JP3978665B2 - Cleaning head packing for barrel washing machine and filling head packing for barrel filling machine - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cleaning head packing attached to a washing head of a barrel washing machine for washing the inside of a beverage barrel, and a filling head attached to a filling head of a barrel filling machine for filling a beverage inside a beverage barrel. The present invention relates to a cleaning head packing and a filling head packing that can prevent microorganisms from being mixed together when a beverage is filled in a barrel.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As shown in FIG. 10, a barrel 10 conventionally used for storing and transporting draft beer is provided with a base 12 at the center of the top of the barrel, and a fitting 14 is screwed inside the base 12. ing.
The fitting 14 includes a bush 16, a down tube 18, a dispensing valve 20 and a gas valve 22. The bush 16 accommodates the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18, the pouring valve 20, and the gas valve 22 inside thereof, and a screw portion 17 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the bush 16 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the base 12. The bottom portion of the bush 16 protrudes into the barrel 10. A gas hole 26 communicating with the inner side of the bush 16 is opened on the outer peripheral surface of the bush 16 located in the barrel 10.
[0003]
Further, the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18 is inserted into the bush 16 so as to be movable up and down, and the down tube 18 hangs down from the bush 16 into the barrel 10 to form a draft beer delivery path leading to the pouring valve 20. ing. An annular gas valve 22 is mounted on the top of the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18, and an outer peripheral edge of the gas valve 22 is brought into contact with an annular flange 30 provided in the bush 16 by a gas valve spring 28. The upward trend is given to. When the base end portion 24 of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18 is pushed into the barrel 10 against the gas valve spring 28, a gap is formed between the annular flange 30 and the outer peripheral edge of the gas valve 22, and the gas valve 22 is opened. 10 is connected to the outside of the barrel 10 through a gas hole 26 and a gas valve 22 to form a flow path through which gas flows.
[0004]
Furthermore, a pouring valve 20 having a configuration for opening and closing the draft beer delivery path is provided inside the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18. The pouring valve 20 is given an upward tendency to abut on the inner peripheral edge of the gas valve 22 by the pouring valve spring 32, and pushes the pouring valve 20 into the barrel 10 against the pouring valve spring 32. And a gap is formed between the pouring valve 20 and the inner peripheral edge of the gas valve 22 to open the pouring valve 20, and the inside of the barrel 10 is connected to the outside of the barrel 10 through the down tube 18 and the pouring valve 20, A flow path through which draft beer flows is formed.
[0005]
Further, as described above, the screw portion 17 of the bush 16 and the screw portion 13 of the base 12 are screwed together, but a slight gap 34 is formed between the screw portion 13 and the screw portion 17. (In the following description, “a gap formed between the screw portion of the bush and the screw portion of the base” is referred to as a “threaded portion gap”). An end portion of the threaded portion gap 34 forms an annular shape between the end portion of the bush 16 and the end portion of the base 12 to open to the outside, thereby forming an opening portion 36.
[0006]
The barrel 10 having such a configuration is filled with draft beer in the barrel 10 and shipped from the draft beer manufacturing factory, consumed draft beer in a beer hall or the like, and the barrel 10 that has become empty is collected in the draft beer manufacturing factory. After the cleaning, the fitting 14 seal test and the residual pressure test in the barrel 10 are performed, the interior of the barrel 10 is cleaned, and draft beer is filled before shipment.
[0007]
The internal cleaning of the recovered barrel 10 and the filling of draft beer are performed in the internal cleaning and filling line 40 in the draft beer manufacturing factory. As shown in FIG. 11, a barrel washing machine 50 and a barrel filling machine 80 are installed in the internal cleaning and filling line 40.
As shown in FIG. 12, the barrel washing machine 50 includes a washing head 52 connected to the base 12 of the barrel 10, and a washing medium supply unit 70 that supplies a washing medium such as caustic soda, hot water, water, steam, and air. It has become.
[0008]
The cleaning head 52 has a guide cylinder 54 whose upper end is open at the center of the upper part so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and a flange 55 is formed at the upper end of the guide cylinder 54. A hollow rod 56 is inserted into the guide tube 54 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A small-diameter probe 58 is formed at the tip of the rod 56, and this probe 58 is configured to push the dispensing valve 20 into the barrel 10 from the inside of the gas valve 22. A plurality of holes 60 are opened at the tip of the probe 58, and the holes 60 are connected to a cleaning medium supply means 70 outside the cleaning head 52 through a hollow portion in the rod 56. Further, a gap 62 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the rod 56 and the inner peripheral surface of the guide tube 54 (in the following description, “gap between the outer peripheral surface of the rod and the inner peripheral surface of the guide tube”). The guide cylinder gap 62 is open above the guide cylinder 54 and is connected to a drain outside the cleaning head 52.
[0009]
A ring-shaped cleaning head packing 64 is mounted on the flange 55. The cleaning head packing 64 is made of an elastic body such as ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), and the inner diameter of the ring is substantially the same as the inner diameter at the end of the bush 16. The outer diameter depends on the outer diameter of the base 12. The upper surface is a flat surface. Further, a probe seal 68 made of the same material as that of the cleaning head packing 64 is attached to the step between the rod 56 and the probe 58.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, the keg filling machine 80 includes a filling head 82 connected to the base 12 of the keg 10, a steam generation means 104, and a draft beer supply means 106.
The filling head 82 has a guide cylinder 84 whose upper end is open at the center of the upper part so as to be slidable in the vertical direction, and a flange 85 is formed at the upper end of the guide cylinder 84. A hollow rod 86 is inserted into the guide tube 84 so as to be slidable in the vertical direction. A small-diameter probe 88 is formed at the tip of the rod 86, and the probe 88 is configured to be able to push the dispensing valve 20 into the barrel 10 from the inside of the gas valve 22. In addition, a plurality of holes 90 are opened at the tip of the probe 88, and the holes 90 are connected to drains outside the filling head 82 through hollow portions in the rod 86. Further, a guide cylinder gap 92 is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the rod 86 and the inner peripheral surface of the guide cylinder 84, and the guide cylinder gap 92 opens upward inside the guide cylinder 84, and steam The generating means 104 and the draft beer supplying means 106 are connected.
[0011]
A ring-shaped filling head packing 94 is mounted on the flange 85. The filling head packing 94 is made of an elastic material such as ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM), and the inner diameter of the ring is approximately the same as the inner diameter of the bush 16. The outer diameter is a dimension corresponding to the outer diameter of the base 12. Yes, the upper surface is a flat surface. Further, a probe seal 102 made of the same material as that of the filling head packing 94 is attached to the step between the rod 86 and the probe 88.
[0012]
In the internal cleaning and filling line 40 having such a configuration, the barrel 10 is sent to the three cleaning heads 52 in order while the base 12 is turned upside down, and the internal cleaning is performed by the filling head 82. Filled with draft beer. In the internal cleaning and the internal cleaning in the filling line 40, the fitting 14 is not normally disassembled and removed from the base 12 of the barrel 10, and the fitting 14 remains attached to the base 12.
