JP2016098037A - Container sterilizing device - Google Patents

Container sterilizing device Download PDF

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JP2016098037A
JP2016098037A JP2014238853A JP2014238853A JP2016098037A JP 2016098037 A JP2016098037 A JP 2016098037A JP 2014238853 A JP2014238853 A JP 2014238853A JP 2014238853 A JP2014238853 A JP 2014238853A JP 2016098037 A JP2016098037 A JP 2016098037A
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light
container
light guide
receiving surface
light receiving
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JP6309436B2 (en
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上田　敦士
Atsushi Ueda
敦士 上田
浩一 青木
Koichi Aoki
浩一 青木
紀子 亘
Noriko Watari
紀子 亘
田中　大輔
Daisuke Tanaka
大輔 田中
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Machinery Systems Co Ltd
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Food and Packaging Machinery Co Ltd
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Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a container sterilizing device capable of evenly irradiating ultraviolet rays to a lateral face in addition to a bottom of a container while having a simple structure.SOLUTION: There are included: a light source 5 light-emitting ultraviolet rays UV as sterilization light; and a light guide body 10 having a light-receiving surface 11 provided on one end and receiving light of ultraviolet rays UV which the light source 5 light-emits, a tip surface 13 provided on the other end and facing the light-receiving surface 11, and a lateral face 15 connecting the light-receiving surface 11 and the tip surface 13. The light guide body 10 has at least in part of the lateral face 15 an area in which a diameter is shortened along an axial direction than the light-receiving surface 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

本発明は、ＰＥＴボトルのような容器又はボトル成形前のプリフォーム等の容器素材を殺菌する容器殺菌装置に関するものである。   The present invention relates to a container sterilizer for sterilizing containers such as PET bottles or container materials such as preforms before bottle molding.

容器または容器素材は、衛生面の観点から液体充填前に殺菌する必要がある。なお、以下、容器と容器素材の両者を容器と総称する。
容器殺菌装置としては、容器が搬送される近傍に光源としての紫外線発生ランプを設けて、光源から発光される紫外線を搬送容器の外側から照射して容器を殺菌する装置が知られている（例えば、特許文献１）。
しかしながら、特許文献１の装置では、紫外線が容器を構成する材料を透過しにくいために、容器の外側から紫外線を照射したのでは、容器の内側の面に殺菌に足りるだけの紫外線が届きにくい。また、光源から出射される紫外線は、光源から距離が離れるにしたがって拡散してしまい、殺菌効果が減衰する。したがって、光源から容器までの距離が離れていると、殺菌に有効な紫外線が届かないために、容器の内面を十分に殺菌するのに時間を要してしまう。 The container or container material needs to be sterilized before liquid filling from the viewpoint of hygiene. Hereinafter, both the container and the container material are collectively referred to as a container.
As a container sterilization apparatus, an apparatus is known in which an ultraviolet ray generation lamp as a light source is provided in the vicinity of a container being conveyed, and the container is sterilized by irradiating ultraviolet rays emitted from the light source from the outside of the conveyance container (for example, Patent Document 1).
However, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, since ultraviolet rays do not easily pass through the material constituting the container, if ultraviolet rays are irradiated from the outside of the container, it is difficult for ultraviolet rays sufficient for sterilization to reach the inner surface of the container. Moreover, the ultraviolet-ray radiate | emitted from a light source will spread | diffuse as the distance from a light source leaves | separates, and a bactericidal effect will attenuate. Therefore, if the distance from the light source to the container is long, ultraviolet rays effective for sterilization do not reach, and thus it takes time to sufficiently sterilize the inner surface of the container.

