JP2015062540A - Method for sterilizing bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for easily and rapidly sterilizing the inside of a bottle without using a chemical agent.SOLUTION: Super heated steam (S) at 200°C to 700°C made from water is blown into a bottle (1) through a nozzle (6), so that the inner surface of the bottle is sterilized. No chemical agent remains inside the bottle. Therefore, the presence of a residual chemical agent in the bottle can be avoided.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing the inner surface of a bottle.

  Conventionally, aseptic filling, in which a bottle of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) is sterilized by blowing a bactericidal agent such as hydrogen peroxide, then the bottle is filled with a beverage and capped to form an aseptic package A method has been proposed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, attempts have been made to sterilize the inside of the bottle with the heat of warm water by putting warm water in the bottle (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent No. 4012653 JP 2012-126436 A

  The conventional method of sterilizing a bottle using a sterilizing agent has a problem that the sterilizing agent remains in the bottle. Moreover, the method of sterilizing a bottle using warm water has a problem that a large amount of sterile warm water must be produced.

  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 sterilizes the bottle inner surface by blowing superheated steam (S) made from water at 200 ° C. to 700 ° C. into the bottle (1) from the nozzle (6). Adopt the method.

  As described in claim 2, in the bottle sterilization method according to claim 1, a nozzle (6) in which superheated steam (S) of 200 ° C to 700 ° C made from water is inserted into the bottle (1). ) To the inner surface of the bottle, the inner surface of the bottle may be sterilized.

  As described in claim 3, in the bottle sterilization method according to claim 2, superheated steam (S) is generated while relatively moving the nozzle (6) and the bottle (1) in the axial direction of the bottle (1). You may make it spray toward the bottle inner surface.

  As described in claim 4, in the bottle sterilization method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the superheated steam (S) can be generated by dielectrically heating water.

  According to the present invention, the inner surface of the bottle is sterilized by blowing superheated steam (S) made from water at a temperature of 200 ° C. to 700 ° C. into the bottle (1) from the nozzle (6). The inner surface of the bottle (1) can be quickly and appropriately heat sterilized without causing deformation or the like. Since there is no need to make a large amount of sterile water as in the past and to heat it, there is no problem of consuming a great deal of energy. 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 bottle (1) becomes unnecessary, and it can improve the manufacturing speed of a bottled drink that much. Since the temperature of the superheated steam (S) is, for example, 200 ° C. to 700 ° C., it is possible to sterilize the inner surface of the bottle in a short time without causing deformation of the bottle by quickly spraying the superheated steam on the bottle. In addition, since it is not necessary to drop or drain the drain from the inside of the bottle, the bottle can be sterilized even in an upright state with its mouth (1a) facing upward. Moreover, it can convey simply from a sterilization process to the filling process of the contents, such as a drink, conveying in an erect state after a sterilization process.

  In addition, by adopting a dielectric heating method as a means for generating superheated steam, energy efficiency is better than heating by a normal heater, and sterilization efficiency is improved.

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway front view of a bottle that can be sterilized according to the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the sterilization method of the bottle which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the other form of the sterilization method of the bottle which concerns on this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the further another form of the sterilization method of the bottle which concerns on this invention.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below.

  According to the present invention, for example, the bottle 1 shown in FIG. 1 can be sterilized. This bottle 1 is made by blow-molding a preform made of PET (not shown), and is provided with a mouth portion 2 for taking in and out a beverage as a content at the upper part of the bottle 1. A male screw 3 and a support ring 4 for screwing a cap (not shown) are formed in the mouth portion 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sterilization of the bottle 1 is performed by blowing superheated steam S having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C. to 700 ° C. made from water into the bottle 1 from the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1. Is called.

  The temperature of the superheated steam S blown into the bottle 1 is desirably 200 ° C to 700 ° C, and more desirably 250 ° C to 400 ° C. If it is the temperature range of 200 degreeC-700 degreeC, the microbe adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 can be disinfected in a short time by exposing only the surface of the bottle 1 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 bottle 1 becomes high temperature, and the deformation of the bottle 1 becomes large. Moreover, when it exceeds 700 degreeC, the temperature of PET itself which comprises the bottle 1 will rise even for a short time, and it will become easy to produce a deformation | transformation in the bottle 1. FIG.

  The pressure of the superheated steam S sprayed on the bottle 1 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 S comes into contact with the bottle 1 and the temperature drops, the possibility of condensation is low. If the pressure is higher than 0.3 MPa, the superheated steam S is sprayed on the bottle 1. There is a possibility of dew condensation on the surface of the bottle 1 when it is discharged.

  The sterilization of the bottle 1 is essential for the inner surface of the bottle 1, but can be performed by heating for blow-molding the bottle 1 for the outer surface.

  The superheated steam S can be obtained by using a commercially available superheated steam generator 5. 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 700 ° 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. 2, the code | symbol 6 shows a cylindrical nozzle. This cylindrical nozzle 6 is attached so as to hang down from the tip of a conduit 7 connected to the end of the water flow pipe of the superheated steam generator 5, and its opening 6a is directed vertically downward.

  The bottle 1 is conveyed in one direction immediately below the circular opening 6a in the cylindrical nozzle 6 in an upright state with the mouth portion 2 facing up. The conveyance method may be a continuous conveyance method in which the bottle 1 is continuously run, or an intermittent conveyance method in which the bottle 1 is temporarily stopped immediately below the opening 6 a of the cylindrical nozzle 6. The bottle 1 can be transported by holding the support ring 4 at its mouth by a gripper (not shown).