[0013]
Specifically, first, the cap 12 of the barrel 10 turned upside down is connected to the first cleaning head 52. With the central axis of the base 12 and the central axis of the guide tube 54 aligned on the same line, the barrel 10 is set on the cleaning head 52, the guide tube 54 slides upward, and the end of the base 12 and The end of the bush 16 is pressed onto and closely contacts the cleaning head packing 64, the rod 56 slides upward in the guide tube 54, and the probe 58 opposes the pouring valve spring 32 to move the pouring valve 20 into the barrel 10. Push in. Then, the pouring valve 20 is opened, and the first flow that continues from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10 through the hollow portion in the rod 56, the hole 60 at the tip of the probe 58, the pouring valve 20, and the down tube 18. A path is formed. This first flow path is a flow path through which the cleaning medium flows. At the same time, the probe seal 68 is pressed against the gas valve 22, the rod 56 slides upward, and the base end 24 of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18 is pushed into the barrel 10 against the gas valve spring 28. A second flow path is formed from the inside of the barrel 10 to the drain outside the filling head 82 through the gas valve 22 and the guide cylinder gap 62. The cleaning medium flows from the inside of the barrel 10 to the drain outside the barrel 10 through the second flow path. In this state, the upper surface of the cleaning head packing 64 is elastically deformed according to the shape of the end of the pressed bush 16 and the end of the base 12, and the end of the bush 16 and the end of the base 12 are cleaned. The head packing 64 is indented into close contact, and the opening 36 at the end of the threaded portion gap 34 is closed by the cleaning head packing 64.
[0014]
Then, the remaining beer remaining in the barrel 10 is discharged from the second channel to the drain. After the remaining beer is discharged to the drain, preliminary cleaning in the barrel 10 is performed with water. Water is poured into the barrel 10 from the cleaning medium supply means 70 via the first flow path, and the water cleaned in the barrel 10 is discharged from the second flow path to the drain. Thereafter, cleaning with caustic soda is performed. Similar to the pre-cleaning water, caustic soda is poured into the barrel 10 from the cleaning medium supply means 70, and the washed caustic soda is discharged to the drain.
[0015]
When cleaning with caustic soda is completed, the rod 56 and the guide cylinder 54 are slid downward, the pouring valve 20 and the gas valve 22 are closed, the barrel 10 is removed from the first cleaning head 52, and is connected to the second cleaning head 52. . The connection between the barrel 10 and the second cleaning head 52 is performed in the same manner as the connection with the first cleaning head 52. Then, as in the case of preliminary cleaning, the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned with hot water.
[0016]
When the second cleaning head 52 finishes cleaning with hot water, the barrel 10 is removed from the second cleaning head 52 and connected to the third cleaning head 52. The connection between the barrel 10 and the third cleaning head 52 is performed in the same manner as the connection with the first cleaning head 52. Then, as in the case of the preliminary cleaning, the inside of the barrel 10 is again cleaned with hot water, and then steam is sterilized by flowing steam from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10.
[0017]
The inner peripheral surface of the bush 16 is also cleaned by the internal cleaning of the series of barrels 10.
Then, the barrel 10 that has finished the internal cleaning is removed from the third cleaning head 52 and sent to the filling head 82, and the base 12 of the barrel 10 is connected to the filling head 82. First, the barrel 10 is set on the filling head 82 with the central axis of the base 12 and the central axis of the guide cylinder 84 aligned on the same line, and the end of the base 12 and the end of the bush 16 are filled with the filling head packing 94. It is pressed down and sticks. In this state, the upper surface of the filling head packing 94 is elastically deformed according to the shape of the pressed end of the bush 16 and the end of the base 12, and the end of the bush 16 and the end of the base 12 are filled. The head packing 94 is indented into close contact, and the opening portion 36 of the screwing portion gap 34 is closed by the filling head packing 94. Further, the rod 86 remains in the guide tube 84, and the dispensing valve 20 and the gas valve 22 remain closed. At this time, a third flow path is formed from the steam generation means 104 through the guide cylinder gap 92 into the bush 16.
[0018]
Then, steam is ejected from the steam generating means 104 to the inside of the bush 16 through the third flow path, and steam sterilization of the inside of the bush 16, the gas valve 22 and the dispensing valve 20 is performed.
After steam sterilization, the rod 86 slides upward and the probe 88 pushes the dispensing valve 20 into the barrel 10 against the dispensing valve spring 32. Then, the pouring valve 20 is opened, and the fourth tube is connected from the inside of the barrel 10 to the drain outside the filling head 82 through the down tube 18, the pouring valve 20, the hole 90 at the tip of the probe 88, and the hollow portion in the rod 86. A flow path is formed. This 4th flow path becomes a flow path of the air discharged | emitted from the barrel 10 out of the barrel 10 at the time of draft beer filling. At the same time, the probe seal 102 is pressed against the gas valve 22, the rod 86 slides upward, and the base end 24 of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18 is pushed into the barrel 10 against the gas valve spring 28. A fifth flow path is formed that opens from the draft beer supply means 106 to the barrel 10 through the guide tube gap 92, the gas valve 22, and the gas hole 26. This fifth flow path is a flow path for draft beer filled into the barrel 10.
[0019]
And draft beer is filled into the barrel 10 through the fifth channel. When the draft beer is filled, the air in the barrel 10 is discharged out of the barrel 10 through the fourth flow path. After filling a predetermined amount of draft beer, the guide tube 84 and the rod 86 are slid downward to close the pouring valve 20 and the gas valve 22, and the filling of the barrel 10 with draft beer is completed. And the barrel 10 is shipped from a draft beer manufacturing factory.
[0020]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the internal cleaning of the barrel 10 in each cleaning head 52, the threaded portion gap 34 is not cleaned. That is, the cleaning head packing 64 is in close contact with the end portion of the base 12 and the end portion of the bush 16, and the opening portion 36 of the screwing portion gap 34 is also closed by the cleaning head packing 64. It is independent from the flow path through which the cleaning medium flows, and the threaded portion gap 34 is not cleaned by the cleaning medium.
[0021]
There is a possibility that microorganisms exist in the threaded portion gap 34 that has not been cleaned by the cleaning medium, and if the microorganisms are mixed into the draft beer in the barrel 10, the draft beer poured out from the barrel 10 becomes turbid. Become. Although these microorganisms are not harmful, it is desirable to prevent the microorganisms from being mixed into the draft beer filled in the barrel 10 in order to prevent the draft beer from becoming turbid.
[0022]
When the barrel 10 is connected to the filling head 82 and draft beer is filled, the inside of the bush 16 is first steam sterilized, but the heat of the steam is transmitted to the threaded portion gap 34 via the bush 16. The air present in the threaded portion gap 34 expands due to heat and increases in pressure, leaks and passes through the contact surface between the filling head packing 94 and the end of the bush 16 and enters the bush 16. End up. When microorganisms are present in the threaded portion gap 34, the microorganisms enter the bush 16 together with the expanded air in the threaded portion gap 34. The microorganisms that have entered the bush 16 enter the barrel 10 together with the draft beer to be filled, causing the draft beer poured out from the barrel 10 to become turbid. Moreover, since draft beer cannot be heat-processed, after draft beer is filled in the barrel 10, the draft beer in the barrel 10 is heated and the microorganisms in the barrel 10 cannot be processed.
