JP4062998B2 - Gas replacement method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

【００３１】
以上、この発明によるガス置換方法及び装置の実施例について説明したが、個々の構成要素については、各種の変更が可能である。例えば、整流板８，２８は、多孔板として説明したが、焼結金属フィルタであってもよい。また、容器５０は、肩部を持ったボトルとして説明したが、これに限らず、広口の瓶や、缶蓋を巻締める缶であってもよいことは明らかである。また、噴流を形成する不活性ガスや不活性ガス雰囲気を形成する不活性ガスについては、共に液体窒素とすることができるが、これに限ることはなく、それぞれ、ヘリウム、アルゴン等の不活性ガス、炭酸ガス、或いはこれらの不活性ガスと炭酸ガスとの混合ガスのような、相互にまた内容物３の保存性・安全性に影響しないガスとすることもできる。
【００３２】
【発明の効果】
この発明は、上記のように構成されており、噴射ノズルからの不活性ガス噴流を不活性ガス雰囲気の中を通して容器の口部に吹き込むことにしたので、噴射ノズルから噴射された不活性ガス噴流が、その巻込み作用によって、容器の口部に到達するまでに周囲のガスを取り込んだとしても、巻き込まれるガスが不活性ガス雰囲気中の不活性ガスであり、容器の口部に吹き込まれるガスには空気が含まれない。従って、容器のヘッドスペース内の空気は、空気を殆ど含まない不活性ガスによって置換されるので、不活性ガスの置換率を高くすることができる。また、必要以上に不活性ガスの噴流速度を大きくして不活性ガスの噴射流量を増やしたり噴射時間を長くすることがないので、不活性ガスの使用量を少なくし、且つ装置のコンパクト化が可能で、高効率で設備を稼働させることができる。
【図面の簡単な説明】
【図１】この発明によるガス置換方法及び装置の一例を示す概略図である。
【図２】この発明によるガス置換方法及び装置の別の例を示す概略図である。
【図３】この発明によるガス置換方法及び装置の更に別の例を示す概略図である。
【図４】この発明によるガス置換方法及び装置の更に別の例を示す概略図である。
【図５】この発明によるガス置換方法及び装置の他の例を示す概略図である。
【図６】従来のガス置換を示す概略図である。
【符号の説明】
１，２０，３０，４０，４７ ガス置換装置 ２ 噴射ノズル
３ 不活性ガス噴流
４，２４，３４，４４，４９ 不活性ガス雰囲気
５，２５，３５，４５，４８ 不活性ガス吹出し部（吹出し筒）
６ 筒状胴部 ７ 閉鎖板
８，２８ 整流板 ２８ａ，２８ｂ，２８ｃ 多孔板
９，２９ 貯留室 １０ 供給管
１１，２１，３１，４１ 不活性ガス流れ ３６ フード
３７ 環状通路
５０ 容器 ５１ 口部
５２ ヘッドスペース ５３ 内容物[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a gas replacement method and apparatus for replacing air existing in a head space of a container such as a bottle or a can with an inert gas.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in a container such as a PET bottle whose mouth is small and spreads toward the body, a head space is formed above the contents filled in the container, and air remains in this head space. In order to suppress oxidative deterioration of the contents and to maintain and stabilize the quality, the air in the head space is replaced with an inert gas such as nitrogen gas, and the container is closed when the gas replacement is completed. In order to replace the air remaining in the head space of the container, particularly in the vicinity of the shoulder portion, a general method is to expel the remaining air by blowing an inert gas from the mouth of the container.
[0003]
A sealing machine has been proposed in which a plurality of nozzles for blowing an inert gas toward the mouth of the container are arranged on a sealing plunger that seals the cap at the mouth of the container filled with the contents (Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-120898). Issue gazette). The nozzles are arranged at positions facing each other in the sealing plunger, and the inert gas is alternately blown toward the mouth of the container. Since a plurality of nozzles for blowing inert gas are arranged in the sealing machine, sealing can be performed immediately after gas replacement is completed.
