JP2676968B2 - Can body sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a can body sterilizing device for sterilizing a body of a beverage can filled with a beverage.

"Prior art" For example, as one of the methods for filling a juice drink into a can,
There is something called the cold pack method.

This is a beverage prepared with fruit juice, sugar, milk, etc.
After heat sterilization at 95 ℃ for several seconds, cool it to 15-30 ℃, fill it into a cylinder with a bottomed bottom, cover the can with a lid, and seal. At 80 ° C
This is a method in which the can is sterilized by heating for about 30 minutes and then cooled again.

However, in the case of the above method, since the can in which the beverage is sealed is heated for a long time (about 30 minutes), the taste of the beverage is deteriorated.

Therefore, in recent years, a method of aseptically filling the beverage without losing its taste has been developed.

As one of the methods, the present applicant has previously introduced a can body and a can lid that have been sterilized in advance into a clean room, and in the clean room, the can body is filled with a beverage that has been cooled by heating and sterilized. Furthermore, after injecting liquid nitrogen in the can body, the can body is covered with a can lid, and then, outside the clean room, the can lid is wound around the can body to seal the beverage. .

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, in the case of carrying out the above method, it is necessary to sterilize the can body in advance. Moreover, the development of a device for sure sterilization has been desired.

"Object of the Invention" The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a can body sterilizer that can sterilize a large number of can bodies continuously and reliably.

[Means for Solving the Problem] In order to achieve the above object, a can body sterilizing apparatus of the present invention is a carrying means for carrying a can body, and ozone water is provided in the can body provided in the middle of the carrying means. Ozone water spraying means for spraying, hot water spraying means provided downstream of this ozone water spraying means for spraying hot water onto the can body, and sterile water provided for downstream of this hot water spraying means Aseptic water spray means for spraying.

[Operation] In the can body sterilizing apparatus of the present invention, while conveying the body of the can by the conveying means, the ozone water spraying means blows ozone water to the body of the can to sterilize the bacteria, and further by the hot water spraying means. Continuously and reliably sterilize a large number of cans by spraying hot water onto the cans to sterilize mold and yeast, and then spraying aseptic water onto the cans by aseptic water spraying means to cool them in an aseptic state. To do.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the can body sterilizing apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

In these drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates a sterilization chamber for sterilizing the can body. The sterilization chamber 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and is provided inside a box 3 horizontally fixed to an upper portion of a base 2. The inside is partitioned into three chambers by walls 4 and 5.
These chambers are respectively a first sterilization chamber 6 sterilized with ozone water, a second sterilization chamber 7 sterilized with hot water, and a third sterilization chamber 8 sterilized with sterile water.

The side wall 3a of the box 3 is formed with a carry-in port 9 for loading the can body K before sterilization into the first sterilization chamber 6, and the side wall 3b facing the side wall 3a is sterilized. 3rd can barrel K
A carry-out port 10 for carrying out from the sterilization chamber 8 is formed.

Further, the can body K carried in from the carry-in port 9 into the sterilization chamber 1 is provided with the first sterilization chamber 6 to the second sterilization chamber 7, the second sterilization chamber 7 to the third sterilization chamber 8, and the third sterilization chamber 8 A transport means 11 is provided for transporting from to the exit 10.

That is, in the sterilization chamber 1, as shown in FIG. 1, a pair of pulleys 12 and 13 that are spaced apart in the left-right direction and a conveyor belt 14 wound around these pulleys 12 and 13 are mainly configured. A conveyor section 15 is provided. The conveyor section 15 is provided in two rows in the first sterilization chamber 6, four rows in the second sterilization chamber 7, and one row in the third sterilization chamber 8 in parallel with each other. In addition, the shaft of the pulley 12 of each conveyor unit 15 is the box body 1 described above.
The pulley 16 is attached to each of these shafts, and the drive belt is attached to each of the pulleys 16 ...
Seventeen are wound. The drive belt 17 is the box 3 described above.
Is wound around a pulley 19 attached to the rotation shaft of a drive motor 18 attached to the upper surface of the. Note that reference numeral 20 in the figure
Applies tension to the drive belt 17 and
16 ... It is a pulley to prevent slipping. The conveyor bell 14 of each of the conveyor sections 15 is configured to be rotationally moved by the drive motor 18 via the pulley 19, the pulley 20, ..., The drive belt 17, and the pulley 16.

Further, round bar-shaped guide members 21, 21 are provided in parallel with the conveyor belts 14 at positions where the respective conveyor belts 14 are horizontally sandwiched. The guide member 21 is provided so as to be capable of coming into contact with and separating from the conveyor belt 14, the can body K is inserted between the guide member 21 and the conveyor belt 14, and the conveyor belt 14 is placed on the outer peripheral surface of the can body K. By contacting and moving, the can body K is guided by the guide member 21 and the guide member 21 and the conveyor belt.
It rolls between 14 and. Further, between the conveyor belt 14 and the guide member 21, a pair of guide members 22a, 22a are provided below the conveyor belt 14 in parallel with each other and in parallel with the guide member 21, and a guide member 22b is provided above the guide member 22b. It is provided parallel to 22a, 22a and vertically movable. These guide members 22a, 22a and 22b are used to slidably support the open end surface portion and the bottom plate portion of the can body K when the can body K rolls between the guide member 21 and the conveyor belt 14. The distance between the guide members 22a, 22a is set shorter than the diameter of the can body K.