[0023]
The present invention has been made in order to eliminate the above-described problems of the prior art, and the purpose thereof is to prevent microorganisms from entering the barrel together with the beverage filled in the barrel. We provide a washing head packing for a barrel washing machine that can remove microorganisms from the gap formed in the screwed part between the barrel base and the fitting bush when washing inside the barrel, and this gap is filled when beverage is filled into the barrel. An object of the present invention is to provide a filling head packing for a barrel filling machine that can prevent remaining microorganisms from entering the barrel.
[0024]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the problem. The invention according to claim 1 is provided with a base on the barrel surface, a gas valve communicating with the barrel, a base end portion of the down tube hanging down within the barrel and communicating with the barrel, and a beverage from the barrel A fitting provided with a bush for accommodating a dispensing valve to be sent out to the inside is mounted in the base, and the screw portion on the inner peripheral surface of the base and the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush are screwed together. The cleaning head packing is attached to a cleaning head of a barrel washing machine that cleans the inside of the barrel and is made of a ring-shaped elastic member, and the cleaning head packing is connected to the base and the cleaning head. Formed in close contact with the end of the base in the circumferential direction, and not in close contact with at least a part of the end of the bush, and communicated from the cleaning head through the inside of the bush into the barrel. Cleaning The flow path of the body, which is the mouthpiece and washing barrel machine cleaning head gasket in which the end portion of the gap has been configured to openings formed in the threaded portion between said bushing.
[0025]
According to the invention of claim 1, when the barrel is connected to the washing head of the barrel washing machine and the washing head packing is pressed against the mouthpiece of the barrel, the washing head packing is elastically deformed and closely contacts the end of the mouthpiece. A flow path for the cleaning medium is formed that connects the cleaning head and the inside of the barrel through the inside. At this time, the cleaning head packing does not block all the opening portions at the end of the screwing portion gap between the base and the bush, and this screwing portion gap opens into the flow path of the cleaning medium. The cleaning medium flowing in the flow path of the cleaning medium also flows into the screwing portion gap from this opening, and the screwing portion gap is cleaned by the cleaning medium. Therefore, microorganisms are prevented from entering the barrel from the screwed portion gap.
[0026]
In addition, as an elastic body forming the cleaning head packing, ethylene propylene rubber (EPDM) which is a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and diene, ethylene propylene rubber (EPM) which is a copolymer of ethylene and propylene, acrylonitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), hydrogenated nitrile rubber (HNBR), fluororubber, Teflon (registered trademark), silicon and the like.
[0027]
Moreover, draft beer, wine, juice, etc. can be mentioned as a drink in a barrel.
A second aspect of the present invention is the washing head packing for a barrel washing machine according to the first aspect, wherein the inner diameter of the ring-shaped surface in close contact with the end of the base has a dimension equal to or larger than the inner diameter of the base. This is a barrel head cleaning head packing.
[0028]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the inner diameter of the cleaning head packing is larger than the inner diameter of the base, the cleaning head packing does not block the opening portion at the end of the threaded portion gap between the base and the bush. Therefore, the cleaning medium flows into the screwing portion gap, and the screwing portion gap is cleaned by the cleaning medium.
A third aspect of the present invention is the washing head packing for a barrel washing machine according to the second aspect, wherein the cutout is continuous in the circumferential direction along the inner edge of the ring-shaped surface in close contact with the end of the base. It is the washing head packing for barrel washing machines which formed.
[0029]
According to the invention of claim 3, the volume of the flow path of the cleaning medium that reaches the opening at the end of the threaded portion gap between the base and the bush increases. Therefore, the flow rate of the cleaning medium flowing into the opening portion at the end of the screwing portion gap is also increased, and the screwing portion gap is cleaned with a large amount of the cleaning medium.
The invention of claim 4 is provided with a base on the surface of the barrel, the gas valve communicating with the barrel, the base end of the down tube hanging down within the barrel and communicating with the barrel, and the beverage from the barrel A fitting provided with a bush for accommodating a dispensing valve to be sent out to the inside is mounted in the base, and the screw portion on the inner peripheral surface of the base and the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush are screwed together. In a filling head packing made of a ring-shaped elastic member, the filling head packing is connected to the base and the filling head. Is in close contact with at least one of the end portion or the inner peripheral surface of the bushing in the circumferential direction, and the end portion of the gap formed in the threaded portion between the base and the bush is used as the filling head packing. Covered Away a barrel packer for filling head gasket having a configuration for closing.
[0030]
According to the invention of claim 4, the barrel is connected to the filling head of the barrel filling machine, and the filling head packing is pressed against the bush. At this time, the surface of the filling head packing that comes into contact with the end of the bush or the inner peripheral surface is elastically deformed by the pressed bush, and the bush is recessed into the surface of the filling head packing. The area of the portion that is in close contact with the direction and is in surface contact increases. And the screwing part clearance gap between a nozzle | cap | die and a bush is partitioned off from the inner side of a bush by the big contact surface formed between the filling head packing and the bush. That is, this screwing portion gap is independent of the beverage flow path formed inside the bush.
[0031]
Therefore, even if the air existing in the threaded portion gap is thermally expanded, it is difficult to pass through the large contact surface between the filling head packing and the bush, and leakage to the beverage flow path is prevented. Thereby, even if microorganisms are present in the threaded portion gap, the microorganisms are prevented from being mixed into the beverage filled in the barrel.
[0032]
Examples of the elastic body forming the cleaning head packing include EPDM, EPM, NBR, HNBR, fluororubber, Teflon (registered trademark), and silicon.
The field of industrial use of the invention of claim 4 is a field related to washing and filling of barrels for beverages, and is the same as the field of industrial application of the invention of claim 1. Further, the problem to be solved by the invention of claim 4 is to prevent microorganisms from being mixed into the beverage barrel, and is the same as the problem to be solved by the invention of claim 1.
[0033]
Moreover, draft beer, wine, juice, etc. can be mentioned as a drink with which a barrel is filled.
A fifth aspect of the present invention is the filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to the fourth aspect, wherein in the connected state, on the surface facing the end of the base and the end of the bush, It is the filling head packing for barrel filling machines which formed the protrusion which can carry out surface contact continuously with an edge part in the circumferential direction.
[0034]
According to the invention of claim 5, when the filling head of the barrel filling machine is connected to the barrel, the ring-shaped protrusion of the filling head packing is pressed against the end of the barrel base and the end of the bush. At this time, the protrusion of the filling head packing is elastically deformed according to the shape of the end of the bush, the end of the bush is recessed into the protrusion, and the area of the end of the bush that contacts the filling head packing is increased. Yes. Therefore, it is difficult for air to leak through the large contact surface from the screwed portion gap between the base and the bush to the inside of the bush.
[0035]
A sixth aspect of the present invention is the filling head packing for the barrel filling machine according to the fourth aspect, wherein the inner edge of the ring-shaped surface facing the end of the base and the end of the bush in the connected state is provided. A filling head packing for a barrel filling machine formed along the circumferential direction with a protrusion that can continuously contact the inner peripheral surface of the bush.
