JP2013216092A - Preform sterilizing method, and content filling method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and rapidly sterilize a preform for making a container such as a bottle.SOLUTION: Bacteria attached to inner and outer surfaces of a preform (1) are sterilized by spraying overheat steam (S) made from water at a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure at 200-500°C on the entire inner and outer surfaces including a mouth part (1a) of the preform (1).

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

  The conventional method of sterilizing a preform using a sterilizing agent has a problem that the sterilizing agent remains in the preform. Further, when the preform is blow-molded after sterilization, there is a problem that each part of the molding machine is easily corroded by the residual sterilizing agent.

  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 conventionally proposed sterilization with water vapor, the temperature of the water vapor cannot be increased, so 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 a superheated steam having a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C. to 500 ° C. made of water on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth portion (1a) of the preform (1). A preform sterilization method of spraying (S) is adopted.

  As described in claim 2, in the preform sterilization method according to claim 1, the superheated steam (S) can be generated by dielectrically heating water.

  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 such that the mouth (1a) is not deformed. Is also possible.

  As described in claim 4, in the preform sterilization method according to claim 3, superheated steam (S) from the nozzle (7) while relatively inserting the nozzle (7) into the preform (1). Can be blown into the preform (1).

  Further, the invention according to claim 5 is directed to sterilizing at least the inner surface of the preform (1) while continuously running the preform (1), heating the sterilized preform (1) to a molding temperature, and heating the preform (1). 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 sterilization of the preform (1) is performed at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C to 500 ° C on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth portion (1a) of the preform (1). The content filling method performed by spraying superheated steam (S) is adopted.

  As described in claim 6, in the content filling method according to claim 5, superheated steam (S) is generated from the nozzle (7) while relatively inserting the nozzle (7) into the preform (1). Can be blown into the preform (1).

  In the invention according to claim 7, 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. 200 ° C to 500 ° C air through dielectric water Nozzle that blows the superheated steam (S) on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the superheated steam generation part (6) that is higher pressure superheated steam (S) and the mouth part (1a) of the preform (1) (7) is adopted.

  As described in claim 8, in the content filling device according to claim 7, the nozzle (7) and the preform (1) can be relatively moved, and the nozzle (7) is configured as the preform (1). It is also possible to allow superheated steam (S) to be blown into the preform (1) from the nozzle (7) while being relatively inserted into the preform (1).

  According to the present invention, at least the inner surface of the entire preform (1) including the mouth portion (1a) of the preform (1) is sterilized quickly and appropriately without causing deformation or the like in the mouth portion (1a). Can be processed. In addition, since the element of superheated steam (S) used for sterilization is water, there is no problem of drug residue as in the case of using a drug. Moreover, since it can sterilize without generating the drain of water vapor | steam, the process of removing drain from a preform (1) becomes unnecessary, and the manufacturing speed of a container (2) can be improved that much. Since the temperature of the superheated steam (S) is 200 ° 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 in an upright state after a sterilization process, filling of contents, such as a drink, can be performed easily.

  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.

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. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other form of the preform sterilization method which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the further another form of the preform sterilization method concerning this invention.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below.

<Embodiment 1>
As shown in FIG. 1, sterilization of the preform 1 is performed on the inner and outer surfaces of the entire preform including the mouth portion 1 a of the preform 1. This is done by spraying S.

  The temperature of the superheated steam sprayed on the preform is desirably 200 ° C to 500 ° C, and more desirably 250 ° C to 400 ° C. If it is the temperature range of 200 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 200 ° 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 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 this is not shown in the figure, an induction heating coil is inserted in the center of the spiral of a water passage pipe made of a spirally wound conductor. An alternating voltage is applied. 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 flowing inside is heated by this heat generation of the water passage pipe to become saturated steam, further becomes superheated steam S, and is taken out of the water passage 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 200 ° C. to 500 ° C. can be obtained. By adopting the dielectric heating method, water can be turned into superheated steam at 200 ° C. or more in a short time from the start of energization.

