JP3899812B2 - Manufacturing method and apparatus for aseptic filling cans - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an aseptic filling can manufacturing method and apparatus for manufacturing canned food by an aseptic filling method.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In recent years, the aseptic filling method has been put to practical use in bottled beverages and the like in place of the conventional hot filling and retort sterilization methods in order to prevent flavor deterioration due to excessive heating of the contents such as fruit juice beverages. However, an aseptic filling method has been proposed. To achieve a high degree of aseptic filling in cans, in addition to sterilization of empty cans and lids, sterilization of contents, filling under aseptic conditions, sealing under aseptic conditions is required.
[0003]
Conventionally, aseptic method of empty cans in the aseptic filling method, medicines are sprayed on the outer surface of the empty cans while transporting the empty cans in a row, and then the medicine is also sprayed on the inner surface, and the medicines are sprayed on the inner and outer surfaces. The empty cans are sterilized by heating them with hot air in the oven, and at the same time, the chemicals adhering to the empty cans are decomposed and removed by heat, then cooled by spraying sterile water and supplied to the filling machine. A method (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-2111912) or a method of sterilizing an empty can by injecting hot water or steam into the empty can being transported has been proposed.
[0004]
On the other hand, as a method of sterilizing the can lid in the aseptic filling method, for example, while standing the can lid and transporting it at intervals, the can lid is sprayed and adhered to the can lid from the outside in the orthogonal direction, and then the can lid is opened in the oven. A method of sterilization by evaporating and removing hydrogen peroxide by heating in the interior has been proposed (Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. 6-4043 and 2000-51326).
[0005]
However, cans are sealed in a clean atmosphere in a clean room. However, the cans are sealed by a normal method using a filling machine and a tightening device similar to those in a normal can manufacturing process. No special means are adopted for this purpose. The reason is that the seamer body to be tightened has lifter and knockout up and down movements, rotational movement of seaming rolls, etc. near the container, and it is difficult to sterilize the seamer body during operation due to its structure. . Therefore, maintaining the sterilization and sterilization of the winding device, particularly the seamer body, has become a major technical problem that must be solved in order to achieve a high degree of sterility in can manufacturing by the aseptic filling method.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Since the aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus in the conventionally proposed can aseptic filling method performs sterilization while transporting empty cans in a single row, the transport speed of the sterilizer is the processing speed of the downstream filling machine. Need to synchronize with. On the other hand, in order to obtain a predetermined sterilization effect, sterilization of an empty can by a medicine or heating requires that the medicine is brought into contact with the empty can for a predetermined time or heated for a predetermined time or more. To meet both requirements, the sterilization zone transport conveyor must be lengthened to speed up the sterilization line while increasing sterilization time. Therefore, there is a problem that sterilization is unstable and sterilization unevenness easily occurs.
[0007]
In addition, in the case of spraying a drug and heating in an oven, or heat sterilization with hot water or steam, a heating process and a cooling process are required, and the process and apparatus are complicated, and depending on the drug concentration and heating conditions, In the case of a can body in which a thermoplastic film is laminated on the inner and outer surfaces of the can, there is a problem that it cannot be applied. Furthermore, in the case of the aseptic filling method, generally, sterilization of cans is performed in a clean room, and cans are introduced into the clean room in a single-line upright state by a conveyor from a depalletizer installed outside the clean room. For this reason, dust can easily adhere to the bottom of the can due to contact with the conveyor, and if it is introduced into the clean room as it is, the cleanliness of the clean room is disturbed and the sterilizing agent for the outer surface of the can becomes dirty. However, there is a problem that it becomes uneconomical due to the limited speed and repeated use of the drug.
[0008]
On the other hand, in sterilization of the lid with hydrogen peroxide, it is necessary to uniformly deposit hydrogen peroxide on both surfaces of the lid, and the deposited hydrogen peroxide must be heated and evaporated. Therefore, in order to perform sterilization in a short time corresponding to the high-speed line, it is necessary to increase the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and perform high-temperature heating. However, the higher the hydrogen peroxide concentration and the higher the heating and drying temperature, the more easily blisters are formed on the compound applied to the winding curl portion of the can lid and the coating surface applied to the inner surface of the lid. There are problems that affect the tightening and corrosion due to metal exposure. Further, when the heating temperature is 180 ° C. or higher in the aluminum lid, there is also a problem that affects the opening property. On the other hand, in order to obtain a high sterilization value of 6D or higher by performing sterilization in a short time, it is necessary to increase the concentration of hydrogen peroxide and to perform high-temperature heating at 160 ° C or higher. In the case of the lid, heating at a higher temperature is required. For this reason, in conventional can lid sterilization with hydrogen peroxide, it is difficult to stably ensure a high sterilization value and product quality of the lid. In addition, if the lid stays in the sterilization apparatus more than a certain amount due to line stoppage or the like, damage to the lid increases, so that it cannot be used after re-operation and the lid is wasted.
[0009]
On the other hand, in the can lid winding process after filling the contents, it is required to maintain sterility surely in the winding device, especially the seamer body where the sealing of the can is completed. It is difficult to sterilize the seamer body with many moving parts during sealing operation, and the lifter and knockout move up and down at the position close to the container, and the rotational movement of the seaming roll. Due to the influence, it is difficult to maintain the winding atmosphere in a sterile and clean state.
[0010]
Accordingly, the present invention is to provide a novel aseptic filling can manufacturing system that solves the above-mentioned problems in can manufacturing by the conventional aseptic filling method, and sterilization of empty cans is performed without lengthening the line. The sterilization time can be secured and sterilization can be ensured, and at the same time, it can be sterilized at a low temperature, energy cost can be reduced, and it can be applied to a can laminated with a thermoplastic film, and it is economically reliable. Even if it is a lid with a tab, it can be sterilized at a low temperature and in a short time, and even if the line stops, there is no damage to the product, a high sterilization value is obtained, and the seamer body is aseptic. Manufacturing method and apparatus for aseptic filling cans that can achieve a high degree of aseptic filling by ensuring sterility before can sealing without being influenced by the performance An object of the present invention is to provide.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  The method for producing an aseptic filling can according to the present invention that solves the above-mentioned object is a method for producing an aseptic filling can that produces cans by a can aseptic filling method, including a can body sterilization supply step, a lid sterilization supply step, and a content clean filling The can body sterilization supply step includes a can inner surface sterilization treatment step in which a medicine is fully filled in an empty can and the inner surface of the can is brought into contact with the medicine for a predetermined time, and the medicine is injected onto the outer surface of the can. Can outer surface sterilization treatment process to bring the drug into contact with the outer surface of the can,Drug discharge processThe rinse process,The medicine discharging step comprises discharging the medicine by reversing the can by reversing the conveyor that conveys the can in an upright state by adsorbing and holding the bottom of the can filled with the medicine, and In the can body sterilization supply process, the can inner surface sterilization and can outer surface sterilization are performed in a multi-row process while empty cans are conveyed in a multi-row state, and the contents clean filling process and the clean sealing process are performed in a single line process. And
  The drug filled in the can inner surface sterilization process may be at normal temperature, but can be sterilized reliably by shortening the filling time by heating to about 35 to 70 ° C. Since it can be sterilized at a lower temperature than sterilization, it can be reliably sterilized without damaging the can laminated with the thermoplastic film.
