JP5848037B2 - Electron beam sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an electron beam sterilization apparatus that sterilizes containers filled with food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and the like with an electron beam.

In the filling step of filling a container with a filling such as food, beverage or pharmaceutical, the container is sterilized prior to filling the container with the filling.
In order to sterilize containers, chemicals such as peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet irradiation are often used. However, in recent years, sterilization technology using electron beam irradiation, which has superior sterilizing power than ultraviolet rays, has attracted attention and has been developed intensively. Yes.

Here, in order to surely sterilize, it is necessary to reliably irradiate the entire container with an electron beam.
Therefore, it has been proposed to form a magnetic field barrier composed of a plurality of magnetic fields around the container, and to deflect the electron beam by this magnetic field barrier to irradiate the inner wall and the outer wall of the container with the electron beam (for example, Patent Documents). (See 1)
In addition, it is proposed that a magnetic field is formed around the container, and the magnetic field itself is rotated around the container, or the magnetic field is fixed and the container is rotated, so that the container is reliably irradiated with the electron beam. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

However, the portion near the mouth of the container is complicated in shape, such as a screw groove for screwing the cap, is thick, and is called a gripper or the like when filling the contents in the container. Since the container is held by the holding member, even if the above-described technique is applied, the vicinity of the mouth of the container is difficult to sterilize by electron beam irradiation.
Therefore, there is an apparatus that irradiates an electron beam from above the container and deflects the electron beam by a deflector to irradiate the shadowed portion of the container (for example, see Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent No. 4516909 Japanese Patent No. 4372714 JP 2002-308229 A

However, the conventional techniques as described above all have a complicated structure, leading to an increase in the size and cost of the apparatus.
In the system in which the electron beam is irradiated from the side surface of the container, the place where the electron beam is most difficult to be irradiated is the inner peripheral surface of the mouth of the container held by the gripper. There is room for improvement.
The present invention has been made on the basis of such a technical problem, and it is possible to reliably irradiate an electron beam particularly to the inner peripheral surface of the mouth of the container with a simple configuration without incurring an increase in size and cost of the apparatus. An object of the present invention is to provide an electron beam sterilization apparatus that can be performed in a simple manner.

An electron beam sterilization apparatus of the present invention made for this purpose includes a container holder that holds the mouth of the container, and an electron beam that sterilizes the container by irradiating the container held by the container holder with an electron beam. A magnetic field in a direction orthogonal to the container axial direction is applied to the sterilization unit and the container mouth, and the electron beam sterilized by the electron beam sterilization unit from the container mouth side toward the container axial direction is deflected by the magnetic field. and a magnet unit for the container holder has a magnet unit, the magnet unit is characterized in that it is arranged at a position of the mouth portion in the axial direction of the container in which the container holder is holding.
According to the present invention, a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the container is applied to the mouth of the container, and the electron beam radiated from the mouth side of the container toward the axial direction of the container by the electron beam sterilization unit. It can be deflected by a magnetic field. Thereby, an electron beam can be reliably irradiated to the mouth part of a container.

  Here, a magnet part can be provided in the surface of a container holder. Moreover, you may form a magnet part because container holder itself consists of magnets. Furthermore, the magnet part may be incorporated in the container holder.

  The magnet portion may be made of a permanent magnet or an electromagnet. When using an electromagnet, the degree of deflection can be adjusted by changing the current supplied to the coil constituting the electromagnet. In particular, while the electron beam sterilization unit irradiates the container with an electron beam, the current supplied to the coil constituting the electromagnet is controlled to be turned ON / OFF or the magnitude of the current is increased or decreased. You can also. As a result, the degree of deflection of the electron beam changes during the irradiation of the electron beam, the electron beam can be scanned, and the portion that is difficult to irradiate in the container mouth is reliably irradiated in a wide range. Is possible.

The magnetic field generated by the magnet part is preferably applied across the mouth of the container. Thereby, the electron beam which passes the inner side of the opening part of a container can be deflected, and can be irradiated to the inner peripheral surface of the opening part of a container.
Moreover, you may apply the magnetic field by a magnet part so that a magnetic force line may be located in the outer peripheral side of the opening part of a container. Thereby, the electron beam which passes along the outer peripheral side of the mouth part of a container can be deflected to the container side, and can be irradiated to the outer peripheral surface of the mouth part of a container.

A reflection member that is disposed in the vicinity of the mouth portion of the container and reflects an electron beam emitted from the electron beam sterilization portion located on the side of the container and irradiates the inside of the container from the mouth portion can be further provided.
Thereby, the electron beam reflected by the reflecting member is deflected by the magnetic field generated by the magnet part, and the mouth of the container can be sterilized reliably.
At this time, since the speed of the electron beam reflected by the reflecting member is reduced, the electron beam can be efficiently deflected by the magnet portion, and the inner peripheral surface of the mouth of the container can be reliably irradiated with the electron beam.

