JP3527305B2 - Aseptic filling method for liquid paper containers - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for aseptically filling a liquid paper container, for example, aseptic filling of a liquid paper container which can be suitably applied to aseptically fill a liquid contents in a metal can alternative paper container. Regarding the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, metal cans have been widely used as containers for fruit juices, coffee drinks and the like, but in recent years, metal can alternative paper containers have been attracting attention as containers replacing the above metal cans from the viewpoint of environmental protection. It has already been put to practical use.

[0003] As this alternative paper container for metal cans, a container made of a cylindrical paper container and an aluminum lid material is known. The sterilization treatment of the paper container and the filling of the contents into the paper container are performed, for example, as follows. It is done like this.

That is, depending on the type of the contents, for example, when the contents are fruit juice drinks having a low pH, the hot filling (hot pack) method is adopted, and the heat of the contents causes the inner surface of the container to be filled at the same time. Be sterilized. Further, in the case where the content is a neutral beverage, sterilization is insufficient by the hot filling method, so-called aseptic filling method, that is, the container and the content are sterilized separately, and a sterile environment A system for filling and sealing below has been developed.

Aseptic filling of a metal can alternative paper container by this aseptic filling system is performed as follows. That is, first, a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution is sprayed on each of the cylindrical paper container and the aluminum lid member and dried, and then the sterilized paper container is filled with the liquid contents in a sterile atmosphere, Then, the aseptic filling is completed by sealing the aluminum lid member in the filled paper container.

[0006]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional aseptic filling system, it is necessary to sterilize each of the cylindrical paper container and the aluminum lid member individually, which causes a problem that the device becomes large. There is. Further, since the aluminum lid member is easily deformed, it is difficult to carry it, and the mechanism of the carrying device becomes complicated. Further, since heat sealing is performed in the aseptic chamber, the size of the chamber becomes large, the sealing head becomes complicated, and the sealing time is required, which makes it difficult to improve the processing speed of the entire system.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to enable downsizing and simplification of a filling apparatus and efficient aseptic filling. An object of the present invention is to provide an aseptic filling method for liquid paper containers capable of improving the processing speed.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems]
The method of aseptic filling of liquid paper container of the present invention is sealed
Liquid paper container for aseptic filling of liquid paper container
A method of aseptic filling of a container,
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Enclose an aqueous solution to fill the liquid paper
After sterilizing the inner surface of the vessel, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)water
Hydrogen peroxide (H
₂O₂) Attach the mist to the outer surface of the liquid paper container to
Perform external sterilization of the liquid paper container, and then
In the bar, a filling port is formed in the liquid paper container and the filling port is opened.
After filling the liquid contents into the container from the
The filling port is closed with a sealing material for the filling port.
Liquid for aseptically filling liquid in sealed liquid paper containers
A method for aseptic filling of a paper container, which is a cylinder made of laminated paper material.
Out of the openings at both ends of the body, one opening is used
And this mouth is closed with an easy peel sealant.
Filling port for closing the other opening with a closed paper lid and filling the other opening with liquid
And the filling port is closed with an easily destructible sealant.
Peroxidation inside the liquid paper container which is closed by the paper bottom material
Hydrogen (H₂O₂) Inside the liquid paper container after enclosing the aqueous solution
After surface sterilization, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Aqueous solution
Hydrogen peroxide (H
₂O₂) Attach the mist to the outer surface of the liquid paper container to
Perform external sterilization of the liquid paper container, and then
In the bar, the fragile sheet that closes the filling port
Open the filling port by breaking through the
After that, fill the liquid contents into the container from this filling port and fill.
After the filling is completed, the opened filling port is closed with a filling port sealing material.
And the method according to any one of the above, if necessary.
In the liquid paper container, the hydrogen peroxide (H
₂O₂) With an inert gas filled with the aqueous solution
It was

[0009]

