JP3891530B2 - Liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a liquefied gas flow apparatus for flowing a predetermined amount of inert low-temperature liquefied gas into the head space of each can between filling a beverage or the like and covering it with a can lid, using clean air The present invention relates to a liquefied gas flow apparatus for aseptic filling in which the apparatus main body is arranged in a substantially aseptic atmosphere, and in particular, by sterilizing steam supplied from a steam supply pipe connected to a liquefied gas supply pipe. The present invention relates to a liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling which is configured so that each pipe and the inside of the device main body can be sterilized.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When canning non-carbonated beverages such as coffee, black tea, green tea, oolong tea, and fruit juice, the beverage is filled and sealed in a can body having a thin wall like a DI (squeezed iron) can. Conventionally, a small amount of an inert low-temperature liquefied gas such as liquid nitrogen is added to the liquid surface in the can filled with, and then the can lid is wrapped around the can opening and sealed. It is.
[0003]
By adding a small amount of liquefied gas in this way, the internal pressure of the sealed can becomes higher than the atmospheric pressure due to vaporization of the added liquefied gas, so that the thin shell wall does not deform even if a little external pressure is applied. At the same time, when added to the beverage, a part of the liquefied gas is instantly vaporized, and the headspace air is expelled out of the can. Deterioration due to oxidation of the beverage in the can can be reduced.
[0004]
On the other hand, in the canned non-carbonated beverages as described above, in the conventional sterilization methods such as the retort sterilization method and the hot filling method (hot pack), the content beverage is heated for a relatively long time. By maintaining the state, the taste and aroma of the original beverage (for example, freshly squeezed if it is a fruit juice, freshly made if it is coffee, tea, green tea, oolong tea, etc.) will be lost or change its color Various problems have been studied so-called aseptic filling methods because they cause problems.
[0005]
In other words, the aseptic filling method sterilizes at a high temperature for a short time in order to produce a beverage canned product while keeping the original taste, aroma and color of the beverage as much as possible while reducing the heat history of the beverage as much as possible when producing the canned product. The sterilized beverage, which has been cooled quickly and rapidly, is filled into a sterilized empty can in an almost aseptic atmosphere with clean air (high-level clean air area of class 10 to 100). Sealed with a can lid.
[0006]
In the production of canned beverages by such aseptic filling, a can body having a thin wall like a DI can is used, and the liquefied gas that has been sterilized is put into the head space of each can before the can is sealed. In the case of addition, the main body of the liquefied gas flow-down device is placed in the vicinity of the transport path from the beverage filling machine to the can lid clamping machine in a clean booth with clean air (class 10 to 100). In addition, prior to the start of use, the interior of the device main body (the entire passage of the liquefied gas that reaches the nozzle portion through the storage tank in the device main body) and the inside of each pipe are sterilized in advance. It is necessary to sterilize so as to be in a state.
[0007]
However, when the apparatus main body of the liquefied gas flowing-down apparatus is installed in a clean booth in a substantially aseptic state (class 10 to 100), it is necessary to sterilize not only the outer surface side of the apparatus main body but also the entire interior thereof. In the aseptic filling method, it is difficult to add the sterilized liquefied gas by the liquefied gas flow-down device in the aseptic filling method. It was.
[0008]
On the other hand, for the liquefied gas flow down device in which the device main body is installed in the clean booth maintained at a high level of air cleanliness, piping for supplying liquefied gas from outside the clean booth to the device main body in the clean booth On the other hand, it is possible to easily sterilize the inside of the device body and the piping simply by connecting the piping for supplying the sterilizing steam and operating each on-off control valve provided in each piping. However, it is already known by the applicant's application prior to this application (see JP-A-11-43111).
[0009]
According to such a liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling by the present applicant, it is necessary to control the open / close control valve of each pipe connected to the main body of the device into a high level aseptic atmosphere (in a clean booth). The air cleanliness around the installed device body is not reduced, and each operation from the sterilization of the device body (and each pipe connected to it) before use to the post-treatment after use is continued. The liquefied gas (liquid nitrogen) after sterilization in the aseptic filling method can be effectively added.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, in the liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling as described above, as described in JP-A-11-43111, a heated gas ( By connecting a pipe for supplying nitrogen gas), the inside of the device body and the pipe after sterilization are cooled and dried with heated gas. Water droplets condensed in this way are not left in the main body or piping.
