JP2016064854A - Aseptic bag filling method and device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To manufacture an aseptic bag filling product with a good efficiency.SOLUTION: Many bags (1), to which a spout member (2) is attached and which are placed in a non-sealed state, are loaded onto a cassette rack (6) in the state of being separated from one another, the cassette rack is put into a sterilization chamber (7), inner and outer surfaces of the bag are sterilized together with the cassette rack by a gas of hydrogen peroxide introduced into the sterilization chamber, the cassette rack is introduced into an aseptic packaging chamber (8), a content is charged in to the bag while taking the bag out from the cassette rack and transporting in the aseptic packaging chamber, and thereafter, the bag is tightly sealed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a sterile bagging method and apparatus.

  Since the bag is excellent in recloseability, portability, volume reduction after use, etc., it is suitable for aseptic packaging of liquid beverages, jelly-like beverages, liquid foods and the like.

  Conventionally, manufacture of aseptic bag-packed products such as beverages has been performed by the procedure described in Patent Document 1, for example.

  First, the bag is made by heat-sealing a sheet made of synthetic resin or the like. A part of the bag is an unsealed portion so as to be a filling port for the contents. A large number of bags that have been made are collected and packed into the exterior body, and sealed. Then, the entire exterior body is irradiated with γ rays, and the entire exterior body including the inner and outer surfaces of the bag is sterilized.

  Thereafter, the exterior body is taken into a chamber of an aseptic packaging machine that has been sterilized in advance, the exterior body is opened, the bags are taken out of the exterior body, and the bags are set one by one on the turning arm of the turret. The bag is set from the unsealing of the outer package to the swivel arm by an operator's operation through gloves attached to the chamber.

  The swivel arm can automatically swivel within the chamber. Around the swivel circle, opening means for opening the unsealed portion of the bag, and contents such as beverages in the bag are opened from the opening opened by the opening means. Filling means for filling the bag, sealing means for sealing the unsealed portion of the bag after filling the contents by the filling means, and the like are arranged.

  The bag set on the swivel arm is swung together with the swivel arm, filled with contents, sealed and made into a sterile bag-packed product, and then taken out of the chamber.

JP 2002-68143 A

  Since the conventional aseptic bagging method sterilizes the bag with γ rays, there is a problem that a bad odor is likely to be generated from the bag. It is conceivable to sterilize the bag using ethylene oxide gas (EOG) in addition to γ rays, but in that case, the ethylene oxide gas component tends to remain in the bag, and the sterilization treatment takes a long time. is there.

  Also, in the conventional aseptic bagging method, the operator must open the exterior body manually by using gloves in the chamber, take out the bags one by one from the exterior body, and set them on the swivel arm. There is a problem that the production efficiency of stuffed products is poor.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems.

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

  In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals are given in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to this.

  That is, in the invention according to claim 1, a large number of unsealed bags (1) to which the spout member (2) is attached are loaded into the cassette rack (6) in a state of being separated from each other, and the cassette rack (6 ) In the sterilization chamber (7), the inside of the sterilization chamber (7) is evacuated, hydrogen peroxide gas is introduced into the sterilized chamber (7), and the inside and outside surfaces of the bag (1) are cassette racks. (6) is sterilized, the cassette rack (6) is transferred from the sterilization chamber (7) to the aseptic packaging chamber (8), the bag (1) is taken out from the cassette rack (6), and the aseptic packaging chamber ( 8) An aseptic bagging method in which the bag (1) is sealed after the contents are filled in the bag (1) while being transported in the bag.

  As described in claim 2, in the aseptic bagging method according to claim 1, it is also possible to form irregularities on the inner surface of the bag (1) in advance.

  As described in claim 3, in the aseptic bagging method according to claim 1 or 2, the spout member (2) has a protruding portion (2a) that protrudes into the interior of the bag (1). It is also possible to provide it.

  As described in claim 4, in the aseptic bagging method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, after filling the contents from the spout member (2) into the bag (1), pouring is performed. It is also possible to seal the outlet member (2).

  As described in claim 5, in the aseptic bagging method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the spout member (2) is sealed in advance, and the bag (1) is not sealed. It is also possible to seal the unsealed portion (1e) after filling the contents from the portion (1e) into the bag (1).

  The invention according to claim 6 includes a cassette rack (6) in which a large number of unsealed bags (1) to which the spout member (2) is attached are loaded in a separated state, and a cassette rack ( 6) The cassette rack (6) is introduced from the sterilization chamber (7) containing the sterilization chamber (7) containing the cassette rack (6) together with the cassette rack (6) containing the bag (1). The aseptic packaging chamber (8), the bag (1) from the cassette rack (6) one by one and transported in the aseptic packaging chamber (8), and the contents in the bag (1) being transported An aseptic bagging apparatus including filling means for filling and sealing means for sealing the bag (1) being transported filled with the contents is employed.

  As described in claim 7, in the aseptic bagging apparatus according to claim 6, the filling means is capable of filling the contents into the bag (1) from the spout member (2), and the sealing means is It is also possible for the spout member (2) to be sealable or capping.

  As described in claim 8, in the aseptic bagging apparatus according to claim 6, the filling means expands the unsealed portion (1e) of the bag (1) and then opens the unsealed portion (1e). The bag (1) can be filled with the contents, and the sealing means can seal the unsealed portion (1e).

