JP2013189232A - Preform sterilization method, and content filling method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly and easily sterilize preforms.SOLUTION: Superheated steam (S) at 150°C to 500°C under a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure made from water to which hydrogen peroxide having a content of 0.5% to 15% is mixed is sprayed to at least an inside surface of all surfaces including a mouth part (1a) of the preform (1) thereby bacteria sticking to the preform (1) are sterilized.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing a preform for making a container such as a bottle, and a method and apparatus for filling a beverage or the like.

  Conventionally, a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) preform is being transported and a sterilizing gas such as hydrogen peroxide is sprayed onto the preform to sterilize it, and the preform is formed into a bottle by a blow molding machine. Aseptic filling method as an in-line system has been proposed (see Patent Document 1, for example).

  In addition, the vaporized germicide is attached to the preform, and the remaining germicide is discharged by a flame with a burner (see, for example, Patent Document 2), or vapor of germicide is sprayed on the preform, There has also been proposed a method in which a preform is heated and then blow-molded (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

  On the other hand, as a method of sterilizing the preform without using a sterilizing agent, the inside of the preform is sterilized by blowing water vapor into the preform and maintaining the temperature above the glass transition temperature for a predetermined time. Has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 4).

JP 2001-212874 A Japanese Patent No. 3780165 JP 2008-183899 A JP 2007-111886 A

  A conventional method of sterilizing a preform using a sterilizing agent has a problem that when the concentration of the sterilizing agent is increased to improve the sterilizing effect, the sterilizing agent tends to remain in the preform. Moreover, there exists a problem that each part of a blow molding machine becomes easy to be corroded by the residual disinfectant.

  According to the method of sterilizing the inside of the preform with water vapor, the problem of the sterilizing agent remaining is solved, but when water vapor drains remain in the preform, it causes whitening or the like when molded into a container, There is a problem that it is necessary to provide a process for removing drain after sterilization. Further, when water vapor is applied to the mouth portion of the preform, the mouth portion is likely to be deformed, and when the lid is subsequently covered with the lid, the sealing performance is impaired. Furthermore, in the conventional sterilization with water vapor, the temperature of the water vapor cannot be increased, and thus there is a problem that the preform surface cannot be sufficiently sterilized.

  An object of the present invention is to eliminate such problems.

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

  That is, the invention according to claim 1 is made from water in which at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth portion (1a) of the preform (1) is mixed with 0.5% to 15% hydrogen peroxide. A preform sterilization method in which superheated steam (S) having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure of 150 ° C. to 500 ° C. is blown is employed.

  As described in claim 2, in the preform sterilization method according to claim 1, the superheated steam (S) dielectrically heats water mixed with hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of 0.5% to 15%. Can be generated.

  As described in claim 3, in the preform sterilization method according to claim 1 or 2, the sterilization of the inner surface of the preform (1) is opposed to the mouth (1a) of the preform (1). The superheated steam (S) is blown into the preform (1) from the nozzle (7), and the flow rate of the superheated steam (S) is set so as not to deform the mouth (1a). It is also possible.

  The invention according to claim 4 sterilizes at least the inner surface of the preform (1) while continuously running the preform (1), heats the sterilized preform (1) to the molding temperature, and heats the preform. The reformer (1) is blow-molded in the same continuous blow-molding mold (12) to make a container (2). The molded container (2) is filled with the contents (a) and sealed with a lid (4). In the content filling method, the preform (1) is sterilized by hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of 0.5% to 15% on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth (1a) of the preform (1). The content filling method performed by spraying superheated steam (S) having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 150 ° C. to 500 ° C. made from water mixed with water.

  In the invention according to claim 5, the preform (1) is molded into the container (2), the container (2) is filled with the contents (a), and the container (2) is sealed with the lid (4). A conveying path for continuously running the preform (1) and the container (2) until sterilization, a sterilizing means for sterilizing the preform (1), and a heated state suitable for blow molding the sterilized preform (1) A heater (10) for forming, a mold (12) for blow-molding the heated preform (1) into the container (2), and a filler (35) for filling the contents (a) into the blow-molded container (2) ) And a capper (36) that seals the container (2) filled with the content (a) along the transport path, the sterilizing means is disposed inside the coiled conductive tube. Water mixed with 0.5% to 15% hydrogen peroxide The superheated steam generator (6) which makes the superheated steam (S) having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 150 ° C. to 500 ° C. by dielectric heating, and the superheated steam (S) are connected to the mouth (1a) of the preform (1) ) Including a nozzle (7) that sprays at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the above.