Moreover, it can be further provided with a rod-like electrode made of a conductive material, which is inserted from the mouth of the container into the container. By doing in this way, the electron and ion which are accumulate | stored in the material which forms a container by irradiating an electron beam can be removed out of a container, and electrification of a container can be suppressed.
When such an electrode is inserted and arranged in the container from the mouth of the container, it becomes difficult to uniformly irradiate the electron beam at the mouth of the container. Therefore, by applying the present invention, the electron beam irradiation can be made uniform.

  Such an electron beam sterilization apparatus includes: a first electron beam sterilization apparatus that irradiates an electron beam from one side of the container; and a second electron beam sterilization apparatus that irradiates an electron beam from the other side of the container. It can also be configured.

According to the present invention, in the magnet portion provided in the container holding portion, a magnetic field in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the container is generated at the mouth portion of the container, so that the direction from the mouth side of the container toward the axial direction of the container. The electron beam to be irradiated can be deflected to reliably irradiate the inner peripheral surface and the outer peripheral surface of the mouth of the container.
In addition, since only the magnet portion made of a permanent magnet or an electromagnet is provided in the container holding portion, the above effects can be obtained with a simple configuration without causing an increase in size and cost of the apparatus.

It is a layout figure which shows the outline | summary of the drink filling equipment in this Embodiment. It is a figure which shows schematic structure of the sterilizer in this embodiment. It is the top view and perspective view which show a gripper. It is a figure which shows the holding method of the container by the gripper of one sterilizer, and the holding method of the container by the gripper of the other sterilizer in the case of providing two sterilizers. It is a top view which shows the gripper provided with the permanent magnet. It is sectional drawing which shows the structure provided with the reflecting plate in the sterilizer. It is a figure which shows a mode that an electron beam is deflected by a magnet. It is a figure which shows the deflection direction of the electron beam by the gripper of one sterilizer, and the deflection direction of the electron beam by the gripper of the other sterilizer in the case of providing two sterilizers. It is a top view which shows the structure of the gripper in 2nd embodiment. It is a top view which shows the structure of the gripper in 3rd embodiment. It is a top view which shows the structure of the gripper in 4th embodiment.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.
[First embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a beverage filling facility in the present embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, in a beverage filling facility, a sterilization process for sterilization by electron beam irradiation in a sterilization apparatus 10 for a container made of supplied PET resin, a filling process for filling a container with a liquid in a filling apparatus 30, By sequentially performing a capping step of attaching a cap in the capper 40 to the container filled with the liquid, the beverage is filled into the container. A container is conveyed by the star wheel 50 or the conveyance conveyor 60 between the apparatuses which are mutually back and front.
In the present embodiment, two sterilizers 10 are provided, and the container 100 is sterilized from one side and the other side. In the following description, when it is necessary to distinguish between the two sterilizers 10, they are indicated as sterilizers 10A and 10B, and when they are not required to be distinguished, they are simply indicated as sterilizers 10.

The sterilizer 10 used in the sterilization process sterilizes the container by irradiating the container with an electron beam while conveying the container.
As shown in FIG. 2, the sterilizer 10 is inserted into the outer periphery of the disc-shaped rotating body 11 into the gripper (container holder) 12 that holds the supplied container 100 and the container 100 that is held by the gripper 12. A plurality of sets of rod-shaped electrodes 13 are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction.
Further, the sterilization apparatus 10 is provided with an electron beam irradiation apparatus (electron beam sterilization unit) 20 that irradiates the container 100 held by the gripper 12 with an electron beam on the outer peripheral side of the rotating body 11.

The electron beam irradiation apparatus 20 includes an electron beam generation source 21, a horn 22, and a controller (not shown).
A so-called electron gun can be used as the electron beam generation source 21. The electron beam generation source 21 generates a beam-shaped electron beam and irradiates the container 100 with it. At this time, the electron beam irradiation apparatus 20 is provided with a scanning magnet (not shown). Each of the scanning magnets changes the magnetic field generated according to the applied current, and changes the magnetic field generated by the control of the controller, thereby changing the electron beam generated by the electron beam generation source 21 to a predetermined level. Scan in the direction. Here, it is desirable to scan the electron beam in the height direction of the container 100.
The horn 22 has a cylindrical shape whose cross-sectional dimension increases as the distance from the electron beam generation source 21 increases. The horn 22 is provided so as to surround an electron beam irradiation region when the electron beam is scanned by a scanning magnet.

The gripper 12 holds empty containers 100 that are delivered one by one from a container conveying means such as a star wheel 50 that rotates at the same speed as the rotating body 11 by sandwiching the neck portion 100c thereof.
As shown in FIG. 3, the grippers (container holders) 12A and 12B are provided on the base member 70 so as to be rotatable via a shaft 71, and are a pair of gripper claws made of a nonmagnetic material such as SUS304 or SUS316. 72 and 72, and the gripper claws 72 and 72 are opened and closed by an actuator (not shown).

