JP4075111B2 - Container sterilization filling method - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method for sterilizing and filling containers that contain juice or liquor.
[0002]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Conventionally, soft drinks such as juice and beverages such as liquor have used PET bottles, metal cans, and glass bottles as packaging containers. In recent years, can-shaped paper containers have also been used. It is becoming. Then, when manufacturing various products by filling the contents into such containers, the exterior and interior of the molded containers are treated with hydrogen peroxide or excess for the purpose of extending the shelf life of the contents. Aseptic filling packaging has been performed in which an acetic acid-based drug is sterilized in advance and then filled.
In the manufacture of products by this aseptic filling packaging, a method of continuously performing a molding step of molding a container and a filling step of filling and covering the container, and a method of separately performing the molding step and the filling step In the latter case, the container molding line and the content filling line are separated without being continuous, and the container is molded in the molding process and then sterilized. The container is transferred to a filling step in a state where a certain amount is collected and filled.
[0003]
By the way, when the container forming process and the filling process of filling and covering are continuous, it is necessary to produce a high sterilizing effect in a short time before filling, so sterilization is performed in a high temperature environment, There is a risk of reducing the safety and heat resistance of the molded container, and there is a problem in that odor is generated from the container molded material by heating. In addition, a heated air generator or the like is required to remove the drug, and the entire apparatus is placed in a sterile chamber, so that the apparatus itself is very large.
On the other hand, when the molding process and the filling process are separated, in order to be able to transfer the molded containers to the filling process while collecting the quantity, a plurality of molded containers are stacked in a plurality of stages and then packed together. The entire stack is packaged as a stack, and the packed stack is transferred using a device such as a forklift. As described above, since a certain amount of time can be secured between the end of molding of the container and the start of filling of the contents, hydrogen peroxide is dropped into the molded container through the filling port and sterilized. The containers are stacked to obtain a stack, and a high sterilization effect can be obtained by maintaining the state in which the stack is packaged for a certain period of time.
[0004]
This stack is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the stack 2 is formed by stacking the containers 1 in a plurality of stages so that the packaging material 3 is covered so that the plurality of containers can be handled integrally. In order to achieve this, they are stacked on the pallet 4. As shown in the drawing, in the stack 2, the containers 1 are stacked with their filling ports 5 facing upward, and a separate sheet 6 is interposed between the upper and lower containers 1 to facilitate stacking. Further, a top plate 7 having a certain weight is placed on the top. A film material such as a stretch film or a shrink film is used for the wrapping material 3 wound around the side surface of the stack 2, and the wrapping material 3 is wound while applying a tensile force to be wrapped in a tightly tightened state as a whole. In this way, the top plate is placed on a stack formed by stacking a plurality of containers, and further, the containers are surrounded by a packaging material, so that the containers can be handled as one unit without any variation.
[0005]
However, in the state of the stacked body, the peripheral edge 8 that stands up surrounding the separation sheet 6 and the filling port of the container (if the container is a bottle, the peripheral edge of the filling port is the peripheral edge of the container). When the adhesiveness is high, there is a problem that the hydrogen peroxide solution is difficult to evaporate and may remain in a liquid state indefinitely. Therefore, in view of the above-described circumstances, the present invention makes it possible to ensure ventilation between the peripheral portion on the filling port side of the container and the separate sheet superimposed on the peripheral portion in the stack or through the separate sheet itself. An object is to evaporate a liquid medicine from the inside of a container.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, a plurality of containers dropwise agent of evaporation of such hydrogen peroxide solution is sterilized inside the container formed, filling port of the container With the side facing upwards or downwards, the sheets are stacked in multiple layers alternately in the vertical direction, and the packaging material is wound around the stacking body in which the containers are stacked, and the stacking body is tightened with the packaging material. In the sterilization and filling method of a container in which the packaging is carried out in a state and the state in which the stacked body is packaged is held for a certain time and then the container is unpacked and filled into each container, the separate sheet has a peripheral edge on the container filling port side Provided with the method of sterilizing and filling a container is provided with a ventilation space forming means for forming a gap communicating between the inside and outside of the container through the space between the peripheral edge portion and the separate sheet that are in contact with each other Te is intended to solve the above problems. Further, instead of the ventilation space forming means in the sterilization and filling method of the container, the separation sheet is formed with a ventilation space including a hole or a slit penetrating in the thickness direction of the separation sheet and communicating the inside and outside of the container through the separation sheet. A method for sterilizing and filling a container provided with means is provided to solve the above-mentioned problems.
