JP2019085129A - Aseptic filling machine and recycling method of disinfectant used in aseptic filling machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an aseptic filling machine capable of restricting a disposal amount of the disinfectant containing peracetic acid used in the aseptic filling machine as much as possible and a recycling method of the disinfectant used in the aseptic filling machine.SOLUTION: A disinfectant recovery system for recovering the disinfectant used for disinfection in a chamber and containing at least 1000 ppm-2000 ppm of peracetic acid and 10000 ppm-50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide and a concentration ratio of the peracetic acid and the hydrogen peroxide ranging between 1/7-1/20 is provided, and the recovered disinfectant is used for disinfection of a seal of a rotor and a discharge conveyor and is used again for a disinfection in the chamber.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention recovers the germicide which sterilizes the inside of the chamber of the aseptic filling machine in the aseptic filling machine which fills and seals the sterilized beverage and the like in the aseptic atmosphere in the aseptic atmosphere, aseptic filling which reuses the sterilizing agent The present invention relates to a method of reusing germicides used in machines and aseptic filling machines.

  Conventionally, while the preform is continuously moved, the preform is introduced into the heating furnace, heated to a temperature for forming the preform into a container in the heating furnace, and the gas is blown into the heated preform, and the bottle is An apparatus for sterilizing a container is proposed in which the container is molded, the bottle is sterilized, the sterilized contents are filled, and the container is sealed with a sterilized cap (Patent Document 1). Also, the preform is sterilized, heated to a temperature for forming the sterilized preform into a bottle, gas is blown into the heated preform, the mixture is formed into a bottle, and the sterilized contents are formed into a bottle There has also been proposed a sterilizing apparatus for containers which is filled and the container filled with the contents is sealed with a sterilized cap (Patent Document 2).

  In such aseptic filling machines, sterilants are often used to ensure the sterility of the devices. First, before operating the aseptic filling machine, shield each part such as a sterilizing part for sterilizing the bottle, a filling part for filling the contents into the sterilized bottle, a sealing part for sealing the bottle filled with the contents The inside of the chamber is sterilized with a germicide (Patent Document 3). Also, a sterilizing agent is used to sterilize the molded bottle or preform before molding as described above.

  Furthermore, a bactericidal agent is also used to seal between the sterile atmosphere and the non-sterile atmosphere at the lower part of the rotating body of the filling unit (Patent Document 4). In addition, by immersing the sealed bottle in a sterilization solution for discharging a sealed bottle from a sterile atmosphere to a non-sterile atmosphere, bacteria and the like in the non-sterile atmosphere are prevented from being brought into the sterile atmosphere (Patent Document 5). It has also been proposed to store and circulate the sterilizing liquid used for sealing of the filling section and conveyor immersion in a single storage tank (Patent Document 6).

  With regard to the above-mentioned in-chamber sterilization, for example, in Patent Document 3, the inside of the chamber is sterilized by spraying hydrogen peroxide or peracetic acid into the chamber in a mist form. Further, in Patent Document 7, a sterilizing agent containing hypochlorous acid, a surfactant and a pH adjuster is used to sterilize the inside of the chamber. Furthermore, in Patent Document 8, a peracetic acid-based bactericide containing 500 ppm to 4000 ppm of peracetic acid and 2% to 35% of hydrogen peroxide is used for sterilization in a chamber.

JP, 2010-189023, A JP, 2015-116814, A Unexamined-Japanese-Patent No. 11-208782 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-110094 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-79385 JP, 2014-51304, A Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-332019 JP, 2010-189034, A

  The bottle aseptic filling machine is supplied with a preform, formed into a bottle, sterilized in the bottle, filled with contents in a sterile atmosphere and sealed, and the preform is supplied. There is a form in which the contents obtained in a sterile atmosphere are filled and sealed in a bottle obtained by sterilizing the reform and molding the sterilized preform. In any sterile filling machine, sterilize each part that constitutes the sterile filling machine, sterilize the inside of the chamber, sterilize bottles and preforms, seal between sterile atmosphere and non-sterile atmosphere under the rotating body such as filling unit and sealing unit, And germicides are used to immerse conveyors which eject the bottles from a sterile atmosphere to a non-sterile atmosphere. The germicides used in these processes are discarded after use.

  A hydrogen peroxide solution containing a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide is often used to sterilize bottles and preforms, but for other uses, a germicide containing peracetic acid as a main component is used. The bactericide comprising peracetic acid as a main component consists of peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide, acetic acid and water, which are in equilibrium. If the disinfectant containing this peracetic acid is discarded without being treated, the microorganisms in the activated sludge which is a wastewater treatment facility of a food factory will be killed, and the biological treatment capacity of the activated sludge will be reduced. Therefore, peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide must be decomposed and then processed. The peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide can be decomposed by alkali neutralization, adding a reducing agent, adding catalase, passing through activated carbon, contacting with a transition metal catalyst, etc., and two or more kinds of methods. May be used in combination. Furthermore, even if peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide are decomposed, since acetic acid is contained at a high concentration, it is also performed to remove acetate ion with an ion exchange resin.

