JP2011178411A - Nozzle and method for sterilization and cleaning of container - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a nozzle an method for sterilization and cleaning of a container which have high sterilization effect and cleaning effect, and capable of reducing the amount of a sterilization liquid or cleaning liquid used. <P>SOLUTION: The cleaning nozzle is inserted into an opening part 35 of the handstand container 2 and spouts a liquid consisting of the sterilization liquid or the cleaning liquid to sterilize or clean the inside of the container. The nozzle 1 includes a gas introducing part 11, and the liquid consisting of the sterilization liquid or the cleaning liquid is mixed with the gas introduced from the gas introducing part 11 and the mixture is spouted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a container sterilization / cleaning nozzle and a container sterilization / cleaning method for sterilizing or cleaning the inside of a container before filling with a beverage.

When a beverage is aseptically filled in a resin container such as a so-called plastic bottle, the container is sterilized with a sterilizing liquid and then the container is cleaned with a cleaning liquid. In sterilization or cleaning of such a container, a nozzle is inserted into an inverted container, and a sterilizing liquid or a cleaning liquid mixed with a medicine is sprayed.
In recent years, it has been required to efficiently sterilize and clean such containers and reduce the amount of sterilizing liquid and cleaning liquid (hereinafter simply referred to as “liquid”).
On the other hand, in Patent Document 1, a first injection hole is provided in the head of the sterilization / cleaning nozzle and a second injection hole is provided below the first injection hole, and liquid is injected into an inverted container from these injection holes. Is disclosed. In the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1, the liquid ejected from the first ejection holes flows down the inner surface of the container, and the liquid that has flowed down and accumulated in the mouth is scraped up by the liquid ejected from the second ejection holes.

JP 2003-181404 A

However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the liquid accumulated in the container mouth is ejected from the second ejection holes and scraped up, the liquid accumulated in the container mouth is scattered in the container. There is a problem that the liquid ejected from the hole cannot directly collide with the inner surface of the container, the contact force between the liquid and the inner surface of the container (liquid collision force) is weak, and effective sterilization and cleaning cannot be expected. For this reason, if the contact force of the liquid with respect to the inner surface of the container is to be increased, it is necessary to increase the liquid injection pressure and the fluid velocity, which increases the amount of liquid used.
In particular, in the technique of Patent Document 1, since the liquid is ejected in a rod shape upward from the first ejection hole, the area where the ejected liquid collides with the bottom surface of the container is narrow and the liquid colliding with the bottom surface of the container is the entire surface of the bottom surface of the container. There is a problem that it is difficult to disperse over the entire surface of the container and difficult to flow down over the entire side surface of the container.
For this reason, in order to obtain the conventional bactericidal effect and cleaning effect, it is necessary to use a predetermined amount of liquid, and the amount of liquid used cannot be reduced.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a sterilizing / cleaning nozzle for a container and a sterilizing / cleaning method for a container that have a high sterilizing effect and a cleaning effect and can reduce the amount of the sterilizing liquid and the amount of the cleaning liquid used.

  The invention according to claim 1 is a sterilization / cleaning nozzle for a container that is inserted into the mouth of an inverted container and sterilizes or cleans the interior of the container by ejecting a liquid made of a sterilizing liquid or a cleaning liquid, A container sterilization / cleaning nozzle comprising a gas introduction unit, wherein the gas introduced from the gas introduction unit is mixed with the liquid and ejected.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the nozzle is provided at the tip of the nozzle body, the liquid ejection head in which the liquid ejection hole is formed, and the base end portion of the nozzle body A liquid introduction part for introducing the liquid, and the gas introduction part is provided between the liquid ejection head and the liquid introduction part to introduce air around the nozzle, and the gas introduction part is a liquid introduction part. Air is taken into the liquid flowing from the section.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the gas introduction portion is an air suction hole formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle body and communicating with the liquid passage.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the gas introduction part includes a cover member that is attached to the outer periphery of the nozzle body and covers the outer peripheral side of the air suction hole. A space communicating with the air suction holes is opened downward.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the third or fourth aspect, a tapered surface is formed between the air suction hole and the liquid ejection head, the diameter of the liquid passage being wider toward the liquid ejection head side. It is characterized by being.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the liquid ejection head is hemispherical, and includes a first ejection hole provided at a top portion thereof, and a first ejection hole. Also, a plurality of second ejection holes arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the first ejection holes below, and a plurality of second ejection holes arranged at equal intervals along the circumference of the first ejection holes below the second ejection holes. 3 ejection holes are provided.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to claim 6, wherein the second ejection hole and the third ejection hole are displaced from each other with respect to the circumferential direction of the first ejection hole. .

