JP2009179341A - Electron beam irradiation device for sterilization of connected bag type packaging material - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an electron beam irradiation device for sterilization of a connected bag type packaging material capable of well sterilizing the connected bag type packaging material during conveyance and capable of being built in a production line of a product. <P>SOLUTION: A hollow box-like irradiation sterilization chamber 1 is arranged in the course of the conveyance passage when the roll-like connected bag type packaging material 10 is conveyed from a supply roll 11 to the other winding roll 12. A decompression means including a laid pipe 3, a gas discharge pump 5 and the like is mounted on the irradiation sterilization chamber 1 to decompress the inside of the irradiation sterilization chamber to 1/100 to 1/5 atmospheric pressure, and the electron beam irradiation means 2 irradiating the electron beam to the conveyed connected bag type packaging material 10 is attached to the same. The device can be built in a cleaning compartment chamber enclosing the production line where a fluid or solid object is filled in the seal bag to make a product. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of a continuous bag type packaging material, and particularly suitable for sterilizing a continuous bag type packaging material as a sealed bag used as a filling container for a fluid food or the like with an electron beam. The present invention relates to an electron beam irradiation device for sterilization of a continuous bag type packaging material.

  In general, fluid or solid objects such as beverages and foods are aseptically filled and packaged in sealed bags, which are packaging materials, using an automatic aseptic filling device and shipped as products. In general, a sealed bag is formed by heat-sealing a transparent film made of synthetic resin to form a bag, and combining paper and aluminum foil as necessary.

  Usually, in a product production line, a continuous bag type packaging material in a continuous state is used as a sealed bag formed of a film, and this continuous bag type packaging material is transferred to the filling process side as it is. This continuous bag type packaging material is cut before entering the filling process and divided into independent sealed bags having an opening on the filling side, and then each sealed bag is opened to have a fluid or solid state inside. After the object is filled, the opening portion is sealed with a heat seal or the like to be completed and carried out of the production line.

  The continuous bag-type packaging material is filled with fluid or solid objects such as beverages and foods in each divided sealed bag, so that it is sterilized to a sterile state without contamination and supplied to the filling process side There is a need to. In order to sterilize a continuous bag type packaging material in a sterilization production line, it is known to use chemicals, γ rays or electron beams (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  However, sterilization with chemicals requires a large amount of processing equipment and requires a device that completely removes the chemicals in the sealed bag, and the processing work by γ-ray irradiation requires a large device to shield γ-rays. This is not economical and requires qualification for the handling of γ rays, so it cannot be used in many production lines.

  Therefore, recently, a sterilization electron beam irradiation apparatus using an electron beam irradiation means that generates a low energy electron beam that does not require a qualification for handling and generates a low-energy electron beam has been attracting attention, such as a sheet shape that is conveyed at high speed. It has been proposed to effectively sterilize these materials with an electron beam from an electron beam irradiation means (see, for example, Patent Documents 3 and 4).

JP-A-1-308726 Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-10111 JP-A-2004-524895 JP 2007-1113936 A

  However, in the conventional sterilization electron beam irradiation apparatus proposed in Patent Documents 3 and 4, when used in a continuous bag type packaging material that is arranged in the middle of a product production line and transported at high speed, it is integrated into one. However, the structure must be considered so that the entire production line can be downsized.

  Further, when the electron beam irradiation means is used in the atmosphere, sterilization with an electron beam having a certain amount of energy is performed. In this case, the electron beam irradiation means must be attached with a radiation shielding material that shields X-rays emitted from the electron beam generation source, and the continuous bag type in which the ozone generated by the plasma during electron beam generation is sterilized. There is a problem that measures must be taken to prevent the odor of ozone from adhering to the packaging material.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of a continuous bag type packaging material that can satisfactorily sterilize the continuous bag type packaging material that is transported and moved, and can be easily incorporated into a product production line. .

