JP4848731B2 - Internal sterilization method for aseptic filling machine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an internal sterilization method for an aseptic filling machine for aseptically packaging contents such as noodle soup, various sauces and sauces.

  As a device that fills the bag with contents such as noodle soup, various sauces, and sauces in a sterile environment, the film as a packaging material is folded in half while running, and the mating surface is sealed to form the packaging material into a cylindrical shape Then, aseptic packaging machines have been developed in which the packaging material is sealed in a transverse direction perpendicular to the crease to form a predetermined volume of bag and the contents are filled therein. In aseptic packaging with an aseptic filling machine, the contents and the packaging material are sterilized and sterilized separately, and then the packaging material is filled with the contents in an aseptic atmosphere and the packaging material is sealed.

In order to perform aseptic packaging, the inside of the aseptic filling machine is sterilized before the filling of the contents is started. Conventionally, as a method of sterilizing the inside of an aseptic filling machine, the packaging material is removed from the aseptic filling machine and, for example, hydrogen peroxide (H ₂ O ₂ ) is sprayed into the machine as a sterilizing agent, or hydrogen peroxide gas is used in the machine. And then sterilize the inside of the filling machine, and then apply the packaging material again, or spray the hydrogen peroxide solution while the filling machine is stopped with the packaging material attached to the aseptic filling machine, or Hydrogen peroxide gas was sent into the filling machine.

  However, in the method of sterilizing the inside of the filling machine after removing the packaging material, it is necessary to remove the packaging material before and after the sterilization operation and apply it again, which increases the number of man-hours for the sterilization operation. In the method of sterilizing the inside of the filling machine with the packaging material attached, there is a possibility that the sterilizing agent is blocked by the packaging material although the labor is saved, and sterilization cannot be performed sufficiently.

  The objective of this invention is providing the sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine which can perform the sterilization inside an aseptic filling machine easily and reliably, and can improve the reliability of an aseptic environment.

  The present invention will be described below. In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are appended in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

In the present invention, the packaging material (10) is conveyed by the conveying device (6) in the region (4) maintained in a sterile state, and the packaging material is packaged by the molding device (7) installed in the region. The method is applied to an aseptic filling machine (1) for filling a packaging material with a content while being molded into a shape, and sterilizing the region as a preparatory work before the filling work of the content, A sterilizing agent is supplied to the region while the packaging material is being conveyed by the conveying device to sterilize the region, and the conveying device includes rollers (29, 31) for guiding the packaging material. When supplying the sterilizing agent, the roller is rotated in contact with the packaging material. When supplying the sterilizing agent, at least some of the movable members (33, 34, 35) of the molding apparatus are operated. Rotating in synchronization with the transport of the packaging material Molding processing members (33, 34, 35) for performing processing necessary for molding into the packaging shape are provided as the movable member, and when the sterilizing agent is supplied, the molding processing member is rotated. The wrapping material transport speed at the time of supplying the sterilizing agent is slower than the wrapping material transport speed at the time of filling the contents, and after the sterilizing agent is supplied, around the molding apparatus. A drying step is provided for operating the movable member in a state where supply of the sterilizing agent is stopped. In the drying step, the transport of the packaging material and the operation of the movable member are performed in parallel, and the drying step The above- mentioned problem is solved by making the conveyance speed of the packaging material in the case slower than the conveyance speed of the packaging material during the filling operation of the contents .