  In order to discard the sterilizing agent containing peracetic acid in this way, the equipment cost and running cost for performing the pretreatment of the disposal are excessive. As in the past, if the disinfectant containing peracetic acid is discarded after use for each purpose of use, the amount of waste increases, so it is required to minimize the amount of disinfectant containing peracetic acid as much as possible. .

  Since hydrogen peroxide decomposes into water and oxygen, no further treatment is necessary, but peracetic acid decomposes and the generated acetic acid must be further processed. In order to reduce the throughput of peracetic acid, it is also required to minimize peracetic acid contained in the microbicide.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and in the aseptic filling machine, the peracetic acid concentration of the bactericide containing peracetic acid used for sterilization of equipment is lowered, and after use of the bactericide To provide a sterile filling machine capable of minimizing the amount of disinfectant containing peracetic acid as much as possible by recovering and reusing the used germicide, and to provide a recycling method of the germicide used in the sterile filling machine. To aim.

  The aseptic filling machine according to the present invention is an aseptic filling machine for filling the sterilized contents in a sterile bottle in an aseptic atmosphere and sealing with a sterilized sealing member, wherein the aseptic filling machine is the aseptic filling machine. In the aseptic filling machine having a chamber for shielding each part constituting the machine, in order to sterilize the inside of the chamber, at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid sprayed by a sterilizing agent spray device provided in the chamber and It is characterized in that it comprises a bactericide recovery device for recovering a bactericide containing hydrogen peroxide from 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm and having a concentration ratio of said peracetic acid to said hydrogen peroxide of 1/7 to 1/20.

  Further, in the aseptic filling machine according to the present invention, the sterilizing agent recovery apparatus collects the sterilizing agent recovery pump for recovering the sterilizing agent from the outlet provided at the bottom of the chamber, and the recovered sterilizing agent is collected. It is preferred to have a sterilizer tank.

  In the aseptic filling machine according to the present invention, a pool for rotating body sealing which isolates the aseptic atmosphere and non-aseptical atmosphere at the lower part of the wheel from the aseptic sterilization agent tank, and the bottle after sealing. It is preferred to have a recovery sterilant supply system which feeds either or both of the conveyor immersion pools to maintain the sterility of the conveyor which discharges the aseptic atmosphere into a non-aseptic atmosphere.

  In addition, the aseptic filling machine according to the present invention is preferably provided with a recovery sterilizing agent supply device for supplying the recovered sterilizing agent from the recovery sterilizing agent tank to the sterilizing agent spray device.

  In the aseptic filling machine according to the present invention, the recovered bactericidal agent tank is provided with a bactericidal agent concentration adjusting device for maintaining the peracetic acid concentration and the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the recovered bactericidal agent in a certain range, and the bactericidal agent Measured by a peracetic acid concentration measuring device and a hydrogen peroxide concentration measuring device for measuring the peracetic acid concentration and the hydrogen peroxide concentration of at least the recovered sterilizing agent stored in the recovered sterilizing agent tank by the concentration adjustment device A sterile filling machine comprising: a peracetic acid concentration adjusting pump and a hydrogen peroxide concentration adjusting pump for adjusting the peracetic acid concentration and the hydrogen peroxide concentration based on a concentration.

  The method of recycling the bactericidal agent used in the aseptic filling machine according to the present invention is an aseptic filling machine which fills the sterilized contents in a sterile bottle in an aseptic atmosphere and seals the contents with a sterile sealing member. In the aseptic filling machine, the aseptic filling machine has a chamber that shields each part constituting the aseptic filling machine, at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid sprayed into the chamber to sterilize the inside of the chamber and A sterilizing agent containing hydrogen peroxide from 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm and having a concentration ratio of the peracetic acid to the hydrogen peroxide of 1/7 to 1/20 is recovered. Sealing of rotating body to isolate aseptic atmosphere, immersion of conveyor to discharge the sealed bottle from aseptic atmosphere to non-aseptic atmosphere, Characterized by utilizing either one or more of the sterilization of the members.

  In the method of recycling the bactericide used in the aseptic filling machine according to the present invention, the concentration of the peracetic acid and the hydrogen peroxide of the collected bactericide is measured, and the concentration of the collected bactericide is measured. A method of reusing a bactericidal agent used in an aseptic filling machine, characterized in that the concentrations of acetic acid and the hydrogen peroxide are maintained within a certain range.

  According to the aseptic filling machine of the present invention and the method of recycling the bactericidal agent used in the aseptic filling machine, the sterilizing agent used for sterilization in the chamber of the aseptic filling machine is not discarded each time, but recovered and used as the aseptic filling machine. The amount of the disinfectant to be discarded can be minimized by reusing as a disinfectant to be used at another site and further reusing it for disinfecting the chamber. In addition, the amount of peracetic acid in the disinfectant to be disposed of can be suppressed by reducing the concentration of peracetic acid contained in the disinfectant and increasing the concentration of hydrogen peroxide to enhance sterilization. As a result, equipment costs and running costs for the disposal of the germicide can be reduced.