[0004]
In addition, even if the container head space is filled with an inert gas, air has entered the cap that is installed to close the container. There is a possibility that the substitution rate will decrease. As a countermeasure, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 6-42968, an inert gas is supplied from a nozzle outlet into a head space of a container filled with contents, and a cap for sealing the container is conveyed. A container head that fills the cap shooter with an inert gas blown from the nozzle tube, replaces the gas inside the cap shooter and passes the inert gas into the head space immediately before releasing the cap. In-space gas filling devices have been proposed.
[0005]
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-58609 provides a gas replacement device and a gas replacement method that can sufficiently replace the air in the head space with a can having a wide head space. According to this gas replacement apparatus and gas replacement method, the air in the head space of the container to be transported is supplied to some extent by continuously supplying the inert gas from the inert gas supply unit disposed above the can. Gas is preliminarily preliminarily replaced, and then the replacement gas is supplied into the head space just before the can is closed by tightening the can lid, and the gas is sufficiently replaced. Furthermore, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 7-42965, the can body is placed in a replacement gas atmosphere before and after the can lid is placed on the can body, and immediately before or after the can lid is placed on the can body. A gas replacement device for a can lid clamping machine is disclosed in which an inert gas is blown into the head space to sufficiently perform the gas replacement.
[0006]
In order to expel and discharge the air in the head space formed near the shoulder inside the PET bottle by blowing an inert gas, as shown in FIG. As shown by the flow 54 through the mouth 51 by stirring the air remaining in the head space 52 formed on the contents 53 by setting the jet velocity of the inert gas jet 3 blown into the portion 51 to a high value. Need to be discharged. However, as the inert gas jet velocity increases, the inert gas jet entrains the ambient air 55, and as a result, the amount of air entering the interior of the container also increases. Even if the injection flow rate of the inert gas is increased or the injection time is lengthened, it is difficult to obtain a high replacement ratio of 85% or more due to the entrained air.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the gas replacement of the container, the method of blowing a jet of inert gas into the mouth of the container is an effective replacement method, and as long as this replacement method is adopted, normally the jet itself suppresses the surrounding gas from being involved. It is difficult to do. Therefore, even if the surrounding gas is entrained due to the jet of the inert gas, the gas to be entrained does not include air as the inert gas itself, so that air is not mixed into the head space. There are issues to be solved.
[0008]
An object of the present invention is to provide a gas replacement method and apparatus in which a jet of inert gas is blown from a nozzle into the mouth of a container in order to replace the air in the head space of the container with an inert gas. Reducing the amount of inert gas used without increasing the flow rate of the inert gas and increasing the injection flow rate of the inert gas or extending the injection time by not entraining the air in the jet flow even if ambient gas is involved. In addition, it is possible to provide a gas replacement method and apparatus in which the apparatus can be made compact and the head space of the container can be replaced with gas at a high gas replacement rate.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problems, a gas replacement method according to the present invention is a gas that replaces air in the head space of the container with an inert gas by blowing an inert gas jet injected from an injection nozzle into the mouth of the container. In the replacement method, the inert gas jet from the injection nozzle is passed through the inert gas atmosphere to the mouth of the container in order to prevent air from being mixed into the container due to the entrainment of the inert gas jet. The inert gas atmosphere is blown at a speed slower than that of the jet flow from a blow pipe arranged above or on the side of the container, and between the spray nozzle and the mouth of the container. Formed by a flow of inert gas sent to the space, the container being a container filled with aseptic content, prior to the injection of the inert gas from the injection nozzle Drug through the blowing tube Or The spray nozzle is sterilized by supplying warm water around the spray nozzle.
[0010]
Further, the gas displacement device according to the present invention is a gas displacement device comprising an injection nozzle for blowing an inert gas jet into the mouth of the container in order to replace the air in the head space of the container with an inert gas. In order to form an inert gas atmosphere as an atmosphere that passes when a gas jet is blown into the mouth of the container, an inert gas blowing part that sends an inert gas flow is provided, and the inert gas blowing part includes the container Is disposed above or to the side, and includes a blowing cylinder for blowing out the inert gas flow at a speed slower than that of the inert gas jet, and the container is a container in which the contents are aseptically filled, The blowing cylinder is a chemical that sterilizes the outer surface of the injection nozzle prior to the injection of the inert gas from the injection nozzle. Or It can be applied as a hot water supply passage.
