JP2008155941A - Filling method and device for fluid - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce residual oxygen in a container filled with beverage. <P>SOLUTION: A sterile container 1 is preheated. A sterile liquefied inert gas g is dropped into the preheated container. The container containing the liquefied inert gas is filled with sterile beverage Z. Thereafter the container is sealed. This makes it possible to reduce a quantity of oxygen in the head space Y of the container and a quantity of oxygen dissolved in the beverage. Accordingly, the beverage can be preserved for a long time. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for filling a container with a fluid such as sencha.

  When a container such as a bottle is filled with a fluid such as a beverage and then the mouth is sealed with a lid such as a cap, air is confined in the head space between the surface of the fluid and the lid. The oxygen contained in the air oxidizes the fluid, causing alteration and deterioration. Conventionally, antioxidants such as vitamin C have been added to beverages to remove this oxygen and lengthen the shelf life.

  Moreover, in beer filling, in order to exclude the air in a head space, the method of filling beer after dripping liquid nitrogen in a container is proposed (for example, refer patent document 1).

  Moreover, after filling a drink in a plastic bottle, the method of reducing the amount of residual air in a head space by dripping liquid nitrogen in a head space is proposed (for example, refer patent document 2,3,4) .)

JP 61-244791 A JP 2001-31010 A JP 200381301 A JP 2006-137463 A

  The method for reducing the oxygen contained in the air of the beverage or headspace by adding the antioxidant described above may impair the taste, aroma, quality, etc. of the beverage, so it is desirable to add a large amount to the beverage In addition, depending on the type of beverage, it may not be used.

  In addition, the method of dripping liquid nitrogen into the container in advance when filling beer can reduce the oxygen concentration in the head space of the container compared to the case where liquid nitrogen is not dripped, but in the filled beer There is a problem that the dissolved oxygen cannot be reduced so much.

  Further, the method of dropping liquid nitrogen into the head space of the container after filling the container with the beverage has a problem that the nitrogen gas easily escapes from the container and the outside air easily enters the head space. In particular, when filling the container while traveling at high speed with the automatic filling device, nitrogen gas is easily sucked out of the head space and the outside air is more likely to enter.

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

  That is, in the invention according to claim 1, the container (1) is preheated, the liquefied inert gas (g) is dropped into the preheated container (1), and the container containing the liquefied inert gas (g) ( 1) Filling the fluid (Z) in the interior and then sealing the container (1).

  By adjusting the sealing time, the internal pressure of the container can be made equal to the atmospheric pressure, or the internal pressure can be increased to an atmospheric pressure or higher.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fluid filling method according to the first aspect, the container (1) is heated and sterilized, and the remaining heat at the time of the sterilization is used as the heat of the preheating. And

  The invention according to claim 3 is the fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the container (1) is preheated by hot water rinsing or hot air.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the fluid filling method according to the third aspect, wherein the liquefied inert gas (g) in a state where the remaining water of the hot water (e) is present in the container (1) during the hot water rinsing. It is characterized by dripping.

  The invention according to claim 5 is the fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the preheating temperature of the container (1) is 50 ° C to 80 ° C.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the liquefied inert gas (g) is liquid nitrogen.

  In the case of liquid nitrogen, the supply amount is desirably 0.1 g to 10 g, more desirably 0.5 g to 2.0 g, for 500 ml of the fluid (Z).

  The invention according to claim 7 is the fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the container (1) is a plastic bottle having a flexible wall, and the liquefied inert gas (g) is vaporized gas (h ), The internal pressure is increased to atmospheric pressure or higher.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid (Z) heated to 30 ° C. to 95 ° C. is filled in the container (1).

  The invention according to claim 9 is the fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid (Z) is a tea beverage.

  The temperature at the time of filling of the tea beverage is desirably 20 ° C to 60 ° C, and more desirably 35 ° C to 50 ° C.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the sterile liquefied inert gas (g) is dropped into a sterile preheated container (1) in a sterile atmosphere. The aseptic fluid (Z) is filled and sealed sequentially.

