JP5148735B2 - Food container electron beam sterilization inspection system and food container electron beam sterilization inspection method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inspection system for electron beam sterilization and an inspection method for electron sterilization, and in particular, irradiates an electron beam to a resin that can transmit an electron beam, such as PET, and sterilizes a container at high speed. The present invention relates to an inspection system and an inspection method in a sterilization system.

  Food or beverage containers (hereinafter referred to as food containers) are required to sterilize the inner and outer surfaces. An electron beam may be used as a particle beam used to destroy cellular organisms such as bacteria and viruses. Electron beams have particularly favorable physical properties at two points for the destruction of cellular organisms. By adjusting the cumulative irradiation dose of electron beams to be equal to or greater than the cumulative irradiation dose of cell organism destruction found according to the type of cellular organism, it is possible to reliably destroy cellular organisms by electron beam irradiation. it can. The electron beam is permeable to a resin film having a certain mass or less according to the acceleration energy.

  In relation to the above, Patent Document 1 discloses that a scanning electron beam emitted from an irradiation window portion of a scanning body that scans an electron beam in a negative pressure (vacuum) space is irradiated in a three-dimensional shape such as a food or beverage container. In an electron beam irradiation method that achieves an intended purpose such as sterilization while repeatedly irradiating an object, an irradiation window portion from which the scanning electron beam is emitted is recessed, and an irradiated object is disposed in the recessed space In this state, an electron beam irradiation method is disclosed in which the irradiated object is irradiated with an electron beam emitted from a recessed portion of the irradiation window.

  Patent Document 2 includes an electron beam generator that generates an electron beam and an electron beam deflector that magnetically deflects the electron beam, and the electron beam enters the container from one side of the container. Forming a first electron beam that penetrates, a second electron beam that penetrates transparently into the container from the one side part, and a third electron beam that penetrates transparently into the container from the one side part. The first electron beam crosses the second electron beam inside the container, the third electron beam crosses the first electron beam inside the container, and the container is made of an electron beam transmissive material. Disinfecting device formed in the air and disposed in the air.

  When an electron beam having such excellent physical properties is used for the destruction of cellular organisms, if the amount of electron beam irradiation is insufficient, the food container is not sufficiently sterilized. In addition, when the electron beam irradiation is excessive, it may affect the color change of the food container. Therefore, it is necessary to irradiate the food container with an appropriate dose of electron beam.

  On the other hand, in a production line that is mass-produced, it is desired that 100% inspection is performed in order to ensure inspection. Moreover, in the case of an inspection, it is calculated | required that running cost can be suppressed as much as possible by omitting the labor of an inspection. Furthermore, it is desired that food containers that have not been properly irradiated with an electron beam be reliably removed from the production line.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-248892 Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-067233

  An object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam for a food container that can inspect whether or not the electron beam irradiation has been performed reliably in a food production line including a sterilization system that irradiates an electron beam and sterilizes the container at high speed. It is to provide a sterilization inspection system.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam sterilization inspection system for food containers with reduced running costs in a food production line equipped with a sterilization system that irradiates an electron beam and sterilizes the container at high speed. It is to be.

  Still another object of the present invention is to ensure a food container that has not been properly irradiated with an electron beam in a food production line equipped with a sterilization system that irradiates the container at high speed by irradiating an electron beam. Another object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam sterilization inspection system for food containers that can be removed from the production line.

  Means for solving the problem is expressed as follows. Technical matters appearing in the expression are appended with numbers, symbols, etc. in parentheses. The numbers, symbols, and the like are technical matters constituting at least one embodiment or a plurality of embodiments of the present invention or a plurality of embodiments, in particular, the embodiments or examples. This corresponds to the reference numbers, reference symbols, and the like attached to the technical matters expressed in the drawings corresponding to. Such reference numbers and reference symbols clarify the correspondence and bridging between the technical matters described in the claims and the technical matters of the embodiments or examples. Such correspondence or bridging does not mean that the technical matters described in the claims are interpreted as being limited to the technical matters of the embodiments or examples.

