JP3556063B2 - Aseptic beverage can manufacturing equipment - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a beverage can by filling a sterilized empty can with a sterilized beverage in a sterile atmosphere, and sealing the empty can with a sterilized can lid.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In canned beverages in which the beverage is filled in a can container and sealed, as a sterilization treatment to prevent the filled beverage from spoiling, usually, canned after filling and sealing the beverage, pressurized heating The retort sterilization method of performing long-time high-temperature heating (for example, 125 ° C. for 25 minutes) in the apparatus is applied, or, for highly acidic fruit juice beverages having a pH of 4.5 or less, heat-sterilized beverages are heated to a high temperature ( (85 ° C. or higher), filled in a can, and maintained at that temperature for at least 30 minutes after sealing, or treated under sterile temperature conditions equivalent to or higher, and then the can is cooled. ) Is applied.
[0003]
However, according to such a heat sterilization method, although there is an advantage that process control before and after filling and sealing a beverage in an empty can is easy, in any case, a state in which the can is filled in a can container. It is difficult to cool the beverage rapidly after heat sterilization, and the content of the beverage is kept at a high temperature for a relatively long time. , Black tea, green tea, soup, etc.), there is a problem that the taste and scent of the freshly prepared tea or green tea, soup and the like change or the color changes.
[0004]
Therefore, in order to reduce the heat history of the beverage as much as possible and to manufacture beverage cans while maintaining the original taste, aroma, and color of the beverage as much as possible, a sterilized beverage rapidly sterilized at high temperature and rapidly cooled. A so-called aseptic filling method has been studied in the past, in which is filled in a sterilized empty can in a sterile atmosphere with clean air and sealed with a sterilized can lid.
[0005]
In addition, as an air purification system for maintaining a sterile atmosphere in the aseptic filling method, in the space in the clean room, the filling area of the beverage and the tightening area of the can lid are changed individually in the area of the hepa filter provided separately. It has been conventionally known that a higher air cleanliness level than that of other spaces is maintained by the applicant of the present application (JP-A-4-79956).
[0006]
Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-16738 discloses that empty cans are conveyed by a steam tunnel sterilizing conveyor, hot water is sprayed to sterilize the empty cans, and the empty cans are filled with drinks that have been sterilized in advance. Along with, a can lid that has been heat-sterilized by steam and dried by aseptic air is configured to seal the can body that has been filled with the beverage, and the filling device and the sealing device are arranged in a sterile room. An apparatus is described.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the above-mentioned conventional aseptic filling equipment, since the beverage filling area and the can lid winding area are independently made to have a high level of air cleanliness, there is a large difference in environment from the surroundings, and therefore, a purification device such as a hepa filter. , The load on the equipment became considerably large, and eventually the equipment cost and running cost were increased, and it was difficult to put it to practical use.
[0008]
In addition, conventional equipment that performs heat sterilization with steam or hot water as a sterilization method uses a large amount of steam or hot water, and therefore consumes a large amount of heat energy. Therefore, running costs also increase in this kind of equipment. However, there is a problem that it becomes difficult to use it in cost other than expensive canned beverages, resulting in poor versatility.
[0009]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to reduce equipment costs and running costs, and to provide a practically usable production facility for aseptic beverage cans. .