[0011]
However, in the apparatus main body away from the sterilizing steam and heating gas supply section and the steam drain discharge section, it is difficult to discharge the steam drain. If the drain remains in the sterilized device body after the sterilization, when the liquefied gas is introduced into the device body, the remaining drain is frozen by the ultra-low temperature liquefied gas. Will become ice particles.
[0012]
When the ice particles in the drain are separated from the inner wall of the main body of the apparatus, the specific gravity is larger than that of the liquefied gas (liquid nitrogen), so that the ice particles settle toward the nozzle part, and the ice particles clog the falling nozzle holes. As a result, the flow amount of the liquefied gas fluctuates, and as a result, it is not possible to provide beverage canned foods and the like with stable internal pressure (canned foods containing a lot of beverages and other liquids as contents). May occur.
[0013]
An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems. Regarding a liquefied gas flowing-down apparatus for aseptic filling in which the inside is sterilized by steam, a sterilizing steam drain is provided in the sterilized apparatus body. It is an object of the present invention to provide canned foods having a stable internal pressure by eliminating the possibility of remaining.
[0014]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  In order to solve the above-described problems, the present invention provides a can lid with a liquefied gas supplied from the liquefied gas supply source through the liquefied gas supply pipe into the apparatus main body and filled with a beverage or the like. The apparatus main body is arranged in a substantially aseptic atmosphere with clean air in order to flow down a predetermined amount into the head space of each can until it is covered, and a liquefied gas supply pipe connected to the apparatus main body On the other hand, in the liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling such that a pipe for supplying sterilizing vapor is connected, all the liquefied gas passages of the main body of the liquefied gas flow down along the flowing direction of the liquefied gas. Inclined toAnd a nozzle that is opened and closed by changing the position of the plug part relative to the cylinder part.Provided at the lower end of the liquefied gas chamberIn addition, a nozzle heater that covers the periphery of the nozzle is slidably inserted into the outer peripheral surface near the lower end of the apparatus body, and a flange portion and a liquefied gas chamber formed on the lower outer surface of the cylinder portion of the nozzle Between the bottom plate andTo be able to open a gap arbitrarily,The cylinder part of the nozzleBottom plate of liquefied gas chamberAgainstIt is provided so as to be movable downward.
[0015]
  According to the liquefied gas flow down device having the above structure, the nozzle is used at the time of sterilization with steam.CylinderBy leaving a gap between the part and the bottom plate of the liquefied gas chamber, the vapor drain attached to the inner wall of the device body during sterilization in the device flows down along the inclination of the passage of the liquefied gas, The nozzle is collected at the bottom of the liquefied gas chamber of the main unit.CylinderBetween the part and the bottom plate of the liquefied gas chamberofIt will be completely discharged out of the apparatus body through the gap.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
[0017]
FIG. 1 schematically shows an example of a beverage canned production line by an aseptic filling method equipped with a liquefied gas flow down apparatus of the present invention. In this embodiment, a clean room (class 10) in which a canned production line is installed. )), An area with a medium level of air cleanliness (class 1,000 to 10,000) is defined, and further, an area with a high level of air cleanliness (class 10 to 100) is clean. Supply of sterilized empty can transportation path, around beverage filling machine, transportation path from beverage filling machine to can lid winding machine, around can lid winding machine, and sterilized can lid, which is defined as a booth All roads are installed in clean booths with high air cleanliness (class 10 to 100).
[0018]
In such a canned production line using the aseptic filling method, the liquefied gas flow-down device has a main body in a clean booth with a high level of air cleanliness (class 10 to 100), from a beverage filling machine to a can lid winding machine. Although not shown, each pipe that is disposed in the middle of the transport path to the apparatus is connected to the apparatus main body in the clean booth from the outside in the vicinity of the clean booth.
[0019]
In the production line for canned beverages as described above, unprocessed empty cans continuously supplied by an empty can supply conveyor are first sterilized on the outer peripheral surface of the can body and the outer surface of the can bottom in a chemical spraying device on the outer surface of the can. After spraying the chemical solution for treatment (aqueous solution of 5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide), the chemical solution for sterilization treatment (aqueous solution of 5% by weight of hydrogen peroxide) is applied to the inner surface of the empty can through the chemical solution spraying device on the inner surface of the can. After spraying, it is fed into a heat sterilization treatment oven.