[0011]
According to this gas replacement method, since the inert gas jet from the injection nozzle is blown into the mouth of the container through the inert gas atmosphere, the inert gas jet injected from the injection nozzle is Even if the gas in the surrounding atmosphere is taken into the jet flow by the entraining action of the jet flow until reaching the gas, the gas to be entrained is an inert gas that forms an inert gas atmosphere. Accordingly, the jet flow blown into the mouth portion of the container hardly contains air, and the air in the head space of the container is replaced by the inert gas containing almost no air, so that the replacement rate of the inert gas is increased. be able to. Further, according to this gas replacement device, the inert gas blowing portion blows the inert gas flow toward the region through which the jet flow from the injection nozzle to the mouth of the container passes, so the atmosphere in which the jet flow is jetted As an inert gas atmosphere is formed. Even if the jet has an entrainment action of taking in the surrounding gas, the entrained gas is an inert gas that forms an inert gas atmosphere, so that the air does not flow into the headspace together with the inert gas jet, and the inert gas The replacement ratio of the head space of the container can be increased.
[0012]
In this gas replacement method and apparatus, the total spray area of the spray nozzle is preferably smaller than the opening area of the mouth of the container. The gas in the head space needs to be discharged from the container according to the gas flow rate based on the jet flow blown into the container. By making the total injection area of the injection nozzle smaller than the opening area of the mouth of the container, a passage for discharging the gas in the head space from the container can be secured at the mouth of the container, and efficient gas replacement is performed. Can be done. In this case, it is desirable that the total ejection area of the ejection nozzles be 80% or less, preferably 60 to 70%, of the opening area of the container mouth for efficient replacement.
[0013]
In this gas replacement method and apparatus, the inert gas atmosphere is preferably formed so as to cover the mouth of the container. For that purpose, it is preferable to install the blowing cylinder at the following position. In other words, in the case of a blowing cylinder that concentrically surrounds and opens the injection nozzle, it is effective to make the outer diameter of the opening 10% or more larger than the outer diameter of the mouth of the container for efficient replacement. Is preferable. Moreover, in the case of the blow-out cylinder located on the side of the injection nozzle, the position of the opening end deviates from 25 to 200%, preferably 50 to 100% of the mouth diameter from the mouth end of the container. It is preferable to install at a position.
[0014]
In this gas replacement method, the inert gas atmosphere is blown out at a speed slower than the jet flow from a blow pipe arranged above or on the side of the container, and between the jet nozzle and the mouth of the container. Formed by an inert gas stream sent to the space. Correspondingly, in this gas replacement device, the inert gas blowing section is arranged above or on the side of the container, and blows out the inert gas flow at a slower speed than the inert gas jet. A blow-out tube is provided. By blowing out the inert gas flow from the upper side or side of the container at a speed slower than the jet flow, while suppressing interference between the inert gas jet flow and the inert gas flow from the inert gas blowing portion as much as possible. Further, it is possible to reduce the consumption amount of the inert gas spent for forming the inert gas atmosphere. In the case where the blowing cylinder is arranged on the side of the injection nozzle, the inert gas flow from the blowing cylinder can be blown out orthogonal to the jet flow from the injection nozzle. In addition, when arrange | positioning an inert gas blowing part to the side, it can arrange | position not only on the side one side but on the both sides of the side, Preferably it has faced across the container mouth part.
[0015]
When the inert gas blowing section is disposed above the container, in the gas replacement method, the inert gas flow blows out in parallel with the jet flow from the blowing cylinder that concentrically surrounds and opens the injection nozzle. Is done. Correspondingly, in the gas displacement device, the blow-out cylinder is arranged such that the injection nozzle is arranged concentrically at the center, and the inert gas flow is blown out in parallel with the inert gas jet. be able to. Due to the flow from the blowing cylinder arranged concentrically around the injection nozzle, the inert gas jet from the injection nozzle is surrounded by the inert gas flow from the blowing cylinder around the injection nozzle. Even if the entraining action occurs, only the inactive gas is involved, and the opportunity for air to flow into the jet can be almost eliminated. Furthermore, the said blowing cylinder can be equipped with the hood which controls the outer side of the said inert gas flow, and extends to the outward of the opening part of the said container. By providing the hood, it is possible to increase the effect of suppressing air from entering the inert gas flow and further into the jet flow from the outside.