  According to the present invention, superheated steam (S) composed of water mixed with hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of 0.5% to 15% is applied to the preform (1) including the mouth (1a) of the preform (1). At least the inner surface of all the surfaces can be quickly and properly heat sterilized without causing deformation or the like in the mouth (1a). The steam used for sterilization is superheated steam (S) made of water mixed with 0.5% to 15% hydrogen peroxide, and can be sterilized without generating steam drain. The step of removing drain from (1) becomes unnecessary, and the production speed of the container (2) can be improved accordingly. Since the temperature of the superheated steam (S) is 150 ° C. to 500 ° C., it is possible to sterilize only the surface of the preform (1) in a short time without causing deformation of the preform (1). In addition, since it is not necessary to drip or flow down the drain from the preform (1), the preform (1) should be sterilized even when the mouth (1a) is in an upright state. Can do. Moreover, since it can convey from a sterilization process to the formation process of a container (2), conveying it with an upright state after a sterilization process, filling of contents (a), such as a drink, can be performed easily. it can. In addition, since superheated steam (S) is mixed with hydrogen peroxide, spore germs can be sterilized, and superheated steam (S) containing hydrogen peroxide is used for sterilization. ) And the concentration of hydrogen peroxide can be reduced. Further, by adopting the dielectric heating method as the superheated steam generating means, the energy efficiency is better than the heating by the normal heater, and the sterilization efficiency is improved accordingly.

It is explanatory drawing of the preform sterilization method which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing from the sterilization process of a preform to a blow molding process. It is explanatory drawing after a blow molding to a capping process. It is a schematic plan view of the content filling apparatus which concerns on this invention.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sterilization of the preform 1 is performed by mixing 0.5% to 15% hydrogen peroxide on the entire surface of the preform 1, that is, the inner and outer surfaces of the entire preform including the mouth portion 1a. It is carried out by blowing superheated steam S made of water and having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 150 ° C. to 500 ° C.

  The temperature of the superheated steam sprayed on the preform is desirably 150 ° C to 500 ° C, more desirably 200 ° C to 400 ° C. If it is the temperature range of 150 degreeC-500 degreeC, the microbe adhering to the surface of a preform can be disinfected in a short time by exposing only the surface of a preform to high temperature. When the temperature of the superheated steam S is less than 150 ° C., it is necessary to spray for a long time for sterilization, the PET itself constituting the preform becomes high temperature, and the deformation of the preform increases. Moreover, when it exceeds 500 degreeC, the temperature of PET itself which comprises a preform will rise even for a short time, and it will become easy to produce a deformation | transformation in a preform.

  The pressure of the superheated steam sprayed on the preform is higher than atmospheric pressure, desirably higher than 0.1 MPa and lower than 0.3 MPa. If it is in the vicinity of 0.1 MPa, even if the superheated steam comes into contact with the preform and the temperature drops, the possibility of dew condensation is low. If the pressure is higher than 0.3 MPa, the heated steam is sprayed on the preform. There is a possibility of condensation on the surface of the preform. When dew condensation occurs, there is a possibility that whitening or the like may occur on the surface of the bottle when blow molding is performed later on the bottle or the like.

  The concentration of hydrogen peroxide mixed in water is desirably 0.5% to 15%, and more desirably 1% to 10%. If it is less than 0.5%, a sufficient bactericidal effect against spore-forming bacteria cannot be obtained, and if it exceeds 15%, the amount of fungicide remaining on the preform increases.

  The preform can be made of other resins such as high-density polyethylene and polycarbonate other than PET. Even when the preform is made of high-density polyethylene or polycarbonate, it is desirable to sterilize with superheated steam in the above temperature range.

  The sterilization of the preform is indispensable for the inner surface of the preform, but the outer surface can be performed by heating for blow molding described later, or a desired sterilization process is added after the blow molding. It is also possible to do this.

  The preform 1 is formed as a bottomed tubular body having a test tube shape by injection molding of PET. The preform 1 is later formed as a bottle 2 which is a container as shown in FIG. 3D, and a mouth 1a similar to that in the bottle 2 is provided at the beginning of the forming. A male screw 3 is formed simultaneously with the molding of the preform 1 on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth 1a. The male screw 3 can be screwed with the female screw of the cap 4 that covers the mouth of the bottle 2 as shown in FIG. A support ring 5 is formed below the male screw 3.