[0020]
Then, in the heat sterilization processing oven, an empty can in which the chemical solution is sprayed on the inner surface and the outer surface is heated with high-temperature (about 250 ° C.) hot air from a heating furnace body to decompose and remove hydrogen peroxide in the attached chemical solution. This completes the sterilization of the empty can.
[0021]
Next, the sterilized empty can that has been removed from the heat sterilization treatment oven is cleaned in the tunnel in a substantially aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness is class 100) with a clean air replacement device, and then sterilized empty By spraying aseptic water with a can cooling device, the empty can is washed and the heated empty can is cooled to near the filling temperature of the contents, and then in an almost aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness is class 100) To the beverage filling machine.
[0022]
Then, in the clean booth, the sterilized empty can that has been sterilized is sterilized by heating at a high temperature and short time in a beverage sterilizer, and then the sterilized beverage that has been cooled to the filling temperature is filled by a beverage filling machine. After that, in the clean booth, the beverage-filled cans are fed to the can lid winder by a timing conveyor.
[0023]
Then, for each beverage-filled can transported to the can lid winding machine by the transport timing conveyor, in the clean booth, from the device body of the liquefied gas flow down device, the sterilized inactive A predetermined amount of liquefied gas is added to the head space in the upper portion of the can filled with the beverage by flowing a low temperature liquefied gas (liquid nitrogen) at a predetermined amount.
[0024]
Next, for each can filled with beverage and added with liquefied gas (liquid nitrogen), sterilization is supplied from a can lid sterilizer through a chute having a substantially aseptic atmosphere (air cleanliness class 100) in a clean booth. After placing the finished can lid, it is wound and sealed by a can lid winding machine, and then it is carried out as a canned, sterilized product containing a beverage by a carry-out conveyor.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows an outline of the liquefied gas flow down apparatus used in the beverage can manufacturing line by the aseptic filling method as described above. The apparatus main body 1 of the liquefied gas flow down apparatus is sent from the liquefied gas cylinder 2 through the pipe 22. The supplied liquid nitrogen passes through the ceramic filter 3 for sterilization, and is temporarily stored in the storage tank 11 in a state where the liquid level is opened to the atmosphere and the liquid level is kept at a predetermined height. The liquid nitrogen stored in the tank 11 is caused to flow down through the nozzle 13 capable of controlling the flow rate in a state where a substantially constant pressure is always applied by its own gravity.
[0026]
A storage tank 11 having an open upper surface is provided in the apparatus main body 1 of the liquefied gas flow-down device, and a liquefied gas chamber 12 extending vertically below the storage tank 11 includes a bottom portion of the storage tank 11 and a liquefied gas chamber. 12 is provided so as to communicate with the upper part of the liquefied gas chamber 12, and a flow-down nozzle 13 (a cylinder portion of the nozzle) is provided at the lower end of the liquefied gas chamber 12, and can be moved up and down in the liquefied gas chamber 12 in an airtight state from above. The opening of the nozzle 13 is controlled by changing the position of the plug (nozzle plug portion) at the lower end of the rod 14 by the forward and backward movement of the rod 14 by the flow control rod 14 inserted into the storage tank 11. The liquid nitrogen stored therein flows down through the liquefied gas chamber 12 at a flow rate corresponding to the opening degree of the flow rate variable nozzle 13.
[0027]
Further, the apparatus main body 1 is formed with a vacuum heat insulating chamber 15 for insulating the low temperature liquid nitrogen from the outside air temperature so as to cover the storage tank 11 and the liquefied gas chamber 12 from the outside. In order to prevent water vapor in the atmosphere from icing and adhering to the vicinity of the outlet of the nozzle 13 along with the flow of nitrogen, a nozzle heater for defrosting so as to cover the periphery of the nozzle 13 at the lower end of the apparatus main body 1. 16 is detachably attached.
[0028]
As for the liquid level of liquid nitrogen stored in the storage tank 11 of the apparatus main body 1, an upper limit level sensor 17a for defining the upper limit of the liquid level and a lower limit level sensor for defining the lower limit of the liquid level 17b detects the liquid level and controls the inflow of liquid nitrogen into the storage tank 11, so that the liquid level is always maintained in a substantially constant range.
