JP2014055026A - Method and apparatus for sterilization of inside of chamber for aseptic filling - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove residual hydrogen peroxide efficiently from a chamber for aseptic filling.SOLUTION: In a method of sterilizing the inside of a chamber for aseptic filling which comprises sterilizing the inside of a chamber for aseptic filling by injecting at least hydrogen peroxide solution into the chamber for aseptic filling, after the injection of hydrogen peroxide solution into the chamber for aseptic filling, aseptic heating air is blown into the chamber for aseptic filling to dry a residual hydrogen peroxide solution, and then aseptic non-heating air is blown into the chamber for aseptic filling to ventilate the inside of the chamber for aseptic filling.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sterilizing the inside of a sterile filling chamber prior to filling a beverage or the like into a container such as a PET bottle.

  When aseptically filling tea drinks, milk coffee, mineral water, etc. into bottles, it is necessary to sterilize the inside of the chamber in which the filler is stored prior to this filling.

  Conventionally, as a method for sterilizing the inside of a chamber, an attempt has been made to sequentially perform peracetic acid spraying, sterile water spraying, heating air blowing, hydrogen peroxide spraying, and heating air blowing in the chamber ( For example, see Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 2 also proposes sterilization in a chamber by a process of rinsing with hot water spraying, heated peracetic acid-based disinfectant spraying, and heated aseptic water spraying (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Furthermore, there is a chamber sterilization method that is dried after spraying with a low-concentration sterilization solution (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent No. 3315918 JP 2010-189034 A JP 2011-147673 A

  In a device in which a sterile beverage is filled in a sterile container in a sterile atmosphere and sealed with a sterilized cap, the chamber can be reliably sterilized to ensure a sterile atmosphere in the chamber of the device before production begins. In addition, a sterilization method that can be sterilized quickly to obtain high production efficiency must be established.

  However, in the aseptic filling chamber sterilization method described in Patent Document 1, after spraying hydrogen peroxide solution into the aseptic filling chamber, heated air is blown to dry the hydrogen peroxide solution remaining in the chamber. There is a problem that hydrogen peroxide may remain slightly. In addition, this method is simple and surely sterilized, but immediately after the remaining hydrogen peroxide solution is dried, the aseptic filling chamber is in a high temperature state. There is a problem that filling cannot be started.

  Further, the method described in Patent Document 2 consumes a lot of energy and cannot be said to be sufficiently sterilized. The method described in Patent Document 3 is relatively simple but has an insufficient sterilizing effect.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a sterilization method and apparatus in an aseptic filling chamber capable of solving such problems and obtaining reliable sterilization and high production efficiency.

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

  In addition, although the code | symbol of drawing is attached | subjected with a parenthesis in order to make this invention easy to understand, this invention is not limited to this.

  That is, the invention according to claim 1 is the sterilization method in the aseptic filling chamber in which the inside of the aseptic filling chamber is sterilized by injecting at least hydrogen peroxide solution into the aseptic filling chamber (11). After the hydrogen peroxide solution is injected into the aseptic filling chamber (11), aseptic heating air is blown to dry the residual hydrogen peroxide solution, and then the aseptic filling air is blown into the aseptic filling chamber. (11) Adopt the sterilization method in the aseptic filling chamber that ventilates inside.

  The sterilization method in the aseptic filling chamber according to claim 1, wherein the aseptic filling is performed simultaneously with the ventilation in the aseptic filling chamber (11) by blowing the sterile unheated air. It is also possible to cool the inside of the filling chamber (11).

  The invention according to claim 3 is the sterilization apparatus in the aseptic filling chamber provided with the nozzle (25) for injecting at least the hydrogen peroxide solution into the aseptic filling chamber (11), wherein the aseptic filling chamber (11). The air nozzle (26) for drying the residual hydrogen peroxide solution in the aseptic filling chamber (11) by blowing in aseptic heating air after the hydrogen peroxide solution is jetted from the nozzle (25) The sterilization apparatus in the provided aseptic filling chamber is adopted.

  As described in claim 4, in the sterilization apparatus in the aseptic filling chamber according to claim 3, the air nozzle (26) can switch between blowing of sterile heated air and blowing of sterile unheated air. It is also possible to switch to the non-heated air blowing after the drying of the residual hydrogen peroxide solution in the aseptic filling chamber (11) is completed by blowing the heated air.