[0016]
In this gas replacement method, the inert gas flow is a laminarized inert gas flow. Correspondingly, in the gas replacement device, the inert gas blow-out unit is configured to be connected to the inert gas flow. It is preferable to have a laminarization means for making a laminar flow. By making the inert gas flow that forms the inert gas atmosphere into a laminar flow, the transport of gas in the direction crossing the flow is reduced, and the gas (including air) from the atmosphere side with respect to the jet flow from the injection nozzle Possible flow) can be reduced.
[0017]
In this gas replacement method, the laminar inert gas flow can be formed by passing the inert gas through a laminar perforated plate or a sintered metal filter. Correspondingly, in this gas displacement device, the laminarization means can be a single plate for laminar flow or a plurality of perforated plates or sintered metal filters combined in multiple stages. By passing the flow through a perforated plate or a sintered metal filter, a laminar flow with few gas transport components transverse to the flow can be easily obtained. A high quality laminar flow can be obtained by using a single sheet or a plurality of sheets of sintered metal filters combined in one or more stages.
[0018]
In this gas replacement method and apparatus, the container is a container in which the contents are aseptically filled, and prior to the injection of the inert gas from the injection nozzle, the medicine and hot water are passed around the injection nozzle through the blowing cylinder. The spray nozzle can be sterilized. The blow-out pipe can be applied as a supply passage for a medicine or warm water for sterilizing the outer surface of the injection nozzle prior to the injection of the inert gas from the injection nozzle.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of a gas replacement method and apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a gas replacement method and apparatus according to the present invention.
[0020]
In the gas replacement device 1 shown in FIG. 1, the inert gas jet injected from the injection nozzle 2, that is, the inert gas jet 3 is blown into the mouth 51 of the container 50 in the same manner as in the past. Gas replacement for replacing the air in the head space 52 with an inert gas can be performed. In this embodiment, in order to prevent ambient air from being mixed into the container 50 as the inert gas jet 3 is blown, a region through which the inert gas jet 3 reaches the mouth 51 of the container 50 is passed. Is an inert gas atmosphere 4. In order to form the inert gas atmosphere 4, the inert gas blowing portion 5 is disposed above the container 50 and surrounding the injection nozzle 2. The inert gas blowing section 5 plays a role of sending an inert gas flow 11 toward the inert gas jet 3. Therefore, the inert gas jet 3 is injected from the injection nozzle 2 into the inert gas atmosphere 4 formed in the space between the injection nozzle 2 and the mouth 51.
[0021]
The injection nozzle 2 may be a nozzle having an appropriate opening such as a straight, porous, or slit as a nozzle opening shape. The total spray area of these openings of the spray nozzle 2 is made smaller than the opening area of the mouth 51 of the container 50. The gas in the head space 20 needs to be discharged from the container 50 in accordance with the gas flow rate based on the jet 3 blown into the container 50. By determining the total injection area in this manner, Can secure a discharge passage for discharging the gas (air) in the head space 52 to the outside of the container 50. In this case, it has been found that the total injection area of the injection nozzle 2 is 80% or less, preferably 60 to 70% of the opening area of the mouth portion 51 of the container 50, for efficient gas replacement. Yes.
[0022]
The inert gas blowing part 5 has a cylindrical body part 6, an upper closing plate 7, and a rectifying plate 8 in the form of a lower porous plate, and the cylindrical body part 6, the closing plate 7 and the rectifying plate 8. The storage chamber 9 is formed in the inside surrounded by a blower cylinder having a cylindrical shape as a whole. The inert gas blowing section 5 further has a supply pipe 10 that is connected to the closing plate 7 and opens to the storage chamber 9. The injection nozzle 2 extends through the center position of the cylindrical body 6, and the inert gas blowing portion 5 surrounds the injection nozzle 2. The inert gas supplied to the storage chamber 9 through the supply pipe 10 is stratified by fragmentation by the perforated plate when passing through the rectifying plate 8, and becomes an inert gas flow 11 toward the mouth 51 of the container 50. Blow down. The perforated plate is one of laminarization means, and preferably has a hole diameter of 2 mm or less, preferably 1 mm or less. By arranging the blowing cylinder provided in the inert gas blowing section 5 so as to surround the spray nozzle 2 as a center, the inert gas from the spray nozzle 2 is laminar flow blown from the inert gas blowing section 5. The gas is injected as an inert gas jet 3 into the inert gas atmosphere 4 formed by the flow. During the injection of the inert gas jet 3, the periphery of the inert gas jet 3 is always the inert gas atmosphere 4. .