[0029]
The opening degree of the variable flow rate nozzle 13 is not shown based on feedback of information on the pressure inside the can after sealing (detection result of X-ray level monitor, tactile pressure monitor or canned pressure monitor). The opening / closing drive source 18 is driven and controlled by a control signal from the internal pressure control unit, and the rod 14 is moved back and forth in the vertical direction to change the position of the plug at the lower end thereof, thereby controlling the opening at an appropriate flow rate.
[0030]
A liquid nitrogen supply pipe (liquefied gas supply pipe) 22 for sending liquid nitrogen from the liquefied gas cylinder 2 into the apparatus main body 1 through the sterilizing filter 3 is provided to the apparatus main body 1 of such a liquefied gas flowing-down apparatus. Connected to the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22 are pipes for sterilizing the entire interior of the apparatus (the entire passage of liquefied gas from the pipe through the apparatus main body 1) as a steam sterilization unit 4.
[0031]
In addition, in order to exhaust the nitrogen gas generated by the vaporization of liquid nitrogen stored in the storage tank 11 inside the apparatus main body 1, the nitrogen gas is guided to the outside at the same time as preventing intrusion of outside air. For this purpose, an exhaust pipe 25 (one of the pipes of the steam sterilization unit 4) whose end is opened to the atmosphere is connected via an exhaust shutter 5 for the purpose.
[0032]
Further, the apparatus main body 1 is sterilized separately from the apparatus main body 1 so that the lower end opening of the nozzle heater 16 is detachably closed only during cleaning and sterilization of the apparatus main body 1 with steam and subsequent cooling and drying. A cap 19 is prepared.
[0033]
FIG. 3 shows a connection structure of each pipe to the apparatus main body 1 of the liquefied gas flowing-down apparatus as described above, and the structure and use state are described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-43111. It is not fundamentally different from that.
[0034]
That is, the suction pipe 21 extending from the vacuum pump is connected to the vacuum heat insulation chamber 15 that covers the outside of the apparatus main body 1. As described above, the inside of the apparatus main body 1 covered with the vacuum heat insulation chamber 15 is connected. Further, a liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22 for supplying liquid nitrogen from the cylinder into the storage tank 11 is connected via a sterilization filter (0.2 μm mesh ceramic filter) 3, and this liquid nitrogen supply pipe A steam supply pipe 23 for supplying steam for sterilization and a nitrogen gas supply pipe 24 for supplying nitrogen gas for cooling and drying are connected to the downstream side of the open / close control valves. Has been.
[0035]
On the other hand, from the apparatus main body 1 of the liquefied gas flow-down apparatus, as already described, in order to exhaust the nitrogen gas generated by the vaporization of the liquid nitrogen stored in the storage tank 11, the intrusion of outside air is prevented at the same time. An exhaust pipe 25 is connected via an exhaust shutter 5 for introducing gas to the outside, and the end of the exhaust pipe 25 is open to the atmosphere, and is upstream of the opening / closing control valve of the exhaust pipe 25 (device). The steam discharge pipe 26 is branched from the main body side, and the end of the steam discharge pipe 26 is connected to the steam drain discharge pipe 27.
[0036]
In addition, a gas return pipe 28 is disposed so as to allow the nozzle heater 16 and the exhaust shutter 5 to communicate with each other. From the middle of the gas return pipe 28, a discharge is introduced for discharging steam and introducing nitrogen gas. The pipe 29 is branched, and the end side of the discharge introduction pipe 29 is connected to the vapor drain discharge pipe 27. A nitrogen gas introduction pipe 30 is branched from the middle of the discharge introduction pipe 29 (between the sterilization filter and the open / close control valve), and the other end of the nitrogen gas introduction pipe 30 is in the middle of the nitrogen gas supply pipe 24 ( Connected between line heater and pressure reducing valve.
[0037]
In addition, a cap steam discharge pipe 31 is connected to a sterilization cap 19 for detachably closing the lower end opening of the nozzle heater 16 only at the time of sterilization with steam and subsequent cooling and drying with nitrogen gas, The end of the cap steam discharge pipe 31 is connected to a steam drain discharge pipe 27.
