JP2008074437A - Sterilizing method and apparatus for container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the residue of hydrogen peroxide when a container is sterilized with the hydrogen peroxide. <P>SOLUTION: This sterilizing method includes a sterilizing process in which the mist b of hydrogen peroxide is guided into the container 1, and a hydrogen peroxide discharging process in which the hydrogen peroxide after the sterilization is discharged to the outside of the container. A membrane of sterile water is formed on the internal surfaces of the container by introducing the steam d of the sterile water into the container between the sterilizing process and the hydrogen peroxide discharging process, and the hydrogen peroxide is extracted by the membrane. Thus, the excessive hydrogen peroxide is quickly and properly discharged to the outside of the container, and the residue of the hydrogen peroxide in the container can be reduced. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sterilizing containers with hydrogen peroxide.

  As a method of sterilizing a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle, a PET bottle is heated, a mist of hydrogen peroxide as a bactericide is introduced into the heated PET bottle, and then heated into the PET bottle. A method is known in which sterilized air is blown to remove mist, and then the inside of the PET bottle is washed by introducing sterile water into the PET bottle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2001-39414 A

  However, depending on the manner of the sterilization treatment, hydrogen peroxide may remain in the PET bottle. In particular, when the bottle is made of PET, hydrogen peroxide easily penetrates into the wall thickness of the bottle and is easily adsorbed, and remains in the container even if it is blown with aseptic air or washed with aseptic water. It may be possible to reduce the amount of hydrogen peroxide supplied, or to increase the duration of aseptic air blowing and cleaning to prevent hydrogen peroxide from remaining. However, reducing the amount of hydrogen peroxide reduces the sterilization effect. However, if the supply time of aseptic air or sterile water is extended, there is a problem that the equipment becomes large, or the sterilization processing speed is lowered and the production efficiency is lowered. In recent years, the ability to sterilize bottles is required to be about 500 to 1000 bottles per minute. However, there is a demand for further reducing the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide after obtaining a sterilization effect and a sterilization rate above a certain level.

  In addition, when the inside of the container is washed with sterile water to remove hydrogen peroxide remaining in the container after sterilization, the amount of this sterile water is reduced, and the manufacturing equipment for sterile water is reduced in size and space. There is a demand to plan. The sterilization apparatus implemented by the applicant requires aseptic water of several tens of ton / h, for example, when sterilizing 600 PET bottles per minute. Moreover, after sterilization by heating the water to about 135 ° C. for sterilization, it must be cooled to about 70 ° C. to protect the bottle. Thus, there is a problem that the equipment for producing sterile water is large and the energy for its operation is also large.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.

  That is, the container sterilization method according to the present invention includes a sterilization process for introducing hydrogen peroxide mist into the container, and a hydrogen peroxide discharge process for discharging hydrogen peroxide outside the container after sterilization. , Between the sterilization step and the hydrogen peroxide discharging step, a vapor or spray of sterile water is introduced into the container to form a film of sterile water on the inner surface of the container, and hydrogen peroxide is extracted with this film. It is characterized by doing.

  Conventionally, by performing a series of processes such as a sterilization process, a mist discharge process, and a washing process quickly, after obtaining a sterilization effect above a certain level, the sterilization speed was increased and an attempt was made to reduce the residual hydrogen peroxide. The present inventor is able to reduce hydrogen peroxide residue more and more efficiently by extracting hydrogen peroxide with a film of sterile water prior to discharging the hydrogen peroxide outside the container. The present invention has been found and completed.

  The container is made, for example, in a bottle shape from PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which is a material that easily adsorbs hydrogen peroxide, for example. Examples of materials that easily absorb hydrogen peroxide include PET, polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyamide resin, silicon rubber, urethane rubber, and the like, and the present invention can also be applied to containers made of these materials. . Further, containers made of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and vapor-deposited PET, which are difficult to adsorb hydrogen peroxide, can be sterilized by the present invention. Further, the present invention can be applied to a container having a shape other than the bottle shape.

  In this container sterilization method, the container can be preheated prior to the introduction of hydrogen peroxide mist. In that case, a high sterilization effect can be exhibited from the beginning of the mist introduction, and sterilization can be performed efficiently in a short time. Moreover, the penetration of hydrogen peroxide into the container can be suppressed more effectively.

  In the preheating step, the whole container is heated by blowing heated air into the container, and the whole container can be heated to a desired temperature by blowing heated sterile air from the outside to the mouth of the container. is there. By heating the mouth of the container from the outside in this way, the sterilizing effect by the subsequent hydrogen peroxide mist is further enhanced. When the container is a bottle, its mouth is thicker than other parts, and it is difficult for the temperature to rise due to the presence of a screw part to be screwed into the cap, and by heating this part separately The entire container can be quickly raised to the desired temperature.

  The hydrogen peroxide mist used in the sterilization process can be generated as a gas-liquid mixture by once vaporizing hydrogen peroxide droplets and then condensing. The gas-liquid mixture adheres to the surface of the container and becomes a thin film of a high-concentration hydrogen peroxide aqueous solution, whereby proper sterilization is performed. Further, since hydrogen peroxide is fed into the container as a mist, it quickly and uniformly adheres to every corner of the container and sterilizes the entire container without unevenness.

  After introducing hydrogen peroxide mist into the container, sterile air may be blown into the container to discharge the mist out of the container. The sterilized air may be heated sterilized air as well as room temperature sterilized air. In the case of blowing heated sterile air, the container can be heated and the mist discharged efficiently. By heating the container, the sterilizing effect on the inner surface of the container can be enhanced, and at the same time, the permeation of hydrogen peroxide into the wall of the container can be suppressed and the hydrogen peroxide can easily float on the surface of the container. In addition, by blowing sterile air, hydrogen peroxide mist drifting in the interior space of the container can be discharged out of the container, preventing excessive hydrogen peroxide from adhering to the inner surface of the container in terms of sterilization effect. In addition, the penetration of hydrogen peroxide into the wall of the container can be further effectively suppressed.

  Although it is desirable to start the blowing of sterile air immediately after the introduction of the mist, it is desirable to prevent hydrogen peroxide from remaining, but a certain holding time is provided until the blowing of sterile air until the mist is placed on the inner surface of the container. The sterilizing effect may be further enhanced by contacting evenly. This holding time can be provided as the time for transporting the container from the step of introducing mist to the step of discharging mist.

  Formation of a film of aseptic water on the inner surface of the container in the hydrogen peroxide extraction step can be performed with aseptic water vapor. By blowing sterile water vapor into the container, saturated water vapor condenses on the inner surface of the container, forming a uniform water film uniformly on the inner surface of the container, and hydrogen peroxide adsorbed on the container wall by blowing mist. Is extracted by this sterile water film. As the sterilized water vapor, either wet steam or superheated steam can be used.

  The formation of the film with sterile water can also be performed by introducing a spray of sterile water into the container. Moreover, although the vapor | steam or spray of aseptic water may be normal temperature, it is desirable to introduce | transduce into a container in the heated state.

  In this container sterilization method, the hydrogen peroxide discharging step of discharging hydrogen peroxide outside the container is performed by blowing sterile air into the container and discharging a film of sterile water extracted from the hydrogen peroxide outside the container. be able to. It can also be carried out by introducing sterile water into the container and washing off the sterile water film from which hydrogen peroxide has been extracted.