  According to the present invention, in the sterilization method in the aseptic filling chamber for sterilizing the inside of the aseptic filling chamber by injecting at least hydrogen peroxide solution into the aseptic filling chamber (11), the aseptic filling chamber (11) After the hydrogen peroxide solution is sprayed into the inside, aseptic heated air is blown to dry the residual hydrogen peroxide solution, and then the sterile unheated air is blown into the aseptic filling chamber (11). Therefore, hydrogen peroxide can be completely removed from the inside of the aseptic filling chamber (11). Therefore, when a beverage such as mineral water is aseptically filled into a container such as a bottle, it is possible to completely prevent hydrogen peroxide from being mixed into the container.

  Moreover, in order to achieve chamber cooling in a short time by blowing non-heated air, the waiting time until the beverage production starts can be shortened. Of course, it is also possible to sterilize the chamber more reliably by blowing in heated air containing hydrogen peroxide spray.

It is a schematic plan view of an aseptic filling apparatus. It is a schematic elevation view of an aseptic filling device. It is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of a filler. It is a flowchart which shows the sterilization method in the chamber for aseptic filling.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a filling device such as a beverage has a conveyance path for conveying bottles 1 that are sterilized containers in one row in one direction.

  This conveyance path is formed as a row of various wheels. That is, the various wheels are arranged in series, and from the upstream side to the downstream side as viewed in the conveyance direction of the bottle 1, the introduction wheel 2, the intermediate wheels 3, 4, 5, the filler wheel 6, the capper wheel 7, the intermediate wheel 8, The discharge wheels 9 are arranged in this order. These wheels 1 to 9 are driven so as to rotate at substantially the same peripheral speed.

  Around the wheels 1 to 9, as shown in FIG. 3, bowl-shaped grippers 10 that clamp and unclamp the neck of the bottle 1 are arranged at a predetermined pitch. The gripper 10 can turn around the central axes of the wheels 1 to 9 together with the wheels 1 to 9.

  Since the gripper 10 has a known structure, it will not be described in detail. However, the bottle 1 is opened and closed by the action of a cam or the like at an adjacent position between the wheels, so that the bottle 1 is moved from the gripper 10 of the upstream wheel to the gripper 10 of the downstream wheel. Is to be handed over. Thereby, the bottle 1 continuously runs in a row from the introduction wheel 2 to the discharge wheel 9 through the filler wheel 6, the capper wheel 7, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the various wheels 1 to 9 are accommodated in the aseptic filling chamber 11.

  Among these wheels, the filler wheel 6 is accommodated in the aseptic filling chamber 11 together with the filler 12 as shown in FIG.

  If the filler 12 is demonstrated using FIG. 3, it has the said filler wheel 6 attached horizontally to the vertical axis | shaft 14 installed on the base 13, and has the said gripper 10 around this filler wheel 6. FIG.

  Around the filler wheel 6, a plurality of pipe-like nozzles 15 for filling the bottle 1 with beverages or the like corresponding to each gripper 10 are provided. Each nozzle 15 is arranged vertically so that the mouth of the lower end of the nozzle 15 faces the mouth of the bottle 1 held by the gripper 10. The nozzle 15 may be fixed with respect to the filler wheel 6, but may be capable of reciprocating in the vertical direction. If reciprocation is possible in the vertical direction, a beverage or the like can be supplied into the bottle 1 by inserting the nozzle 15 into the bottle 1.

  Beverages and the like are themselves sterilized and then stored in a storage tank (not shown), and from there through the pipe to the nozzle 15, the beverage supplied from the tank is distributed to the nozzle 15 that swivels. For this purpose, the vertical shaft 14 is provided with an upper rotary joint 16 and an upper manifold 17. Beverages and the like in the storage tank enter the empty chamber of the vertical shaft 14 and are discharged from the nozzle 15 into the bottle 1 through the upper rotary joint 16 and the upper manifold 17.

  Although not shown, the nozzle 15 is provided with a valve for supplying a desired amount of beverage or the like into the bottle 1.

  The filler 12 is provided with a cup-shaped opening / closing body 18 for opening and closing the lower end of the nozzle 15 as a constituent of a CIP (cleaning in place) device and a SIP (sterilization in place) device. The opening / closing body 18 is disposed around the filler wheel 6 so as to correspond to the grippers 10 and the nozzles 15.

  The opening / closing body 18 can be moved in the radial direction and the vertical direction of the filler wheel 6 by a cam device, an air cylinder device or the like (not shown). When retreating and blocking the nozzle 15, the nozzle 15 moves to the outside in the radial direction directly below the nozzle 15, and then rises to close the mouth of the nozzle 15.