[0038]
Note that the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22, the steam supply pipe 23, and the nitrogen gas supply pipe 24 are also in the middle (between the two open / close control valves in each pipe), and the steam drain is discharged through separate open / close control valves. A steam drain discharge pipe 32 provided with an open / close control valve, a manual valve, and a check valve is connected to the pipe connected to the pipe 27 and communicating with the upper part of the apparatus main body 1 and the exhaust shutter 5. ing.
[0039]
As shown above, each piping connected to the apparatus main body 1 is provided with an opening / closing control valve at an appropriate position as shown in the figure. A temperature sensor or a pressure is provided at an appropriate position of the apparatus main body 1 and each piping. Sensors are provided, and the open / close control valves of each pipe are controlled based on the detection results of those sensors, so that the flow rate of liquid nitrogen, the flow rate of steam during sterilization, the flow rate of heated nitrogen gas, Management of the internal pressure of each pipe is performed.
[0040]
In addition, each piping connected to the apparatus main body 1 as described above is collected as a steam sterilization unit in the vicinity of the clean booth with respect to the apparatus main body 1 disposed in the clean booth. By replacing, it can be easily changed to piping of a conventional device that is not for aseptic filling.
[0041]
Each of the sterilization preparation, sterilization process, cooling drying process, liquefied gas flow preparation, liquefied gas flow process, and post-treatment process by the liquefied gas flow apparatus for aseptic filling having the above-described piping structure will be described below. .
[0042]
In using the liquefied gas flow-down device, first, as a preparation for sterilization by steam, the lower end opening of the nozzle heater 16 attached to the lower end of the apparatus main body 1 is closed with a sterilization cap 19 and at the lower end of the apparatus main body 1. After the formed nozzle 13 is in an open state, all the open / close control valves for each pipe are closed, all the manual open / close valves for each pipe are opened, and the line heater, each sensor, and the like are turned on.
[0043]
Then, in order to sterilize the entire interior of the apparatus with steam, each open / close control valve of the steam supply pipe 23 is opened, and the open / close control valve of the steam discharge pipe 26 and the open / close control valve of the discharge introduction pipe 29 are connected at intervals of 15 seconds. The steam supplied from the steam supply pipe 23 is introduced into the apparatus main body 1 through the sterilization filter 3 and passes through the entire interior of the apparatus main body 1. From the upper part of 1, it passes through the exhaust shutter 5, a part is exhausted through the exhaust pipe 25, and the rest through the steam exhaust pipe 26.
[0044]
On the other hand, from the lower part of the apparatus main body 1, a part is discharged from the nozzle heater 16 through the gas return pipe 28 and the exhaust pipe 25 and the steam discharge pipe 26, and the rest is discharged through the discharge introduction pipe 29. The sterilization cap 19 is discharged through the cap steam discharge pipe 31. As a result, the entire interior of the apparatus main body 1 is sterilized with steam.
In addition, about the supply amount of the vapor | steam in that case, based on the detection result of the temperature sensor provided in the sterilization cap 19, a steam supply pipe | tube so that the temperature of the said part may be sterilized at 125 degreeC for 30 minutes (control with a timer). The opening degree of the open / close control valve 23 is controlled.
[0045]
After sterilizing the entire interior of the apparatus main body 1 with steam as described above, one open / close control valve (upstream side) of the steam supply pipe 23 is closed, and the other open / close control valve (downstream side) is closed a little later, Simultaneously with closing of the open / close control valve of the steam supply pipe 23, the open / close control valves of the nitrogen gas supply pipe 24, the exhaust pipe 25, the steam discharge pipe 26, and the discharge introduction pipe 29 are opened, and the open / close control of the nitrogen gas introduction pipe 30 is performed. Open the valve.
[0046]
At this time, the line heater of the nitrogen gas supply pipe 24 has already been turned on, but further, the nozzle heater 16 is turned on and the vacuum pump installed at the end of the intake pipe 21 is started. Then, the pressure switch is turned on later than that, and the vacuum heat insulation chamber 15 of the apparatus main body 1 is brought into a vacuum state by extracting air through the intake pipe 21.