Here, in this embodiment, as described above, two sterilizers 10 are provided, and in the sterilizer 10A on the upstream side in the transport direction, the container 100 is irradiated with an electron beam from one side surface side. In the downstream sterilization apparatus 10B, the container 100 is irradiated with an electron beam from the other side surface side. Therefore, between the upstream sterilization apparatus 10A and the downstream sterilization apparatus 10B, the gripper 12A of the sterilization apparatus 10A and the gripper 12B of the sterilization apparatus 10B face each other across the container 100 at the delivery position of the container 100. It is provided to do.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4A, the gripper claws 72 and 72 of the gripper 12A of the sterilization apparatus 10A are connected to the neck portion 100c of the container 100 so that the gripper 12A of the sterilization apparatus 10A and the gripper 12B of the sterilization apparatus 10B do not interfere with each other. The gripper claws 72 and 72 of the gripper 12B of the sterilizer 10B grip the lower side of the flange portion 100f, as shown in FIG. 4B.

As shown in FIG. 5, such grippers 12 </ b> A and 12 </ b> B are provided with permanent magnets (magnet portions) 73 </ b> N and 73 </ b> S on gripper claws 72 and 72, respectively. In these permanent magnets 73N and 73S, the portions of the gripper claws 72 that contact the container 100 are N poles and S poles, respectively, so that the magnetic lines of force M1 between the gripper claws 72 and 72 from the permanent magnets 73N to the permanent magnets 73S. Is formed.
Here, the gripper claws 72, 72 themselves may be formed of the permanent magnets 73N, 73S, or separate permanent magnets 73N, 73S may be attached to the surfaces of the gripper claws 72, 72. When attaching the separate permanent magnets 73N and 73S to the surfaces of the gripper claws 72 and 72, in the gripper 12A holding the upper side of the flange portion 100f of the container 100, the permanent magnets 73N and 73S are attached to the upper surfaces of the gripper claws 72 and 72. In the gripper 12B that grips the lower mold of the flange portion 100f, the permanent magnets 73N and 73S are attached to the lower surfaces of the gripper claws 72 and 72.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electrode 13 can be inserted into the container 100 held by the grippers 12A and 12B by a cylinder mechanism (not shown).
The electrode 13 is made of a conductive material made of, for example, stainless steel, tungsten, or the like, and has a rod shape. The length of the electrode 13 is located from the mouth 100a to the vicinity of the bottom 100b of the container 100 when inserted into the container 100. Is set.

Here, the configuration of the electrode 13 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, the electron beam EB irradiated from the electron beam irradiation device 20 located on the side of the container 100 is reflected in the vicinity of the mouth part 100 a of the container 100, and the inside from the mouth part 100 a of the container 100 is reflected inside. A reflecting plate (reflecting member) 80 to be irradiated is provided.
The electrode 13 can be provided integrally with the reflecting plate 80.

The electrode 13 as described above can be grounded. In addition, a voltage can be applied to the electrode 13 from a DC power supply.
In the sterilization apparatus 10, the electron beam EB from the electron beam generation source 21 of the electron beam irradiation apparatus 20 is transferred from the outside of the container 100 until the container 100 held by the gripper 12 is delivered to the star wheel 50 on the subsequent process side. The container 100 is sterilized by irradiation. At the same time, a PET film, which is a material for forming the container 100 by irradiating with an electron beam, is inserted into the container 100 by applying a voltage from a ground or a DC power source to a constant voltage. The charge accumulated inside can be removed, and sterilization and static elimination can be performed at that time.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, an AC power supply (AC voltage application source) 15 can be connected to the electrode 13 to apply an AC voltage.
At this time, the alternating current to be applied is preferably a frequency that provides a sufficient loss action and current conduction action to the container 100 that is a dielectric, and is required to be 100 Hz or more, and more preferably about k MHz to MHz.
In this case, the electron beam EB is irradiated from the outside of the container 100 to sterilize the container 100, and at the same time, the electrode 13 to which an alternating voltage is applied is inserted into the container 100. As a result, the charge accumulated in the PET film, which is the material forming the container 100, is removed by electron beam irradiation, and sterilization and static elimination are performed at that time.