そこで、紫外線の容器への照射形態の異なる容器殺菌装置として、集光装置により紫外線を集光し、円柱状の導光体を介して集光された紫外線を容器内面に照射して殺菌する装置が提案されている（特許文献２）。特許文献２の装置は、導光体を容器の内部に挿入し、その状態で導光体を介して容器の内面に紫外線を照射することを意図している。特許文献２の装置は、集光された光を導くとともに出射する導光体を容器の内部に挿入するので、光の出射面から容器の内面までの距離を短くできる利点がある。   Therefore, as a container sterilization apparatus with different forms of irradiation of ultraviolet rays into the container, an apparatus that collects ultraviolet rays with a condensing device and irradiates the inner surface of the container with ultraviolet rays collected through a cylindrical light guide. Has been proposed (Patent Document 2). The device of Patent Document 2 intends to insert a light guide into the inside of the container and irradiate the inner surface of the container with ultraviolet rays through the light guide in that state. The apparatus of Patent Document 2 has an advantage that the distance from the light emitting surface to the inner surface of the container can be shortened because the light guide that guides and emits the condensed light is inserted into the container.

特開２００３−２５２３１２号公報JP 2003-252312 A 特開平１０−２４０９２号公報JP-A-10-24092

ここで、紫外線照射による容器の殺菌において、紫外線を容器の内面の全域にムラなく照射することが必要である。ところが、特許文献２の装置では、ムラのない紫外線の照射は困難である。つまり、特許文献２のように円柱状の導光体では、導光体の一方の端部から入力され光は、導光体の内部を反射しながら他方の端部に達し、この端部だけから出射される。したがって、特許文献２の装置では、容器の底面には紫外線を十分に照射できるものの、側面に殺菌に足りる紫外線を照射するのは難しい。   Here, in the sterilization of the container by ultraviolet irradiation, it is necessary to uniformly irradiate the entire area of the inner surface of the container with ultraviolet light. However, in the apparatus of Patent Document 2, it is difficult to irradiate ultraviolet rays without unevenness. That is, in the cylindrical light guide as in Patent Document 2, light input from one end of the light guide reaches the other end while reflecting the inside of the light guide, and only this end. It is emitted from. Therefore, in the apparatus of Patent Document 2, although the bottom surface of the container can be sufficiently irradiated with ultraviolet rays, it is difficult to irradiate the side surfaces with ultraviolet rays sufficient for sterilization.

本発明は、このような事情に鑑みてなされたものであって、簡易な構成でありながらも、容器の内面における底面に加えて側面にもムラなく紫外線を照射することのできる、容器の殺菌装置を提供することを目的とする。   The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and sterilization of containers that can irradiate ultraviolet rays evenly on the side surface in addition to the bottom surface on the inner surface of the container while having a simple configuration. An object is to provide an apparatus.

本発明は、上記課題を解決するため、以下の手段を採用している。
すなわち、本発明に係る容器殺菌装置は、殺菌光を出射する光源と、一端に設けられ、光源が発光する殺菌光を受光する受光面と、他端に設けられ、受光面と対向する先端面と、受光面と先端面を繋ぐ側面と、を有する導光体と、を備え、導光体は、側面の少なくとも一部に、受光面よりも径が軸方向に沿って縮小される領域を有することを特徴とする。 The present invention employs the following means in order to solve the above problems.
That is, the container sterilization apparatus according to the present invention includes a light source that emits sterilization light, a light receiving surface that is provided at one end and receives sterilization light emitted from the light source, and a tip surface that is provided at the other end and faces the light receiving surface. And a light guide having a side surface connecting the light receiving surface and the tip surface, and the light guide has a region whose diameter is reduced along the axial direction at least part of the side surface than the light receiving surface. It is characterized by having.

このような構成によれば、先端面だけではなく、側面から殺菌光を出射させることができるので、容器の内面における底面及び側面をムラなく殺菌することができる。   According to such a configuration, the sterilization light can be emitted not only from the front end surface but also from the side surface, so that the bottom surface and the side surface of the inner surface of the container can be sterilized without unevenness.

本発明の容器殺菌装置において、導光体は、受光面から先端面に向けて円錐台形状をなしていることが好ましい。
これにより、受光面から導入された殺菌光が側面から均一に出射されるため、容器の側面を短時間で効果的に殺菌することができる。
より均一にするために、導光体の側面を、傾斜角が段階的に異なるテーパー形状にすることが好ましい。つまり、軸方向の位置に応じて傾斜角を変えることにより、側面から殺菌光をより均一に出射させることができる。 In the container sterilization apparatus of the present invention, it is preferable that the light guide has a truncated cone shape from the light receiving surface toward the tip surface.
Thereby, since the sterilization light introduced from the light receiving surface is uniformly emitted from the side surface, the side surface of the container can be effectively sterilized in a short time.
In order to make it more uniform, it is preferable that the side surface of the light guide has a tapered shape with different inclination angles. That is, the sterilization light can be emitted more uniformly from the side surface by changing the inclination angle according to the position in the axial direction.