According to the invention of claim 6, when the filling head of the barrel filling machine is connected to the barrel, the outer peripheral side of the projection of the filling head packing contacts the inner peripheral side of the bush, and the outer peripheral surface of the projection of the filling head packing and the bush The contact area with the inner peripheral surface is increased. It is difficult for the air to leak through the large contact area between the contact surfaces and the inside of the bush through the gap between the screw and the bush.
[0036]
A seventh aspect of the invention is the filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to any one of the fourth to sixth aspects, wherein the barrel is formed in a screwed portion between the base and the bush in the connected state. This is a filling head packing for a barrel filling machine in which an air vent passage communicating from the end of the gap to the outside of the filling head for the barrel filling machine is formed.
According to the invention of claim 7, when the inside of the bush is steam sterilized by connecting the filling head of the barrel filling machine and the barrel, the air in the threaded portion gap between the base and the bush expands due to the heat of steam. Even so, the expanded air exits from the air vent passage to the outside of the filling head for the barreling machine. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the air in the threaded portion gap from becoming high pressure and to prevent leakage into the bush.
[0037]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
First, the configuration of the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the structure similar to a conventional one, and the detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.
An internal cleaning and filling line is provided in the draft beer manufacturing factory to perform internal cleaning of the recovered draft beer barrel 10 and filling of the draft beer. This internal cleaning and filling line is a conventional internal cleaning and filling line. Similarly, a barrel washing machine 50 and a barrel filling machine 80 are provided.
[0038]
First, the structure of the barrel 10 that is internally cleaned and filled with draft beer in the internal cleaning and filling line will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the barrel 10 has the same configuration as a barrel used for storing and transporting conventional draft beer. That is, the barrel 10 has a base 12, and a fitting 14 is screwed inside the base 12. The fitting 14 includes a bush 16, a down tube 18, an extraction valve 20, and a gas valve 22. The base end portion 24 of the down tube 18, the dispensing valve 20, and the gas valve 22 are housed inside, and the screw portion 17 of the bush 16 is screwed with the screw portion 13 of the base 12. A gas hole 26 is opened on the outer periphery of the bush 16 in the barrel 10. Further, the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18 is inserted into the bush 16 so as to be movable up and down. A gas valve 22 is provided at the top of the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18, and the gas valve 22 is in contact with the annular flange 30 by a gas valve spring 28. When the base end 24 of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18 is pushed into the barrel 10, the gas valve 22 is opened, and a gas flow path is formed from the inside of the barrel 10 to the outside of the barrel 10 through the gas hole 26 and the gas valve 22. It becomes the composition which is done. In addition, a pouring valve 20 is provided inside the base end portion 24 of the down tube 18, and the pouring valve 20 is in contact with the gas valve 22 by the pouring valve spring 32, and the pouring valve 20 is placed in the barrel 10. When pushed in, the pouring valve 20 opens, and the draft beer flow path is formed from the inside of the barrel 10 through the down tube 18 and the pouring valve 20 to the outside of the barrel 10.
[0039]
Further, the screw portion 17 of the bush 16 and the screw portion 13 of the base 12 are screwed together, and a screwed portion gap 34 is formed between the screw portion 13 and the screw portion 17. An opening portion 36 is formed in which the end portion of the screwing portion gap 34 is formed in an annular shape outside between the end portion of the bush 16 and the end portion of the base 12.
Next, the configuration of the barrel washing machine 50 will be described. The barrel washing machine 50 includes three cleaning heads 52 and a cleaning medium supply unit 70. The configuration of each cleaning head 52 has the same configuration as a conventional cleaning head except for the configuration of the cleaning head packing 64. That is, the cleaning head 52 includes a guide tube 54 that can slide in the vertical direction, the guide tube 54 has a flange 55 at the upper end, and a hollow rod 56 is slidably inserted in the guide tube 54 in the vertical direction. A probe 58 is provided at the tip of the rod 56, and a hole 60 is opened at the tip of the probe 58. A hollow portion in the rod 56 is connected to the cleaning medium supply means 70, and a guide cylinder gap 62 is formed between the rod 56 and the guide cylinder 54, and the guide cylinder gap 62 is connected to an external drain. ing. In addition, a probe seal 68 made of EPDM is attached to the step between the rod 56 and the probe 60.
[0040]
Further, a cleaning head packing 64 made of EPDM is mounted on the flange 55 of the guide tube 54. As shown in FIG. 2, the cleaning head packing 64 has a flange shape in which a substantially square cross section is continuous in the circumferential direction, and the inner diameter of the hole in the center thereof is the same as the inner diameter of the guide tube 54. The outer diameter of the packing 64 corresponds to the outer diameter of the end of the base 12 of the barrel 10. A notch 66 continuous in the circumferential direction is formed along the inner edge of the upper surface 65 of the cleaning head packing 64. The notch 66 forms a slope with a certain slope from the middle height of the hole to the upper surface 65, and the inner diameter of the hole is the same as the inner diameter of the base 12 in the upper surface 65. ing.
[0041]
Further, the cleaning medium supply means 70 has a configuration similar to that of the conventional one, and is configured to be able to supply caustic soda, hot water, water, steam, air, etc., which are cleaning media, to the hollow portion in the rod 56.
Next, the configuration of the barrel filling machine 80 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the barreling machine 80 includes a cleaning head 52, steam generation means 104, and draft beer supply means 106. The configuration of the filling head 82 is the same as that of the conventional filling head except for the configuration of the filling head packing 94. That is, the filling head 82 is provided with a guide cylinder 84 slidable in the vertical direction, the guide cylinder 84 has a flange 85 at the upper end, and a hollow rod 86 is slidably inserted in the guide cylinder 84 in the vertical direction. A probe 88 is provided at the tip of the rod 86, and a hole 90 is opened at the tip of the probe 88. A hollow portion in the rod 86 is connected to a drain outside the filling head 82, and a guide cylinder gap 92 between the rod 86 and the guide cylinder 84 is connected to the steam generating means 104 and the draft beer supply means 106. An EPDM probe seal 102 is attached to the step between the rod 86 and the probe 88.
[0042]
An EPDM filling head packing 94 is mounted on the flange 85 of the guide tube 84. As shown in FIG. 4, the filling head packing 94 has a flange shape in which a substantially square cross section is continuous in the circumferential direction, and the inner diameter of the hole in the center thereof has the same dimension as the inner diameter of the guide tube 84. The outer diameter of the packing 94 has a dimension corresponding to the outer diameter of the base 12. A circumferentially continuous protrusion 96 is formed along the inner edge of the upper surface 95 of the filling head packing 94. The protrusion 96 has a cylindrical shape, and the outer diameter of the cylinder forming the protrusion 96 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the end of the bush 16 of the barrel 10 at the base of the protrusion 96, and the end of the bush 16 at the tip of the protrusion 96. It is slightly smaller than the inner diameter. Further, on the upper surface 95 of the filling head packing 94, there is one continuous line from a position close to the outer side in the radial direction by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the end of the bush 16 from the base portion of the protrusion 96 to the outer edge of the upper surface 95. A groove 100 is formed as an air vent passage.
[0043]
Further, the steam generating means 104 and the draft beer supply means 106 have the same configuration as that of the conventional one, and are configured to be able to supply steam and draft beer to the guide tube gap 92.
