retracted, the filling head 10 is disconnected from the inlet 3, and the filled bag container 1 is carried out.

  In this filling method, the steam flushing time ta before the start of the inlet seal, the steam flushing time tb after the start of the inlet seal, and the subsequent hot water washing time tc are the internal volumes of the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3. It is set according to (the total value of the volume in the first chamber 12 and the volume in the mouth member 4) and the viscosity of the fluid product A.

For example, the internal volume of the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 is 32.6 cm ³ , and the fluid product A is a fruit sauce (a sauce containing fruit solids) having a viscosity of 50 to 80 P (poise). In some cases, the steam flushing time ta before starting the inlet seal is 0.5 to 0.8 seconds, the steam flushing time tb after starting the inlet seal is 0.6 to 0.8 seconds, and the subsequent hot water washing time tc is Set to 0.2-1.0 seconds.

  In the filling method of this embodiment, the steam flushing is performed three times intermittently during the steam flushing time ta before the start of the inlet seal, and each flushing time is set to 0.1 to 0.2 seconds. It is set.

Further, the re-flushing time td by the steam after the hot water cleaning and the subsequent steam discharge waiting time te may be set according to the internal volumes of the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3, for example, the first When the internal volume of the chamber 12 and the inlet 3 is 32.6 cm ³ , 0.1 to 0.2 seconds is sufficient for the re-flushing time td, and the subsequent steam discharge waiting time te is 0.1 to 0. .5 seconds is sufficient.

  In this filling method, the bag container 1 is filled with the fluid product A, the valve portion 13 of the filling head 10 is closed, and then steam as sterile gas is supplied to the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10. The inside of the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 are flushed by the steam, and during the flushing, a heat seal head is applied from the side opposite to the surface on which the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 is provided. Is pressed against the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane 6 to start an inlet seal that welds the entire circumference of the second membrane 6 to the proximal end surface of the mouth member 4, and then the first filling head 10 Since the fluid supplied to the chamber 12 is switched to sterile hot water to wash the inside of the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 with hot water, the inside of the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 and Bag container The fluid product A remaining in the injection port 3 is pushed into the bag container 1 from between the base end surface of the port member 4 and the non-welded portion of the second membrane 6 by the steam flushing, After the start of the inlet seal, the residue adhered to the inner surface of the first chamber 12 and the inner surface of the injection port 3 (the inner peripheral surface of the mouth member 4 and the inner surface of the second membrane 6) is removed from the steam. It can be removed by flushing and subsequent hot water washing.

  Therefore, according to this filling method, the removal of the residue in the first chamber of the filling head 10 and the inlet 3 of the bag container 1 after the bag container 1 is filled with the fluid product A is completed in a short time. Can be done.

  The following Table 1 shows that the bag container 1 is filled with a fruit sauce having a viscosity of 50 to 80 P and a sugar content of about 35, and the filling chamber 10 of the filling head 10 after filling and the inlet of the bag container 1 are filled. 3 removal tests only by steam flushing, and 3 removal tests in which the hot water washing time tc by steam flushing + warm water washing was set to 0.2 seconds, 0.5 seconds and 1.0 seconds, respectively. 5 shows the result of measuring the residual sugar content in the first chamber 12 and the injection port 3 after five times.

In these residue removal tests, in the steam flushing, the intermittent flushing time ta before the start of the inlet seal is 0.5 seconds, and the flushing time tb before the start of the inlet seal is 0.7. After setting the second, after the steam flushing or after the steam flushing + warm water washing, the deposits in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 were collected, and the sugar content of the deposits was measured to obtain the residual sugar content. .

  As shown in Table 1, the residual sugar content is 25.2 to 26.8 when the residue is removed by only the steam flushing, whereas the residual sugar content is determined by the hot water washing time when the residue is removed by the steam flushing + warm water washing. 0.2 when tc is 0.2 seconds, 0.0 to 0.2 when hot water washing time tc is 0.5 seconds, and 0.2 when hot water washing time tc is 1.0 second. In both cases, a high residue removal effect is obtained.

