JP4561186B2 - Sealed chamber sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention includes water, juice, tea, coffee and other drinking water, soy sauce, miso, sauces and other commercial seasoning liquids, alcoholic beverages such as liquor, wine and whiskey, infusions, disinfecting liquids and other pharmaceutical liquids. The present invention relates to a sterilization of an aseptic chamber of an aseptic filling machine for aseptic filling, in particular, a sealed chamber sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the apparatus.

  Conventionally, before the filling operation for aseptically filling aseptic contents with an aseptic filling machine is started, a sterilization process is first performed to sterilize the inside of the aseptic chamber of the filling machine. Sterilization in the aseptic chamber is usually performed using steam, gas, hydrogen peroxide spray or the like.

  Moreover, as a general method, in order to spray the hydrogen peroxide solution in the entire aseptic chamber, a spray nozzle is installed in the aseptic chamber, and a method of sterilizing by spraying the hydrogen peroxide solution from there is adopted. . Moreover, the hydrogen peroxide solution to be sprayed is usually 35% in concentration.

  In the steam sterilization, steam at 130 ° C. or higher is sprayed in an aseptic chamber, and steam is sprayed for a long time until the inside of the aseptic chamber reaches a sterilization temperature (for example, 130 ° C.).

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4 as an apparatus for sterilizing the inside of the chamber using a gaseous sterilizing agent, the valve 102 of the sterile air introduction port 101 and the valves 102 of the air exhaust ports 103, 104, 105 are all closed, and the product container is taken out. The mouth 106 is covered with a cover 107, and a plurality of partition walls 109, which are normally in a vertical position and sort the inside of the chamber 108 into a plurality of rooms, are swung to a horizontal position so that the inside of the chamber 108 is made into one space. Open. In this state, the chamber 108 is sterilized by filling the chamber 108 with gaseous sterilization sprayed from a sterilizing agent spray nozzle for sterilizing the packaging material. That is, the apparatus sterilization 100 (for example, refer patent document 1) is known.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, an electron beam is irradiated from the electron beam irradiation device 112 accommodated in the aseptic chamber 111 covered with metal to irradiate the metal part 113 with an electron beam to generate converted X-rays. Also known is a sterilizer 200 (see, for example, Patent Document 2) that disperses the converted X-rays throughout the sterile chamber 111 to sterilize the sterile chamber 111.

Prior art documents are shown below.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-58635 JP-A-8-89562

  However, in the conventional steam sterilization, when the shape of the sterilization chamber is complicated, there is a problem that a portion where high-temperature steam that can be sterilized cannot be obtained is generated and a sterilization defective portion is generated. Further, there is a problem that the time during which the steam is sprayed is long and the time required for the sterilization process such as draining of the steam is long.

Furthermore, there is also a problem that the energy cost is increased because a large amount of steam is used for a long time in order to prevent the occurrence of defective sterilization parts.

  Further, in the case of hydrogen peroxide spray, there are problems that the spray angle and the pipe diameter for spraying are not appropriate, or that hydrogen peroxide or the like accumulates only in the vicinity of the nozzle due to variation in particle diameter. Furthermore, when the nozzle to inject is fixed, hydrogen peroxide etc. do not reach to the corner, and a sterilization defect part may arise, and there exists a problem that the quantity sprayed in order to prevent it becomes excessive.

  Furthermore, when the amount to be sprayed becomes excessive, hydrogen peroxide or the like is mixed into a product that has been produced by an aseptic filling machine, which causes problems in food hygiene, and at the same time, there is a problem of environmental pollution.

  Further, when the inside of the chamber is sterilized using gas sterilization or the gaseous sterilizing agent shown in FIG. 4, if there is a seal failure (sealing failure) part in the aseptic chamber, the gas or gas state from the seal failure (sealing failure) part There is a problem that the sterilizing agent leaks and adversely affects workers.