  When the bottle 1 is sterilized, the superheated steam S is constantly supplied from the superheated steam generator 5 to the cylindrical nozzle 6, and is ejected from the circular opening 6 a of the cylindrical nozzle 6 into the bottle 1. The nozzle diameter, the angle, the axis of the bottle 1 and the like are arbitrary, and are set in advance so that the jetted superheated steam S contacts the entire inner surface of the bottle 1.

  Thereby, the superheated steam S ejected from the opening 6a of the cylindrical nozzle 6 enters the bottle 1 from the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1, contacts the entire inner surface of the bottle 1, and adheres to the inner surface of the bottle 1, Disinfect molds and yeasts. Moreover, since this sterilization can be achieved by blowing the superheated steam S toward the inside of the bottle 1 for a short time, excessive heating from the inside of the mouth portion 2 of the bottle 1 is prevented. The deformation of 2 is reliably avoided.

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

  After the sterilization treatment, the bottle 1 is filled with contents such as an acidic beverage such as mineral water and juice from the mouth portion 2 and sealed with a cap or the like (not shown).

<Embodiment 2>
As shown in FIG. 3, in the second embodiment, a flexible tube 8 is provided between the cylindrical nozzle 6 and the conduit 7 on the superheated steam generator 5 side. The cylindrical nozzle 6 can be reciprocated in the vertical direction by driving means such as guide means (not shown) arranged in the vertical direction and a piston cylinder device.

  The bottle 1 is conveyed in one direction immediately below the circular opening 6a in the cylindrical nozzle 6 in an upright state with the mouth portion 2 facing up. The bottle 1 can be transported by holding the support ring 4 by a gripper (not shown).

  When the conveyance method is an intermittent conveyance method, each time the bottle 1 is temporarily stopped just below the opening 6a of the cylindrical nozzle 6, the cylindrical nozzle 6 is lowered into the bottle 1 to the vicinity of the bottom thereof by the driving means. At that time, the flexible tube 8 is appropriately bent so as not to hinder the movement of the cylindrical nozzle 6. The cylindrical nozzle 6 injects the superheated steam S from the opening 6 a while descending the bottle 1.

  As a result, the superheated steam S comes into uniform contact with the entire inner surface of the bottle 1, and molds and yeasts adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 are more accurately and rapidly sterilized. Moreover, since the superheated steam S can be efficiently injected onto the inner surface of the bottle by moving the cylindrical nozzle 6 up and down, the amount of steam used can be reduced.

  In addition, when a conveyance system is the continuous conveyance system which makes the bottle 1 run continuously, many cylindrical nozzles 6 and the flexible pipe | tube 8 are arrange | positioned so that a turning motion is possible synchronizing with the driving | running | working of the bottle 1. FIG. Further, a rotary joint (not shown) is provided between the superheated steam generator 5 and the conduit 7 in order to smoothly supply superheated steam from the superheated steam generator 5 to each cylindrical nozzle 6.

<Embodiment 3>
As shown in FIG. 4, in the third embodiment, the cylindrical nozzle 6 is formed to a length that can reach the vicinity of the bottom of the bottle 1.

  The bottle 1 is conveyed in one direction just below the opening 6a in the cylindrical nozzle 6 in an upright state with the mouth portion 2 facing up.

  The bottle 1 can be transported by holding the support ring 4 by a gripper (not shown). The gripper can be reciprocated in the vertical direction by driving means such as a piston cylinder device (not shown).

  When the bottle 1 is transported intermittently, each time the bottle 1 temporarily stops just below the opening 6a of the cylindrical nozzle 6, the gripper rises while holding the bottle 1 by the driving means, as shown in FIG. The cylindrical nozzle 6 is caused to enter the bottle 1 so that the opening 6 a reaches the vicinity of the bottom of the bottle 1. The cylindrical nozzle 6 injects the superheated steam S from the opening 6a while descending relatively in the bottle 1.

  As a result, the superheated steam S comes into uniform contact with the entire inner surface of the bottle 1, and molds and yeasts adhering to the inner surface of the bottle 1 are more accurately and rapidly sterilized. Moreover, since the superheated steam S can be efficiently injected onto the inner surface of the bottle by moving the cylindrical nozzle 6 up and down, the amount of steam used can be reduced.

  In addition, when a conveyance system is the continuous conveyance system which makes the bottle 1 run continuously, many cylindrical nozzles 6 are arrange | positioned synchronously with the driving | running | working of the bottle 1 so that turning motion is possible. In addition, a rotary joint (not shown) is provided between the superheated steam generator 5 and the conduit 7 in order to smoothly supply the superheated steam S from the superheated steam generator 5 to each cylindrical nozzle 6.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bottle 2 ... Mouth part 6 ... Cylindrical nozzle S ... Superheated steam

Claims (4)

  A bottle sterilization method comprising sterilizing an inner surface of a bottle by blowing superheated steam of 200 ° C to 700 ° C made from water into a bottle from a nozzle.   2. The bottle sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein 200 ° C. to 700 ° C. superheated steam made from water is sprayed from a nozzle inserted into the bottle toward the bottle inner surface to sterilize the bottle inner surface. The bottle sterilization method.   The bottle sterilization method according to claim 2, wherein superheated steam is blown toward the inner surface of the bottle while the nozzle and the bottle are relatively moved in the axial direction of the bottle.   4. The bottle sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the superheated steam is generated by dielectrically heating water.

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