本発明の容器殺菌装置において、光源は、殺菌光を受光面に向けて発光する発光部を有し、導光体の受光面と発光部が対向した状態で、導光体と一体となっていることが好ましい。
これにより、受光部からの殺菌光が導光体内へ効率よく伝わる。
また、殺菌光発生器と導光体とを一つのユニットとして扱うことができるため、殺菌ラインへの組み付けが容易になる。 In the container sterilization apparatus of the present invention, the light source has a light emitting unit that emits sterilization light toward the light receiving surface, and is integrated with the light guide in a state where the light receiving surface of the light guide is opposed to the light emitting unit. Preferably it is.
Thereby, the sterilization light from the light receiving part is efficiently transmitted into the light guide.
Moreover, since the sterilization light generator and the light guide can be handled as one unit, the assembly to the sterilization line is facilitated.

本発明によれば、導光体について、受光面よりも径が軸方向に沿って縮小される領域を有するという簡易な構成でありながらも、容器の底面に加えて側面にもムラなく紫外線を照射することができる。   According to the present invention, the light guide has a simple structure in which the diameter of the light guide is reduced along the axial direction from the light receiving surface, but the UV light is uniformly applied to the side surface in addition to the bottom surface of the container. Can be irradiated.

本発明の実施形態に係る容器殺菌装置の構成概要を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the structure outline | summary of the container sterilizer which concerns on embodiment of this invention. （ａ）は図１の容器殺菌装置の導光体を示し、上段が側面図、下段が背面図であり、（ｂ）は（ａ）の導光体による紫外線ＵＶの挙動を示し、（ｃ）は円柱状の導光体による紫外線ＵＶの挙動を示している。(A) shows the light guide of the container sterilization apparatus of FIG. 1, the upper part is a side view, the lower part is a rear view, (b) shows the behavior of ultraviolet UV by the light guide of (a), (c ) Shows the behavior of ultraviolet rays UV by a cylindrical light guide. 図１の容器殺菌装置を用いて容器を殺菌する手順を示す図である。It is a figure which shows the procedure which sterilizes a container using the container sterilizer of FIG. 本実施形態の導光体の変形例を示し、（ａ）〜（ｄ）の各々において、左側が側面図、右側が背面図である。The modification of the light guide of this embodiment is shown, and in each of (a) to (d), the left side is a side view and the right side is a rear view.

以下に、本発明の実施形態に係る容器殺菌装置１について、図面を参照して説明する。
図１に示すように、容器殺菌装置１は、電源２と、電源２から電力の供給を受けて紫外線ＵＶを出射する光源５と、光源５からの紫外線ＵＶを受光するとともに導く導光体１０と、を備えており、光源５は導光体１０の軸方向の一方の端部にある受光面１１に、締め付け具、接着などの適宜の手段により、一体化された構成とされている。ただし、光源５と受光面１１との間に、空隙が設けられていても差し支えない。
この容器殺菌装置１は、殺菌処理に際して、導光体１０が、把持具３で支持された容器２０の口部２１を通過して、容器２０の内部に挿入され、その過程で電源２からの電力供給を受けて光源５が殺菌光としての紫外線ＵＶを発光する。この紫外線ＵＶは、導光体１０を介して、容器２０の底面２３及び側面２５という直交する二つの面に向けて照射され、容器２０の内面を殺菌する。なお、底面２３及び側面２５は、容器２０の内面を構成する。 Below, container sterilizer 1 concerning an embodiment of the present invention is explained with reference to drawings.
As shown in FIG. 1, the container sterilization apparatus 1 includes a power source 2, a light source 5 that receives power from the power source 2 and emits ultraviolet UV, and a light guide 10 that receives and guides ultraviolet UV from the light source 5. The light source 5 is integrated with the light receiving surface 11 at one end of the light guide 10 in the axial direction by an appropriate means such as a fastening tool or an adhesive. However, a gap may be provided between the light source 5 and the light receiving surface 11.
In the container sterilization apparatus 1, in the sterilization process, the light guide 10 passes through the mouth portion 21 of the container 20 supported by the gripping tool 3 and is inserted into the container 20. In response to the power supply, the light source 5 emits ultraviolet rays UV as sterilizing light. The ultraviolet rays UV are irradiated through the light guide 10 toward two orthogonal surfaces of the bottom surface 23 and the side surface 25 of the container 20 to sterilize the inner surface of the container 20. The bottom surface 23 and the side surface 25 constitute the inner surface of the container 20.

