JP2808492B2 - Cleaning and sterilization equipment for filling machines - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning and sterilizing a filling machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional filling machine cleans the interior of a product wetted pipe, a liquid storage tank, a filling valve and the like with a cleaning liquid such as "fresh water, hot water, caustic soda (NaOH)" after finishing work from the viewpoint of food hygiene. It is necessary to sterilize, and conventionally, the product is circulated through a cleaning liquid circulation circuit including a liquid contact pipe, a liquid storage tank, a filling valve, and the like, to sterilize and clean the inside of the product liquid contact pipe, the liquid tank, the filling valve, and the like. Like that. Referring to FIG. 3, the conventional example will be described with reference to FIG. 3. (101) is an annular storage tank rotating around a vertical axis, (102) is a number of filling valves attached to the bottom of the annular storage tank (101), (103). Is a product liquid supply pipe for supplying a product liquid (or a cleaning liquid) to the annular liquid storage tank (101) rotating around a vertical axis, and a liquid component (105) connected to a lower portion of the annular liquid storage tank (101). Plumbing, (1
04) is the same liquid distribution pipe (105) and the product liquid supply pipe (1).
03) and the lower rotary joint (104)
a) is the outer cylinder of the lower rotary joint (104),
(106) is a cleaning cap detachably attached to the filling valve (102), (108) is a manifold, and (107) is a pipe connecting the cleaning cap (106) to the manifold (108). , (10
9) is a liquid collecting pipe connecting the manifold (108) and the outer cylinder (104a) of the lower rotary joint (104), (110) is an upper liquid discharge branch pipe, (112)
Is the upper liquid discharge pipe, and (111) is the upper liquid discharge pipe (11).
2) and an upper rotary joint (114) connecting the upper liquid discharge branch pipe (110) to the upper liquid discharge pipe (112) extending from the outer cylinder (104a) of the lower rotary joint (104). (121) a cleaning liquid tank; (122) a cleaning pump for supplying the cleaning liquid in the cleaning liquid tank (121);
(123) is a heater for heating the cleaning liquid, and is connected to the product liquid supply pipe (103). A switching valve (126) is connected to the suction side of the liquid sending pump (122) to introduce sterile water. The lower liquid discharge pipe (114) is provided with a switching valve (125) for switching between a cleaning liquid (not shown) and a cleaning tank (121).
It is connected to the. When cleaning product contact pipes, storage tanks, filling valves, etc. with the cleaning liquid, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning liquid tank (121) → the cleaning pump (122) → the heater (123).
→ Product liquid supply pipe (103) → Lower rotary joint (104) → Liquid distribution pipe (105) → Annular storage tank (10
Send evenly to 1). Also, a part of the cleaning liquid sent to the annular liquid storage tank (101) is filled with each filling valve (102) → each cleaning cap (106) → each pipe (107) → manifold (1).
08) → each liquid collecting pipe (109) → inside the outer cylinder (104a) of the lower rotary joint (104) → lower liquid discharging pipe (1)
13) (114) → Circulation path to return to the cleaning liquid tank (121). On the other hand, the cleaning liquid (115) in the annular storage tank (101) is supplied to the upper liquid discharging branch pipe (110) → the upper rotary joint (111) → the upper liquid discharging pipe (112) → the lower liquid discharging pipe (114) → the cleaning liquid. The cleaning liquid is returned to the tank (121), and the cleaning liquid is circulated to sterilize and clean the inside of the product liquid contact pipe, the storage tank, the filling valve, and the like. Next, the switching valve (12
5) and the switching valve (126) is switched. And
The aseptic liquid at room temperature is supplied to the product contact pipe, the liquid storage tank, the filling valve, and the like by the washing pump (122) through the switching valve (126) and the same path as described above to cool each part. The sterile liquid is discarded into a drain (not shown) via a switching valve (125) switched from a lower liquid discharge pipe (114).

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

In the above-mentioned cleaning and disinfecting apparatus, since the cleaning tank uses a tank that is open to the atmosphere, even if the cleaning liquid is heated by a heater, the cleaning liquid is at a temperature of the saturated vapor pressure of the atmospheric pressure (10 ° C.).
0 ° C). Therefore, when sterilization takes a long time and sterilization is required at a higher temperature, sufficient sterilization cannot be performed. Further, in order to cool the product contact pipes, storage tanks, filling valves, etc., which have become hot after sterilization, an aseptic liquid at room temperature is used, but this aseptic liquid is discarded in a drain and is wasted. In order to reuse this sterile liquid, a tank and a pump are required. Accordingly, the present invention provides a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus for a filling machine that solves such a disadvantage.