  The electron beam irradiation device for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material of the present invention conveys the continuous bag type packaging material in a roll shape from one side to the other side by an electron beam of an electron beam irradiation means provided in the middle of the conveyance path. When sterilizing, an irradiation sterilization chamber formed in the shape of a hollow box is disposed in the transport path for transporting the continuous bag-type packaging material from one side to the other side. A pressure reducing means for reducing the pressure from 100 to 1/5 atm is provided, and the electron beam irradiation means is attached.

  Also, the sterilization electron beam irradiation apparatus for continuous bag type packaging material of the present invention continuously supplies roll-shaped continuous bag type packaging material and separates it into an independent sealed bag, A production line for manufacturing a product filled with a solid object is surrounded by a clean compartment that maintains a clean state, and is connected by an electron beam from an electron beam irradiation means provided in the middle of the conveyance path in the clean compartment. Pressure reducing means and hollow box for reducing the inside from 1/100 to 1/5 atm in the conveyance path close to the supply side of the continuous bag type packaging material in the clean compartment when sterilizing the bag type packaging material The irradiation sterilization chamber provided with the electron beam irradiation means is arranged and configured.

  If the electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material is configured as in the present invention, the continuous bag type packaging material that is transported and moved can be sterilized well during the transportation. In addition, the electron beam irradiation device for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material of the present invention can be easily incorporated and used in the production line of products that are normally used, so it can be produced economically without increasing the size of the production line. It becomes possible to do.

  The electron beam irradiation device for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material of the present invention conveys a roll-shaped continuous bag type packaging material from one side to the other side, and uses an electron beam of an electron beam irradiation means provided in the middle of the conveyance path. Sterilize. An irradiation sterilization chamber formed in a hollow box shape is arranged in a part of the conveyance path, and a decompression means and an electron beam irradiation means for reducing the pressure inside the irradiation sterilization chamber are provided.

  The electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material shown in FIG. 1 of the present invention is an irradiation formed in a hollow box shape in a part of a conveyance path for conveying the continuous bag type packaging material 10 from one side to the other side. A sterilization chamber 1 is arranged. The irradiation sterilization chamber 1 has an electron beam irradiation means 2 that has an electron beam generation source and irradiates the electron beam. Further, the irradiation sterilization chamber 1 is provided with decompression means including a pipe 3 with an intervening pressure regulating valve 4, an exhaust pump 5, and the like. With these decompression means, the interior of the irradiation sterilization chamber 1 is maintained in a decompressed state of 1/100 to 1/5 atm.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the continuous bag type packaging material 10 to be irradiated is formed in a continuous state by applying heat seals 13 to both ends and the center of two transparent films and forming bags on both sides. Finally, both sides are separated in the manufacturing line process to form an independent sealed bag.

  The continuous-pack type packaging material 10 supplied to the supply roll 11 shell is transported in the irradiation sterilization chamber 1 from the one side to the other side by the transport roller 6 and wound around the winding roll 12. Electron beam irradiation is received from the electron beam irradiation means 2 during conveyance inside. Therefore, since the continuous bag type packaging material 10 is irradiated with an electron beam in the sterilized irradiation sterilization chamber 1, the sterilization process using the electron beam is more effectively performed. In the case of the continuous bag type packaging material 10 shown in FIG. 2, after passing through the electron beam irradiation means 2, the outer surface of the bag is exposed to the outside air, but the inside of the bag is maintained in a sterilized state by the seal portion.

  FIG. 3 shows a continuous bag type packaging material of the present invention in a production line 20 in which a continuous bag type packaging material 10 is supplied from a supply means including a supply roll 11 and is separated and manufactured using an independent sealed bag. The example which incorporated the electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization is shown.

  Most of the production line 20 for supplying the continuous bag type packaging material 10 is surrounded by a clean compartment 21 except for a part of the supply means, and is disposed in the clean compartment 21. The unit 22 is installed and the inside of the clean compartment 21 is maintained in a predetermined clean state. And this manufacturing line 20 is the electron beam for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material of this invention shown in FIG. 1 in the position in the clean compartment 21 near supply means, such as the supply roll 11 of the continuous bag type packaging material 10. An irradiation device is arranged.