  Discharge of hydrogen peroxide outside the container with sterile water can be performed with sterile water at room temperature, but by using heated sterile water, the heat promotes the seepage of hydrogen peroxide to the container surface. A high extraction effect can be obtained, and the residual reduction effect of hydrogen peroxide is further enhanced.

  By this hydrogen peroxide discharging step, the aseptic water film from which hydrogen peroxide has been extracted is removed from the inner surface of the container, and the hydrogen peroxide taken into this film is discharged outside the container. Further, since the hydrogen peroxide in the container is efficiently extracted and adsorbed on the sterile water film, the amount of sterile water used for cleaning the hydrogen peroxide is significantly reduced.

  In this container sterilization method, it is possible to add an external surface sterilization step of sterilizing the external surface of the container with hydrogen peroxide mist. By sterilizing the outer surface of the container, the aseptic condition after the sterilization treatment in the container can be properly maintained. The outer surface sterilization process may be performed before or after the container inner surface sterilization process, or may be performed in parallel with other processes.

  After injecting heated sterile air into the container and before forming a film of sterile water, a predetermined waiting time may be provided to enhance the sterilizing effect of the hydrogen peroxide film adhered to the inner surface of the container. Good. This standby time can be ensured as the container transport time.

  The sterilization method can be performed by a container sterilization apparatus described below.

  That is, this sterilization apparatus has a transport means for transporting the container along a predetermined transport path, sterilization means for introducing hydrogen peroxide mist into the container along the transport path, and aseptic within the container. A film of sterile water for extracting hydrogen peroxide by introducing water vapor or spray is formed on the inner surface of the container, hydrogen peroxide extraction means for extracting hydrogen peroxide with this film, and hydrogen peroxide in the container Hydrogen peroxide discharging means for discharging to the outside is arranged in order.

  In this container sterilization apparatus, the conveying path of the conveying means may be configured to extend as a continuous arc by connecting a plurality of wheels. By configuring the transport path with a plurality of wheels, the installation space for the sterilizer is reduced.

  As a means for introducing hydrogen peroxide mist into the container, for example, a pipe-shaped nozzle can be used.

  In this container sterilization apparatus, the conveying means may include a gripper that holds the container by gripping the mouth of the container. If the container is held and transported only in this way, the container will be in a state of floating in the air, and hydrogen peroxide mist will easily adhere to the entire outer surface of the container, improving the outer surface sterilizing effect of the container. .

  In this container sterilization apparatus, preheating means for preheating the entire container to a desired temperature is provided on the upstream side of the sterilization means in the transport path as necessary. A mouth heating means for heating the mouth of the container separately from the container body is added to the preheating means as required. For example, a PET bottle is obtained, for example, by blow molding a parison, but the mouth of the bottle maintains the thickness in the parison state, so that the meat is thicker than the swollen trunk and is harder to heat than the trunk. When the mouth is heated intensively by the mouth heating means, the entire bottle reaches the desired temperature at an early stage, and as a result, the sterilization treatment can be performed quickly and the sterilization effect can be further enhanced. As the mouth heating means, nozzles can be arranged on the outer periphery of the mouth, and hot air of aseptic air can be blown toward the mouth from these nozzles. Further, an umbrella-shaped guide body may be fixed to a nozzle that blows hot air into the bottle, and the hot air that enters the bottle from the nozzle and blows out from the mouth portion may be guided to the outer periphery of the mouth portion by this guide body.

  In this container sterilization apparatus, sterile air is blown into the container to discharge the hydrogen peroxide mist outside the container on the downstream side of the sterilization means in the conveyance path and upstream of the hydrogen peroxide extraction means. A nozzle may be provided.

  The hydrogen peroxide extraction means may be provided with a vaporizer that heats and evaporates sterile water when the film is formed by steam.

  In this container sterilization apparatus, the hydrogen peroxide discharging means can be a nozzle for blowing sterile air into the container, or can be a nozzle for introducing sterile water into the container.

  In this container sterilization apparatus, an air blow means for blowing sterile air into the container and removing water droplets adhering to the inner surface of the container is provided on the downstream side of the hydrogen peroxide discharge means as necessary. For example, a pipe-shaped nozzle can be used as the air blowing means.

  Further, in this container sterilization apparatus, external surface sterilization means for sterilizing the outer surface of the container with hydrogen peroxide mist is provided along the conveyance path as necessary. This outer surface sterilizing means is desirably arranged at the most upstream position of the conveyance path.

  The outer surface sterilization means has a tunnel-shaped enclosure that covers the conveyance path of the container with a predetermined length, and protrudes in a direction reverse to the conveyance direction of the container, and a nozzle that ejects hydrogen peroxide mist into the enclosure. And a baffle portion to be provided. Mist is sprayed from the nozzle while the container passes through the enclosure, thereby sterilizing the outer surface of the container. Further, the mist tries to move with the movement of the container in the enclosure, but the movement of the mist is hindered by the baffle portion, and the mist tries to stay in the enclosure. Thereby, mist adheres to the outer surface of a container uniformly, and the bactericidal effect of the outer surface of a container improves. The baffle part can be omitted when the container moves at a low speed.

  In this container sterilization apparatus, the conveying means may include a gripper that holds the container by gripping the mouth of the container. If the container is held and transported only in this way, the container will be in a state of floating in the air, and hydrogen peroxide mist will easily adhere to the entire outer surface of the container, improving the outer surface sterilizing effect of the container. .

  As described above, according to the container sterilization method and apparatus of the present invention, after sterilizing the inner surface of the container with hydrogen peroxide mist, the vapor or spray of sterilized water is introduced into the container and the inner surface of the container is introduced. A film of aseptic water is formed, and hydrogen peroxide is extracted from this film, and then the hydrogen peroxide is discharged out of the container. By efficiently extracting and removing this film, hydrogen peroxide can be discharged out of the container easily and quickly. Therefore, the residual hydrogen peroxide in the container can be reduced, and at the same time, the amount of sterile water used for washing the container can be greatly reduced. The wastewater treatment facility can be reduced in size, simplified, and the load can be reduced.

  In this embodiment, the container to be sterilized is a bottle obtained by blow molding a parison made of PET. This container sterilization method is performed according to the procedure shown in FIG.

First, as shown in FIG. 1 (A), a nozzle 2 is inserted into the bottle 1 from the mouth 1a of the bottle 1, and hot air a, which is aseptic air heated from the tip of the nozzle 2, is fed into the bottle 1 Is preheated. By inserting the nozzle 2 into the bottle 1, the hot air a can be reliably sent into the bottle 1. The insertion amount of the nozzle 2 can be appropriately changed according to the flow rate of the hot air a, the diameter of the mouth portion 1a, and the like. Air volume of hot air a to be discharged from the nozzle 2 is preferably 0.1-0.5 M ³ / min, more desirably 0.2 to 0.3 m ³ / min. This preheating step can be omitted in some cases.

  An umbrella-shaped guide body 2 a that covers the mouth edge of the mouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1 is attached to the outer periphery of the nozzle 2. As shown in FIG. 1 (A), hot air a blown into the bottle 1 from the tip of the nozzle 2 circulates in the bottle 1 and then blows out from the mouth 1a and is guided by the guide 2a. The mouth 1a is also heated from outside. A nozzle may be installed on the outer periphery of the mouth portion 1a of the bottle 1 in place of the guide body 2a or together with the guide body 2a, and hot air may be blown from the nozzle to the mouth portion 1a to heat the mouth portion 1a from the outside. . When the mouth portion 1a can be sufficiently heated only by the hot air a from the nozzle 2, the nozzles disposed on the outer periphery of the guide body 2a or the mouth portion 1a may be omitted. By this preheating, the temperature of the inner surface of the bottle 1 rises to 40 ° C to 75 ° C, preferably 55 ° C to 65 ° C.