本実施形態における光源５は、紫外線発光ダイオード（ＵＶ−ＬＥＤ）により構成され、図２（ａ）に示すように、発光部６から波長１００〜２８５ｎｍの紫外線が発光される。
光源５は、発光部６が導光体１０の受光面１１に対向して配置される。発光部６は、円板状の形態をなしており、受光面１１に向けた一方向に向けて紫外線ＵＶからなる面状光を発光する。 The light source 5 in the present embodiment is constituted by an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED), and as shown in FIG. 2A, ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 100 to 285 nm is emitted from the light emitting unit 6.
In the light source 5, the light emitting unit 6 is arranged to face the light receiving surface 11 of the light guide 10. The light emitting unit 6 has a disk shape and emits planar light composed of ultraviolet rays UV in one direction toward the light receiving surface 11.

次に、導光体１０は、図２（ａ）に示すように、中心軸Ｃ方向の一端に光源５から出射される紫外線ＵＶを受光する受光面１１と、中心軸Ｃ方向の他端であって、受光面１１に対向する先端面１３と、受光面１１と先端面１３を繋ぐ側面１５と、を有している。
また、導光体１０は、円錐台形状をなしており、円錐台における上面、下面及び側面が、それぞれ、受光面１１、先端面１３及び側面１５をなしている。よって、受光面１１及び先端面１３は、中心軸Ｃに直交しており、側面１５は、受光面１１から先端面１３にかけて、半径が漸次縮小するテーパー形状をなしている。中心軸Ｃに対する側面１５の傾斜角は、容器２０の長さに応じて定められる。
導光体１０には、光の減衰が少ない石英ガラスが用いられるのが好ましい。 Next, as shown in FIG. 2A, the light guide 10 has a light receiving surface 11 that receives ultraviolet UV emitted from the light source 5 at one end in the central axis C direction, and a second end in the central axis C direction. It has a front end surface 13 that faces the light receiving surface 11 and a side surface 15 that connects the light receiving surface 11 and the front end surface 13.
The light guide 10 has a truncated cone shape, and the upper surface, the lower surface, and the side surface of the truncated cone form a light receiving surface 11, a tip surface 13, and a side surface 15, respectively. Therefore, the light receiving surface 11 and the front end surface 13 are orthogonal to the central axis C, and the side surface 15 has a tapered shape whose radius gradually decreases from the light receiving surface 11 to the front end surface 13. The inclination angle of the side surface 15 with respect to the central axis C is determined according to the length of the container 20.
The light guide 10 is preferably made of quartz glass with little light attenuation.