  Further, in the can body sterilization supply process, the can inner surface sterilization and the can outer surface sterilization are performed by multi-row processing while empty cans are conveyed in a multi-row state, and the single-row processing is performed in the contents cleaning filling step and the cleaning sealing step. Thus, the can body cleaning supply line can be shortened and operated at a low speed, and a sufficient sterilization time can be obtained.
[0012]
  It is desirable that the can inner surface sterilization process and the can outer surface sterilization process include a combination of a hot water sterilization process in which warm water is brought into contact with a drug sterilization process in which a drug is brought into contact with each other. Also,The lid sterilization supply process transports the sterilization cleaning device at intervals, and sterilizes and cleans the lid by sequentially injecting medicine, sterile water, and sterile air onto the inner and outer surfaces of the lid through the gap between the lids during transportation. It is desirable to perform draining sequentially.
[0013]
The clean sealing step is a gas replacement / cover mounting step in which before the can body reaches the seamer body, the head space gas of the can body is replaced with a high temperature replacement fluid and the can body is covered with the lid, It has a lid crimping process for crimping the lid on the can body, and it is not affected by the degree of sterilization of the seamer body that is difficult to sterilize by separating the gas replacement / lid mounting process and the seam tightening process in the seamer body. Aseptically filled cans can be obtained. Then, by replacing the head space gas in the can body with a high temperature replacement fluid and crimping the lid, the inside of the can is cooled rapidly to a negative pressure state. Canned goods can be manufactured. As the high temperature replacement fluid, steam or a mixed gas of steam and inert gas is suitable. In the lid crimping step, it is desirable that the lid is crimped and temporarily wound.
[0014]
  An aseptic filling canned food manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is an aseptic filling canned manufacturing apparatus comprising a can body sterilization supply device, a lid sterilization supply device, a contents clean filling device, and a cleaning and sealing device. Equipment, empty cansIn multiple rowsA transporting conveyor, a medicine filling device that is arranged above the upstream side of the conveyor and has a filling nozzle that fills the transported empty can with a medicine, and sprays the medicine on the outer surface of the trunk of the transporting can Can outer surface sterilization means,Drug discharging means for discharging a drug from a can filled with drugs, and an aligning conveyor for aligning empty cans discharged with the drug discharging means in a single rowAnd a rinser for cleaning the inner and outer surfaces of the can with aseptic waterThe medicine discharging means is composed of an endless adsorption reversing conveyor that can suck and hold the can and transport the can, and sucks and conveys the bottom of the can filled with the medicine, and the can is returned on the return path of the conveyor. By reversing, the medicine is discharged, and the can upright in the forward path is discharged in the upright stateIt is characterized by that.
  The conveyor is formed by a net conveyor,The can outer surface sterilization means includes theNetA bottom sterilization nozzle that sprays the medicine from the lower side of the conveyor onto the bottom of the can and a body sterilization nozzle that sprays the medicine on the outer surface of the body of the can being conveyed by the conveyor can be used.
[0015]
An upstream side of the can bottom cleaning means, a collective conveyor for conveying empty cans conveyed in a single row state in an upright dense state, and allocating empty cans conveyed in the upright dense state to a multi-row state By arranging the sorting device to be transported, the sorting device sorts the empty cans into multiple rows so that each row has a predetermined interval, and the cans are sucked onto the suction conveyor at the downstream end thereof. Empty cans that are transported in a single row from the palletizer are reliably in multiple rows, and cans can be supplied to the next process without contact with each can, so that the entire outer surface of the can can be contacted with chemicals. Sterilization efficiency can be improved.
[0016]
And as a lid sterilization supply device, a separator that cuts out the lid one by one, a lid interval conveying means that conveys the lid cut out by the separator at an interval, and a medicine jet sterilization in order from the upstream side along the lid interval conveying means A zone, a sterilized water washing zone, a sterilized air draining zone are arranged, and in each zone, a medicine jetting means for jetting a medicine to the inner and outer surfaces of the lid from the gap between the lids being transported, a sterile water jetting means for jetting sterile water, By adopting a configuration in which aseptic air injection means for injecting aseptic air is arranged, the lid can be effectively and reliably sterilized.
[0017]
The cleaning and sealing device includes a gas replacement means for supplying a hot replacement fluid to the opening of the can body filled with the contents at room temperature to perform gas replacement of the head space of the can body, and a lid supply means for supplying a lid to the can body The lid mounting / compression means and the seamer body can be separated from each other by comprising a lid mounting / crimping means for placing the lid on the gas-substituted can body and crimping it, and a seamer body for winding the can body and the lid. it can. More specifically, the lid placing / crimping means comprises a lid placing means for placing a lid on the can body, and a lid crimping / tempor winding means for crimping and temporarily fastening the lid to the can body, and The lid crimping / temporary winding means includes a can pad for placing the can body in each pocket and a clincher chuck for crimping the lid to the can body, and the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding rotating together. It is desirable that the turret is constituted by a curling rail arranged at a fixed position along a can conveyance path conveyed by the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret.
[0018]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a front view thereof. The aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to the present invention is configured so that empty cans (hereinafter simply referred to as cans) are distributed and transported in multiple rows and can be sterilized at the same time. Compared to the above, it is possible to ensure sufficient sterilization time with a short line and to save space. The aseptic filling canned food manufacturing system of this embodiment is a can bottom sterilizer, a can barrel sterilization supply device for performing a can barrel sterilization supply process, a can sterilizer, a medicine discharge conveyor, an alignment conveyor, a can rinser, and contents Filler for performing clean filling process, lid sterilization supply device for sterilizing and cleaning the can lid, and clean sealing device for performing can body cleaning and sealing process, gas replacement means, lid supply means, lid mounting means, lid crimping -It is comprised from a temporary winding means, a seamer main body, and a lid sterilization supply apparatus, and these apparatuses are arrange | positioned in the clean room.
[0019]
In the figure, 1 is a high-speed single-line conveyor that conveys cans c from a depalletizer in an upright state, and 2 is a collective conveyor that collects and conveys cans conveyed from the single-line conveyor in a multi-row dense state. It is composed of an air conditioner bear. 3 is a sorting device arranged at the end of the air conditioner bearer, which is composed of a sorting conveyor 3 'consisting of an endless belt conveyor and a can row guide (not shown) arranged above it. In order to uniformly sterilize the outer periphery of the can in the can outer surface sterilization step in the subsequent step, the cans to be conveyed are distributed in multiple rows (5 rows in the embodiment of the figure) so as to have a predetermined interval in the width direction, Transport to can body sterilization feeder.
[0020]
Can body sterilization supply equipment
An embodiment of a can body sterilization supply apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.
4 is an external hot water sterilizer that mainly sterilizes the bottom of the can with hot water. The external hot water sterilizer 4 is arranged in the internal / external hot water sterilization chamber 6 disposed inside the clean room 10 and penetrates the can carry-in port 11 of the clean room 10. An endless suction conveyor 5 that sucks the top of the opening of the can that has reached the end of the sorting conveyor 3 ′ and transports it to the relay conveyor 9 in a suspended manner, and a can that is sucked and transported by the suction conveyor. It is comprised from the warm water injection means 7 provided with the warm water injection nozzle which injects warm water toward a bottom part outer surface. As the suction means of the suction conveyor 5, a magnet or vacuum can be appropriately employed depending on the material of the can to be handled. The injected hot water is drained from the drain port 8. The suction conveyor 5 is operated at a slightly higher speed than the sorting conveyor, and the cans transported in the row direction by the sorting conveyor are transported by the suction conveyor with a predetermined interval in the transport direction, and the bottom of the can is removed. It is devised so that warm water can be easily brought into contact with the outer surface of the can body to be contained and sterilized with warm water effectively.