  According to the present invention, since the bag (1) is sterilized with hydrogen peroxide, unlike the conventional case of sterilizing the bag with γ rays, there is no inconvenience that a bad odor is generated from the bag. Further, unlike the case of sterilizing a bag using ethylene oxide gas, there is no inconvenience that an ethylene oxide gas component remains in the bag or a long time is required for sterilization treatment. Furthermore, a large number of bags (1) to which the spout member (2) is attached are separated and loaded into the cassette rack (6), and the bags (1) together with the cassette rack (6) are placed in the sterilization chamber (7). Since the hydrogen peroxide gas is introduced into the sterilization chamber (7) and further into the cassette rack (6), the hydrogen peroxide gas is expanded by the presence of the spout member (2) (1 ) And the outer surface of the bag (1) loaded in the cassette rack (6) separated from each other, so that the inner and outer surfaces of the bag (1) are quickly and properly sterilized. It is processed. Further, the sterilized bag (1) is transferred together with the cassette rack (6) from the sterilization chamber (7) to the aseptic packaging chamber (8), and the bag (1) is transferred into the transferred cassette rack (6). Since they are separated from each other, it is easy to automate the process of taking the bags (1) one by one from the cassette rack (6) and transporting them in the aseptic packaging chamber (8). Therefore, the manual operation by the conventional operator can be eliminated, and aseptic bagging products can be manufactured efficiently.

It is a figure which shows an example of a bag, (A) is a front view of the bag of the unsealed state before content filling, (B) is a front view of the bag after content filling. It is a schematic plan view of an example of the aseptic bagging apparatus according to the present invention. It is a model front view of the aseptic bagging apparatus shown in FIG. It is a front view of a cassette rack. In FIG. 4, it is a VV arrow directional cross-sectional view. It is a figure which shows the modification of the support rail shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the other modification of the support rail shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 2nd example of a bag, (A) is a front view of the unsealed bag before the contents filling, (B) is a front view of the bag after the contents filling. It is a schematic plan view of the other example of the aseptic bagging apparatus according to the present invention. It is a model front view of the aseptic bagging apparatus shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the 3rd example of a bag, and is a front view of the bag of the unsealed state before the contents filling. It is a figure which shows the 4th example of a bag, and is a front view of the bag of the unsealed state before the contents filling. It is a figure which shows the 5th example of a bag, and is a front view of the bag of the unsealed state before the contents filling. It is a figure which shows the 6th example of a bag, and is a front view of the bag of the unsealed state before the contents filling.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

<Embodiment 1>
As shown in FIG. 1A, an unsealed bag 1 is prepared. The bag 1 has two sheets 3, 3 on the front and back, and the upper side and the left and right sides are closed by an upper horizontal heat seal portion 1a, a left vertical heat seal portion 1b, and a right vertical heat seal portion 1c. Formed by. The lower side is an unsealed portion 1e in order to serve as a filling port when the bag 1 is filled with contents such as beverages later. The unsealed portion 1e can be set to either the left or right side, and the lower side can be closed by the lower horizontal heat seal portion 1d. After the contents are filled in the bag 1, the unsealed portion 1e is sealed by the lower horizontal heat seal portion 1d as shown in FIG.

  As the sheets 3 and 3 constituting the bag 1, those made of a single layer of resin, those in which different types of resin layers are laminated, and those in which a metal layer such as an aluminum foil is laminated together with the resin layer are appropriately used. Unevenness (not shown) is formed on the inner surface of the sheet that is the inner side of the bag 1. Specifically, innumerable fine irregularities are formed on the inner surface of the sheet by embossing, matting or the like. As a result, a gap is formed between the inner surfaces of the two sheets, and a hydrogen peroxide gas described later easily enters the bag 1 from the unsealed portion 1e.

  The spout member 2 is fixed to the upper side of the bag 1 by sandwiching the spout member 2 in advance in the upper horizontal heat seal portion 1a. The spout member 2 is formed in a cylindrical shape by injection molding of a resin such as polypropylene. The inside and outside of the bag 1 can be conducted through the spout member 2, and the contents in the bag 1 can be poured out of the bag 1.

  However, the bag 1 does not necessarily have to be made of two sheets 3 and 3. One sheet may be folded in two, or the tube may be flattened.

  Further, since the spout member 2 is provided in the bag 1, a gap is formed between the inner surfaces of the two sheets 3 and 3, and a hydrogen peroxide gas described later easily enters the bag 1 from the unsealed portion 1e. In order to further facilitate the penetration of the hydrogen peroxide gas into the bag 1, the spout member 2 may be provided with a protruding portion 2 a that protrudes into the bag 1. As the protrusion part 2a, it can be set as the straw for making it easy to suck out the contents out of the bag 1, for example. The presence of the spout member 2 is coupled with the formation of the irregularities on the inner surfaces of the sheets 3 and 3, making it easy to form a gap between the sheets 3 and 3, and hydrogen peroxide gas from the unsealed portion 1e to the bag. Makes it easier to enter into 1. Of course, if the hydrogen peroxide gas enters the entire area of the bag 1 from the unsealed portion 1e only by the presence of the spout member 2, the formation of irregularities on the inner surfaces of the sheets 3 and 3 can be omitted.

  On the outer side of the spout member 2, a heat sealing flange 2b is formed at a location corresponding to the upper horizontal heat sealing portion 1a, and the heat sealing flange 2b is in close contact with the sheets 3 and 3 by heat sealing. A support flange 2c is formed on the spout member 2 above the heat seal flange 2b. As will be described later, when the bag 1 is subjected to various treatments, the bag 1 is held by various devices via the supporting flange 2c.

  In the case of the first embodiment, the opening on the bag outer side of the spout member 2 is sealed in advance with an easy-opening sheet 2d, and a cap 2e that is screwed onto the spout member 2 from above is covered. The spout member 2 according to the first embodiment is a so-called two-piece structure that is assembled after the main body and the cap 2e are made separately, but the opening of the spout member 2 is a thin wall for tearing. It may be a so-called one-piece one (not shown) that is shielded by a sealing piece that is sealed through a portion, and in which the easy-open sheet 2d and the cap 2e are omitted.

