JP4399702B2 - Filling seal device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a filling and sealing device for filling a container with the contents and sealing the container with a lid, and in particular, aseptically processed contents such as soft drinks, milk drinks, cooked rice, and prepared dishes, aseptic cups or tray-like containers The present invention relates to an aseptic filling and sealing device that is housed in a container such as the above and performs gas replacement and sealing continuously.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, in Patent Document 1, a container such as an opened cup and its lid are continuously supplied into a sterile chamber maintained at a positive pressure by nitrogen gas, and the container is sterilized in the sterile chamber. Aseptic filling machine is known which fills the container and replaces the head space of the container with nitrogen gas and seals it.
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]
JP-A-2-45323
[0004]
In an aseptic filling machine, it is necessary to reduce the oxygen concentration in the head space by sterilizing the container and replacing the gas in the head space of the container to prevent oxidation of the contents. However, in the above conventional aseptic filling machine, the aseptic room is provided not only for the part for sterilizing the container, filling the contents, and sealing the lid, but also for the whole filling machine including the belt conveyor for transferring the container. For this reason, an extremely wide aseptic space is required. Therefore, if both sterilization and oxygen concentration reduction are performed with nitrogen gas, a large amount of nitrogen gas must be supplied, which is not economically viable. Sterilization is performed by blowing sterile air into the container, and only the head space gas replacement for reducing the oxygen concentration is performed with nitrogen gas.
[0005]
However, in this apparatus, the gas replacement in the head space is intended to replace the sterile air existing in the head space with nitrogen gas, so air always remains in the head space, and thus the gas replacement efficiency. The residual oxygen concentration in the head space cannot be reduced to about 2% or less.
[0006]
When the contents of the container are sensitive to oxygen, such as coffee and tea, sufficient oxidation cannot be prevented when the residual oxygen concentration in the head space is about 2%. Cannot handle aseptic filling of oxygen sensitive contents.
[0007]
In view of the problems of the above conventional aseptic filling machine, the applicant of the present invention can maintain the sterility corresponding to the normal temperature distribution of the packaged food while maintaining the head space concentration immediately after sealing to 1% or less. For the purpose of providing a device,
The continuous aseptic packaging apparatus concerning the apparatus concerning Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-216287 was developed. This continuous aseptic packaging device is a continuous aseptic packaging device in which aseptic contents are filled into a container whose interior is replaced with aseptic gas other than the atmosphere, and the container is sealed with a sterilized lid, and the container is sealed at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the container. A sterile chamber that movably accommodates a container receiving member disposed and holding the container, a gas replacement device that replaces the atmosphere in the sterile chamber with a sterile gas other than the atmosphere, a magnet provided in the container receiving member, A container receiving member driving conveyor provided outside the sterile room, and a magnet attached to the conveyor at the predetermined interval in the traveling direction of the conveyor so as to correspond to the magnet provided on the container receiving member, A magnet provided on the container receiving member and a magnet having a reverse polarity are provided.
[0008]
According to this apparatus, since only the container and the container receiving member move in the aseptic chamber, and the container receiving member is driven from outside the aseptic chamber, the volume of the aseptic chamber is significantly reduced as compared with the conventional aseptic filling machine. Therefore, both sterilization of the container and gas replacement of the head space can be performed simultaneously with nitrogen gas without impairing the economy. Therefore, the gas replacement in the head space is not performed in a state surrounded by air as in the conventional case, but nitrogen gas replacement is performed in an environment of almost nitrogen gas, and the residual oxygen concentration in the head space is set to 1. % Can be achieved.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the above apparatus, when the container receiving member moves in the sterile chamber, the container receiving member is isolated from the conveyor by the bottom wall of the sterile chamber, and the bottom of the sterile chamber is sucked by the magnet of the corresponding conveyor while the magnet of the container receiving member is attracted by the corresponding conveyor magnet. Since the upper surface of the wall is slid, the friction between the bottom surface of the container receiving member and the upper surface of the bottom wall of the aseptic chamber is large. For example, a frictional resistance of about 2 kgf = 20 N is generated per container receiving member. Therefore, if the number of container receiving members that pass through the sterile room is large, the conveyor requires a strong pulling force, that is, a driving force, which increases the energy cost and makes the conveyor chain easy to extend, and the conveyor chain comes off from the sprocket. Is likely to occur. Further, since the friction is large, the softer one of the sliding material provided on the bottom surface of the container receiving member or the bottom wall of the sterilization chamber is scraped, resulting in a disadvantage that the life of the member is shortened.
