JP2623767B2 - Method for killing packaging materials and sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a sterilization method and an improvement of a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a packaging material using an aseptic filling and packaging machine.

<Prior art> In recent years, a laminated material formed by laminating a thermoplastic plastic film such as polyethylene, aluminum foil, etc. on paper is sterilized with a sterilizing solution, and then the sterilizing solution is removed and dried.
An aseptic filling and packaging system has been developed in which the material to be filled is filled, then hermetically sealed and molded and packaged.

Such an aseptic filling and packaging machine has a sterilizing liquid removing step of sterilizing the packaging material with a sterilizing liquid and then removing the sterilizing liquid.

Conventional sterilization methods for packaging materials include immersing the packaging material in a sterilizing solution or spraying the sterilizing solution, and then removing the sterilizing solution attached to the packaging material, such as an air knife and a squeezing roll, and then performing a high-temperature sterilization. A sterilization removal method such as drying by blowing air has been performed.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> However, when the sterilizing solution is removed from the packaging material by air knife, squeezing roll or high temperature sterile air blow drying, the balance of the air amount from the air outlet is not necessarily constant. However, when the removal function does not work due to a failure of the apparatus or the like, defective removal of the sterilizing solution occurs, and the sterilizing solution remains in the product, which is a serious problem.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to completely remove a sterilizing solution after sterilizing a packaging material and to sterilize the packaging material in a relatively easy manner. It is an object of the present invention to provide a sterilization method and a sterilization apparatus that can continuously verify and confirm the state of liquid removal.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a sterilizing process for packaging materials, in which a sterilizing solution adhered to the sterilized packaging material is squeezed or sprayed after being immersed or sprayed with an air knife. This is a sterilization method capable of verifying the degree of removal of the sterilizing solution from the packaging material by measuring and controlling the concentration of the sterilizing solution in the sterile water after removing by a roll and drying with high-temperature sterile air. That is, after the packaging material is sterilized by passing through the sterilizing solution or spraying the sterilizing solution, the sterilizing solution adhering to the packaging material is removed by an air knife, a squeezing roll, or the like. Normally in this state, it is passed through the drying process and sent to the filling and molding process, but in order to complete the removal or to confirm whether the removal has been completed, it is permeated into sterile water, Wash the packaging material surface. This is a sterilization method in which the packaging material is washed in sterile water, passed through an air knife, a squeezing roll, etc. again as a water droplet removing step, and then dried by blowing sterile air heated to about 100 ° C. in the drying step. .

Further, the sterilizing apparatus used in the sterilizing method includes a sterilizing solution removing device inside, and a sterilizing solution chamber below which is filled with a sterilizing solution, and a sterilizing solution likewise including a removing device inside and a sterile water below. A water chamber and a drying chamber are provided continuously.

Then, a measurement processing device for measuring the concentration of the sterilizing solution in the sterile water is provided in the sterile water chamber, and the concentration of the sterilizing solution in the sterile water can be measured continuously or intermittently.

Further, the present invention provides an ultraviolet lamp and / or
Alternatively, it is a packaging material sterilizing apparatus provided with an ultrasonic oscillator.

Still further, the present invention is a sterilization apparatus for packaging materials in which a return line having a three-way valve activated by a signal from a measurement processing device is attached to a sterile water chamber.

At this time, by setting the temperature of the sterile water to 60 ° C or higher,
Excellent cleaning effect.

<Action> At this time, the sterile water used for washing shows a slight increase in the concentration of sterilizing liquid due to the sterilizing liquid attached to the packaging material and cannot be completely removed by an air knife, a squeezing roll, or the like.
When the concentration increase by the sterilizing solution in the sterile water is a slight increase, the sterilizing solution is decomposed by irradiating the sterile water with light such as ultraviolet rays. The slight increase in concentration due to the germicidal solution in the sterile water can be suppressed to a value equal to or less than the measured value by a decomposing means such as ultraviolet rays. However, if there is a failure in removing the sterilizing solution before immersion in the sterile water due to a failure of the machine or the like, the concentration in the sterile water abnormally increases, resulting in exceeding the decomposition rate. The concentration of sterilizing solution in sterile water is always controlled by a concentration measuring device. When the concentration in the sterile water rises abnormally, an alarm signal is sent out by the concentration measuring device, and a display and a measure such as controlling the operation of a valve to reduce the concentration in the sterile water and replacing the sterile water are performed. Do.

The packaging material applicable to the sterilization method of the present invention is not only a continuous web, but also a sleeve of a paper liquid container,
It goes without saying that the present invention can also be applied to a cup-shaped container.

Further, by providing the ultrasonic oscillator in the sterile water, the sterilizing solution can be more effectively removed.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a sterilizing apparatus for a packaging material of an aseptic filling and packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The packaging material 20 sent to the sterilizing apparatus is first immersed in a sterilizing solution 21 in a sterilizing solution chamber 2 for sterilizing the packaging material for about 10 seconds required for sterilization. The packaging material discharged from the sterilizing solution 21 is supplied to the first squeezing roll 9 and the first air knife 10
A germicidal solution removing device is used to remove the germicidal solution adhering to the surface of the packaging material 20. The sterilizing solution in the sterilizing solution chamber 2 is heated to 70-80 by the sterilizing solution heating heater 6 in the sterilizing solution tank 1.
The temperature is raised to about ° C. and is fed by the feed pump 7.