[Means for Solving the Problems]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus for a filling machine, comprising: an annular storage tank rotating around a vertical axis; a plurality of filling valves attached to the bottom of the annular storage tank; A product liquid supply pipe for supplying a product liquid to the annular liquid storage tank through a liquid distribution pipe connected to a lower part of the annular liquid storage tank, and the lower rotary joint connected to an upper liquid discharge branch pipe. In a filling machine having a lower liquid discharge pipe, a cleaning cap attached to the plurality of filling valves and an intermediate tank for receiving a closed-type cleaning liquid connected to the lower liquid discharge pipe are provided. has a circulation pump for feeding the cleaning liquid of the intermediate tank via a product liquid supply pipe to the filling machine, a heater for heating the cleaning fluid, and a cooler for cooling the washing liquid, said intermediate tank and the filling valve When
A closed circuit in which the cleaning solution circulates between
The temperature of the cleaning liquid can be controlled by the heater and the cooler.
It is a function . About. According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus for a filling machine in which a cleaning liquid is heated to 110 ° C. or more by a heater to perform cleaning and sterilizing.

[0005] In the cleaning and sterilizing apparatus for a filling machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, when performing the sterilizing cleaning, the cleaning liquid in the intermediate tank is heated to a predetermined temperature by a heater while the cleaning liquid is heated. The liquid is sent to a storage tank, a filling valve, and the like through a product liquid supply pipe by a circulation pump, and is returned from the lower liquid discharge pipe to the intermediate tank. Next, after the sterilization cleaning is completed, heating by the heater is stopped, and the cleaning liquid is cooled by the cooler. The cooled cleaning liquid is returned to the cleaning tank via the same path as described above, that is, the product liquid supply pipe, the liquid storage tank, the filling valve, and the lower liquid discharge pipe, and the filling machine and the like that have passed through the cleaning liquid are sequentially cooled. You. In the cleaning and sterilizing apparatus of the filling machine according to the second aspect, when performing the sterilizing cleaning, the intermediate tank can be maintained at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure because the intermediate tank is a closed type, and the cleaning liquid is heated by a heater.
Heated above ℃. The heated cleaning liquid is sent to the filling machine through the product liquid supply pipe by the circulation pump and returned to the intermediate tank via the lower liquid discharge pipe in the same manner as in the first aspect. Cooling after cleaning and sterilization is performed in the same manner as in claim 1.

【Example】

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows an overall system diagram, wherein (1) is an annular reservoir rotating around a vertical axis, (2) is a number of filling valves attached to the bottom of the annular reservoir (1), (3) A product liquid supply pipe for supplying a product liquid (or a cleaning liquid) to the annular liquid storage tank (1) rotating around the vertical axis, and a liquid component connected to a lower portion of the annular liquid storage tank (1). A pipe, (4) is a lower rotary joint that connects the liquid distribution pipe (5) and the product liquid supply pipe (3), (4a) is an outer cylinder of the lower rotary joint (4), and (6) is a pipe. A cleaning cap detachably attached to each filling valve (2), (8) is a manifold, (7) is a pipe connecting each of the cleaning caps (6) and the manifold (8), and (9) is a pipe. The manifold (8) is connected to the outer cylinder (4a) of the lower rotary joint (4). A collecting pipe, (10) an upper liquid discharge branch pipe, (12) an upper liquid discharge pipe, and (11) an upper rotary connecting the upper liquid discharge pipe (12) and the upper liquid discharge branch pipe (10). A joint (14) is a lower liquid discharge pipe extending from the outer cylinder (4a) of the lower rotary joint (4) and connected to the upper liquid discharge pipe (12).
Further, (31) is an intermediate tank, and (32) is a circulating pump for sending the cleaning liquid of the intermediate tank (31), which is connected to the product liquid supply pipe (3). (33) is connected to a cooler (35) by a heater for heating the cleaning liquid, and the cooler (35) is further connected to the intermediate tank (31) via a pipe (37). The temperature of the cleaning liquid in the intermediate tank (31) is controlled by controlling the amount of a heating medium such as steam (not shown) by a temperature controller (38) with a control valve (34) when heating the cleaning liquid, and conversely when cooling. The amount of the refrigerant such as cold water is controlled by controlling the control valve (36). Also, (21)
Denotes a cleaning liquid tank, and (22) denotes a cleaning liquid pump. The amount of liquid in the intermediate tank (31) is controlled by the cleaning liquid pump (22) from the cleaning liquid tank (21) via the liquid level controller (39).