It is a top view which shows the outline of an example of the aseptic filling machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The bottle formation process in the aseptic filling machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is shown, (A) is a preform supply process, (B) is a heating process of preform, (C) is a preform to bottle. The molding process is shown. The sterilization, filling and sealing process in the aseptic filling machine according to the embodiment of the present invention is shown, (D) shows the sterilization process of the molded bottle, (E) shows the air rinse process of the sterilized bottle, (F) Shows the filling process of the contents into the bottle, and (G) shows the sealing process of the bottle filled with the contents. It is a side view which shows an example of the sterilizer of each chamber of the conventional aseptic filling machine. The bactericide collection | recovery apparatus with which the aseptic filling machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is equipped, and a collection | recovery bactericidal agent supply apparatus are shown. It is a side view which shows an example of the filling part of the aseptic filling machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a side view which shows an example of the discharge part of the aseptic filling machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention. An example of the peracetic acid density | concentration adjustment apparatus with which the aseptic filling machine which concerns on embodiment of this invention is equipped, and a hydrogen-peroxide density | concentration adjustment apparatus is shown.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the outline of the aseptic filling machine consisting of the supply of preforms, the heating part, the forming part, the sterilizing part, the filling part, the sealing part and the discharging part will be described with reference to FIG. A sterilizing agent recovery device to recover, a recovery sterilizing agent supply device to supply the recovered sterilizing agent, a peracetic acid concentration adjusting device to adjust the concentration of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide in the recovered sterilizing agent, and a hydrogen peroxide concentration adjusting device Will be described with reference to FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG. 7, and FIG. According to this embodiment, the sterilizing agent for sterilizing the inside of the chamber of the aseptic filling machine can be reused without discarding each use. As a result, the amount of disinfectant discarded and the peracetic acid concentration of the disinfectant to be discarded can be reduced, and the initial investment and running cost can be suppressed without having to over-reduce the pretreatment equipment for discarding the disinfectant.

(Overview of aseptic filling machines and methods for recycling germicides used in aseptic filling machines)
As shown in FIG. 1, the aseptic filling machine according to the present embodiment includes a preform supply device 5 for supplying a preform 1, a heating unit 12 for heating the preform 1 to a temperature for forming the preform 3 into a bottle 3, and A forming unit 16 for forming the reform 1 into a bottle 3, a sterilizing unit 30 for sterilizing the formed bottle 3, an air rinse unit 34 for air rinsing the sterilized bottle 3, and filling the sterilized contents into the air rinsed bottle 3 A filling portion 39 and a sealing portion 44 for sealing the bottle 3 filled with contents with the sterilized cap 4 are provided. Furthermore, the sealed bottle 3 is placed on the discharge conveyor 48 and the discharge unit 47 is discharged to the non-sterile zone.

  The heating unit 12 and the forming unit 16 are shielded by the forming unit chamber 17, the sterilizing unit 30 by the sterilizing unit chamber 33, the air rinse unit 34 by the air rinse unit chamber 36, the filling unit 39, the sealing unit 44 and the discharging unit 47 by the filling unit chamber 41, respectively. It is done. An atmosphere blocking chamber 27 is provided between the molding unit 16 and the sterilization unit 30 so that the gas or mist of the sterilizing agent generated in the sterilization unit 30 or a mixture thereof does not flow into the molding unit 16. The gas or mist of the sterilizing agent generated in the sterilizing unit 30 or a mixture thereof does not flow into the forming unit 16 by exhausting the inside of the atmosphere blocking chamber 27.

  Before the start of operation of the aseptic filling machine, the insides of the sterilizing part chamber 33, the air rinse part chamber 36 and the filling part chamber 41 are sterilized. In the chamber, sterilization is performed by spraying a sterilizing agent containing 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid and 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, wherein the concentration ratio of the peracetic acid to the hydrogen peroxide is 1/7 to 1/20. It is done by The aseptic filling machine according to the present embodiment includes 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid used in each chamber and 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration ratio of the peracetic acid to the hydrogen peroxide is 1/7 to 1/1. A sterilizing agent recovery device 49 for recovering the sterilizing agent which is 20 is provided.

  Sterile air sterilized by the bacteria removal filter 55 is supplied to each chamber of the sterilized portion chamber 33, the air rinse portion chamber 36 and the filling portion chamber 41, and the inside of each chamber is maintained at a positive pressure. . As a result, the sterility in the aseptic filling machine downstream of the sterilizing unit 30 is maintained. The pressure for maintaining the inside of each chamber at a positive pressure is the highest in the filling part chamber 41 and is set lower toward the air rinse part chamber 36 and the sterilizing part chamber 33 in the upstream direction. By exhausting the atmosphere blocking chamber 27, the inside is maintained at a pressure substantially the same as the atmospheric pressure.

(Details of aseptic filling machine and recycling method of sterilizing agent used in aseptic filling machine)
First, the preform 1 shown in FIG. 2A is continuously conveyed from the preform supply device 5 shown in FIG. 1 to the heating unit 12 at a desired speed by the preform supply conveyor 6.

  The preform 1 in the present embodiment is a bottomed cylindrical body having a test tube, and the mouth 2 similar to the bottle 3 is applied at the beginning of the molding. An external thread is formed at the mouth 2 simultaneously with the molding of the preform 1. Further, a support ring 2 a for conveyance is formed in the lower part of the opening 2 in the preform 1. The preform 1 or the bottle 3 is gripped by the gripper 22 through the support ring 2a and travels in the aseptic filling machine. The preform 1 is molded by injection molding, compression molding or the like. The material of the preform 1 is made of a thermoplastic resin such as polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene naphthalate, polypropylene or polyethylene, and may be a single resin or a mixture of these resins, or may contain a recycled thermoplastic resin. Moreover, in order to provide barrier property, you may include thermoplastic resins, such as an ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer and polyamide which uses aromatic amines like metaxylylene diamine as a layer or as a mixture.