Further, an arc-shaped guide member 23 is provided on the left end side of the guide members 21, 21 in FIG.
Are connected to each other. This guide member 23 is the first
In the figure, a can body K that has rolled to the left along one guide member 21 rotates a rotating plate 24 that rotates with the pulley 16.
Is guided and guides the can body K when it is rotated around the pulley 16 by the rotating plate 24, and the can body K which is rotated and moved along the guide member 23 is moved along the other guide member 21. And rolls to the right.

Rotation plates 25 are provided on the right side between the adjacent conveyor units 15 and 15, and an arc-shaped guide member 26 is provided on the right side of the rotation plates 25. The second rotary plate 25 from the front (downward in FIG. 1) is positioned at the right end opening of the wall portion 4,
The rearmost rotary plate 25 (not shown) is located at the right end opening of the wall portion 5. The rotary shaft of each rotary plate 25 penetrates the upper wall portion of the box body 3, and the rotary shaft that penetrates the rotary plate 25 has:
Each pulley 27 is attached. A drive belt 28 is wound around the three rear pulleys 27, and the drive belt 28 applies tension to the drive belt 28.
And is wound around the drive pulley 30. On the other hand, a drive belt (not shown) is also wound around the three front pulleys 27,
The drive belt is a pulley 31 that applies tension to the drive belt.
... and is wound around the drive pulley 32. Then, when the can body K that has rolled to the right by the conveyor unit 15 is transferred, the rotary plates 25 are driven by the drive pulley 30 (32) by the drive belt 28, the pulley 29 (31), and the pulley 27. The can body K is transferred to the next conveyor unit 15 adjacent thereto.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, upper spraying means 34 ... And lower spraying means 35 ... Are provided at positions where the above conveyors 15 are vertically sandwiched. The upper spray means 34 sprays a liquid such as ozone water, hot water or sterile water from above onto the can body K which is rolling in an upright state, and extends above the conveyor portion 15 in the longitudinal direction thereof. Mainly includes a tubular body 36 that is provided and movable in the vertical direction, and a plurality of nozzle portions 37 attached to the tubular body 36 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction (direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 4). The liquid is ejected from the tip of each nozzle portion 37 toward the can body K in a fan shape in cross section. On the other hand, the lower spray means 35 includes a pipe 38 extending in the longitudinal direction below the conveyor unit 15, and a plurality of nozzles 39 attached to the pipe 38 at predetermined intervals in the longitudinal direction. It is configured as a main body, and the above liquid is supplied from each nozzle portion 39 to the can body K.
It is designed to eject in a fan shape in cross section. Also,
The nozzle portion 39 is provided below the nozzle portion 37 with its axis displaced by a predetermined distance in the direction orthogonal to the direction in which the can body K is conveyed.

And the spray means 3 located in the first sterilization chamber 6
4, 35 are ozone water spraying means 40, spraying means 34, 35 located in the second sterilization chamber 7 are hot water spraying means 41, spraying means 34, 35 located in the third sterilization room 8 are sterile water spraying means 4
It is said to be 2.

Below the box body 3, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an ozone water inlet 43 for supplying ozone water, hot water, and sterile water to the spraying means 40, 41, 42, respectively. ,
A hot water inlet 44, a sterile water inlet 45, an ozone water return port 46, and a hot water return port 47 are attached to the frame 48. A pipe 43a is connected to the ozone water inlet 43, and the pipe 43a is extended to the side wall 3a side of the box body 3 and extends from the side wall 3a to the pipe bodies 36, 38 of the ozone water spraying means 40. It is connected.
Similarly, a pipe 44a and a pipe 45a are connected to the hot water inlet 44 and the sterile water inlet 45, respectively, and these pipes 44a and 45a are respectively fed from the side wall portion 3a of the box 3 to the hot water spraying means 41. And the pipes 36, 38 of the sterile water spray means 42. The ozone water inlet 43 is connected to a high-concentration ozone water production device (not shown) for producing high-concentration ozone (25 ppm) by stirring and mixing ozone gas with cooling water at about 5 ° C. Has become.

Further, below the box body 3, drains 5 are provided at positions below the first sterilization chamber 6, the second sterilization chamber 7, and the third sterilization chamber 8, respectively.
0,51,52 are provided. Then, the used ozone water accumulated in the drain 50 is returned to the ozone water return port 56 via the pipe 53.
The used hot water collected in the drain 51 is returned to the hot water return port 47 through the pipe and reused, and the used sterile water collected in the drain 52 is discarded.