  The production line 20 includes a separation unit 23 such as a cutter in the clean compartment 21, and the separation bag 23 separates the continuous bag type packaging material 10 into independent sealed bags 10 </ b> A. The rotary filling side means following the separation unit 23 is filled with a fluid or solid object in the opening operation unit 24 such as a suction nozzle that sequentially opens the sealing bag 10A, and in each sealed bag 10A being conveyed. A filling portion 25, a heating seal portion 26 for closing the opening of the sealing bag 10A, and a cooling seal portion 27 for cooling the opening portion of the heated sealing bag 10A are provided on the conveyor 29 outside the cleaning compartment 21. A carry-out unit 28 for sending out the finished product is provided.

  In the above-described production line, the continuous bag type packaging material 10 supplied from the supply means into the clean compartment 21 and continuously transported and moved is irradiated from the electron beam irradiation means 2 while passing through the irradiation sterilization chamber 1. Since it is sterilized by the electron beam, it is possible to carry out the finished product through the filling process side while maintaining the sterilized state in the clean compartment 21 well.

  The electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material shown in FIG. 4 uses the irradiation sterilization chamber 1 similar to that of the first embodiment, and includes a supply roll 11 and a take-up roll 12 in the irradiation sterilization chamber 1. Are arranged.

  The continuous bag type packaging material 10 is supplied from a supply roll 11 on one side, is sterilized by being irradiated with an electron beam from the electron beam irradiating means 2 during the transfer movement, and is wound up around the winding roll 12 on the other side. When it is made into a roll, the processing operation is completed, and it is replaced with a new supply roll. The sterilized continuous bag-type packaging material 10 can be used in a nearby production line 10 in the form of a roll in a sterilized state every time processing is completed, or temporarily stored as a spare for the production line 10. it can.

It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material which is one Example of this invention. It is a top view which shows a packaging sheet material. It is the schematic which shows the example of the aseptic filling packaging apparatus incorporating the electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material of this invention. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view which shows the electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material which is another Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Irradiation sterilization chamber, 2 ... Electron beam irradiation means, 3 ... Piping, 4 ... Pressure control valve, 5 ... Exhaust pump, 6 ... Conveyance roller, 10 ... Continuous bag type packaging material, 10A ... Sealing bag, 11 ... Supply roll , 12 ... take-up roll, 20 ... production line.

Claims (2)

  In the electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of the continuous bag type packaging material that conveys the continuous bag type packaging material in a roll shape from one side to the other side and sterilizes by the electron beam of the electron beam irradiation means provided in the middle of the conveyance path, An irradiation sterilization chamber formed in a hollow box shape is disposed in the conveyance path for conveying the continuous bag type packaging material from one side to the other side, and the inside of the irradiation sterilization chamber is 1/100 to 1/5 atm. An electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilization of a continuous bag type packaging material, characterized in that a pressure reducing means for reducing pressure is provided and the electron beam irradiation means is attached.   A continuous line-type packaging material in the form of a roll is continuously supplied and separated into independent sealed bags, and a production line for manufacturing products in which the sealed bags are filled with fluid or solid objects is cleaned. Electron beam irradiation for sterilization of a continuous bag type packaging material that is surrounded by a clean compartment to be maintained and sterilizes the continuous bag type packaging material with an electron beam from an electron beam irradiation means provided in the middle of the conveyance path in the clean chamber An apparatus for reducing the pressure from 1/100 to 1/5 atm in the conveying path close to the supply side of the continuous bag type packaging material in the clean compartment and an electron beam irradiation means in a hollow box shape An electron beam irradiation apparatus for sterilizing a continuous bag type packaging material, comprising an irradiation sterilization chamber provided with

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