次に、受光面１１にて受光された紫外線ＵＶ（破線矢印で示している）の導光体１０における挙動を、図２（ｂ）を参照して説明する。
受光面１１から入射された紫外線ＵＶは、側面１５において、導光体１０の内部に反射される成分と、側面１５から外部に出射される成分とがあり、これを受光面１１の側から先端面１３の側にかけて無数に繰り返され、この過程において、紫外線ＵＶは、受光面１１の側から先端面１３の側にかけて、側面１５からほぼ均等に出射される。最後まで側面１５で反射された紫外線ＵＶの成分は、導光体１０の先端である先端面１３から出射される。こうして、導光体１０は、先端面１３及び側面１５から、換言すると、受光面１１を除く外周面の全域から、ムラなく紫外線ＵＶが出射される。 Next, the behavior of the ultraviolet light UV (shown by broken line arrows) received by the light receiving surface 11 in the light guide 10 will be described with reference to FIG.
The ultraviolet ray UV incident from the light receiving surface 11 has a component reflected on the inside of the light guide 10 on the side surface 15 and a component emitted outside from the side surface 15. It repeats countlessly toward the surface 13 side, and in this process, the ultraviolet rays UV are emitted almost uniformly from the side surface 15 from the light receiving surface 11 side to the tip surface 13 side. The ultraviolet UV component reflected by the side surface 15 until the end is emitted from the tip surface 13 which is the tip of the light guide 10. In this way, the light guide 10 emits ultraviolet rays UV from the front end surface 13 and the side surface 15, in other words, from the entire outer peripheral surface excluding the light receiving surface 11.

図２（ｃ）は、円柱状、つまり、半径が中心軸Ｃ方向に一定な導光体１００を用いた場合の、紫外線ＵＶの挙動を示している。受光面１０１から入射された紫外線ＵＶは、側面１０５において、導光体１００の内部への全反射を繰り返しながら先端面１０３に達するが、この過程で外部に出射されることはなく、入射された紫外線ＵＶの全ての成分が先端面１０３から出射される。このように、円柱状の導光体１００を用いると、紫外線ＵＶは、導光体１０の先端である先端面１０３だけから出射されるので、出射される紫外線ＵＶにはムラがある。   FIG. 2C shows the behavior of ultraviolet rays UV when the light guide 100 is used in a columnar shape, that is, with a constant radius in the direction of the central axis C. The ultraviolet ray UV incident from the light receiving surface 101 reaches the front end surface 103 while repeating total internal reflection of the light guide 100 on the side surface 105, but is not emitted to the outside in this process. All components of the ultraviolet light UV are emitted from the tip surface 103. As described above, when the cylindrical light guide 100 is used, the ultraviolet light UV is emitted only from the distal end surface 103 which is the distal end of the light guide 10, and thus the emitted ultraviolet UV is uneven.

次に、図３を参照して、容器殺菌装置１を用いて容器２０の内面を殺菌する方法を説明する。
当該殺菌方法は、容器２０に導光体１０を挿入する第一工程（図３（ａ），（ｂ））と、光源５から発光した殺菌光を容器内面に照射する照射する第二工程（図３（ｃ））と、容器２０から導光体１０を抜き出す第三工程（図３（ｃ），（ｄ））とを含んでいる。 Next, a method for sterilizing the inner surface of the container 20 using the container sterilizer 1 will be described with reference to FIG.
The sterilization method includes a first step of inserting the light guide 10 into the container 20 (FIGS. 3A and 3B) and a second step of irradiating the inner surface of the container with sterilizing light emitted from the light source 5. 3 (c)) and a third step (FIGS. 3 (c) and 3 (d)) for extracting the light guide 10 from the container 20.

第一工程では、容器２０の外部に配置されていた導光体１０を、容器２０の開口する口部２１を介して容器２０の内部に挿入し、所定の位置まで降下することにより、殺菌準備状態とする。この殺菌準備状態においては、未だ光源５を発光させない。また、導光体１０の大部分が容器２０の内部に挿入されるが、光源５は容器２０の外部に留まっている。
なお、ここでは導光体１０を降下させる例を示したが、導光体１０の位置を固定して容器２０を上昇させることにより、または、容器２０を上昇させる一方、導光体１０を降下させることにより、導光体１０を容器２０の内部に挿入して殺菌準備状態としてもよい。 In the first step, the light guide 10 arranged outside the container 20 is inserted into the container 20 through the opening 21 of the container 20 and lowered to a predetermined position to prepare for sterilization. State. In this sterilization preparation state, the light source 5 is not allowed to emit light yet. Further, most of the light guide 10 is inserted into the container 20, but the light source 5 remains outside the container 20.
Although the example in which the light guide 10 is lowered is shown here, the position of the light guide 10 is fixed and the container 20 is raised, or the container 20 is raised, while the light guide 10 is lowered. By doing so, the light guide 10 may be inserted into the container 20 to prepare for sterilization.