According to the present invention, since the sterilizing agent is supplied to a predetermined area in the aseptic filling machine and sterilized while transporting the packaging material, it is necessary to remove the packaging material before sterilization and to attach the packaging material after sterilization. do not do. In addition, by supplying the sterilizing agent while transporting the packaging material, the sterilizing agent can also flow around the portion blocked by the packaging material, and a sufficient sterilization effect can be obtained. For example, the sterilizing agent attached to the packaging material reaches the contact portion between the packaging material and the transport device, or the sterilizing agent atmosphere is disturbed by the transportation of the packaging material and wraps around the portion behind the packaging material. The effect is improved. Further, the conveying device includes a roller for guiding the packaging material, and when the sterilizing agent is supplied, the roller is rotated in a state of being in contact with the packaging material, thereby uniformly sterilizing a portion where the packaging material and the roller are in contact with each other. The agent spreads and high sterilization effect is obtained. Further, when supplying the sterilizing agent, the movable member of the molding apparatus can be sterilized uniformly by operating at least a part of the movable member of the molding apparatus. Further, the molding apparatus is provided with a molding processing member as a movable member that performs processing necessary for molding into a packaging shape while rotating in synchronization with the conveyance of the packaging material. By rotating the processing member, the surface of the molding processing member is exposed in various directions without being biased toward a specific direction in the region. For this reason, a shaping | molding process member is sterilized reliably. When filling the contents, a high transport speed is required to improve productivity. However, such productivity is not required during sterilization, and the packaging material can be transported to the extent that improvement of the sterilization effect can be obtained. By reducing the speed, the amount of packaging material consumed in the sterilization operation can be reduced. In addition, since the packaging material is transported and the movable member is operated in parallel in the drying process, the movable member can be further uniformly and rapidly dried. Furthermore, the amount of the packaging material consumed in the drying process can be reduced by making the conveyance speed of the packaging material in the drying process slower than the conveyance speed of the packaging material in the filling operation of the contents.

In the present invention, when the packaging material is a continuous film in the transport direction, the packaging material discharged from the region when the sterilizing agent is supplied may be wound around a reel (45) and collected. . As a result, the packaging material consumed during the sterilization operation can be easily collected. Moreover, you may provide the drying process which conveys this packaging material in the state which stopped supply of the said sterilizing agent in the drying required area | region in the said area | region after the said sterilizing agent supply. By transporting the packaging material in the drying step, it is possible to eliminate sterilant accumulation and the like, and to dry various parts arranged in the required drying area of the aseptic filling machine. Thereby, the residue of a sterilant can be prevented and the components in a drying required area can be dried in a short time. Furthermore, you may make the conveyance speed of the said packaging material in the said drying process slower than the conveyance speed of the said packaging material at the time of the filling operation | work of the said content. Thereby, the quantity of the packaging material consumed at a drying process can be reduced.

According to another internal sterilization method of the aseptic filling machine of the present invention, the packaging material (10) is transported by the transport device (6) in the region (4) to be maintained in a sterile state, and the packaging material is transported to the region. Applied to the aseptic filling machine (1) for filling the packaging material with the contents while forming into a packaging shape by the molding device (7) installed in the preparatory work before starting the filling operation of the contents As a method of sterilizing the region, the sterilizing agent is supplied to the region while operating at least some of the movable members (33, 34, 35) of the molding apparatus to sterilize the region. Then, while operating at least a part of the movable member of the molding apparatus, a sterilant is supplied to the area to sterilize the area, and the molding apparatus rotates while synchronizing with the conveyance of the packaging material. Processing necessary for forming into a packaging shape is applied to the packaging material. A molding processing member is provided as the movable member, and when the sterilizing agent is supplied, the molding processing member is rotated, and after the sterilizing agent is supplied, the sterilizing agent is supplied around the molding apparatus. A drying step for operating the movable member in a stopped state is provided, and in the drying step, the conveyance of the packaging material and the operation of the movable member are performed in parallel, and the conveyance speed of the packaging material in the drying step Is made slower than the conveying speed of the packaging material during the filling operation of the contents . According to this, the movable member of a shaping | molding apparatus can be sterilized uniformly. In addition, the rotation of the molding process member exposes the surface of the molding process member to various directions without being biased in a specific direction within the region, and the molding process member is reliably sterilized. Further, by operating the movable member in the drying process, it is possible to eliminate accumulation of sterilant and the like so that the movable member of the molding apparatus can be uniformly dried. Thereby, the residue of a sterilant can be prevented and a movable member can be dried in a short time. In addition, since the packaging material is transported and the movable member is operated in parallel in the drying process, the movable member can be further uniformly and rapidly dried. Furthermore, the amount of the packaging material consumed in the drying process can be reduced by making the conveyance speed of the packaging material in the drying process slower than the conveyance speed of the packaging material in the filling operation of the contents.