  Furthermore, the sterilization of the aseptic chamber by electron beam irradiation shown in FIG. 5 has a problem that not only the apparatus is expensive, but also the isolation work or the installation environment when installing the aseptic filling machine must be considered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and a sealed aseptic chamber sterilization apparatus using economical steam or the like that sterilizes the entire aseptic chamber to every corner with certainty and is low in energy cost. provide.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, first, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention is equipped with a sterile mouth cap that is covered with a sterile cap that prevents outside air from entering into a sterile chamber of a sterile filling machine and has a sealing property. Means for carrying the cap portion of the bag-like container, a filling device portion that is disposed in the chamber and that fills the mouth portion of the bag-like container with a sterile mouthpiece that has been carried into the chamber, and the inside of the chamber The capping device part is placed in the chamber and the aseptic cap is removed from the inside of the chamber, and the aseptic cap is removed from the inside of the chamber. A sealed chamber sterilization apparatus comprising means for sealing an aseptic chamber provided with unloading means for unloading a bag-like container with a sterilized mouth cap filled with a cap, The means for sealing the fungus chamber includes a bowl-shaped lid member in which a circular upper top plate is formed on the upper surface of the aseptic chamber, and a collar portion equivalent to the outer peripheral edge of the upper top plate is formed. It is a sealed chamber sterilizer characterized in that the lower surface of the plate and the upper surface of the collar portion of the lid member are in close contact with each other.

  In the sealed chamber sterilization apparatus of the present invention, the entire sterile chamber is sealed, so that steam or the like for sterilizing the sealed interior reaches all corners in a short time, and the temperature rises to the sterilization temperature quickly. A uniform sterilization temperature is achieved in a short time, and the chamber is reliably sterilized.

  Furthermore, not only does the steam for sterilization leak outside, but all the supplied steam is collected and reused, so that the amount of steam consumed is low and the energy cost is low.

  In addition, the working time of the device sterilization work that is always performed before the filling work is started with a filling machine that aseptically fills the bag-like container with a sterile mouth-plug is greatly reduced, and the peripheral edge of the filling nozzle and the capping device Parts can be sterilized quickly and efficiently.

  The sealed chamber sterilizer according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. The sealed chamber sterilizer of the present invention is used for drinking water such as water, juice, tea and coffee, or for business seasoning liquid such as soy sauce, miso and sauce, or alcoholic beverage such as liquor, wine and whiskey, purified water, disinfecting liquid, infusion liquid, etc. Aseptic sterilization of aseptic chamber in which aseptic filling machine is used to sterilize the contents of agricultural chemicals such as pharmaceutical liquids, agricultural chemicals, culture liquids, insecticides, etc., and industrial chemicals such as corrosive liquids, without causing sterilization defects. It is efficient in time and energy costs can be reduced.

  Further, when forming a laminated sheet as a resin for a base film used for a bag body of a bag-like container with a sterile mouthpiece that is aseptically filled with sterile contents in the sterile chamber of the sealed chamber sterilization apparatus of the present invention, Those suitable for adhesion processability with other films are preferred, but as a base film resin, for example, low density polyethylene resin, medium density polyethylene resin, high density polyethylene resin, linear low density polyethylene resin, polypropylene Resin, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, ionomer resin, ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, ethylene-methacrylic acid copolymer, ethylene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, ethylene-propylene Copolymer, methylpentene polymer resin, polybutene polymer resin, polyethylene or poly Polyolefin resins such as propylene modified with unsaturated carboxylic acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, polyvinyl acetate resin, poly (meth) acrylic A stretched or unstretched film of a thermoplastic resin such as a vinyl resin or a polyvinyl resin, or a material obtained by laminating other materials on the film or processing by coating or the like is preferably used. For example, polyterephthalic acid ester, polypropylene, low density polyethylene, medium density polyethylene, high density polyethylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polyamide, saponified polyvinyl chloride ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic resin, cellulose acetate film, etc. Used.

  In addition, when the aseptic contents to be aseptically filled into the bag-like container with aseptic stopper are required to have a gas barrier property in the bag-like container with aseptic stopper, a gas barrier film such as an inorganic oxide, for example, Silicon (Si), aluminum (Al), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), tin (Sn), sodium (Na), boron (B), titanium (Ti), lead (Pb), Resin film having a thin film made of an oxide of a metal such as zirconium (Zr) or yttrium (Y), or an ethylene / vinyl alcohol copolymer film, polyvinyl alcohol film, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer Films such as saponified coal, polyethylene terephthalate film, polyamide film, polyvinyl polymer Call film, ethylene - film was coated with a polyvinylidene chloride vinyl acetate copolymer saponified, or aluminum foil, it is laminated appropriately selected.

  Furthermore, the material structure used for the bag body of the bag-like container with aseptic stopper is generally a double bag, for example, polyethylene / polyethylene, polyethylene / aluminum vapor-deposited nylon, nylon / polyethylene, polyethylene / aluminum. Vapor-stretched polyester, vinylidene chloride coated nylon / polyethylene, etc. Further, heat-sealed on three sides with a bag making machine, and a spout made of spout with a cup attached to the opening. A bag-like container is produced.