  The preform 1 supplied to the heating unit 12 is conveyed by the wheels 7 and 8 provided with a large number of grippers 22 at a constant pitch, and reaches the heating furnace conveyance wheel 9. Here, as shown in FIG. 2B, the gripper 22 is released, the spindle 19 is inserted into the opening 2 of the preform 1, and the spindle 19 is conveyed to the heating furnace for heating the preform 1 in the heating unit 12.

  The preform 1 which has entered the heating furnace is heated to a temperature suitable for the subsequent blow molding by an infrared heater 14 or other heating means, as shown in FIG. 2 (B). Preferably, the temperature is 90 ° C to 130 ° C.

  The temperature of the mouth 2 of the preform 1 is suppressed to a temperature of 70 ° C. or less in order to prevent deformation and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the preform 19 has the spindle 19 inserted into the opening 2 and is conveyed while being rotated in the heating furnace. The spindles 19 are provided on the endless chain 13 at regular intervals. The endless chain 13 is actuated by the pulleys 10 and 11. By inserting a mandrel into the preform 1 instead of the spindle 19, it is possible to transport the preform 1 while rotating it in an inverted state.

  The heated preform 1 is released from the spindle 19, gripped by the gripper 22, and conveyed via the wheel 15 to the forming wheel 18 of the blow molding machine. The mold 20 is blow-molded into a bottle 3 as shown in FIG. A plurality of molds 20 and blow nozzles 21 are disposed around the forming wheel 18, and pivots around the forming wheel 18 at a constant speed as the forming wheel 18 rotates. When the heated preform 1 arrives, the mold 20 sandwiches the preform 1. Subsequently, the blow nozzle 21 is joined to the preform 1, and a stretching rod (not shown) is guided to a hole provided in the blow nozzle 21 and inserted into the preform 1, and air from the blow nozzle 21 By injecting the gas, the bottle 3 is formed in the mold 20. The molded bottle 3 is taken out of the mold 20, is gripped by the support ring 2a by the gripper 22 provided on the inspection wheel 23, and is delivered to the inspection wheel 23.

  The temperature of the bottle, the body of the bottle, the support ring 2a, the top surface of the bottle opening, the bottom of the bottle, etc. were inspected by the inspection equipment 24 provided around the inspection wheel 23, and the molded bottle 3 was judged to be abnormal. In the case, it is discharged to the outside of the aseptic filling machine by a discharging device (not shown).

  In the bottle temperature inspection, the surface temperature of the bottle 3 is inspected to determine the quality of the bottle 3. The temperature sensor is, for example, an infrared radiation thermometer, but it is also possible to use other thermometers. It is necessary that the residual heat at the time of molding the bottle remain in the bottle 3 in order to sterilize the bottle 3 properly, and the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is preferably 50 ° C. or higher.

  Further, the body of the bottle, the support ring 2a, the top surface of the bottle opening, and the bottom of the bottle are imaged by a camera, and the state of each portion is inspected. The captured image is processed by the image processing apparatus, and it is determined whether or not there is an abnormality such as a scratch, a foreign object, a deformation, or a color change. It is determined that the bottle 3 exceeding the allowable range is abnormal. The bottle 3 determined to be abnormal is discharged to the outside of the aseptic filling machine by a discharging device (not shown).

  The bottles 3 not judged to be abnormal by the inspection by the inspection equipment 24 do not have the germicide gas or mist generated by the sterilizing unit 30 or a mixture thereof, so as not to flow into the forming unit 16. It is conveyed to the sterilizing unit 30 via the wheels 25 and 26 in the atmosphere blocking chamber 27 provided therebetween.

  The bottle 3 conveyed to the sterilization unit 30 is sterilized at the sterilization wheel 28. To sterilize the bottle 3, a gas or mist of a germicide or a mixture of these is sprayed onto the bottle 3. The gas spraying process of the germicide to the bottle 3 is shown in FIG. 3 (D). In order to spray gas or the like of the sterilizing agent onto the bottle 3, a sterilizing gas spray nozzle 31 is provided. The sterilizing gas spray nozzle 31 is fixed so that the nozzle hole at its tip can face the opening of the opening 2 of the bottle 3 traveling immediately below. In addition, a sterilant gas spray tunnel 32 is provided along the travel path of the bottle 3 below the sterilant gas spray nozzle 31 as required, as shown in FIG. 3 (D). The germicide gas spray nozzle 31 may be single or plural. The germicide gas or mist sprayed onto the bottle 3 or a mixture thereof flows into the interior of the bottle 3 to sterilize the inner surface of the bottle 3. At this time, as the bottle 3 travels in the sterilizing gas spray tunnel 32, the gas or mist of the sterilizing agent or the mixture thereof also flows to the outer surface of the bottle 3, and the outer surface of the bottle 3 is sterilized.