[0021]
The cans transferred to the relay conveyor 9 are then transferred to the inner surface hot water sterilization means composed of the reverse conveyor 12 and the hot water injection means 13. The reversing conveyor 12 is arranged at the downstream end of the relay conveyor 9 at right angles to it, and is configured so that the bottom of the can can be adsorbed and held by a magnet or vacuum, and a can whose outer surface is sterilized with hot water is transferred from the relay conveyor to the reversing conveyor 12. Can transfer guide 15₁Can be conveyed in an inverted state by sucking and holding the bottom of the can and reversing it in the return path. A can inner surface hot water injection means 13 having a number of hot water injection nozzles for injecting hot water toward the inside of the can conveyed in an inverted state is arranged along the return path of the reversing conveyor, and the hot water is injected into the can during conveyance. The inner surface of the can is cleaned and sterilized. The cans sterilized with hot water are brought into the upright state again when the reversing conveyor is reversed, and the can transfer guide 15₂Is sent to a net conveyor 17 arranged in the drug sterilization chamber 16. The can transfer guide 15₁, 15₂Has a bent portion to guide the cans at right angles while maintaining a plurality of rows between the relay conveyor and the reversing conveyor, and between the reversing conveyor and the net conveyor, which are arranged orthogonally. These are provided in parallel.
[0022]
The net conveyor 17 is disposed in the drug sterilization chamber, and cans are transferred from the reversing conveyor 12 in a multi-row state onto the net conveyor. On the upper surface of the net conveyor, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, five pairs of guides 14 for guiding the cans for each row are arranged at predetermined intervals in the width direction.
[0023]
A drug filling tank 18 for filling a can with a drug in a fully-filled state during conveyance over a predetermined section is disposed above the upstream side of the net conveyor 17. As shown in FIG. 3, a medicine filling nozzle 19 is provided on the lower surface of the medicine tank so as to be positioned above each row of cans being conveyed by a net conveyor. The medicine filling nozzle 19 is formed by a slit nozzle having a slit along the transport direction, or a plurality of shower nozzles. Further, a medicine replenishment tank 20 for replenishing and filling medicine spillage generated during transportation is provided on the downstream side at a predetermined distance from the medicine filling tank 18, and the can is always kept in a full-filled state. This prevents sterilization leakage from occurring on the inner surface.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3, the medicine filling tank 18 is provided with an overflow pipe 21 at a predetermined head position, and can always keep the liquid level set so that the pressure of the medicine flowing down from the nozzle is not too strong. It can be done. Thereby, it is possible to always fill the medicine stably in a constant state. The overflowed drug is collected in a drug recovery tank (not shown) from the bottom of the can sterilization chamber together with the drug sprayed for cleaning the outer surface and the drug filled in the can as described later and supplied again. It is circulated and supplied into the medicine filling tank 18 through the pipe 22. The medicine replenishment tank 20 has a similar structure.
[0025]
In addition, a body sterilization nozzle 23 for sterilizing the outer surface of the body of the can and a bottom sterilization nozzle 24 for sterilizing the outer surface of the bottom are disposed on the transport path of the net conveyor 17. These nozzles have a spray nozzle structure that sprays the drug. By spraying the drug in a fine particle state, the drug easily adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the can for a long time, and improves the sterilization effect of the outer peripheral surface. be able to. As shown in FIG. 4, the body sterilization nozzles 23 are alternately provided in a staggered manner in each row along the carrying direction in each row intermediate portion of the can row carried by the net conveyor 17, and on the left side in the carrying direction. And by arrange | positioning so that the line which connects the spray axis of the trunk | drum sterilization nozzle 23 located in the right side may become diagonal with respect to a conveyance direction, a chemical | medical agent is sprayed on the whole trunk | drum. The body sterilization nozzle 23 is configured as a longitudinal slit spray nozzle that is large enough to cover the height of the can so that the sprayed liquid from either the left or right nozzle can be continuously applied to the can during transportation. Thus, the outer surface of the can body can be sterilized efficiently with a small number of nozzles and a small amount of spraying without causing uneven spraying.
[0026]
On the other hand, the bottom sterilization nozzle 24 is provided below the can of the net conveyor, and is provided as a slit spray nozzle or a plurality of spray nozzle rows formed along the can conveying direction. Accordingly, the drug can be sprayed onto the bottom of the can through the mesh of the net conveyor during the conveyance of the can, and the outer bottom of the can bottom and the can body can be sterilized simultaneously with the inner drug sterilization of the can in one step.
[0027]
Reference numeral 25 denotes a drainage device, which in this embodiment is composed of a wide endless belt-like adsorption reversal conveyor 26 that faces the end of the net conveyor and is disposed perpendicular to the net contour. The suction reversing conveyor 26 constituting the drainage device is guided by a can guide 27 and transferred to a fully-filled can group from the net conveyor, so that the bottom of the can is sucked and held. By reversing in the return path, the can is reversed and the medicine is drained. The drained can is brought into an upright state again when the conveyor is reversed, and is guided to the can guide 28 and sent to the alignment conveyor 30.
[0028]
The net conveyor 17, the medicine filling tank 18, the medicine replenishing tank 20, and the drainage device 25 are arranged in the medicine sterilization chamber 16 whose bottom wall serves as a medicine receiver, and the medicine can be collected and used in a circulating manner. In order to prevent the off-flavor emitted from the air from dispersing in the clean room, it is exhausted to the outside by appropriate means.
[0029]
Reference numeral 30 denotes an alignment conveyor, in which the cans transferred from the adsorption inversion conveyor in a multi-row assembly state are gradually aligned in a single row state and sent to the rinser 35 in the next step in a single row state. Is. In the present embodiment, the alignment conveyor also serves as a saving conveyor so that the cans in the medicine full zone can be drained and waited when the line is stopped, and the downstream end is shifted in the transport direction as shown in FIG. 3 rows of parallel conveyors 31₁, 31₂, 31_ThreeIt consists of On the downstream side of the three rows of conveyors, a can alignment guide 32 is disposed obliquely across the end of the conveyor, and at the end, the cans are aligned in one row and transferred to the supply conveyor 34 to the rinser. . Of the three rows of parallel conveyors, 31_ThreeFunctions as a saving conveyor, and is configured to be able to wait on the saving conveyor in a state where the medicine is drained from the can filled with the medicine when the line is stopped. Normally the cans are parallel conveyors 31₁, 31₂However, when the line is stopped, the can is transferred to the saving conveyor so that the state in contact with the medicine for a long time can be released to protect the can.
[0030]
The alignment conveyor 30 and the supply conveyor 34 to the rinser 35 are arranged in a sterilized can alignment chamber 36 formed so as to further surround the inside of the clean room. It is maintained at a high level and is maintained in a higher clean state than in the clean room 10.
[0031]
Sterilization feeder
  The lids e cut out one by one by the lid separating device 42 arranged on the downstream end side of the supply chute 41 are conveyed at predetermined intervals by the lid interval conveying means 44 arranged in the chamber 43 isolated from the outside. To do. The lid interval conveying means 44 is composed of three feed screws 45 arranged as shown in FIG. 6, and the interval between the lids e is inclined toward the inner and outer surfaces of the lid being conveyed by each nozzle as will be described later. The pitch is formed so that it can be transported at a sufficient distance so that it can be sprayed from the lateral direction on the inner and outer surfaces of the lid and sprayed with chemicals, sterile water, etc. and brought into contact with the entire inner and outer surfaces of the lid. ing. The transport interval of the lid is preferably about 10 to 20 mm. Figure549 is a motor for driving the lid separating device and the feed screw.