[0010]
The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the above-described filling and sealing device using the magnet conveyance, which reduces the friction when the container receiving member moves in the sterile chamber and reduces the driving force required for conveying the container receiving member. A continuous aseptic filling and sealing device is to be provided.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The filling and sealing device for achieving the object of the present invention is a filling and sealing device that fills a container with contents and seals the container with a lid.Because,
A container receiving member for holding the container;
A guide member for guiding the container receiving member in the moving direction of the container;
A plurality of gas ejection holes formed in the bottom plate of the guide member;
A gas supply means communicating with the gas ejection hole;In the filling and sealing device provided, a magnet provided on the container receiving member;
A container receiving member driving conveyor;
A magnet attached to the conveyor in a traveling direction of the conveyor so as to correspond to a magnet provided on the container receiving member, further comprising a magnet having a polarity opposite to that of the magnet provided on the container receiving member.It is characterized by this.
[0015]
In another aspect of the present invention, the plurality of continuously supplied container receiving members are characterized in that the container receiving members adjacent in the traveling direction are arranged without any gap.
[0016]
In still another aspect of the present invention, the aseptic filling and sealing apparatus further includes means for applying a driving force at one end to a row of the plurality of container receiving members arranged without gaps.
[0017]
[Action]
According to the present invention, gas is ejected from a plurality of gas ejection holes formed in the induction member or the bottom plate of the sterilization chamber, and this gas is guided by the induction member or hits the bottom surface of the container receiving member that moves through the sterilization chamber. Since it acts to push up the receiving member, the friction between the container receiving member and the guide member bottom plate or the aseptic chamber bottom plate is significantly reduced, and the driving force necessary to drive the container receiving member is reduced. Therefore, energy costs can be saved, and failures such as tooth skipping due to the extension of the conveyor chain can be prevented, and wear of the container receiving member, the guide member bottom plate, or the sterile chamber bottom plate can be prevented. Can be extended.
[0018]
In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, the container receiving members adjacent in the traveling direction are arranged without gaps, so that means for individually driving the container receiving members is unnecessary, and the container receiving members arranged continuously are not required. It is only necessary to apply a driving force to a part of the row, for example, one end of the row of the container receiving member, and the structure of the apparatus can be greatly simplified, for example, a magnet or a conveyor chain is not required.
[0019]
Further, according to this aspect of the present invention, since the container receiving member is connected and only the upper surface of the container receiving member needs to be replaced with nitrogen, the amount of nitrogen used can be reduced, and the nitrogen gas is connected to the container. Since it flows as a laminar flow on the upper surface of the receiving member and no turbulent flow is generated in the sterile chamber, oxygen is less likely to enter the head space of the container.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First embodiment
1 is a side view illustratively showing one embodiment of an aseptic filling and sealing apparatus as a filling and sealing apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part thereof, FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line XX of FIG. (A) is a plan view of a cup cradle, FIG. 4 (b) is a YY sectional view of FIG. 4 (a), FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a magnet mounting plate attached to a conveyor chain, and FIG. It is a figure which shows arrangement | positioning of the nitrogen gas ejection hole in a bottom plate.
[0021]
In FIG. 1, the filling and sealing device is a device that uses a cup as a packaging container and fills liquid contents such as juice, and includes a cup supply unit A, a cup sterilization unit K, a cup drying unit L, and a sterile gas replacement unit. B, a lid material sterilization part C, a lid material drying part D, a lid material first seal part F, a lid material second seal part G, a cooling part H, a trimming part I, and a cup discharge part J. The cup sterilization unit K, the cup drying unit L, and the aseptic gas replacement unit B constitute an aseptic chamber M.
[0022]
In the cup supply unit A, the sterilized cup 1 is transferred in the direction of arrow P by the belt conveyor 20 and transferred from the tip of the belt conveyor 20 by the conveyor chain 12 moving in the direction of arrow O below. It is dropped and held in the holding hole 21 (FIG. 4). The diameter of the cup holding hole 21 is set to be slightly larger than the diameter of the upper end portion of the cup 1, and only the lid portion 1 a (FIG. 3) of the cup 1 is supported by the top surface 2 a of the cup cradle 2. It is configured to hang. The cup cradle 2 constitutes the container receiving member of the present invention.