  The germicide gas or mist or a mixture thereof is a mist of the germicide or gasified germicide condensed by the germicide gas generator. The bactericide gas generator is a two-fluid spray nozzle for supplying bactericide in the form of droplets, and a vaporization agent which heats and vaporizes the bactericide supplied from the bactericide supply portion below the decomposition temperature. And a unit. The sterilizing agent supply unit introduces the sterilizing agent and the compressed air from the sterilizing agent supply passage and the compressed air supply passage, respectively, and sprays the sterilizing agent into the vaporization unit. The vaporization unit is a pipe having a heater sandwiched between the inner and outer walls, and heats and vaporizes the sterilizing agent blown into the pipe. The gas of the vaporized sterilant is ejected from the sterilant gas spray nozzle 31 to the outside of the vaporization unit.

  Preferably, the germicidal agent contains at least hydrogen peroxide. The content is suitably in the range of 0.5% by mass to 65% by mass. If the amount is less than 0.5% by mass, the bactericidal activity may be insufficient. If the amount is more than 65% by mass, safety may make handling difficult. Furthermore, it is more preferable that the content be 0.5 to 40% by mass, and if 40% by mass or less, handling is easier, and the concentration becomes low, so that the residual amount of the germicide after sterilization can be reduced.

  When the hydrogen peroxide solution is used as the sterilizing agent, the sprayed amount of the hydrogen peroxide solution is as follows. The hydrogen peroxide solution attached to the inner surface of the bottle 3 by the hydrogen peroxide solution gas sprayed from the germicidal gas spray nozzle 31 to the inner surface of the bottle 3 is a hydrogen peroxide solution containing 35 mass% of hydrogen peroxide The amount is preferably 30 μL / bottle to 150 μL / bottle, more preferably 50 μL / bottle to 100 μL / bottle. Moreover, 2 mg / L-20 mg / L are preferable, and, as for the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the gas of the hydrogen-peroxide solution sprayed on the bottle 3, 5 mg / L-10 mg / L are more preferable.

  Moreover, although the bactericidal agent contains water, alcohols such as methyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, normal propyl alcohol and butyl alcohol, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone and acetylacetone, glycol ethers, etc. Two or more types may be included.

  Furthermore, the bactericidal agent includes organic acids such as peracetic acid and acetic acid, chlorine compounds such as sodium hypochlorite, compounds having a bactericidal effect such as ozone, cationic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, phosphoric acid compounds and the like It may contain an additive.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the bottle 3 sterilized by the sterilization unit 30 is conveyed to the air rinse unit 34 through the wheel 29. In the bottle 3, as shown in FIG. 3 (E), aseptic air is blown by the air rinse nozzle 38 at the air rinse wheel 35 shown in FIG. 1. The sterile air may be at normal temperature, but is preferably heated. Sterile air discharges the bactericide remaining in the interior of the bottle 3 to decompose the remaining bactericide to further enhance the bactericidal effect, and also has the effect of eliminating foreign matter present inside the bottle 3.

  The air rinse nozzle 38 may move up and down, and aseptic air may be blown into the bottle 3. At this time, when the bottle 3 is in the inverted state, removal of foreign matter is facilitated. Further, the inside of the bottle 3 may be rinsed by introducing the inside of the bottle 3 into which the aseptic water is inverted instead of the aseptic air. Furthermore, the bottle 3 may be rinsed by using sterile air and sterile water in combination.

  The bottle 3 air-rinsed by the air rinse unit 34 is conveyed to the filling unit 39 through the wheel 37 as shown in FIG. 1. In the filling section 39, the contents are filled in the bottle 3 by the filling nozzle 42 as in the filling step shown in FIG. 3 (F) with the filling wheel 40 shown in FIG. The contents are sterilized in advance, and the contents such as a certain amount of beverage are filled in the bottle 3 by the filling nozzle 42 traveling synchronously with the bottle 3.

  The bottle 3 filled with the contents is conveyed to the sealing unit 44 via the wheel 43 shown in FIG. In the sealing wheel 45 provided in the sealing portion 44, as in the sealing step shown in FIG. 3G, the cap 4 (previously sterilized) is attached to the mouth of the bottle 3 by a capper (not shown) provided on the sealing wheel 45. It is tightened to 2 and the bottle 3 is sealed.

  The sealed bottle 3 is delivered from the gripper 22 of the sealing wheel 45 to the gripper 22 of the discharge wheel 46 of the discharge part 47. The bottles 3 delivered to the discharge wheel 46 are placed on the discharge conveyor 48. The bottles 3 placed on the discharge conveyor 48 are discharged from the inside of the filling chamber 41 to the outside of the aseptic filling machine.

  The sterilization chamber 33 for shielding the sterilization unit 30, the air rinse unit chamber 36 and the filling unit 39 for shielding the air rinse unit 34, and the filling unit chamber 41 for shielding the sealing unit 44 and the discharge unit 47 are sterilized before the operation of the aseptic filling machine Be done. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, a sterilizing agent spray device 50 is provided in each chamber, and the sterilizing agent spray device 50 is provided with a sterilizing agent spray nozzle 51, and the sterilizing agent is sprayed into the chamber from the sterilizing agent spray nozzle 51. Ru.