[0032]
The inside of the chamber 43 is partitioned into an exhaust zone 50, a drug injection sterilization zone 51, a sterile water washing zone 52, and a sterile air draining zone 53 in order from the upstream side by a partition plate 46 having a through hole through which the lid interval conveying means 44 passes. As will be described later, the medicine used in these zones and the sterile water can be collected so as not to be mixed. The exhaust zone 50 is located between the lid separating device 42 and the medicine injection zone 51. An exhaust pipe 54 connected to the exhaust device is connected to the exhaust zone, and exhausting from the position allows the medicine injection zone. The odor generated in step 1 is exhausted to the outside to prevent the odor from diffusing into the work environment, and the periphery of the lid separator 42 is prevented from being corroded by chemicals.
[0033]
In the medicine injection sterilization zone 51, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a plurality of medicine injection nozzles 55 are attached along the transport direction so that medicine can be injected from three sides between the three feed screws. Three sets of drug injection tubes 56 are provided along the feed screw 45. The medicine injection pipe 56 is connected to a medicine supply source (not shown) via a medicine supply pipe 57. In addition, a drug recovery pipe 58 is provided at the bottom of the drug injection sterilization zone 51 so that used drugs can be recovered. In the present embodiment, the medicine injection nozzle 55, the medicine injection pipe 56, and the medicine supply pipe 57 constitute the medicine injection means 59. However, the structure is not necessarily limited to the illustrated one. In this specification, the term “injection” is used in a concept including “spraying”, and a spray nozzle structure in which a medicine is sprayed in a mist and applied to the inner and outer surfaces of the lid may be used. The feed screw can also be composed of two.
[0034]
Although not shown in the medicine injection sterilization zone 51, when the filling line is stopped, the medicine remaining in the medicine injection sterilization zone can be started as it is when the operation is resumed without discharging the lid to the outside. A sterile water injection means is provided in parallel with the injection means. In the sterile water injection means, a sterile water injection nozzle is provided in a sterile water injection pipe provided in parallel with the medicine injection pipe in the same manner as the medicine injection means. However, the sterile water injection means is not necessarily provided separately from the medicine injection means, and the sterile medicine supply pipe is connected to the medicine supply pipe of the medicine injection means via a switching valve so as to be switchable so that the medicine injection means is injected with sterile water injection. It can also be used as a means.
[0035]
In the aseptic water washing zone 52, aseptic water ejecting means 64 having the same structure as the medicine ejecting means is arranged. That is, three sets of sterilized water spray pipes 61 to which a plurality of sterilized water spray nozzles 60 are attached are provided along the feed screw 45 along the transport direction. The sterile water injection pipe 61 is connected to a sterile water supply source (not shown) via a sterile water supply pipe 62. Further, a sterile water recovery pipe 63 is provided at the bottom of the sterile water washing zone 52 so that used sterile water can be recovered.
[0036]
Aseptic air draining zone 53 is provided with aseptic air injection means 69. That is, three sets of aseptic air injection pipes 66 to which a plurality of aseptic air injection nozzles 65 are attached are provided along the feed screw 45 along the conveying direction. The sterile air injection pipe 66 is connected to a sterile air supply source (not shown) via a sterile air supply pipe 67. An exhaust pipe 68 is provided at the bottom of the sterile air draining zone 53 so that the exhaust can be performed.
[0037]
The downstream end of the lid interval conveying means, that is, the outlet side of the sterilized air draining zone 53 of the chamber 43 is connected to the sterilized space 70 having a higher cleanliness (class 100 or higher) than the inside of the chamber 43 and the chamber inlet side. The lid e sterilized and washed on the outlet side chute 71 arranged inside is discharged from the feed screw 45 and transported to the lid sealing device in the overlapped state. Although not necessarily required, a hot air drying booth is provided in the sterilized space 70 as necessary in order to cope with the high speed, and the hot air drying booth is sterilized and cleaned so that it can be hot air dried. Also good.
[0038]
The lid sterilization supply apparatus of this embodiment is configured as described above, and sterilizes and cleans the lid by the following method.
The lids e cut out one by one by the lid separating device 42 are conveyed in the chamber 43 with a feed screw 45 at an interval of about 10 to 20 mm, pass through the exhaust zone 50, and reach the drug injection sterilization zone 51. Then, the medicine is ejected from the medicine injection nozzle 55 from the oblique lateral direction toward the inner and outer surfaces of the lid being transported. Thereby, the drug contacts the entire inner and outer surfaces of the lid for a predetermined time while passing through the drug jet sterilization zone, and the drug is sterilized. Since the medicine is ejected from a plurality of medicine ejection nozzles 55 in an oblique lateral direction toward the inner and outer surfaces of the lid e being transported, the back surface of the tab including the tab gaps even if the lid e has a complicated shape. Sterilization is possible, and sterilization can be reliably performed without sterilization leakage. The drug used in the present invention is preferably a peracetic acid-based sterilant, and is used at a peracetic acid concentration of 1000 ppm or more. The drug temperature is preferably 30 to 80 ° C., more preferably 35 to 70 ° C. from the viewpoint of sterilization effect and concentration reduction due to drug decomposition. Thereby, the sterilization effect is increased and sterilization can be performed in a short time. However, it is not necessarily limited to peracetic acid-based sterilizing agents, and other chemicals such as sodium hypochlorite and ozone water can be used without high-temperature heating.
[0039]
By using such chemicals, unlike the conventional case of using hydrogen peroxide that exhibits a sterilizing effect during heat drying, it is not necessary to heat the lid at a high temperature of 160 ° C or higher. It can be sterilized without generating blisters. Also, the aluminum lid can be sterilized without affecting its openability.
Furthermore, the lid whose inner surface or outer surface is laminated with, for example, a PET film can be effectively sterilized in a short time without being thermally affected.
[0040]
The lid e sterilized by the medicine in the medicine injection sterilization zone 51 is then a medicine adhered to the inner and outer surfaces by spraying sterile water from the oblique lateral direction toward the inner and outer surfaces of the lid in the aseptic water washing zone 52. Is washed away and removed. At that time, as in the case of sterilization, the cleaning including the gap between the tabs can be performed with aseptic water, and the cleaning can be surely performed without causing cleaning leakage. In addition, since each zone is isolated by the partition, it can collect | recover separately, without the injected chemical | medical agent and aseptic water mixing. Next, aseptic air is jetted in the aseptic air draining zone, and aseptic air is jetted obliquely and laterally toward the inner and outer surfaces of the lid, the water is actively drained. In the sterilized air draining zone, sterilized air jetted toward the lid and water dripping from the lid are separated into gas and liquid and exhausted.
[0041]
As described above, the lid that has been sterilized, washed, and drained while being transported at an interval in the chamber is cleaned from the chamber 43 via the outlet chute 71 disposed in the aseptic space 70 with higher cleanliness. It is supplied to the sealing device 80.