  Further, the invention according to claim 11 includes a transport means (23, etc.) for transporting the container (1) along a predetermined transport path, and a preheating means for preheating the container (1) along the transport path. (40), a liquefied inert gas supply means (4) for supplying a liquefied inert gas (g) into a preheated container (1), and a container (1) containing the liquefied inert gas (g) A fluid characterized in that a fluid filling means (57) for filling the fluid (Z) and a sealing means (59) for sealing the container (1) filled with the fluid (Z) are arranged in order. Body filling device.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the fluid filling device according to the eleventh aspect, the container preheating means is a hot water rinsing means or an air blowing means.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fluid filling apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the conveying path of the conveying means (23, etc.) connects a plurality of wheels (23, 24, 25) to form a continuous arc. It is characterized by extending.

  According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fluid filling apparatus according to the eleventh aspect, the sterilization device for the container (1) is provided upstream of the conveyance path, and the conveyance path is a container (1 in the sterilization apparatus). ).

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, in the fluid filling apparatus according to the fourteenth aspect, the hot water rinsing means (40) or the air blow means (41) is provided in the sterilizer, and the hot water rinsing means (40) or the air blow means is provided. The means (41) also serves as a preheating means for the container (1).

  According to the invention according to claims 1 to 15, both the amount of oxygen in the head space (Y) of the container (1) and the amount of dissolved oxygen in the filled fluid (Z) can be significantly reduced. Long-term storage of the fluid (Z) becomes possible.

  In particular, the container (1) is heated and rinsed with hot water rinse, and liquid nitrogen is quickly dropped, filled with a fluid (Z) around 50 ° C., and the inside of the head space (Y) is nitrogen. When sealed with a cap or the like in the state of being substituted by gas, the maximum oxygen reduction effect can be obtained with a small amount of liquid nitrogen.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claims 10-15, since liquefied inert gas (g) is supplied in an empty container (1), even if a container (1) is made to run, it is inert from a mouth (1a) The suction amount of the gas (h) is very small. Therefore, the air in the head space (Y) when the fluid (Z) is filled can be sufficiently replaced with the inert gas (h). In addition, a product capable of long-term storage in which both the amount of oxygen in the head space (Y) and the amount of oxygen in the filled fluid (Z) are significantly reduced can be manufactured at high speed.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 7, the internal pressure of the container (1) by gas (h) is sealed by sealing a container (1) early, or increasing the dripping amount of liquefied inert gas (g). It is possible to increase and increase the buckling strength of the container (1).

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 13, 15, a filling apparatus can be reduced in size and an installation space can be reduced.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 14, 15, a fluid can be rapidly filled into the container immediately after sterilization.

  The best mode of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  In this embodiment, a plastic bottle obtained by blow molding a parison made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is used as the container filled with the fluid. Moreover, the fluid filled in the bottle which is a container is sencha.

  Prior to the fluid filling by this filling method, the container is sterilized as shown in FIG. First, this sterilization method will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a nozzle 2 is inserted into the inside of the bottle 1 from the mouth portion 1a of the bottle 1, hot air a that is heated aseptic air is fed from the tip of the nozzle 2, and the bottle 1 is preheated. To do. 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 a known mist generator. Although not shown, the generation device includes a hydrogen peroxide supply unit that is a two-fluid spray that supplies an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide, which is a sterilizing agent, in drops, and a hydrogen peroxide supply unit that supplies hydrogen peroxide. A vaporizing section for heating and atomizing the spray to a non-decomposition temperature equal to or higher than its boiling point.

  When the hydrogen peroxide supply unit introduces an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide and compressed air and sprays the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide into the vaporizing unit, the vaporizing unit heats and vaporizes the spray of hydrogen peroxide with a heater. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide gas is ejected from the nozzle 3 toward the mouth 1a of the bottle 1. The vaporized hydrogen peroxide drops to a temperature equal to or lower than the boiling point while leaving the nozzle 3 and reaching the vicinity of the bottle 1, whereby a part of the hydrogen peroxide is condensed and liquefied. 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, the vaporizing unit heats 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 to vaporize hydrogen peroxide. 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 this mist b adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 1 and is condensed, it becomes a hydrogen peroxide solution with a high concentration of about 0.60 mol% (about 74% by weight) 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 inner surface of the bottle 1 is also disposed around the body of the bottle 1 (not shown). 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.