次に、第二工程では、電源２から電力を供給することによって光源５を発光させる。そうすると、導光体１０の受光面１１から入射した紫外線ＵＶは、導光体１０の内部を導かれながら、前述した要領で、側面１５から導光体１０の外部に出射されるのに加えて、先端面１３に到達した紫外線ＵＶは先端面１３から外部に出射される。側面１５から出射される紫外線ＵＶは、専ら容器２０の側面２５の殺菌に供され、また、先端面１３から出射される紫外線ＵＶは、専ら容器２０の底面２３の殺菌に供される。これにより、紫外線ＵＶを容器２０の内面にムラなく照射することができ、容器２０の内面を漏れなく殺菌することができる。
所定の殺菌時間が経過したならば、電源２からの電力の供給を停止して、光源５の発光を止める。 Next, in the second step, the light source 5 is caused to emit light by supplying power from the power source 2. Then, the ultraviolet ray UV incident from the light receiving surface 11 of the light guide 10 is emitted from the side surface 15 to the outside of the light guide 10 in the manner described above while being guided inside the light guide 10. The ultraviolet rays UV reaching the front end surface 13 are emitted from the front end surface 13 to the outside. Ultraviolet rays UV emitted from the side surface 15 are exclusively used for sterilization of the side surface 25 of the container 20, and ultraviolet rays UV emitted from the front end surface 13 are exclusively used for sterilization of the bottom surface 23 of the container 20. Thereby, ultraviolet rays UV can be irradiated evenly on the inner surface of the container 20, and the inner surface of the container 20 can be sterilized without leakage.
When the predetermined sterilization time has elapsed, the supply of power from the power source 2 is stopped, and the light emission of the light source 5 is stopped.

第三工程では、内部に挿入された導光体１０を容器２０から抜き出す。
この抜き出しは、第一工程の挿入と同様に、導光体１０及び容器２０の一方又は双方を昇降させることにより行うことができる。
以上により、一連の工程による容器２０の殺菌が完了する。 In the third step, the light guide 10 inserted inside is extracted from the container 20.
This extraction can be performed by raising and lowering one or both of the light guide 10 and the container 20 in the same manner as the insertion in the first step.
Thus, the sterilization of the container 20 by a series of steps is completed.

以上に説明した構成により、本実施形態によれば、以下の作用及び効果を奏する。
光源５により一方向に発光された紫外線ＵＶは、受光面１１から入射され、導光体１０の内部を先端面１３に向けて導かれる。紫外線ＵＶは、導光体１０の内部を通過する過程において、受光面１１よりも半径が漸次縮小される側面１５に達すると、導光体１０の外部へ出射される。これにより、紫外線ＵＶを容器２０の側面２５に照射することができる。また、先端面１３まで達した紫外線ＵＶは、容器２０の底面２３に照射される。
さらに、受光面１１から先端面１３にかけて連なる側面１５を漸次縮径するテーパー形状とすることで、先端面１３から出射される紫外線ＵＶを、中心軸Ｃ方向及び周方向にわたって、均一な面状光として出射、放出することができる。
以上により、容器殺菌装置１によると、紫外線ＵＶを容器２０の内面に均一にムラなく照射することができ、容器２０の内面を均一に殺菌することができる。 With the configuration described above, according to the present embodiment, the following operations and effects are achieved.
The ultraviolet light UV emitted in one direction by the light source 5 enters from the light receiving surface 11 and is guided toward the distal end surface 13 inside the light guide 10. In the process of passing through the inside of the light guide 10, the ultraviolet rays UV are emitted to the outside of the light guide 10 when reaching the side surface 15 whose radius is gradually reduced from the light receiving surface 11. Thereby, the ultraviolet rays UV can be applied to the side surface 25 of the container 20. Further, the ultraviolet light UV reaching the tip surface 13 is irradiated to the bottom surface 23 of the container 20.
Furthermore, by making the side surface 15 continuous from the light receiving surface 11 to the front end surface 13 into a tapered shape that gradually decreases in diameter, the ultraviolet light UV emitted from the front end surface 13 can be uniformly planarized over the central axis C direction and the circumferential direction. Can be emitted and emitted.
As described above, according to the container sterilization apparatus 1, it is possible to uniformly irradiate the inner surface of the container 20 with ultraviolet rays UV, and to uniformly sterilize the inner surface of the container 20.