[0023]
As shown in an enlarged view in FIG. 4, the cup cradle 2 is made of a rectangular plate, and a cup holding hole 21 is formed through the plate in the center. Permanent magnets 13 are embedded on both sides of the cup holding hole 21 in the longitudinal direction of the cup cradle 2.
[0024]
On the other hand, a magnet mounting plate 22 shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 is mounted on the two conveyor chains 12 at a predetermined interval in the moving direction by a mounting bracket 23 having an L-shaped cross section. A permanent magnet 24 is disposed on the upper surface of the part, and is attached to the magnet mounting plate 22 by a fixing plate 25 covering the permanent magnet 24. The bolt nut 26 (FIG. 5) is used to fix both the mounting bracket 23 and the fixing plate 25 to the magnet mounting plate 22.
[0025]
The magnets 24 are fixed to the conveyor chain 12 such that the magnetic poles on the cup cradle 2 side are alternately arranged with N and S poles in the direction of travel of the conveyor chain 12. The cup cradle 2 has its magnet 13 arranged such that the magnetic poles on the conveyor chain side are alternately arranged with N and S poles in the direction of travel of the conveyor chain 12.
[0026]
Outside the sterilization chamber M, the cup cradle 2 is placed on the surface of the magnet 24 so that the magnets 13 are mutually attracted to the opposite polarity of the magnets 24 fixed to the conveyor chain 12 at predetermined intervals. Adsorbed and retained. Accordingly, the cup cradle 2 is arranged on the conveyor chain 12 at intervals at which the magnets 24 are arranged, and moves in the direction of arrow O in FIG. 1 as the conveyor chain 12 moves.
[0027]
The sterilization chamber M is composed of a top plate 30, side plates 31, 31, and a bottom plate 32 having a central opening in the longitudinal direction. The cross-sectional shape is substantially similar to the cross-sectional shape of the cup cradle 2. Formed by extending in the longitudinal direction of the sterilization chamber M so as to protrude below the opening 34 of the flat rectangular cylindrical cup cradle receiving portion 33 having a slightly larger area than the surface and the opened bottom plate 32. The cup housing portion 35 has a cross-sectional shape that is substantially similar to the cross-sectional shape of the cup 1 and has an area slightly larger than the cross-sectional shape of the cup 1. As described above, the sterilization chamber M is constituted by the cup cradle receiving portion 33 whose cross section is similar to that of the cup cradle 2 and the cup storage portion 35 whose cross section is similar to that of the cup 1. The cup cradle 2 and the cup 1 can pass through, so that it can be designed to the minimum size, and filling the sterile room with nitrogen gas requires only the minimum amount of nitrogen gas, which is economical. Can be improved.
[0028]
A pair of apparatus frames 36 and 36 provided below the sterilization chamber M are provided with both side portions 36a and 36a and a base portion 36b, respectively, and a base portion 36b facing a space between the both side portions 36a and 36a. Rails 37, 37 on which the conveyor chain 12 travels are laid on the top surface. Magnet mounting plate guide grooves 38 and 38 are formed in both side portions 36a and 36a so as to open inward so that both end portions of the magnet mounting plate are fitted to extend along the traveling direction of the conveyor chain 12. Yes.
[0029]
In the bottom plate 32 of the cup cradle accommodating portion 33 of the sterilization chamber M, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, four nitrogen gas ejection holes 32a are formed in the longitudinal direction at appropriate intervals in the longitudinal direction. As shown by broken lines in FIG. 4, the longitudinal intervals of the nitrogen gas ejection holes 32 are such that when the cup cradle 2 is stopped in the aseptic chamber M, eight nitrogen gas ejection holes 32 a are provided under each cup cradle 2. It is determined to be placed.
[0030]
Further, below the bottom plate 32 of the cup cradle receiving portion 33 of the sterilization chamber M, two nitrogen gas supply pipes 14 are arranged on both sides of the cup storage portion 35 in the longitudinal direction of the sterilization chamber M. The nitrogen gas supply pipe 14 is supplied with sterile nitrogen gas from a nitrogen gas generator 17 outside the sterile room M via a sterilized filter 16. On the upper side of each nitrogen gas supply pipe 14, an opening is formed at a position corresponding to the nitrogen gas ejection hole 32 a provided in the bottom plate 32 of the cup cradle receiving portion 33, and the inside of the nitrogen gas supply pipe 14 is nitrogen. It communicates with the cup cradle accommodating part 33 of the sterilization chamber M through the gas ejection holes 32a.