  The preheated bottle 1 is sent to the mist supply process shown in FIG. In the mist supply step, hydrogen peroxide mist b is introduced into the bottle 1 from the nozzle 3 to sterilize the inner surface of the bottle 1.

  The hydrogen peroxide mist b can be generated by, for example, a mist generating device 4 shown in FIG. The generating device 4 includes a hydrogen peroxide supply unit 5 that is a two-fluid spray that supplies an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide that is a sterilizing agent in a droplet form, and a hydrogen peroxide supply unit 5 that supplies hydrogen peroxide. A vaporizing section 6 that vaporizes the spray by heating it to a non-decomposition temperature equal to or higher than its boiling point. The hydrogen peroxide supply unit 5 introduces an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and compressed air from the hydrogen peroxide supply channel 5a and the compressed air supply channel 5b, respectively, and sprays the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide into the vaporization unit 6. ing. The vaporizing unit 6 is a pipe having a heater 6a sandwiched between inner and outer walls, and heats and vaporizes the spray of hydrogen peroxide blown into the pipe. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas is ejected from the nozzle 3 toward the mouth 1a of the bottle 1. A part of the vaporized hydrogen peroxide is condensed and liquefied by dropping to a temperature equal to or lower than the boiling point before leaving the nozzle 3 and reaching the vicinity of the bottle 1. Thereby, the fine mist b which is the gas-liquid mixture of hydrogen peroxide is produced | generated. The fine mist b of hydrogen peroxide is blown from the nozzle 3 into the preheated bottle 1 and uniformly adheres to the entire inner surface of the bottle 1 without unevenness. The mist b adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 is condensed to form high-concentration hydrogen peroxide, and the inner surface of the bottle 1 is quickly sterilized.

  For example, referring to FIG. 14, the vaporizing section 6 is heated by heating a hydrogen peroxide solution having a molar fraction of about 0.22 mol% (about 35 wt%) to a boiling point of about 121 ° C. or higher. Vaporize hydrogen. When the vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas is ejected from the nozzle 3, it is lowered to a temperature below the boiling point and becomes a mist b of the gas-liquid mixture. When the mist b adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 1 and dew condensation occurs, it becomes a hydrogen peroxide solution having a high molar ratio of about 0.60 mol% (about 74 wt%) and adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 1. Thereby, the inner surface of the bottle 1 is sterilized quickly and appropriately.

  The preheating of the bottle 1 is useful for maintaining a higher concentration of the hydrogen peroxide solution that condenses on the inner surface of the bottle 1. The amount of hydrogen peroxide mist attached to one bottle with a capacity of 500 ml is preferably in the range of 5 μl to 100 μl in terms of a 35 wt% hydrogen peroxide solution. The blowing time of mist is preferably in the range of 0.1 second to 1 second with respect to one bottle.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (A), a mist b similar to the hydrogen peroxide mist b sprayed on the outer surface of the bottle 1 is arranged around the body of the bottle 1 (see FIG. 4). Spray the outer surface of the bottle 1 to sterilize it. This sterilization is performed in parallel with the preheating in the preheating step shown in FIG. 1A, but can be performed in the step shown in FIG. 1B or independently at a desired stage. It can also be done.

  The bottle 1 into which the hydrogen peroxide mist b is blown is sent to the mist discharging step as shown in FIG. In the mist discharging step, hot air c generated by heating sterile air is blown into the bottle 1 from the nozzle 7. The nozzle 7 may be left outside the bottle 1, but preferably hot air c is blown in a state of being inserted into the bottle 1. The bottle 1 is heated from the inner surface by the hot air c, the sterilizing effect of the hydrogen peroxide mist b is enhanced, the permeation of hydrogen peroxide into the wall of the bottle 1 is suppressed, and the hydrogen peroxide is applied to the inner surface of the bottle 1. It becomes easy to float. Also, the mist b drifting inside the bottle 1 is discharged out of the bottle 1 by the hot air c. As described above, when the mist b is blown into the bottle 1, the inner surface of the bottle 1 is sterilized almost instantly by the mist b. Therefore, the hot air c is blown into the bottle 1 immediately after the mist b is blown, and the internal space of the bottle 1. The sterilizing effect is not impaired even if the mist b drifting to the outside is discharged out of the bottle 1. Rather, excessive mist b is discharged at an early stage, so that excessive permeation of hydrogen peroxide into the wall thickness of the bottle 1 can be suppressed, and the subsequent cleaning process can be completed in a short time.

  Note that the hot air c can be aseptic air at room temperature as required. Further, the mist discharging step shown in FIG. 1C can be omitted depending on circumstances.

  As described above, it is desirable to blow hot air c immediately after blowing mist b in order to reduce the residual hydrogen peroxide, but the sterilizing effect is maintained by maintaining the state in which hydrogen peroxide is blown into the bottle 1 for a predetermined time. You may make it raise. Within this time, a small amount of hydrogen peroxide remaining on the inner surface of the bottle 1 sterilizes the inner surface of the bottle 1. This predetermined holding time can be adjusted by adjusting the time for transporting the bottle 1 from the mist supply process to the mist discharge process. After the introduction of the hydrogen peroxide mist b, the holding time until the hot air c starts to be blown is preferably in the range of 1.0 to 10 seconds. The blowing time of the hot air c is, for example, about 1 second to 20 seconds.

  After the mist b is discharged from the inside of the bottle 1 by blowing hot air c, aseptic water vapor d is introduced into the bottle 1 to form a sterile water film on the inner surface of the bottle 1 as shown in FIG. To do. The standby time until the start of the blowing of the steam d after the supply of the hot air c is stopped is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10 seconds. This film formation of sterile water can be performed by blowing a vapor d of sterile water into the bottle 1 from the nozzle 8. The steam d is initially heated to about 135 ° C. and sterilized, and then discharged from the outlet of the nozzle 8 while being cooled to about 98 ° C. to 99 ° C. Further, the amount of steam d blown can be, for example, 3 seconds to 12 seconds when the nozzle diameter is 1.2 mm, and can be 1 second to 3 seconds when the nozzle diameter is 2 mm.

  When the hydrogen peroxide mist is blown into the bottle 1, as shown in FIG. 15 (A), a thin film 61 of hydrogen peroxide mist adheres to the inner surface of the PET wall 60 of the bottle 1. Hydrogen oxide particles 62 are taken into the wall 60 of the bottle 1. Therefore, when the sterile water vapor d is introduced into the bottle 1 and the vapor film 63 adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 1 from above the hydrogen peroxide film 61, the particles of hydrogen peroxide incorporated into the PET 62 is extracted by the steam film 63 as indicated by an arrow. Thereby, the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide on the inner surface of the bottle 1 is reduced. The bacteria 64 adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 are quickly sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide film 61 condensed at a high concentration and the hydrogen peroxide particles 62 taken into the PET.

  In addition, a nozzle is also arranged on the outer periphery of the body of the bottle 1, and the sterilized water vapor is sprayed from the nozzle onto the outer surface of the bottle 1 to form a sterilized water film on the outer surface of the bottle 1. You may make it extract the used hydrogen peroxide.