  The bag 1 shown in FIG. 1 (A) is processed by the aseptic bagging apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to obtain a sterile bagging product shown in FIG. 1 (B).

  That is, a large number of unsealed bags 1 to which the spout member 2 is attached are loaded into the cassette rack 6 in a state of being separated from each other as shown in FIG. The bag 1 is in an unsealed state by having the unsealed portion 1e.

  Next, a large number of unsealed bags 1 placed in the cassette rack 6 are put together with the cassette rack 6 in the sterilization chamber 7, and the bag 1 including the spout member 2 by the hydrogen peroxide gas in the sterilization chamber 7. The inner and outer surfaces are sterilized.

  After the sterilization treatment, the bag 1 is transferred together with the cassette rack 6 from the sterilization chamber 7 to the aseptic packaging chamber 8, and the bag 1 is taken out from the cassette rack 6 in the aseptic packaging chamber 8. As shown in FIG. 1B, each bag 1 is filled with the contents from the unsealed portion 1e, and the unsealed portion 1e is sealed by the lower horizontal heat seal portion 1d. Aseptic bagging product.

  Next, the aseptic bagging apparatus will be described.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, this aseptic bagging apparatus is loaded in a state where a number of unsealed bags 1 to which the spout member 2 shown in FIG. 1 (A) is attached are separated from each other. Cassette rack 6, sterilization chamber 7 that accommodates cassette rack 6 and sterilizes the inner and outer surfaces of bag 1 together with cassette rack 6 using hydrogen peroxide gas, and sterilization chamber 6 is introduced aseptic rack 7 from the sterilization chamber 7 side. A packaging chamber 8; a conveying means for taking out the bags 1 one by one from the cassette rack 6 in the aseptic packaging chamber 8 and conveying the bags 1 in the aseptic packaging chamber 8; a filling means for filling the contents of the bags 1 being conveyed; Sealing means for sealing the bag 1 being transported filled with the contents.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the cassette rack 6 has a rectangular cylinder-like box body 6 a placed horizontally. The box 6a is configured only by a frame, and the upper, lower, front, rear, and left and right sides of the box 6a are open. A plurality of shelves 9 are arranged in the vertical direction in the box 6a. A plurality of support rails 10 that support the bags 1 are formed on each shelf 9 so as to extend in the front-rear direction of the box 6a. As shown in FIG. 5, each support rail 10 rises from a pair of hanging plates 11 hanging from the shelf 9, a horizontal plate 12 protruding so as to approach each other from the lower end of the hanging plate 11, and an edge of the horizontal plate 12. Plate 13. A groove through which the spout member 2 of the bag 1 is passed is provided between the pair of upright plates 13 and 13. The spout member 2 of the bag 1 is passed through the groove of each support rail 10, and the support flange 2 c is supported by the upper edge of the upright plate 13, whereby the bag 1 is suspended from the support rail 10. Similarly, when the spout member 2 of the other bag 1 is passed through the groove of each support rail 10, as shown in FIG. 4, a large number of bags 1 are separated from each other in the cassette rack 6. It is loaded with.

  Further, on the upper edges of the upright plates 13 on both sides of the groove of the support rail 10, as shown in FIG. 5, a large number of fine contacts that contact the back surface of the support flange 2 c in the spout member 2 of the bag 1 passed through the groove. The protrusion 13a is formed in a sawtooth shape. As a result, the back surface of the support flange 2c comes into point contact with the support rail 10, so that the hydrogen peroxide gas supplied later in the sterilization chamber 7 is likely to adhere to the back surface of the support flange 2c. The sterilizing effect on the back surface of the supporting flange 2c is enhanced.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a large number of holes 11 a and 13 b are formed in the hanging plate 11 and the upright plate 13. Accordingly, the hydrogen peroxide gas easily reaches the surface of the spout member 2 through these holes 11a and 13b, and the sterilizing effect on the surface of the spout member 2 is enhanced.

  The protrusion 13a can also be formed in a sharper pointed shape as shown in FIG. In this case, the hydrogen peroxide gas is more likely to come into contact with the back surface of the supporting flange 2c. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, the protrusion 13a can be formed in a shape with a chamfered tip. In this case, the support flange 2c is easily slid along the support rail 10, so that the bag 1 can be easily attached to the support rail 10.

  Further, the hole 13b provided in the upright plate 13 may be formed in a circular shape as shown in FIG. 6, or may be formed in a slit shape as shown in FIG. Further, although not shown, these holes 13b may be formed in a horizontal plate. The same applies to the holes 11 a provided in the hanging plate 11.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sterilization chamber 7 is connected to one end of an aseptic packaging chamber 8. Shutters 7 a and 7 b that can be opened and closed are provided on a pair of opposing walls of the sterilization chamber 7, and one of the shutters 7 b is provided at the boundary with the aseptic packaging chamber 8.

  The cassette rack 6 is carried into the sterilization chamber 7 by opening one shutter 7a by the carry-in conveyor 15 and confined in the sterilization chamber 7 by closing both shutters 7a and 7b. Then, the cassette rack 6 and the bag 1 loaded in the cassette rack 6 are sterilized.

  Sterilization of the bag 1 and the like in the sterilization chamber 7 is performed as follows.