  The invention according to claim 8 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 6 or 7, the third ejection hole has a larger ejection angle with respect to the first ejection hole than the second ejection hole.

  The invention according to claim 9 is a sterilization / cleaning method for a container in which a liquid made of a sterilizing liquid or a cleaning liquid is ejected from an injection nozzle inserted into the mouth of an inverted container to sterilize or clean the inner surface of the container. The spray nozzle is a container sterilization / cleaning method characterized in that a gas is mixed into the liquid and ejected.

  According to the first and ninth aspects of the invention, since the gas is mixed with the sterilizing liquid or the cleaning liquid (liquid) and ejected from the nozzle, the ejected liquid becomes a shower-like shape (liquid particles) and is widely used. In addition to being able to diffuse, the liquid becomes granular and collides with the inner surface of the container, so that the liquid strongly contacts the inner surface of the container, and the inner surface of the container can be efficiently sterilized or washed. Therefore, the amount of liquid used for obtaining a conventional sterilization or cleaning effect can be reduced.

  According to the invention described in claim 2, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 1 can be obtained, and the gas mixed into the liquid is air around the nozzle (air), and a special gas is used. Because it is not, it is simple and inexpensive.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 2 can be obtained, and air can be taken in with a simple configuration simply by forming a hole in the nozzle body.

  According to the invention described in claim 4, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 3 can be obtained, and intrusion of liquid after sterilizing or washing the container can be prevented from entering from the air suction port. .

  According to the invention described in claim 5, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 3 or 4 can be obtained, and a turbulent flow due to pressure fluctuation is formed in the liquid passage so that the liquid and the gas are agitated. Since it can be half, the mixing of liquid and gas can be enhanced with a simple configuration.

  According to the sixth aspect of the invention, it is possible to obtain the same effect as that of the first aspect of the invention, and from the hemispherical liquid ejection head toward a different region on the inner surface of the container. The air mixed liquid can be ejected, and a collision area between the inner surface of the container and the liquid can be widened. The air mixed liquid ejected from the first ejection hole collides with the bottom surface of the container, the liquid ejected from the second ejection hole collided with the inner surface of the container below the liquid ejected from the first ejection hole, Since the liquid ejected from the three ejection holes collides with the inner surface of the container below the liquid ejected from the second ejection hole, for example, the liquid ejected from the first ejection hole and collided with the bottom surface of the container flows down the inner surface of the container. However, since it is scraped up by the liquid ejected from the second ejection hole and turbulent flow is generated in that portion, sterilization and washing are further improved by increasing the contact force between the liquid and the container inner surface after colliding with the container inner surface. Can be increased. In addition, also about the liquid ejected from a 3rd ejection hole, the liquid which flowed down the container inner surface can be similarly lifted, and the contact force of a liquid and a container inner surface can be heightened.

  According to the invention described in claim 7, since the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 6 can be obtained and the air mixed liquid can be ejected to different regions in the circumferential direction of the container inner surface, The collision area can be further increased.

  According to the invention described in claim 8, the same effect as that of the invention described in claim 6 or 7 can be obtained, and efficient sterilization and washing can be performed over a wide area in the vertical direction of the inner surface of the container. .

It is a front view which cut | disconnects and shows the nozzle for disinfection and washing | cleaning of the container which concerns on this Embodiment partially. It is a fragmentary sectional view which expands and shows the gas introduction part of the nozzle shown in FIG. It is a figure of the liquid ejection head of the nozzle shown in FIG. 1, (a) is the top view seen from the top, (b) is AA sectional drawing shown to (a), (c) is B shown to (a). -B is a cross-sectional view. It is sectional drawing which shows the use condition of the nozzle for disinfection and washing | cleaning which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the injection state of the sterilization / washing | cleaning nozzle concerning this Embodiment, (a) is the state which mixed and injected the air to the liquid, (b) is the figure which shows the state which injected only the liquid It is. It is a graph which shows the cleaning effect using the nozzle for sterilization and washing concerning this embodiment with a comparative example. It is a graph which shows the cleaning effect using the nozzle for sterilization and washing concerning this embodiment with a comparative example. It is sectional drawing which shows the use condition of the sterilization / washing | cleaning nozzle concerning a comparative example.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a nozzle (sterilization / cleaning nozzle) 1 according to the present embodiment sterilizes or cleans a container 2 before filling with a beverage. A liquid ejection head 5 provided at the upper end is provided, and a liquid introduction part 7 is provided at the lower end (base end) of the nozzle body 3. A liquid made of a sterilizing liquid or a cleaning liquid is introduced from the liquid introducing unit 7. In the following description, a case where the cleaning liquid is introduced as a liquid will be described. The container 2 is a resin container such as a so-called PET bottle. A liquid supply pipe 8 is connected to the liquid introduction part 7.