The food container electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) according to the present invention includes a food container transport device (20) for transporting the food container (10), and
An electron beam irradiation device (30) for irradiating the food container (10) conveyed by the food container conveyance device (20) with an electron beam;
A physical property detector (40) for detecting at least one physical property value changed by irradiating the food container (10) with an electron beam by the electron beam irradiation device (30);
A physical property determination unit (50) for determining whether the physical property value detected by the physical property detection unit (40), or a change amount of the physical property value before and after electron beam irradiation is within a preset range;
Is provided.
According to the above configuration, after the electron beam is irradiated, the physical property value of the food container is detected and the physical property value is determined. Here, the physical property value of the food container refers to the physicochemical characteristics of the food container member that changes before and after the electron beam irradiation, and the amount of the physicochemical state around the food container member and the food container. The irradiation state of the electron beam (including the electron beam irradiation dose) is not estimated from the set value of the operating condition on the electron beam irradiation device side, but the physicochemical characteristics of the food container member that is the object to be irradiated, the food By directly measuring the physicochemical state around the container member and food container, it is possible to determine whether or not sterilization has been properly performed, so that food that has not been properly irradiated with an electron beam The container can be more reliably removed from the production line.

An electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention comprises:
Furthermore,
Defective product removal device (60) for removing food container (10), which has been determined by physical property judgment unit (50) that the physical property value of food container is not within a predetermined range
Is provided.
According to the above configuration, the food container (10) that has not been properly irradiated with the electron beam can be automatically removed from the production line based on the measured value of the physical property of the food container, and the running cost is suppressed. Is done.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention, the physical property detector (40) includes a temperature detector (41) for measuring the temperature of the food container.
For food containers made of materials such as resins that generate heat and rise in temperature due to electron beam irradiation, the allowable range of temperature detector measurement values when food containers are properly irradiated. Know in advance, for example, measure the temperature of the entire surface of the food container, and if the temperature at a given location deviates from the allowable range, determine that the electron beam is excessively irradiated or insufficiently irradiated, and select the food container. Can do.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention, the physical property detector (40) includes an ozone gas sensor (42) for detecting the ozone concentration.
Ozone gas is generated by electron beam irradiation in the air in or around food containers that have received electron beam irradiation. According to the above configuration, the allowable value of the ozone gas concentration generated when proper irradiation is performed is previously grasped, the ozone concentration after electron beam irradiation is measured, and this is outside the predetermined allowable range. When it is determined that the electron beam is excessively irradiated or insufficiently irradiated, the food container that has not been appropriately irradiated with the electron beam can be reliably removed from the production line.

In the food container electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) according to the present invention, the physical property detector (40) includes a charge amount measuring device (43) for measuring the charge amount.
Some food containers are charged by electron beam irradiation. According to the above-described configuration, the range of the amount of charge generated by the food container when appropriate irradiation is performed in advance is determined in advance, the amount of charge after the electron beam irradiation is measured, and this is determined according to a predetermined tolerance. When it is out of the range, it is sometimes determined that the electron beam is excessively irradiated or insufficiently irradiated, and the food container that has not been properly irradiated with the electron beam can be reliably removed from the production line.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention,
The physical property detection unit (40) includes a camera (44).
Some food containers change color when irradiated with an electron beam. According to the above-described configuration, the color range emitted or reflected by the food container when appropriate irradiation is performed in advance is grasped in advance, and the food container emitted or reflected at the time of electron beam irradiation or after irradiation is reflected. When the color is detected and it is out of the predetermined allowable range, it is determined that the electron beam is excessively irradiated or insufficiently irradiated, and the food container that has not been properly irradiated with the electron beam is reliably removed from the production line. Can do.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention,
The physical property detector (40) is a mirror (70) that reflects the appearance of the food container (10).
With
The camera (44) photographs the food container (10) reflected by the mirror (70).
As described above, the camera can be provided at an arbitrary position by using the mirror. In the vicinity of the electron beam irradiation apparatus, a large amount of X-rays is generated, which is likely to cause a camera failure. Therefore, by providing the camera at a position where the X-ray dose is far away from the electron beam irradiation apparatus, it is possible to prevent the camera from being broken.

An electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention comprises:
Furthermore,
Based on the image of the food container (10) photographed by the camera (44), a light emission image analysis unit (52) for calculating the amount of light emitted from the food container (10) by the irradiation of the electron beam is provided.

An electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention comprises:
Furthermore,
A post-irradiation image analysis unit (53) for analyzing the color of the food container (10) after electron beam irradiation based on the image of the food container (10) taken by the camera (44)
Is provided.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention,
The food container (10) is a resin container.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection system (1) for food containers according to the present invention,
The food container (10) is a PET bottle.

The electron beam sterilization inspection method of the food container according to the present invention,
A step (step S10) in which the electron beam irradiation device (30) irradiates the food container transported by the food container transport device (20) with an electron beam;
A physical property detection step (step S20) in which the physical property detection unit (40) detects at least one physical property value changed by irradiating the food container (10) with the electron beam by the electron beam irradiation device (30);
A physical property determination step (step S30) for determining whether the physical property value detected in the physical property detection step (S20) or a change amount of the physical property value before and after electron beam irradiation is within a preset range; ,
Is provided.

The electron beam sterilization inspection method of the food container according to the present invention,
Furthermore,
A step (step S40) of removing the food container (10) in which the defective product removing device (60) has been determined by the physical property determining unit (50) that the physical property value is not within the predetermined range;
Is provided.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
The physical property detection step (step S20) includes a step (step S22) of measuring the temperature of the food container (10) after the physical property detection unit (40) is irradiated with the electron beam.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
The physical property detection step (step S20) includes a step (step S23) of measuring the ozone gas concentration of the food container (10) after the physical property detection unit (40) is irradiated with the electron beam.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
The physical property detection step (step S20) includes a step (step S24) of measuring the charge amount of the food container (10) after the physical property detection unit (40) is irradiated with the electron beam.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
The physical property detection step (step S20) includes a photographing step (step S21) in which the camera (44) photographs the appearance of the food container (10).

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
In the photographing step (step S21), the camera (44) captures an image of the food container (10) reflected on the mirror (70).

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
The physical property judgment step (step S30)
A step in which the camera (44) measures the amount of light emitted from the food container (10) by the electron beam irradiation (step S31).
Is provided.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
The physical property determination step (step S30) is a step of analyzing the color of the food container (10) after electron beam irradiation (step S32) based on the image of the food container (10) taken by the camera (44A, 44B). Prepare.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
The food container (10) is a resin container.

In the electron beam sterilization inspection method for food containers according to the present invention,
The food container (10) is a PET bottle.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the electron beam sterilization test | inspection system of the food container which can test | inspect whether the electron beam irradiation was performed reliably in the mass production line is provided.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, an electron beam sterilization inspection system for food containers with reduced running costs is provided.

  Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a food container electron beam sterilization inspection system that can reliably remove food containers that have not been properly irradiated with an electron beam from the production line.

It is a figure showing roughly composition of a PET bottle drink filling system. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of an electron beam sterilization inspection system 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows roughly the structure of the electron beam disinfection inspection system 1 in case the camera 44 is provided with two cameras (44A, 44B). It is a block diagram which shows the structure of a computer. It is a figure which shows notionally the information stored in the storage part 59. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the whole operation | movement of an electron beam sterilization method. It is a flowchart of a physical property detection step. It is a flowchart of a physical property judgment step.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing a configuration of a PET bottle beverage filling system that sterilizes a PET bottle as a food container 10 with an electron beam, fills the contents, and caps the contents. The PET bottle introduced from the entrance 2 is transported to the sterilization unit 3 by the food container transport device 20 and sterilized by the electron beam irradiation device 30. The sterilized PET bottle is carried into the rinse rinser 4 and washed with water or air. In the present invention in which electron beam sterilization is performed, the rinse rinser 4 may be unnecessary. The PET bottle delivered from the rinse rinser 4 is filled with the contents by the filler 5. A controller 7 is connected to the filler 5 to control the operation of the filler 5. The PET bottle filled with the contents is sealed with a cap attached to the capper 6. The PET bottle beverage filling system incorporates an electron beam sterilization inspection system 1 so that it can be determined whether or not electron beam sterilization is sufficient.