  The filler 12 includes a lower manifold 19, a lower rotary joint 20, a cleaning liquid tank (not shown), and a pump (not shown) in addition to the opening / closing body 18 as a constituent of the CIP device. . The lower rotary joint 20 is attached to the vertical shaft 14. The lower manifold 19 is fixed to the base 13 side. The opening / closing body 18, the upper manifold 17, the lower manifold 19, and the like are connected by a pipeline shown by a broken line and other pipelines (not shown).

  When it is necessary to clean the inside of the filler 12 by the CIP device prior to the filling operation of the beverage or the like with the filler 12, all of the nozzles 15 are first shielded by the opening / closing body 18. Thereafter, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank circulates in the pipe formed in a loop shape such as the vertical shaft 14, the upper rotary joint 16, the upper manifold 17, the nozzle 15, the lower manifold 19, and the lower rotary joint 20 by starting the pump. Meanwhile, the inside of the filler 12 is washed. Thereby, the inside of all piping including the nozzle 15 of the filler 12 is CIP processed.

  In addition, the filler 12 includes the opening / closing body 18, the lower manifold 19, and the lower rotary joint 20 as constituting the SIP device. The opening / closing body 18, the upper manifold 17, the lower manifold 19, and the like are connected by a pipeline indicated by a broken line.

  When it is necessary to sterilize the inside of the filler 12 by the SIP device, after the cleaning of the inside of the filler 12 by the CIP device is finished, when all of the nozzles 15 are shielded by the opening / closing body 18, about 130 ° C. or more High-temperature water vapor is supplied into the filler 12. In addition to the pipe line indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3, this water vapor passes through the filler 12 while passing through the vertical shaft 14, the upper rotary joint 16, the upper manifold 17, the nozzle 15, the lower manifold 19, the lower rotary joint 20, and the like. Heat. Thereby, the inside of all piping including the nozzle 15 of the filler 12 is SIP-processed.

  A capper 21 for screwing a cap into the mouth of the bottle 1 filled with a beverage or the like is provided around the capper wheel 7 shown in FIG. The capper 21 is adapted to screw a cap that has been sterilized into the mouth of the bottle 1 while rotating with the capper wheel 7. Since the capper 21 has a well-known structure, detailed description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the aseptic filling chamber 11 is provided with an in-chamber sterilization apparatus.

  Specifically, a first nozzle 22 for injecting an alkaline cleaning liquid into the aseptic filling chamber 11, a second nozzle 23 for injecting aseptic water into the aseptic filling chamber 11, and peracetic acid in the aseptic filling chamber 11 A third nozzle 24 for injecting into the aseptic filling chamber 11, a fourth nozzle 25 for injecting hydrogen peroxide into the aseptic filling chamber 11, and a fifth nozzle 26 for injecting heated air into the aseptic filling chamber 11. It is arranged along the inner wall surface of the working chamber 11.

  A sprinkler head (not shown) is preferably attached to the first to fourth nozzles 22, 23, 24, 25. As a result, a chemical such as an alkaline cleaning solution or hydrogen peroxide solution is sprayed into the aseptic filling chamber 11 in a shower, and the chemical is evenly poured into the aseptic filling chamber 11. Of course, it may be sprayed under pressure on the cleaning agent or chemical liquid, or the liquid may be mixed with compressed air and sprayed as a mist, or the chemical mist such as hydrogen peroxide solution is further heated and vaporized. Alternatively, the vaporized material may be cooled to form a fine mist and sprayed.

  The fifth nozzle 26 is an air nozzle, and the heated air discharged from the air nozzle is obtained by filtering outside air through a filter (not shown) and sterilizing it. The air nozzle can switch between discharge of sterile heated air and discharge of sterile unheated air.

  Further, an exhaust blower 27 that exhausts air from the aseptic filling chamber 11 when the fifth nozzle 26 is switched to discharge of aseptic unheated air is attached to the aseptic filling chamber 11. The exhaust blower 27 discharges the air containing hydrogen peroxide in the aseptic filling chamber 11 to the outside of the aseptic filling chamber 11. A filter 28 for removing hydrogen peroxide is provided on the downstream side of the exhaust blower 27 as necessary.

  In the case where the sterilization treatment in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is performed prior to the filling operation of the beverage or the like with the filler 12, the alkaline cleaning liquid is jetted from the first nozzle 22, the sterile water is jetted from the second nozzle 23, the second The injection of peracetic acid from the third nozzle 24, the injection of sterile water from the second nozzle 23, the injection of hydrogen peroxide water from the fourth nozzle 25, and the blowing of heated air from the fifth nozzle 26 are sequentially performed. Done. Each jetting and blowing time is arbitrary, but blowing the heated air requires at least a time until the hydrogen peroxide solution is dried.

