JP2721217B2 - Aseptic packaging container and filling method - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a container for aseptically packaging beverages such as juice and coffee, and other foods requiring sanitary control, and a method for filling the same. In particular, the present invention relates to a flexible aseptic packaging container used for storing and distributing food in a sanitary manner, and to an improvement in a filling method thereof.

[Conventional technology]

In recent years, aseptic storage and distribution of beverages such as juice and coffee, and other foods that require sanitary control, and aseptic methods of filling the contents into flexible containers made of synthetic plastic. After filling, a method of sealing the container by heat welding is used.

These are described, for example, in JP-B-63-23048. Hereinafter, an outline of the conventional invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In FIG. 3, a sterile packaging container 30 according to the conventional example is formed in a bag shape by synthetic-plastic films 32a and 32b being heat-welded at a peripheral portion 33. This aseptic packaging container 30
The cylindrical spout 34 is attached to the film 32a by heat welding the upper surface of the lower flange 34a and the back surface of the film 32a, and the upper surface of the cylindrical spout 34 has the membrane 35 attached to the upper flange 34b. Sealed by heat welding. Further, the flap 36 is partially heat-welded to the lower surface of the lower flange 34a of the cylindrical spout 34, so that a gap is provided for the contents to enter the flexible container.

Next, a method for filling a sterile packaging container according to a conventional example will be described.

First, the tubular spout 34, the membrane 35 and the flap 36 are sterilized by gamma rays.

Next, the aseptic packaging container is conveyed to an aseptic filling machine, in which the upper surface of the membrane 35 is steam-sterilized, and after sterilization, the membrane 35 is broken and the contents are filled. The outlet 34 is completely welded to the lower surface of the lower flange 34a and closed.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, according to the above conventional example, the flap 36 is only partially welded to the lower flange 34a of the cylindrical spout so as to form a gap. In this case, the flap may be peeled off, and the contents cannot be filled at a high speed.

Further, since the material to be filled is filled into the container through the lower flange 34a and the relatively small gap portion where the flap 36 partially attached to the lower flange 34a is not attached, only the liquid material can be filled. There is also a problem that solids cannot be filled.

Further, the contents may adhere to the gap, and the heat welding of the flap 36 to the lower flange 34a after the contents are filled may be incomplete.

[Means for solving the problem]

Therefore, the present invention relates to a sterile packaging container (10) in which the edges of the films (2a, 2b) are adhered to each other to form a film portion facing each other so that the contents can be filled after the inside is sterilized. A tubular spout (4) provided in one film portion of the packaging container (10) and a portion corresponding to the tubular spout (4) in the other film portion facing the one film portion. A plug member (6) fitted to the cylindrical spout (4) and a detachable overcap (11) for sealing an upper surface of the cylindrical spout (4). An aseptic packaging container (10) is used in which the end plate (6d) closing the tip of (6) is bulged toward the cylindrical spout (4).

Further, the method of filling the aseptic packaging container with the filling material according to claim 1, wherein the following first to seventh steps are performed in the order of 1 to 7 is adopted.

(B) In a state where the tubular spout (4) and the plug member (6) are fitted, the overcap (11) for sealing the fitting portion and the upper surface of the tubular spout (4) is sterilized. First step (b) Second step of removing the overcap (11) for sealing the upper surface of the cylindrical spout (4) (c) Place the aseptic packaging container (10) in the filling machine (20) A third step of sterilizing a fitting portion between the cylindrical spout (4) and the plug member (6) and a content injection nozzle (23) (d) the cylindrical spout in a filling machine (20); (4)
Step (e) of filling the contents into a sterile packaging container (10) (f) Fifth step of releasing the fitting between the plug member (6) and the plug member (6) A sixth step of sterilizing them after being inserted to the intermediate position of (4). (G) A seventh step of completely fitting the plug member (6) with the tubular spout (4).

[Action]

An overcap that seals the top surface of the cylindrical spout keeps the fitting of the aseptic packaging container sanitary until the contents are filled.

When filling the contents in the aseptic packaging container, the overcap that seals the upper surface of the cylindrical spout is removed, the mating between the cylindrical spout and the plug member is released, and the filling is performed. The sterile packaging container is sealed by fitting the shape spout and the plug member again.

This not only allows safe and reliable storage and distribution of foods that require sanitary control,
After the filling of the contents is completed, the aseptic packaging container is sealed by fitting the cylindrical spout and the plug member, so that the contents can be rapidly filled, and the solid contents can be filled. As a result of ensuring the sealing of the aseptic packaging container after filling, maintenance of the aseptic state and storage of the contents are ensured.

〔Example〕

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

As shown in FIG. 1, the aseptic packaging container 10 according to the present invention is a sterile-treated synthetic plastic upper film 2a,
The lower film 2b is heat-welded at the peripheral portion 3 to form a bag. For example, PE /
Al deposited PET / PE or PE / Al deposited nylon / PE or PE / Eval / PE
For example, a multilayer film having gas barrier properties such as a gas barrier property is used.