  The superheated steam S can be obtained by using a commercially available superheated steam generator 6. Specifically, a superheated steam generator having a trade name UPSS manufactured by Tokuden Corporation can be used. Although not shown in the figure, an induction heating coil is inserted in the center of a spiral of a water pipe made of a spirally wound conductor, and hydrogen peroxide with a concentration of 0.5% to 15% is added. The mixed water is introduced into the water pipe and an AC voltage is applied to the induction heating coil. It is also possible to energize the AC voltage by converting the frequency with an inverter. By applying the AC voltage, the induction heating coil generates an alternating magnetic flux, an induction current flows through the water pipe, and the water pipe generates heat. The water mixed with 0.5% to 15% concentration of hydrogen peroxide flowing through the heat generated by the water pipe is heated to become saturated steam, further becomes superheated steam S, and is taken out of the water pipe.

  In addition, it is also possible to make a heating effect further by making an induction heating coil into a conductive tube and letting water flow through this.

  As the superheated steam S, one having a pressure of about 0.1 MPa and a temperature of 150 ° C. to 500 ° C. can be obtained. By adopting the dielectric heating method, water mixed with the above-described 0.5% to 15% concentration of hydrogen peroxide can be heated to 150 ° C. to 500 ° C. in a short time from the start of energization.

  The cylindrical nozzle 7 is attached so as to hang down from the tip of the conduit 8, and its opening 7a is directed vertically downward.

  The preform 1 is conveyed in one direction directly below the circular opening 7a in the cylindrical nozzle 7 in an upright state with the mouth portion 1a facing up. The conveyance method may be a continuous conveyance method in which the preform 1 is continuously run, or an intermittent conveyance method in which the preform 1 is temporarily stopped immediately below the opening 7 a of the cylindrical nozzle 7. The preform 1 can be transported by holding the support ring 5 by a clamper (not shown).

  Moreover, in FIG. 1, the code | symbol 9 shows a slit-shaped nozzle. The slit-shaped nozzle 9 is connected to the tip of a branch pipe 8 a branched from the conduit 8, and the slit 9 a is disposed so as to face the side surface of the preform 1. Desirably, the slit-shaped nozzles 9 are paired so as to be opposed to each other so as to sandwich the preform 1 from its side surface, and the preform 1 is conveyed while being rotated around its axis. Although it is possible to carry the preform 1 without rotating it, a plurality of pairs of slit-like nozzles 9 are arranged in that case.

  In the illustrated example, the nozzle is a slit-like nozzle, but a circular nozzle such as the above-described cylindrical nozzle may be disposed opposite to the side surface or the bottom surface of the preform 1.

  When the preform 1 is sterilized, the superheated steam S made of water mixed with hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of 0.5% to 15% is constantly supplied to the cylindrical nozzle 7 and the slit nozzle 9. From the circular opening 7a and the slit 9a of the slit-shaped nozzle 9, the liquid is ejected toward the entire surface of the preform 1. The nozzle diameter, angle, preform axis, and the like are set in advance so that the jetted superheated steam S contacts the entire inner surface of the preform 1.

  Thereby, the superheated steam S ejected from the opening 7a of the cylindrical nozzle 7 enters the preform 1 from the mouth 1a of the preform 1, contacts the entire inner surface of the preform 1, and adheres to the inner surface of the preform 1. Sterilize general bacteria, molds, yeasts and spores with heat and hydrogen peroxide. Moreover, since this sterilization can be achieved by blowing superheated steam S toward the inside of the preform for a short time, excessive heating from the inside of the mouth portion 1a of the preform 1 is prevented. Deformation of the mouth 1a is reliably avoided.

  Further, the superheated steam S ejected from the slit 9a of the slit-shaped nozzle 9 comes into contact with the entire outer surface including the mouth portion 1a of the preform 1 rotating around the shaft core and is sterilized by heat and hydrogen peroxide. As a result, general bacteria, molds, yeasts, and spore bacteria attached to the outer surface of the preform 1 are sterilized. Further, this sterilization can be achieved by spraying the superheated steam S toward the outer surface of the preform 1 for a short time, so that excessive heating from the outside in the mouth portion 1a of the preform 1 is prevented. The deformation of the mouth 1a is reliably avoided.