  First, after the inside of the sterilization chamber 7 is evacuated, hydrogen peroxide gas is introduced into the vacuum. The inside of the sterilization chamber 7 is preferably heated in advance to enhance the sterilization effect. The hydrogen peroxide gas fills the sterilization chamber 7 and contacts the inner and outer surfaces of the cassette rack 6, the shelf 9, the support rail 10 and the like to sterilize the entire cassette rack 6. The hydrogen peroxide gas simultaneously contacts the surface of the spout member 2 of the bag 1 supported in the cassette rack 6 to sterilize the surface, and contacts the outer surface of the bag 1 to sterilize the outer surface. Furthermore, it penetrates between the sheet | seats 3 and 3 of the bag 1 from the unsealed part 1e, and the inner surface of the bag 1, the inner surface of the spout member 2, and the protrusion part 2a are sterilized.

  After a predetermined time has elapsed, aseptic air is introduced into the sterilization chamber 7, the inside of the sterilization chamber 7 is returned to atmospheric pressure.

  And the inside of the sterilization chamber 7 is evacuated again, and the air in the sterilization chamber 7 is discharged together with hydrogen peroxide.

  Thereafter, aseptic air is again introduced into the sterilization chamber 7, and the inside of the sterilization chamber 7 is returned to atmospheric pressure.

  By performing the aeration process as described above once or a plurality of times, hydrogen peroxide gas adhering to the inside of the sterilization chamber 7 and the bag 1 is discharged out of the sterilization chamber 7. Then, the entire cassette rack 6 and the entire bag 1 in the sterilization chamber 7 are sterilized.

  In addition, since a commercial item can be utilized as the sterilization chamber 7, the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  When the sterilization process in the sterilization chamber 7 is completed, the shutter 7b on the sterilization packaging chamber 8 side is opened, and the cassette rack 6 is transferred into the sterilization packaging chamber 8 with the bag 1 supported. This transfer operation is performed by a carry-out conveyor 14 installed in the sterilization chamber 7.

  The aseptic packaging chamber 8 has a volume capable of accommodating the cassette rack 6, the means for transporting the bag 1, the means for filling the contents into the bag 1, the means for sealing the bag 1, and the like. In the aseptic packaging chamber 8, although not shown, a disinfectant spray nozzle for spraying a disinfectant such as hydrogen peroxide, an aseptic air discharge nozzle for discharging aseptic air, and the like are arranged. Prior to aseptic filling in the aseptic packaging chamber 8, hydrogen peroxide or the like is sprayed from the sterilizing agent spray nozzle to sterilize the inside of the aseptic packaging chamber 8, and aseptic air is discharged from the aseptic air discharge nozzle after the sterilizing treatment. By doing so, the inside of the aseptic packaging chamber 8 is maintained at a positive pressure, and the entry of microorganisms and the like from the outside is prevented.

  A transport conveyor 16 is disposed at a location adjacent to the shutter 7 b of the sterilization chamber 7 in the aseptic packaging chamber 8. The transfer conveyor 16 extends in a direction intersecting with the carry-out conveyor 14, and the cassette rack 6 carried into the aseptic packaging chamber 8 by the carry-out conveyor 14 can be transferred between three positions of both ends and the center of the transfer conveyor 16. .

  In the approximate center in the aseptic packaging chamber 8, a conveying means for the bag 1 is arranged. This transport means includes a turret 17 that swivels in the approximate center of the aseptic packaging chamber 8, a robot 18 that takes out the bags 1 one by one from the cassette rack 6 on the transport conveyor 16, and passes them to the turret 17, and the turret 17 And a carry-out conveyor 19 for receiving the processed bags 1 and carrying them out of the aseptic packaging chamber 8.

  The turret 17 has a plurality of turning arms 17a arranged at a predetermined angle. A clamper 17b that holds the bag 1 upside down by gripping the left and right vertical heat seal portions 1b, 1c of the bag 1 with the spout member 2 facing downward is provided at the tip of each swivel arm 17a. The turret 17 can be intermittently rotated in the direction of the arrow by an angle between the adjacent turning arms 17a.

  At each intermittent stop position from the position of the robot 18 to the position of the carry-out conveyor 19 around the turret 17, filling means for filling the bag 1 held by the swivel arm 17a and the contents are filled. Sealing means for sealing the bag 1 is provided.

  The filling means includes an opener 20 that adsorbs the unsealed portion 1e of the bag 1 held by the clamper 17b with the football 20a and expands the space between the sheets 3 and 3 of the bag 1, and the contents from the unsealed portion 1e into the bag 1. And a filler 21 for filling an object with a filling nozzle 21a. The opener 20 and the filler 21 are disposed at a desired intermittent stop position of the turret 17.

  Although not shown, the sealing means includes a first heat sealer 22 and a second heat sealer 22 each having heating plates 22a and 23a that heat-seal the unsealed portion 1e of the bag 1 twice to form a lower horizontal heat-sealed portion 1d. The heat sealer 23 and the cooler 24 provided with the cooling plate 24a which cools the lower horizontal heat seal part 1d are comprised. The heat sealers 22 and 23 and the cooler 24 are arranged at a desired intermittent stop position of the turret 17.

  Next, the operation of the aseptic bagging apparatus will be described.

  (1) The unsealed bag 1 shown in FIG. 1A is loaded into the cassette rack 6 as shown in FIG. The bags 1 are separated from each other in the cassette rack 6.

  (2) The shutter 7a on the entrance side of the sterilization chamber 7 is opened, and after the cassette rack 6 is placed in the sterilization chamber 7, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shutter 7a is closed. Thereby, the sterilization chamber 7 is sealed.

  (3) Air is exhausted from the inside of the sterilization chamber 7, and the inside of the sterilization chamber 7 is evacuated. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide gas is introduced into the sterilization chamber 7. The discharge of the air and the introduction of the hydrogen peroxide gas are repeated a predetermined number of times, and the sterilization processing of all the bags 1 in the cassette rack 6 and the sterilization processing of the cassette rack 6 are performed simultaneously by the hydrogen peroxide gas.