  FIG. 2A is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the electron beam sterilization inspection system 1 according to the present embodiment. The electron beam sterilization inspection system 1 includes a food container transport device 20, an electron beam irradiation device 30, a physical property detection unit 40, a computer 51, a position monitoring device 58, a control device 7, and a defective product removal device 60.

  The food container transport device 20 transports the PET bottle as the food container 10 in the positive X direction in FIG. The food container transport device 20 continuously transports a plurality of food containers 10.

  The electron beam irradiation device 30 is provided on the Y positive direction side of the food container transport device 20. The electron beam irradiation device 30 irradiates the food container 10 conveyed by the food container conveyance device 20 with an electron beam a predetermined number of times per unit time. That is, one food container 10 is irradiated with an electron beam a plurality of times.

  The physical property detection unit 40 includes a temperature detector 41, an ozone gas sensor 42, a charge amount measuring device 43, a camera 44, and a mirror 70.

  The temperature detector 41 detects the temperature of the food container 10 after being irradiated with the electron beam. As the temperature detector 41, it is preferable to use a thermography capable of grasping the temperature distribution of the entire food container 10. The temperature detector 41 notifies the computer 51 of the detected temperature data.

  The ozone gas sensor 42 detects ozone gas generated in the air around or in the food container by irradiation of the electron beam and remaining in or around the food container 10 after being irradiated with the electron beam. The ozone gas sensor 42 may be inserted into the bottle to detect the ozone gas remaining in the bottle and measure the concentration. More preferably, for example, the ozone gas sensor 42 is disposed directly above the opening 11 of the food container 10. Good. When the ozone gas sensor 42 is disposed directly above the opening 11 of the food container 10, the ozone gas sensor 42 is located immediately above the opening 11 of the food container 10 and is separated from the opening 11 by a predetermined distance. It arrange | positions so that the ozone gas density | concentration in can be measured. Detecting the concentration of ozone gas by detecting ozone gas diffused directly from the inside or around the food container 10 to the opening 11 without taking the trouble of inserting the measurement part of the ozone gas sensor 42 into the food container 10. Can do. Since the trouble of inserting the measurement portion into the inside can be saved, the running cost is suppressed. The ozone gas sensor 42 notifies the computer 51 of the detected ozone gas concentration.

  The charge amount measuring device 43 realizes a function of detecting the charge amount generated by the irradiation of the electron beam with respect to the food container 10 after being irradiated with the electron beam. As the charge amount measuring device 43, a commercially available one can be used. The principle of the charge amount measurement of the charge amount measuring device 43 is that the food container 10 is irradiated with a charge opposite to the charge charged in the food container 10 until the charge of the food container 10 is neutralized. There is a method for measuring the charge amount of the charge of the opposite sign. The charge amount measuring device 43 notifies the computer 51 of the detected charge amount.