  The preform sterilization method can be incorporated into an in-line system as shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, thereby enabling mass production of aseptic packaging.

  In this in-line system, the preform 1 is continuously conveyed at a desired speed, and is formed into a sterile package through the steps shown in FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 2A, while the preform 1 is conveyed in an upright state, the preform 1 passes through the installation locations of the cylindrical nozzle 7 and the slit nozzle 9 at a constant speed. During this passage, as described above, the superheated steam S is blown into the preform 1 from the mouth portion 1a, and the superheated steam S is blown onto the outer surface of the preform 1, thereby including the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1. The entire inner and outer surfaces of the reform 1 are sterilized within a short time.

  In the illustrated example, the preform 1 is in an upright state when the superheated steam S is blown, but may be in an inverted state.

  Since the sterilization is performed within a short time, the mouth 1a of the preform 1 is not deformed and the resin of the preform 1 is not excessively heated. Further, since the vapor drain does not condense and remain on the surface of the preform 1, whitening or the like does not occur in the bottle 2 manufactured in the subsequent blow molding.

  The inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 can also be sterilized by shifting in time by shifting the installation locations of the cylindrical nozzle 7 and the slit nozzle 9 relative to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, a heater 10 is arranged in a wall shape along the conveyance path of the preform 1, and the preform 1 is heated while traveling by the heater 10. The preform 1 is uniformly heated from about 90 ° C. to about 130 ° C. by this heating, and is brought into a heating state suitable for blow molding.

  At the time of heating, the preform 1 is suspended in an upright state by inserting the spindle 11 into the mouth portion 1 a, and is uniformly heated by the heater 10 by rotating together with the spindle 11.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (C), the preform 1 that has been brought into a temperature suitable for blow molding by heating is subjected to blow molding and formed into a bottle 2 as a container.

  The mold 12 that is a blow mold is continuously clamped while traveling continuously at the same speed as that of the preform 1, and after the blow molding is performed on the preform 1 in the mold 12. Opened.

  The preform 1 is heated almost uniformly in the heating step shown in FIG. 2B so that the entire temperature rises to a temperature range suitable for molding. As shown in C), the spindle 11 is mounted in the mold 12 together. The blow nozzle 13 is inserted into the preform 1 through the upper part of the mold 12 and the spindle 11 in the mouth 1 a of the preform 1.

  While the mold 12 is traveling, for example, primary blow air and secondary blow air are sequentially blown into the preform 1 from the blow nozzle 13 so that the preform 1 is finally finished in the cavity C of the mold 12. It expands to the bottle 2 of the molded product.

  When the bottle 2 is molded in the mold 12 as described above, the mold 12 is opened while traveling, and the finished product of the bottle 2 is taken out of the mold 12 as shown in FIG. .

  The bottle 2 continuously runs after molding, and as shown in FIG. 3 (E), the beverage a consisting of, for example, mineral water is filled into the bottle 2 from the filling nozzle 14 and shown in FIG. 3 (F). Thus, it is sealed with the cap 4 which is a lid.

    In addition, you may make it improve a bactericidal effect by performing external surface sterilization of the bottle 2 by spraying of the vapor | steam containing disinfectants, such as hydrogen peroxide, electron beam irradiation, etc. after the said blow molding. When the inner surface of the bottle 2 is sterilized by spraying with hydrogen peroxide, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of hydrogen peroxide as much as possible to reduce the residual hydrogen peroxide in the bottle 2.

  Thus, the bottle 2 made into a package is collected and carried out to the market.

  A filling apparatus for carrying out the above filling method is configured as shown in FIG. 4, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 4, this filling apparatus includes a preform feeder 15 that sequentially feeds a bottomed cylindrical preform 1 (see FIGS. 1 and 2A) having a mouth portion 1 a at a predetermined interval. The blow molding machine 16 and the filling machine 17 that fills and seals the beverage a in the molded bottle 2 are provided.

  Between the preform feeder 15 and the filling machine 17, a mold 12 having a preform conveying means for conveying the preform 1 on the first conveying path and a cavity C of the finished product shape of the bottle 2 (see FIG. 2 (C)) is transported on the second transport path connected to the first transport path, and the mold 2 is connected to the second transport path. And a bottle transport means for transporting on the third transport path.