  Next, FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an outline of one embodiment of the sealed chamber sterilization apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the sealed chamber sterilizer 19 of the present invention is engaged with a circular upper top plate 2, a bowl-shaped lid member 1 in which a collar is formed, and a lower part of the circular upper top plate 2. The aseptic chamber 3 is formed.

  In addition, although the circular upper top plate 2 and the bowl-shaped lid member 1 on which the collar portion is formed are not shown in the drawing, the lower surface of the outer peripheral edge of the upper top plate 2 is interposed via an O-ring or a ferrule gasket. The upper surface of the upper collar portion of the lid member 1 is engaged. For this reason, the sealing property of the part with which the top top plate 2 and the collar part were engaged is maintained further.

  Further, a sterilization chamber sterilization steam injection pipe 4 and a product sterilization steam injection pipe 8 are formed on the upper surface of the upper top plate 2, and the sterilization chamber sterilization steam injection pipe 4, an aseptic chamber sterilization steam pipe 6 and a steam pipe 13 are formed. The aseptic chamber sterilizing steam pouring pipe 11 is continuously provided. Further, the product sterilization steam injection pipe 8 is also provided with a product sterilization steam injection pipe 8, a product sterilization steam pipe 9, and a product sterilization steam pouring pipe 12 connected to the steam pipe 13.

  Next, FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an outline of one embodiment of the upper top plate and the aseptic chamber of the sealed chamber sterilizer of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a circular upper top plate 2 is formed so as to cover the entire upper surface of the sterile chamber 3. A sterilization chamber sterilization steam injection pipe 4 into which steam or the like for sterilizing the sterilization chamber 3 is inserted, and a product sterilization steam injection pipe 8 for product sterilization are formed on the upper surface of the upper top plate 2.

  The aseptic chamber sterilizing steam injection pipe 4, the aseptic chamber sterilizing steam pipe 6, and the aseptic chamber sterilizing steam pipe 6 and the steam pipe 13 formed in the aseptic chamber sterilizing steam dispensing pipe 11 are connected to the ferrule union 7. It is connected by. Similarly, the ferrule union also connects the product sterilization steam injection pipe 8 and the product sterilization steam pipe 9 and the product sterilization steam pouring pipe 12 and the product sterilization steam pipe 9 formed in the steam pipe 13. It is made up of seven.

  As described above, since the connection with each pipe is formed by the ferrule union 7, the sterilization chamber sterilization steam pipe 6, etc. is removed when the device is sterilized or when the device sterilization is completed. Or assembly is easy. Furthermore, each part is given to the sanitary specification.

  Also, aseptic chamber sterilizing steam injection pipe 4 or aseptic chamber sterilizing steam pipe 6, aseptic chamber sterilizing steam dispensing pipe 11 or product sterilizing steam injection pipe 8, product sterilizing steam pipe 9, product sterilizing steam dispensing The material used for the pipe 12 is not particularly limited as long as it has heat resistance, chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, and the like, but is preferably made of stainless steel.

  In addition, although not shown in the drawing, the mouth of the bag-like container with a sterile stopper is carried into the sterile chamber 3 and the means for carrying it into the sterile chamber 3 formed on the lower surface of the upper top plate 2. Remove the aseptic cap of the mouth and seal the capping device part and the cap removal, and at the same time filling the aseptic contents into a bag-like container with a sterile mouth stopper and the aseptic contents are filled and seal the cap at the same time, Furthermore, a means for carrying out a bag-like container with a sterile cap filled with a sterile content in which the cap is sealed from the sterile chamber 3 is formed.

  In addition, when aseptically filling the aseptic contents in the bag-like container with aseptic mouthpiece in the aseptic chamber 3, aseptic air is supplied into the aseptic chamber 3 and the inside of the aseptic chamber 3 is not shown in the figure. Maintained at positive pressure.

  Further, although not shown in the drawing, the capping device formed in the aseptic chamber 3 is driven by raising and lowering the lot shaft of the air cylinder above the upper top plate 2, and the lot is driven by another air cylinder. Although the shaft is rotationally driven, an O-ring or the like is formed in each portion where the shaft portion moves up and down or rotates and slides in order to maintain airtightness. Similarly, an O-ring or the like is formed in each part of the aseptic chamber in which aseptic contents are slid by ascending / descending the aseptic filling / filling nozzle in a bag-like container with aseptic stopper in an aseptic chamber.