  Further, a sterile water shower can be used instead of the sterile water vapor d. That is, the hydrogen peroxide adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 can also be washed away by spraying the spray of sterile water from the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 into the bottle 1 like a shower. In this case, as shown in FIG. 15 (B), the spray of aseptic water becomes a film 63 which adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 1 from the hydrogen peroxide film 61 and is taken into the PET. The hydrogen particles 62 are extracted by the film 63 of the fine droplets of sterile water as indicated by arrows.

  As shown in FIG. 1E, the bottle 1 into which aseptic water vapor has been introduced is washed in a hydrogen peroxide discharging step, and residual hydrogen peroxide is discharged out of the container.

  It may be possible to further reduce the residual hydrogen peroxide by holding the bottle 1 for a predetermined period of time after introduction of sterile water vapor and before washing. The predetermined time is preferably in the range of 0.1 to 10 seconds. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the aseptic water film 63 condensed on the inner surface of the bottle 1 within this holding time adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 1 or penetrates into the wall thickness of the wall 60 of the bottle 1. It will absorb the excess hydrogen peroxide. This holding time can be secured as the time for transporting the bottle 1 from the hydrogen peroxide extraction step of FIG. 1D to the hydrogen peroxide discharge step of FIG.

  When shifting from the hydrogen peroxide extraction step to the hydrogen peroxide discharge step, the bottle 1 is preferably turned upside down and the mouth portion 1a faces downward. A nozzle 9 is inserted into the inside of the bottle 1 from the mouth portion 1a facing downward, and a cleaning liquid e that is sterile water is fed from the nozzle 9. The cleaning liquid e fills the bottle 1 and contacts the inner surface of the bottle 1 and then flows out from the mouth 1a. Thereby, the film | membrane of the aseptic water which was formed in the inner surface of the bottle 1 at the hydrogen peroxide extraction process and extracted the excess hydrogen peroxide is washed away with the washing | cleaning liquid e.

  The sterilized water cleaning solution e used in the hydrogen peroxide discharging step may be at room temperature, but heating is desirable to increase cleaning efficiency. The temperature of the cleaning liquid e is preferably in the range of 40 ° C to 80 ° C. In the hydrogen peroxide extraction process described above, permeation of hydrogen peroxide into the bottle 1 is suppressed, and hydrogen peroxide is extracted from the bottle 1, so that this cleaning can be completed in a short time. For example, a 500 ml bottle can be completed in about 3 seconds. As a result, the amount of aseptic water e used for cleaning in the hydrogen peroxide discharging process is reduced, and as a result, the amount of aseptic water used in the entire aseptic apparatus is also reduced.

  The aseptic water used in the washing can be obtained by heating the water from which foreign matters have been removed with a filter to, for example, 130 ° C. and cooling to about 70 ° C.

  After the cleaning in the hydrogen peroxide discharging step, the bottle 1 is sent to the air blowing step as shown in FIG. 1 (F), and the droplets of the cleaning liquid e adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 are removed. Specifically, the nozzle 10 is made to face the mouth portion 1a facing downward, and hot air f made of aseptic air is blown into the bottle 1 from this nozzle, whereby water droplets adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 are blown off and removed. .

  Note that the cleaning in FIG. 1 (E) may be omitted, and the air blow process in FIG. 1 (F) may be used as the hydrogen peroxide discharge process to remove the sterile water film by introducing sterile air. Alternatively, the cleaning with the cleaning liquid e in the hydrogen peroxide discharging step in FIG. 1 (E) may be replaced with air rinsing with sterile air. As shown in FIGS. 15A and 15B, the sterilized water film 63 is extracted and incorporated with hydrogen peroxide. Therefore, the film 63 can be removed only by blowing of sterilized air. Hydrogen oxide can be quickly discharged out of the bottle 1.

  The bottle 1 thus sterilized is filled with contents such as a beverage, and the mouth 1a is closed with a cap.

  Next, an example of a sterilization apparatus for performing the above-described sterilization method will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sterilizer has means for transporting the PET bottle along a predetermined transport path.

  The conveying means is configured so that a plurality of various wheels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, and 28 are adjacent to each other horizontally. 13, and around each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, FIG. A plurality of grippers 29 exemplified in B) are arranged at a predetermined pitch. Of course, these wheels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 can be added or deleted as appropriate. The adjacent wheels rotate in opposite directions at the same peripheral speed, and each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. , 28 at the outer periphery of the gripper 29 at the same peripheral speed as the wheels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 Turn. The conveying path of the conveying means is an arc by connecting various wheels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. A large number of bottles 1 travel at predetermined intervals on a continuous line of the arc. That is, the bottle 1 is gripped by the gripper 29 of the upstream wheel and turns together with the wheel. When the bottle 1 reaches the downstream wheel, the bottle 1 is gripped by the gripper 29 of the wheel, and thereafter sequentially sent to the downstream wheel at a constant speed. It is done.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the gripper 29 has a pair of sandwiching pieces 30a and 30b that sandwich the mouth portion 1a protruding from the body of the bottle 1 from the outside. The pair of sandwiching pieces 30a and 30b are rotatably supported by the base 31 by vertical pins 32, respectively, and are always pulled in a closing direction by a tension spring 33. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 13 (B), the pair of sandwiching pieces 30a and 30b always try to grip the mouth 1a of the bottle 1, and the bottle 1 gripped by the gripper 29 is suspended as shown in FIG. Become. In the base 31, each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 is in a state in which a cylindrical vertical shaft 34 is fitted to the bases of both sandwiching pieces 30 a, 30 b. , 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 are mounted so as to be slidable in the radial direction, and cam followers 35 connected to the vertical shaft 34 are also connected to the wheels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 are slidably mounted in the radial direction. Each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 is engaged with a groove of the cam follower 35. , The cam follower 35 and the vertical shaft 34 at the predetermined positions of the wheels 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28. A cam (not shown) for sliding in the radial direction and switching the sandwiching pieces 30a, 30b of the gripper 29 to an open state or a closed state is disposed. Each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 rotates and the gripper 29 is adjacent to the gripper 29 of the adjacent wheel. , Both grippers 29 once hold the mouth portion 1a of the bottle 1, and then the grip pieces 30a, 30b of the upstream gripper 29 are opened to release the bottle 1, and the grip pieces 30a of the downstream gripper 29 are released. , 30b is closed and the bottle 1 is conveyed. Thereafter, the same operation is performed, whereby the bottles 1 are conveyed in a row to the downstream wheel.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a means 36 for preheating the bottle 1 along the conveying path, and a mist b of hydrogen peroxide is introduced into the preheated bottle 1 (see FIG. 1 (B)). Means 37 for sterilizing the inner surface of 1 and means for blowing hot air c into the bottle 1 whose inner surface is sterilized (see FIG. 1C), heating the bottle 1 and discharging the mist b outside the bottle 1 38, a hydrogen peroxide extraction means 39 for introducing sterile water vapor d (see FIG. 1 (D)) into the bottle 1 from which the mist has been discharged, and a cleaning liquid e (FIG. 1) in the bottle 1 into which the vapor d has been introduced. (E)) and the hydrogen peroxide discharging means 40 for discharging hydrogen peroxide to the outside of the container, and aseptic hot air f (see FIG. 1 (F)) is blown into the bottle 1 after the cleaning, and water droplets from the bottle 1 An air blow means 41 for removing air is disposed in order. Further, an outer surface sterilizing means 42 for sterilizing the outer surface of the bottle 1 with hydrogen peroxide mist b is also provided along the transport path. In this embodiment, the outer surface sterilizing means 42 is provided at the same location as the preheating means 36.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the preheating means 36 and the outer surface sterilization means 42 are arranged along the outer periphery of the first wheel 14, and so as to follow the outer periphery of the second wheel 15 in contact with the first wheel 14. A bottle inner surface sterilizing means 37 is arranged. Both wheels 14 and 15 are surrounded by a sterilization chamber 43 filled with positive pressure sterilized air. Of course, it is also possible to surround each wheel 14, 15 with a sterile chamber.