Each cleaning head 52 and filling head 82 are provided with barrel fixing means (not shown) for fixing the barrel 10. This barrel fixing means has the same configuration as that provided for fixing a barrel in a conventional cleaning head or filling head.
[0044]
This embodiment is configured as described above, and the operation thereof will be described next.
The barrel 10 collected in the draft beer factory is subjected to cleaning of the exposed portion of the barrel 10, a seal test of the fitting 14, and a residual pressure test in the barrel 10, and sent to the internal cleaning and filling line. The fitting 14 is not disassembled and removed from the base 12 of the barrel 10, and the fitting 14 is sent to the internal cleaning and filling line while being attached to the base 12.
[0045]
First, in the internal cleaning and filling line, as shown in FIG. 1, the barrel 10 is connected to the first cleaning head 52 with the base 12 facing downward. The barrel 10 is set on the cleaning head 52 in a state where the central axis of the base 12 and the central axis of the guide tube 54 are aligned, and the barrel fixing means fixes the barrel 10 on the cleaning head 52. Then, the guide tube 54 slides upward, and the end portion of the base 12 is pressed onto the cleaning head packing 64 and comes into close contact therewith. At this time, since the inner diameter of the upper surface 65 of the cleaning head packing 64 is the same as the inner diameter of the cap 12 of the barrel 10, the end of the bush 16 does not contact the cleaning head packing 64, and between the bush 16 and the cap 12. The opening portion 36 of the threaded portion gap 34 is not blocked by the cleaning head packing 64. Therefore, since the opening portion 36 is continuous with the inside of the bush 16 and the notch 66 portion is formed, when the cleaning medium flows through the flow path of the second cleaning medium described later, a large amount of cleaning is performed. The medium can reach the opening 36.
[0046]
Next, the rod 56 slides upward in the guide tube 54, the dispensing valve 20 is pushed into the barrel 10 by the probe 58, the dispensing valve 20 opens, and at the same time, the proximal end portions of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18. 24 is pushed into the barrel 10 by the probe seal 68, and the gas valve 22 is opened. When the dispensing valve 20 is opened, the first washing medium reaches from the washing medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10 through the hollow portion of the rod 56, the hole 60 at the tip of the probe 58, the dispensing valve 20, and the down tube 18. When the gas valve 22 is opened, the barrel 10 passes from the inside of the barrel 10 through the gas hole 26 of the bush 16, the inside of the bush 16, the inside of the cleaning head packing 64, and the guide cylinder gap 62. A flow path for the second cleaning medium to 50 external drains is formed.
[0047]
Then, air is fed from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10 through the flow path of the first cleaning medium, and the remaining beer remaining in the barrel 10 is pushed out from the flow path of the second cleaning medium to the drain. To discharge. After discharging the remaining beer, preliminary cleaning of the barrel 10 is performed with water. The water used in this preliminary cleaning is sent from the cleaning medium supply means 70 into the barrel 10 by the first cleaning medium flow path, and flows out from the second cleaning medium flow path to the drain. In this preliminary cleaning, the water flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium also flows into the notch 66 portion of the cleaning head packing 64, reaches the opening portion 36 of the screwing portion gap 34, and the screwing portion gap 34 has a large amount. Pre-washed with water.
[0048]
Then, air is continuously flowed from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the flow path of the first cleaning medium, the barrel 10 and the flow path of the second cleaning medium to remove the pre-cleaning water from the barrel 10. At this time, the pre-cleaning water remaining in the threaded portion gap 34 is also removed.
After the preliminary cleaning, the caustic soda is continuously flowed from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the first cleaning medium flow path, the barrel 10 and the second cleaning medium flow path, and the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned with caustic soda. In the cleaning with the caustic soda, the caustic soda flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium flows into the notch 66 portion of the cleaning head packing 64 as well as the pre-cleaning water, and reaches the opening portion 36 of the screwing portion gap 34 Finally, the threaded portion gap 34 is cleaned with a large amount of caustic soda. Then, air is continuously flowed from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the first cleaning medium flow path, the barrel 10 and the second cleaning medium flow path to remove caustic soda from the barrel 10. At this time, the caustic soda remaining in the threaded portion gap 34 is also removed.
[0049]
After cleaning the inside of the barrel 10 with caustic soda, the guide tube 54 and the rod 56 slide downward to fit into the first cleaning head 52, the pouring valve 20 and the gas valve 22 are closed, and the barrel fixing means removes the barrel from the barrel fixing means. 10 is opened, and the barrel 10 is removed from the first cleaning head 52 and sent to the second cleaning head 52. Also in the second cleaning head 52, the barrel 10 is set and fixed to the second cleaning head 52 in the same manner as in the first cleaning head 52, the rod 56 slides upward, the dispensing valve 20 and the gas valve. 22 is opened, and a flow path for the first cleaning medium and a flow path for the second cleaning medium are formed between the second cleaning head 52 and the barrel 10.
[0050]
In the second cleaning head 52, the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned with hot water. The hot water used for cleaning flows continuously from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the first cleaning medium flow path, the barrel 10, and the second cleaning medium flow path, as in the pre-cleaning water. The hot water flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium also flows into the notch 66 portion of the cleaning head packing 64 and reaches the opening portion 36 of the screwing portion gap 34, and the screwing portion gap 34 is washed with a large amount of hot water. The Then, air is continuously flowed from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the flow path of the first cleaning medium, the barrel 10 and the flow path of the second cleaning medium, and the hot water used for cleaning is removed from the barrel 10. At this time, the hot water remaining in the threaded portion gap 34 is also removed.
[0051]
When the second cleaning head 52 finishes cleaning the inside of the barrel 10 with hot water, the barrel 10 is removed from the second cleaning head 52 and connected to the third cleaning head 52. The operation of removing the barrel 10 from the second cleaning head 52 and connecting it to the third cleaning head 52 is the same as the operation of removing the barrel 10 from the first cleaning head 52 and connecting it to the second cleaning head 52. .
[0052]
Then, in the third cleaning head 52, the inside of the barrel 10 is again cleaned with hot water in the same manner as the cleaning with hot water in the second cleaning head 52, and the hot water used for cleaning with air is removed from the inside of the barrel 10. At this time, the screwing portion gap 34 is also washed again by the hot water flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium, and the hot water remaining in the screwing portion gap 34 is removed by the air.
[0053]
When the cleaning of the barrel 10 with the second hot water is finished, steam sterilization in the barrel 10 with steam is performed. The steam used in the steam sterilization flows continuously from the cleaning medium supply means 70 to the first cleaning medium flow path, the barrel 10 and the second cleaning medium flow path in the same manner as the pre-cleaning water. The steam flowing through the flow path of the second cleaning medium also flows into the notch 66 portion of the cleaning head packing 64 to reach the opening portion 36 of the screwing portion gap 34, and the screwing portion gap 34 is also steam sterilized by the steam. .
[0054]
By this series of internal cleaning, the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned, and at the same time, the screwing portion gap 34 is also cleaned, and microorganisms that may exist in the screwing portion gap 34 are removed. End up.