[0042]
The above is the lid sterilization washing process during operation of the filling line. When the filling line is stopped, the lid sterilization washing line is also stopped in conjunction with it. The medicine is jetted for a predetermined time toward the lid that is stopped, and then the sterilized water is sprayed and washed by the sterilized water jetting means arranged in the medicine jet sterilization zone. As a result, the sterilized and cleaned state can be maintained to some extent, and it is not necessary to remove the lid remaining in the sterilizing and cleaning apparatus, particularly the drug injection sterilization zone 51, and it remains as it is until the restart. But the lid will not be damaged. At the time of restart, the medicine is injected for a predetermined time and then started to the normal operation state, so that the lid located near the end of the medicine sterilization zone is sterilized for a predetermined time and then sent to the next sterile water washing zone. , So there is no shortage of sterilization. Thereby, the entire lid remaining in the apparatus can be used as it is, and the lid is not wasted.
[0043]
Clean sealing device
As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the clean sealing device 80 is disposed in a clean box 81, and includes a lid supply / gas replacement turret 82, lid fitting / crimping / temporary as a basic configuration. A winding turret 83, a transfer turret 84, a seamer body 85, and a discharge turret 86 are provided, and these are driven to rotate synchronously. A timing conveyor 87 for supplying a can body filled with contents from a filler between the lid supply / gas replacement turret 82 and the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83, and the canned product discharged from the discharge turret Is provided with a discharge conveyor 88.
[0044]
The lid supply / gas replacement turret 82 has a lid fitting pocket on the outer peripheral portion of the turret main body, and a lid cutting device (not shown) from the lid stacker 91 (FIG. 8) fixed to the upper position of the rotation path of the pocket. ), The lids are cut out one by one and held in the pockets, and the lid e is conveyed above the can body c conveyed from the filler by the timing conveyor 87. A high temperature replacement fluid is ejected to the pocket peripheral surface of the turret body in communication with a steam line or a mixture of steam and an inert gas (hereinafter simply referred to as a high temperature replacement fluid) provided in the turret. In a predetermined section where a large number of nozzle holes are formed and the lid is located at the upper part of the can body, the high temperature replacement fluid is ejected between the can body and the lid. Thereby, a so-called undercover gassing device is configured. Note that the turret main body and the gas replacement turret for injecting the high temperature replacement fluid may be configured separately to rotate integrally. FIG. 8 shows such an example, in which a gas replacement turret is integrally fixed to the lower surface of the turret body. Further, instead of the rotating gas replacement turret, the replacement fluid ejection nozzle is fixedly disposed in a predetermined section located at the upper portion of the can body, and the high temperature replacement fluid is constantly ejected in the section. It is also possible.
[0045]
The lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83 includes a lifter 93 provided at the same pitch as the can lid supply / gas replacement turret pocket, and a can body and lid transferred to a can pad on the upper surface of the lifter. And a clincher chuck 94 for sandwiching the lid against the can body. The lifter 93 is moved up and down by a cam (not shown) as the cover fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83 rotates, and the can body on which the cover is placed is supplied to the cover as shown in FIGS. When the gas replacement turret 82 is transferred to the upper surface of the lifter 93 on the line connecting the center line of the gas fitting turret 82 and the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83, the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83 is accompanied by rotation. When the vehicle passes through a position where a curling device 95 (to be described later) is disposed in that state, the lifter 93 and the clincher chuck 94 sandwich the can body and the lid so that the cover is pressed against the can body. The can body and the can lid are rotated together and temporarily wound.
[0046]
The curling device 95 is fixed to the outer periphery of the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83 along the can conveyance path. As shown in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10, the curling device 95 is being transferred to a curling frame 97 that is provided on a screw rod 96 erected on the fixing portion so as to be adjustable in the height direction. A curling rail 98 is provided so as to be adjustable with an adjusting bolt 99 in the can direction. As shown in the cross section of FIG. 10, the seaming groove 100 of the curling rail 98 is formed in a tightening shape for temporary winding so that the degree of vacuum in the can can be maintained in a state where the lid is fitted and pressed after gas replacement. ing. The curling rail 98 is attached to the can type so that the seaming groove is pressed against the can lid curl portion of the can that is conveyed while rotating by the turret while the lid is fitted and crimped after gas replacement. Accordingly, it is positioned in the radial direction by the adjusting bolt 99 and fixed by the curling clamp 101 at that position.
[0047]
The transfer turret 84 is a turret for relaying a can whose lid is temporarily wound between the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83 and the seamer body 85. It has a pocket of equal pitch with the temporary winding turret 83. The seamer body 85 and the discharge turret 86 can be the same as those conventionally known. The can body and the lid, which have been temporarily wound, are subjected to primary winding and secondary winding with the seamer body.
[0048]
FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of the supply line to the gas replacement turret when a mixture of steam and nitrogen gas is employed as the high temperature replacement fluid. A pre-filter 111, a pressure reducing valve 112, an automatic valve 113, a secondary pressure reducing valve 114, an automatic valve 115, and a final filter 116 are arranged in this order from the upstream side on the steam supply pipe 110 connected to the steam supply source, and the mixing device 117 is arranged. It is connected to. On the other hand, the nitrogen gas supply pipe 120 connected to the nitrogen gas supply source similarly has a pre-filter 121, a pressure reducing valve 122, an automatic valve 123, and a final filter 124 arranged in order from the upstream side, and is connected to the mixing device 117. Yes. Vapor and nitrogen gas are sterilized by the prefilter and final filter by the above-described pipeline circuit, supplied to the mixing device 117, mixed at an appropriate mixing ratio, and the gap between the can body opening and the lid. The can body head space part is replaced with gas. In the figure, 125 and 126 are manual valves, and 127 and 128 are traps. Reference numeral 119 denotes a sterilization circuit for a nitrogen gas pipe.
[0049]
The aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention is configured as described above, and empty cans sent from the depalletizer in a single-row conveyor 1 are in a multi-row dense state on the collective conveyor 2. And is distributed in five rows by the sorting conveyor 3 ′, and the suction end is sucked by the suction conveyor 5 at the tip, and the bottom is opened. At that time, the suction conveyor 5 is operated at a slightly higher speed than the sorting conveyor, and the cans transported in the row direction by the sorting conveyor are transported by the suction conveyor with a predetermined interval in the transport direction. The hot water sterilization chamber 6 in the clean room reaches the outer surface of the bottom of the can by injecting the hot water from the hot water spray nozzle 7 provided below the transport path while being transported by the suction conveyor. At the same time, sterilize the outer surface of the can body. In the outer surface cleaning sterilization with warm water, it is desirable to spray warm water of 65 ° C. or higher for about 3 seconds or longer. By adsorbing the top of the can, transporting the outside of the can bottom in an exposed state, and spraying hot water toward the can bottom, the outer surface of the bottom of the can which is easily contaminated by electrostatic action or the like is effectively sterilized.
[0050]
The can whose outer surface is sterilized with hot water is transferred from the adsorption conveyor 5 onto the relay conveyor 9 and then transferred onto the reverse conveyor 12. In a state where the cans are reversed by the reversing path of the reversing conveyor 12, the inner surface of the can is sprayed from the can inner surface hot water spraying means nozzle to the inner surface of the can body by spraying hot water of 65 ° C or higher, preferably 75 to 90 ° C for 3 seconds or longer. Sterilize with warm water. The cans whose inner and outer surfaces are sterilized by hot water cleaning are then transferred onto a net conveyor 17 disposed in the drug sterilization chamber 16. The cans in a multi-row dense state on the reversing conveyor 12 are expanded at a predetermined interval in the conveying direction due to a speed difference from the net conveyor when being transferred, and are also expanded in the width direction by the can guide 14 to be the net conveyor. Is conveyed by.