[0010]
Means for Solving the Problems and Their Functions
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an aseptic beverage canning manufacturing facility in which a sterile beverage is filled in a sterile empty can in a sterile atmosphere and tightly sealed with a sterile can lid. Are placed on a conveyor in a line, and an untreated empty can supply device is supplied at regular intervals, and an open end face of the untreated empty can supplied from the supply device is closed with a suction pad and the untreated empty can is supplied. A chemical spraying device on the outer surface of an empty can that sprays a chemical solution for sterilization on the outer surface of the empty can and the outer surface of the bottom of the empty can, while the empty can is sucked and floated from the conveyor, and the chemical liquid is sprayed on the outer surface. The empty can is placed on the steel belt conveyor from the chemical spraying device, and while being conveyed by the steel belt conveyor, the chemical liquid on the inner surface of the empty can which sprays a chemical for sterilization treatment on the inner surface of the empty can. Spraying device and the steel Empty cans sprayed with chemicals on both the inner and outer surfaces conveyed by a conveyor belt are heated by hot air, sterilization treatment oven to sterilize, and sterilization treatment wrapped in hot air of the oven immediately after passing through the oven. A hot air around the empty can is exhausted downward and clean air is supplied from above while supplying clean air from above, and a clean air replacement device that replaces the empty can around with clean air, and an empty can heated by the sterilization treatment, in an aseptic atmosphere. A cooling device for empty cans that cools by spraying aseptic water with the aseptic beverage filling machine that fills the cooled empty cans with a predetermined amount of a sterilized beverage that has been previously sterilized in a sterile atmosphere; While the can lids are spaced one by one and transported with the can lid surface orthogonal to the direction of travel of the can lids, a chemical solution for sterilization treatment is sprayed on the inner and outer surfaces of the can lids. A can sterilization treatment device for heating and sterilizing a can, and a can filled with the aseptic beverage, in a sterile atmosphere, with a can lid treated with the can lid sterilization device, and aseptic can lid winding. A clean chamber having a high level of air cleanliness containing the tightening machine, the clean air replacement device, the empty can cooling device, the aseptic beverage filling machine, and the aseptic can lid winding machine, and surrounding the clean chamber. A clean box having a medium air cleanliness level, air surrounding the clean box, and containing the chemical sprayer on the outer surface of the empty can, the chemical sprayer on the inner surface of the empty can, and the sterilizing oven. A clean room having a low level of cleanliness is provided.
[0011]
Therefore, according to the equipment of the present invention, the sterilization of the inner and outer surfaces of the empty can is performed by the chemical solution and the heating, and the sterilizing power by the chemical solution is increased by the heating. It can be performed. Also, on the outlet side of the sterilization treatment oven, a clean air replacement device for flowing clean air in a laminar flow state from the upper side to the lower side is arranged, so that the sterilization treatment oven is substantially separated from the subsequent cooling device. Shut off these clean air replacement devices and cooling devicesAccommodatesThereHighBell air cleanliness creeInside the chamberIs easily maintained at a predetermined air cleanliness. In other words, it is possible to effectively prevent dust and the like from adhering to the sterilized empty can.
[0012]
Furthermore, the equipment for carrying out the process of handling the contents of the beverage can and the can lid that comes into contact therewith, ie, the path from the aseptic beverage filling machine and the aseptic can lid winding machine and the can lid sterilizer to the aseptic can lid winding machine is high. Installed in a clean chamber maintained at a level of air cleanliness, a clean box with a medium level of air cleanliness is provided on the outer periphery, and a clean room with a low level of air cleanliness is provided on the outer side. In this clean room, a device for spraying the chemical solution on the outer surface of the empty can, a device for spraying the chemical solution on the inner surface, an oven for sterilization, and a sterilizer for the can lid are installed, so that the air cleanliness of each area is maintained. In addition, the mixing of dust and the like into the beverage can can be effectively prevented.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Next, the present invention will be described based on specific examples. FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a can production facility according to the present invention. In this can production line, an empty can supply device (not shown) for continuously supplying untreated empty cans. The empty can supply conveyor 1 extending from the endless conveyor continuously transports the normal empty cans. At the end of the conveyor 1, empty cans that have been randomly transported in a line are fixed. A timing screw 2 is arranged so as to be lined up at an interval and to be supplied to an apparatus for the next step.
[0014]
The traveling speed of the empty can supply conveyor 1 can be adjusted so as to match the production speed of the canned production line, and the drive system of the timing screw 2 installed at the end of the conveyor 1 has an empty can. It rotates synchronously in conjunction with the device of the next process so that it can be delivered.