  The first conveying path of the preform conveying means, the second conveying path of the mold conveying means, and the third conveying path of the bottle conveying means communicate with each other, and the preform 1 is placed on these conveying paths. And a gripper (not shown) that conveys the bottle 2 while holding it.

  The preform conveying means includes a preform conveyor 18 that sequentially supplies the preform 1 at a predetermined interval on the first conveying path. Further, a row of wheels 19, 20, 21, and 22 that receive and transport the preform 1 from the end of the preform conveyor 18, and a conveyor 23 that receives the preform 1 from the wheel 22 and travels.

  Preheated superheated steam S made of water mixed with 0.5% to 15% hydrogen peroxide is preformed slightly upstream of the preform conveyor 18 in the preform feeder 15 where it is connected to the wheel 19. The cylindrical nozzle 7 and the slit-shaped nozzle 9 which inject toward 1 are provided. Superheated steam S is sprayed from these nozzles 7 and 9 toward the preform 1 before heating (see FIGS. 1 and 3A). Thereby, the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 are uniformly sterilized.

  These nozzles 7 and 9 can also be installed at a fixed position on the outer periphery of the wheel 22 before the preform 1 reaches the conveyor 23, for example.

  The conveyor 23 has an endless transport chain extending in the horizontal direction, and a heating unit 23a is provided along the endless transport chain. Many spindles 11 shown in FIG. 2B are attached to the endless transport chain at a constant pitch. Each spindle 11 can rotate while traveling along with the traveling of the endless conveyance chain. As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the spindle 11 is inserted into the preform 1 sent from the wheel 22 side to the conveyor 23 through its mouth 1a, and is held on the spindle 11 in an upright state.

  The preform 1 is received by the conveyor 23 through a row of the preform conveyor 18 and the wheels 19, 20, 21, and 22, and reciprocates in the heating unit 23 a by the conveyor 23. A heater 10 (see FIG. 2B) is stretched around the inner wall surface of the heating unit 23 a, and the preform 1 conveyed by the conveyor 23 is heated by the heater 10. The preform 1 rotates along with the rotation of the spindle 11 while traveling on the conveyor 23, and is uniformly heated by the heater 10.

  The blow molding machine 16 receives a preform 1 heated by the heating unit 23a of the preform feeder 15 and sets a plurality of molds 12 and blow nozzles 13 (see FIG. 2C) that heat-mold the bottle 1 into the bottle 2. Prepare.

  In the blow molding machine 16, the second conveyance path of the mold conveyance means passes. This second transport path is constituted by a row of wheels 24, 25, 26, 21, 27. The wheel 21 is shared between the row of the wheels 24, 25, 26, 21, 27 and the row of the wheels 19, 20, 21, 22 of the preform conveying means.

  A plurality of molds 12 and blow nozzles 13 are arranged around the wheel 25, and turn around the wheel 25 at a constant speed as the wheel 25 rotates.

  When the gripper (not shown) of the wheel 24 receives the preform 1 heated by the heating unit 23a of the preform feeder 15 together with the spindle 11 and transfers it to the mold 12 around the wheel 25, the split mold 12 is closed. The preform 1 is gripped as shown in FIG. The preform 1 in the mold 12 is formed into a finished product of the bottle 2 by being blown with the high pressure air for blow molding from the blow nozzle 13 while turning around the wheel 25 together with the mold 12 and the blow nozzle 13. The Since the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 10 as shown in FIG. 2B, it is smoothly blow-molded.

  When the preform 1 comes into close contact with the cavity C of the mold 12 to form the bottle 2, the mold 12 is opened when it comes into contact with the wheel 26, and the bottle 2 and the spindle 11 are released. Then, the bottle 2 is received from the spindle 11 by a gripper (not shown) of the wheel 26.

  On the other hand, the spindle 11 that has released the bottle 2 returns to the conveyor 23 via the wheel 24 and continues to hold and carry another preform 1.

  The bottle 2 that comes out of the blow molding machine 16 and reaches the wheel 26 is inspected for molding defects or the like by an inspection device 28 arranged on the outer periphery of the wheel 26.