[0051]
In the drug sterilization chamber 16, the drug flows at a constant flow rate from the drug filling nozzle 19 of the drug filling tank 18 provided above the net conveyor along the can conveyance path, and the can passes thereunder. As a result, the medicine is fully filled. The drug used in this example is a peracetic acid drug heated to 35 to 70 ° C., but is not necessarily limited thereto. The temperature range of 35 to 70 ° C. is a range in which the can inner surface can be effectively sterilized in a short time without giving a thermal effect to the can laminated with, for example, a PET film. In the case of a peracetic acid-based drug, the inner surface of the can can be sufficiently sterilized by filling the drug in a fully-filled state and holding it on the inner surface of the can for about 10 seconds to several minutes, so that the sterilization time can be shortened. The net conveyor only needs to be long enough to allow the necessary sterilization time, so if the sterilization time can be shortened, the length of the net conveyor can be shortened accordingly. In addition, in this embodiment, since the cans are transported in multiple rows and processed in multiple rows, the net conveyor can be set to 1/5 the speed compared to the conventional single row processing. Liquid spillage can be reduced and reliable sterilization becomes possible.
[0052]
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a drug replenishment tank 20 is further provided on the downstream side of the drug filling tank 18 for more certainty. Therefore, even if liquid spillage occurs, the liquid spillage is replenished and filled by passing through the position, and the entire inner surface of the can can be reliably brought into contact with the medicine for a predetermined time or more, and sterilization leakage does not occur. On the other hand, during the transportation by the net conveyor 17, the entire outer peripheral surface of the body and the can bottom from the body sterilization nozzle 23 provided between the transport paths of each row and the bottom sterilization nozzle 24 provided below the net conveyor. The drug is sprayed onto the can and the outer surface of the can is sterilized.
[0053]
When the can filled with the medicine and whose outer peripheral surface is sterilized reaches the end of the net conveyor 17, it is pushed up onto the adsorption reversal conveyor 26 arranged orthogonal thereto. The suction reversing conveyor 26 is operated at a constant speed, and the extruded cans are sucked by the suction means provided in the conveyor and guided by the can guide 27 while receiving resistance, and spread in a dense state in the entire width direction of the conveyor. In this state, the bottom of the can is adsorbed, and the suction reversing conveyor 26 is reversed on the return path, whereby the medicine is discharged. Since the can is in an inverted state over the entire length of the return path, the drainage time can be set longer, and there is an advantage that the amount of drug adhering in the can can be reduced accordingly. The medicine used in the can sterilization chamber falls to the bottom wall of the can sterilization chamber and is collected, except for a small amount of medicine adhering to the can transferred from the adsorption reversal conveyor 26 to the alignment conveyor, not shown. It is sent to the collection tank and recycled again according to the degree of contamination.
[0054]
The cans that have been drained and emptied again become upright when the suction reversing conveyor 26 changes from the return path to the forward path, and when the can guide 28 reaches the position where the can guide 28 is provided, the guide is guided by the guide to the alignment conveyor. 30 is pushed out. Due to the action of the alignment guide 32 provided on the downstream side of the alignment conveyor 30, the empty can is moved to the central conveyor 31.₁To the next conveyor 31₂Gradually move to the conveyor 31₂Are arranged in a line at the downstream end of the sheet and transferred to the supply conveyor 34 to the rinser 35. With the rinser 35, the inner surface and the outer surface of the can are washed with sterile water to completely remove the drug adhering to the inner and outer surfaces, and the can is conveyed to the contents filling step.
[0055]
In the contents filling process, the contents sterilized by heating in a short time are stored in a pre-sterilized filling tank and filled into the can body by a filling nozzle provided in the filling tank in the same manner as before. . The filler 38 is filled with contents in a clean atmosphere of about class 100 in the clean box 37, and is conveyed to a sealed space where a clean sealing process is performed via a timing conveyor 87 surrounded by a tunnel 47 so as to maintain the clean atmosphere. Is done.
[0056]
The clean sealing process is performed in a clean box 81 that is maintained at a higher cleanliness than that disposed in the clean room. The clean box 81 has a structure that is isolated by a wall except for the container entrance and exit, and is maintained in a positive pressure state by introducing sterile air as shown in FIG. Further, in the clean box 81, a part for performing a process from crimping the lid to the can body and pre-tightening and a part for performing the final winding of the lid are separated by an isolation wall 89. Although the present invention is not limited to the one that performs temporary winding, in order to ensure that even a can whose opening is slightly deformed is sealed before the final winding process, It is desirable to provide a process.
[0057]
Assuming that the pressure P1 in the filler side aseptic space 39, the pressure P2 in the gas replacement / lid mounting / temporary winding space 77, the pressure in the main winding space 78 is P3, and the outlet side space 79, that is, the pressure in the clean room, is P0> The pressure gradient of P2> P3> P0 is set so that the air in the main winding space 78 does not flow into the previous process. Thereby, inflow of air from the main winding space 78 to the gas replacement / lid mounting / temporary winding space 77 can be prevented, and the cleanliness until sealing can be reliably maintained.
[0058]
The can body c filled with the contents is filled into the clean box 81 by the timing conveyor 87 at the same pitch as the pocket pitch of each turret. The lid supply / gas replacement turret 82 and the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83 are brought into meshing positions. On the other hand, the lid e is sterilized by the lid sterilization supply device 40 and stored in the lid stacker 91 via the outlet side chute 71. The lid e is cut out one by one by the cutting device from the lid stacker 91 and supplied to the lid supply / gas replacement turret 82. When the turret main body is rotated and fitted in the pocket of the turret main body, the turret main body is rotated and, as shown in FIG. At this time or just before this, the high temperature replacement fluid is sprayed from the nozzle hole of the gas replacement turret 82 between the lid and the can body opening. At this time, the can body is transferred onto the lifter 93 of the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret.
[0059]
By injecting the high temperature replacement fluid between the lid and the can body opening, the gas in the head space of the can body is expelled and replaced with the high temperature replacement fluid. Thereafter, the lid is completely placed on the can body opening with the rotation of the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83, and the lifter 93 is lifted so that the upper surface of the lid is the clincher chuck 94 as shown in FIG. By hitting the crimping surface, the lid is crimped to the can body opening. By replacing the gas in the head space of the can body filled with contents at room temperature with a high-temperature replacement fluid consisting of a mixed gas such as steam and nitrogen gas, and covering with a lid, the steam is cooled and the inside of the can is cooled. Is depressurized instantaneously. As a result, if there is no deformation etc. in the fitting part of the can body and can lid, temporary winding etc. is not done, even if the lid is simply pressed against the can body, the lid and can body are in close contact and sealed, Inflow of external air to the can body is prevented, and liquid spillage during transportation is eliminated, and the can body can be transported to the seamer body. However, if there is a deformation in the fitting part between the can lid and the can body, such as the flange part of the can, the complete sealed state may not be maintained. To prevent this, in this embodiment, the flange part is slightly deformed. Even if there is, a temporary winding means is used for temporary winding so that the degree of vacuum in the can can be maintained with the lid being crimped.