  In addition, the bacteria attached to the inner surface of the bottle 1 are quickly sterilized by the hydrogen peroxide film condensed at a high concentration and the hydrogen peroxide particles taken into the PET.

  As shown in FIG. 1D, 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.

  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 to warm water is desirable for improving 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 process, the bottle 1 is sent to the air blowing process as shown in FIG. 1E to remove the droplets of the cleaning liquid e adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1. 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. .

  In addition, the washing | cleaning of the said FIG.1 (D) may be abbreviate | omitted and the film | membrane of aseptic water may be removed by introduction | transduction of aseptic air by making the air blow process of FIG.1 (E) a hydrogen peroxide discharge | emission process. Alternatively, the cleaning with the cleaning liquid e in the hydrogen peroxide discharging step in FIG. 1D may be replaced with air rinsing with aseptic air. Since the aseptic water film extracts and incorporates hydrogen peroxide, the film can be removed only by blowing aseptic air, and excess hydrogen peroxide can be quickly discharged out of the bottle 1. Alternatively, it is possible to stop before the cleaning in FIG. 1D and omit the air blowing step in FIG.

  1A to 1E are performed in a sterile atmosphere. A sterile atmosphere can be formed by covering the steps of FIGS. 1A to 1E with a chamber and filling the inside of the chamber with positive sterile air.

  Next, the method for filling the sterilized bottle 1 with sencha, which is a fluid, will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (I), the bottle 1 is preheated by injecting aseptic hot water d into the bottle 1 from the mouth 1a. This preheating temperature is desirably 50 ° C. to 80 ° C., and more desirably 60 ° C. to 75 ° C. This preheating may be replaced with a warm water washing step (hot water rinsing step) in FIG. 1D, and the next liquid nitrogen supply step may be performed after this washing.

  In this preheating, hot air can be used instead of the hot water d. In this case, instead of the drying process (air blowing process) using hot air in FIG. 1 (E), the next liquid nitrogen supply process may be performed after the drying process.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (II), liquid nitrogen, which is a liquefied inert gas, is supplied into the bottle 1 from the mouth 1a.

  Reference numeral 4 denotes a liquid nitrogen discharge nozzle. The discharge nozzle 4 faces the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 and discharges liquid nitrogen g into the bottle 1 through the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 in the form of drops. Although not shown in the drawing, a solenoid valve controlled by a timer is provided in a conduit from the supply source of liquid nitrogen g to the discharge nozzle 4, and liquid nitrogen g is discharged from the discharge nozzle 4 by a predetermined amount by opening and closing operation of the electromagnetic valve. Is done. For example, the inner diameter of the discharge nozzle is 0.65 inch, and the solenoid valve is opened for 50 milliseconds so that 0.1 g of liquid nitrogen is discharged, and this opening / closing operation is performed once, five times, ten times, and 20 times. Thus, the liquid nitrogen g can be supplied into the bottle 1 at 0.1 g, 0.5 g, 1 g, and 2 g, respectively. When the volume of the bottle 1 is 500 ml, the supply amount of liquid nitrogen g is desirably 0.1 to 10 g, more desirably 0.1 to 2 g.

  The discharged liquid nitrogen g is sterilized by a filter or the like in advance. Sterile liquid nitrogen g can be obtained by changing nitrogen from a liquid state to a gas state once, passing it through a sterilization filter (for example, 0.22 μm), and then cooling again.

  Since the bottle 1 is preheated as described above, the vaporization of the liquid nitrogen g in the bottle 1 is promoted, and the residual oxygen in the bottle 1 can be further reduced.

  When the preheating step is performed by the hot water rinse shown in FIG. 2 (I), if liquid nitrogen g is dropped in a state where the remaining water of the hot water d exists in the bottle 1, the liquid nitrogen g in the bottle 1 Vaporization is further promoted, and the residual oxygen in the bottle 1 can be further reduced.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (III), the bottle 1 that has undergone the liquid nitrogen supply step is sent to the fluid filling step and filled with the green tea Z that is a fluid heated from the mouth 1a.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes a sencha Z filling nozzle. The filling nozzle 5 faces the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 and discharges the green tea Z into the bottle 1 through the mouth 1a of the bottle 1. Although not shown, a solenoid valve controlled by a timer is provided in a conduit from the supply source of sencha Z to the filling nozzle 5, and a predetermined amount of sencha Z is discharged from the filling nozzle 5 by opening and closing operation of the electromagnetic valve. Sencha Z is preheated in a supply source or the like.