[0015]
The chemical spraying device 3 on the outer surface of the can connected to the empty can supply conveyor 1 via the timing screw 2 includes a plurality of suction pads 3a for adsorbing the empty can on an oblong orbit on a horizontal plane and transporting the empty can at a constant speed. A horizontal rotary type empty can transport mechanism, and a chemical spray mechanism 3b for spraying a chemical solution (for example, a 5% by weight aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution) on the outer peripheral surface of the can body and the outer bottom of the can being transported by each suction pad 3a. It consists of
[0016]
Each suction pad 3a of the empty can transport mechanism is positioned concentrically with the empty can positioned by the timing screw 2 to a position close to and above the empty can, and at the same time, the suction pad 3a is moved from the suction hole of the suction pad 3a. By suction, the upper end opening surface of the empty can is closed with a suction pad 3a and sucked, lifted and conveyed from the conveyor 1, and then released at a position where the suction can is reached on the steel conveyor 4 of the next process apparatus. Then, the empty can is transferred onto the steel conveyor 4.
[0017]
In the above-described apparatus, if there is no empty can when the suction pad 3a moves to the position where the empty can is sucked, the suction pad 3a stops suction and moves for one cycle. When the suction pad 3a not adsorbing the can passes through the chemical spray mechanism 3b, the chemical is not sprayed.
[0018]
The chemical spraying device 5 on the inner surface of the can, which is arranged following the chemical spraying device 3 on the outer surface of the can, is arranged such that the empty can, which is placed directly on the steel belt conveyor 4 and conveyed, has an empty can. In order to prevent the empty can from falling over by spraying the chemical, the steel belt conveyor 4 has a width direction in order to place the empty can in a stable state by suction force. At the center, an intake hole for sucking the bottom of the empty can is provided.
[0019]
The sterilization oven 6 for heating the empty cans in which the chemical liquid is sprayed on the inner surface and the outer surface by the respective chemical liquid spraying devices 3 and 5 is used for conveying the empty cans that pass through the oven 6 from the inlet side to the outlet side. And a heating furnace for heating the empty cans conveyed and passed by the steel belt conveyor, and heats the empty cans in the oven 6 while heating them to increase the sterilizing effect. At the same time, the chemical liquid attached to the empty can is heated to be decomposed and removed.
[0020]
At the outlet of the sterilization oven 6, a tunnel 8 is connected along the steel belt conveyor 4 for transporting the sterilized empty cans discharged from the oven 6 and surrounding the steel belt conveyor 4 to block the can from outside air.
[0021]
In the tunnel 8, first, the hot air flowing into the tunnel 8 from the oven 6 is discharged to below the steel belt conveyor 4, and filtered by a filter to generate clean air.Ceiling?A clean air replacement device 9 that vertically blows down as laminar flow is disposed, and then an empty can cooling device 10 that cools the empty can heated by the sterilization treatment by spraying sterile water is disposed. I have.
[0022]
The steel belt conveyor 4 having passed through the tunnel 8 is taken over by a TP conveyor (a conveyor in which flat plastic plates are arranged in a caterpillar shape on the upper surface of a chain) 7 and the like, and a timing screw 11 is provided at the end of the TP conveyor 7. A turret 12 of a relay, which is arranged and rotates while holding the empty cans spaced at a predetermined interval by the timing screw 11, is provided. The TP conveyor 7 is sandwiched by the relay turret 12 having a plurality of pockets. The beverage filling machine 13 is installed so as to face the end portion of the beverage filling device.
[0023]
A dispenser for dispensing a predetermined amount of the sterilized beverage supplied from the beverage sterilizer 14 into the sterilized empty can supplied from the end portion of the TP conveyor 7 through the relay turret 12. Although not particularly shown, the beverage filling machine 13 is of a generally used horizontal rotary type. Specifically, a pocket for receiving and holding empty cans is provided around a rotating main turret. Are formed, and beverage filling nozzles revolving synchronously with the pockets are arranged above the respective pockets.
[0024]
In this embodiment, a beverage sterilizer 14 for supplying a beverage that has been sterilized to the beverage filling machine 13 has a configuration already proposed by the present applicant as shown in FIG. No. 332569).