[0031]
In the cup sterilization section K located at the upstream end of the sterilization chamber M in the cup transfer direction, the sterilizing agent nozzles 54-1 and 54-2 are arranged in a row at predetermined intervals. These sterilizing agent nozzles 54-1 and 54-2 are supplied with a hydrogen peroxide solution from a sterilizing agent tank 53 outside the aseptic room. Spray on.
[0032]
In the cup drying section L located on the downstream side of the cup sterilizing section K, sterilizing agent drying nozzles 55-1 and 55-2 are arranged in a column at a predetermined interval. These nozzles 55-1 and 55-2 are supplied with dry air of 100 ° C. from a dry air generator 15 outside the sterile room through a sterilized filter 56, and the cup 1 sprayed with hydrogen peroxide is a cup. When passing through the drying section L, it is dried by dry air, and sterilization is performed at that time.
[0033]
Nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1, 4-2, 4-3, 4-4, 4-4 for replacing the head space of the cup 1 with nitrogen gas are located in the upper space of the cup cradle accommodating part 33 of the aseptic gas replacement part B 5 are arranged in tandem at predetermined intervals in the traveling direction of the conveyor chain 12, and between the nitrogen gas nozzle 4-2 and the nitrogen gas nozzle 4-3, the liquid content 3 such as juice is filled in the cup 1. A liquid content filling nozzle 5-1 is disposed, and a liquid content filling nozzle 5-2 is disposed between the nitrogen gas nozzle 4-3 and the nitrogen gas nozzle 4-4. The nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-5 are supplied with sterile nitrogen gas from the nitrogen gas generator 17 outside the sterile room M through the sterilized filter 16. The liquid content filling nozzles 5-1 and 5-2 are supplied with the sterile liquid content from the sterile liquid content tank 18 outside the sterile chamber 2. In FIG. 2, the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-2 and 4-4 are omitted for simplification. In FIG. 1, the cup cradle 2 is regularly arranged on the conveyor chain 12 at a predetermined interval. However, in FIG. 2, in order to help understanding, in the center of the sterilization chamber 2 and immediately before the entrance of the sterilization chamber M. Is shown with no cup holder 2 on the magnet 24 of the conveyor chain 12. Moreover, in FIG. 2, the cup sterilization part K and the cup drying part L are abbreviate | omitting illustration.
[0034]
The lid material supply unit E is disposed outside the aseptic chamber M, and the belt-like lid material 7 fed out from the lid material supply roller 6 is guided to the guide rollers 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48. Then, it is wound around the lid material winding roller 10.
[0035]
The lid material sterilizing section C is disposed in the passage of the lid material 7 outside the aseptic room M, and includes a tank 50 for storing a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide for sterilizing the lid material 7. The lid member 7 is sterilized while passing through the sterilizing agent of the tank 50.
[0036]
The lid material drying section D is a duct-like chamber provided in the passage of the lid material 7 between the lid material sterilization section C and the exit of the sterilization chamber M outside the sterilization chamber M. The sterilized filter is supplied from the dry air generator 15. Dry air is supplied via 56. The lid member 7 is dried by dry air when passing through the lid member drying part D.
[0037]
The space of the cup cradle accommodating portion 33 at the downstream end of the sterilization chamber M in the cup transfer direction is almost completely closed by the lid member 7 guided and fed by the guide roller 45, and the upstream end of the sterilization chamber M Since the space of the cup cradle accommodating portion 33 is open to the atmosphere, nitrogen injected from the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-5 and the nitrogen gas supply pipe 14 in order to replace the gas in the head space of the cup 1. The gas flows from the downstream side in the cup transfer direction to the upstream side, that is, in the direction opposite to the cup transfer direction in the cup cradle accommodating portion 33 of the sterilization chamber M, and is dissipated into the atmosphere from the upstream end. Is kept at a slight positive pressure to prevent air from flowing into the aseptic chamber M. As a result, the inside of the sterilization chamber M is always kept in a sterilized state with sterilized nitrogen gas during operation. Therefore, the structure in which the downstream end portion (exit) of the sterilization chamber M is closed and the upstream end portion (entrance) is opened to the atmosphere and the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-5 are used for the atmosphere in the sterilization chamber of the present invention. A gas replacement device for replacing with a sterile gas other than the atmosphere is configured. In order to increase the positive pressure by the nitrogen gas in the sterilization chamber M and to maintain the sterility more completely, nitrogen supplied from the nitrogen gas generator 17 during operation is supplied to the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-5. In addition to the above, the downstream end of the sterilization chamber M may be constantly supplied.