Inside the nozzle body 3, a liquid passage 9 that guides the liquid introduced from the liquid introduction portion 7 to the liquid ejection head 5 is formed. An air introduction portion (gas introduction portion) 11 is provided in the middle between the liquid introduction portion 7 and the liquid ejection head 5.
As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 2, in the air introduction portion 11, an inner cylinder 15 is fitted inside the nozzle body 3, and air suction holes communicating with each other are formed on the side surfaces of the inner cylinder 15 and the nozzle body 3. 13a and 13b are formed.
The inner cylinder 15 has a narrow diameter portion 17 that narrows the diameter of the liquid passage 9 on the upstream side (the liquid introduction portion 7 side) of the air suction hole 13a and the downstream side (the liquid ejection head 5 side) of the air suction hole 13a. A wide diameter portion 19 is formed in which the diameter of the liquid passage 9 is increased. The wide-diameter portion 19 has a tapered shape with a larger diameter toward the downstream side.
The nozzle body 3 is provided with a cover member 21 that covers the air suction hole 13b. The cover member 21 covers the upper and outer peripheral sides of the air suction hole 13b. Further, the cover member 21 has an outer peripheral side of the air suction hole 13b. A skirt portion 23 extending downward is provided, and air is taken in from a space 33 opened downward between the nozzle body 3 and the skirt portion 23 under the air suction hole 13b. Thus, by covering the air suction hole 13b with the cover member 21, the cleaning liquid after cleaning is prevented from entering from the air suction hole 13b.

As shown in FIG. 3, the liquid ejecting head 5 has a hemispherical shape, and a first ejecting hole 27 provided at the top of the liquid ejecting head 5, and below the first ejecting hole 27 and around the first ejecting hole 27. A plurality of second ejection holes 29 arranged at equal intervals along the second ejection holes 29 and a plurality of third ejection holes 31 arranged at equal intervals along the periphery of the first ejection holes 27 below the second ejection holes 29 are formed. Has been. In the present embodiment, each of the first to third ejection holes 27, 29, 31 is a round hole, and each of the second ejection holes 29 and the third ejection holes 31 is provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. It is.
The second ejection holes 29 and the third ejection holes 31 are displaced from each other with respect to the circumferential direction of the first ejection holes 27, and the second ejection holes 29 and the third ejection holes 31 are 45 in the circumferential direction. Arranged at an angle of degrees.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C, the angle E formed by the third ejection holes 31 and 31 facing each other is made larger than the angle F formed by the second ejection holes 29 and 29 facing each other. Yes, the third ejection hole 31 has a larger ejection angle with respect to the first ejection hole 27 than the second ejection hole 29.