  As the sterilizing agent spray nozzle 51, a single fluid spray or a spray nozzle using a two-fluid spray or a spin ball that mixes and sterilizes the sterilizing agent with compressed air is used. As long as the sterilizing agent can be sprayed so as to adhere to the whole area in the chamber, the sterilizing agent spraying nozzle 51 may be used in any form, plural or different spray nozzles. Further, the sterilizing agent spray nozzle 51 may be provided on the wall surface of the chamber and sprayed from the wall surface, or may be provided inside the chamber and sprayed inside the chamber. The sterilizing agent spray nozzle 51 may be provided anywhere in the chamber as long as the sterilizing agent is disposed to adhere to the entire area in the chamber.

  The bactericidal agent contains at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid and 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide is 1/7 to 1/20. If the amount of peracetic acid is less than 1000 ppm, the bactericidal activity is insufficient, and if it exceeds 2000 ppm, the concentration of peracetic acid in the waste solution becomes high. Moreover, when hydrogen peroxide is less than 10000 ppm, the bactericidal activity is insufficient, and when it exceeds 50000 ppm, it is excessive. Furthermore, when the concentration ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide exceeds 1/7, the bactericidal activity is insufficient, and if less than 1/20, the hydrogen peroxide concentration is excessive. When the concentration of peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide is in the above range and the concentration ratio is 1/7 to 1/20, the concentration ratio of conventional peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide is 1 / 0.7 to It has been found that the sterilization can be performed in a short time and the peracetic acid concentration of the waste solution can be suppressed to a low level as compared with the sterilization by the peracetic acid sterilization which is 1/5. Also, the bactericidal agent is preferably heated and sprayed at 40 ° C to 70 ° C. When heated, the bactericidal effect of the bactericidal agent is enhanced. However, at high temperatures, peracetic acid decomposes excessively.

  After the germicide is sprayed from the germicide spray nozzle 51, the germicide spray nozzle 51 sprays aseptic water over the entire area of each chamber. The sterile water cleans the bactericide remaining in each chamber. Sterile water is water that has been heated at 121 ° C. or higher for 4 minutes or more, or water that has been sterilized by passing it through a sterilization filter. Preferably, the sterile water to be sprayed is heated. The heating enhances the detergency, and the subsequent blowing of sterile air promotes vaporization.

  Each chamber is provided with a sterile air supply device 52 as shown in FIG. A sterile air supply 52 is connected to the top of each chamber. The sterile air supply device 52 includes a blower 53, a heating device 54 and a sterilization filter 55. After the air by the blower 53 is heated by the heating device 54 and disinfected by the disinfecting filter 55, it becomes sterile air and is supplied into each chamber.

  The sterile air supplied from the sterile air supply device 52 evaporates and removes the water remaining in each chamber. At this time, the aseptic air is heated to rapidly remove the water by vaporization. Also, the sterile air supply device 52 supplies sterile air into each chamber in order to maintain the sterility in each chamber when the sterile filling machine is in operation. In this case, the sterile air does not have to be heated.

  Even if an aqueous solution of an alkaline compound such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide is sprayed to spray the sterilizing agent into each chamber, the filling portion 39, the sealing portion 44 and the discharge portion 47 in the filling portion chamber 41 are cleaned. I do not care. In addition, the inside of the chamber is sterilized with a bactericide containing at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid and 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide is 1/7 to 1/20, and washed with sterile water. After that, each chamber may be sterilized with hydrogen peroxide gas or mist or a mixture of these. The hydrogen peroxide gas or mist or mixtures thereof are generated by the sterilant gas generator described above.

  The supply of sterile air keeps the inside of each chamber at a positive pressure, and the sterile air flowing out of each chamber is exhausted from the opening. An evacuation device may be provided in each chamber for evacuation.

  In the sterilization before the operation of the aseptic filling machine, the surface of the sterilization filter 55 can also be sterilized by spraying the sterilizing agent by the sterilizing agent spray nozzle 51. The sterilization filter 55 may be sterilized by sterilization with steam at 121 ° C. × 15 minutes or more.

  A sterilizing agent sprayed into each chamber to sterilize the inside of the sterilization unit chamber 33, the air rinse unit chamber 36 and the filling unit chamber 41 before the operation of the aseptic filling machine is provided at the bottom of each chamber as shown in FIG. It was collected in the ditch 64 and was discarded. According to the embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5, the bactericide collected in the groove 64 provided at the bottom of each chamber is recovered by the bactericide recovery device 49. The sterilizing agent recovery device 49 includes a sterilizing agent recovery pump 56 and a recovery bactericidal agent tank 57. The sterilizing agent is stored in the collected sterilizing agent tank 57 by the sterilizing agent collection pump 56 from the groove 64 provided at the bottom of each chamber.

  The germicide to be recovered is a germicide comprising at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid and 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide is 1/7 to 1/20.

  The bactericide containing peracetic acid stored in the recovered bactericidal agent tank 57 is supplied by the recovered bactericidal agent supply device 61 to either or both of the rotating body sealing pool 58 and the discharge conveyor immersion pool 59 to seal the rotating body. And for discharging one or both of the discharge conveyors 48. Moreover, it may be supplied to the sterilizing agent spray device 50 at the time of sterilization in each chamber performed before the start of operation of the aseptic filling machine, and may be used again for sterilization in each chamber. In this case, the germicide to be used again is further recovered and used. The recovery sterilizing agent supply device 61 including the pumps 60, 62 and 63 supplies the sterilizing agent recovered from the recovery sterilizing agent tank 57 to the rotating body sealing pool 58, the discharge conveyor immersion pool 59 and the sterilizing agent spraying device 50.