Oite inside sterilization method of aseptic filling machine of the present invention may rotate the rollers in contact with the packaging material in the case of transporting the packaging material in the drying step. As a result, the roller can also be quickly dried. Further, the movable member to be operated in the drying process may be the above-described molded member . When the packaging material is in the form of a film continuous in the transport direction, the packaging material discharged from the region in the drying process may be wound around a reel and collected.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the sterilizing agent is supplied to a predetermined area in the aseptic filling machine and sterilized while transporting the packaging material, the packaging material is removed prior to sterilization, and the packaging material is sterilized after sterilization. No need to wear materials. In addition, by supplying the sterilizing agent while transporting the packaging material, the sterilizing agent will also wrap around the part that is blocked by the packaging material, so that a sufficient sterilization effect can be obtained and the reliability of the sterile environment can be improved. Can do. Therefore, sterilization inside the aseptic filling machine can be performed easily and reliably. In addition, the drying process can be performed uniformly and quickly. According to the other sterilization method of the present invention, the molding processing member provided in the molding apparatus can be sterilized evenly to improve the reliability of the aseptic environment. Furthermore, by providing a drying step after supplying the sterilant, the inside of the aseptic filling machine can be dried in a short time, and the sterilant can be prevented from remaining in the machine.

  FIG. 1 shows an example of an aseptic filling machine to which the sterilization method of the present invention is applied. In FIG. 1, the aseptic filling machine 1 is divided into a raw fabric supply region 2, a film sterilization region 3, a sterilization region 4, and a product discharge region 5. The raw fabric supply area 2 is arranged at the lower part of the apparatus 1, and the film sterilization area 3 is arranged above the area 2. The aseptic area 4 occupies the upper part of the device 1 and part of it extends towards the lower part of the device 1. The product discharge area 5 is arranged in the lower part of the apparatus 1 next to the raw material supply area 2. In the aseptic region 4, a transport device 6 that transports a film 10 as a packaging material and a molding device 7 that molds the film 10 into a predetermined shape are installed.

  The film supply area 2 is equipped with a film roll 11 obtained by winding the film 10 into a roll. The film 10 drawn out from the film roll 11 is drawn into the film sterilization area 3 while being sequentially guided by rollers 12. The raw fabric supply area 2 and the film sterilization area 3 are separated by a partition wall 13. The partition wall 13 is provided with an opening 14 for passing the film 10 and a shutter 15 for opening and closing the opening 14.

  The film 10 introduced into the film sterilization region 3 travels substantially vertically upward and sequentially passes through the preheating unit 16, the mist supply unit 18, and the exhaust unit 22. The preheating unit 16 is provided with a hot plate heater 17 that contacts and heats any one surface of the film 10.

  The preheated film 10 is guided to a mist supply unit 18 provided on the downstream side of the hot plate heater 17 in the film traveling direction. In the mist supply unit 18, hydrogen peroxide mist as a sterilizing agent is supplied so as to come into contact with both surfaces of the film 10 from a pair of nozzles 20, 20 arranged so as to sandwich the film 10 from both sides.

  The mist of the sterilizing agent is produced by once vaporizing the sterilizing agent droplet using hydrogen peroxide water and then aggregating the sterilizing agent mist. The concentration of the sterilizing component is high, and a high sterilizing effect is exhibited even in a minute amount. Therefore, by using the mist of the sterilizing agent, the sterilization can be sufficiently performed with a small amount of hydrogen peroxide as compared with the case of using the spray generated by spraying the hydrogen peroxide solution. For this reason, sufficient sterilization can be performed only by contacting the film and mist which are running at high speed for a short time. Further, by preheating the film with the hot plate heater 17 prior to contact with the mist, a high sterilizing effect can be exhibited from the beginning when the mist is contacted, and sterilization can be performed efficiently in a short time.

  The exhaust unit 22 is provided with a pair of exhaust ducts 23 and 23 so as to sandwich the film 10. Each exhaust duct 23 is connected to an exhaust blower (not shown). While the film 10 is traveling, air is sucked from the exhaust duct 23 and exhausted to the outside of the apparatus 1. According to such an exhaust duct 23, it is possible to discharge the mist that has come into contact with the film 10 and prevent the remaining mist from remaining in the film sterilization region 3. Further, the mist drifting in the vicinity of the surface of the film 10 is forcibly exhausted from the vicinity of the surface of the film 10, thereby suppressing excessive permeation of hydrogen peroxide into the film 10 and remaining hydrogen peroxide in the film 10. The concentration can be reduced.