In the method of aseptic filling of the liquid paper container of the present invention
Use the sealed liquid paper container for the aseptic filling process.
To pay. The inside of this sealed liquid paper container is
Hydrogen oxide (H₂O₂A) Aqueous solution is enclosed. Sanawa
This hydrogen peroxide (H ₂O₂) Aqueous solution sealed
Evaporate inside the liquid paper container and
Fill up. This prevents the inner surface of the liquid paper container from being sterilized.
To be done. Therefore, in the method of the present invention, a paper container
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Aqueous solution sealed
Transfer the sealed liquid paper container to the aseptic filling process
During that time, the inner surface of the container is sterilized. Then this
On the outer surface of the liquid paper container of₂O₂) Water soluble
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂
O₂) Attach the mist to the outer surface of the liquid paper container,
This peracid is used to sterilize the outer surface of liquid paper containers.
Hydrogen fluoride (H₂O₂) External sterilization by using mist
The processing is performed uniformly and stably. Moreover, this liquid
The lid of the paper container is already sealed and
In the sealing process inside the chamber, the filling port is closed with the filling port sealing material.
Since it only chains, the
Perform sterilization separately for the container and lid
No need. Therefore, no large sterilizer is required.
It Also, there was no need to transport the lid material separately from the container.
Therefore, a complicated mechanism for transporting the lid material that is easily deformed is unnecessary.
Is. In addition, before the aseptic filling process, the lid material for the container is
Sealing in a sterile chamber is completed
The process is only to seal the filling port sealing material to close the filling port.
It is a simple thing that only needs to be completely sealed.
And does not require a large sterile chamber. further
Also, in the aseptic filling process, the lid material should be the open shape of the container body.
Performs complicated sealing such as sealing along the shape
Instead, a solid seal of the filling port sealing material that closes the filling port may be used.
The sealing time is short, and aseptic filling process is possible compared to the conventional method.
The processing speed is improved.

When the aseptic filling method for a liquid paper container of the present invention is applied to a paper container as a substitute for a metal can, it can be carried out as follows. That is, in the method of the present invention, a paper lid member in which one of the openings at both ends of the tubular body made of a paper laminated material is provided with a drinking mouth and the drinking mouth is closed by an easy peeling sealant. A liquid paper container is used, which is closed by means of the above-mentioned method, and the other opening is provided with a filling port for filling the liquid, and the filling port is closed by a paper bottom material which is closed by an easily destructible sealing material. And, in the inside of this liquid paper container, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O
₂ ) The aqueous solution is enclosed. Therefore, while this liquid paper container is transported from the manufacturing process to the aseptic filling process, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) inside the container is vaporized inside the container and filled inside the container, whereby the inner surface sterilization treatment is performed. Done. In the method of the present invention, hydrogen peroxide (H
_The hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist obtained by evaporating the ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution and then condensing it is adhered to the outer surface of the metal can substitute paper container whose inner surface is sterilized as described above. Perform external surface sterilization of alternative paper containers for metal cans.
Since the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist uniformly adheres to the outer surface of the metal can alternative paper container, uniform and stable outer surface sterilization is achieved. According to this method, it is not necessary to individually sterilize the container and the lid member as in the above-described conventional method, and a large sterilization device is not required.

In the method of the present invention, the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist obtained by evaporating the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution and then condensing it is then subjected to the inner surface sterilization treatment as described above. By attaching to the outer surface of the metal can alternative paper container thus prepared, the outer surface of the metal can alternative paper container is sterilized. Since the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist uniformly adheres to the outer surface of the metal can alternative paper container, uniform and stable outer surface sterilization is achieved.

In the method of the present invention, after the outer surface sterilization treatment is performed as described above, the liquid contents are filled in the alternative paper container for the metal can. The filling forms the bottom surface of the container in the sterile chamber. It is performed from the filling port opened by piercing the easily destructible sealing material closing the filling port formed in the paper bottom material. That is, according to this method, the sealed state of the container is maintained until just before the filling port is opened by breaking through the easily destructible sealing material that closes the filling port to fill the liquid content, so that the container is previously stored. Hydrogen peroxide (H
By enclosing the ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution, it becomes possible to easily and efficiently sterilize the inner surface of the container.

The liquid contents are filled from the filling port opened as described above, and when the filling is completed, the filling port is closed by the filling port sealing material. The filling port sealing material closes the drinking port. Unlike a flexible sealing material, there is no need to open it, so reliable sealing is easy.

In the method of the present invention, if necessary, an inert gas is sealed together with the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution in a sealed liquid paper container supplied to the aseptic filling step. If this inert gas is detected by an inert gas detector, it is possible to detect defective containers that are leaking due to pinholes before they are supplied to the aseptic filling process. is there.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing the steps in the case of applying the method of the present invention to an alternative paper container for a metal can.