  The filling wheel 40 is shown in FIG. The contents from the filling nozzle 42 are filled with the sterilized bottle 3 provided at regular intervals on the outer periphery of the filling wheel 40 and gripped by the gripper 22 that pivots the filling wheel 40. The filling chamber 41 is composed of a movable part 41 b of the filling wheel 40 and a fixed part 41 a. The interior shielded by the fixed portion 41a and the movable portion 41b is maintained in a sterile atmosphere during operation of the sterile filling machine. A drive device (not shown) is provided below the movable portion 41b which is the outside of the movable portion 41b. The movable part 41b rotates with the rotation of the filling wheel 40, but the end face of the skirt part of the movable part 41b is inserted into the rotating body sealing pool 58 where the bactericidal agent is stored. The inside of the filling chamber 41 is shielded from the outside to maintain sterility. The rotating body sealing pool 58 contains at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid recovered and used for sterilization of each chamber, and 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide is 1/7 to 7 A disinfectant that is 1/20 is stored. The collected sterilizing agent is supplied from the collected sterilizing agent tank 57 to the rotating body sealing pool 58 by the pump 60. When the sterilizer is no longer required in the rotor sealing pool 58 so that the operation of the aseptic filling machine is stopped, the sterilizer is discharged to the collected sterilizer tank 57 by the pump 62. Further, during operation of the aseptic filling machine, the pumps 60 and 62 may be operated to circulate the sterilizing agent in the rotating body sealing pool 58 and the sterilizing agent in the collected sterilizing agent tank 57.

  Similarly to the filling wheel 40, the sterilization wheel 28 of the sterilization unit 30 and the sealing wheel 45 of the sealing unit 44 also have a rotating body sealing pool 58, and similarly sterilization is carried out from the collected sterilizing agent tank 57 by the collected sterilizing agent supply device 61. The agent is supplied.

  FIG. 7 shows a discharge conveyor 48 which discharges the contents filled and sealed bottles 3 from the sterile atmosphere to the non-sterile atmosphere. The interior shielded by the filling chamber 41 is a sterile atmosphere, but the exterior of the sterile filling machine from which the sealed bottle 3 is discharged is a non-sterile atmosphere. A discharge conveyor 48 circulating a sterile atmosphere and a non-sterile atmosphere is immersed in the germicide by the discharge conveyor dip pool 59 and circulated. Even if bacteria and the like adhere to the surface in a non-sterile atmosphere, the discharge conveyor 48 that has touched the non-sterile atmosphere is disinfected by being immersed in a germicide, and the surface is sterilized even if the atmosphere is returned to a sterile atmosphere. It is not polluted by The discharge conveyor immersion pool 59 contains at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid recovered and used for sterilization of each chamber, and contains 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide, and the concentration ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide is 1/7 to 1 The disinfectant which is / 20 is stored. The sterilant recovered from the recovered sterilant tank 57 by the pump 60 is supplied to the discharge conveyor dip pool 59. In addition, when the sterilant is no longer required in the discharge conveyor immersion pool 59, it is discharged by the pump 63 to the collected sterilizer tank 57. In addition, during operation of the aseptic filling machine, the pumps 60 and 63 may be operated to circulate the sterilizing agent in the discharge conveyor immersion pool 59 and the sterilizing agent in the collected sterilizing agent tank 57.

  As shown in FIG. 8, it is preferable that the collected sterilizing agent tank 57 be provided with a peracetic acid concentration adjusting device 65 and a hydrogen peroxide concentration adjusting device 66. The peracetic acid concentration adjusting device 65 is provided with a peracetic acid concentration measuring device 67, and the hydrogen peroxide concentration adjusting device 66 is provided with a hydrogen peroxide concentration measuring device 68. When the concentration of peracetic acid falls and the concentration of peracetic acid in the recovered germicide reaches around 1000 ppm, a part of the recovered germicide is discharged by the pump 69 and discarded, and a new germicide containing high concentration of peracetic acid is discarded Is added from the peracetic acid storage tank 70 to the collected bactericide tank 57 by the peracetic acid concentration adjustment pump 71 until the peracetic acid in the bactericide stored in the collected bactericide tank 57 becomes an appropriate concentration. In addition, when the concentration of hydrogen peroxide decreases and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the recovered sterilizing agent becomes around 10000 ppm, a part of the recovered sterilizing agent is discharged by the pump 69 and discarded, and high concentration hydrogen peroxide is The new sterilizing agent is collected from the hydrogen peroxide storage tank 72 until the hydrogen peroxide in the sterilizing agent stored in the collected sterilizing agent tank 57 reaches an appropriate concentration by the hydrogen peroxide concentration adjustment pump 73 Add to 57.

  If the concentration ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide is in the range of 1/7 to 1/20, the measured value by the peracetic acid concentration measuring device 65 and the hydrogen peroxide concentration measuring device 66 is calculated by an arithmetic device not shown. Check. When the concentration ratio of peracetic acid to hydrogen peroxide is not in the range of 1/7 to 1/20, the concentration is adjusted by increasing the concentration of peracetic acid or hydrogen peroxide.