  The film sterilization area 3 and the aseptic area 4 are separated by a partition wall 24. The film 10 that has passed through the exhaust unit 22 is guided to the drying processing unit 26 in the aseptic region 4 through a slit 25 formed in the partition wall 24. The drying processing unit 26 is provided with a pair of hot air nozzles 27, 27 arranged so as to sandwich the film 10, and so as to sandwich the film 10 downstream of the hot air nozzles 27 in the traveling direction of the film 10. The cool air nozzles 28 and 28 are provided.

  From each hot air nozzle 27, hot air for vaporizing the sterilizing agent adhering to the film 10 is ejected toward the film 10. By blowing warm air, the film 10 is heated, and the sterilizing effect by the sterilizing agent mist is enhanced.

  Room temperature air is ejected from each cold air nozzle 28. The drying of the film 10 is complemented by blowing air from the cold air nozzle 28, and the film 10 heated by the hot air from the hot air nozzle 27 is cooled, resulting in a decrease in physical properties such as slipping and curling properties. Is prevented.

  The film 10 that has passed through the drying processing unit 26 is then guided to the filling processing unit 30 in the aseptic region 4 while being appropriately guided by the rollers 29... The traveling direction of the film 10 guided to the filling processing unit 30 is changed downward by the roller 31 of the transport device 6 and is guided to the molding device 7. In the molding apparatus 7, the film 10 is folded by the former 32 so that both side edges along the running direction are overlapped with each other. The folded film 10 passes between a pair of vertical sealing rollers 33 (only the front side is shown in FIG. 1) as a forming processing member. At that time, overlapping portions on both side edges of the film 10 are heat-welded by the vertical sealing roller 33, whereby the film 10 is formed into a cylindrical shape. Thereafter, the film 10 is heat-welded at a predetermined interval in the running direction by two sets of horizontal sealing rollers 34 and 35 as molding processing members and sealed in the horizontal direction (width direction). When a lateral seal is performed at one location of the film 10, a predetermined amount of various contents are filled into the cylindrical body of the film 10 formed above the seal portion from the supply pipe 36. . When the film 10 is sealed again in the lateral direction above the region filled with the contents, one bag body filled with the contents is formed. In the filling processing unit 30, such a process is repeated in conjunction with the traveling of the film 10, whereby the bag body filled with various liquids is manufactured in a state where the bags 10 are continuous in the traveling direction of the film 10.

  Thereafter, notches (cuts) are appropriately formed in each bag body, and further, a perforation is made in the lateral seal portion, or the lateral seal portion is cut and the bag bodies are separated from each other. The bag-packed product thus manufactured is discharged into the product discharge area 5. Note that various known configurations can be applied to the filling processing unit 30 described above. A shutter 39 is preferably provided between the sterilization area 4 and the product discharge area 5 so that the sterility area 4 can be closed.

  In the aseptic filling machine 1 described above, the sterilization area 4 and the film sterilization area 3 are sterilized before the filling operation is performed. Details of the sterilization method will be described later. When the filling operation is performed, the shutter 15 between the raw material supply region 2 and the film sterilization region 3 and the shutter 39 between the sterilization region 4 and the product discharge region 5 are opened as much as necessary, and aseptic. The area 4 is always supplied with positive positive sterile air from the sterile air supply device 37 via the pipe 37a. Thereby, the aseptic region 4 is maintained at a positive pressure and its sterilized state is maintained. As the sterilized air supply device 37, for example, a well-known device that supplies air taken from the outside after being filtered by a HEPA filter can be used. In addition, since the drying process part 26 is provided in the aseptic area | region 4, the air which blows off those nozzles 27 and 28 needs to be sterilized naturally. Therefore, the air supplied from the sterile air supply device 37 is heated by the heater 38 and led to the hot air nozzle 27, while the air supplied from the sterile air supply device 37 is not heated to the cold air nozzle 28 as it is. It is desirable to guide.

  When performing the filling and packaging operation, it is necessary to guide the film 10 from the film sterilization region 3 to the sterilization region 4, so that the film sterilization region 3 and the sterilization region 4 cannot be completely blocked. Communicate with each other through a slit 25 for passing the film 10. Therefore, a part of the air in the aseptic region 4 maintained at a positive pressure is discharged to the film sterilization region 3 through the slit 25. While the film 10 before sterilization is introduced into the film sterilization region 3, a mist of a sterilant is constantly supplied in the mist supply unit 18. Therefore, the film sterilization area 3 is not sufficiently sterilized as compared with the aseptic area 4, but becomes a sufficiently clean area compared with the original fabric supply area 2. Therefore, when viewed from the aseptic region 4, the film sterilizing region 3 functions as a buffer region for maintaining the sterilized state of the aseptic region 4. As a result, the reliability of aseptic filling packaging performed in the aseptic area 4 is increased.