  In addition, in this filling method, after the hot water cleaning, the fluid supplied to the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 is switched to steam again, and the inside of the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 are flushed again by the steam. Therefore, the washing warm water remaining in the first chamber 12 and the injection port 3 can be removed by blowing away by the re-flushing.

  Further, in this filling method, the pressing state of the heat seal head against the second membrane 6 is maintained for a predetermined sealing time, and the water washing and the re-flushing are performed during the sealing time. The second membrane 6 having the outer peripheral portion welded to the base end face of the member 4 is not peeled off by the hot water pressure during the hot water cleaning and the steam pressure during the re-flushing.

  Further, in this filling method, the fluid product A is filled in the bag container 1 and the steam flushing before the start of the inlet seal after closing the valve portion 13 of the filling head 10 is performed. The fluid discharge system 35 connected to the first chamber 12 is closed, and the steam flushing and the hot water cleaning after the start of the inlet seal are performed while the flushing steam and the washing hot water are discharged to the fluid discharge system 35. Therefore, the fluid product A remaining in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 can be pushed into the bag container 1 with little waste, and after the inlet seal is started, the first Residue adhering to the inner surface of the chamber 12 and the inner surface of the inlet 3 is flushed together with the flushing steam and the washing hot water by the flushing and the subsequent water washing. It can be discharged to the body discharge system 35.

  Further, in this filling method, since the steam flushing before the start of the inlet seal is intermittently performed, the fluid product A remaining in the first chamber 12 and the inlet 3 is more efficiently transferred. The amount of flushing steam that can be pushed into the bag container 1 and enters the bag container 1 together with the fluid product A can be reduced.

  Further, in this filling method, since the hot water cleaning is performed with hot water obtained by condensing the flashing steam, it is not necessary to provide a hot water source such as a large water heater in addition to a steam source such as a boiler. The equipment cost for filling the product can be reduced.

  In addition, in the said Example, although warm water washing | cleaning after steam flushing is performed once continuously, you may perform this warm water washing | cleaning in multiple times intermittently.

  FIG. 7 is a time chart of steam flushing, hot water washing and re-flushing after product filling showing a second embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the hot water washing after the steam flushing is intermittently performed twice. The steam flushing is performed between the first hot water cleaning and the second hot water cleaning, and the others are the same as in the first embodiment.

In this way, if hot water cleaning is intermittently performed a plurality of times and steam flushing is performed between each hot water cleaning, a higher cleaning effect can be obtained. Therefore, each hot water cleaning time tc ₁ , tc ₃ and each hot water the total time of the steam flushing time tc ₂ during washing can be shorter than the hot water washing time tc in the first embodiment.

  When the hot water cleaning is intermittently performed a plurality of times, the steam flushing between each hot water cleaning may be omitted and the hot water cleaning may be simply suspended.

  Moreover, in the said Example, although the steam flushing before the start of an inlet seal is performed intermittently, you may perform this steam flushing continuously for the time until the start of an inlet seal.

  Further, in the above embodiment, the flushing after the bag container 1 is filled with the fluid product A and the valve portion 13 of the filling head 10 is closed is performed by steam. However, the flushing is not limited to steam, and is sterilized. It may be performed with a sterile gas such as air or nitrogen gas, and the flushing before the start of the inlet seal and the flushing after the start of the inlet seal may be performed with different sterile gases.

  However, since the inside of the first chamber 12 of the filling head 10 before product filling and the outer surface of the first membrane 5 of the bag container 1 are sterilized by steam, in order to perform the flushing with an aseptic gas other than steam, a boiler is required. In addition to the steam source such as sterilization air, a supply source of sterile gas such as sterilized air or nitrogen gas is required.