[0060]
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the can that is held by the lifter 93 and the clincher chuck 94 and is in a depressurized state due to cooling of the steam is rotated when passing through the position where the curling rail 98 is disposed. The curled portion f of the lid is pressed against the seaming group 100 of the curling rail 98 and temporarily wound around the can barrel flange. Since this temporary winding method is performed not by a rotating seaming roll but by a fixed curling rail 98, there is no need for sterilization of lubricating oil and oil leakage associated with oiling of the rotating portion, and a knockout mechanism is not required. Since the winding mechanism is greatly simplified, sterilization of the apparatus and maintenance of sterility after sterilization can be facilitated, and sterility can be ensured. Therefore, the gas replacement in the can body and the lid placing process can be separated from the main winding process with the seamer, and the inside of the can is hermetically sealed in the lid pressing process or the lid temporary winding process. The degree is not affected by the main winding space 78.
[0061]
Therefore, can lid supply / gas replacement turret 82, lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret 83, transfer turret, which is simple in structure and has few moving parts, and is easier to maintain sterilization and sterility compared to the seamer body If the sterility of the portion 84 is ensured, even if it is difficult to sterilize and maintain sterility of the seamer body 85, it is possible to ensure and maintain sterility in aseptic filling without being affected by it. A higher degree of aseptic filling can be achieved. In addition, since the canned product has a more stable sealing property before reaching the seamer body, it is possible to lower the aseptic environment grade of the main winding space 78 in which the seamer is installed. It is also possible to change from the state of class 100 to the state of class 10,000 or a general room, and the environmental equipment cost can be reduced.
[0062]
In order to effectively check the sealing performance and deterioration before shipping, it is desirable to maintain the vacuum in the container at 20 to 40 cmHg. It is preferable to wind it to such an extent that it can be secured stably. The mixing ratio of steam and nitrogen gas is preferably in the range of 1: 0 to 1: 1. As a result, negative pressure canned can be obtained while being aseptically filled.
[0063]
As mentioned above, although one Embodiment of this invention was described, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, A various design change is possible within the range of the technical idea. For example, in the above embodiment, a net conveyor and a drainage conveyor are provided separately for sterilization, but the net conveyor for can sterilization is constituted by an adsorption conveyor such as a magnet conveyor, and the cans filled with medicines are left as they are. If the liquid is sucked and held by the net conveyor and drained by the can being inverted in the return step, the net conveyor can also be configured to serve as the drainage conveyor. Moreover, the alignment conveyor does not necessarily need to be composed of a plurality of parallel conveyors, and may be arranged in a line at the downstream end thereof, and various means can be employed.
[0064]
Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the mixed gas of vapor | steam and nitrogen gas was used as a high temperature substitution fluid, the inside of a can is made into an inert atmosphere after filling, and it cools instantly after lid crimping, and a can will be in a negative pressure state. Anything is fine. Further, the gas replacement means and the lid supply means are not necessarily limited to the lid supply turret and the gas replacement turret arranged in a positional relationship to mesh with the lid fitting / crimping turret as in the above-described embodiment. It is also possible to arrange a linear lid supply unit and a gas replacement unit along the line. In that case, a lid crimping unit may be provided along the linear path of the timing conveyor immediately downstream of the lid supply unit and the gas replacement unit.
[0065]
In the empty can sterilization method of the above embodiment, the combination of the hot water sterilization and the drug sterilization process is performed, but only the drug sterilization process is possible. 12 and 13 are schematic views of the embodiment in that case. Hereinafter, in the present embodiment, the same reference numerals are given to portions common to the embodiment, and only different portions will be described.
[0066]
In this embodiment, the hot water sterilization process is not provided, and the can bottom cleaning process is provided before the drug sterilization process.
The can bottom cleaning device 140 that performs can bottom cleaning is disposed between the sorting conveyor 3 ′ and the net conveyor 17 disposed in the drug sterilization chamber 141 in the clean room 10, and is formed to reach the can carry-in port 11 of the clean room 10. An endless suction conveyor 5 that is provided through the inside of the can bottom cleaning chamber 142 and sucks the top of the opening of the can that has reached the end of the sorting conveyor 3 ′ and conveys it to the net conveyor 17 in a suspended manner; A washing water jet nozzle (washing water jetting means) 7 that jets washing water toward the outer surface of the bottom of the can that is sucked and conveyed by the suction conveyor. The suction conveyor 5 is operated at a slightly higher speed than the sorting conveyor 3 ′, and the cans transported in the row direction by the sorting conveyor are transported by the suction conveyor with a predetermined interval in the transport direction, It is transferred on the net conveyor 17 arranged in the clean room.
[0067]
As described above, in the present embodiment, the can c carried into the drug sterilization chamber is adsorbed and held in a multi-row state, and the washing bottom is sprayed toward the outer surface of the bottom, thereby reliably washing the bottom of the can. Since it is carried into the drug sterilization chamber in this state, contamination of the drug used in circulation can be reduced, and the circulation use time of the drug can be extended, which is economical. The following steps in the drug sterilization chamber are the same as in the above embodiment.
[0068]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the inventions described in claims 1 to 14 of the present application, since the empty can is kept in the medicine-filled state for a certain time, the sterilizing agent can be uniformly contacted with the entire inner surface of the can. Since there is no sterilization unevenness, sterilization can be performed reliably, and cans are processed in multiple rows, so the conveyor speed can be set to a low speed. As a result, there is no liquid spillage and sufficient sterilization time can be obtained, so that reliable sterilization is possible, the length of the conveyor can be shortened, and durability is improved. In addition, it does not need to be heated in a can oven as in the past, and can be reliably sterilized at a low temperature, reducing energy costs and being applicable to cans laminated with synthetic resin films. Laminating synthetic resin films Aseptic filling cans can be obtained with the finished cans. And according to this invention, since an oven and a cooling device are not required for sterilization of an empty can, the whole apparatus can be simplified by that much.
[0069]
According to the invention of claim 2 of the present application, since it is a combined sterilization of warm water sterilization and full drug sterilization, the cost of medicine can be reduced, and an empty can can be sterilized effectively at low cost. In addition, according to the inventions of claims 3 and 10, since the cans are processed in multiple rows, the conveyor speed can be set to a low speed, so there is no liquid spillage and sufficient sterilization time is obtained, so that reliable sterilization is possible. Thus, the durability of the conveyor can be taken and the entire line can be shortened, so that the size and space can be reduced.
[0070]
Further, according to the inventions of claims 4 and 11, since the lid sterilization supply device is provided, the lid with the tab can be surely sterilized, and furthermore, the medicine can be sterilized at low temperature and short time, so that the lid is damaged. The lid sterilization washing process with a higher degree of cleanliness can be performed at a high speed without giving any blisters and without generating blisters on the surface of the compound or coating film.
[0071]
According to the inventions of claims 5 and 12, the gas replacement / lid mounting process and the winding process can be separated, and sterility is maintained until the can is sealed regardless of maintaining the sterility of the seamer body. Overcoming the difficulty of sterilizing the seamer body and maintaining the sterility of the winding atmosphere in an aseptic filling system can achieve a high degree of aseptic filling. In addition, by replacing with high temperature replacement fluid and covering with a lid, the high temperature replacement fluid is cooled and the inside of the can is instantaneously depressurized, and the lid and the can body are in close contact with each other. it can. As a result, negative pressure cans can be obtained even at room temperature filling, and aseptic filling cans with excellent punching suitability can be manufactured, and sealing and content deterioration inspections are easier and more reliable. And canned quality control becomes easier.