[0038]
Outside the exit of the sterilization chamber M, a lid material first seal portion F, a lid material second seal portion G, a cooling portion H, a trimming portion I, and a cup discharge portion J are provided in the direction of travel of the conveyor chain 12. .
[0039]
The lid material first seal portion F places the supplied lid material 7 on the cup 1 for preliminary sealing, and the lid material second seal portion G uses the lid material on the pre-sealed cup 1 as the top of the cup 1. The sealing part is completed by heat-sealing to the edge part, the cooling part H cools this heat-sealing part by cooling air, and the trimming part I punches out the cover material heat-sealed to the cup 1 to remove the extra cover material. Excise. The cup discharge section J pushes up a push-up lever 52 provided below the advancing cup cradle 2 to eject the cup 1 from the cup cradle 2 and discharge it as a product 11 out of the system.
[0040]
Next, the operation of the above apparatus will be described.
The cup 1 falls from the cup supply section A to the cup holding hole 21 of the cup cradle 2 that is transferred by the conveyor chain 12 and is transferred to the sterilization chamber M. At the upstream end of the sterilization chamber M, the cup cradle 2 enters the sterilization chamber M, and the magnet 13 of the cup cradle 2 is adsorbed by the magnet 24 on the conveyor chain 12 side that is moved by the conveyor chain 12. The cup cradle 2 moves downstream in the aseptic chamber M so that the two sliding members 14 slide on the bottom surface of the aseptic chamber M.
[0041]
At that time, nitrogen gas is ejected from a plurality of nitrogen gas ejection holes 32 a formed in the bottom plate 32 of the sterilization chamber M, and this nitrogen gas hits the bottom surface of the cup cradle 2 moving through the sterilization chamber M, and pushes the cup cradle 2. Since it acts so as to raise, the friction between the cup cradle 2 and the bottom plate 32 of the sterilization chamber M is reduced, and the driving force required to drive the cup cradle 2 is reduced, thereby reducing the cup cradle 2. Can be easily moved. The nitrogen gas hitting the bottom surface of the cup cradle 2 passes through a slight gap formed between the bottom surface of the cup cradle 2 slightly pushed up and the top surface of the bottom plate 32 of the sterilization chamber M. And the nitrogen gas flowing in a laminar flow on the upper side of the cup cradle 2 flows into a gap existing between the inner surface of the side plate 31 of the aseptic chamber M.
[0042]
After the cup 1 and the cup cradle 2 are sprayed with the hydrogen peroxide solution sprayed from the sterilizer nozzles 54-1 and 54-2 in the cup sterilization section K, the cup sterilizer drying nozzles 55-1 and 55 are used in the cup drying section L. -2 is dried by the dry air sprayed from -2, and sterilization is performed at that time. Next, the cup 1 and the cup cradle 2 are sent to the next aseptic gas replacement section B. In the aseptic gas replacement section B, nitrogen gas is sequentially ejected from the nitrogen gas nozzles 4-1 to 4-5 as the cup 1 and the cup cradle 2 are advanced, and gas replacement of the head space of the cup 1 is performed. Further, the liquid content filling nozzles 5-1 and 5-2 fill the cup 1 with the content 3 such as juice.
[0043]
The cup 1 that has been filled with the contents 3 in the aseptic gas replacement section B and has completed the gas replacement of the head space is discharged from the downstream end (exit) of the sterilization chamber M, and the cup cradle 2 is directly again by the conveyor chain 12. The first seal part F, the second seal part G, the second seal part G, the cooling part H, the trimming part I, the preliminary seal of the lid material 7, the thermal fusion of the seal, the cooling of the thermal fusion part, After the punching of the lid material is sequentially performed, the cup 1 is discharged out of the system as a product by the cup discharge portion J.