  Therefore, the flushing is preferably performed by steam before and after the start of the inlet seal, and in this way, the equipment cost for filling the product can be reduced. .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The block diagram of the filling apparatus for filling the fluid product into the bag container which shows 1st Example of this invention. Sectional drawing of a filling head. Sectional drawing in alignment with the length direction of the condenser for obtaining warm water from steam. Sectional drawing which follows the radial direction of the said condenser. The filling process figure of the fluid product to a bag container. Time chart of steam flushing, hot water washing and re-flushing after product filling. The time figure of the steam flushing after product filling which shows the 2nd Example of this invention, warm water washing | cleaning, and re-flushing. Sectional drawing of each state before product filling of a bag container, during product filling, and after an inlet seal.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bag container, 2 ... Bag main body, 3 ... Injection port, 4 ... Port member, 5 ... 1st membrane, 6 ... 2nd membrane, 7 ... Injection port attachment hole, A ... Fluid product, 10 ... Filling head, 11 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Injection port contact part, 12 ... 1st chamber, 13 ... Valve part, 14 ... 2nd chamber, 15 ... Valve member, 17 ... Membrane cutter, 19 ... Fluid supply system, 20 ... Steam supply pipe, 20a ... Branch pipe, 21 ... condenser, 28 ... steam supply valve, 29 ... steam / hot water supply pipe, 30 ... steam / hot water supply valve, 32 ... hot water supply valve, 35 ... fluid discharge system, 37 ... steam / hot water discharge valve, 38 ... Product supply system.

Claims (4)

A cylindrical mouth member that is fitted in an inlet mounting hole provided in the bag body and welded in an airtight state to the bag body in a part of the bag body, and a distal end of the mouth member In a method of filling a fluid product into a bag container provided with a product inlet comprising a first membrane that seals an opening surface and a second membrane that is temporarily welded to a base end surface of the mouth member at a plurality of outer peripheral portions. ,
An annular inlet contact portion that is in airtight contact with the distal end surface of the inlet of the bag container, a first chamber that opens at an end surface surrounded by the inlet contact portion, and the first chamber A second chamber that communicates with the valve portion, and a valve member that opens and closes the valve portion and a membrane cutter that tears the first membrane at the inlet of the bag container are provided inside the first chamber, A fluid supply system and a fluid discharge system for sterilization, flushing and washing are connected to the chamber, and a filling head having a product supply system connected to the second chamber is brought into contact with the tip of the inlet of the bag container;
Steam is supplied from the fluid supply system to the first chamber of the filling head with the valve portion of the filling head closed, and the outer surface of the first membrane in the first chamber and the inlet of the bag container is steamed. Sterilize, then tear the first membrane with the membrane cutter, open the valve portion of the filling head, and supply the fluid product supplied from the product supply system to the second chamber and the first chamber of the filling head. , After filling the bag container through between the inlet of the bag container and the base end surface of the mouth member and the non-welded part of the second membrane, the valve part of the filling head is closed,
Thereafter, aseptic gas is supplied from the fluid supply system to the first chamber of the filling head to flush the first chamber and the inside of the inlet of the bag container with the aseptic gas. During the flushing, the bag container An inlet seal that presses a heat seal head against the outer peripheral portion of the second membrane from the side opposite to the surface on which the inlet is provided, and welds the entire circumference of the second membrane to the base end surface of the mouth member. And the pressure state of the heat seal head against the second membrane is maintained for a predetermined sealing time, and the fluid supplied from the fluid supply system to the first chamber of the filling head during the sealing time. The first chamber and the inlet are washed with warm water by switching to aseptic hot water, and further from the fluid supply system to the first chamber of the filling head during the sealing time. Product filling method bag container, characterized in that switching the supply fluid to a sterile gas re flushed by the first chamber and the sterile gas to said injection mouth.   The bag container is filled with a fluid product, and the flushing before the start of the inlet seal after closing the valve portion of the filling head is performed by closing the fluid discharge system connected to the first chamber of the filling head, 2. The bag container product filling method according to claim 1, wherein the flushing and the hot water cleaning after the start of the inlet seal are performed while discharging the flushing gas and the cleaning hot water to the fluid discharge system.   2. The bag container product filling method according to claim 1, wherein the flushing before the start of the inlet seal is performed intermittently.   2. The bag container product filling method according to claim 1, wherein the warm water cleaning is performed with warm water condensed with flushing steam.

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