A cylindrical spout 4 is attached to the upper film 2a of the aseptic packaging container 10 by heat welding the lower flange 4a and the back surface of the upper film 2a to the outer periphery of the cylindrical spout 4. Are formed with upper and lower side flanges 4e, 4f, into which the outlet clamp 7 of the filling machine is inserted when the container is mounted on the filling machine. (FIG. 2 (b)). An engagement groove 4c is formed in the lower part of the inner surface of the cylindrical spout 4.

Also, a cup-shaped plug member 6 that fits with the tubular spout is provided on the lower film 2b corresponding to the position where the tubular spout 4 of the film 2a is attached, and the flange portion 6a is formed of the film 2b. It is provided by being thermally welded. An O-ring 6b for sealing rubber is provided on the upper outer periphery of the plug member 6,
At the lower part of the outer periphery, there is provided a fitting protrusion 6c that fits with the engagement groove 4c of the cylindrical spout 4.

Further, a plastic overcap 11 is mounted on the upper surface of the cylindrical spout in order to maintain the sanitary condition of the fitting portion between the cylindrical spout and the plug member.

Next, a method for aseptically filling contents in a sterile packaging container according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

First, the fitting portion between the cylindrical spout 4 and the plug member 6 in the aseptic packaging container is shown in FIG.
Is sterilized by γ-rays emitted from the γ-ray generator I as shown in FIG.

Then, the overcap is removed by an appropriate means before the aseptic packaging container is transported to the filling machine.

Next, the aseptic packaging container 10 is transported into the filling machine 20, the pull-out bar 8 provided on the filling machine 20 side is inserted into the plug member 6, and the aseptic packaging container 10 is gripped by the clamp 7. It is held in the state shown in FIG. The filling machine 20 has a nozzle frame 30, and a valve member 24 is housed in a space inside the nozzle frame 30 so as to be vertically movable. A filler supply pipe 33 is provided in the center of the nozzle frame 30 in the lateral direction, and a steam inlet 22
The nozzle port 23 is opened and closed by moving the valve member 24 up and down. When the aseptic packaging container is held in the filling machine, hot steam flows from the steam inlet 22 to sterilize the fitting portion between the cylindrical spout 4 and the plug member 6.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2 (c), the withdrawal rod 8 inserted into the plug member pulls out the plug member 6, whereby the fitting between the cylindrical spout 4 and the plug member 6 is released, and thereafter, Then, the valve member 24 rises and opens the contents distribution inlet 33 to start filling.

When the filling is completed, as shown in FIG.
Immediately, the valve member 24 descends, closes the nozzle port 23, and stops the inflow of the contents. And the plug member 6 is the cylindrical spout 4
After being sterilized by the hot steam flowing from the steam inlet 22 in this state, the plug member 6 is completely pushed into the cylindrical spout 4 and fitted.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 2 (e), an overcap 11 is put on the upper surface of the cylindrical member 4 to keep the fitting portion between the cylindrical spout 4 and the plug member 6 sanitary, and aseptic filling is performed. To end.

〔The invention's effect〕

Since the present invention is configured as described above, not only can foods requiring sanitary management be safely and reliably stored and distributed, but also the sealing of the aseptic packaging container after the filling of the contents is completed. Since the filling is performed by fitting the cylindrical spout and the stopper member, the contents can be quickly filled, the solid contents can be filled, and the aseptic packaging container after filling is securely sealed. Also, there is an effect that the aseptic state is maintained and the contents are securely stored.

Furthermore, since the end plate that closes the tip of the plug member is bulged toward the cylindrical spout, the content can be made less likely to accumulate on the end plate of the plug member when the content is filled. In combination with the provision of the overcap, the outlet can be kept hygienic.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a sterile packaging container according to the present invention, and FIGS. 2 (a) to 2 (e) illustrate an operation state for explaining a step of aseptically filling contents into the sterile packaging container. Figure, third
The figure is a sectional view of a conventional aseptic packaging container. 2a, 2b: film, 4: tubular spout, 6: stopper member, 10: aseptic packaging container, 11: overcap, 20
…… Filling machine, 23 …… Filling nozzle port.

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An aseptic packaging container in which the peripheral portions of a film are adhered to form film portions opposed to each other so that the contents can be filled after the inside is aseptically treated, provided on one film portion of the aseptic packaging container. A plug member attached to a portion corresponding to the cylindrical spout of the other film portion facing the one film portion, and a plug member fitted with the cylindrical spout, An aseptic packaging container comprising a removable overcap for sealing an upper surface of a spout, and an end plate closing a tip of the plug member bulging toward the tubular spout. 2. The method for filling an aseptic packaging container with an object to be filled according to claim 1, wherein the following first to seventh steps are performed in the order of 1 to 7. (a) The cylindrical spout and the plug member A first step of sterilizing the fitting portion and the overcap for sealing the upper surface of the tubular spout in a state in which is fitted. (B) Second removing the overcap for sealing the upper surface of the tubular spout. Step (c) A third step of mounting a sterile packaging container in a filling machine and sterilizing a fitting portion between the cylindrical spout and the stopper member and a content injection nozzle (d) the cylindrical spout in the filling machine (E) Fifth step of filling the contents in a sterile packaging container (f) After inserting the plug member to an intermediate position of the tubular spout, Sixth step of sterilizing (g) Completely plug the plug member with the cylindrical spout Seventh step of the fitting.