[0047]
As a result, the cooling and drying nitrogen gas heated by the line heater and supplied from the nitrogen gas supply pipe 24 is introduced into the apparatus main body 1 through the sterilization filter 3, and passes through the entire interior of the apparatus main body 1. From the upper part of the apparatus main body 1, a part is directly discharged to the vapor drain discharge pipe 32, and the rest is discharged through the exhaust shutter 5 through the vapor discharge pipe 26 and the exhaust pipe 25, while the apparatus main body 1. From the nozzle heater 16, a part of the gas is discharged from the gas return pipe 28 through the exhaust shutter 5 through the exhaust pipe 25 and the steam discharge pipe 26, and the rest is discharged from the discharge introduction pipe 29. As a result, the entire interior of the apparatus main body 1 and the inside of the pipe through which steam passes are cooled and dried by the heated nitrogen gas.
[0048]
When the sterilization cap 19 is removed from the nozzle heater 16 of the apparatus main body 1, after a certain time, the gas is heated by the line heater and nitrogen gas is supplied from the nitrogen gas introduction pipe 30 to the nozzle heater 16 through the discharge introduction pipe 29. Part of the gas is discharged from the nozzle heater 16 to the vicinity of the tip of the nozzle 13, and the rest is discharged from the gas return pipe 28 through the exhaust shutter 5 and exhausted from the exhaust pipe 25.
[0049]
After sterilizing the entire interior of the apparatus main body 1 and cooling and drying as described above, the nozzle 13 at the lower end of the apparatus main body 1 is completely set in order to store liquid nitrogen in the storage tank 11 until the liquid level reaches a predetermined level. After the closed state, each open / close control valve of the nitrogen gas supply pipe 24 is closed, the open / close control valve of the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22 is opened, and when the liquid level in the storage tank 11 reaches a predetermined height, the open / close control valve By controlling so as to close the tank, the liquid nitrogen supplied from the cylinder is sent from the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22 through the sterilization filter 3 into the storage tank 11 and filled in the liquefied gas chamber 12 before the storage tank. 11 is filled to a predetermined liquid level, the open / close control valve of the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22 is closed by feedback control based on the detection of the level sensors 17a and 17b, and the liquid nitrogen flow is prepared. Completed.
[0050]
When a predetermined amount of liquid nitrogen is caused to flow down to each can, the nozzle 13 of the apparatus main body 1 is opened to allow the liquid nitrogen to flow down and be filled in each can, and to detect each level sensor 17a, 17b. Based on the feedback control based on, the opening degree of the open / close control valve of the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22 is controlled (the opening degree of one open / close control valve is controlled and the other open / close control valve is fully opened). Through the sterilization filter 3, the liquid main body 1 is continuously replenished with liquid nitrogen as it flows down so that the liquid level in the storage tank 11 is always maintained within a certain height range.
[0051]
At that time, the open / close control valve of the exhaust pipe 25 is opened, and most of the nitrogen gas evaporated from the liquid level in the storage tank 11 is released from an exhaust port provided in the upper lid portion of the storage tank 11. However, since the air is also discharged into the atmosphere from the exhaust pipe 25 through the exhaust shutter 5, the space above the liquid level inside the apparatus main body 1 covered by the vacuum heat insulating chamber 15 is always substantially the same as the atmospheric pressure. As a result, a constant amount of liquid nitrogen flows down from the nozzle 13 in accordance with the nozzle opening degree in a state in which a substantially constant pressure is always applied due to the gravity of the liquid nitrogen itself.
[0052]
Further, the nitrogen gas heated by the line heater of the nitrogen gas supply pipe 24 is supplied from the nitrogen gas introduction pipe 30 to the heated defrosting nozzle heater 16 through the discharge introduction pipe 29, and from the nozzle heater 16 to the nozzle. Since it is continuously released around the tip of the nozzle 13, the water vapor in the atmosphere is prevented from approaching the vicinity of the outlet of the nozzle 13. As a result, the water vapor is surely prevented from icing and adhering to the vicinity of the outlet of the nozzle 13. Has been.