  When the so-called hot pack filling is performed, the heating temperature of the sencha Z as a filling liquid is desirably 80 ° C to 95 ° C. The higher this temperature, the higher the vaporization efficiency of liquid nitrogen. In the case of aseptic filling in which the bottle 1 is sterilized in advance as in this embodiment, the wall thickness of the bottle 1 can be reduced, so that the strength of the bottle is relatively low. Is desirably 35 ° C to 50 ° C. During the filling of sencha Z, liquid nitrogen g becomes nitrogen gas h or bubbles i of nitrogen gas h and rises in sencha Z accumulated in the bottle 1 and blows out of the bottle 1 from the mouth 1a. By the flow of this nitrogen gas h, the air in the bottle 1 is discharged out of the bottle 1.

  The bottle 1 filled with the desired amount of sencha Z is placed in the foaming step shown in FIG. When the amount of sencha Z to be filled is, for example, 500 ml, the bottle 1 has a large volume so that a head space Y is generated between the liquid level Za of the sencha and the tip of the mouth 1a in the mouth 1a. Formed as follows. During the predetermined time, fine bubbles j of sencha Z swollen by nitrogen gas h are filled in the head space Y, and the air in the head space Y is discharged out of the bottle 1 from the mouth 1a. At the stage where this foaming process is completed, the amount of oxygen in both the head space Y and the sencha Z can be reduced by 60% to 95% compared to the case where liquid nitrogen g is not supplied.

  After the foaming step, the bottle 1 is sent to the sealing step shown in FIG. 2 (V), and the mouth 1a is closed and sealed with the cap 6 that becomes the lid (6). The cap 6 is sterilized in advance by the same sterilization process as that of the bottle 1.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (IV), a male screw cylinder is provided in the mouth portion 1 a of the bottle 1, and a female screw cylinder that is screwed into the male screw cylinder is provided in the cap 6. When the cap 6 is screwed to the mouth portion 1a, the nitrogen gas h is confined in the bottle 1 and the internal pressure of the bottle 1 is increased, whereby the flexible wall of the bottle 1 is reinforced and the bottle 1 is seated. The physical strength against bending is improved. Of course, the internal pressure can be reduced to atmospheric pressure by adjusting the time until the cap 6 is tightened.

  Moreover, since liquid nitrogen is -196 degreeC, several seconds are required for vaporization. Therefore, it is desirable to keep the bottle 1 open for a predetermined time from the dropping of the liquid nitrogen g to the sealing with the cap 6. For example, when capping to a bottle 1 having a headspace Y capacity of 25 ml using a cap of 28 mmφ, the cap 6 is preferably 0.1 seconds to 5 seconds without being fully tightened on the mouth 1 a of the bottle 1. More preferably, the air in the head space is almost completely converted to nitrogen gas by providing a temporary winding process of only 1.5 seconds or more, in which the cap is only placed on the mouth 1a or half-rotated. It is possible to substitute.

  As described above, the bottle 1 is sterilized in advance, the sterilized bottle 1 is preheated, and liquid nitrogen g is dropped into the bottle 1 and filled with Sencha Z. Oxygen that affects the deterioration of the content liquid can be removed as it is, and therefore the quality of Sencha Z can be maintained at room temperature for a long period of time.

  2 (I) to (V) are performed in a sterile atmosphere. A sterile atmosphere can be formed by covering the steps of FIGS. 2 (I) to (V) with a chamber and filling the inside of the chamber with positive sterile air.

  Next, an example of an aseptic filling apparatus for carrying out the above-described sterilization method and filling method will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the aseptic filling apparatus has means for transporting the bottle 1 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. And a hook-like gripper around each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 (see FIG. (Not shown) 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, the gripper turns at the same peripheral speed as each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 To do.