また、光源５の発光部６と導光体１０の受光面１１とが密着し、他の導光部材を介在させないことにより、発光部６から発光された紫外線ＵＶを受光面１１へ直接導入できるので、光源５で発光した光量のロスを少なくできる。   Further, the light emitting portion 6 of the light source 5 and the light receiving surface 11 of the light guide 10 are in close contact with each other, and no UV light emitted from the light emitting portion 6 can be directly introduced into the light receiving surface 11 by not interposing another light guide member. Therefore, the loss of the amount of light emitted from the light source 5 can be reduced.

また、導光体１０を容器２０の所定位置まで挿入した状態で、光源５は容器２０の外部に留まっている。したがって、容器２０が加熱されているような場合に、光源５が受ける熱的なダメージを最小限に抑えることができる。   In addition, the light source 5 remains outside the container 20 with the light guide 10 inserted to a predetermined position of the container 20. Therefore, when the container 20 is heated, the thermal damage received by the light source 5 can be minimized.

以上、本発明の好ましい実施形態について説明したが、本発明はこれに限定されることなく、その発明の技術的思想を逸脱しない範囲で適宜変更可能である。
例えば、上記実施形態では、受光面１１よりも径が縮小される一例として円錐台形状の導光体１０を示したが、他の形態を採用することができる。 As mentioned above, although preferable embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to this, It can change suitably in the range which does not deviate from the technical idea of the invention.
For example, in the above embodiment, the frustoconical light guide 10 is shown as an example in which the diameter is smaller than that of the light receiving surface 11, but other forms can be adopted.

例えば、図４（ａ）に示すように、側面１５を曲線状に径が縮小される導光体１０にすることができるし、また、図４（ｂ）に示すように、側面１５を段階的に傾斜角θ１，θ２が変わるテーパー面を備える導光体１０にすることができる。
これら図４に示される導光体１０のように、導光体１０の径が受光面１１から先端面１３の少なくとも一部に受光面１１における径よりも小さい部分を有していれば、実施形態と同様に、側面１５から容器２０の側面２５に紫外線ＵＶを照射できるという効果を奏することができる。
また、以上で説明した導光体は、円錐台を基本とする形状を有しているが、角錐台又は角錐台の変形した形状としてもよい。 For example, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the side surface 15 can be a light guide 10 whose diameter is reduced in a curved shape, and the side surface 15 is stepped as shown in FIG. 4 (b). In particular, the light guide 10 can be provided with a tapered surface in which the inclination angles θ1 and θ2 change.
If the diameter of the light guide 10 is smaller than the diameter of the light receiving surface 11 in at least a part of the light receiving surface 11 from the light receiving surface 11 as in the light guide 10 shown in FIG. Similarly to the form, the effect that ultraviolet rays UV can be irradiated from the side surface 15 to the side surface 25 of the container 20 can be achieved.
In addition, the light guide described above has a shape based on a truncated cone, but may be a truncated pyramid or a deformed shape of the truncated pyramid.

また、実施形態では、導光体１０を石英ガラスとして説明したが、例えば、サファイア、フッ化カルシウム、合成石英のように光量の減衰が少ない別の物質を用いてもよい。   In the embodiment, the light guide 10 has been described as quartz glass. However, for example, another substance with little attenuation of light amount such as sapphire, calcium fluoride, and synthetic quartz may be used.

また、実施形態では、光源５を紫外線発光ダイオード（ＵＶ−ＬＥＤ）として説明したが、無電極ランプや紫外線蛍光管のように殺菌光を出す別の光源を用いてもよい。   In the embodiment, the light source 5 is described as an ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV-LED), but another light source that emits germicidal light such as an electrodeless lamp or an ultraviolet fluorescent tube may be used.