  The camera 44 is provided at a position where an image of the food container 10 reflected on the mirror 70 can be taken. The electron beam irradiation device 30 irradiates the food container 10 with a predetermined number of electron beams per unit time. The camera 44 captures an image of the food container 10 reflected on the mirror 70 from the start to the end of irradiation of the electron beam on the food container 10. X-rays are generated at the time of electron beam irradiation, and when the camera 44 directly images the food container 10 being irradiated with an electron beam, it may cause a failure. By using the mirror 70, the camera 44 can be installed at a position that is not affected by X-rays, so that a failure can be avoided. The camera 44 notifies the computer 51 of the photographed image of the food container 10 as light emission image data. The camera 44 also captures an image of the food container 10 after the electron beam irradiation ends. Here, the imaging of the food container 10 after the electron beam irradiation is completed does not necessarily have to capture an image reflected on the mirror 70, and the camera 44 may directly image the food container 10. The camera 44 notifies the computer 51 of the captured image of the food container 10 as post-irradiation image data.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2A, the camera 44 may take a picture of the food container 10 during and after the electron beam irradiation with one camera, but as shown in FIG. 2B, the image during the electron beam irradiation. There may be provided two cameras, a light emission detection camera 44A for photographing the image and a color detection camera 44B for photographing the image after the electron beam irradiation. When two cameras are provided, the light emission detection camera 44 </ b> A captures an image reflected on the mirror 70 of the food container 10 irradiated with the electron beam and notifies the computer 51 as light emission image data. On the other hand, the color detection camera 44B takes a picture of the food container 10 after the electron beam irradiation and notifies the computer 51 as image data after the irradiation. Since the color detection camera 44B can be installed at a position that is not affected by the X-rays caused by the electron beam irradiation, the food container 10 reflected on the mirror 70 does not necessarily have to be taken and may be taken directly.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the configuration of the computer 51. The computer 51 includes an arithmetic processing unit 71, a ROM 73, a RAM 72, and a storage unit 59, which are connected to each other via a bus. The data notified from the physical property detection unit 40 is temporarily stored in the RAM 72. The ROM 73 stores a physical property determination unit 50 as a program, and the arithmetic processing device 71 realizes its function.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram conceptually showing information stored in the storage unit 59. The storage unit 59 stores in advance predetermined ranges for each of temperature, ozone gas concentration, charge amount, light emission amount, and color after irradiation.

  Returning to FIG. 3, the physical property determination unit 50 includes at least one analysis unit of a light emission image analysis unit 52, a post-irradiation image data analysis unit 53, a temperature analysis unit 54, an ozone gas concentration analysis unit 55, and a charge amount analysis unit 56. And a bactericidal judgment unit 57.

  The temperature analysis unit 54 refers to the storage unit 59 and determines whether or not the temperature of the food container 10 notified from the temperature detector 41 is within a predetermined range. The temperature analysis unit 54 notifies the sterilization determination unit 57 of the determination result.

  The ozone gas concentration analysis unit 55 refers to the storage unit 59 to determine whether or not the ozone gas concentration of the food container 10 notified from the ozone gas sensor 42 is within a predetermined range. The ozone gas concentration analysis unit 55 notifies the sterilization determination unit 57 of the determination result.

  The charge amount analysis unit 56 refers to the storage unit 59 to determine whether or not the charge amount of the food container 10 notified from the charge amount measuring device 43 is within a predetermined range, and determines the sterilization result. The function of notifying the unit 57 is realized.

  The light emission image analysis unit 52 analyzes the light emission image data notified from the camera 44 (light emission detection camera 44A), and whether the light emission amount emitted from the food container 10 by the electron beam irradiation is within a predetermined range. Judge whether or not. The luminescent image analysis unit 52 notifies the sterilization determination unit 57 of the determination result. As the analysis method of the luminescence image data, a method of analyzing the food container 10 by a total value of the luminescence amount emitted with respect to the electron beam irradiation of a plurality of times, or the luminescence amount emitted with respect to the electron beam irradiation per time. A method of analyzing by an average value is exemplified.

  The post-irradiation image data analysis unit 53 analyzes the post-irradiation image data notified from the camera 44 (color detection camera 44B), and the color of the food container 10 that has passed a predetermined time after the electron beam irradiation is within a predetermined range. The function which judges whether it is settled in, and notifies a result to the bactericidal judgment part 57 is implement | achieved.