[0025]
In such a beverage sterilization apparatus 14, the beverage before sterilization stored in a tank (not shown) is fed by a feed pump 21 to the first plate heat exchanger 22 under substantially normal pressure, In a narrow path of the first plate heat exchanger 22, a preliminary heating process of rapidly heating to near the boiling point (about 95 ° C.) by heat exchange is performed.
[0026]
Next, after flowing into the temporary storage tank 23 and holding it under the atmospheric pressure for a short time in the temporary storage tank 23 in which the nitrogen gas has been sent into the head space, the oxygen in the beverage is deaerated, It is fed to the second plate type heat exchanger 25 under pressure by the pressure feed pump 24, and in a narrow path of the second plate type heat exchanger 25, at a high temperature (110 to 140 ° C.) necessary for sterilization by heat exchange, for several seconds. The sterilization treatment is performed while holding for a short time of not more than tens of seconds (within 60 seconds).
[0027]
After the sterilization treatment at a high temperature for a short time, the mixture is immediately sent to the third plate heat exchanger 26, and is quickly cooled to almost normal temperature (50 ° C. or less) by heat exchange in the narrow path of the third plate heat exchanger 26. After cooling, a sealed pipe 28 maintained in an aseptic state without contacting the outside air via a pressure control valve 27 for maintaining the pressure in the second and third plate heat exchangers 25 and 26 at a high pressure. To the beverage filling machine 13.
[0028]
On the other hand, in the beverage filling machine 13, each sterilized empty can continuously supplied from the relay turret 12 is sequentially held in each pocket of the main turret, and is revolved and conveyed as the main turret rotates. The sterilized beverage sent from the beverage sterilizing apparatus 14 is filled into the empty can from the respective filling nozzles by a predetermined amount, and the beverage-filled can is removed from the pocket when the main turret is further rotated. It is transported to the next step by the conveyor 15.
[0029]
At the end side of the timing conveyor 15 for transporting the beverage-filled cans discharged from the beverage filling machine 13, the beverage-filled cans transported by the conveyor 15 are supplied from the can lid sterilizer 17 to the beverage-filled cans. A can lid winding machine 16 for winding the sterilized can lid is provided.
[0030]
In this embodiment, a can lid sterilizing apparatus 17 for supplying a sterilized can lid to the can lid winding machine 16 is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-40436 as shown in FIG. ) Is used.
[0031]
In such a can lid sterilizing apparatus 17, the untreated can lid continuously supplied from the can lid supply device is moved by the can lid conveying means 31 so that the can lid surface is orthogonal to the traveling direction. In the course of continuous conveyance at intervals of one sheet at a time, first, a chemical solution (aqueous solution of 2.0 to 15% by weight of hydrogen peroxide) is sprayed onto the entire surface of the can lid by the spray nozzle 32 (15 to 15%). 100mg / 100cm ² )After being attached, the can lid is heated (100 to 200 ° C.) with heated air by the heating means 33 to decompose the hydrogen peroxide of the chemical solution attached to the can lid, and the simultaneous generation period The oxygen is used to accelerate the sterilization process, and finally cooled in the cooling processing section 34, and then supplied to the can lid tightening machine 16 through the inside of the chute 35 maintained in an aseptic state without being exposed to the outside air.
[0032]
Although the can filled with beverage is fed by the timing conveyor 15 and the sterilized can lid is supplied from the can lid sterilizing device 17, the can lid winding machine 16 is not particularly shown, but is conventionally used in general. More specifically, a plurality of pockets for receiving and holding beverage-filled cans are formed around the rotating main turret, and move synchronously with the main turret pocket. A lifter is arranged below each pocket, and a seaming chuck and a seaming roll are arranged above.
[0033]
In such a can lid winding machine 16, beverage-filled cans continuously supplied from the timing conveyor 15 are sequentially held in respective pockets of the main turret, and each beverage is supplied via a relay turret. The lifter rises while being transported as the main turret rotates while the can lid is wrapped around the top opening of the filled can and the can lid is wound around the top opening of the can by the seaming chuck and seaming roll. The beverage can that has been tightened and sealed by the can lid is removed from the pocket when the main turret is further rotated, is discharged through the guide member, and is then discharged from the production line by the canned product transport conveyor 18 as a manufactured product. You.