  A row of a plurality of introduction wheels 11, 12, 13 is connected to the upstream side of the first wheel 14 where the preheating means 36 and the like are provided, and a screw 44 is connected to the most upstream introduction wheel 11. These introduction wheels 11, 12, 13 and the screw 44 are also surrounded by a sterile chamber 45. When the bottle 1 molded by a blow molding machine (not shown) or the like is introduced into the aseptic chamber 45 at a constant pitch by the screw 44, the mouth 1a is gripped by the gripper 29 (see FIG. 13) of the most upstream introduction wheel 11. Then, it is sequentially transferred to the gripper 29 of the first wheel 14 via the gripper 29 of the introduction wheels 12 and 13 on the downstream side.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the preheating means 36 has a hot air supply box 46 that curves along the outer periphery of the first wheel 14. The hot air supply box 46 is connected to a blower, a HEPA filter and an electric heater (not shown). The air drawn from the blower is purified by the HEPA filter, heated to a predetermined temperature by the electric heater, and sent as hot air into the hot air supply box 46. In addition to a gripper 29 for gripping the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 and a manifold (not shown) for distributing the hot air a are pivotally attached to the turning shaft 14a of the first wheel 14 so as to turn together with the first wheel 14. It is like that. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the nozzle 2 is disposed above each gripper 29 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction and to be able to turn together with the first wheel 14. The sliding movement of the nozzle 2 can be performed by an air cylinder device (not shown) or a cylindrical cam arranged so as to surround the turning shaft 14a. Each nozzle 2 is connected to a branch pipe made of a flexible hose extending from the manifold.

  The hot air a in the hot air supply box 46 passes through the hollow portion of the turning shaft 14a and reaches the nozzle 2 through the manifold and the branch pipe. When the bottle 1 is introduced into the first wheel 14, the nozzle 2 that travels with the bottle 1 descends from the position shown in FIG. 4 to the position shown in FIG. 5 and enters the bottle 1 to blow hot air a. Hot air a flows as shown in FIG. 1A to preheat the entire bottle 1. The hot air a is blown up to the point where the first wheel 14 contacts the second wheel 15. When the bottle 1 approaches this location, the nozzle 2 rises out of the bottle 1 and stops blowing hot air a.

  The preliminary heating means 36 includes a mouth heating means for heating the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 separately from the body of the bottle 1 as necessary. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5, the mouth heating means is an umbrella-shaped guide body 2a attached to the outer periphery of the nozzle 2, and at the same time the nozzle 2 is inserted into the bottle 1, the guide body 2a Cover the mouth edge of the mouth 1a of the bottle 1. As shown in FIG. 1A, the hot air a blown into the bottle 1 from the tip of the nozzle 2 blows out from the rear mouth 1a that circulates in the bottle 1 and is guided by the guide body 2a. The mouth 1a is heated from the outside by contacting the outer periphery.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the outer surface sterilization means 42 includes a mist generating device 4 and a tunnel-shaped enclosure 47 that covers the transport path of the bottle 1 with a predetermined length.

  The tunnel-shaped enclosure 47 extends in an arc shape from a position where the first wheel 14 contacts the most downstream introduction wheel 13 to a position where the first wheel 14 contacts the second wheel 15. The top plate of the enclosure 47 is formed with a groove that is curved in an arc shape with the pivot axis 14a as the center point. The gripper 29 and the nozzle 2 pass through the groove, and the bottle 1 held by each gripper 29 surrounds the bottle. Pass through 47.

  In this enclosure 47, there are provided a nozzle 48 that ejects hydrogen peroxide mist and a baffle portion 49 that protrudes in a direction opposite to the conveying direction of the bottle 1.

  The nozzles 48 are concentrated in the enclosure 47 on the upstream side of the conveyance path of the bottle 1. The nozzle 48 is configured by punching a plurality of small holes in a plurality of hollow tubes 50 arranged so as to face the outer surface of the bottle 1 passing through the enclosure 47 so as to face the outer surface of the bottle 1. . Each hollow tube 50 is connected to the mist generating device 4 and supplied with a mist b of hydrogen peroxide from each mist generating device 4. The mist generating device 4 has the same configuration as the mist generating device 4 shown in FIG. The hydrogen peroxide mist b blown out from the nozzle 48 fills the enclosure 47 and adheres uniformly to the entire outer surface of the bottle 1 passing through the enclosure 47. The mist b adheres to the outer surface of the bottle 1 and condenses to become high-concentration hydrogen peroxide, and sterilizes the outer surface of the bottle 1 appropriately.

  The baffle portion 49 is constituted by a number of bowl-shaped plate pieces attached to the inner surface of the enclosure 47 at a predetermined pitch. Each plate piece protrudes in a direction reverse to the conveying direction of the bottle 1. The hydrogen peroxide mist b filled in the enclosure 47 rides on the air flow caused by the bottle 1 passing through the enclosure 47 and tries to flow downstream in the enclosure 47. It acts to prevent this flow. As a result, the hydrogen peroxide mist b stays in the enclosure 47 and adheres uniformly to the outer surface of the bottle 1 and sterilizes the outer surface of the bottle 1 properly without unevenness.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the bottle inner surface sterilizing means 37 is provided on the conveyance path from the position where the second wheel 15 contacts the first wheel 14 to the position where the second wheel 15 contacts the third wheel 16. A base 37 a of the bottle inner surface sterilizing means 37 is installed so as to be positioned right above the gripper 29 on the outer periphery of the second wheel 15. A plurality of mist generating devices 4 shown in FIG. 6 are attached to the base 37 a at intervals equal to the pitch of the grippers 29, and the nozzles 1 a of the bottles 1 in which the nozzles 3 of the mist generating devices 4 are held by the grippers 29. Opposite to. The hydrogen peroxide mist b generated by each mist generating device 4 is blown from the mouth portion 1a into the bottle 1 running under each nozzle 3 and adheres uniformly to the entire inner surface of the bottle 1. The mist b adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 1 and condenses to become high-concentration hydrogen peroxide, thereby quickly sterilizing the inner surface of the bottle 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mist discharging means 38 is provided on the conveyance path from the position where the third wheel 16 contacts the second wheel 15 to the position where the third wheel 16 contacts the fourth wheel 17. The circumference of the third wheel 16 and the circumference of the fourth wheel 17 are surrounded by sterilization chambers 51 and 52 filled with positive pressure sterilized air, respectively.