  The two sheets 3 and 3 of the bag 1 are in a separated state by the spreading action by the spout member 2 attached to the end thereof, and therefore the unsealed portion 1e is in an open state. The introduced hydrogen peroxide gas enters the bag 1 and contacts the entire inner surface of the bag 1 and the spout member 2. In the case where irregularities are formed on the inner surfaces of the sheets 3 and 3 of the bag 1 by embossing or the like, the hydrogen peroxide gas flows into the bag 1 more smoothly. Thereby, not only the outer surface of the bag 1 but also the entire inner surface is uniformly sterilized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a large number of holes 11 a and 13 b are formed in the hanging plate 11 and the upright plate 13 of the support rail 10, and the support flange 2 c of the spout member 2 is in contact with the upright plate 13. Since a large number of protrusions 13a are formed at the locations, the hydrogen peroxide gas smoothly spreads through the gaps between the holes 11a and 13b and the protrusions 13a to the entire surface of the spout member 2. Thereby, the surface of the spout member 2 is appropriately sterilized including the back surface of the supporting flange 2c.

  The sterilization process ends when hydrogen peroxide gas is discharged out of the sterilization chamber 7 and aseptic air is introduced into the sterilization chamber 7.

  (4) When the sterilization process in the sterilization chamber 7 is completed, the shutter 7 b on the aseptic packaging chamber 8 side is opened, and the cassette rack 6 is transferred into the aseptic packaging chamber 8 by the carry-out conveyor 14. Thereafter, the shutter 7b is closed.

  The inside of the aseptic packaging chamber 8 is sterilized in advance by spraying hydrogen peroxide or the like, and then maintained at a positive pressure by aseptic air to be blown.

  The cassette rack 6 is first placed at a position I on the conveyor 16 in FIG.

Next, the cassette rack 6 is transported to the position II and stopped by the operation of the transport conveyor 16.

  (5) By the operation of the robot 18, the bags 1 are taken out one by one from the cassette rack 6 on the transport conveyor 16 and sequentially delivered to the turret 17.

  The turret 17 receives the bag 1 delivered from the robot 18 by the clamper 17b of the turning arm 17a and turns in the arrow direction in FIG.

  The bag 1 is gripped by the clamper 17b with the unsealed portion 1e facing upward and the spout member 2 facing downward.

  (6) As the turret 17 turns, the bag 1 is sequentially conveyed to each station of the opener 20, filler 21, first heat sealer 22, second heat sealer 23, and cooler 24, and subjected to various processes.

  That is, the unsealed portion 1e of the bag 1 is spread by the soccer 20a of the opener 20, the contents are filled from the unsealed portion 1e by the filling nozzle 21a of the filler 21, and the unsealed portions 1 and 2 are filled by the first and second heat sealers 22 and 23. As shown in FIG. 1B, the seal portion 1e is sealed as the lower horizontal heat seal portion 1d, and the lower horizontal heat seal portion 1d is cooled by the cooling plate 24a of the cooler 24.

  Thereby, the aseptic bagging product shown in FIG. 1 (B) is completed.

  (7) The bag 1 that has become a sterile bag-packed product is carried out of the aseptic packaging chamber 8 by the carry-out conveyor 19.

  The bag 1 may be subjected to the above-described processing from sterilization to sealing in a state where the spout member 2 is only closed by the easy-opening sheet 2d and the cap 2e is omitted. At that time, after being carried out of the aseptic packaging chamber 8 by the carry-out conveyor 19, the cap 2e is screwed to the spout member 2 by a capper (not shown), and the aseptic bag-packed product shown in FIG. It is said.

  (8) During the production of the bag-packed product, the next cassette rack 6 is introduced into the sterilization chamber 7 and sterilization is performed.

  The cassette rack 6 in the aseptic packaging chamber 8 from which all the bags 1 have been removed and emptied is transported from the position II to the position III by the operation of the transport conveyor 16, and a new cassette rack 6 is moved from the sterilization chamber 7. It is conveyed to position I. Therefore, the conveyor 16 is further operated, the new cassette rack 6 on the position I is transported to the position II, and the empty cassette rack 6 is transported from the position III to the position I.

The empty cassette rack at position I is sent from above the conveyor 16 into the sterilization chamber 7 by the operation of a pusher (not shown) or the like. Therefore, the sterile packaging chamber side shutter 7b of the sterilization chamber 7 is closed, the opposite shutter 7a is opened, and the empty cassette rack 6 is carried out of the sterilization chamber 7 from there.

  Thereafter, similar operations are repeated to produce aseptic bag-packed products.

<Embodiment 2>
In the second embodiment, the bag 1 before the spout member 2 shown in FIG. 8A is closed with the easy-opening sheet 2d and the cap 2e is used.

  This bag 1 is loaded in the same cassette rack 6 as in the first embodiment as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the spout member 2 of the bag 1 is passed through the groove of the support rail 10 of the cassette rack 6, whereby a large number of bags 1 are held in the cassette rack 6.

  The aseptic bagging apparatus used in the second embodiment is configured as shown in FIGS. Unlike the aseptic bagging apparatus used in the first embodiment, the opener 20 is omitted from around the turret 17 which is a conveying means in the aseptic packaging chamber 8, and the bottom of the support flange 2c of the spout member 2 is grasped. Accordingly, a clamper 17b for holding the bag 1 is provided. Filler 21 as a filling means is provided in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Moreover, unlike Embodiment 1, the sealer 25 of the easy-open sheet | seat 2d which is a sealing means is provided, and the capper 26 which covers the cap 2e on the spout member 2 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the sealer 25 of the easy-open sheet 2 d includes a sheet sterilization chamber 27 for supplying a continuous sheet 4 that is a raw material of the easy-open sheet 2 d. The sheet sterilization chamber 27 is disposed outside the aseptic packaging chamber 8.