Next, the sterilization cleaning and cooling operations in the above-described system diagram will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 1, a cleaning cap (6) is attached to the lower part of the filling bolbe (2), and the filling valve (2) is opened as shown in the figure. Then, the cleaning liquid is sent evenly into the intermediate tank (31) → circulation pump (32) → product liquid supply pipe (3) → lower rotary joint (4) → liquid distribution pipe (5) → annular liquid storage tank (1). . Further, a part of the cleaning liquid sent into the annular liquid storage tank (1) is filled with each filling valve (2) → each cleaning cap (6) → each pipe (7) → manifold (8) → each liquid collecting pipe (9). ) → In the outer cylinder (4a) of the lower rotary joint (4) → Lower liquid discharge pipe (13)
(14) → Return to the heater (33) → cooler (35) → intermediate tank (31). The cleaning liquid is controlled by a heater (33) to a predetermined temperature by a temperature controller (38). However, the control valve (36) is closed. on the other hand,
The washing liquid (15) in the annular liquid storage tank (1) is supplied to the upper liquid discharge branch pipe (10) → the upper rotary joint (11) → the upper liquid discharge pipe (12) → the lower liquid discharge pipe (14) → the heater ( 33) → The inside of the product liquid contact pipe, liquid storage tank, filling valve, etc. is sterilized and cleaned by a circulation path returning to the cooler (35) → the intermediate tank (31). The temperature of the cleaning liquid is controlled by the temperature controller (38) so that the temperature of the cleaning liquid becomes 100 ° C. or higher by the heater (33). Since the intermediate tank (33), the filling machine, and the like, which are the flow paths for the cleaning liquid, are sealed, they can be maintained at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure, and the cleaning liquid is supplied to the heater (33).
To 100 ° C. or higher. When sterilization cleaning is performed with the cleaning solution, time for sterilization cleaning can be saved, and at the same time, 1
It can handle cases where sterilization is required at a temperature of 00 ° C. or higher.

Next, another embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be described. This figure shows the heater (33) and the cooler (3) of FIG.
Instead of 5), a jacket 40 is formed on the outer cylinder of the intermediate tank (31), and the temperature of the cleaning liquid is controlled via the jacket (40). Accordingly, sterilization, washing, and cooling can be performed by the same operation as described above, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted. The heater (33) is a jacket (40) shown in FIG. 2, and the cooler (35) is provided in the lower liquid discharge pipe (14) as shown in FIG. 1 or vice versa. Good.

【The invention's effect】

According to the cleaning and disinfecting apparatus of the present invention, since a heater for heating the cleaning liquid and a cooler for cooling are provided,
It is not necessary to prepare a sterile liquid for cooling as in the related art and discard the sterile liquid. In addition, the intermediate tank, the filling machine, and the like, which are the flow paths of the cleaning liquid, are sealed so that they can be maintained at atmospheric pressure or higher, and the cleaning liquid is heated to 100 ° C. or higher. Sterilization with the heated washing solution saves washing time, and can also cope with cases where sterilization is required at high temperatures.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus for a filling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a cleaning and sterilizing apparatus for a filling machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a system diagram of a conventional cleaning and sterilizing apparatus for a filling machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Annular storage tank (2) Filling valve (3) Product liquid supply pipe (4) Lower rotary joint (6) Cleaning cap (11) Upper rotary joint (12) Upper liquid discharge pipe (31) Intermediate tank ( 32) Circulation pump (33) Heater (35) Cooler

Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-63-44492 (JP, A) JP-A-60-90190 (JP, A) Fully open 63-183095 (JP, U) Really open 63-67499 (JP , U) (58) Fields surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B67C 3/00-3/34

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. An annular storage tank rotating about a vertical axis,
A product that supplies a product liquid to the annular storage tank through a number of filling valves attached to the bottom of the annular storage tank, and a lower rotary joint and a liquid distribution pipe connected to a lower part of the annular storage tank. the lower through a liquid supply pipe, the upper liquid discharge branch pipe
In a filling machine having a lower liquid discharge pipe connected to a rotary joint, a cleaning cap attached to the plurality of filling valves, and a closed type cleaning liquid connected to the lower liquid discharge pipe. An intermediate tank that accepts
It has a circulation pump for feeding through the product solution supply pipe a cleaning liquid in the intermediate tank to the filling machine, a heater for heating the cleaning fluid, and a cooler for cooling the washing liquid, the intermediate tank
A closed circuit in which the cleaning liquid circulates between the
And wash it with the heater and cooler.
A winding device for a belt-like material, wherein the temperature of a purified liquid can be controlled . 2. The cleaning and sterilizing apparatus for a filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning liquid is set to 100 ° C. or higher.