  The mist discharging means 38 includes a nozzle 7 that pivots together with the grippers 29 directly above each gripper 29 of the third wheel 16. The nozzle 7 can be moved up and down by a mechanism similar to that of the bottle inner surface sterilizing means 37, and is supplied with hot air c that is aseptic air heated in the same manner as the bottle inner surface sterilizing means 37. When the bottle 1 in which the mist b is blown by the bottle inner surface sterilizing means 37 comes in a state where the nozzle 7 is gripped by the gripper 29, the nozzle 7 enters the bottle 1 and blows hot air c as shown in FIG. The hot air flows as shown in FIG. 1C to heat the entire bottle 1 and discharge the mist b outside the bottle 1. The hot air c is blown until the third wheel 16 comes into contact with the fourth wheel 17. When the bottle 1 approaches a location in contact with the fourth wheel 17, the nozzle 7 rises out of the bottle 1 and stops blowing hot air c.

  The bottle 1 in which the mist b is blown by the bottle inner surface sterilization means 37 is held for a certain period of time in a state where the inside is filled with the mist b on the conveying path leading to the mist discharging means 38. The high concentration of hydrogen peroxide adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 sterilizes the inner surface of the bottle 1 more effectively.

  The fourth wheel 17 is provided, for example, for collecting the bottle 1 with poor sterilization generated at the beginning of the sterilization apparatus. When a signal notifying the arrival of the sterilized defective bottle 1 is issued from a control unit (not shown), the gripper 29 of the fourth wheel 17 receives the bottle 1 from the gripper 29 of the third wheel 16 and discharges it out of the conveyance path. The normally sterilized bottle 1 passes from the conveyance path of the third wheel 16 through the fourth wheel 17 to the conveyance path of the next fifth wheel 18.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the hydrogen peroxide extraction means 39 is provided on the conveyance path from the position where the fifth wheel 18 contacts the third wheel 16 to the position where the fifth wheel 19 contacts the sixth wheel 19. The fifth wheel 18 and the sixth wheel 19 are surrounded by a sterilization chamber 53 filled with positive pressure sterilized air, together with the periphery of the seventh wheel 20 in contact with the sixth wheel 19.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the hydrogen peroxide extraction means 39 includes a nozzle 8 that rotates together with the grippers 29 directly above the grippers 29 of the fifth wheel 18. Each nozzle 8 is fixed immediately above each gripper 29. Of course, the nozzle 8 may be moved up and down by a mechanism similar to the bottle inner surface sterilization means 37 so as to be able to enter and exit the bottle 1.

  The hydrogen peroxide extraction means 39 is provided with a steam generator 65 for generating aseptic water vapor d. As shown in FIG. 16, the steam generating device 65 has a structure substantially similar to the mist generating device 4 shown in FIG. 6, for example. The two-fluid spray 66 and the spray of water supplied from the two-fluid spray 66 are used. And a vaporizing section 67 for heating and vaporizing. The two-fluid spray 66 introduces water and compressed air from the water supply path 66a and the compressed air supply path 66b, respectively, and sprays the water into the vaporization section 67. The vaporizing section 67 is a pipe having a heater 67a sandwiched between inner and outer walls, and heats and vaporizes the water spray blown into the pipe. The vaporized water gas is ejected from the tip of the vaporization section 67 into the conduit 68. Sterile hot air is blown into the conduit 68 from the upstream side, and this hot air is entrained with water vaporized gas and becomes high-temperature steam and flows in the conduit 68 to the nozzle 8 shown in FIG.

  In addition, the steam generator 65 can also be a boiler of a factory where the sterilizer is installed, in addition to the above device.

  As in the preheating means 36, each nozzle 8 is supplied with aseptic water steam d from a steam generator 65 via a manifold or the like. When the nozzle 8 arrives in a state where the bottle 1 from which the mist b has been discharged by the mist discharging means 38 is gripped by the gripper 29, steam is introduced into the bottle 1 from above the mouth 1a of the bottle 1, as shown in FIG. Inject d.

  The steam d flows as shown in FIG. 1 (D) to heat the entire bottle 1 and condenses in contact with the inner surface of the bottle 1. As shown in FIG. The film 63 is attached. This film 63 adsorbs the hydrogen peroxide remaining on the inner surface of the bottle 1. The aseptic water film 63 prevents hydrogen peroxide from penetrating into the bottle 1 wall 60, and the hydrogen peroxide particles 62 that have already penetrated into the bottle 1 wall are extracted into the aseptic water film 63.

  Steam d is blown in until the fifth wheel 18 comes into contact with the sixth wheel 19. When the bottle 1 approaches a location in contact with the sixth wheel 19, the blowing of the steam d is stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the hydrogen peroxide discharging means 40 is provided on the transport path from the position where the sixth wheel 19 contacts the fifth wheel 18 to the position where the sixth wheel 19 contacts the seventh wheel 20.

  The grippers 29 similar to the grippers 29 are also arranged on the outer periphery of the sixth wheel 19 at a predetermined pitch. These grippers 29 are supported on the sixth wheel 19 side via a horizontal pivot (not shown). . Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, each gripper 29 comes into contact with a cam 54 that is curved in an arc shape around the turning shaft 19 a of the sixth wheel 19. When the gripper 29 receives the bottle 1 from the contact point with the fifth wheel 18 by the turning of the sixth wheel 19 and proceeds, the bottle 1 is turned upside down by the guide of the cam 54. Therefore, the bottle 1 is also turned upside down as shown in FIG. Then, the mouth portion 1a faces downward.

  The hydrogen peroxide discharge means 40 includes a nozzle 9 that pivots together with the gripper 29 just below each gripper 29. Each nozzle 9 can move up and down in the bottle 1 by moving up and down by a mechanism similar to the preheating means 36 just above each gripper 29. Further, the hydrogen peroxide discharging means 40 supplies the cleaning liquid e, which is aseptic water, to the nozzle 9 from a manifold, a hollow tube or the like by the same mechanism as the preheating means 36. Sterile water may be at room temperature, but is preferably preheated to a predetermined temperature in order to enhance the cleaning effect. The cleaning liquid e blown from the nozzle 9 flows into the bottle 1 and then flows out from the mouth 1a. Below the hydrogen peroxide discharging means 40, a gutter member 55 for receiving the cleaning liquid e flowing out of the bottle 1 is provided.

  When the bottle 1 held upside down by the gripper 29 arrives, the nozzle 9 enters the bottle 1 and ejects the cleaning liquid e as shown in FIG. The jetted cleaning liquid e rinses hydrogen peroxide remaining from the inner surface of the bottle 1 together with the sterilized water film 63, and flows down below the bottle 1. The cleaning liquid e that has flowed down is received and collected by the flange member 55. The cleaning liquid e is injected until the position where the sixth wheel 19 contacts the seventh wheel 20. When the bottle 1 approaches a position in front of the seventh wheel 20, the injection of the cleaning liquid e is stopped. Since hydrogen peroxide is extracted in the bottle 1 by the film 63 of the vapor d formed by the hydrogen peroxide extraction means 39, the cleaning by the hydrogen peroxide extraction means 40 is performed simply, and therefore in a short time. Hydrogen peroxide is discharged out of the container, and the amount of sterile water used for cleaning is reduced.

  The air blow means 41 is disposed on the transport path of the sixth wheel 19 between the position where the hydrogen peroxide is discharged out of the container and the position where the sixth wheel 19 contacts the seventh wheel 20. As shown in FIG. 11, the air blowing means 41 includes a nozzle 10 for blowing hot air f made of sterile air into the bottle 1 held downward by the gripper 29 of the sixth wheel 19. These nozzles 10 are fixed to the gripper 29 similarly to the nozzles 9 of the hydrogen peroxide extraction means 39. Of course, the nozzle 10 may be moved up and down by a mechanism similar to the preheating means 39 so as to enter and exit the bottle 1.