  In FIG. 1, the code | symbol 7 shows a cylindrical nozzle. This cylindrical nozzle 7 is attached so as to hang down from the end of a conduit 8 connected to the end of the water flow pipe of the superheated steam generator 6, 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 is constantly supplied from the superheated steam generator 6 to the cylindrical nozzle 7 and the slit-shaped nozzle 9, and from the circular opening 7 a of the cylindrical nozzle 7 and the slit 9 a of the slit-shaped nozzle 9. It spouts toward the preform 1. The nozzle diameter, angle, preform axis, and the like are arbitrary, and are preset 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 and yeasts. 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.

  Moreover, 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 heating. Thereby, the general bacteria, molds and yeasts 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 4, 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 FIGS.

  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 is sprayed, but it 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. .

  While the bottle 2 continuously runs after molding, the contents a such as mineral water, tea drink containing catechin, carbonated drink, etc., are contained in the bottle 2 from the filling nozzle 14 as shown in FIG. Filled and sealed with a cap 4 as a lid, as shown in FIG.

    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 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.

  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 for filling and sealing the contents 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.

  A cylindrical nozzle 7 and a slit-like nozzle 9 for injecting the superheated steam S toward the preform 1 are provided slightly upstream from the location where the preform conveyor 18 in the preform feeder 15 is connected to the wheel 19. . Superheated steam S is sprayed from these nozzles 7 and 9 toward the preform 1 before heating (see FIGS. 1 and 2A). Thereby, the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 are uniformly heat 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 unit 23a, superheated steam S is sprayed from the nozzles 7 and 9 shown in FIG. 1 toward the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 (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.

<Embodiment 2>
As shown in FIG. 5, in the second embodiment, a flexible tube 8b is provided between the cylindrical nozzle 7 and the conduit 8 on the superheated steam generator 6 side. The cylindrical nozzle 7 can reciprocate in a vertical direction by driving means such as a guide means (not shown) and a piston Linder device (not shown) arranged in the vertical direction.

  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 preform 1 can be transported by holding the support ring 5 by a clamper (not shown).

  When the conveying method is an intermittent conveying method, the cylindrical nozzle 7 is lowered into the preform 1 to the vicinity of the bottom thereof by the driving means each time the preform 1 is temporarily stopped immediately below the opening 7a of the cylindrical nozzle 7. . At that time, the flexible tube 8b is appropriately bent so as not to hinder the movement of the cylindrical nozzle 7. The cylindrical nozzle 7 injects superheated steam from the opening 7 a while descending the preform 1.

  As a result, the superheated steam S comes into uniform contact with the entire inner surface of the preform 1, and general bacteria, molds, and yeasts adhering to the inner surface of the preform 1 are more accurately and rapidly sterilized.

  When the transport system is a continuous transport system in which the preform 1 is continuously traveled, a large number of cylindrical nozzles 7 and the flexible pipe 8b are arranged so as to be capable of swiveling in synchronization with the travel of the preform 1. A rotary joint (not shown) is provided between the superheated steam generator 6 and the conduit 8 in order to smoothly supply superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 6 to each cylindrical nozzle 7.

  Further, sterilization of general bacteria, molds, and yeasts adhering to the outer surface of the preform 1 is performed by superheated steam S ejected from the slit 9a of the slit nozzle 9.

<Embodiment 3>
As shown in FIG. 6, in the third embodiment, the cylindrical nozzle 7 is formed to a length that can reach the vicinity of the bottom of the preform 1.

  The preform 1 is conveyed in one direction immediately below the opening 7a in the cylindrical nozzle 7 in an upright state with the mouth portion 1a facing up.

  The preform 1 can be transported by holding the support ring 5 by a clamper (not shown). This clamper can be reciprocated in the vertical direction by a driving means such as a piston cylinder device (not shown).