  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.

  Thereby, the bottle 1 is gripped by the gripper of the upstream wheel and swivels together with the wheel. When the bottle 1 reaches the downstream wheel, the bottle 1 is gripped by the gripper of the wheel and thereafter sequentially sent to the downstream wheel at a constant speed. .

  Although not shown, the gripper has a pair of sandwiching pieces that sandwich the mouth 1a protruding from the body of the bottle 1 from the outside. The pair of clip pieces are always pulled in the closing direction by a tension spring. The pair of sandwich pieces always try to grip the mouth 1a of the bottle 1, and the bottle 1 gripped by the gripper is suspended. A gripper sandwiching piece is opened inside each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or A cam (not shown) for switching to the closed state is arranged. Each wheel 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 rotates and the gripper faces the gripper of the adjacent wheel Then, both grippers once hold the mouth portion 1a of the bottle 1, and then the upstream gripper clip piece opens to release the bottle 1, and the downstream gripper clip strip 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. 3, 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. 1B). 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 discharging means 40 for cleaning the inside of the bottle 1 into which the mist b has been blown with a cleaning liquid e (see FIG. 1D) and discharging hydrogen peroxide to the outside of the bottle 1, and sterile hot air f ( An air blowing means 41 for blowing water into the bottle 1 and removing water droplets from the bottle 1 is sequentially arranged. Further, an outer surface sterilizing means 42 for sterilizing the outer surface of the bottle 1 with hydrogen peroxide mist a 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. Either one of the hydrogen peroxide discharging means 40 and the air blowing means 41 can be omitted.

  The preheating means 36 and the outer surface sterilization means 42 are disposed along the outer periphery of the first wheel 14, and the bottle inner surface sterilization means 37 is disposed along the outer periphery of the second wheel 15 in contact with the first wheel 14. Is done. 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 formed by a blow molding machine or the like (not shown) is introduced into the aseptic chamber 45 by a screw 44 at a constant pitch, the mouth portion 1a is gripped by the gripper of the most upstream introduction wheel 11 and sequentially introduced downstream. It passes to the gripper of the first wheel 14 through the grippers of the wheels 12 and 13.

  The preheating means 36 has a hot air supply box 46 that is curved 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 for gripping the mouth portion 1a of the bottle 1, a manifold (not shown) for distributing hot air a is pivotably attached to the turning shaft 14a of the first wheel 14 so as to turn integrally with the first wheel 14. It has become. Further, the nozzle 2 is arranged above each gripper 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 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, the mouth heating means is an umbrella-shaped guide body 2 a 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 2 a becomes the mouth 1 a of the bottle 1. Cover the lip of the mouth. 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.

  The outer surface sterilization means 42 includes a mist generating device (not shown) and a tunnel-shaped enclosure 47 that covers the conveyance 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. On the top plate of the enclosure 47, a groove that is curved in an arc shape with the pivot shaft 14a as a center point is formed. The gripper and the nozzle 2 pass through the groove, and the bottle 1 gripped by each gripper is contained in the enclosure 47. Pass through.

  In this enclosure 47, although not shown, a nozzle that ejects a mist of hydrogen peroxide and a baffle portion that protrudes in a direction reverse to the conveying direction of the bottle 1 are provided.

  The outer surface sterilization nozzles are concentrated in the enclosure 47 on the upstream side of the conveyance path of the bottle 1 and supplied with the mist b of hydrogen peroxide from the mist generating device. The mist generating device having the same configuration as the above-described mist generating device is used. The hydrogen peroxide mist b blown from the nozzle 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 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 plurality of mist generating devices as the bottle inner surface sterilizing means 37 are attached at intervals equal to the pitch of the grippers so as to be positioned right above the gripper on the outer periphery of the second wheel 15, and the nozzle 3 of each mist generating device. Faces the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 held by the gripper. The hydrogen peroxide mist b generated by each mist generating device is blown from the mouth 1a into the bottle 1 running below 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.

  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 gripper just above each gripper 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. The nozzle 7 enters the bottle 1 and blows hot air c when the bottle 1 into which the mist b has been blown by the bottle inner surface sterilizing means 37 comes in the state of being gripped by the gripper. 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 of the fourth wheel 17 receives the bottle 1 from the gripper of the third wheel 16 and discharges it from 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.