Here, the sterilizing solution in the sterilizing solution chamber 2 and the sterilizing solution in the sterilizing solution tank 1 are circulating. The return to the sterilizing solution tank uses a natural fall due to overflow, and the return line is provided with a filter 8 for removing impurities of the sterilizing solution. Packaging material 20 that has passed through the sterile liquid chamber
Is sent to the sterile water chamber 3.

When the aseptic water chamber is filled with aseptic water 22 and the aseptic water injection nozzle 45 is provided above the aseptic water, the first squeezing roll 9 and the first air knife 10 cause removal failure. The sterilizing solution adhering to the packaging material is washed to completely remove the sterilizing solution from the packaging material. The washed packaging material 20 is removed by a removing device including a second squeezing roll 11 and a second air knife 12 to remove aseptic water adhering to the packaging material.

Thereafter, the packaging material passes through the drying chamber 4 and is sent to a filling and molding step. Sterile water in sterile water chamber 3
Reference numeral 22 circulates using the sterile water tank 5 and the pump 14. A line for supplying fresh sterile water is connected to the sterile water tank 5, and this line is provided with a filter 19 and a supply control valve 18 for generating sterile water.

The sterile water in the sterile water chamber 3 and the sterile water tank 5 in the sterile water tank 5 contain a microconcentration of sterile liquid in the sterile water due to the sterile liquid adhering to the packaging material sent from the sterile liquid chamber 2. An ultraviolet lamp 13 is provided for decomposing this, and it can be decomposed at a normal level of concentration increase.

In the sterile water 22 in the sterile water chamber 3, devices 15 and 16 for measuring a small amount of sterilizing solution are attached. Sterile water
The concentration of the germicidal solution in 22 was abnormally increased and exceeded a certain concentration abnormality due to failure of the first squeezing roll 9 and the first air knife 10, etc., or failure to remove the germicidal solution adhered to the packaging material due to other reasons. In this case, an alarm signal is sent from the measurement processing devices 15 and 16 for measuring the concentration of the sterilizing solution, and the danger is notified to the operator, and the three-way valve 17 provided on the return line from the sterile water chamber is switched to the drainage direction, thereby allowing the allowable concentration. Drain the sterile water containing the above sterilizing solution. At the same time, the same amount of aseptic water that has been drained is newly supplied into the aseptic water tank 5.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, an ultrasonic oscillator 33 is mounted below the sterile water chamber 3 so that the sterilizing liquid remaining in the packaging material 20 can be more effectively removed.

The sterilization method and the sterilization apparatus described above make it possible to completely remove the residual sterilizing solution attached to the packaging material, and to confirm the removal of the sterilizing solution from the packaging material during continuous operation.

<Effect of the Invention> According to the sterilizing method and the sterilizing apparatus in the aseptic filling and packaging machine according to the present invention, the sterilizing liquid can be more reliably removed from the packaging material while having a relatively simple configuration, and during continuous operation. It is possible to confirm the method of sterilization and removal from the packaging material and to ensure that there is no residual sterilizing solution in the product.

Also, by providing an ultraviolet lamp in sterile water,
An increase in the concentration of the sterilizing solution in the sterile water can be suppressed, and the concentration can be maintained at a certain level or less.

Furthermore, when the concentration of the sterilizing solution in the sterile water becomes higher than the allowable concentration, the sterile water is not automatically circulated, but drained,
The concentration of the sterilizing solution in the sterile water can always be kept below a certain level.

By providing the ultrasonic oscillator in the sterile water, the removal of the residual sterilizing solution by the sterile water can be performed more reliably.

In addition, by using warm water of 60 ° C. or higher as the sterile water for cleaning, the cleaning effect of the sterilizing solution is further enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 and 2 are explanatory views showing a sterilizing apparatus for a packaging material of an aseptic filling and packaging machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Disinfectant tank, 2 ... Disinfectant chamber 3 ... Sterile water chamber, 4 ... Drying chamber 5 ... Sterile water tank, 13 ... UV lamp 15, 16 ... Measurement processing device 19 ... Filter, 20 …… Packaging material 33 …… Ultrasonic oscillator

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References Japanese Utility Model Showa 61-27805 (JP, U)

Claims (9)

(57) [Claims] In the sterilization process of a packaging material, after immersing in a sterilizing solution such as hydrogen peroxide or spraying the sterilizing solution, the package material is passed through a sterilizing solution removing process such as an air knife or a squeezing roll, and further immersed in sterile water. And then passing through a step of removing water drops and a drying step. 2. A germicidal chamber having a germicide removal device therein and filled with a germicide below, a sterile water chamber also having a removal device therein and filled with sterile water below, and a drying chamber. A sterilizing device for packaging materials provided continuously. 3. The packaging material sterilizing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a measuring and processing device for measuring the concentration of the sterilizing solution in the sterile water in the sterile water chamber. 4. The packaging material sterilizing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the concentration of the sterilizing solution in the sterile water is measured continuously or intermittently. 5. An apparatus for sterilizing packaging material according to claim 2, wherein an ultraviolet lamp is provided in the sterile water. 6. An apparatus for sterilizing packaging material according to claim 3, wherein a return line having a three-way valve activated by a signal from the measurement processing device is attached to the sterile water chamber. 7. The sterilizing apparatus for packaging materials according to claim 2, further comprising an ultrasonic oscillator in sterile water. 8. The method for sterilizing a packaging material according to claim 1, wherein the sterile water is warm water of 60 ° C. or higher. 9. The packaging material sterilizing apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a sterile water chamber of hot water of 60 ° C. or higher.