  In the film sterilization region 3, air is sequentially sucked from the exhaust duct 23 toward the outside. Therefore, the pressure in the film sterilization region 3 is lower than the pressure in the raw material supply region 2, and the film sterilization region 3 is relatively negatively pressured. Therefore, air is sucked into the film sterilization region 3 from the raw fabric supply region 2 through the opening 14 of the partition wall 13. As a result, there is no possibility that the mist of the sterilizing agent drifting in the film sterilization region 3 leaks to the raw material supply region 2. Therefore, there is no possibility that an operator who has accessed the original fabric supply region 2 for mounting the film roll 11 will be exposed to the mist of the sterilizing agent, and the working environment of the original fabric supply region 2 is kept good. Even if air is sucked into the film sterilization area 3 from the original fabric supply area 2, the sterilizing agent mist is constantly supplied to the area 3, so that the film sterilization area 3 is more than the original film supply area 2 as described above. Is also kept clean.

  In addition to the exhaust duct 23, means for sucking air from the film sterilization region 3 and reducing the pressure in the region 3 may be provided.

  In the above aseptic filling machine 1, the sterilizing region 4 and the film sterilizing region 3 are supplied with hydrogen peroxide water as a sterilizing agent from the sterilizing agent supply device 40 through the pipe 42. A pump 41 is interposed between the sterilizing agent supply device 40 and the pipe 42. By operating the pump 41 only when the sterilizing agent needs to be supplied, the sterilizing agent can be supplied to the aseptic region 4 and the film sterilizing region 3. At the tip of the pipe 42, spray nozzles 43 and 44 that open into the sterilization area 4 and the film sterilization area 3 of the aseptic filling machine 1 are provided. The sterilizing agent is sprayed on.

  Next, an internal sterilization method for the aseptic filling machine 1 will be described.

  Prior to the filling operation, the shutter 15 between the raw material supply area 2 and the film sterilization area 3 and the shutter 39 between the aseptic area 4 and the product discharge area 5 are closed, and then the pump 41 is operated. Then, a spray or gas of a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide is supplied from the sterilizing material supply device 40 to the aseptic region 4 and the film sterilizing region 3 of the aseptic filling machine 1 through the pipe 42 and the nozzles 43, 44. Fill region 4 and film sterilization region 3 with sterilant.

In this state, the shutter 15 between the raw material supply area 2 and the film sterilization area 3 and the shutter 39 between the aseptic area 4 and the product discharge area 5 are opened as much as necessary, and the rollers 12. The film 29 is sealed by the molding processing member of the molding apparatus 7 while rotating the rollers 29... 29, the roller 31, the vertical sealing roller 33, and the horizontal sealing rollers 34, 35. Running speed of the film 10 is set slower than the running speed of the film 10 at the time of filling the contents thereof. That is, it is desirable that the transport device 6 can adjust the traveling speed of the film 10 between a high speed suitable for aseptic filling and a low speed suitable for sterilization before filling. The travel speed may be adjusted continuously or steplessly, or may be switched stepwise by two or more steps. For example, when the traveling speed of the film 10 at the time of filling the contents is 6 to 15 m / min, the traveling speed of the film 10 at the time of sterilization is set to 4 to 5 m / min. It is required to increase the traveling speed of the film 10 at the time of filling to increase the filling efficiency, but there is no such request at the time of internal sterilization, and the amount of the film 10 consumed by the sterilization operation by slowing the traveling speed of the film 10 Can be reduced.

  It is not necessary to fill the contents through the supply pipe 36 during internal sterilization. In this embodiment, the sterilization operation of the film 10 by the mist supply unit 18 and the like in the film sterilization region 3 is inevitably performed as the film 10 travels due to the structure of the aseptic filling machine 1. In the sterilization method, sterilization by the mist supply unit 18 or the like is arbitrary. Furthermore, in this embodiment, due to the structure of the aseptic filling machine 1, the sealing operation by the vertical sealing roller 33 is inevitably performed as the film 10 travels. In the sterilization method of the present invention, the vertical sealing roller 33, Further, the sealing operation by the horizontal sealing rollers 34 and 35 may be omitted if unnecessary.