  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.

  The hydrogen peroxide discharging means 40 is provided on the conveyance 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.

  Gripper similar to the above gripper is also arranged on the outer periphery of the sixth wheel 19 at a predetermined pitch, but these grippers are supported on the sixth wheel 19 side via a horizontal pivot (not shown). Further, each gripper comes into contact with a cam (not shown) that is curved in an arc shape around the turning shaft 19 a of the sixth wheel 19, and the gripper is turned into the fifth wheel 18 by turning of the sixth wheel 19. When the bottle 1 is received from the point of contact and proceeds, the bottle 1 is turned upside down by the guide of the cam. Therefore, the bottle 1 is also turned upside down and its mouth 1a faces downward.

  The hydrogen peroxide discharging means 40 includes a nozzle 9 that rotates with the grippers immediately below each gripper. 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. 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. The sterilized water may be room temperature, but is preferably warm water 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 discharge means 40, a gutter member (not shown) for receiving the cleaning liquid e flowing out of the bottle 1 is provided.

  When the bottle 1 held upside down by the gripper arrives, the nozzle 9 enters the bottle 1 and ejects the cleaning liquid e. The sprayed cleaning liquid e rinses hydrogen peroxide remaining from the inner surface of the bottle 1 together with the film of sterile water, and flows down below the bottle 1. The cleaning liquid e that has flowed down is received and collected by the eaves member. 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. The inside of the bottle 1 is cleaned by the hydrogen peroxide extraction means 40, and the hydrogen peroxide is discharged out of the container.

  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. 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 of the sixth wheel 19. These nozzles 10 are fixed to the gripper.

  As with the preheating means 47, 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 1 arrives in a state where the bottle 1 from which the discharge of hydrogen peroxide has been held is gripped by the gripper, hot air f is blown into the bottle 1 from the mouth 1a of the bottle 1. 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 portion that contacts the seventh wheel 20, the gripper comes into contact with the cam to return to the original upright state and is gripped by the gripper of the seventh wheel 20.

  An aseptic chamber 56 for filling the sterilized bottle 1 with sencha is provided in contact with the aseptic chamber 53 where the hydrogen peroxide is discharged out of the container.

  A row of various wheels 21, 22, 23 connected to the seventh wheel 20 is arranged in the aseptic chamber 56, and a sencha Z filling machine 57 is installed so as to contact the predetermined wheel 23. The bottle 1 is filled with the green tea Z by the filling machine 57 while being held by the grippers of the various wheels 21, 22, and 23, and then moved into the next aseptic chamber 58.

  Discharge nozzle 4 (see FIG. 2 (II)) is disposed upstream of filling machine 57 in wheel 23 as liquid nitrogen supply means. A desired amount of liquid nitrogen g is ejected from the discharge nozzle 4 in the form of droplets toward the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 held by the gripper.

  Here, the preheating step of FIG. 2 (I) has already been performed by supplying warm water or hot air in the hydrogen peroxide extraction means 40 or air blow means 41 in the sixth wheel 19. That is, the hot water rinsing means in the sterilizer also serves as the preheating means for the bottle 1. Therefore, the dropping of liquid nitrogen g is performed while the bottle 1 is still warm. The hydrogen peroxide extracting means 40 or the air blowing means 41 of the sixth wheel 19 may be moved around the positions where the liquid nitrogen g is dropped, for example, around the wheels 21 and 22, or similar preheating means may be provided separately. Also good. In addition, when liquid nitrogen g is dropped, it is desirable that the residual water of the hot water rinse by the hydrogen peroxide extraction means 40 exists in the bottle 1 in order to promote gasification of the liquid nitrogen g.

  The filling machine 57 includes the filling nozzle 5 shown in FIG. The filling nozzle 5 fills the bottle 1 with the sencha Z from the mouth portion 1a while running synchronously with the running of the bottle 1. Sencha Z is heated to a desired temperature in the filling machine 57. As shown in FIG. 2 (III), when the heated sencha Z is charged, the nitrogen gas h volatilized from the inside of the bottle 1 is ejected from the mouth 1a, and in the sencha Z accumulated in the bottle 1, the nitrogen gas is discharged. h becomes a bubble i and rises to the mouth 1a. Air is discharged from the bottle 1 by the nitrogen gas h.