  The bactericidal determination unit 57 is based on the determination results notified from the post-irradiation image data analysis unit 53, the luminescence image data analysis unit 52, the temperature analysis unit 54, the ozone gas concentration analysis unit 55, and the charge amount analysis unit 56. It is determined whether or not the sterilization property of the container 10 is sufficient. The criterion for determining whether or not the sterilizing property is sufficient is set by the user and stored in the storage unit 59 in advance. When the sterilization determination unit 57 determines that the sterilization of the food container 10 is insufficient, the sterilization determination unit 57 notifies the position monitoring device 58 of the determination result.

  The position monitoring device 58 monitors individual positions of the plurality of food containers 10 being transported by the food container transport device 20. A case where the position monitoring device 58 receives a notification from the sterilization determination unit 57 that the sterilization property of the food container 10 is insufficient will be described below. When the food container 10 is transported to the position where the filling container 5 is filled with the contents, the position monitoring device 58 notifies the control device 7 of a beverage filling non-use signal indicating that beverage filling is unnecessary. . When the food container 10 is transported to the position where the defective product removing device 60 operates, the control device 7 is notified of an exclusion signal indicating that the food container 10 should be excluded.

  The control device 7 controls the operation of the filling device 5 and the defective product removing device 60. When the control device 7 acquires the filling unnecessary signal from the position monitoring device 58, the control device 7 controls the operation of the filling device 5 so that the filling device 5 does not fill the food container 10 with the contents. By not filling the contents in this way, the material cost of the contents can be reduced. Furthermore, when the control device 7 acquires the exclusion signal from the position monitoring device 58, the control device 7 controls the operation of the defective product removing device 60 so that the defective product removing device 60 removes the food container 10 from the production line.

  The defective product removing device 60 is provided in a process between the filler 5 and the capper 6. The defective product removing device 60 operates in accordance with an instruction from the control device 7 and removes the food container 10 determined to be defective from the production line. The defective product removing device 60 may be provided at any position as long as it is a subsequent process of the physical property detection unit 40. When the defective product removing device 60 is provided between the physical property detection unit 40 and the filling device 5, the control device 7 controls the filling device 5 so that the food container 10 is not filled with the contents described above. The operation of controlling is omitted.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation method of the electron beam sterilization inspection system 1 according to the present embodiment. The operation method of the electron beam sterilization inspection system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a step of irradiating an electron beam (step S10), a physical property detection step of detecting a physical property of the food container irradiated with the electron beam (step S20), and detection. A physical property detection step (step S30) for determining the physical property, and a step of removing defective products (step S40).

(Step S10)
The food container 10 introduced from the entrance 2 is carried to the sterilization unit 3 and irradiated with an electron beam by the electron beam irradiation device 30. The electron beam irradiation is performed a predetermined number of times per unit time.

(Step S20)
FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations in the physical property detection step (step S20). The physical property detection step includes a step of photographing the food container (step S21), a step of measuring the temperature (step S22), a step of measuring the ozone concentration (step S23), and a step of measuring the charge amount (step S24). ing.

(Step S21)
While the food container 10 is irradiated with the electron beam, the camera 44 (light emission detection camera 44 </ b> A) captures an image of the food container 10 reflected on the mirror 70. When the irradiation with the electron beam is completed, the camera 44 (the light emission detection camera 44A) notifies the computer 51 of the imaged food container 10 as light emission image data. The camera 44 (color detection camera 44B) also captures an image of the food container 10 that has been irradiated with the electron beam. The camera 44 (color detection camera 44B) notifies the computer 51 of the image of the food container 10 taken after the electron beam irradiation as post-irradiation image data.

(Step S22)
When the irradiation with the electron beam is completed, the temperature detector 41 measures the temperature of the food container 10. The temperature detector 41 notifies the computer 51 of the measured temperature of the food container 10 as temperature data.

(Step S23)
When the irradiation with the electron beam is completed, the ozone gas sensor 42 measures the concentration of ozone gas in the upper part of the opening 11 of the food container 10. The ozone gas sensor 42 notifies the computer 51 of the measured concentration of ozone gas as ozone concentration data.