  Although not shown, the inspection device 28 includes bottle body inspection means for determining the quality of the body of the bottle 2, support ring inspection means for determining the quality of the support ring 5 of the bottle 2 (see FIG. 1), and the bottle 2. Bottle neck top surface inspection means for determining the quality of the neck top surface of the bottle, and bottle bottom portion inspection means for determining the quality of the bottom of the bottle 2.

  The bottle body inspection means, the support ring inspection means, and the bottle neck top surface inspection means are arranged along the outer periphery of the wheel 26.

  The bottle body inspection means, the support ring inspection means, and the bottle neck top surface inspection means are not shown in the figure, but each of the bottles 2 is imaged with a lamp and a camera, processed by an image processing device, and shaped, scratched, foreign matter, It is determined whether there is an abnormality in discoloration or the like.

  The inspection device 28 is installed as necessary. The bottle body inspection means, the support ring inspection means, and the bottle neck top surface inspection means are selected as necessary.

  When the bottle 2 is inspected, the bottle 2 is removed from the conveyance path by a rejecting device (not shown), and only the acceptable product is conveyed from the wheel 26 through the wheel 21 to the wheel 27.

  The bottle after blow molding is sprayed with steam containing a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, irradiated with an electron beam, etc. to add sterilization on the outer surface of the bottle, or to enhance the sterilizing effect on the inner surface of the bottle. Also good. For example, the wheel 21 or 27 may be provided with a sterilizing means such as a sterilizing agent-containing vapor spraying device or an electron beam irradiation device.

  The filling machine 17 has the 3rd conveyance path of the said conveyance means for bottles in the inside. This third transport path has a row of wheels 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34.

  In the filling machine 17, a filler 35 for filling the bottle 2 with the beverage a is provided, and a cap 4 for attaching and sealing the cap 4 (see FIG. 3F) to the bottle 2 filled with the beverage a. 36 is provided.

  In addition, since the filler 35 and the capper 36 may be the same as a well-known apparatus, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  The filling device is surrounded by a chamber 37, and the inside of the chamber 37 is partitioned into a sterilization zone and a gray zone. The preform feeder 15 and the blow molding machine 16 are arranged in the gray zone, and the filling machine 17 is arranged in the aseptic zone.

  Air sterilized with HEPA is constantly blown into the gray zone, whereby the bottle 2 sterilized at the time of molding is conveyed to the sterilization zone without being contaminated with microorganisms.

  Next, operation | movement of a filling apparatus is demonstrated with reference to FIG. 2 thru | or FIG.

  First, the preform 1 is conveyed to the heating unit 23a by the row of the preform conveyor 18 and the wheels 19, 20, 21, and 22.

  Before entering the heating section 23a, the nozzles 7 and 9 shown in FIG. 1 are made from water mixed with hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of 0.5% to 15% toward the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 to 150 to 500 ° C. Is heated (see FIG. 2A). Thereby, the entire surface of the preform 1 is sterilized.

  In the heating unit 23a, the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for molding while being conveyed by the conveyor 23 (see FIG. 2B).

  The preform 1 heated by the heating unit 23 a is held by the mold 12 when passing through the outer periphery of the wheel 25, and is expanded to the finished product of the bottle 2 in the cavity C by blowing high-pressure air from the blow nozzle 13. (See FIG. 2C).

  The molded bottle 2 (see FIG. 3D) is taken out of the mold 12 by the gripper of the wheel 26 after the mold 12 is opened, and inspected by the inspection device 28 for molding defects or the like.

  Thereafter, the bottle 2 travels in the filling machine 17 while being transferred to a row of wheels 30, 31, 32, 33 and 34.

  In the filling machine 17, the bottle 2 is filled with the beverage a sterilized as shown in FIG. The bottle 2 filled with the beverage a is sealed with the cap 4 having the sterilized cap 4 placed on the mouth 1a by the capper 36 (see FIG. 3F) and discharged from the outlet of the chamber 37.

  As described above, since the filler 35 and the capper 36 are well-known devices, the description of the method for filling the bottle 2 with the beverage and the method for sealing the bottle 2 will be omitted.

  The present invention can be implemented in various forms without being limited to the above-described embodiments. For example, the container to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a PET bottle, and can be applied to various resin containers. Molding of the container is not limited to injection blow, and can be molded by various blow molding such as direct blow. Moreover, the conveyance means which conveys a preform and a container is not limited to the wheel conveyance apparatus shown in FIG. Various transport devices that can be transported at a predetermined transport speed in the order in which the containers are formed, for example, a belt transport device, a bucket transport device, and an air transport device can also be used.