  The film 10 is continuously discharged to the product discharge area 5 by running the film 10 while spraying the sterilizing agent on the sterilization area 4 and the film sterilization area 3 and performing the sealing operation by the molding device 7. At the time of filling the contents, a notch is formed in the bag containing the contents discharged to the product discharge area 5, and a perforation is formed or the side seal portion is cut to separate the bag. Do not need to do this. Therefore, the film 10 to be discharged to the product discharge area 5 may be sequentially wound on the reel 45 by rotating the reel 45 installed in the product discharge area 5 by the motor 46. After the sterilization treatment, it is convenient that the consumed film 10 can be easily taken out of the apparatus simply by cutting the film 10 and removing the reel 45.

  After the sterilization process as described above, the sterilizing agent is discharged from the aseptic area 4 by supplying aseptic air to the aseptic area 4 as described above, or the filling process is started after evaporation and drying. That's fine. In order to efficiently dry the sterilizing agent supplied to the inside of the aseptic filling machine 1, a drying step may be provided after the sterilizing agent is supplied. In the drying process, the vertical sealing roller of the molding apparatus 7 is transported while the film 10 is transported in a state where the supply of the sterilizing agent in the aseptic area 4 or at least the periphery of the molding apparatus 7 is stopped in the aseptic filling machine 1. 33 and the horizontal sealing rollers 34 and 35 are rotated to perform the sealing operation. In the film sterilization area 3, sterilization of the film 10 is continued. Thereby, compared with the case where the film 10 is stopped or the molding apparatus 7 is stopped and dried, the sterilizing agent introduced into the aseptic filling machine 1 can be dried in a short time and evenly. The traveling speed of the film 10 in the drying process and the operation of the molding device 7 are the same as those when the sterilizing agent is supplied, that is, the sterilizing region 4 is sterilized by running the film 10 while introducing the sterilizing agent. It can be the same.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the film 10 with the sterilant adhered is brought into contact with the rollers 29... Therefore, the rollers 29... 29, 31 in contact with the film 10 can be sufficiently sterilized. This will be described with reference to FIG. 2, portions of the rollers 29... 29 that are in contact with the film 10 (for example, portions indicated by arrows A and B in FIG. 2) are blocked by the film 10. When sterilization is performed in a state where 10 is not run, there is a possibility that the portion blocked by the film 10 cannot be sufficiently sterilized. On the other hand, according to this embodiment, the sterilizing agent adheres to the film 10 and is carried to the rollers 29 and 31, or the atmosphere of the sterilizing agent around the film 10 is disturbed by the running of the film 10 and the rollers 29 and 31. As a result, the roller 29... 29, 31, etc., which are blocked by the film 10, can be sufficiently sterilized. In addition, the portion of the former 32 that is blocked by the film 10 can be sufficiently sterilized. In addition, the sterilizing agent attached to the rollers 29 and 31 can be quickly dried by conveying the film 10 also in the drying process.

  Further, the rollers 12... 12, the rollers 29... 29, the rollers 31, the vertical sealing rollers 33, and the horizontal sealing rollers 34 and 35 are rotated while the film 10 is running, so that the movable members such as these rollers 29. As a result, the sterilizing agent can be distributed evenly over the exposed portion including the roller 29, and the roller 29, etc. can be further sterilized. This will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 3, when sterilization is performed with the vertical seal roller 33 and the horizontal seal rollers 34 and 35 stopped as in the prior art, specific portions of the vertical seal roller 33 and the horizontal seal rollers 34 and 35 are used. There was a possibility that the sterilizing agent would not be sufficiently distributed (for example, portions indicated by arrows C, D, and E in FIG. 3). On the other hand, according to the present embodiment, the sterilizing agent can be evenly distributed over the exposed portions of the vertical sealing roller 33 and the like, and further sufficient sterilization can be performed. In the drying process, the sterilizing agent attached to the rollers 29 and 31, the vertical sealing roller 33, and the horizontal sealing rollers 34 and 35 can be uniformly and quickly dried by conveying the film.