  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.

  The bottle 1 filled with sencha Z reaches the stoppering machine 59 through a conveyance path indicated by reference numeral 29 on the wheels 23 and 24, and the foaming step shown in FIG. The That is, while the bottle 1 travels on the transport path 29, the fine bubbles j of sencha expanded by the nitrogen gas h are filled in the head space Y of the bottle 1, and the air in the head space Y is discharged from the mouth portion 1a to the bottle. 1 Discharge outside.

  When the bottle 1 filled with sencha Z is carried into the aseptic chamber 58 and reaches the stoppering machine 59, the stopper 1 is inserted into the mouth 1a of the bottle 1 held by the gripper at the wheel 25 by the stoppering machine 59. The cap 6 is put on and sealed as shown in FIG.

  The bottle 1 sealed with the cap 6 is unloaded from the unloading wheel 28 via the rejecting wheel 27 and shipped out of the aseptic chamber 58. 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 bottle is used as a container, but the present invention is a cup-shaped container, pouch, spout other than a bottle. The present invention can also be applied to containers such as attached pouches. For example, glass and metal containers other than plastic containers are also applicable. It is also possible to use a gas other than liquid nitrogen as the liquefied inert gas. In addition, although the fluid to be filled is sencha, which is a beverage, it is also applicable to filling other tea beverages such as matcha tea, black tea, oolong tea, juices, functional beverages, beverages with significant oxidative degradation, and fluids other than beverages. Is possible. Furthermore, in this invention, it is also possible to sterilize a container using other sterilization methods other than the said sterilization method.

  Before the liquid nitrogen was added dropwise, the bottle oxygen concentration was compared with the case where the bottle was rinsed with warm water, and the results shown in Table 1 and Table 2 were obtained.

  The bottle used was a PET bottle having a capacity of 500 ml sterilized by the above sterilization method, and the inside of the bottle was rinsed with warm water heated to 68 ° C. And about some bottles, liquid nitrogen was dripped when the bottle inner surface temperature was about 65 degreeC.

  As shown in Table 1, when 1.0 g of liquid nitrogen was added dropwise after rinsing with hot water, the oxygen concentration in the bottle was 2.3%. This is the effect of reducing oxygen in the bottle as shown in Table 2. Was confirmed to be 90%. On the other hand, when hot water rinsing was not performed, the oxygen concentration in the bottle was 5.7% as shown in Table 1, and it was confirmed that the oxygen reduction effect in the bottle was only 74% as shown in Table 2.

  In Table 2, in the column where the liquid nitrogen dripping amount is 1.0 g, when hot water rinsing is performed, about 1 to 2 cc of water remains in the bottle, and when liquid nitrogen is dripped in that state, The oxygen reduction effect is 90%. On the other hand, when hot water rinsing is not performed, that is, when liquid nitrogen is dropped while the bottle is dry, the bottle oxygen reduction effect is 74%. Thereby, it can be said that it is desirable to perform dripping of liquid nitrogen when the inside of the bottle is wet with warm water in order to enhance the oxygen reduction effect in the bottle.

  The bottle oxygen concentration was measured using a nondestructive inspection measuring machine (Presens Fibox 3) immediately after the bottle sample was prepared, after the bottle was shaken 30 times. The values in Tables 1 and 2 are average values for three bottles.

  Prepare a plurality of bottles similar to the bottles used in Example 1, fill each bottle with liquid nitrogen under the conditions A, B, C, D, and F in Table 3 and fill with heated sencha. Headspace Foamed inside. Foam was generated until it overflowed from the headspace. The other bottles were filled with sencha that was heated under conditions E, G, and H in Table 3 without adding liquid nitrogen. When liquid nitrogen was not added, no bubbling occurred.

  The results are as shown in Tables 4 and 5.

  Table 4 shows the relationship between the amount of liquid nitrogen dripping and the amount of oxygen in the head space and sencha when filled with sencha at a predetermined temperature, and is shown in the bar graph of FIG.

