JP3589674B2 - Aseptic filling and packaging method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Industrial applications]
The present invention relates to an aseptic filling and packaging method for aseptically packaging foods such as milk and juices, and more particularly to a method for aseptically filling and packaging paper and plastic containers.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, aseptic filling and packaging machines for paper and plastic containers perform sterilization, removal, and filling in a state where a filling portion is largely open and a mouth is opened. For this reason, the entire container was stored in a sterile chamber for the operation.
In this case, the sealing mechanism for sealing is large, and thus the volume of the sterile chamber is large. As the volume of the sterile chamber increases, the flow of sterile air to maintain the inside at a higher pressure (positive pressure) is disrupted, and more sterile air is required for dust generation, It takes a lot of time and a lot of chemicals to wash and sterilize the product. In addition, when the sealing mechanism is large, in the case of heat sealing, heat dissipation is large, which also increases turbulence of sterile air.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention solves the above problems, the sterile chamber requires a small volume, the amount of chemicals used during cleaning and sterilization of the chamber and the cleaning time are small, the heat dissipation in the case of heat sealing is small, and the turbulence of the sterile air is also reduced. It is an object to provide a small aseptic filling and packaging method.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, the present invention is a bottom in the container of the push-up rod 4 that can be held by fitting the container horizontal conveyor belt 2, the upper surface of the horizontal conveyor belt 2, the rear than the push-up rod 4 A sterile chamber 5 that is continuous from the position to the front in the transport direction is provided, and a sterilizing agent spray nozzle 10, a drying nozzle 11, a filling nozzle 12, a sealing material folding guide 13, and a seal bar 14 are provided in this sterile chamber 5 in this order. A sterile filling and packaging method for aseptically filling and packaging containers using aseptic filling and packaging means provided with a push-down rod 15 for containers in the forward direction of the chamber 5 in a transport direction, wherein the containers 1 are pushed up from below the horizontal transport belt 2. at the rod 4 by push fitting holding, after marked with the upper surface 3 only the spout 8 of the container 1 are sequentially introduced so as to face in a sterile chamber 5, the container 1 drinking A disinfectant is sprayed from a mouth 8 by a disinfectant spray nozzle 10 to sterilize the inside of the container 1. Subsequently, hot air is blown by a drying nozzle 11 to be dried, and the contents are filled by a filling nozzle 12. A sealing material folding guide 13 folds the drinking water sealing material 9 previously applied to the upper surface 3 of the container 1 to cover the drinking water, and seals the sealing material 9 on the upper surface 3 with a sealing bar 14 to drink the beverage. After the mouth is sealed, the container 1 is pushed down by the push-down rod 15 and is discharged from the horizontal conveyor belt 2, whereby a part of the aseptic chamber 5 is constituted by the horizontal conveyor belt 2 and the container 1. It is an aseptic filling and packaging method.
[0005]
This will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a method of introducing only the upper surface of a container with a spout into a sterile chamber according to an embodiment of the present invention. The container 1 is pushed up and held by a horizontal transport belt 2 (hereinafter simply referred to as a transport belt 2) of an aseptic filling and packaging machine 6 that transports the container horizontally . The conveyor belt 2 is provided with an opening corresponding to the shape of the container 1, and the container 1 is fitted and held in the opening. Thereby, the upper surface 3 with the spout of the container is located almost at the upper end position of the conveyor belt 2, and only the upper surface 3 with the spout enters the sterile chamber 5.
The aseptic chamber 5 is provided continuously from the position behind the push-up rod 4 to the front in the transport direction, and the transport belt 2 and the container 1 constitute a part of the aseptic chamber 5.
[0006]
Inside the aseptic chamber 5, aseptic positive pressure holding air 7, which has a higher pressure than the outside, flows so that dirty air from the outside does not enter.
[0007]
Here, the container flowing in FIG. 1 will be described. FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view (a) and a plan view (b) showing a conventional container, and FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view (a) and a plan view showing a container of one embodiment used in the method of the present invention. (B).
Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 4, a container whose entire upper surface is open was used, so the entire container was introduced into a sterile chamber, and the entire lid of the container was heat-sealed. Therefore, the size of the aseptic chamber is also increased, and the flow of the aseptic air is disturbed, so that a large amount of aseptic air is required for dust generation. In the case of heat sealing in the case of heat sealing when the sealing mechanism is large, there is also a problem that the turbulence of the aseptic air is also increased.
[0008]
The present invention uses a container provided with an upper surface 3 having a spout as shown in FIG. 3, and the spout sealing material 9 is applied to the container, so that the above-mentioned problems can be solved.
That is, the size of the aseptic chamber may be small, the flow of aseptic air is not disturbed, the amount of chemicals and the cleaning time during cleaning and sterilization may be reduced, and the amount of generated heat may be reduced.
[0009]
[Action]
By using aseptic filling and packaging method of the present invention, only the upper surface with a spout of the container, so introduced to face in a sterile chamber, a sterile chamber can be a small volume. Also, since only the spout is fused in the aseptic chamber, the heat capacity can be reduced.
[0010]
【Example】
FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing one embodiment of the aseptic filling and packaging method of the present invention. Pushed more to the rod 4 pushes the container 1, extraordinary the inserted container 1 in an opening corresponding to the shape of the container formed in the conveyor belt 2 is fitted and held, only the top 3 with a tap in a sterile chamber 5 Not introduced. The configuration of the wall surface of the container 1 was polyethylene / aluminum / polyethylene / paper / polyethylene from the inside. The container 1 is not limited to the above-described configuration, but may be a similar configuration or a plastic resin only.
[0011]
Next, the container 1 in which only the upper surface 3 with the spout is introduced into the aseptic chamber 5 is sterilized by spraying the germicide from the spout 8 by the germicide spray nozzle 10. Thereafter, hot air is sent by the drying nozzle 11 to be dried, and subsequently, the filling nozzle 12 is filled with food such as juice or milk.
[0012]
Next, the spout sealing material 9 is folded by the sealing material folding guide 13, and the seal bar 14 is lowered above the spout 8 to seal the spout. As a result, the aseptic filling and packaging is completed, and the aseptic chamber is removed from the aseptic chamber and discharged from the conveyor belt 2 by the push-down rod 15.
[0013]
Inside the sterile chamber 5, sterile positive pressure holding air 7 is constantly supplied by a pipe 16, so that air is not introduced from the outside. In addition, the portions of the vertical rods such as the disinfectant spray nozzle 10, the drying nozzle 11, the filling nozzle 12, and the seal bar 14 extending to the outside of the aseptic chamber are covered with bellows or the like, and are blocked from the outside air to prevent dust, air, etc. Prevents contamination.
[0014]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the aseptic chamber requires a small volume, the amount of chemicals used during cleaning and sterilization of the chamber and the cleaning time are small, the heat dissipation in the case of heat sealing is small, and the turbulence of the aseptic air is small and the aseptic filling and packaging method is small. Can be provided.
[0015]
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a container according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which only the upper surface with a spout is introduced into a sterile chamber.
FIG. 2 is a process explanatory view of an aseptic filling and packaging method showing one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a plan view (a) and a longitudinal sectional view (b) of an embodiment of the container used in the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a plan view (a) and a longitudinal sectional view (b) of a conventionally used container.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Container 2 ... Conveying belt 3 ... Upper surface with a drinking spout 4 ... Push-up rod 5 ... Sterile chamber 6 ... Sterile filling and packaging machine 7 ... Sterile positive pressure holding air 8 ... Drinking port 9 ... Drinking mouth sealing material 10 ... Disinfectant Spray nozzle 11 ... Drying nozzle 12 ... Filling nozzle 13 ... Sealing material folding guide 14 ... Seal bar 15 ... Push-down rod 16 ... Piping