  In the sheet sterilization chamber 27, a storage tank 28 of a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide is provided, and the continuous sheet 4 fed out from the winding roll of the continuous sheet 4 is immersed in the sterilizing agent in the storage tank 28 and sterilized. It is introduced into the aseptic packaging chamber 8 and supplied to the sealer 25 of the easy-opening sheet 2d arranged around the turret 17.

  The sealer 25 of the easy-opening sheet 2d heat-seals the continuous sheet 4 introduced into the aseptic packaging chamber 8 into the opening of the spout member 2 of the bag 1, and simultaneously punches the easy-opening sheet 2d from the continuous sheet 4. ing.

  The capper 26 may be omitted from around the turret 17 and installed outside the aseptic packaging chamber 8.

  Next, the operation of the aseptic bagging apparatus will be described.

  (1) The bag 1 having the unsealed spout member 2 shown in FIG. 8A is loaded into the cassette rack 6 as shown in FIG. 4 in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  (2) The shutter 7a on the entrance side of the sterilization chamber 7 is opened, and after the cassette rack 6 is placed in the sterilization chamber 7, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the shutter 7a is closed. Thereby, the sterilization chamber 7 is sealed.

  (3) Air is exhausted from the inside of the sterilization chamber 7, and the inside of the sterilization chamber 7 is evacuated. Therefore, hydrogen peroxide gas is introduced into the sterilization chamber 7. The discharge of the air and the introduction of the hydrogen peroxide gas are repeated a predetermined number of times, and the sterilization processing of all the bags 1 in the cassette rack 6 and the sterilization processing of the cassette rack 6 are performed simultaneously by the hydrogen peroxide gas.

  The two sheets 3 and 3 of the bag 1 are in a separated state by the spreading action by the spout member 2 attached to the end thereof. The hydrogen peroxide gas introduced into the sterilization chamber 7 enters the bag 1 through the opening of the spout member 2 and contacts the entire inner surface of the bag 1. When countless fine irregularities are formed on the inner surface of the bag 1 by mat processing or the like, the hydrogen peroxide gas contacts the inner surface of the bag 1 more smoothly. Thereby, not only the outer surface of the spout member 2 and the bag 1, but also the inner surface of the spout member 2 and the bag 1 are uniformly sterilized.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a large number of holes 11 a and 13 b are formed in the hanging plate 11 and the standing plate 13 of the support rail 10, and the supporting flange 2 c of the spout member 2 is in contact with the standing plate 13. Since a large number of projections 13a are formed at the location, the hydrogen peroxide gas passes through the gaps between the holes 11a and 13b and the projections 13a to reach the surface and the opening of the spout member 2 and from there into the bag 1 Flows smoothly into. Thereby, the surface of the spout member 2 is appropriately sterilized including the back surface of the supporting flange 2c.

  The sterilization process ends when hydrogen peroxide gas is discharged out of the sterilization chamber 7 and aseptic air is introduced into the sterilization chamber 7.

  (4) When the sterilization process in the sterilization chamber 7 is completed, the shutter 7 b on the aseptic packaging chamber 8 side is opened, and the cassette rack 6 is transferred into the aseptic packaging chamber 8 by the carry-out conveyor 14. Thereafter, the shutter 7b is closed.

  The inside of the aseptic packaging chamber 8 is sterilized in advance by spraying hydrogen peroxide or the like, and then maintained at a positive pressure by aseptic air to be blown.

  The cassette rack 6 is first placed at a position I on the conveyor 16 in FIG.

Next, the cassette rack 6 is transported to the position II and stopped by the operation of the transport conveyor 16.

  (5) By the operation of the robot 18, the bags 1 are taken out one by one from the cassette rack 6 on the transport conveyor 16 and sequentially delivered to the turret 17.

  The turret 17 receives the bag 1 delivered from the robot 18 by the clamper 17b of the turning arm 17a and turns in the arrow direction in FIG.

  The bag 1 is gripped by the clamper 17b under the supporting flange 2c of the spout member 2 with the spout member 2 facing upward.

  (6) As the turret 17 turns, the bag 1 is sequentially conveyed to the filler 21, the sealer 25 of the easy-opening sheet 2d, and the capper 26, and the contents are filled from the spout member 2 by the filler nozzle 21a of the filler 21 at each station. Then, the opening of the spout member 2 is sealed as shown in FIG. 8B by the sealer 25 of the easy-opening sheet 2 d, and the cap 2 e is screwed to the spout member 2 by the capper 26.

  Thereby, the aseptic bagging product shown in FIG. 8 (B) is completed.

  (7) The bag 1 that has become a sterile bag-packed product is carried out of the aseptic packaging chamber 8 by the carry-out conveyor 19.

  The bag 1 is discharged out of the aseptic packaging chamber 8 by the unloading conveyor 19 with the spout member 2 closed with the easy-opening sheet 2d and the cap 2e omitted, and then out of the aseptic packaging chamber 8. In some cases, the cap 2e is screwed onto the spout member 2 by the disposed capper to form a sterile bag-packed product shown in FIG.

  Thereafter, the same operation as in the first embodiment is repeated to produce a bag-packed product.

<Embodiment 3>
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, an unsealed bag 1 is used as in the first embodiment.

  That is, as in the case of the first embodiment, the lower side is the unsealed portion 1e in order to serve as a filling port when the bag 1 is filled with contents such as beverages later.

  However, unlike the case of the first embodiment, the bag 1 is provided with an oblique side between the upper side and the right side, and an oblique heat seal portion 1f in which the spout member 2 is sandwiched is formed on the oblique side. The opening of the spout member 2 is already sealed with the easy-opening sheet 2d and closed by screwing the cap 2e.