  Superheated steam consisting of water mixed with 3.0% hydrogen peroxide is generated by heating with a superheated steam generator using a dielectric heating method, and the flow rate is 0.7 g / sec and the blowing temperature is 300 ° C. from a nozzle with an inner diameter of 8 mmφ. 500 ml (milliliter) of PET bottle preform and 2LP PET bottle preform were sprayed for 5 seconds toward the inner surface.

  The sterilizing effect of this superheated steam injection was confirmed by the indicator bacteria inoculated on the inner surface as shown in Table 1. Filling with all kinds of beverages such as milk drinks, tea drinks, fruit drinks, carbonated drinks, sports drinks and mineral water It was found to be a bactericidal effect suitable for the above.

In Table 1, “B.sub.” Is an abbreviation for Bacillus subtilis , and “A.nig.” Is an abbreviation for Aspergillus niger . “D” is a D value indicating a bactericidal effect.

  Further, when the deformation amount of the inner diameter of the preform was measured, the results shown in Table 2 were obtained, and there was no problem in maintaining the sealing performance with the cap.

  Water mixed with hydrogen peroxide is heated by a superheated steam generator using a dielectric heating method to generate superheated steam, and this superheated steam is flowed at a flow rate of 0.7 g / sec at various blowing temperatures within a range of 120 ° C to 550 ° C. From the nozzle having an inner diameter of 8 mmφ, spraying was performed for 10 to 3 seconds toward the inner surface of the preform for the 500 ml PET bottle.

  Table 3 shows the sterilizing effect, the deformation of the inner diameter of the preform, and the remaining hydrogen peroxide due to the injection of the superheated steam.

However, in Table 3, regarding the bactericidal effect, the case where the D value for Bacillus subtilis is 5 or more and the D value for Aspergillus niger is 6 or more is “◯” (possible), and otherwise, “X” (impossible) It was. Regarding the deformation, the case where the change in the inner diameter of the preform was less than 0.05 mm was “◯” (allowed), and the case other than that was “×” (impossible). Regarding the residual hydrogen peroxide, after forming a preform sterilized with superheated steam into a bottle, the bottle was filled with water, and the amount of hydrogen peroxide dissolved in this water was measured. The case was “◯” (possible), and the other cases were “x” (impossible).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Preform 1a ... Mouth part 2 ... Container 4 ... Cover 7 ... Nozzle 10 ... Heater 12 ... Blow mold 35 ... Filler 36 ... Capper S ... Superheated steam a ... Contents

Claims (5)

  Superheated steam with a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 150 ° C. to 500 ° C. made of water mixed with 0.5% to 15% concentration of hydrogen peroxide on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth of the preform. A preform sterilization method characterized by spraying.   The preform sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the superheated steam is generated by dielectrically heating water mixed with hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of 0.5% to 15%.   3. The preform sterilization method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the inner surface of the preform is sterilized by blowing the superheated steam into a preform from a nozzle opposed to the mouth of the preform. A preform sterilization method, wherein the flow rate of the steam is set to such an extent that the mouth is not deformed.   While continuously running the preform, at least the inner surface of the preform is sterilized, the sterilized preform is heated to the molding temperature, and the heated preform is blow-molded in a blow-molding mold that continuously runs, to make a container, In the content filling method in which the molded container is filled with the content and sealed with a lid, the preform is sterilized at a concentration of 0.5% to 15% on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth of the preform. A method for filling contents, which is performed by spraying superheated steam (S) having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure of 150 ° C. to 500 ° C. made from water mixed with hydrogen peroxide.   The preform is molded into a container, the container is filled with the contents, and a conveyance path for continuously running the preform and the container is provided until the container is sealed with a lid. A heater for heating the preform suitable for blow molding, a mold for blow-molding the heated preform into a container, a filler for filling the blow-molded container with the contents, and a container filled with the contents In the content filling apparatus in which a capper for sealing is provided along the transport path, the sterilizing means performs dielectric heating on water mixed with hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of 0.5% to 15% that passes through the coiled conductive tube. The superheated steam generating part that is a superheated steam having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 150 ° C. to 500 ° C. and the superheated steam at least on the inner surface among all surfaces including the mouth of the preform. Content filling apparatus characterized by comprising a nozzle for spraying.

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