Claims (1)

A push-up rod 4 for the container is provided on the lower surface of the horizontal transport belt 2 capable of holding the container by fitting, and an aseptic chamber 5 which is continuous on the upper surface of the horizontal transport belt 2 from the position behind the push-up rod 4 forward in the transport direction. provided, fungicide spray nozzle 10 into the sterile chamber 5, the drying nozzle 11, the filling nozzle 12, the sealing member folding guide 13, provided the seal bar 14 in this order, the rod 15 pushed down the container in the conveying direction in front of the sterile chamber 5 The aseptic filling and packaging method for aseptically filling and packaging containers using aseptic filling and packaging means provided with: a container 1 is pushed up from below by a horizontal transport belt 2 with a rod 4 and fitted and held; after sequentially introduced only top 3 with a tap 8 of the container 1 to face in a sterile chamber 5, killing the spout 8 of the container 1 at fungicide spray nozzle 10 The inside of the container 1 is sterilized by spraying an agent, followed by drying by blowing hot air through a drying nozzle 11, filling the contents with a filling nozzle 12, and filling the container 1 with a sealing material folding guide 13. The spout sealing material 9 previously applied to the upper surface 3 is folded over to cover the spout, and the sealing material 9 is sealed on the upper surface 3 with a seal bar 14 to seal the spout. A method for aseptic filling and packaging, wherein a part of a sterile chamber 5 is constituted by the horizontal transport belt 2 and the container 1 by pushing down the container 1 and discharging the container 1 from the horizontal transport belt 2.

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