  The peracetic acid concentration and the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the sterilizing agent used for sterilization in each chamber, sealing of the rotating body and immersion of the discharge conveyor 48 are always appropriate by the peracetic acid concentration adjusting device 65 and the hydrogen peroxide concentration adjusting device 66 Be kept

  The peracetic acid concentration of the bactericide is measured by measuring the conductivity of the bactericide stored in the collected bactericide tank 57 with a conductivity meter and calculating the measured conductivity to the peracetic acid concentration. The relationship between the conductivity and the peracetic acid concentration can be more accurately calculated from the conductivity by performing calibration in advance or periodically. In this case, the peracetic acid concentration measuring device 67 comprises a conductivity meter and an arithmetic unit.

  The hydrogen peroxide concentration can be determined by the oxygen electrode method. In this case, the hydrogen peroxide concentration measuring device 68 is a measuring device using an oxygen electrode method.

  Although the present invention is configured as described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Preform 3 ... Bottle 30 ... Sterilization part 33 ... Sterilization part chamber 34 ... Air rinse part 36 ... Air rinse part chamber 39 ... Filling part 41 ... Filling part chamber 44 ... Sealing part 47 ... Discharge part 48 ... Discharge conveyor 49 ... Disinfectant Recovery device 57: Recovery bactericide tank 58: Swimming pool for rotating body seal 59 ... Discharge conveyor immersion pool 61 ... Recovery bactericide supply device 65 ... Peracetic acid concentration adjustment device 66 ... Hydrogen peroxide concentration adjustment device 67 ... Peracetic acid concentration measurement device 68 ... Hydrogen peroxide concentration measuring device

Claims (7)

An aseptic filling machine for filling sterile contents in a sterile bottle in an aseptic atmosphere and sealing with a sterile sealing member, wherein the aseptic filling machine shields each part constituting the aseptic filling machine In the aseptic filling machine having a chamber,
In order to sterilize the inside of the chamber, it contains at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid and 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide sprayed by a sterilizing agent spray device provided in the chamber, and the concentrations of the peracetic acid and the hydrogen peroxide An aseptic filling machine comprising a sterilizing agent recovery device for recovering a sterilizing agent having a ratio of 1/7 to 1/20. In the aseptic filling machine according to claim 1,
The aseptic apparatus, wherein the sterilizing agent recovery apparatus comprises a sterilizing agent recovery pump for recovering the sterilizing agent from an outlet provided at the bottom of the chamber, and a recovery bactericidal agent tank for storing the recovered sterilizing agent. Filling machine. In the aseptic filling machine according to claim 1 or 2,
From the collected sterilant tank, a rotating body sealing pool for separating the aseptic atmosphere and the nonsterile atmosphere at the bottom of the wheel, and a conveyor for discharging the sealed bottle from the aseptic atmosphere to the nonsterile atmosphere. An aseptic filling machine comprising: a recovery sterilizing agent supply device for supplying one or both of a conveyor immersion pool for maintaining the sterility of the container. In the aseptic filling machine according to claim 1 or 2,
A sterile filling machine comprising: a recovery sterilizing agent supply device for supplying the recovered sterilizing agent from the recovery sterilizing agent tank to the sterilizing agent spraying device. The aseptic filling machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein
The recovery bactericide tank includes a bactericide concentration adjusting device for maintaining the peracetic acid concentration and the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the recovered bactericide in a certain range, and the bactericide concentration adjusting device is at least in the recovery bactericide tank The concentration of the peracetic acid and the concentration of the peracetic acid determined based on the concentration measured by the peracetic acid concentration measuring device and the hydrogen peroxide concentration measuring device for measuring the peracetic acid concentration and the hydrogen peroxide concentration of the collected recovered bactericide A sterile filling machine comprising a peracetic acid concentration adjustment pump and a hydrogen peroxide concentration adjustment pump for adjusting a hydrogen oxide concentration. An aseptic filling machine for filling sterile contents in a sterile bottle in an aseptic atmosphere and sealing with a sterile sealing member, wherein the aseptic filling machine shields each part constituting the aseptic filling machine In the aseptic filling machine having a chamber,
In order to sterilize the inside of the chamber, it contains at least 1000 ppm to 2000 ppm of peracetic acid and 10000 ppm to 50000 ppm of hydrogen peroxide sprayed in the chamber, and the concentration ratio of the peracetic acid to the hydrogen peroxide is 1/7 to 1/20. A rotating body seal that separates the germicide from the sterile atmosphere under the wheel and the non-sterile atmosphere, and a conveyor that discharges the sealed bottle from the sterile atmosphere to the non-sterile atmosphere. The recycling | reuse method of the sterilizing agent used with the aseptic filling machine characterized by utilizing in any one or more of immersion and sterilization in the said chamber. In the method for recycling a germicide used in the aseptic filling machine according to claim 6,
A sterileness characterized in that the concentrations of the peracetic acid and the hydrogen peroxide of the recovered bactericide are measured, and the concentrations of the peracetic acid and the hydrogen peroxide of the recovered bactericide are maintained within a certain range. How to reuse the germicide used in the filling machine.

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