The barrel 10 that has been steam sterilized in the third cleaning head 52 is removed from the third cleaning head 52 and connected to the filling head 82 of the barreling machine 80. The operation of removing the barrel 10 from the third cleaning head 52 is the same as the operation of removing the barrel 10 from the first cleaning head 52.
[0055]
The barrel 10 is connected to a filling head 82 with the base 12 facing downward, and the barrel fixing means of the filling head 82 fixes the barrel 10 on the filling head 82. With the central axis of the base 12 and the central axis of the guide cylinder 84 aligned with each other, the guide cylinder 84 slides upward, and the end of the base 12 is pressed onto and closely contacts the filling head packing 94. The projection 96 of the filling head packing 94 enters the inside of the bush 16. At this time, since the outer diameter of the tip of the projection 96 is slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the bush 16, the projection 96 can smoothly enter the inside of the bush 16. Further, since the outer diameter of the root portion of the protrusion 96 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the bush 16, the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion 96 is elastically deformed according to the size of the inner peripheral surface of the bush 16, and the inner peripheral surface of the bush 16 is protruded. A contact surface having a large continuous area in the circumferential direction is formed between the bush 16 and the projection 96. A groove 100 is formed on the upper surface 95 of the filling head packing 94 so as to continue to the outer peripheral surface of the filling head packing 94, and the threaded portion gap 34 is formed above the opening portion 36 and the end of the groove 100 on the projection 96 side. The threaded portion gap 34 communicates with the outside of the filling head 82 through the groove 100. Further, the rod 86 remains in the guide tube 84, and the dispensing valve 20 and the gas valve 22 remain closed (see FIG. 3). A steam flow path from the steam generating means 104 to the bush 16 through the guide cylinder gap 92 is formed.
[0056]
When the steam channel is formed, the steam is jetted into the bush 16 through the steam channel. The steam sprayed to the inside of the bush 16 performs steam sterilization of the inside of the bush 16, the gas valve 22, and the dispensing valve 20. The heat of the steam ejected into the bush 16 is transmitted to the bush 16 and expands the air in the threaded portion gap 34. The air expanded in the threaded portion gap 34 flows out of the filling head 82 through the groove 100, and the pressure in the threaded portion gap 34 does not increase. Prevents leakage into the interior. At this time, the large contact surface existing between the bush 16 and the protrusion 96 also prevents the air in the threaded portion gap 34 from leaking into the bush 16. Therefore, even if microorganisms are present in the threaded portion gap 34, the microorganisms are prevented from entering the bush 16.
[0057]
When the steam sterilization in the bush 16 is finished, the rod 86 slides upward, the pouring valve 20 is pushed into the barrel 10 by the probe 88, the pouring valve 20 is opened, and at the same time, the base of the gas valve 22 and the down tube 18 is opened. The end 24 is pushed into the barrel 10 by the probe seal 102 and the gas valve 22 is opened (see FIG. 5). The guide cylinder gap 92 can be switched from the steam generation means 104 to the draft beer supply means 106. When the dispensing valve 20 is opened, an air flow path is formed from the inside of the barrel 10 to the outside of the filling head 82 through the down tube 18, the dispensing valve 20, the hole 90 of the probe 88, and the hollow in the rod 86. The air flow path becomes a flow path for air discharged from the barrel 10 to the outside of the barrel 10 when draft beer is filled. In addition, a draft beer filling flow path is formed from the draft beer supply means 106 through the guide tube gap 92, the gas valve 22, and the gas hole 26 into the barrel 10, and draft beer filled in the flow path flows.
[0058]
And draft beer is filled into the barrel 10 via the draft beer filling flow path, and the air in the barrel 10 is discharged out of the barrel 10 from the air flow path. In this draft beer filling, the inside of the bush 16 is steam sterilized, and microorganisms are prevented from entering into the bush 16 from the threaded portion gap 34. Mixing of microorganisms is prevented.
[0059]
After filling a predetermined amount of draft beer, the guide tube 84 and the rod 86 are slid downward, the pouring valve 20 and the gas valve 22 are closed, and the filling of the draft beer into the barrel 10 is finished. And the barrel 10 is shipped from a draft beer manufacturing factory.
Therefore, when the cleaning head 52 equipped with the cleaning head packing 64 is used, when the interior of the barrel 10 is cleaned, the screwing portion gap 34 between the base 12 of the barrel 10 and the bush 16 can be cleaned. Microorganisms can be cleaned and removed from the threaded portion gap 34. Further, when the filling head 82 equipped with the filling head packing 94 is used, microorganisms can be prevented from entering the bush 16 when draft beer is filled, and microorganisms can be prevented from being mixed with the draft beer in the barrel 10. Can do. Further, when the inside of the barrel 10 is cleaned using the cleaning head 52 equipped with the cleaning head packing 64 and the draft beer is filled into the barrel 10 using the filling head 82 equipped with the filling head packing 94, the draft beer in the barrel 10 is obtained. It is possible to more reliably prevent microorganisms from being mixed in.
[0060]
In the present embodiment, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 can be formed as in the first modification shown in FIG. That is, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 according to the first modification is formed by a stepped portion that is continuous in the circumferential direction, and the inner diameter of the cleaning head packing 64 in the notch 66 is continuous in the vertical direction. Have the same dimensions as the inner diameter of
[0061]
Further, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 can be formed as in Modification 2 shown in FIG. 6 (ii). That is, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 according to the modified example 2 is formed by a curved surface that is continuous in the circumferential direction.
Furthermore, the notch 66 of the cleaning head packing 64 can be formed as in Modification 3 shown in FIG. 6 (iii). That is, in the cleaning head packing 64 according to the modified example 3, the notch 66 is continuously formed from the upper surface 65 to the lower surface, and the inner diameter of the cleaning head packing 64 is the same as the inner diameter of the base 12 continuously in the vertical direction.
[0062]
Further, the shape of the protrusion 96 of the filling head packing 94 can be formed by a protrusion 96 having a triangular cross section continuous in the circumferential direction, as in Modification 4 shown in FIG. When the end of the bush 16 is pressed against the protrusion 96 according to this modification, the protrusion 96 is elastically deformed, and the end of the bush 16 is recessed into the protrusion 96. A large contact surface that is continuous in the circumferential direction is formed between the protrusion 96 and the end of the bush 16.
[0063]
Further, the shape of the protrusion 96 of the filling head packing 94 can be formed by a protrusion 96 having a semicircular cross section continuous in the circumferential direction as in Modification 5 shown in FIG. 7 (ii). It is also possible to form the projections 96 having a polygonal cross section continuous in the circumferential direction. Also in this case, a large continuous contact surface in the circumferential direction is formed between the protrusion 96 and the end of the bush 16.
[0064]
Further, the shape of the protrusion 96 of the filling head packing 94 can be formed as in Modification 6 shown in FIG. 7 (iii). That is, the projection 96 according to the modification 6 has a cylindrical shape in which a substantially rectangular cross section is continuous in the circumferential direction, and a semicircular or polygonal cross section is formed in the circumferential direction on the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder of the projection 96. One or a plurality of continuous small protrusions 98 are formed in a ring shape. The outer diameter of the ring formed by the small protrusions 98 is slightly larger than the inner diameter of the bush 16. The small protrusion 98 is pressed and elastically deformed on the inner peripheral surface of the bush 16, and a contact surface continuous in the circumferential direction is formed between the small protrusion 98 and the inner peripheral surface of the bush 16.