  As with the preheating means 39, each nozzle 10 is supplied with hot air f of sterile air through a manifold or the like. Sterile air is used at room temperature as needed. When the nozzle 10 arrives in a state where the above-described discharge of hydrogen peroxide has been held by the gripper 29, hot air f is blown into the bottle 1 from the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 in the state shown in FIG. The hot air f flows as shown in FIG. 1 (F) to heat the entire bottle 1, blows away aseptic water adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1, and further dries it if necessary. Thereby, the removal of hydrogen peroxide is promoted, and the residual hydrogen peroxide in the bottle 1 is further reduced. The blowing of the hot air f is performed until the position just before the sixth wheel 19 contacts the seventh wheel 20. When the bottle 1 comes close to the place in contact with the seventh wheel 20, the gripper 29 comes into contact with the cam 54 to return to the original upright state and is gripped by the gripper 29 of the seventh wheel 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a sterilization chamber 56 is provided in contact with the sterilization chamber 53 where the hydrogen peroxide is discharged out of the container and the like, and the sterilized bottle 1 is filled with the contents. A row of various wheels 21, 22, 23 connected to the seventh wheel 20 is disposed in the aseptic chamber 56, and a filling machine 57 is installed so as to contact the predetermined wheel 23. The bottle 1 is held by the grippers 29 of the various wheels 21, 22, and 23 and is filled with the contents by the filling machine 57, and then moves into the next aseptic chamber 58.

  A row of various wheels 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 is arranged in the next aseptic chamber 58, and a plugging machine 59 is installed for the predetermined wheel 25. When the bottle 1 filled with the contents is carried into the aseptic chamber, a cap (not shown) is applied to the mouth 1 a of the bottle 1 held by the gripper 29 at the wheel 25 by the stopper 59. The bottle 1 closed with the cap is carried out of the aseptic chamber 58 from the carrying-out wheel 28 via the rejecting wheel 27 and shipped. On the other hand, the bottle 1 having trouble in filling, capping and the like is taken out of the aseptic chamber 58 from the reject wheel 27 and collected by another route.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, in the above embodiment, a PET bottle is a sterilization target. However, the present invention is a material that easily adsorbs hydrogen peroxide other than PET, For example, it can also be applied to bottles made of polyvinyl chloride, polycarbonate, polyamide resin, or silicon rubber. Or it is applicable also to the bottle which made the material which cannot adsorb | suck hydrogen peroxide easily, for example, polyethylene, a polypropylene, vapor deposition PET. Moreover, it is applicable also to forms other than a bottle, for example, a cup-shaped container. Further, the filling of the contents such as the bottle into the container may be performed in a state where moisture remains in the container in the hydrogen peroxide discharging process.

  Sterilization treatment was performed as follows for a bottle made of PET having a capacity of 500 ml.

(1) The bottle was preheated by supplying hot air of 0.2 m ³ per minute from the nozzle having an inner diameter of 10 mm to the inside of the bottle. The temperature of the hot air was set to 105 ° C. to 125 ° C. near the tip of the nozzle, and the insertion amount of the nozzle into the bottle was set to 25 mm.

  A guide body that covers the lip of the mouth of the bottle is attached to the outer periphery of the nozzle, and the hot air blown into the bottle from the tip of the nozzle circulates in the bottle and then guides it from the mouth of the bottle to the blowing guide body. It was made to come into contact with the mouth of the bottle from the outside.

  By this preheating, the temperature of the inner surface of the bottle increased to 60 ° C.

  (2) During the preheating, a mist of hydrogen peroxide was sprayed on the outer surface of the bottle to sterilize the outer surface of the bottle.

  (3) After stopping hot air blowing, the bottle was left for 1 second, and then hydrogen peroxide mist was blown into the bottle for 0.6 second. The amount of hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner surface of the bottle was 40 μl in terms of a 35 wt% hydrogen peroxide solution.

  (4) After the hydrogen peroxide mist was blown, the bottle was left for 0.5 to 3.5 seconds. Thereafter, a nozzle was inserted into the bottle, and sterile hot air was blown for 1 second to discharge the mist. The inner diameter of the nozzle, the amount of insertion, the temperature and flow rate of hot air are the same as in preheating.

  (5) After blowing hot air, the bottle was left for 1 to 3.5 seconds. Thereafter, aseptic water vapor was blown into the bottle to form a sterile water film in the bottle for extracting hydrogen peroxide. The steam was blown out from the nozzle with a diameter of 2 mm into the bottle for 3 seconds, and the steam temperature at the outlet of the nozzle was 98 ° C.

  (6) After extraction of hydrogen peroxide with a film of sterile water, the bottle is inverted, a nozzle with an inner diameter of 6 mm is inserted into the bottle, sterile water heated to 70 ° C. is sent into the bottle, and the hydrogen peroxide inside the bottle Was discharged outside the container. The flow rate of sterile water was 10 l / min, and water was poured for 1 second.

  Sterilization treatment was performed as follows for a bottle made of PET having a capacity of 500 ml.

(1) The bottle was preheated by supplying hot air of 0.2 m ³ per minute from the nozzle having an inner diameter of 10 mm to the inside of the bottle. The temperature of the hot air was set to 105 ° C. to 125 ° C. near the tip of the nozzle, and the insertion amount of the nozzle into the bottle was set to 25 mm.

  A guide body that covers the lip of the mouth of the bottle is attached to the outer periphery of the nozzle, and the hot air blown into the bottle from the tip of the nozzle circulates in the bottle and then guides it from the mouth of the bottle to the blowing guide body. It was made to come into contact with the mouth of the bottle from the outside.

  By this preheating, the temperature of the inner surface of the bottle increased to 60 ° C.

  (2) During the preheating, a mist of hydrogen peroxide was sprayed on the outer surface of the bottle to sterilize the outer surface of the bottle.

  (3) After stopping hot air blowing, the bottle was left for 1 second, and then hydrogen peroxide mist was blown into the bottle for 0.6 second. The amount of hydrogen peroxide attached to the inner surface of the bottle was 80 μl in terms of a 35 wt% hydrogen peroxide solution.

  (4) After the hydrogen peroxide mist was blown, the bottle was left for 0.5 to 3.5 seconds. Thereafter, a nozzle was inserted into the bottle, and sterile hot air was blown for 1 second to discharge the mist. The inner diameter of the nozzle, the amount of insertion, the temperature and flow rate of hot air are the same as in preheating.

  (5) After blowing hot air, the bottle was left for 1 to 3.5 seconds. Thereafter, aseptic water vapor was blown into the bottle to form a film of aseptic water in the bottle. The steam was blown out from the nozzle having a diameter of 1.2 mm into the bottle for 3 seconds. The steam temperature at the nozzle outlet was 98 ° C.

  (6) After extraction of hydrogen peroxide with a film of sterile water, the bottle is inverted, a nozzle with an inner diameter of 6 mm is inserted into the bottle, sterile water heated to 70 ° C. is sent into the bottle, and the hydrogen peroxide inside the bottle Was discharged outside the container. The flow rate of sterile water was 10 l / min, and water was poured for 3 seconds.

  (7) After discharging hydrogen peroxide, air blowing was performed to blow sterile air into the bottle to remove water droplets in the bottle. The flow rate of sterile air was 100 l / min, and air was blown for 3 seconds.