  The hydrogen peroxide solution is injected from at least the fourth nozzle 25 into the aseptic filling chamber 11 in synchronism with the SIP for the filler 12. At the time of SIP, the heat of water vapor supplied to the filler 12 diffuses to the inner wall, equipment, atmosphere, etc. in the aseptic filling chamber 11, and this heat enhances the sterilizing action in the aseptic filling chamber 11 by hydrogen peroxide. It will be. Furthermore, the usage amount of chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide is reduced.

  Further, the fifth nozzle 26 is switched to discharge of aseptic unheated air, and the exhaust blower 27 is activated, whereby the inside of the aseptic filling chamber 11 is ventilated. By discharging aseptic heated air from the fifth nozzle 26, residual hydrogen peroxide in the aseptic filling chamber 11 should be dried and removed, but a trace amount of hydrogen peroxide may still remain. . Aseptic unheated air is discharged from the fifth nozzle 26, this trace amount of hydrogen peroxide is almost completely discharged out of the aseptic filling chamber 11 together with the air. In addition, aseptic non-heated air also acts as cooling air, whereby the inside of the aseptic filling chamber 11 is quickly cooled to room temperature.

  Next, the sterilization method in the aseptic filling chamber 11 will be described together with the operation of the filling device such as the beverage.

  (1) When a predetermined beverage filling operation is started, the inside of the filler 12 is washed by the CIP device prior to the beverage filling operation by the filler 12.

  First, as shown in the right half of FIG. 3, all of the nozzles 15 are shielded by the opening / closing body 18. After that, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank is supplied into the pipe formed in a loop shape such as the vertical shaft 14, the upper rotary joint 16, the upper manifold 17, the nozzle 15, the lower manifold 19, and the lower rotary joint 20 by starting the pump. The

  Thereby, the inside of all piping including the nozzle 15 of the filler 12 is CIP-processed (S1 of FIG. 4).

  (2) When CIP is completed, high-temperature steam of about 130 ° C. or higher is supplied into the conduit of the filler 12 while all the nozzles 15 are shielded by the opening / closing body 18.

  In addition to the pipe line indicated by the broken line in FIG. 3, this water vapor passes through the filler 12 while passing through the vertical shaft 14, the upper rotary joint 16, the upper manifold 17, the nozzle 15, the lower manifold 19, the lower rotary joint 20, and the like. Heat. The used water vapor is discharged out of the aseptic filling chamber 11 through the lower rotary joint 20, as shown in FIG.

  Thereby, the inside of all piping including the nozzle 15 of the filler 12 is SIP-processed (S2 of FIG. 4).

  During the SIP process for the filler 12, the heat of water vapor is transferred to each part and atmosphere in the aseptic filling chamber 11 to heat them.

  (3) On the other hand, the alkaline cleaning liquid is jetted from the first nozzle 22 shown in FIG. 2, and this is showered and sprayed on the wall surface, the filler 12, the capper 21 and the like in the aseptic filling chamber 11 (FIG. 4). S3).

  The alkaline cleaning liquid may be an alkaline inorganic material such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, a basic organic material such as ethanolamines, or a mixture of these inorganic or organic materials and a surfactant.

  Thereby, each part in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is cleaned.

  (4) Sterile water is jetted from the second nozzle 23 shown in FIG. 2 and is sprayed on each part such as the wall surface, filler 12 and capper 21 in the aseptic filling chamber 11 (S4 in FIG. 4). .

  Thereby, the alkaline cleaning liquid remaining on the surface of each part in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is washed away and removed.

  Sterile water is water that has been sterilized by heating, filtration, or the like. The heating is performed at a temperature of 100 ° C. to 135 ° C. for a predetermined time, for example.

  (5) Peracetic acid is jetted from the third nozzle 24 shown in FIG. 2 and is sprayed on each part such as the wall surface in the aseptic filling chamber 11, the filler 12, the capper 21 (S 5 in FIG. 4). .

  Peracetic acid refers to an aqueous solution containing 0.1% to 10% by weight of peracetic acid, 0.1% to 10% by weight of hydrogen peroxide, and the like.

  By the injection of peracetic acid, the surface of each part in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is sterilized with peracetic acid.

  (6) Sterile water is jetted from the second nozzle 23 shown in FIG. 2 and is sprayed onto each part such as the wall surface, the filler 12 and the capper 21 in the aseptic filling chamber 11 (S6 in FIG. 4). .