[0065]
Further, the position where the protrusion 96 of the filling head packing 94 is formed is not limited to the inner edge of the upper surface 95 of the filling head packing 94, and the inner peripheral side root portion of the protrusion 96 and the inner edge of the upper surface 95 There is no problem even if there is a distance between.
In addition, in the filling head packing 94, the groove 100 is continuous from the position near the outer side in the radial direction by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the end of the bush 16 from the base portion of the protrusion 96 to the outer edge of the upper surface 95. It is also possible to form it continuously from the 96 root portion to the outer edge of the upper surface 95.
[0066]
In addition, in the filling head packing 94, the single groove 100 forms the air vent passage, but it is needless to say that the air vent passage can be formed by a plurality of grooves.
Further, in the filling head packing 94, instead of forming the air vent passage by the groove 100, it is also possible to form the air vent passage by a hole penetrating the filling head packing 94.
[0067]
Further, although the cleaning head packing 64 and the filling head packing 94 are made of EPDM, it is needless to say that the cleaning head packing 64 and the filling head packing 94 can be formed of an elastic body such as EPM, NBR, HNBR, fluororubber, Teflon (registered trademark), or silicon.
Of course, instead of filling the barrel 10 with draft beer, it can be filled with beverages such as wine and juice.
[0068]
Next, the result of the microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test performed on the washing head packing for the barrel washing machine according to the present invention and the result of the microorganism contamination prevention effect evaluation test performed on the filling head packing for the barrel filling machine will be described.
(1) Microbial cleaning effect evaluation test 1
The result of the microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test 1 of the cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine according to the present invention is shown below. In this test, a barrel washer and a bush with a barrel washing machine (Invention Example 1) equipped with the cleaning head packing according to the present invention and a barrel washing machine (Comparative Example 1) having the same configuration as the conventional one. The cleaning effect of the gap between the screw and the screw was compared.
[0069]
The barrel washing machine of Invention Example 1 has the same configuration as the barrel washing machine described in the embodiment of the invention described above. In this test, in order to evaluate the microbial cleaning effect of the cleaning head packing of Invention Example 1 and the cleaning head packing of Comparative Example 1, the interior of the barrel having the following bushes in each barrel washing machine of Invention Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 Washing was performed. That is, a food coloring was applied to the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush of the fitting, and the barrel with the fitting attached to the base was internally washed with each barrel washing machine of Invention Example 1 and Comparative Example 1. In addition, the structure of the barrel has the same configuration as a conventional barrel, except that the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush is coated, and the internal cleaning in each barrel washing machine is the same as the conventional one, Pre-cleaning, caustic soda cleaning, twice hot water cleaning, and steam cleaning were performed using the first to third cleaning heads.
[0070]
And about each barrel which finished internal washing with each barrel washing machine of invention example 1 and comparative example 1, a fitting was removed from a mouthpiece and the state of the food red which had been applied to the screw part on the outer peripheral surface of a bush was investigated. . As a result, in the barrel that was internally cleaned by the barrel washing machine of Invention Example 1, no food color remaining on the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush was observed. On the other hand, in the barrel that was internally cleaned by the barrel washing machine of Comparative Example 1, food red remained on the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush.
[0071]
Therefore, by mounting the cleaning head packing according to the present invention on the cleaning head, the threaded portion gap between the barrel bush and the mouthpiece is washed, and the microorganisms present in the screwed portion gap can be washed away. It was confirmed.
(2) Microbial cleaning effect evaluation test 2
Next, the result of the microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test 2 of the cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine according to the present invention is shown. In this test, using a barrel washing machine having the same configuration as that of Invention Example 1, 100 barrels having the same configuration as that of the conventional example were internally washed (Invention Example 2). For comparison, a barrel washing machine having the same configuration as that of Comparative Example 1 was used to internally wash 100 barrels having the same configuration as that of a conventional one (Comparative Example 2). And the detection rate of the microorganisms in the surroundings of the opening part of a screwing part clearance gap was compared about each barrel which finished internal cleaning. A standard agar medium was used for detection of microorganisms.
[0072]
The results of this test are shown in FIG. Among the 100 barrels according to Invention Example 2, three were detected with microorganisms, and the detection rate of microorganisms was 3%. On the other hand, among 100 barrels according to Comparative Example 2, 5 were detected with microorganisms, and the detection rate was 5%.
Therefore, by attaching the cleaning head packing according to the present invention to the cleaning head, the detection rate of microorganisms from the screwed portion gap is reduced after internal cleaning, and the screwed portion between the barrel bush and the base It was confirmed that the gap was washed and the microorganisms present in the screwed part gap could be washed away.
(3) Microbial contamination prevention effect evaluation test 1
Next, the result of the microorganisms mixing prevention effect evaluation test 1 of the filling head packing for barrel filling machines which concerns on this invention is shown. In this test, when the draft beer is filled into the barrel using the barrel filling machine equipped with the filling head packing according to the present invention (Invention Example 3), the barrel filling machine having the same configuration as the conventional one is used. When the draft beer was filled in the barrel (Comparative Example 3), the effect of preventing microbial contamination was compared and evaluated.
[0073]
The barrel filling machine according to the invention example 3 has the same configuration as the filling head packing according to the modified example 4 except that a groove forming an air vent passage is not formed on the upper surface of the filling head packing. The configuration is the same as that of the barreling machine described in the embodiment of the invention. And using the barrel filling machine which concerns on the example 3 of an invention, draft beer was filled into 100 barrels which have the same structure as what existed conventionally, and the detection rate of the microorganisms inside the bush of each barrel was investigated after filling. In addition, internal washing was performed by the barrel washing machine of Comparative Example 1. In addition, for comparison, 100 barrels under the same conditions as the barrel used in Invention Example 3 were filled with draft beer using the barreling machine according to Comparative Example 3, and microorganisms inside the bush of each barrel after filling. The detection rate of was investigated. A standard agar medium was used for detection of microorganisms.
[0074]
The results of this test are shown in FIG. Among 100 barrels according to Invention Example 3, 10 were detected with microorganisms, and the detection rate of microorganisms was 10%. On the other hand, among 100 barrels according to Comparative Example 3, 15 were detected with microorganisms, and the detection rate was 15%.
The barrel used in this test was internally washed with a barrel washing machine having a configuration similar to that of a conventional one, and the threaded portion gap was not washed, but the washing according to the present invention By attaching the head packing to the cleaning head, microorganisms are prevented from coming out inside the bush, the detection rate of microorganisms is reduced, and microorganisms are prevented from entering the barrel with draft beer. Confirmed that.
(4) Microbial contamination prevention effect evaluation test 2
Next, the result of the microorganisms mixing prevention effect evaluation test 2 of the filling head packing for barrel filling machines which concerns on this invention is shown. In this test, the effect of preventing microbial contamination when draft beer was filled using a barreling machine equipped with the filling head packing according to the present invention (Invention Example 4) was examined. As will be described below, the shape of the filling head packing according to Invention Example 4 is different from the shape of the filling head packing according to Invention Example 3.