Next, the operation and effect of the nozzle 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in the nozzle 1, the liquid introduced from the liquid introduction unit 7 flows toward the liquid ejection head 5 through the liquid passage 9. As shown in FIG. 2, the liquid passage 9 in the air introduction part 11 is reduced in pressure by the wide diameter part 19 after the flow path is narrowed by the narrow diameter part 17 of the inner cylinder 15. Stream G is generated and the liquid is stirred half.
On the other hand, an air suction hole 13a is formed between the narrow-diameter portion 17 and the wide-diameter portion 19, and the air suction 13a is decompressed by the liquid flowing through the liquid passage 9, and the air suction holes 13a and 13b Air is sucked. At this time, air is taken in from the space 33 opened downward between the nozzle body 3 and the skirt portion 23.
As shown in FIG. 2, the air taken in the liquid passage 9 from the air suction holes 13a and 13b is mixed with the liquid by the turbulent flow G generated near the wide diameter portion 19 of the inner cylinder 15 and downstream thereof. The liquid mixed with air is ejected from the liquid ejection head 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the container 2 is arranged with the mouth portion 35 turned upside down, and the liquid ejection head 5 of the nozzle 1 is inserted into the container 2 from the mouth portion 35. Here, the liquid ejected from the liquid ejecting head 5 will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) schematically show a state in which a liquid is ejected using the nozzle 1 according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 (a) ejects an air mixed liquid. (B) has shown the state which injected the liquid which is not mixing air.
As shown to Fig.5 (a), the air mixed liquid ejected from each ejection hole 27, 29, 31 of the liquid ejection head 5 expands each ejection area | region S1-S3 by air being mixed. Be injected. Moreover, as shown by a broken line in FIG. 5A, the air mixed liquid is ejected in the form of fine particles. On the other hand, as is clear from the comparative example shown in FIG. 5B, in the comparative example, the liquid ejected from the ejection holes 27, 29, 31 of the liquid ejection head 5, as indicated by reference numeral V, is In order to discharge water from the hose, it is injected in a substantially rod shape, and the injection region W is also narrower than the injection region S shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the air mixed liquid ejected from the first ejection holes 27 collides with the bottom surface of the container in the region M1, and the air mixed liquid ejected from the second ejection holes 29 on the container side surface in the region M2. The air mixed liquid that has collided and is ejected from the third ejection hole 31 collides with the side surface of the container in the region of M3. The area M2 of the air mixed liquid ejected from the second ejection holes 27 is located above the area M3 of the air mixed liquid ejected from the third ejection holes 31.
When the air-mixed liquid injected from the first injection hole 27 collides with the bottom surface of the container, a part thereof flows down from the bottom surface of the container along the side surface of the container, but is injected from the second injection hole 29 as indicated by reference numeral T1. Since the liquid is scraped up by the air mixed liquid and collides with each other to generate turbulent flow in the container or rub it against the inner surface of the container, the liquid can be brought into strong contact with the inner surface of the container.
Similarly, between the air mixed liquid ejected from the second ejection holes 29 and the air mixed liquid ejected from the third ejection holes 31, there is a strong contact between the liquid scraping and the container inner surface as indicated by reference numeral T2. Done.
As described above, the air-mixed liquid can bring the liquid flowing down into contact with the inner surface of the container while the particulate liquid collides with the inner surface of the container, so that the inner surface of the container can be efficiently cleaned.

  About the washing | cleaning of the container by the nozzle 1 concerning this Embodiment, since the comparison experiment with a comparative example was conducted, the experiment and result are demonstrated.

(Experiment 1)
FIG. 6 shows the measurement of the amount of water used in the cleaning liquid when the container was cleaned and the average amount of residual water remaining in the container after cleaning. The numerical values of each example and comparative example shown on the horizontal axis are the flow rates (liter / minute) used in each of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2. In each of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 and 2, washing was performed for the same time.
In each example, an experiment was performed using the nozzle 1 according to the above-described embodiment. In the comparative example, as shown in FIG. 8, the liquid not mixed with air is ejected from the ejection port 53 opened at the tip of the nozzle 51 and the container from the lower side of the nozzle tip as shown in FIG. Only air K was ejected into the interior to promote draining. Moreover, each injection fluid pressure was 0.2 Mpa-0.4 Mpa in the Example and the comparative example. The nozzle insertion height was 30 to 50 mm from the lower end of the container mouth.
As is clear from the graph shown in FIG. 6, in the case of a 500 ml container, the flow rate of Comparative Example 1 was 7 (liter / minute), but in Examples 1 to 3, the flow rate was 2.5 to 5 (liter / minute). Thus, it was possible to obtain an average residual water amount substantially the same as in Comparative Example 1. That is, according to the present embodiment, the container could be washed with a water amount of about 35% to about 70% with respect to Comparative Example 1.
Further, in Comparative Example 2 and Examples 4 to 6 in which an experiment was performed on a 1.5 liter container, the amount of water of about 10 (liter / minute) was required in Comparative Example 2, whereas the experiment was performed. In Examples 4 to 6, substantially equivalent cleaning could be achieved with a water amount of 2.5 to 5 (liter / minute). That is, in the case of cleaning a 1.5 liter container, the container could be cleaned with a water amount of about 25% to about 50% compared to Comparative Example 2.