  The unsealed portion 1e can be set to either the upper side or the left and right sides, and the lower side can be closed by the lower horizontal heat seal portion 1d. The unsealed portion 1e is sealed by the lower horizontal heat seal portion 1d after the contents are filled in the bag 1.

  In the third embodiment, the bag 1 is loaded into the cassette rack 6 in a posture as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. And the aseptic product can be manufactured by the aseptic bagging apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 used in the first embodiment.

<Embodiment 4>
In the fourth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, unlike the case of the third embodiment, the bag 1 before the spout member 2 is closed with the easy-opening sheet 2d and the cap 2e is used. The lower side of the bag 1 is closed by a lower horizontal heat seal portion 1d.

  In the fourth embodiment, a bag-packed product can be manufactured by the aseptic bag-packing apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 used in the second embodiment.

<Embodiment 5>
In the fifth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the unsealed bag 1 is used as in the third embodiment.

  However, unlike the case of the third embodiment, the upper side of the bag 1 is the unsealed portion 1e in order to serve as a filling port when the bag 1 is filled with contents such as beverages later.

  In addition, a bottom folded sheet 29 is inserted into the lower side of the bag 1, and the bottom folded sheet 29 is bonded to the two front and rear sheets 3 and 3 by the bottom heat seal portion 1g and the left and right vertical heat seal portions. Bonded with 1b and 1c. The bottom fold sheet 29 has a non-heat-sealing process on the inner surface of the valley fold side. However, since the notches 30 are provided on both sides of the bottom fold sheet 29, the two front and rear sheets 3 are provided at the positions of the notches 30. , 3 are bonded together. Thereby, the bottom folding sheet 29 becomes a gusset, the expansion of the bottom of the bag 1 is permitted, and the bag 1 can stand on its own.

  Note that the unsealed portion 1e can be set to any one of the left and right sides of the bag 1.

  The unsealed portion 1e is sealed by the upper horizontal heat seal portion 1a (see FIG. 12) after the contents are filled in the bag 1.

  In the fifth embodiment, the bag 1 is loaded into the cassette rack 6 in a posture as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. And the aseptic product can be manufactured by the aseptic bagging apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 used in the first embodiment.

  However, in this case, the bag 1 is conveyed by the turret 17 so that the unsealed portion 1 e of the bag 1 is on the upper side together with the spout member 2.

<Embodiment 6>
In the sixth embodiment, as shown in FIG. 14, unlike the case of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8A, the bottom of the bag 1 is the same as that in the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. The bag 1 in which the folding sheet 29 is interposed is used.

  In the sixth embodiment, the bag-packed product can be manufactured by the aseptic bag-packing apparatus shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 used in the second embodiment.

  Below, Examples 1-40 are hung up and the bactericidal effect of the bag in this invention is shown.

  In Table 1, “2P type” in the column of the shape of the spout member means that the cap is provided separately from the main body of the spout member, and “1P type” means the main body of the spout member, The sealing piece that seals the mouth portion through the tearing thin wall portion is integrally formed from the beginning.

  “Vertical” means that the spout member 2 is disposed so as to ride on the center line of the bag 1 as shown in FIG. 1, and “oblique” means that the spout is as shown in FIG. It means that the member 2 is disposed so as to be inclined with respect to the center line of the bag 1.

  “P-seal” means that the opening of the spout member 2 is sealed with an easy-open seal 2d as shown in FIG.

  The “straw” means that the spout member 2 is provided with a straw-like shape as the protruding portion 2a, as indicated by a broken line in FIG.

  The “self-supporting bag” in the form of a bag means a bag that can stand up when the bag bottom is expanded as shown in FIG. 13, and the “flat bag” is a flat bag as shown in FIG. Something that can't stand up.

  “Embossing” of the bag means that countless fine irregularities are formed on the inner surface of the sheet constituting the bag.

  The filling location “lower unsealed portion” means that the unsealed portion 1e is provided on the bottom of the bag in order to fill the contents from the lower side of the bag 1, as shown in FIG. The “unsealed portion” means that an unsealed portion 1e is provided on the upper side of the bag in order to fill the contents from the upper side of the bag 1, as shown in FIG.

  About each sample shown in Table 1, the bactericidal effect test was done and the result shown in Table 2 was obtained. The “bacterial application condition” and “evaluation method” are as follows.

A "Conditioning conditions"
(1) Indicator bacteria: B. subtilis ATCC9372
(2) Number of bacteria: 2.5 × 10 ⁵ / spot
(3) Place where BI (bioindicator) is attached: As shown in FIGS. 1 (A), 8 (A), and FIGS. 11 to 14, all are places where hydrogen peroxide gas is difficult to contact.
[Spout member]: In the case of the 2P-type spout member (for example, see FIG. 1 (A)), it was adhered to the inner side surface and the back surface of the supporting flange. In the case of a 1P type spout member (not shown), it was stuck to the innermost innermost part and the back surface of the supporting flange.
[Flat bag]: When the spout member is provided on the center line of the bag as shown in FIG. 1 (A) and the contents are filled from the bottom, the right vertical heat seal portion inside the bag Attached to the upper part and the middle part, respectively. As shown in FIG. 8 (A), when the bag was filled with the contents from the spout member, it was attached to the top and bottom of the right vertical heat seal part inside the bag. When the spout member is attached obliquely as shown in FIG. 11 and the bag is filled with the contents from the bottom, the spout member of the upper side heat seal portion and the upper side of the right vertical heat seal portion inside the bag Each of them was attached to the end opposite to the side on which it was located. When the spout member is attached obliquely as shown in FIG. 12 and the bag is filled with the contents from the spout member, the upper portion of the right vertical heat seal portion in the bag and the lower heat seal portion Each of the spout members was attached to the opposite side and the opposite end.
[Self-supporting bag]: As shown in FIG. 13, in the case where the spout member is attached obliquely and the contents are filled from the upper side, the upper part of the right vertical heat seal part in the bag and the bottom heat It stuck on the center of the seal part and the bottom folding sheet valley fold part which is outside the bag.
In addition, when the bag is filled with the contents from the spout member as shown in FIG. 14, the upper part of the right vertical heat seal part in the bag, the center of the bottom heat seal part, and the bottom outside the bag. It stuck to the valley fold part of the insert sheet, respectively.