Further, a duct 55 is provided above the box body 3, and a midway portion of the duct 55 extends from the upper wall portion of the box body 3 to the first sterilization chamber 6, the second sterilization chamber 7, and the third sterilization chamber 8 And the inhaler 53 through the activated carbon tank 52 at the other end.
Is connected to the mist generated in the first to third sterilization chambers 6, 7, and 8,
Dust or the like is inhaled, ozone is made harmless by the active end tank 52, and these are exhausted to the outside.

Next, a method of sterilizing the can body K with the can body sterilizing apparatus having the above-described configuration will be described.

First, from the carry-in port 9 formed in the side wall portion 3a of the box body 3, the can body K is directed with its axis in the direction orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. 1, and the opening edge is brought into contact with the guide members 22a, 22a. While being brought into the first sterilization chamber 6 in this state, the drive motor 18 is activated to rotate the drive belts 17 ...

Then, the can body K carried in from the carry-in port 9 is rotated by the conveyor belt 14 of the conveyor unit 15 in the first row, and is guided by the one guide member 21 so that the drive belt 17 and the guide member 21 are separated from each other. Roll toward the left in Fig. 1.

When the can body K comes to the left end of the conveyor section 15, the rotating plate
It rides on 24 and rotates along the guide member 23, and rolls to the right between the conveyor belt 14 and the other guide member 21.

Further, when the can body K comes to the right end of the conveyor section 15, it is transferred to the rotary plate 25, rotationally moves along the guide member 26, transferred to the second row conveyor section 15, and rotated by the conveyor belt 14. While being swung, it is guided by one of the guide members 21 to roll to the left, and further rides on the rotary plate 24 to rotate and move to roll to the right. By repeating this series of operations, the can body K is
While sterilizing the sterilization chamber 1 left and right in FIG. 1, the first sterilization chamber 6
To the third sterilization chamber 8 are rolled.

On the other hand, while the can body K is rolling in the sterilization chamber 1, in the first sterilization chamber 6, the ozone water spray means 40 is directed toward the can body K from the nozzle portions 37 and 39 of the upper and lower spraying means 34 and 35. Water is sprayed to sterilize molds, yeasts and other bacteria,
In the sterilization chamber 7, hot water is similarly sprayed from the hot water spraying means 41 to the can body K to sterilize bacteria other than the above, and further, in the third sterilization room 8, sterile water is sprayed from the sterile water spraying means 42. Similarly, the can body K is sprayed onto the can body K to be cooled in an aseptic state.

Then, the sterilized and cooled can body K is the side wall portion of the box body 3.
It is carried out one after another from the carry-out port 10 formed in 3b.

Therefore, according to the can body sterilizer, the sterilization chamber 1 is provided with the first sterilization chamber 6, the second sterilization chamber 7 and the third sterilization chamber 8, and the conveyor units are provided in the sterilization chambers 6, 7, and 8, respectively. 15 ... are arranged side by side, and while the can body K is meandering while being rolled by these conveyor parts 15, the can bodies K are successively conveyed to the respective sterilization chambers 6, 7, and 8, and during this conveyance, the first sterilization chamber 6 is conveyed. Ozone water spray means
Ozone water is sprayed on the can body K by 40 to sterilize, hot water is sprayed on the can body K by the hot water spraying means 41 of the second sterilization chamber 7, and further sterile water spraying means of the third sterilization chamber 8 is sterilized. Since aseptic water is sprayed onto the can body K by 42 to cool the can body K in an aseptic state, a large amount of can body K can be sterilized continuously and reliably.

Further, since the can body K is rotated when the above-mentioned liquid is sprayed onto the can body K by the spraying means 40, 41, 42, the liquid can be uniformly and surely sprayed onto the can body K.

Further, since a plurality of conveyor parts 15 ... Are arranged side by side in the sterilization chamber 1 and the can body K is meandered and conveyed by these conveyor parts 15 ..., the box body 3 that defines the sterilization chamber 1 is formed. The size of the device itself can be reduced to be small.

"Effects of the Invention" As described above, according to the can body sterilizing apparatus of the present invention, while conveying the body of the can by the conveying means, ozone water is sprayed on the body of the can by the ozone water spraying means to sterilize bacteria, Furthermore, since hot water is sprayed onto the can body by hot water spraying means to sterilize mold and yeast, and aseptic water is sprayed onto the can body by aseptic water spraying means to cool in a sterile state, a large number of cans are used. The barrel can be sterilized continuously and reliably.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 to 4 show one embodiment of the can body sterilizing apparatus of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a line II-II in FIG. FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the spraying means. K ... Can barrel, 11 ... Transporting means, 40 ... Ozone water spraying means, 41 ... Hot water spraying means, 42 ... Aseptic water spraying means.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A conveying means for conveying a can body, an ozone water spray means provided in the middle of the conveying means for spraying ozone water onto the can body, and a can body provided downstream of the ozone water spray means. A can body sterilizing device comprising: hot water spraying means for spraying hot water onto the can body; and aseptic water spraying means provided downstream of the hot water spraying means for spraying aseptic water onto the body of the can.