  Next, FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an outline of one embodiment of a lid member of the sealed chamber sterilization apparatus of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the lid member 1 is formed with a flange portion 17 on the upper outer periphery of the lid member 1 to engage with the outer periphery of the upper top plate. Further, the inner side of the flange portion 17 covers all the side surfaces and the lower surface of the sterilization chamber, and is formed in a hook shape so that steam for sterilization can be uniformly circulated to every corner.

  Furthermore, since the lid member 1 is not required during the aseptic filling operation after the aseptic chamber is sterilized with steam or the like, the upper top plate and the lid member 1 are separated. Lid member fixing legs 16 are formed at appropriate positions on the outer periphery of the bottom of the lid member 1 at 3 to 4 locations so that the separated lid member 1 can be stably stored. Further, a sealing member mounting groove for mounting an O-ring or a gasket to improve the sealing performance in the bowl-shaped lid member 1 when the upper top plate is engaged with the upper surface of the upper collar portion 17 of the lid member 1. 18 is formed.

  Moreover, the said O-ring can use the well-known thing which has heat resistance, chemical resistance, compression resistance, etc. Furthermore, silicon, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), ethylene propylene diene terpolymer rubber (EPDM), fluoropropylene methacrylate copolymer (FPM), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), etc. are used as appropriate for the ferrule gasket. Is done.

  Further, the tips of the steam recovery pipe 15 and the product sterilization drain pipe 14 formed on the outer peripheral edge of the bottom of the lid member 1 are formed so as to be connected to other pipes by a ferrule union.

  Furthermore, the lid member 1 is not particularly limited as long as it has heat resistance, chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, and the like, but it is preferable that the lid member 1 is made of stainless steel or has a hard chrome plating applied to a steel material. The steam recovery pipe 15 and the product sterilization drain pipe 14 are not particularly limited as long as they have heat resistance, chemical resistance, corrosion resistance, and the like, but stainless steel is preferable.

  The sealed chamber sterilization apparatus of the present invention is not only for sterilization of aseptic chambers for aseptic filling machines for beverages, seasonings for liquor, liquor, pharmaceuticals, but also for sterilization of medical instruments and clothes or sterilization / sterilization processing of foods, etc. It is a wonderful invention that can be used in a wide range of fields.

It is the schematic which shows the outline of one Example of the sealed chamber sterilizer of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of one Example of the upper top plate of the sealed chamber sterilizer of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of one Example of the cover member of the sealed chamber sterilizer of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the sterilizer currently used conventionally. It is the schematic which shows the outline of the sterilizer currently used conventionally.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lid member 2 ... Upper top plate 3 ... Aseptic chamber 4 ... Steam injection pipe for sterilization chamber sterilization 5 ... Ferrule union 6 ... Steam pipe for sterilization chamber sterilization 7 ... Ferrule union 8 ... Steam injection pipe for product sterilization 9 ... Product sterilization Steam pipe 10 ... Ferrule union 11 ... Pipe pipe for sterilization of sterilized chamber 12 ... Steam pipe pipe for product sterilization 13 ... Steam pipe 14 ... Steam drain pipe 15 for product sterilization 15 ... Land member fixing leg 16 ... Air heating part 17 ... Hook 18 ... Sealing member mounting groove 19 ... Sealing chamber device

Claims (1)

  Means for carrying a cap portion of a bag-like container with a sterile cap, which is covered with a sterile cap having a sealing property, which prevents entry of outside air into the sterile chamber of the aseptic filling machine, and is disposed in the chamber and in the chamber The filling device part that fills the stopper part of the bag-like container with aseptic stopper carried into the container and the aseptic contents are placed in the chamber and the aseptic cap of the stopper part is removed in the chamber, and the aseptic contents are filled A capping device section for placing the removed aseptic cap on the contents-filled aseptic-cap-equipped bag-like container, and an unloading means for carrying out the cap-filled contents-filled aseptic-cap-equipped bag-like container from the chamber A sealed chamber sterilization apparatus comprising means for sealing the sterile chamber, wherein the means for sealing the sterile chamber is formed in a circular shape on the upper surface of the sterile chamber. A top plate is formed, and has a bowl-shaped lid member formed with a collar portion equivalent to the outer peripheral edge of the upper top plate. The lower surface of the upper top plate and the upper surface of the collar portion of the lid member are closely engaged. A sealed chamber sterilizer characterized by having

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