B "Evaluation Method"
The various bags of Examples 1 to 40 were sterilized by a standard hydrogen peroxide gas sterilizer, and subsequently passed through an aseptic packaging chamber of an aseptic bagging apparatus, and then BI was collected in an SCD bouillon medium. X After 7 days of culture, the presence or absence of bacteria was confirmed. The results are shown in Table 2.

  The above various bags were filled with 100 mL of pure water, and after sufficiently stirring, the amount of hydrogen peroxide dissolved in the pure water was measured by the oxygen electrode method. The amount of residual hydrogen peroxide in the bag was It was less than 0.1 ppm.

  As can be seen from Table 2, when a bag equipped with a spout member is loaded into a cassette rack and sterilized in a sterilization chamber with hydrogen peroxide gas, the content filling process is performed. A bactericidal effect can be obtained.

  Further, for example, when Examples 6, 17, 19, and 23 and Examples 35, 36, and 37 are compared with each other, for example, it is understood that the sterilizing effect is further improved by providing a straw as a protruding portion on the spout member. .

  Further, for example, when Examples 31 and 34 and Examples 39 and 40 are respectively compared, it is understood that the sterilizing effect is further improved by embossing the inner surface of the bag to form a large number of fine irregularities. .

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Bag 1e ... Unsealed part 2 ... Outlet member 2a ... Protruding part 6 ... Cassette rack 7 ... Sterilization chamber 8 ... Aseptic packaging chamber

That is, in the invention according to claim 1, the spout member (2) is configured to support a part of the flange (2c) by bringing a protrusion into contact with the lower surface of the flange (2c) of the spout member (2). A large number of attached unsealed bags (1) are loaded into the cassette rack (6) in a state where they are separated from each other, and the cassette rack (6) is placed in the sterilization chamber (7) to enter the sterilization chamber (7). Is evacuated, hydrogen peroxide gas is introduced into the sterilized chamber (7), and the inner and outer surfaces of the bag (1) are sterilized together with the cassette rack (6). 7) Transfer from the inside into the aseptic packaging chamber (8), take out the bag (1) from the cassette rack (6) and transport it in the aseptic packaging chamber (8), and fill the bag (1) with the contents. After sealing the bag (1) To adopt a bagging method.

In the invention according to claim 6, the spout member (2) is configured to support a part of the flange (2c) by bringing a protrusion into contact with the lower surface of the flange (2c) of the spout member (2). A cassette rack (6) in which a large number of attached unsealed bags (1) are separated from each other, and a cassette rack (6) are accommodated in the bag (1) by hydrogen peroxide gas. A sterilization chamber (7) for sterilizing the inner and outer surfaces together with the cassette rack (6), an aseptic packaging chamber (8) into which the cassette rack (6) is introduced from the sterilization chamber (7), and a bag (1) one by one Transport means for taking out from the cassette rack (6) and transporting it in the aseptic packaging chamber (8), filling means for filling the contents of the bag (1) being transported, and bags being transported filled with the contents ( 1) with sealing means for sealing To adopt a fungus bagging equipment.

Claims (8)

  A large number of unsealed bags attached with spout members are loaded into the cassette rack in a state of being separated from each other, the cassette rack is placed in the sterilization chamber, the sterilization chamber is evacuated, and the sterilization chamber is evacuated. Hydrogen peroxide gas is introduced to sterilize the inner and outer surfaces of the bag together with the cassette rack, the cassette rack is transferred from the sterilization chamber to the aseptic packaging chamber, the bag is taken out of the cassette rack and transported in the aseptic packaging chamber. An aseptic bagging method, wherein the bag is sealed after filling the contents in the bag.   2. The aseptic bagging method according to claim 1, wherein irregularities are formed on the inner surface of the bag in advance.   3. The aseptic bagging method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the spout member is provided with a protruding portion that protrudes into the back of the bag.   The aseptic bagging method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein after the contents are filled into the bag from the spout member, the spout member is sealed.   In the aseptic bagging method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the spout member is sealed in advance, and the bag is filled with contents from the unsealed portion of the bag, and then the unsealed portion is removed. A sterile bagging method characterized by sealing.   A cassette rack in which a large number of unsealed bags with outlet members attached are loaded in a separated state, and the cassette rack is housed and the inside and outside surfaces of the bags are sterilized together with the cassette rack using hydrogen peroxide gas. A sterilization chamber, a sterile packaging chamber into which a cassette rack is introduced from the sterilization chamber, a transport means for taking out the bags one by one from the cassette rack and transporting them in the sterile packaging chamber, and filling the contents of the bags being transported An aseptic bagging apparatus, comprising: filling means; and sealing means for sealing the bag being transported filled with the contents.   7. The aseptic bagging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the filling means can fill the bag from the spout member and the sealing means can seal or capping the spout member. Aseptic bagging device.   The aseptic bagging apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the filling means can expand the unsealed portion of the bag and then can fill the contents from the unsealed portion into the bag, and the sealing means can remove the unsealed portion. A sterile bagging device characterized by being sealable.

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