[0053]
Thereafter, for post-processing after the use of the liquefied gas flow-down device is finished, the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22 is closed to stop the supply of liquid nitrogen after the opening / closing control valve of the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22 is stopped, and then the liquid nitrogen is further flowed down. When liquid nitrogen is completely extracted from inside 1, the nozzle 13 is closed, the vacuum pump of the intake pipe 21 is stopped, and the open / close control valve of the nitrogen gas supply pipe 24 is opened, so that the inside of the apparatus main body 1 and the inside of the pipe After filling with nitrogen gas, all on-off control valves and manual on-off valves are closed, and the line heater, nozzle heater 16, each sensor, etc. are turned off to prepare for the next use.
[0054]
By the way, in the liquefied gas flowing-down apparatus for aseptic filling as described above, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the liquefied gas passage of the apparatus body 1, that is, liquid nitrogen from the sterilizing filter 3 to the storage tank 11 is used. The passage 20a for feeding the liquid nitrogen and the passage 20b for feeding the liquid nitrogen from the bottom of the storage tank 11 to the liquefied gas chamber 12 are both inclined downward in the liquid nitrogen flow direction.
[0055]
4 and 5, the cylinder portion 13B of the nozzle 13 installed at the lower end of the liquefied gas chamber 12 of the apparatus main body 1 arbitrarily opens a gap with the bottom plate 12a of the liquefied gas chamber 12. As shown in the figure, the liquefied gas chamber 12 is installed so as to be movable downward away from the bottom plate 12a.
FIG. 4 shows the state of the liquefied gas chamber 12 and the nozzle 13 of the apparatus main body 1 in use in which liquid nitrogen flows down from the nozzle 13 and fills the head space of the can. The state when sterilizing with steam is shown.
[0056]
That is, in the present embodiment, the ring-shaped nozzle heater mounting member 36 having the female screw portion 36a formed on the lower inner surface is held in a rotatable state by the protrusion 37 fixed to the outer peripheral surface near the lower end of the apparatus main body 1. A nozzle heater 16 having a male threaded portion 16a formed on the upper outer surface is slidably inserted into the outer peripheral surface near the lower end of the apparatus body 1 from below, and the nozzle heater mounted on the upper side is attached. The female screw portion 36a of the member 36 and the male screw portion 16a of the nozzle heater 16 positioned below are screwed together.
[0057]
Further, the nozzle heater 16 has a sterile nitrogen gas flow path 16b formed therein, and a steam drain discharge hole 16c is formed so as to penetrate the side wall portion, on the outer surface side above the hole 16c. The cap mounting flange portion 16d is integrally fixed so as to protrude outward, and the cylinder portion 13B of the nozzle 13 is integrally formed so that the flange portion 13a protrudes outward on the lower outer surface thereof. Is formed.
[0058]
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, the upper surface of the bottom of the nozzle heater 16 and the liquefaction are obtained by tightening the screwing between the female screw portion 36 a of the nozzle heater mounting member 36 and the male screw portion 16 a of the nozzle heater 16. The flange portion 13a of the nozzle cylinder portion 13B is tightly sandwiched by the lower surface of the bottom plate 12a of the gas chamber 12 through a seal ring, whereby the liquid in the liquefied gas chamber 12 is filled when liquid nitrogen is filled into the can. Nitrogen can flow down through the nozzle 13 without leaking from the bottom of the liquefied gas chamber 12.
[0059]
Further, by loosening the screwing of the female screw portion 36a of the nozzle heater mounting member 36 and the male screw portion 16a of the nozzle heater 16, the lower surface of the bottom plate 12a of the liquefied gas chamber 12 as shown in FIG. And a gap between the flange portion 13a of the nozzle cylinder portion 13B and the upper surface of the bottom portion of the nozzle heater 16, whereby the lower end opening of the nozzle heater 16 is closed by the sterilization cap 19 and then sterilized by steam. At this time, the vapor and drain collected at the bottom of the liquefied gas chamber 12 can be completely discharged to the outside through the hole 16c.
[0060]
According to the liquefied gas flowing-down apparatus for aseptic filling of the present embodiment configured as described above, the screw between the female threaded portion 36a of the nozzle heater mounting member 36 and the male threaded portion 16a of the nozzle heater 16 during sterilization with steam. By keeping the joint loose, the sterilization vapor drain attached to the inner wall of the apparatus main body 1 flows down along the inclination of the liquefied gas passages 20a and 20b during the sterilization with steam, and the bottom of the liquefied gas chamber 12 Are collected through the gap between the lower surface of the bottom plate 12a of the liquefied gas chamber 12 and the flange portion 13a of the nozzle cylinder portion 13B, and are completely discharged to the outside through the hole 16c for discharging the steam drain of the nozzle heater 16. Is done.