[0044]
First 2 Embodiment
Next, another embodiment of the aseptic filling and sealing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
In this embodiment, the cup cradle that is continuously supplied has cup cradles adjacent to each other in the advancing direction arranged without gaps, and at one end of the cup cradles arranged without gaps. It is configured to move the row of cup holders by applying a driving force, and no magnet is provided on the cup holder as in the first embodiment, and a conveyor chain including magnets is also provided. Not.
[0045]
In this embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.
[0046]
7 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 showing the sterilization chamber in the same cross section as FIG. 3, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure near the nitrogen injection hole, and FIG. 9 is an arrangement state of the cup cradle in the sterilization chamber. FIG. 10 (a) is a plan view of the cup cradle, FIG. 10 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line WW of FIG. 10 (a), and FIG. 11 is a plan view illustrating the entire method of transferring the cup cradle. 12 is a view showing the arrangement of nitrogen gas ejection holes in the bottom plate of the sterile room.
[0047]
First, a transfer method for the entire apparatus of the cup cradle 102 in this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
[0048]
In FIG. 11, a cup cradle cleaning device 202 and a cup cradle drying device 203 are provided in association with the aseptic filling seal device 200, and the aseptic filling seal device 200 is connected to the cup cradle by cup cradle transfer paths 204 and 211. Connected to the cleaning device 202, the cup cradle drying device 202 is connected to the aseptic filling seal device 200 by a cup pedestal transfer path 205. In the transfer path 211, the cup cradle cleaning device 202, and the cup cradle drying device 203, the cup cradle is not shown. The aseptic filling and sealing device 200 is a device that uses a cup as a packaging container and fills liquid contents such as juice, and includes a cup supply unit, a cup sterilization unit, a cup drying unit, a sterile gas replacement unit, and a lid material. A sterilization unit, a lid material drying unit, a lid material first seal unit, a lid material second seal unit, a cooling unit, a trimming unit, and a cup discharge unit are provided, but these devices are the same as those in the first embodiment. Therefore, illustration and description thereof are omitted. Also in this embodiment, the cup sterilization unit, the cup drying unit, and the sterile gas replacement unit constitute the sterile room M.
[0049]
The method for transferring the cup cradle 102 in the aseptic filling seal apparatus 200 will be described later. The cup cradle 102 discharged from the aseptic filling seal apparatus 200 is pushed by the air cylinder 206 and transferred on the cup cradle transfer path 204. When the end point is reached, it is pushed by the air cylinder 207 and transferred on the cup pedestal transfer path 211. The cup cradle 102 is cleaned by the cup cradle cleaning device 202, then dried by the cup cradle drying device 203 and then discharged onto the cup cradle transfer path 205. Next, the cup pedestal 102 is pushed by the air cylinder 208 and transferred on the cup pedestal transfer path 205, and at the end point thereof, pushed by the air cylinder 209 and transferred to the cup supply unit A of the aseptic filling seal device 200. In this way, the cup cradle 102 is circulated and transferred through a planar path including the devices 200, 202, 203 and the transfer paths 204, 205, 211.
[0050]
As shown in FIG. 10, the cup cradle 102 is different from the cup cradle 2 shown in FIG. 4 in that no magnet is provided.
[0051]
The structure of the sterilization chamber M in this embodiment is the same as that of the sterilization chamber of the first embodiment as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 7, but it is continuously supplied as shown in FIGS. The cup cradle 102 to be moved is configured such that the cup cradle 102 adjacent in the traveling direction is arranged with no gap and transferred. Accordingly, in FIG. 11, the air cylinder 209 constituting the means for applying a driving force to one end of the row of container receiving members of the present invention is driven in the direction of the arrow to be mounted on the aseptic filling seal device 200. All cup holders 102 are transferred simultaneously. Therefore, in this embodiment, the cup cradle 102 can be transferred without the need for the conveyor chain with magnets in the first embodiment.
[0052]
In the aseptic filling and sealing device 200, the sterilization chamber M is extended to the vicinity of the air cylinder 209, and after the cradle is cleaned in the cup cradle cleaning device 202 and then dried in the cup cradle drying device 203, it is externally applied. The cradle is kept clean as it passes through the enclosed space.
[0053]
In each of the above embodiments, the number of nitrogen gas ejection holes 32a is configured to be assigned to 8 holes for each cup cradle. However, the number of nitrogen gas ejection holes is not limited to this, and may be increased or decreased as appropriate. It can be done.