[0023]
When the inert gas jet 3 is jetted from the jet nozzle 2, the surrounding gas is taken into the inert gas jet 3 by the gas entrainment action by the inert gas jet 3 before reaching the mouth 51 of the container 50. However, the entrainment of the inert gas that forms the inert gas atmosphere 4 only occurs. Therefore, the jet 3 blown into the mouth 51 of the container 50 contains almost no air. Since the air in the head space 52 of the container 50 is replaced by an inert gas containing almost no air, the replacement rate of the inert gas can be increased. Further, there is a possibility that outside air is drawn in with respect to the inert gas flow 11, but the drawing flow only flows outside the mouth 51 of the container 50, as indicated by reference numeral 12 in FIG. There is no entry into the mouth 51 due to the entrainment in the inert gas jet 3.
[0024]
The inert gas flow 11 blown out from the inert gas blowing section 5 is preferably a laminar flow. By laminating the inert gas flow 11, gas transport in the direction crossing the flow is reduced, and air can be suppressed from entering the inert gas flow 11 from the outer air flow 12. As a result, it is possible to suppress the air from entering the inert gas jet 3 even if gas is entrained from the inert gas atmosphere 4 side with respect to the inert gas jet 3. As described above, the space through which the inert jet 3 from the injection nozzle 2 to the mouth 51 of the container 50 passes is always supplied from the inert gas flow 11 and becomes the inert gas atmosphere 4. . Since the velocity of the inert gas flow 11 is supplied at a speed slower than that of the inert gas jet 3, the interference between the jet 3 and the inert gas flow 11 is suppressed as much as possible while the inert gas atmosphere 4 The consumption of inert gas for formation can be reduced.
[0025]
FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the gas displacement device according to the present invention. In the gas replacement apparatus shown in FIG. 2, the same components as those shown in FIG. In the gas displacement device 20 shown in FIG. 2, the inert gas blowout portion 25 eliminates the influence (flow velocity unevenness) of the flow from the inert gas blowout side to create a uniform flow. In the storage chamber 29 surrounded by the periphery, a plurality of laminar perforated plates are combined as the current plate 28 (three steps 28a, 28b, 28c in FIG. 2). By passing the inert gas through the plurality of perforated plates 28a to 28c, the flow segmentation is repeated a plurality of times, and the inert gas flow 21 facilitates laminar flow with little turbulence with little gas transport in the transverse direction. Can get to. Therefore, the air existing outside the inert gas flow 21 is difficult to approach the container 50 as indicated by reference numeral 22, and the inert gas atmosphere 24 is a high-purity atmosphere in which no air is mixed. As a result, the possibility that the gas containing air is transported to the inert jet 3 side across the inert gas flow 21 is significantly reduced.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a view showing still another embodiment of the gas replacement device according to the present invention. In the gas replacement device 30 shown in FIG. 3, the same components as those shown in FIG. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the inert gas blowing portion 35 includes a hood 36 that surrounds the blowing nozzle 2 and extends to the outside of the mouth portion 51 of the container 50. The hood 36 is formed as an extension of the cylindrical body 6. The provision of the hood 36 prevents air from entering the inert gas flow 31 from the outside. Accordingly, the inert gas atmosphere 34 is formed of an inert gas having a high purity, and the effect of suppressing the entrainment of air into the inert gas jet 3 can be enhanced. Since a sufficiently wide annular passage 37 is left between the hood 36 and the mouth 51, the gas flow including air discharged from the head space 52 is freely discharged from the container 50. be able to.