(Experiment 2)
FIG. 7 shows the concentration of average residual potassium remaining in the container after the container was cleaned after the container was sterilized using a potassium hydroxide solution as a sterilizing solution.
The numerical values shown on the horizontal axis in FIG. 7 are the flow rates (liters / minute) used in Examples 7 to 11 and Comparative Examples 3 and 4 as in FIG. In each of Examples 7 to 11 and Comparative Examples 3 and 4, washing was performed for the same time. The experimental conditions were the same as in FIG.
As is clear from the graph shown in FIG. 7, in the case of a 500 ml container, the flow rate of Comparative Example 3 was 7 (liter / minute), but in Examples 7 to 9, the flow rate was 2.5 to 5 (liter / minute). Thus, it was possible to obtain an average residual potassium concentration substantially the same as in Comparative Example 3. That is, according to the present embodiment, the container could be washed with a water amount of about 35% to about 70% with respect to Comparative Example 3.
In Comparative Example 4 and Examples 9 to 11 in which experiments were performed on a 1.5 liter container, the amount of water of about 10 (liters / minute) was required in Comparative Example 4, whereas In Examples 9 to 11, the same amount of washing could be achieved with a water amount of 2.5 to 5 (liters / minute). That is, in the case of cleaning a 1.5 liter container, the container could be cleaned with a water amount of about 25% to about 50% compared to Comparative Example 4.

  According to the present embodiment, since the cleaning liquid is mixed with gas and sprayed from the nozzle 1, the sprayed liquid can be sprayed and diffused over a wide range, and the sprayed liquid becomes granular and becomes the inner surface of the container. The impact area with the inner surface of the container can be increased and the inner surface of the container can be efficiently cleaned. Therefore, the amount of liquid used for obtaining a conventional cleaning effect can be reduced.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the container is cleaned using the cleaning liquid as the liquid has been described, but the same effect can be obtained even if the inside of the container is sterilized using the chemical liquid as the liquid.
The nozzle body 3 may be formed with the wide diameter portion 19 and the narrow diameter portion 17 directly in the liquid passage 9 without providing the inner cylinder 15.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Nozzle 3 Nozzle main body 5 Liquid jet head 7 Liquid introduction part 9 Liquid passage 11 Air introduction part (gas introduction part)
13a, 13b Air suction hole 19 Wide diameter portion 21 Cover member 27 First injection hole 29 Second injection hole 31 Third injection hole

Claims (9)

A nozzle for sterilization / cleaning of a container that is inserted into the mouth of an inverted container and sterilizes or cleans the inside of the container by ejecting a liquid made of a sterilizing liquid or a cleaning liquid,
The nozzle includes a gas introduction part, and mixes and jets the gas introduced from the gas introduction part to the liquid, and the nozzle for sterilization and washing of the container is characterized.   The nozzle includes a liquid ejection head provided at a distal end of the nozzle body and having the liquid ejection hole formed therein, and a liquid introduction section that is provided at a proximal end portion of the nozzle body and introduces the liquid. The part is provided between the liquid ejection head and the liquid introduction part, and introduces air around the nozzle, and the gas introduction part takes air into the liquid flowing from the liquid introduction part. A nozzle for sterilization and washing of the container according to 1.   The nozzle for sterilizing / cleaning a container according to claim 2, wherein the gas introduction part is an air suction hole formed on the outer peripheral surface of the nozzle body and communicating with the liquid passage.   The gas introduction part includes a cover member that is attached to the outer periphery of the nozzle body and covers the outer periphery side of the air suction hole, and the cover member opens a space that communicates with the air suction hole between the nozzle body and downward. The container sterilizing / cleaning nozzle according to claim 3.   5. A container according to claim 3, wherein a tapered surface is formed between the air suction hole and the liquid ejecting head so that the diameter of the liquid passage is increased toward the liquid ejecting head. Nozzle for cleaning.   The liquid ejection head has a hemispherical shape, a first ejection hole provided at the top thereof, and a plurality of second ejection holes arranged at equal intervals along the periphery of the first ejection hole below the first ejection hole, A plurality of third ejection holes arranged at equal intervals along the periphery of the first ejection hole below the second ejection hole, and comprising a plurality of third ejection holes according to any one of claims 1 to 5. Nozzle for container sterilization and washing.   7. The container sterilization / cleaning nozzle according to claim 6, wherein the second ejection hole and the third ejection hole are displaced from each other with respect to the circumferential direction of the first ejection hole.   The nozzle for sterilizing / cleaning a container according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the third ejection hole has a larger ejection angle with respect to the first ejection hole than the second ejection hole. A sterilization / cleaning method for a container in which a liquid comprising a sterilizing liquid or a cleaning liquid is ejected from an injection nozzle inserted into an inverted container mouth, and the inner surface of the container is sterilized or cleaned,
A method for sterilizing and cleaning a container, wherein the spray nozzle mixes the liquid with the gas and ejects the gas.

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