[0054]
Each of the above embodiments is an aseptic filling and sealing device including an aseptic chamber that movably accommodates a container receiving member. However, when it is not particularly necessary to maintain aseptic conditions in these aseptic chambers, these aseptic chambers are containers. It functions as a guide member for guiding the receiving member. In that case, the roof of the guide member can be omitted.
[0055]
Such a guide member can also be used when sterilization is performed using an entire chamber or a clean room that covers the entire apparatus.
[0056]
The gas replacement by the gas replacement mechanism is not limited to that in each of the above embodiments, and may be anywhere before and after filling the contents as long as it is before sealing. In addition, when using a sterile chamber, gas is injected toward the container by, for example, a nozzle. Various modes are possible, such as providing a nozzle on the roof of a sterile room or the like.
[0057]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, gas is ejected from a plurality of gas ejection holes formed in the induction member or the bottom plate of the sterilization chamber. Since it acts to push up the container receiving member when it hits the bottom surface of the member, the friction between the container receiving member and the bottom plate of the induction member or the aseptic chamber bottom plate is remarkably reduced, and the drive necessary to drive the container receiving member Power is reduced. Therefore, energy costs can be saved, and failures such as tooth skipping due to the extension of the conveyor chain can be prevented, and wear of the container receiving member, the guide member bottom plate, or the sterile chamber bottom plate can be prevented. Can be extended.
[0058]
In addition, according to one aspect of the present invention, the container receiving members adjacent in the traveling direction are arranged without gaps, so that means for individually driving the container receiving members is unnecessary, and the container receiving members arranged continuously are not required. It is only necessary to apply a driving force to a part of the row, for example, one end of the row of the container receiving member, and the structure of the apparatus can be greatly simplified, for example, a magnet or a conveyor chain is not required.
[0059]
Further, according to this aspect of the present invention, since the container receiving member is connected and only the upper surface of the container receiving member needs to be replaced with nitrogen, the amount of nitrogen used can be reduced, and the nitrogen gas is connected to the container. Since it flows as a laminar flow on the upper surface of the receiving member and no turbulent flow is generated in the sterile chamber, oxygen is less likely to enter the head space of the container.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view illustratively showing an embodiment of a filling and sealing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main part of the apparatus.
3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG.
4A is a plan view of a cup cradle, and FIG. 4B is a YY cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A.
FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a magnet attachment plate attached to the conveyor chain.
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the arrangement of nitrogen gas ejection holes in the bottom plate of a sterile room.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a sterilization chamber in another embodiment of the filling and sealing apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a structure near a nitrogen gas injection hole.
FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the arrangement of the cup cradle in the sterile room.
10A is a plan view of a cup cradle, and FIG. 10B is a WW cross-sectional view of FIG.
FIG. 11 is a plan view showing a method of transferring the entire cup cradle.
FIG. 12 is a diagram showing the arrangement of nitrogen gas ejection holes in the bottom plate of the sterile room.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 cup
2,102 Cup cradle
12 Conveyor chain
13 Magnet
24 Magnet
M aseptic room

Claims (3)

Filling the contents into a container, a filling sealing device for sealing the container with a lid,
A container receiving member for holding the container;
A guide member for guiding the container receiving member in the moving direction of the container;
A plurality of gas ejection holes formed in the bottom plate of the guide member;
In Filling sealing device and a gas supply means communicating with the gas ejection hole,
A magnet provided on the container receiving member;
A container receiving member driving conveyor;
A magnet attached to the conveyor in the advancing direction of the conveyor so as to correspond to a magnet provided on the container receiving member, further comprising a magnet having a polarity opposite to that of the magnet provided on the container receiving member. A filling seal device characterized by the above. Filling the contents into a container, a filling sealing device for sealing the container with a lid,
A container receiving member for holding the container;
A guide member for guiding the container receiving member in the moving direction of the container;
A plurality of gas ejection holes formed in the bottom plate of the guide member;
In Filling sealing device and a gas supply means communicating with the gas ejection hole,
The filling and sealing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of continuously supplied container receiving members are arranged such that the container receiving members adjacent to each other in the advancing direction are arranged without a gap . 3. The filling and sealing device according to claim 2 , further comprising means for applying a driving force at one end of the plurality of container receiving members arranged without gaps.

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