As shown in FIG. 1A, in the method of the present invention, first, one opening of the paper body 1 is sealed with a paper lid member 2 to form a cup-shaped container 3. The paper lid member 2 is preliminarily provided with a drinking port 4, and the drinking port 4 is closed by an easy peeling sealing material 5 in advance. Here, as the easy peeling sealing material 5, for example, silica (Si
_Ox ) vapor deposition PET (polyethylene terephthalate), polyethylene (PE), and a laminated material of paper are mentioned. Here, silica (SiO _x ) vapor-deposited PET (polyethylene terephthalate) has a function or function as a barrier layer. When such an easy-peel sealing material 5 is used, a polyethylene (PE) layer is also provided on the surface of the paper lid material 2, and the polyethylene (PE) layer and the polyethylene (PE) layer constituting the easy-peel sealing material 5 are provided. It is preferable to bond the paper lid material 2 and the easy peeling seal material 5 with and.

Next, as shown in FIG. 1B, a few drops of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution are dropped into the cup-shaped container 3. Here, the concentration and dropping amount of the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution may be appropriately determined according to the volume of the container. For example, when the volume of the container is 250 ml, 5% hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ The dropping amount of the O ₂ ) aqueous solution is about _{2 to} 30 μl, preferably about 3 to 10 μl.

Regarding the concentration and dropping amount of the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution, one measure is the hydrogen peroxide load index (absolute amount of dropping hydrogen peroxide per unit volume).
Can be used. This hydrogen peroxide load index is
Hydrogen peroxide concentration (%) × drop amount / container volume (liter)
And the range of 40 to 400 is suitable.

In the method of the present invention, the process shown in FIG.
As shown in (c), the other opening of the cup-shaped container 3 is sealed with a paper bottom material 6 and the cup-shaped container 3 is hermetically sealed to form a liquid paper container 7. As a result, the aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) is enclosed in the liquid paper container 7, but this aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) is vaporized in the liquid paper container 7 and The inside of the container 7 is filled and the inner surface of the container is sterilized. Therefore, the container manufacturer carries out the steps shown in FIGS. 1 (a) to 1 (c).
If the liquid paper container 7 in the state shown in (c) is shipped to the user, the inner surface sterilization process of the container will be completed during storage at the container manufacturer or during transportation of the liquid paper container 7. In the above, there is no need to perform the work of the inner surface sterilization process, and the aseptic filling device can be downsized and simplified. As shown in FIG. 1C, the paper bottom member 6 has a filling port 8 previously formed therein, and the filling port 8 is closed in advance with an easily destructible sealing material 9. Here, as the easily destructible sealing material 9, for example, a polyethylene film is used.

Inside the liquid paper container 7, for example, helium (H) together with a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution is used.
e) An inert gas such as a gas may be sealed. For example, if the helium (He) gas is detected by a He gas detector, it is possible to detect a defective container that has a pinhole and is leaking before being supplied to the aseptic filling process. .

In the method of the present invention, after the inner surface of the container is sterilized as described above, the outer surface of the liquid paper container 7 is sterilized. As shown in FIG. 1D, this outer surface sterilization treatment is performed on the outer surface of the liquid paper container 7 in a hermetically sealed state.
This is performed by spraying a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist m obtained by vaporizing an aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) and then condensing it. Specifically, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O) is applied to the outer surface of the liquid sheet container 7 in a hermetically sealed state, which is placed on a conveying means such as a belt conveyor installed in the aseptic chamber.
₂ ) The hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist m is sprayed from the mist ejection nozzle 20 toward the outer surface of the liquid paper container 7. The hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist m is used for the liquid paper container 7
The outer surface of the liquid paper container 7 is evenly and uniformly attached to the outer surface of the liquid paper container 7, and the outer surface sterilization process of the liquid paper container 7 is stably performed.

Here, the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist jetting nozzle 20 is provided at the tip of the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist spraying means 200 as shown in FIG. 2, for example. The hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist spraying means 200 includes a hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution supply unit 21 for supplying an aqueous hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) solution and the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution supply unit 21. The (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution supply unit 21 is provided with a vaporization unit 23 that heats the aqueous hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) solution to a temperature equal to or higher than the boiling point by a heating unit 22 to vaporize the solution.