  When the preform 1 is transported intermittently, each time the preform 1 is temporarily stopped immediately below the opening 7a of the cylindrical nozzle 7, the clamper moves up while holding the preform 1 by the driving means. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical nozzle 7 is inserted into the preform 1 so that the opening 7 a reaches the vicinity of the bottom of the preform 1. The cylindrical nozzle 7 injects superheated steam from the opening 7a while descending relatively in the preform 1.

  As a result, the superheated steam S comes into uniform contact with the entire inner surface of the preform 1, and general bacteria, molds, and yeasts adhering to the inner surface of the preform 1 are more accurately and rapidly sterilized.

  When the transport method is a continuous transport method in which the preform 1 is continuously traveled, a large number of cylindrical nozzles 7 are arranged so as to be capable of swiveling in synchronization with the travel of the preform 1. A rotary joint (not shown) is provided between the superheated steam generator 6 and the conduit 8 in order to smoothly supply superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 6 to each cylindrical nozzle 7.

  Further, sterilization of general bacteria, molds, and yeasts adhering to the outer surface of the preform 1 is performed by superheated steam S ejected from the slit 9a of the slit nozzle 9.

  500 mL (milliliter) PET bottle preform and 2LPET of superheated steam with a flow rate of 0.7 g / second, generated by heating water using a dielectric heating superheated steam generator, from a nozzle with an inner diameter of 8 mmφ at a blowing temperature of 300 ° C. It sprayed for 5 second toward each inner surface of the preform for bottles.

  The sterilizing effect by the injection of superheated steam was confirmed by the indicator bacteria inoculated on the inner surface as shown in Table 1, and was found to be a sterilizing effect suitable for filling mineral water or the like.

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.

  Moreover, although the deformation amount of the inner diameter of the mouth portion of the preform was measured, as shown in Table 2, there was no problem in maintaining the sealing performance by the cap.

  For superheated steam generated by heating water using a superheated steam generator using a dielectric heating method, for a 500 mL PET bottle from various nozzle temperatures of 180 ° C to 550 ° C and from a nozzle with an inner diameter of 8 mmφ. It sprayed for various time of 10 seconds-3 seconds toward the inner surface of the preform.

  Table 3 shows the sterilization effect and deformation of the preform inner diameter due to the injection of superheated steam.

However, in Table 3, regarding the bactericidal effect, the case where the D value for Bacillus subtilis is 3 or more and the D value for Aspergillus niger is 6 or more is “◯” (possible); 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).

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 (8)

  A preform sterilization method comprising spraying superheated steam having a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C to 500 ° C made of water on at least an inner surface of all surfaces including a mouth portion of the preform.   2. The preform sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the superheated steam is generated by dielectrically heating water.   The preform sterilization method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein sterilization of the inner surface of the preform is performed by blowing superheated steam into a preform from a nozzle opposed to the mouth of the preform. The preform sterilization method is characterized in that the flow rate is set so as not to deform the mouth.   4. The preform sterilization method according to claim 3, wherein superheated steam is blown into the preform from the nozzle while the nozzle is relatively inserted into the preform.   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 of filling a molded container with the content and sealing with a lid, the sterilization of the preform is performed at least on the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth of the preform from an atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C to 500 ° C. A method for filling contents, which is performed by blowing superheated steam at a high pressure.   6. The content filling method according to claim 5, wherein superheated steam is blown into the preform from the nozzle while the nozzle is relatively inserted into the preform.   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 to be sealed is provided along the conveyance path, the sterilizing means is a superheater having a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C to 500 ° C by dielectric heating of water passing through the coiled conductive tube. A superheated steam generating section for forming a steam, and a nozzle for spraying the superheated steam on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth portion of the preform, That the contents of a filling device.   8. The content filling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the nozzle and the preform can be relatively moved so that superheated steam is blown into the preform while the nozzle is relatively inserted into the preform. A content filling device characterized by that.

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