(Step S24)
The charge amount measuring device 43 measures the charge amount of the food container 10 that has been irradiated with the electron beam. The charge amount measuring device 43 notifies the computer 51 of the measured charge amount of the food container 10 as charge amount data.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the flow of operations in the physical property judgment step (step S30). The physical property determination step (S30) is a step of analyzing the luminescence image data (step S31), a step of analyzing the post-irradiation image data (step S32), a step of determining the temperature (step S33), and a step of determining the ozone gas concentration (step S33). Step S34), a step of determining the charge amount (Step S35), and a step of determining bactericidal properties (Step S36). Hereinafter, the operation of each step will be described in detail.

(Step S31)
First, the light emission image analysis unit 52 analyzes the light emission image data notified to the computer 51. The light emission image analysis unit 52 obtains the total amount of light emitted by the food container 10 for a plurality of electron beam irradiations. The light emission image analysis unit 52 refers to the storage unit 59 and determines whether the total value of the obtained light emission amounts falls within the range of the light emission amount A to the light emission amount B, which is a predetermined range stored in the storage unit 59 in advance. Determine whether. Further, the light emission image analysis unit 52 notifies the sterilization determination unit 57 of the determination result.

(Step S32)
Subsequently, the post-irradiation image analysis unit 53 analyzes the post-irradiation image data notified to the computer 51. The post-irradiation image analysis unit 53 refers to the storage unit 59, and the color of the food container 10 after the irradiation with the electron beam falls within a predetermined range of colors A to B from the post-irradiation data image. Determine whether or not. The post-irradiation image analysis unit 53 notifies the determination result to the bactericidal determination unit 57.

(Step S33)
Subsequently, the temperature analysis unit 54 analyzes the temperature data notified to the computer 51. The temperature analysis unit 54 refers to the storage unit 59 and determines whether or not the temperature of the food container 10 falls within a predetermined range of temperature A to temperature B from the notified temperature data. The temperature analysis unit 54 notifies the sterilization determination unit 57 of the temperature determination result.

(Step S34)
Subsequently, the ozone gas concentration analysis unit 55 analyzes the ozone gas concentration notified to the computer 51. The ozone gas concentration analysis unit 55 refers to the storage unit 59 and determines whether or not the concentration of ozone gas generated from the food container 10 falls within a predetermined range of concentration A to concentration B from the notified ozone concentration data. To do. The ozone gas concentration analysis unit 55 notifies the sterilization determination unit 57 of the determination result of the ozone gas concentration.

(Step S35)
Subsequently, the charge amount analysis unit 56 analyzes the charge amount notified to the computer 51. The charge amount analysis unit 56 refers to the storage unit 59, and from the charge amount data, whether the charge amount of the food container 10 generated by the electron beam irradiation falls within a predetermined range of charge amount A to charge amount B. Judge whether or not. The charge amount analysis unit 56 notifies the sterilization determination unit 57 of the determination result of the charge amount.

  The operation of each step from S31 to S35 described above may be performed simultaneously or in any order. In addition, each step from S31 to S35 aims at cost reduction, and it is not always necessary to perform all the steps, and one or more steps may be used.

(Step S36)
The sterilization determination unit 57 that has acquired the determination results of the light emission image, the post-irradiation image, the temperature, the ozone gas concentration, and the charge amount determines whether the food container 10 has been normally sterilized according to preset criteria. If it is determined that the sterilization of the food container 10 is not appropriate, the sterilization determination unit 57 notifies the position monitoring 58 that the sterilization of the food container 10 is not appropriate.

(Step S40)
The position monitoring device 58 that has received the notification from the sterilization determination unit 57 waits for the food container 10 to be transported to a position where the filling container 5 is filled with the contents, and then sends a signal indicating that no filling is required to the control device 7. To send. The control device 7 that has acquired the filling unnecessary signal controls the operation of the filling machine 5 so as not to fill the food container 10 with the contents. In addition, the position monitoring device 58 sends an exclusion signal to the control device 7 after the food container is transported to a position where the defective product removing device 60 removes the defective product. The control device 7 that has received the rejection signal controls the operation of the defective product removal device 60 so as to remove the food container 10 from the production line. Thereby, a series of operations of the electron beam sterilization method is completed.