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Aqueous solution supply unit 21
A two-fluid spray is used for the main body 21a of the supply unit that constitutes the
I have been. This supply unit main body 21a has an extension
The nozzle 21b is connected through the nozzle pipe 24.
It This is from the vaporization tube 23a forming the vaporization section 23.
The aluminum plug that blocks the upper part of the vaporizing tube 23a due to heat
Supply unit main body 21a via lug 25 and nozzle 21b
To prevent the supply unit main body 21a from being heated.
This is because The vaporizing tube 23a is made of, for example, asbestos.
The outer cylinder 26 made of bon and the inner wall of the vaporization pipe 23a are formed.
Inner cylinder 27 made of a sanitary pipe, outer cylinder 26, and
The heating means 22 is provided between the inner cylinder 27 and the heating means 22.
At the lower end of the vaporizing tube 23a, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)mist
The ejection nozzle 20 is connected. In addition, in FIG.
Is hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Aqueous solution inlet, 72 is compressed air
Is an air inlet for spraying, which is not shown in the drawings.
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Supply source, compressed air supply source for atomization
It is connected to the. In addition, in the vaporization pipe 23a,
Low temperature, easy to lower temperature to average
It is important not to create a place where
Heating means 22, for example ribbon ribbon, over the entire length of 23a.
Data is provided. In addition, the supply unit main body 21a
Nozzle connected via the tension pipe 24
21b to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Aqueous solution is sprayed
Sometimes the diameter of the vaporization pipe 23 should be large so that pressure is not applied inside the pipe.
Hydrogen peroxide that is set to a large amount and vaporized in the tube
(H₂O ₂) Is smooth so that the inner surface of the vaporization tube 23 is smooth.
Is formed in.

In the method of the present invention, after the outer surface of the liquid paper container 7 is sterilized as described above, the liquid paper container 7 is dried by passing it through a drying zone where hot air is blown. .

Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (e), the easily destructible sealing material 9 that closes the filling port 8 formed in the paper bottom member 6 is pierced by a suitable jig 30 to fill the filling port. Open 8

Then, as shown in FIG. 1 (f), the filling nozzle 40 of the filling machine is inserted into the filling port 8 opened as described above.
The tip of the liquid paper container 7 from the filling nozzle 40.
Fill the inside of the with liquid contents. The fragile seal material 9 may be pierced at the tip of the filling nozzle 40 instead of being pierced by a suitable jig 30.

Here, the reason why the inside of the container is not filled with the liquid contents from the paper lid material 2 forming the top surface of the container is that the drinking port 4 formed in the paper lid material 2 is closed. The easy-peel seal material 5 must maintain the easy-peel property to the last, and the mouth 4 must be closed surely so that the contents do not leak. Rather than sealing the drinking mouth 4 of the paper with the easy-peel sealing material 5, sealing the drinking mouth 4 of the paper lid material 2 with the easy-peeling sealing material 5 in a stage before forming the container ensures the sealing. Because you can. That is, when the easy-peel sealing material 5 is adhered to the paper lid material 2 forming the top surface of the container after filling, the paper lid material 2 has a body portion whose peripheral end portion forms the container. Since it is adhered to the upper end portion of 1 and is supported by the body portion 1, pressure is not applied so much at the time of sealing the easy-peel sealing material 5 in terms of strength, while the paper lid is formed before the container is formed. This is because when the easy-peel sealing material 5 is bonded to the material 2, the paper lid material 2 can be placed on an appropriate pedestal to perform sealing while applying sufficient pressure.

In the method of the present invention, the liquid paper container 7
After filling a predetermined amount of liquid contents such as fruit juice drink, coffee drink, and oolong tea, the filling nozzle 40 is lifted and the filling port 8 opened as described above is closed again.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 (g), the opening formed in the paper bottom material 2 is closed by adhering the sterilized filling port sealing material 10 to the paper bottom material 2. . The filling port sealing material 10 is, for example, silica (SiO _x ).
A laminated body of vapor-deposited PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and polyethylene (PE) can be mentioned. Here, silica (SiO _x ) vapor-deposited PET (polyethylene terephthalate) has a function or function as a barrier layer. When such a filling port sealing material 10 is used, a polyethylene (PE) layer is also provided on the surface of the paper bottom material 6, and the polyethylene (PE) layer and the polyethylene (PE) layer constituting the filling port sealing material 10 are used. It is preferable to bond the paper bottom material 6 and the filling port sealing material 10.