[0061]
In the present embodiment, a steam supply pipe 23 for supplying sterilizing steam is connected to the liquid nitrogen supply pipe 22, and heated nitrogen gas is supplied for cooling and drying. Therefore, after the sterilization by steam, the heated nitrogen gas is passed through the pipe after passing the steam and the apparatus main body 1, so that the inner wall of the pipe or the apparatus main body 1 is connected. Even if the drain remains, it can be dried and discharged, or it can be discharged with the flow of nitrogen gas as it is.
[0062]
Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the liquefied gas chamber 12 is surrounded by a portion of the nozzle 13 including the plug portion 13A (the lower end portion of the rod 14) and the cylinder portion 13B. A porous cylindrical body 35 formed of a mesh or punching plate for avoiding ice particles is provided, whereby a drain remains on the inner wall of the pipe, which becomes ice particles in the liquefied gas chamber 12. Even if it enters, the flow hole of the nozzle 13 is not clogged by the ice particles being blocked by the porous cylindrical body 35.
[0063]
【The invention's effect】
According to the liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling of the present invention as described above, the vapor and its drain can be effectively discharged from the inside of the device during the sterilization with the vapor, and the drain remaining in the device can be discharged. Since it is possible to avoid a situation where the hole of the falling nozzle is clogged by the ice particles, it is possible to eliminate the fluctuation of the flow amount of the liquefied gas due to such clogging of the ice particles, and as a result, Canned food with stable internal pressure can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a production line for canned beverages by an aseptic filling method equipped with a liquefied gas flowing-down device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the apparatus main body of the liquefied gas flowing-down apparatus of the present invention.
3 is an explanatory view showing a connection state of each pipe to the apparatus main body shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a state when the liquefied gas is flowed down and filled into the head space of the can in one embodiment of the liquefied gas flow down apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state at the time of sterilization with steam, for one embodiment of the liquefied gas flow apparatus of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
  1 Device body (of liquefied gas flow down device)
  12 Liquefied gas chamber (of main unit)
  12a Bottom plate of liquefied gas chamber
  13 Noz (of the device body)Le
  13A (nozzle) plug part
  13B Cylinder part (of nozzle)
  20a Passage of liquefied gas (in the main body)
  20b Liquefied gas passage (of the device body)
  22 Liquid nitrogen supply pipe (pipe for liquefied gas supply)
  23 Steam supply pipe (pipe for supplying steam for sterilization)
  24 Nitrogen gas supply pipe (Pipe for supplying heated gas)
  35 Porous cylindrical body

Claims (3)

A predetermined amount of liquefied gas supplied from the liquefied gas supply source through the liquefied gas supply pipe to the head space of each can after it is filled with beverage etc. and covered with a can lid Therefore, the apparatus main body is arranged in a substantially aseptic atmosphere with clean air, and a pipe for supplying sterilizing vapor to the liquefied gas supply pipe connected to the apparatus main body is provided. In the liquefied gas flow-down device for aseptic filling as connected, the liquefied gas passages of the main body of the device are all inclined downward along the flow direction of the liquefied gas , and the plug portion nozzle which is opened and closed by changing the position is provided at the lower end of the liquefied gas chamber of the apparatus main body, and a nozzle heater covering the periphery of the nozzle, sliding the outer peripheral surface near the lower end of the main body Have been inserted into the stationary, as can be a gap arbitrarily between the bottom plate and the adhesion to and both the flange portion formed on the lower outer surface of the cylinder portion of the nozzle liquefied gas chamber, the cylinder portion of the nozzle , liquefied gas flow device for aseptic filling, characterized in that is provided so as to be movable downward to the bottom plate of the liquefied gas chamber.   The liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling according to claim 1, wherein a pipe for supplying heated gas is further connected to the liquefied gas supply pipe. 3. A porous cylindrical body for avoiding ice particles is provided inside the liquefied gas chamber so as to surround a nozzle composed of a plug portion and a cylinder portion. Liquefied gas flow down device for aseptic filling.

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