  Table 5 shows the relationship between the filling temperature and the amount of oxygen in the head space and sencha when a predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen is dropped, and is shown in the bar graph of FIG.

  The following points were clarified from Tables 3 and 4 and FIG.

  When filling 25 ° C. sencha, the amount of oxygen in the head space and the amount of oxygen in sencha both decrease as the supply amount of liquid nitrogen is increased from 0.1 g to 2.0 g. In the case of 1.0 g of liquid nitrogen (condition C), about 60% of the total oxygen amount can be removed compared to the case where liquid nitrogen is not added (condition E). In the case of 2.0 g of liquid nitrogen (condition D) About 80% could be removed. However, when liquid nitrogen exceeded 2.0 g, a phenomenon that sencha spouted from the mouth of the bottle was observed.

  Moreover, the following points became clear from the said Table 3, Table 5, and FIG.

  When the supply amount of liquid nitrogen is 0.5 g, when the temperature of the sencha to be filled is increased from 25 ° C. to 50 ° C., both the oxygen amount in the head space and the oxygen amount in the sencha decrease significantly. When the temperature of sencha was 50 ° C. (condition F), about 90% of the total oxygen amount could be removed as compared with the case where liquid nitrogen was not added (condition H). When the temperature of the sencha was further increased to 70 ° C. without adding liquid nitrogen (Condition G), the amount of oxygen in the headspace was lower than in the case of Condition H, but the amount of oxygen in the sencha decreased. I couldn't.

It is explanatory drawing showing an example of the sterilization method of a container. It is explanatory drawing showing one Embodiment of the filling method which concerns on this invention. It is a top view of the apparatus for implementing the filling method which concerns on this invention. 5 is a bar graph of the data in Table 4. 6 is a bar graph of the data in Table 5.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bottle 1a ... Mouth part 6 ... Cap 23, 24, 25 ... Wheel 56, 58 ... Aseptic chamber g ... Liquid nitrogen h ... Nitrogen gas j ... Sencha foam Y ... Head space Z ... Sencha

Claims (15)

  Filling the fluid characterized by preheating the container, dropping the liquefied inert gas into the preheated container, filling the container with the liquefied inert gas, and then sealing the container Method.   The fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the container is heated and sterilized, and the residual heat during the sterilization treatment is used as the heat for the preheating.   The fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the container is preheated by hot water rinsing or hot air.   4. The fluid filling method according to claim 3, wherein the liquefied inert gas is dropped in a state in which residual water of the hot water during the hot water rinsing is present in the container.   The fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the preheating temperature of the container is 50 ° C. to 80 ° C.   2. The fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the liquefied inert gas is liquid nitrogen.   2. The fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the container is a plastic bottle having a flexible wall, and the internal pressure is increased to an atmospheric pressure or higher by the gas obtained by vaporizing the liquefied inert gas. Body filling method.   The fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein a fluid heated to 30 ° C. to 95 ° C. is filled in a container.   2. The fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the fluid is a tea beverage.   2. The fluid filling method according to claim 1, wherein the aseptic liquefied inert gas is dropped, the sterile fluid is filled, and the container is sequentially sealed in a sterile preheated container in a sterile atmosphere. A fluid filling method characterized by the above.   A transport unit configured to transport the container along a predetermined transport path; a preheating unit configured to preheat the container along the transport path; and a liquefied inert gas supply unit configured to supply the liquefied inert gas into the preheated container. And a fluid filling means for filling the fluid in the container containing the liquefied inert gas and a sealing means for sealing the container filled with the fluid in this order. apparatus.   12. The fluid filling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the container preheating means is hot water rinsing means or air blowing means.   12. The fluid filling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the conveying path of the conveying means extends as a continuous arc by connecting a plurality of wheels.   12. The fluid filling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a container sterilization device is provided upstream of the conveyance path, and the conveyance path is connected to the container conveyance path in the sterilization apparatus. Body filling device.   15. The fluid filling apparatus according to claim 14, wherein hot water rinsing means or air blowing means is provided in the sterilizing apparatus, and the warm water rinsing means or air blowing means also serves as a preheating means for the container. apparatus.

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