  Thereby, the peracetic acid remaining on the surface of each part in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is washed away and removed.

  (7) Hydrogen peroxide water is jetted from the fourth nozzle 25 shown in FIG. 2, and this is showered and sprayed on the wall surface, the filler 12, the capper 21, etc. in the aseptic filling chamber 11 (see FIG. 4). S7).

  Here, the hydrogen peroxide solution refers to an aqueous solution containing 10 wt% to 60 wt% of hydrogen peroxide.

  The injection of the hydrogen peroxide solution is performed in synchronization with the SIP (S2 in FIG. 4) for the filler 12 in (2). That is, during the SIP treatment for the filler 12, the heat of water vapor is transferred to each part and atmosphere in the aseptic filling chamber 11, and this heat is utilized for sterilization with hydrogen peroxide.

  Thereby, the surface of each part in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is effectively sterilized by the heat of hydrogen peroxide and water vapor.

  (8) Aseptic heating air is discharged from the fifth nozzle 26 shown in FIG. 2, and this heating air is blown to the wall surface, the filler 12, the capper 21 and the like in the aseptic filling chamber 11 (S8 in FIG. 4). .

  The heated air is desirably set in a temperature range of 80 ° C. to 150 ° C., but is not limited thereto.

  By spraying the heated air, hydrogen peroxide remaining on the surface of each part in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is removed by drying.

  (9) The fifth nozzle 26 is switched to discharge of aseptic unheated air, and the exhaust blower 27 is activated, thereby ventilating the aseptic filling chamber 11 (S9 in FIG. 4).

  Although the residual hydrogen peroxide in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is dried and removed by the sterile heated air discharged from the fifth nozzle 26, a trace amount of hydrogen peroxide may still remain. By the sterile unheated air discharged from the fifth nozzle 26, this small amount of hydrogen peroxide is discharged almost completely out of the sterile filling chamber 11 together with the air in the sterile filling chamber 11.

  Further, the inside of the aseptic filling chamber 11 is quickly cooled to room temperature by this aseptic unheated air.

  Thereby, the sterilization process in the aseptic filling chamber 11 is completed.

  (10) As shown in the left half of FIG. 3, the opening / closing body 18 moves inward in the radial direction of the filler wheel 6 to open the mouth of the nozzle 15.

  (11) The filler wheel 6 rotates together with other various wheels, and filling of the beverage into the bottle 1 is started.

  That is, the nozzle 15 rotates together with the filler wheel 6 while facing the mouth of the bottle 1 and further falls into the bottle 1 as necessary to supply a certain amount of beverage into the bottle 1.

  (12) The bottle 1 filled with the beverage reaches the capper wheel 7, and a cap (not shown) is applied to the mouth by the capper 21 and is stoppered.

  As a result, the bottle 1 is sealed and made into a beverage bottling product and discharged from the discharge wheel 9 to the outside of the aseptic filling chamber 11.

  Although the present invention is configured as described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

11 ... Aseptic filling chamber 25 ... Nozzle 26 ... Air nozzle

Claims (4)

  In the aseptic filling chamber sterilization method in which at least the hydrogen peroxide solution is injected into the aseptic filling chamber to sterilize the inside of the aseptic filling chamber, the hydrogen peroxide solution is injected into the aseptic filling chamber. Thereafter, sterile heated air is blown to dry the residual hydrogen peroxide solution, and then the sterile filling chamber is ventilated by blowing sterile non-heated air. Sterilization method.   2. The method for sterilizing an aseptic filling chamber according to claim 1, wherein the aseptic filling chamber is cooled simultaneously with the ventilation in the aseptic filling chamber by blowing the sterile unheated air. Sterilization method in the aseptic filling chamber.   In the sterilization apparatus in the aseptic filling chamber provided with at least a nozzle for injecting the hydrogen peroxide solution into the aseptic filling chamber, the sterilization is performed after the hydrogen peroxide solution is injected from the nozzle into the aseptic filling chamber. A sterilization apparatus in the aseptic filling chamber is provided with an air nozzle that blows the heated air in order to dry the residual hydrogen peroxide solution in the aseptic filling chamber.   The sterilization apparatus in the aseptic filling chamber according to claim 3, wherein the air nozzle is capable of switching between blowing of sterile heated air and blowing of sterile unheated air, and the aseptic filling is performed by blowing the heated air. A sterilization apparatus in an aseptic filling chamber, wherein after the drying of the residual hydrogen peroxide solution in the operation chamber is finished, switching to the blowing of the non-heated air is performed.

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