  When a food container such as a PET bottle is sterilized by an electron beam, the physical properties of the food container that is an object to be irradiated may be changed by irradiation. In the present embodiment, by measuring the temperature, color, light emission, charge amount, and ozone gas concentration of the food container by electron beam irradiation, it is possible to determine whether the electron beam irradiation has been performed correctly. . Measuring the physical properties of the irradiated object is more directly measuring the state of the food container than measuring the emission state of the electron beam on the irradiation side. Therefore, it can be determined more accurately whether or not the electron beam irradiation has been performed correctly.

  In addition, the defective product removal apparatus can automatically remove food containers that have not been properly irradiated with the electron beam from the line. Since food containers are automatically removed from the line, running costs are reduced.

  Furthermore, by photographing the color and light emission of the food container through a mirror, the camera can be installed at a position apart from the electron beam irradiation apparatus. Therefore, it is possible to avoid a camera failure due to X-rays generated when the camera is installed in the vicinity of the electron beam irradiation apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electron beam sterilization system 2 Entrance 3 Sterilization part 4 Rinse rinser 5 Filler 6 Capper 7 Control apparatus 10 Food container 11 Opening part 20 Food container conveyance apparatus 30 Electron beam irradiation apparatus 40 Physical property detection part 41 Temperature detector 42 Ozone gas sensor 43 Charging Quantity measuring device 44 Camera 44A Luminescence detection camera 44B Color detection camera 50 Physical property determination unit 51 Computer 52 Luminous image analysis unit 53 Post-irradiation image analysis unit 54 Temperature analysis unit 55 Ozone gas concentration analysis unit 56 Charge amount analysis unit 57 Bactericidal determination Unit 58 Position monitoring device 59 Storage unit 60 Defective product removal device 70 Mirror 71 Arithmetic processing device 72 RAM
73 ROM

Claims (6)

A food container transport device for transporting food containers;
An electron beam irradiation device for irradiating the food container transported by the food container transport device with an electron beam;
A physical property detection unit that detects at least one physical property value changed by irradiating the food container with an electron beam by the electron beam irradiation device;
A physical property determination unit that determines whether or not the physical property value detected by the physical property detection unit is within a preset range;
A defective product removing apparatus for removing the food container, which is determined by the physical property judging unit to have a physical property value of the food container that is not within a predetermined range;
Comprising
The physical property detection unit is an electron beam sterilization inspection system for a food container including an ozone gas sensor for detecting a concentration of ozone gas generated from the food container or a charge amount measuring device for measuring a charge amount of the food container. An electron beam sterilization inspection system for food containers according to claim 1,
The food container is an electron beam sterilization inspection system for a food container, which is a resin container. An electron beam sterilization inspection system for food containers according to claim 1 or 2,
The food container is an electron beam sterilization inspection system for food containers which are PET bottles. An electron beam irradiation device irradiates a food container transported by the food container transport device with an electron beam;
A physical property detection unit that detects at least one physical property value changed by irradiating the food container with an electron beam by the electron beam irradiation device; and
A physical property determination step for determining whether or not the physical property value detected in the physical property detection step is within a preset range;
A defective product removing apparatus removing the food container determined to have a physical property value not within a predetermined range by the physical property determining step;
Comprising
In the physical property detection step, the physical property detection unit measures the ozone concentration generated by the food container by irradiating the electron beam, or the food container after the physical property detection unit is irradiated with the electron beam. electron beam sterilization method of inspecting food containers comprising the step of measuring the amount of charge. It is an electron beam sterilization inspection method of the food container according to claim 4,
The food container is an electron beam sterilization inspection method for a food container, which is a resin container. An electron beam sterilization inspection method for a food container according to claim 4 or 5,
The food container is an electron beam sterilization inspection method for a food container, which is a PET bottle.

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