In the method of the present invention, aseptic filling of the liquid contents into the liquid paper container is completed as described above, but the steps shown in FIGS. 1 (d) to 1 (g) are all aseptic. Perform in the chamber.

In the present embodiment, the case of applying the method of the present invention to a metal can alternative paper container has been described, but the shape of the paper container is not limited to this, and hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂₎ is used in advance. ) The method of the present invention can be applied to liquid paper containers of any shape as long as they are sealed paper containers containing an aqueous solution.

[0032]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention,
Liquid hydrogen peroxide in advance in the container in the paper container manufacturing process (H ₂ O ₂₎ aqueous solution subjected to inner surface sterilized container by sealing, then hydrogen peroxide to the outer surface of the liquid sheet container (H ₂ O ₂ ) Mist is sprayed to sterilize the outer surface of the container, then a filling port is formed in this liquid paper container to fill the liquid contents, and then the opened filling port is sealed. Therefore, while conveying the sealed liquid paper container to the aseptic filling step, the inner surface sterilization treatment of the container is completed, and the outer surface sterilization treatment is performed uniformly and stably.
Since it is not necessary to separately sterilize the container and lid material, a large sterilizer is not required,
Since there is no need to transport the lid material separately from the container, there is no need for a complicated mechanism for transporting the lid material that is easily deformed, and the lid material is already sealed to the container before the aseptic filling process. Therefore, the sealing step in the sterile chamber is not required, and a large sterile chamber is not required.
Since the lid material is not sealed to the container in the aseptic filling process, it is not necessary to consider the sealing time,
As compared with the conventional method, various effects such as an aseptic filling processing speed are improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory view schematically showing a process in a case where the method of the present invention is applied to a metal can alternative paper container.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist spraying means that can be preferably used in the method of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Body part 2 ... Paper lid material 3 ... Cup-shaped container 4 ... Drinking mouth 5 ... Easy peeling sealing material 6 ... Paper bottom material 7 ... Liquid paper container 8 ... Filling port 9 ... Easily destructible sealing material 10 ... Filling port Sealant m ... Hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A23L 3/00-3/358 A61L 2/16-2/22

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. An aseptic liquid in a sealed liquid paper container.
A method for aseptic filling a liquid paper container for filling a body, comprising:
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O ₂) Aqueous solution
And sterilize the inner surface of the liquid paper container,
Hydrogen oxide (H ₂O₂) After vaporizing the aqueous solution and then condensing
Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) Mist the liquid paper
Attach it to the outer surface of the container to sterilize the outer surface of the liquid paper container.
Then, fill the liquid paper container in a sterile chamber.
A filling port is bored and the inside of the container is filled with the liquid contents from the filling port.
After filling and filling, the filling port is closed with a filling port sealing material.
A method for aseptically filling a liquid paper container, comprising: 2. A method for aseptically filling a liquid paper container, wherein a sealed liquid paper container is aseptically filled with liquid, wherein one of the openings at both ends of a cylinder made of paper laminated material is a drinking mouth. And the mouth is closed with a paper lid material closed with an easy-peel sealing material, and the other opening is provided with a filling opening for filling a liquid and the filling opening is made of an easily destructible sealing material. An aqueous solution of hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) is enclosed in a liquid paper container which is closed with a closed paper bottom material to sterilize the inner surface of the liquid paper container, and then hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O _2
The hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) mist obtained by vaporizing and then condensing the ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution is attached to the outer surface of the liquid paper container to sterilize the outer surface of the liquid paper container, and then,
In the aseptic chamber, the filling port is opened by breaking through the easily destructible sealing material that closes the filling port, and then the liquid content is filled into the container through the filling port, and after the filling is completed. A method for aseptic filling a liquid paper container, characterized in that the opened filling port is closed with a filling port sealing material. 3. The aseptic filling method for a liquid paper container according to claim 1, wherein an inert gas is enclosed in the liquid paper container together with the hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) aqueous solution. .