  In addition, the sterilization effect is expectable also about members other than a movable member, for example, the supply pipe | tube 36, by filling the sterilization area | region 4 and the film sterilization area | region 3 with a sterilizing agent. Further, in the drying process, rapid drying of the supply pipe 36 and the like can be expected.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be implemented in various forms. For example, the aseptic filling machine is not limited to one that uses a continuous film as a packaging material, and the present invention can be applied even when a packaging material that is cut into a fixed shape is used. In the above description, the film sterilization region 3 is included in the region to be sterilized. However, the sterilization treatment of the present invention may be performed by supplying a sterilizing agent only to the sterilization region 4. The configurations of the transport device 6 and the molding device 7 are examples, and details thereof may be changed as appropriate.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the aseptic filling machine with which the sterilization method of this invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a roller of the aseptic filling machine of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a filling processing unit of the aseptic filling machine shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1 Aseptic filling machine 2 Raw material supply area 3 Film sterilization area 4 Aseptic area (area to be maintained aseptic)
5 Product discharge area 6 Conveying device 7 Molding device 10 Film (wrapping material)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Film roll 12, 29, 31 Roller 30 Filling process part 33 Roller for vertical seals (forming process member)
34, 35 Horizontal sealing roller (molding member)
40 Sterilizing agent supply device 41 Pump 43, 44 Nozzle 45 Reel

Claims (5)

The packaging material is transported by a transport device in an area that should be maintained in a sterile state, and the packaging material is molded into a packaging shape by a molding device installed in the area, and the contents are placed on the packaging material during the molding. A method of sterilizing the region applied as a preparatory work before the start of the filling operation of the contents, which is applied to an aseptic filling machine for filling,
Sterilizing the region by supplying a sterilizing agent to the region while transporting the packaging material by the transport device;
The transport device includes a roller for guiding the packaging material, and when the sterilizing agent is supplied, the roller is rotated in contact with the packaging material,
When supplying the sterilant, operate at least a part of the movable member of the molding apparatus,
The molding apparatus is provided with a molding processing member as the movable member that performs processing necessary for molding into the packaging shape while rotating in synchronization with conveyance of the packaging material. At the time of supply, the molding processing member is rotated,
The conveyance speed of the packaging material at the time of supplying the sterilizing agent is slower than the conveyance speed of the packaging material at the time of filling the contents ,
After supplying the sterilizing agent, providing a drying step of operating the movable member in a state where the supply of the sterilizing agent is stopped around the molding device,
In the drying step, carrying the packaging material and the operation of the movable member in parallel,
An internal sterilization method for an aseptic filling machine , wherein a transport speed of the packaging material in the drying step is made slower than a transport speed of the packaging material during the filling operation of the contents .   2. The aseptic filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the packaging material is in the form of a film that is continuous in a conveying direction, and the packaging material discharged from the area is wound up and collected when the sterilizing agent is supplied. Internal sterilization method.   3. The drying process of transporting the packaging material in a state where the supply of the sterilizing agent is stopped in the drying required area in the region after the sterilizing agent is supplied. Internal sterilization method of aseptic filling machine.   The method for internal sterilization of an aseptic filling machine according to claim 3, wherein a conveying speed of the packaging material in the drying step is made slower than a conveying speed of the packaging material during the filling operation of the contents. The packaging material is transported by a transport device in an area that should be maintained in a sterile state, and the packaging material is molded into a packaging shape by a molding device installed in the area, and the contents are placed on the packaging material during the molding. A method of sterilizing the region applied as a preparatory work before the start of the filling operation of the contents, which is applied to an aseptic filling machine for filling,
While operating at least some of the movable members of the molding apparatus, sterilize the region by supplying a sterilant to the region,
The molding apparatus is provided with a molding processing member as the movable member that performs processing necessary for molding into the packaging shape while rotating in synchronization with conveyance of the packaging material. When supplying, rotate the molding member,
After supplying the sterilizing agent, providing a drying step of operating the movable member in a state where the supply of the sterilizing agent is stopped around the molding device,
In the drying step, carrying the packaging material and the operation of the movable member in parallel,
An internal sterilization method for an aseptic filling machine, wherein a transport speed of the packaging material in the drying step is made slower than a transport speed of the packaging material during the filling operation of the contents.

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