[0007]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, the present invention will be described in detail based on the embodiment shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.
FIG. 1 partially shows a state in which the separate sheet 6 and the container 1 overlap each other in the stacked body. Even if the separate sheet 6 is alternately stacked with the container 1, a sterilizing liquid (for example, hydrogen peroxide solution) is shown. ) Evaporate and go out of the container, a plurality of ventilation space forming means 9 serving as gaps and passages are provided, and in the example shown in FIG. 9 is shown.
The separate sheet 6 is a flexible sheet made of synthetic resin made of polypropylene resin, ABS resin, or the like. Then, as described above, a plurality of groove-shaped grooves having a lower side opened on the surface side (lower surface side) that is alternately stacked with the container 1 with the filling port 5 facing upward and in contact with the peripheral edge 8 of the container 1. The ventilation space forming means 9 are arranged in parallel at a constant pitch. The ventilation space forming means 9 are arranged densely as shown in FIG. 2, and at least one ventilation space forming means 9 is provided in the region surrounded by the peripheral edge 8 in each of the plurality of containers. They are arranged in such an arrangement.
[0008]
As described above, the separation sheet 6 is provided with a plurality of groove-shaped ventilation space forming means 9 arranged on the surface side in contact with the peripheral edge 8 of the container 1, and at least one ventilation is provided in the region surrounded by the peripheral edge 8. Since the space forming means 9 is arranged as described above, when the separate sheet 6 is stacked on the container 1, a gap 10 is formed between the peripheral edge portion 8 and the separate sheet 6 by the ventilation space forming means 9. A ventilation space extending from the region surrounded by the peripheral edge 8 to the outer region of the container 1 is obtained, so that the inside and outside of the container communicate with each other. Since the inside and outside of the container communicate with each other, the drug dropped into the container 1 evaporates and flows out of the container.
[0009]
As an example, in the case of a paper container in which a filling port 5 of about φ20 (diameter of about 20 mm) is opened in a 250 ml size container, the thickness of the polypropylene resin separate sheet 6 (d in FIG. 1) is about 3 mm. The depth (h in FIG. 1) of the ventilation space forming means 9 itself is about 1 mm, the width (w in FIG. 1) is about 15 mm, and the distance between adjacent ventilation space forming means 9 (w in FIG. 1). ′) Is a straight embossed shape of about 15 mm. Then, about 0.1 ml of hydrogen peroxide solution is sprayed into the container, and the whole is wrapped with the packaging material in the state of the above-mentioned stack, and stored in the form of the packaged stack for three days. No hydrogen peroxide solution adhering to the inner surface of the container was detected, and the inner surface of each container was completely dry.
[0010]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the separate sheet 6 is provided with the groove-shaped ventilation space forming means 9 arranged at a constant pitch. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and FIGS. As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of ventilation space forming means 9 made of a hole-like concave portion that does not penetrate may be provided on the side of the separate sheet 6 where the peripheral edge of the container 1 contacts. The ventilation space forming means 9 is composed of a recess larger than the thickness of the peripheral edge 8 of the container 1, and is dense so that at least one ventilation space forming means 9 is positioned corresponding to the peripheral edge 8. Since the ventilation space forming means 9 overlaps the peripheral edge portion 8, the concave portion is formed between the peripheral edge portion 8 and the separate sheet 6 in the same manner as when the ventilation space forming means 9 is formed in a concave groove shape. A gap 10 is formed by the ventilation space forming means 9, and a ventilation space extending from the area surrounded by the peripheral edge 8 through the gap 10 to the outer area of the container 1 is obtained.
In addition, the vent space forming means having a concave groove shape and the vent space forming means having a concave portion can be formed by embossing a separate sheet.
[0011]
Further, in the present invention, a ventilation space comprising a hole or a slit that allows the separation sheet 6 to communicate with the inside and the outside of the separation sheet 6 through the separation sheet 6 that is stacked in the thickness direction of the separation sheet 6. A forming means 9 may be provided.
FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show such an example, and a plurality of ventilation space forming means 9 consisting of through-holes are densely arranged on the separate sheet 6. In this example as well, the peripheral portion 8 of the container 1 is shown. Are arranged so as to correspond to the region surrounded by the outer peripheral region and the outer peripheral region thereof, and each is provided as a through hole larger than the thickness of the peripheral edge portion 8. Since the diameter of the bottom grounding portion of the container 1 and the diameter of the open peripheral edge on the filling port side are usually different as seen in the container exemplified as the bottle before the lid, the ventilation space Since the forming means 9 are densely provided, in the stacked state, the ventilation space forming means 9 positioned corresponding to the region surrounded by the peripheral edge 8 and the ventilation space forming means 9 positioned corresponding to the diameter difference portion. In each container, the inside and outside of the container communicate with each other. Therefore, the evaporative drug such as hydrogen peroxide dropped into the container is surely evaporated and does not remain inside.
[0012]
Then, as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to provide the ventilation space forming means 9 with a slit that penetrates the separation sheet 6 instead of the hole that penetrates the separation sheet 6. By arranging them in a broken line pattern, each container can be provided in a state in which the inside and outside of the container communicate with each other through the ventilation space forming means 9 including the slits.
[0013]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, in the present invention, a plurality of containers dropwise agent of evaporation of such hydrogen peroxide solution is sterilized in the container which is molded, the filling port side of the vessel above the Or, in a state of facing downward, the sheets are stacked alternately in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction, and a wrapping material is wound around a stack formed by stacking the plurality of containers, and the stack is tightened with the wrapping material. In the sterilization and filling method of a container in which packaging is performed and the state in which the stacked body is packaged is held for a certain period of time and then the packaging is opened and the containers are filled, the peripheral edge of the container on the filling port side is in contact with the separate sheet Ventilation space forming means for forming a gap that communicates between the inside and outside of the container through the space between the overlapping peripheral edge and the separation sheet is provided on the surface side. Instead of the ventilation space forming means in the fungus filling method, the separation sheet is provided with ventilation space forming means comprising holes or slits that penetrate the separation sheet in the thickness direction and communicate with the inside and outside of the container through the separation sheet. It is characterized by being.
Thus, the ventilation space forming means for ensuring the ventilation space passing between the separation sheet and the peripheral portion on the filling port side of the container, and the ventilation space penetrating the separation sheet itself in the thickness direction Since the forming means is provided, the separation sheet is arranged between the stacked containers in the vertical direction, and even if the adhesion to the container becomes high, the ventilation gap formed by the ventilation space forming means, the penetration The inside and outside of the container communicate with each other through the portion. Then, the evaporative sterilizing agent dripped inside each container surely evaporates, and the liquid of each stacked container is obtained by a simple procedure of allowing the required time to elapse in the form of a stack. It is effective in practicality, for example, it can prevent drug residue.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an example of a stacked state of containers in a container aseptic filling method according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory view showing one side provided with a groove-shaped ventilation space forming means of a separate sheet.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing another example of the stacked state of containers.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view showing one side provided with a ventilation space forming means for a recessed portion of a separate sheet.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing another example of the stacked state of containers.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a separate sheet provided with a hole ventilation space forming means.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a separate sheet provided with slit ventilation space forming means.
FIG. 8 is an explanatory view showing a stack.
FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a conventional example of a stacked state of containers.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Container 2 ... Stack 5 ... Filling port 6 ... Separate sheet 8 ... Peripheral part 9 ... Ventilation space formation means 10 ... Gap

Claims (2)

The molded plurality of containers dropwise agent of evaporation of such hydrogen peroxide solution is sterilized in the container, the separate sheet in a state with its filling port side of the vessel above or below Stacked in a plurality of stages alternately in the vertical direction, wrapping a packaging material around the stack of the plurality of containers, packaging the stack with the packaging material in a tightened state, and packaging the stack In the sterilization and filling method of the container in which the container is unpacked after being held for a certain time and filled into each container,
The separation sheet is provided with a ventilation space forming means for forming a gap that communicates between the inside and outside of the container through the space between the overlapping peripheral edge and the separate sheet on the surface side where the peripheral edge on the filling port side of the container contacts. A method for sterilizing and filling a container. In place of the ventilation space forming means in the container sterilization and filling method according to claim 1, the separation sheet has a ventilation space formed by a hole or a slit penetrating in the thickness direction of the separation sheet and communicating the inside and outside of the container through the separation sheet. The container sterilization and filling method according to claim 1, further comprising forming means.

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