[0034]
By the way, as shown in FIG. 2, most of the canned production line composed of the above-described devices is installed in a clean room CR having a low level of air cleanliness. A clean box CB maintaining a medium level air cleanliness is defined, and a clean chamber CC maintaining a high level air cleanliness is further defined in the clean box CB.
[0035]
Then, a conveying path for the sterilized empty cans (in the tunnel 8 in which the clean air replacing device 9 and the empty can cooling device 10 are arranged) following the sterilizing treatment oven 6, around the beverage filling machine 13, and from the beverage filling machine 13 to the can lid. Parts such as a conveyance path to the winder 16 (around the timing conveyor 15), a supply path of the sterilized can lid from the can lid sterilizer 17 (in the chute 35), and a part around the can lid winder 16 are as follows. It is disposed in a clean chamber CC further defined in a clean box CB in the clean room CR.
[0036]
Regarding the above-mentioned clean room CR, clean box CB and clean chamber CC, the clean chamber CC in which a high level of air cleanliness is maintained is maintained in a class 10 to 100, and the clean room in which a medium level air cleanliness is maintained. The inside of the box CB is maintained in a class of 1,000 to 10,000, and the inside of a clean room CR in which a low level of air cleanliness is maintained is maintained in a class of 100,000.
[0037]
The above class is described according to the United States Federal Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) standard, and is 1 cubic foot (ft).³  )) Indicates the cleanliness of the air by the number of reference particles (particle diameter of 0.5 μm or more) present in each class. For example, class 1 has 0 to 1 reference particles / ft.³  And class 10 is 2 to 10 pieces / ft.³  , Class 100 is 11-100 pieces / ft³  Is shown.
[0038]
The air in the clean box CB having a middle level of air cleanliness is purified and supplied into the clean chamber CC maintained at the high level of air cleanliness described above. Further, the air in the clean room CR on the outer peripheral side is purified and supplied to the clean box CB having the medium level of air cleanliness. Further, the pressure in the clean chamber CC is maintained at a pressure slightly higher than the pressure in the clean box CB, and the pressure in the clean box CB is maintained at a pressure slightly higher than the pressure in the clean room CR. Therefore, the air pressure in the clean room CR is slightly higher than or equal to the air pressure in the factory building.
[0039]
The temperature in the clean chamber CC maintaining a high level of air cleanliness (classes 10 to 100) is in the range of 60 to 95 ° C, in particular, in this embodiment, in the range of 75 to 85 ° C. The heated air that is maintained and exhausted from the heating processing oven 6 supplied into the clean chamber CC is filtered by a filter to have a predetermined air cleanliness.
[0040]
The beverage sterilizer 14 connected to the beverage filling machine 13 by a closed pipe may be installed in either the clean room CR or the clean room CR.
[0041]
In the beverage canning manufacturing facility having the above configuration, a beverage can is manufactured as follows.
[0042]
First, an untreated empty can is continuously supplied by the empty can supply conveyor 1, and the outer peripheral surface of the empty can and the outer surface of the can bottom are sterilized in the chemical spraying device 3 on the outer surface of the can while being transported by the suction pad 3a. A chemical solution for treatment (aqueous solution of 5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide) is sprayed, then transferred onto a steel belt conveyor 4 and placed in a normal position, and then passed through a chemical solution spraying device 5 on the inner surface of the can. Is sprayed with a sterilizing chemical (an aqueous solution containing 5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide), and then sent into the sterilizing oven 6.
[0043]
Then, in the sterilizing oven 6, the empty can having the chemical solution sprayed on the inner surface and the outer surface is heated by high-temperature (about 250 ° C.) hot air from a heating furnace to decompose the hydrogen peroxide of the attached chemical solution. By removing, the sterilization processing of the empty can is completed. In this case, efficient sterilization is performed by a synergistic effect of heating to a high temperature with nascent oxygen accompanying the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide.