[0027]
FIG. 4 is a view showing still another embodiment of the gas replacement device according to the present invention. In the gas replacement device 40 shown in FIG. 4, the same components as those shown in FIG. In the gas replacement device 40, the inert gas blowing portion 45 is disposed horizontally on the side of the container 50, and a region through which the inert gas jet 3 passes through the inert gas flow 41 from the side of the container 50. As a result, the inert gas atmosphere 44 is formed. As for the flow rate of the inert gas flow 41, it is possible to reduce the consumption of the inert gas while suppressing the interference with the jet 3 as much as possible by blowing out at a slower speed than the inert gas jet 3. is there. The inert gas blowing portion 45 is fixed to a frame 46 to which the injection nozzle 2 is attached. The frame 46 is bent as shown in the figure to guide the inert gas flow 41 as an inert gas atmosphere 44 so as to converge. Is also possible.
[0028]
FIG. 5 is a view showing still another embodiment of the gas replacement device according to the present invention. In the gas replacement device 47 shown in FIG. 5, the same components as those shown in FIG. In the gas replacement device 47, the inert gas blowing part 48 is in a state in which the inert gas blowing part 45 in which the blowing cylinder is provided in the horizontal state only on one side of the side shown in FIG. It is arranged and arranged. By adopting a configuration in which the blowing cylinders are arranged on both sides, an inert gas atmosphere 49 is secured around the mouth 51 by the inert gas flows 41 and 41 blown from both sides. Therefore, even when the container 50 is transported at a high speed, it is possible to prevent air entrainment associated with the flow of the container 50, and in the case of a side flow only on one side, the side flow itself creates an air flow and the blowing cylinder. It is also possible to prevent air entrainment from occurring on the back side.
[0029]
In this gas replacement method and apparatus, the inert gas blowing parts 5, 25, 35, 45 can be used for sterilization / washing of the injection nozzle 2. That is, the container 50 is a container in which the contents 53 are aseptically filled, and before the injection of the inert gas from the injection nozzle 2, the drug is passed through the blowing cylinders that are the inert gas blowing parts 5, 25, 35, 45. If hot water is supplied around the injection nozzle 2, the outer surface of the injection nozzle 2 and the inner surface of the blow-out cylinder can be sterilized. Prior to the injection of the inert gas from the injection nozzle 2, chemicals and warm water are circulated through the blowing portions 5, 25, 35, 45 and the injection nozzle 2 to sterilize the inner surface of the blowing cylinder and the inner surface of the injection nozzle. Is desirable.
[0030]
[Example]
Next, examples of the gas replacement method according to the present invention will be described. The container is a 500 ml PET bottle, the inside diameter of the mouth is 20.6 mm, the head space is 25 ml, the number of injection nozzles into the bottle is 1 and the inside diameter is 5 mm, and the perforated plate constituting the current plate Tried gas replacement with an inner diameter of 1 mm and a pitch of 2 mm. Table 1 shows the results of measuring the oxygen concentration in the head space by moving the bottle in the horizontal direction in the combinations shown in FIG. Comparing with and without an inert gas nitrogen atmosphere, it was found that the nitrogen atmosphere “Yes” gives a marked improvement of about 30% in terms of gas replacement rate than “No”. .
[Table 1]

[0031]
As mentioned above, although the Example of the gas replacement method and apparatus by this invention was described, various changes are possible about each component. For example, although the rectifying plates 8 and 28 have been described as perforated plates, they may be sintered metal filters. Although the container 50 has been described as a bottle having a shoulder, it is obvious that the container 50 is not limited to this and may be a wide-mouthed bottle or a can that winds up a can lid. In addition, the inert gas forming the jet and the inert gas forming the inert gas atmosphere can both be liquid nitrogen, but are not limited thereto, and are each an inert gas such as helium or argon. , Carbon dioxide gas, or a mixed gas of these inert gas and carbon dioxide gas, or a gas that does not affect the storage stability and safety of the contents 3.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is configured as described above, and since the inert gas jet from the injection nozzle is blown into the mouth of the container through the inert gas atmosphere, the inert gas jet injected from the injection nozzle However, even if the surrounding gas is taken in by the entrainment action before reaching the mouth of the container, the gas to be entrained is an inert gas in an inert gas atmosphere, and the gas blown into the mouth of the container Does not contain air. Therefore, since the air in the head space of the container is replaced by the inert gas that hardly contains air, the replacement rate of the inert gas can be increased. In addition, since the inert gas jet velocity is increased more than necessary to increase the inert gas injection flow rate or increase the injection time, the amount of inert gas used can be reduced and the apparatus can be made compact. It is possible and the equipment can be operated with high efficiency.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an example of a gas replacement method and apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing another example of a gas replacement method and apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing still another example of the gas replacement method and apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing still another example of the gas replacement method and apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example of a gas replacement method and apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing conventional gas replacement.