さらに、実施形態では、光源５と導光体１０とが密着して一体化している例を説明したが、光源５と導光体１０とが離れていてもよい。この場合には、光源５と導光体１０の間を光ファイバ、その他の導光部材で繋ぐとよい。   Furthermore, in the embodiment, an example in which the light source 5 and the light guide 10 are closely integrated with each other has been described. However, the light source 5 and the light guide 10 may be separated from each other. In this case, the light source 5 and the light guide 10 may be connected by an optical fiber or other light guide member.

さらにまた、実施形態では、導光体１０を容器２０に挿入する第一工程及び導光体１０を容器２０から抜き出す第三工程には、光源５を発光させていないが、導光体１０を容器２０に挿入する過程及び抜き出す過程の一方又は双方において、光源を発光させることができる。   Furthermore, in the embodiment, the light source 5 is not caused to emit light in the first step of inserting the light guide 10 into the container 20 and the third step of extracting the light guide 10 from the container 20. In one or both of the process of inserting into and extracting from the container 20, the light source can emit light.

上記した容器殺菌装置及び方法は、殺菌光を発光する殺菌光発生器と導光体を、容器に殺菌光発生器を挿入せずに容器内面を殺菌できるので、簡易な装置で効果的に容器内面を殺菌できる。   Since the container sterilization apparatus and method described above can sterilize the inner surface of the container without inserting the sterilization light generator into the container, the sterilization light generator that emits sterilization light, and the light guide. The inner surface can be sterilized.

１ 容器殺菌装置
２ 電源
３ 把持具
５ 光源
６ 発光部
１０ 導光体
１１ 受光面
１３ 先端面
１５ 側面
２０ プリフォーム
２１ 口部
２３ 底面
２５ 側面
１００ 導光体
１０１ 受光面
１０３ 先端面
１０５ 側面
Ｃ 中心軸
ＵＶ 紫外線 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Container sterilizer 2 Power supply 3 Grasping tool 5 Light source 6 Light emission part 10 Light guide 11 Light-receiving surface 13 Front end surface 15 Side surface 20 Preform 21 Mouth part 23 Bottom surface 25 Side surface 100 Light guide body 101 Light-receiving surface 103 Front end surface 105 Side C Center Axis UV UV

Claims (4)

殺菌光を出射する光源と、
一端に設けられ、前記光源が発光する前記殺菌光を受光する受光面と、他端に設けられ、前記受光面と対向する先端面と、前記受光面と前記先端面を繋ぐ側面と、を有する導光体と、を備え、
前記導光体は、前記側面の少なくとも一部に、前記受光面よりも径が軸方向に沿って縮小される領域を有する、
ことを特徴とする容器殺菌装置。 A light source that emits germicidal light;
A light receiving surface provided at one end for receiving the bactericidal light emitted from the light source; a tip surface provided at the other end facing the light receiving surface; and a side surface connecting the light receiving surface and the tip surface. A light guide,
The light guide has a region whose diameter is reduced along the axial direction at least part of the side surface than the light receiving surface.
A container sterilizer characterized by that. 前記導光体は、前記受光面から前記先端面に向けて径が縮小される円錐台形状をなしている、
ことを特徴とする請求項１に記載の容器殺菌装置。 The light guide has a truncated cone shape whose diameter is reduced from the light receiving surface toward the tip surface.
The container sterilizer according to claim 1. 前導光体の前記側面は、傾斜角が段階的に異なるテーパー形状をなしている、
ことを特徴とする請求項２に記載の容器殺菌装置。 The side surface of the front light guide has a tapered shape in which the inclination angles differ in stages.
The container sterilizer according to claim 2. 前記光源は、前記殺菌光を前記受光面に向けて発光する発光部を有し、
前記導光体の前記受光面と前記発光部が対向した状態で、前記導光体と一体となっている、
ことを特徴とする請求項１ないし３のいずれか一項に記載の容器殺菌装置。 The light source has a light emitting unit that emits the germicidal light toward the light receiving surface,
In a state where the light receiving surface of the light guide and the light emitting portion face each other, the light guide is integrated with the light guide,
The container sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 3.
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