[0075]
The barrel filling machine according to Invention Example 4 is the same as the barrel filling machine described in the embodiment of the present invention, except that a groove forming an air vent passage is not formed on the upper surface of the filling head packing filling head packing. It has a configuration. And 100 barrels of the same conditions as the barrel used in Invention Example 3 are filled with draft beer using the barreling machine according to Invention Example 4, and after filling, the detection rate of microorganisms inside the bush of each barrel is examined. It was. A standard agar medium was used for detection of microorganisms.
[0076]
The results of this test are shown in FIG. Of the 100 barrels according to Invention Example 4, 7 were detected with microorganisms, and the detection rate of microorganisms was 7%.
Therefore, the filling head packing according to Invention Example 4 more effectively prevents microorganisms from coming out of the bush, and the detection rate of microorganisms is further reduced. It was confirmed that mixing was further prevented.
(5) Microbial contamination prevention effect evaluation test 3
Next, the result of the microorganism mixing prevention effect evaluation test 3 of the washing head packing for a barrel washing machine and the filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to the present invention is shown. In this test, using the barrel washing machine according to Invention Example 1 and the barrel filling machine according to Invention Example 4, internal washing and draft beer filling were performed on 100 barrels having the same configuration as the conventional one (Invention) For Example 5), the detection rate of microorganisms inside the bush of each barrel after filling with draft beer was examined. A standard agar medium was used for detection of microorganisms.
[0077]
The results of this test are shown in FIG. Of the 100 barrels according to Invention Example 5, three were detected with microorganisms, and the detection rate of microorganisms was 3%.
Therefore, by using the cleaning head packing and the filling head packing according to the present invention in combination, the detection rate of microorganisms is further effectively reduced, and it is more effectively prevented that microorganisms are mixed into the barrel together with draft beer. Confirmed that.
[0078]
【The invention's effect】
Since this invention is the above washing head packing for barrel washing machines and the filling head packing for barrel filling machines, there are the following effects. That is, in order to prevent microorganisms from entering the barrel together with the beverage filled in the barrel, the microorganisms are removed from the gap formed in the screwed portion between the barrel base and the fitting outer cylinder during washing in the barrel. We can provide a cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine that prevents microorganisms remaining in the gap formed in the screwed portion between the base and the fitting outer cylinder from entering the barrel when filling the barrel with beverage. There is an effect that it is possible to provide a filling head packing for a barrel filling machine.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional partial view of a cleaning head including a cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view of a washing head packing for a barrel washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional partial view of a filling head including a filling head packing for a barreling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view and a longitudinal sectional view of a filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a state where a filling head and a barrel are connected and a barrel pouring valve and a gas valve are opened.
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine according to each modification.
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to each modification.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of test results of a microorganism cleaning effect evaluation test 2 of a cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of test results of the microorganism contamination prevention effect evaluation tests 1, 2, and 3 of the filling head packing for a barrel filling machine.
FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a conventional barrel.
FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of a conventional internal cleaning and filling line.
FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view of a cleaning head of a conventional barrel washing machine.
FIG. 13 is a longitudinal sectional view of a filling head of a conventional barreling machine.
[Explanation of symbols]
10 barrels
12 base
13 Screw part of the base
14 Fitting
16 Bush
17 Bush thread
18 Down tube
20 Dispensing valve
22 Gas valve
24 Down tube base end
26 Bush Gas Hole
28 Gas valve spring
30 Annular flange
32 Outlet valve spring
34 Threaded part gap between bush and base
36 Opening part of the gap between the bush and base
40 Internal cleaning and filling line
50 Washing machine
52 Cleaning head
54 Guide tube
55 Flange
56 Rod
58 probe
60 holes
62 Clearance between rod and guide tube (guide tube clearance)
64 Cleaning head packing
65 Top surface of cleaning head packing
66 Notch
68 Probe seal
70 Cleaning medium supply means
80 barrel filling machine
82 Filling head
84 Guide tube
85 Flange
86 Rod
88 probes
90 holes
92 Clearance between rod and guide tube (guide tube clearance)
94 Filling Head Packing
95 Top surface of filling head packing
96 protrusions
98 small protrusions
100 grooves
102 Probe seal
104 Steam generating means
106 Draft beer supply means

Claims (7)

A base is provided on the surface of the barrel, a gas valve that communicates with the inside of the barrel, a base end of a down tube that hangs down within the barrel and communicates with the inside of the barrel, and a dispensing valve that sends the beverage out of the barrel A fitting having a bush that accommodates the inside of the barrel is mounted in the base, and the inside of the barrel in which the screw portion on the inner peripheral surface of the base and the screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush are screwed together is cleaned. In the cleaning head packing that is attached to the cleaning head of the barrel washing machine and is made of a ring-shaped elastic member,
With the base and the cleaning head connected, the cleaning head packing is in close contact with the end of the base continuously in the circumferential direction, and is not in close contact with at least a part of the end of the bush,
An end of a gap formed in a threaded portion between the base and the bush is opened in a flow path of the cleaning medium formed from the cleaning head through the inside of the bush and into the barrel. A cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine, characterized in that: The washing head packing for a barrel washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of a ring-shaped surface that is in close contact with an end of the mouthpiece is larger than an inner diameter of the mouthpiece. Cleaning head packing. The cleaning head packing for a barrel washing machine according to claim 2, wherein a notch continuous in the circumferential direction is formed along an inner edge of a ring-shaped surface in close contact with an end of the base. Cleaning head packing for barrel washing machine. A base is provided on the surface of the barrel, a gas valve that communicates with the inside of the barrel, a base end of a down tube that hangs down within the barrel and communicates with the inside of the barrel, and a dispensing valve that sends the beverage out of the barrel A fitting having a bush for housing the inside of the cap is mounted in the base, and a beverage is contained in a barrel in which a screw portion on the inner peripheral surface of the base and a screw portion on the outer peripheral surface of the bush are screwed together. In a filling head packing made of a ring-shaped elastic member, mounted on a filling head of a barrel filling machine
In a state where the base and the filling head are connected, the filling head packing is in close contact with at least one of the end portion or the inner peripheral surface of the bush continuously in the circumferential direction,
A filling head packing for a barrel filling machine characterized in that the filling head packing covers and closes an end portion of a gap formed at a screwed portion between the base and the bush. 5. The filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to claim 4, wherein, in the connected state, continuous with the end of the bush and the end on the surface facing the end of the base and the end of the bush. A filling head packing for a barrel filling machine, characterized in that a protrusion capable of surface contact is formed. 5. The filling head packing for a barrel filling machine according to claim 4, wherein, in the connected state, continuous in the circumferential direction along the inner edge of the ring-shaped surface facing the end of the base and the end of the bush. Then, a filling head packing for a barrel filling machine, wherein a projection capable of surface contact with the inner peripheral surface of the bush is formed. It is a filling head packing for barreling machines in any one of Claims 4 thru | or 6, Comprising: From the edge part of the clearance gap formed in the screwing part between the said nozzle | cap | die and the said bush in the said connection state. A filling head packing for a barrel filling machine, wherein an air vent passage communicating with the outside of the filling head for a barrel filling machine is formed.

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