[Explanation of symbols]
1, 20, 30, 40, 47 Gas displacement device 2 Injection nozzle
3 Inert gas jet
4, 24, 34, 44, 49 Inert gas atmosphere
5, 25, 35, 45, 48 Inert gas outlet (outlet cylinder)
6 Cylindrical body 7 Closing plate
8, 28 Current plate 28a, 28b, 28c Perforated plate
9, 29 Reservoir 10 Supply pipe
11, 21, 31, 41 Inert gas flow 36 Hood
37 Annular passage
50 container 51 mouth
52 Headspace 53 Contents

Claims (15)

In the gas replacement method for replacing the air in the head space of the container with the inert gas by blowing the inert gas jet injected from the injection nozzle into the mouth of the container, the air accompanying the entrainment of the inert gas jet In order to prevent contamination of the container, the inert gas jet from the injection nozzle is blown into the mouth of the container through an inert gas atmosphere,
The inert gas atmosphere is blown at a speed slower than that of the jet flow from a blow pipe arranged above or on the side of the container, and is sent to a space between the spray nozzle and the mouth of the container. Formed by the flow of active gas,
The container is a container in which the contents are aseptically filled, and prior to the injection of the inert gas from the injection nozzle, the injection nozzle is supplied with medicine or hot water around the injection nozzle through the blowing cylinder. A gas replacement method comprising sterilizing   The gas replacement method according to claim 1, wherein a total injection area of the injection nozzle is smaller than an opening area of the mouth portion of the container.   The gas replacement method according to claim 1, wherein the inert gas atmosphere is formed so as to cover a mouth portion of the container. The gas replacement method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the inert gas flow is blown in parallel with the jet flow from the blow-out cylinder that concentrically surrounds and opens the injection nozzle. The inert gas stream, the gas replacement method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 from the blowing tube located on the side of the injection nozzle consists of blown perpendicular to the jet. The gas replacement method according to claim 1, wherein the inert gas flow is a laminarized inert gas flow.   The gas replacement method according to claim 6, wherein the laminarized inert gas flow is formed by passing the inert gas flow through a laminar perforated plate or a sintered metal filter. In a gas displacement apparatus having an injection nozzle for blowing an inert gas jet into the mouth of the container in order to replace the air in the head space of the container with an inert gas, the inert gas jet is blown into the mouth of the container In order to form an inert gas atmosphere to pass through when an inert gas flow is provided,
The inert gas blowing portion is disposed above or to the side of the container, and includes a blowing cylinder that blows out the inert gas flow at a speed slower than the inert gas jet flow.
The container is a container in which the contents are aseptically filled, and the blow-out cylinder is applied as a supply passage for a medicine or hot water that sterilizes the outer surface of the injection nozzle prior to the injection of the inert gas from the injection nozzle. A gas displacement device characterized in that it consists of what is possible. The gas replacement device according to claim 8 , wherein a total injection area of the injection nozzle is made smaller than an opening area of the mouth portion of the container. The gas replacement device according to claim 8 or 9 , wherein the inert gas atmosphere is formed so as to cover a mouth portion of the container. 11. The gas replacement device according to claim 8 , wherein the blow-out cylinder is configured such that the injection nozzle is disposed concentrically at a central portion and blows out the inert gas flow in parallel with the inert gas jet. . The gas replacement device according to any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein the blow-out cylinder includes a hood that regulates an outside of the inert gas flow and extends to the outside of the mouth of the container. The gas replacement device according to any one of claims 8 to 12 , wherein the inert gas flow is blown out perpendicularly to the jet flow from a blow-out cylinder located on a side of the injection nozzle. The gas blowing device according to any one of claims 8 to 13 , wherein the blow-out cylinder has laminarization means for converting the inert gas flow into a laminar flow. 15. The gas displacement device according to claim 14 , wherein the laminarization means is a plurality of perforated plates or sintered metal filters combined in one or more stages for laminar flow.

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