  In addition to Examples 1 and 2 above, when the hydrogen peroxide extraction step with steam is omitted, when the air blowing step with sterile air is omitted, when the diameter of the steam blowing nozzle is changed, the steam blowing time is changed. In each case, sterilization was performed.

For each of the above sterilization conditions, sterilize 5 bottles each having 10 ³ , 10 ⁴ , or 10 ⁵ Bacillus subtilis spores attached, and aseptically dispense tryptic soy bouillon medium into the bottles, The presence or absence of bactericidal properties was evaluated. From the test results under each sterilization condition, the number of surviving bacteria is calculated stochastically with the most probable number (MPN), and the logarithmic value of the number of adherent bacteria and the number of surviving bacteria is obtained by the following formula to sterilize The effect was evaluated.
Bactericidal effect (LRV ((Logarithmic reduction value)) = log (number of adherent bacteria / number of surviving bacteria)

  For each of the above sterilization conditions, the bottle was filled with pure water, and the hydrogen peroxide remaining in the bottle was eluted into the pure water to determine the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide.

  A list of test results is shown in Table 1 below. In Table 1, the condition 6 corresponds to the first embodiment, and the condition 15 corresponds to the second embodiment.

  The residue determination and sterilization determination are evaluated in four stages, respectively, and are indicated by ◎, ○, Δ, × in order from the best. In Table 1, the residual concentration of 0.88 ppm of hydrogen peroxide under condition 7 corresponds to x.

  From Table 1 above, the following points became clear.

  First, in conditions 1-18, LRV was all 5.3 or more and was appropriate. This value is a level of sterilization that does not cause problems when filling low-acid beverages of FDA.

  From the comparison between conditions 1 to 6 and condition 7, when performing the same cleaning for discharging the hydrogen peroxide outside the container, the hydrogen peroxide is less than when the extraction film is not formed with the vapor of sterile water. The residual amount of is significantly reduced.

  Compared with conditions 1 and 2 and condition 8, when the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide is about the same, hydrogen peroxide is discharged out of the container than when hydrogen peroxide is not extracted with a sterile water film. The amount of sterilized water to be used is greatly reduced.

  Even if hydrogen peroxide is not extracted from conditions 9 to 11, a certain amount of improvement in the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide can be seen by performing air blow with sterile air after discharging hydrogen peroxide from the container. As is clear from the comparison with the conditions 14 and 15, even when the amount of hydrogen peroxide mist increases by performing hydrogen peroxide extraction, the residual amount further decreases.

  As is clear from the comparison between Condition 16 and Conditions 17 and 18, even when hydrogen peroxide extraction is performed, if air blow with aseptic air is performed after discharge of hydrogen peroxide from the container by cleaning, it is not performed. However, the residual amount of hydrogen peroxide is reduced.

It is explanatory drawing showing one Embodiment of the sterilization method of the container which concerns on this invention. It is a schematic plan view showing one Embodiment of the sterilizer of the container which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 3. It is a partial cutaway view of a mist generating device. In FIG. 2, it is a VII-VII line arrow directional cross-sectional view. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XI-XI in FIG. It is the elements on larger scale of FIG. It is a top view of a gripper, (A) shows an open state, (B) shows a closed state, respectively. It is a vapor-liquid equilibrium relationship diagram under the atmospheric pressure of a hydrogen peroxide-water system. It is a figure which shows typically the state which extracts hydrogen peroxide by formation of the film | membrane of aseptic water, (A) forms a film | membrane by spraying of aseptic water, when (A) forms a film | membrane with the vapor | steam of aseptic water Shows the case. It is a partial notch figure of the steam generator which produces the vapor | steam of aseptic water.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bottle 1a ... Mouth part 2,10,48 ... Nozzle 2a ... Guide body 14, 15, 16, 18, 19 ... Wheel 29 ... Gripper 36 ... Preheating means 37 ... Inner surface sterilization means 38 ... Mist discharge means 39 ... hydrogen peroxide extraction means 40 ... hydrogen peroxide discharge means 41 ... air blow means 42 ... outer surface sterilization means 47 ... enclosure 49 ... baffle parts a, c ... hot air b ... hydrogen peroxide mist d ... vapor e ... cleaning liquid f ... hot air

Claims (19)

  In the container sterilization method including a sterilization process for introducing hydrogen peroxide mist into the container and a hydrogen peroxide discharge process for discharging hydrogen peroxide outside the container after sterilization, the sterilization process and the hydrogen peroxide discharge process Between the two, a steam or spray of sterile water is introduced into the container to form a sterile film on the inner surface of the container, and a hydrogen peroxide extraction step is provided for extracting hydrogen peroxide with this film. Container sterilization method.   The container sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the entire container is preheated to a desired temperature before the sterilization step.   The container sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein a mist discharging step of blowing sterile air into the container to discharge the mist of hydrogen peroxide outside the container between the sterilizing step and the hydrogen peroxide extraction step. A container sterilization method comprising: providing a container.   2. The container sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen peroxide discharging step is performed by blowing sterile air into the container.   2. The container sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen peroxide discharging step is performed by introducing sterile water into the container.   The container sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the formation of a film of sterile water in the hydrogen peroxide extraction step is performed by introducing steam of sterile water.   2. The container sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the formation of a film of sterile water in the hydrogen peroxide extraction step is performed by introducing a spray of sterile water.   8. The container sterilization method according to claim 1, further comprising an outer surface sterilization step of sterilizing the outer surface of the container with hydrogen peroxide mist.   It has transport means for transporting the container along a predetermined transport path, and sterilization means for introducing hydrogen peroxide mist into the container along the transport path, and aseptic water vapor or spray is introduced into the container. Then, a film of sterile water was formed on the inner surface of the container, and a hydrogen peroxide extraction means for extracting hydrogen peroxide by this film and a hydrogen peroxide discharge means for discharging hydrogen peroxide outside the container were sequentially arranged. A container sterilizer characterized by the above.   10. The container sterilization apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the conveyance path of the conveyance means extends in a continuous arc by connecting a plurality of wheels.   The container sterilizer according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the conveying means includes a gripper for holding the container by grasping the mouth of the container.   10. The container sterilizing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein preheating means for preheating the entire container to a desired temperature is provided upstream of the sterilizing means in the transport path. .   10. The container sterilization apparatus according to claim 9, wherein aseptic air is blown into the container on the downstream side of the sterilization means in the conveyance path and upstream of the hydrogen peroxide extraction means to bring the mist out of the container. A container sterilization apparatus provided with a discharge nozzle.   10. The container sterilizer according to claim 9, wherein the hydrogen peroxide discharging means is a nozzle that blows sterile air into the container.   10. The container sterilizing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the hydrogen peroxide discharging means is a nozzle for introducing sterile water into the container.   10. The container sterilization apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the hydrogen peroxide extraction means includes a vaporizer that heats and evaporates sterile water.   17. The container sterilizing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an outer surface sterilizing means for sterilizing the outer surface of the container with hydrogen peroxide mist is provided along the conveying path. Sterilization equipment.   18. The container sterilizing apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the outer surface sterilizing means has a tunnel-shaped enclosure that covers the transport path of the container with a predetermined length, and a nozzle that ejects hydrogen peroxide mist into the enclosure. A container sterilization apparatus comprising:   19. The container sterilizing apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a baffle portion protruding in a direction reverse to the container transport direction is provided in the tunnel-shaped enclosure.

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