[0044]
Next, the sterilized empty cans discharged from the sterilizing oven 6 are cleaned in a tunnel 8 in an aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness class 10 to 100) by a clean air replacement device 9 to clean the surrounding air. The heated empty can is cooled to 100 ° C. or less by spraying sterile water with the empty can cooling device 10, and then the beverage filling machine 13 in an aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness class 10 to 100). To supply.
[0045]
Then, in a sterile atmosphere of clean air (air cleanliness class: 10 to 100) maintained in the range of 75 to 85 ° C., the cooled sterilized empty cans are heated to a high temperature by the beverage sterilizer 14. The beverage filling machine 13 fills a predetermined amount of the sterilized beverage that has been heated and sterilized for a short time and cooled to room temperature. In that case, it is preferable that the filling nozzle does not contact the upper open end of the can. Then, in a sterile atmosphere of clean air (air cleanliness class: 10 to 100) maintained in the range of 75 to 85 ° C., the beverage-filled can is directed to the can lid winding machine 16 by the timing conveyor 15. Supply.
[0046]
Further, in a sterile atmosphere of clean air maintained in the range of 75 to 85 ° C. (air cleanliness is class 10 to 100), the can-filled cans sent from the beverage filling machine 13 are sterilized with can lids. The sterilized can lid supplied from the device 17 through a chute in an aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness class: 10 to 100) was continuously wound by the can lid winding machine 16 to fill and seal the beverage. After the beverage can, the product is carried out by the carry-out conveyor 18 as a sterilized product.
[0047]
If necessary, before assembling the can lid to the can filled with beverage in the can lid winding machine 16, aseptic liquid nitrogen may be added from a separate aseptic liquid nitrogen supply device, Aseptic nitrogen gas may be supplied to the tightening machine 16 from a separate aseptic nitrogen gas supply device to replace the air in the upper head space inside the can filled with beverage with the aseptic nitrogen gas (undercover gassing).
[0048]
In the beverage canned manufacturing equipment of this embodiment as described above, the heating of the beverage inside the beverage can be performed only by a short-time high-temperature sterilization by the beverage sterilizing device 14, so that the conventional retort sterilization method or hot filling method ( Compared with hot packs), the heat history of the beverage inside can be reduced, and canned beverages can be manufactured while maintaining the original taste, aroma and color of the beverage as much as possible.
[0049]
It should be noted that the beverage, which has been cooled to approximately room temperature, hardly rises in temperature during a short period of time while passing through the clean chamber CC maintained at a temperature in the range of 60 to 95 ° C. It is possible to produce a beverage can while maintaining the original taste, aroma and color of the beverage in the same state as in the above.
[0050]
Moreover, in the conventional aseptic filling equipment, even if the aseptic filling method is performed in a state of high air cleanliness (classes 10 to 100), it is absolutely necessary to avoid generating about several cans in one million cans. Although it was not possible, according to the beverage canned manufacturing equipment based on the present invention as described above, according to the viable bacteria such as non-heat-resistant aqueous bacteria and molds which cause expansion cans (usually at a temperature of 60 to 70 ° C.) Can be sterilized in a clean chamber CC maintained at a temperature in the range of 60 to 95 ° C., so that it is possible to prevent the occurrence of expansion cans without incurring enormous equipment costs and maintenance costs. .
[0051]
In the specific example described above, since the temperature in the clean chamber CC is in the range of 75 to 85 ° C., it is possible to reliably prevent live bacteria from entering the can and to maintain the temperature in the clean chamber CC. Since relatively little heat energy is required and the degree of vacuum in the can after sealing is not so high, a relatively thin can body or can lid can be used as a can container.
[0052]
Further, in the above specific example, the heated air exhausted from the sterilization oven 6 for heating and sterilizing the empty can is filtered by a filter to a predetermined air cleanliness, and then heated as clean air in the clean chamber CC. Because of the supply, it does not require equipment or energy to reheat the clean air, and the equipment cost and utility cost are low, making it economically rich.