[0072]
Further, according to the inventions of claims 6 and 7 and claims 13 and 14, high temperature replacement fluid is blown into the head space of the can body filled with the contents at room temperature, the lid is pressure-bonded, and temporarily fixed by a fixed curling rail. Because it is tightened, even inside cans where the fitting between the can lid and can body is slightly deformed, such as flanges, the inside of the can can be completely sealed before the final tightening process. Aseptic filling can be achieved.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic front view thereof.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a sterilization operation state of an inner peripheral surface of a can on a net conveyor.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the sterilization operation state of the outer surface of the can on the net conveyor.
FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a lid sterilization cleaning apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6A is a schematic front view of a main part showing a state of drug-injected sterilization or aseptic water-washing of a tab-covered lid in a drug-injection sterilization zone or aseptic water-washing zone of a lid sterilization supply apparatus; Is a schematic side view thereof.
FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the cleaning and sealing device in the aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a schematic front view thereof.
FIG. 9 is a plan view of the curling device.
10 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG.
FIG. 11 is a pipe configuration diagram according to the embodiment when the high-temperature substitution fluid is a mixed gas of steam nitrogen gas.
FIG. 12 is a schematic front view of an aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view thereof.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Single row conveyor 2 Collective conveyor
3 Sorting device 4 External hot water sterilizer
5 Adsorption conveyor 6 Hot water sterilization chamber
7 Washing water injection nozzle 10 Clean room
12 Reversing conveyor 16 Drug sterilization chamber
17 Net conveyor 18 Drug filling tank
19 Drug filling nozzle 20 Drug replenishment tank
23 Body sterilization nozzle 24 Bottom sterilization nozzle
25 Drainage device 26 Adsorption reversing conveyor
30 Alignment conveyor 34 Supply conveyor
35 Rincer 37 Clean Box
38 Filler 40 Lid sterilization supply device
44 Lid interval transport means 51 Drug injection sterilization zone
52 Aseptic water washing zone 53 Aseptic air draining zone
77 Gas replacement, lid mounting, temporary winding space 78 Main winding space
80 Clean sealing device 81 Clean box
82 Can lid supply / Gas replacement turret 83 Lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret
85 Seamer body 87 Timing conveyor
93 Lifter 95 Curling device
98 Curling head 110 Steam supply pipe
117 Mixing device 120 Nitrogen gas supply pipe
140 Can bottom cleaning device 141 Drug sterilization chamber
142 Can bottom cleaning chamber

Claims (13)

An aseptic filling can manufacturing method for manufacturing canned food by a can aseptic filling method, comprising a can body sterilization supply step, a lid sterilization supply step, a contents clean filling step, a clean sealing step, and can inner sterilization step of contacting the inner surface of the can that the predetermined time agent to fully NOTE filled with drug in empty cans, cans outer surface sterilization step of contacting the drug into the can outer surface by spraying the agent to Kangaimen, from the can It consists of a drug discharge process and a rinse process that discharges a fully filled drug, and the drug discharge process reverses the conveyor that carries the can in an upright state by adsorbing and holding the bottom of the can filled with the drug. In the can body sterilization supply process, the can inner surface sterilization and the can outer surface sterilization are performed in a multi-row process while empty cans are transported in a multi-row state. Cleaning and filling work And cleaning in a sealed process, aseptic filling canning method for manufacturing, which comprises carrying out in a single column process.   2. The aseptic filling can according to claim 1, wherein each of the can inner surface sterilization process and the can outer surface sterilization process comprises a combination of a hot water sterilization process for contacting warm water and a drug sterilization process for contacting a drug. Manufacturing method. The lid sterilization supplying step conveys spaced apart a lid in the lid sterilization feeder drug from the gap Futakan during transport to the inner and outer surfaces of the lid, sterile water, sequentially inject sterile air, the lid sterilization, cleaning, aseptic filling canning method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that sequentially carried out draining. In the cleaning and sealing step, before the can body filled with the contents reaches the seamer body, the head space gas of the can body is replaced with a high-temperature replacement fluid, and the lid is placed on the can body. The aseptic filling canned product according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a lid crimping step for crimping a lid on the can body, wherein the gas replacement / lid mounting step and the winding step in the seamer body are separated. Production method. The method of manufacturing an aseptic filling can according to claim 4 , wherein the lid crimping step is a lid crimping / temporary winding step of crimping and temporarily winding the lid. Aseptic filling canning method for manufacturing according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is a method of manufacturing method of the aseptic filling canned producing aseptic filling negative pressure canning. An aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus comprising a can body sterilization supply device, a lid sterilization supply device, a contents clean filling device, and a cleaning and sealing device. The can body sterilization supply device conveys empty cans in a multi-row state . A conveyor, a drug filling device having a filling nozzle that is disposed above and upstream of the conveyor and that is filled with a drug into a transported can, and an outer surface of the can that sprays the drug on the outer surface of the trunk of the can that is being transported Sterilization means, medicine discharging means for discharging medicine from a can filled with medicines, an alignment conveyor for aligning empty cans discharged with the medicine discharging means in a single row, and inner and outer surfaces of the cans are washed with sterile water The medicine discharge means comprises an endless adsorption reversing conveyor that can suck and hold the cans and conveys the cans, and sucks and conveys the bottom of the cans filled with the medicines. The can reverses on the return trip More drug was drained, aseptic filling canned manufacturing apparatus characterized by comprising so as to discharge the upright cans the forward stand upright. The conveyor is formed by a net conveyor, and the can outer surface sterilization means sprays the drug on the outer surface of the barrel part of the empty can being conveyed by the conveyor, and a bottom sterilization nozzle that sprays the drug on the bottom of the can from below the net conveyor. The aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7 , comprising a barrel sterilizing nozzle. Upstream of the can body sterilization supply device, a collective conveyor for conveying empty cans conveyed in a single row in an upright dense state, and empty cans conveyed in the upright dense state in a multi-row state A sorting device for sorting and transporting is arranged, and the sorting device sorts empty cans into multiple rows so that each row has a predetermined interval, and the cans are adsorbed to an endless suction conveyor at the downstream end thereof. The aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8 . The lid sterilization supply device includes a separator that cuts out the lids one by one, a lid interval conveying unit that conveys the lids cut by the separator at intervals, and a drug injection sterilization zone in order from the upstream side along the lid interval conveying unit , Aseptic water washing zone, aseptic air draining zone, each zone is a medicine injection means for injecting medicine to the inner and outer surfaces of the lid through the gap between the lids being transported, aseptic water injection means for injecting sterile water, aseptic The aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 or 9 , comprising aseptic air injection means for injecting air. The cleaning and sealing device includes a gas replacement means for supplying a hot replacement fluid to the opening of the can body filled with the contents to perform gas replacement in the head space of the can body, a lid supply means for supplying a lid to the can body, A lid mounting / crimping means for placing a lid on a gas-substituted can body and crimping it, and a seamer body for winding the can body and the lid, wherein the lid placing / crimping means and the seamer body are separated. The aseptic filling can manufacturing apparatus according to claim 8 , 9 or 10 . 12. The aseptic filling canned product according to claim 11 , wherein the lid placing / crimping means comprises: lid placing means for placing a lid on the can body; and lid crimping / temporary winding means for crimping and temporarily fastening the lid to the can body. Manufacturing equipment. The lid crimping / temporary winding means has a can pad for placing the can body in each pocket and a clincher chuck for crimping the lid to the can body, and the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding tightening rotates integrally. The aseptic filling canned food manufacturing apparatus according to claim 12 , comprising a turret and a curling rail arranged at a fixed position along a can conveyance path conveyed by the lid fitting / crimping / temporary winding turret.

Images