[0053]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the beverage canning production equipment of the present invention, a clean air replacement device, an empty can cooling device, and a beverage filling machine that handle sterilized can bodies and sterilized beverages and sterilized can lids And the can lid winder is installed in a clean chamber with a high level of air cleanliness, and the surroundings of the clean chamber is a clean box with a medium level of air cleanliness. In addition to forming a clean room with air cleanliness, a chemical sprayer inside and outside the can for sterilization, an oven for sterilization, and a can lid sterilizer were installed in the clean room. Aseptic conditions can be achieved relatively easily in the process of filling certain beverages and wrapping can lids, thus maintaining the sterility And cost reduction of the equipment costs and running costs, can be a highly practical equipment suitable for cost reduction of the thus beverage canning. In addition, in the equipment of the present invention, in particular, since the chemical solution is sprayed on the empty can and then heated in the oven as it is, a sterilizing effect due to the decomposition of the chemical solution and a sterilizing effect by heating can be obtained. Compared to the sterilization by raising the temperature, the sterilization effect is excellent, there is no need to worry about residual chemicals, and the energy cost can be reduced.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a beverage canned production facility of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing air cleanliness of an atmosphere in which each device shown in FIG. 1 is arranged.
FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a beverage sterilizing apparatus related to the canned manufacturing facility shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing an example of a can lid sterilizing apparatus related to the canned manufacturing facility shown in FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
3,5 Chemical spray device
6 Sterilization oven
9 Clean air replacement device
10 Cooling device
13 Beverage filling machine
14 Beverage sterilizer
16 can lid winding machine
17 Can lid sterilizer
CR clean room
CB clean box
CC clean chamber

Claims (1)

In a sterile atmosphere, in a sterile beverage can manufacturing facility that fills a sterile beverage into a sterile empty can and tightly seals it with a sterile can lid.
An untreated empty can supply device for placing untreated empty cans in a line on the conveyor and supplying the empty cans regularly at regular intervals;
The open end surface of the untreated empty can supplied from the supply device is closed with a suction pad, and the untreated empty can is sucked and floated from the conveyor, and the outer peripheral surface of the empty can and the outer surface of the can bottom are sterilized during transportation. A chemical spraying device on the outer surface of an empty can for spraying a chemical for treatment,
An empty can sprayed with a chemical solution on the outer surface is placed on a steel belt conveyor from the chemical solution spraying device, and while being conveyed by the steel belt conveyor, a chemical solution for sterilization treatment is applied to the inner surface of the empty can. A chemical spraying device inside the empty can to spray,
An empty can sprayed with a chemical solution on both the inner and outer surfaces conveyed by the steel belt conveyor, heated by hot air, and a sterilization oven for sterilization,
Clean air that exhausts hot air around the sterilized empty cans wrapped in hot air from the oven immediately after passing through the oven and supplies clean air from above, and replaces the empty cans with clean air. A replacement device;
To the empty can heated by the sterilization process, a cooling device for an empty can that cools by spraying sterile water in a sterile atmosphere,
The cooled empty can, aseptic beverage filling machine to fill a predetermined amount of sterile beverage pre-sterilized in a sterile atmosphere,
Spray a chemical solution for sterilization treatment on the inner and outer surfaces of the can lid while transporting the untreated can lids one by one at intervals and transporting the can lid surface perpendicular to the direction of the can lid. A can lid sterilization treatment device that heats and sterilizes the can lid,
In a sterile atmosphere, the can filled with the aseptic beverage in a sterile atmosphere, with a can lid treated with the can lid sterilizer, a sterile can lid winding machine to seal tightly,
A clean chamber having a high level of air cleanliness containing the clean air replacement device, the empty can cooling device, the aseptic beverage filling machine, and the aseptic can lid winding machine,
A clean box with a medium level of air cleanliness surrounding this clean chamber,
Surrounding this clean box, and having a clean room of low level of air cleanliness containing the chemical sprayer on the outer surface of the empty can, the chemical sprayer on the inner surface of the empty can, and the sterilization oven. Characterized aseptic beverage can manufacturing equipment.

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