According to the configuration as described above, since the reflecting plate 80 is provided in the vicinity of the mouth 100a of the container 100 in each of the sterilization apparatuses 10A and 10B, the irradiation is performed from the electron beam irradiation apparatus 20 on the side of the container 100. The electron beam EB to be reflected is reflected by the reflecting plate 80 and irradiated from the mouth portion 100a of the container 100 toward the inside.
At this time, since the permanent magnets 73N and 73S are provided on the gripper claws 72 and 72 of the gripper 12 holding the container 100, the magnetic lines of force M1 from the permanent magnet 73N to the permanent magnet 73S are between the gripper claws 72 and 72. It is formed. Then, according to Fleming's left-hand rule, the electron beam EB is deflected in a direction orthogonal to the flow direction of the electron beam EB and the direction of the magnetic force lines M1.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the electron beam EB easily hits the inner peripheral surface of the mouth 100a of the container 100, and this portion can be sterilized reliably.
Furthermore, the speed of the electron beam EB is reduced by being reflected by the reflecting plate 80, whereby the electron beam EB can be efficiently deflected, and the above effects become more remarkable. Yes.
In addition, as shown in FIG. 8, in the two sterilizers 10A and 10B, the gripper 12A and 12B hold the container 100 from one side and the other side. The deflection direction Ha of the electron beam EB and the deflection direction Hb of the electron beam EB in the gripper 12B of the sterilizer 10B can be made to be opposite directions. Also by this, reliable sterilization can be performed over the entire circumference of the inner peripheral surface of the mouth 100a of the container 100.

Next, a plurality of application examples of the present invention will be shown. Here, in each embodiment shown below, since only the configuration of the magnets provided in the grippers 12A and 12B is different from the first embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is mainly described. A description will be given and the description of the configuration common to the first embodiment will be omitted.
[Second Embodiment]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, electromagnets (magnet portions) 75N and 75S are provided on the gripper claws 72 and 72 of the sterilizers 10A and 10B.
The electromagnets 75N and 75S each have a coil wound around an iron core, and generate a magnetic field by passing a current in a predetermined direction through the coil.
Here, the electromagnets 75N and 75S may be incorporated so as to be embedded in the gripper claws 72 and 72. In addition, the electromagnets 75N and 75S can be attached to the gripper claws 72 and 72. In the latter case, in the gripper 12A that grips the upper side of the flange portion 100f of the container 100, the electromagnets 75N and 75S are attached to the upper surfaces of the gripper claws 72 and 72, and in the gripper 12B that grips the lower mold of the flange portion 100f, the electromagnet 75N and 75S are attached to the lower surfaces of the gripper claws 72 and 72.

  In these electromagnets 75N and 75S, the portions of the gripper claws 72 that contact the container 100 are the N pole and the S pole, respectively, thereby forming a magnetic force line M1 between the gripper claws 72 and 72 from the electromagnet 75N to the electromagnet 75S. The

  According to the above-described configuration, as in the first embodiment, the electron beam EB is deflected by the magnetic field generated by the electromagnets 75N and 75S, so that the electron beam EB is converted into the inner periphery of the mouth 100a of the container 100. It becomes easy to hit the surface, and this part can be sterilized reliably.

  Further, in the configuration as described above, the current supplied to the coils of the electromagnets 75N and 75S can be turned ON / OFF while the electron beam EB is irradiated. Thereby, the electron beam EB can be scanned between the state where the electron beam EB is deflected and the state where the electron beam EB is not deflected, and the electron beam EB can be irradiated more uniformly.

  Further, the intensity of the voltage (alternating voltage) supplied to the coils of the electromagnets 75N and 75S can be changed while the electron beam EB is irradiated. Accordingly, the curvature for deflecting the electron beam EB can be changed, and the electron beam EB can be scanned in the height direction of the container 100 to perform more uniform electron beam irradiation.

  In addition, the direction of the current supplied to the coils of the electromagnets 75N and 75S can be switched while the electron beam EB is irradiated. Thereby, the deflection direction of the electron beam EB can be changed by 180 °, and the electron beam EB can be uniformly irradiated on the entire inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 100a of the container 100.

[Third embodiment]
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, electromagnets (magnet portions) 76N and 76S are provided on the gripper 12A and 12B of the sterilizers 10A and 10B on the base member 70 side with respect to the portion that holds the container 100. ing.
Here, the electromagnets 76N and 76S are provided so that a virtual line L connecting the electromagnets 76N and 76S passes through the outer peripheral side of the mouth 100a of the container 100.

According to such a configuration, since the electromagnets 76N and 76S are provided in the gripper 12 that holds the container 100, a magnetic force line M2 is formed between the electromagnets 76N and 76S. Then, according to Fleming's left-hand rule, the electron beam EB is deflected in a direction Hc orthogonal to the flow direction of the electron beam EB and the direction of the magnetic force line M2.
As a result, the electron beam EB passing around the mouth 100a of the container 100 is likely to hit the outer peripheral surface of the mouth 100a of the container 100. Accordingly, it is possible to surely sterilize a portion where the electron beam EB is difficult to hit between the gripper claws 72 and 72 of the gripper 12.
Also in this case, the speed of the electron beam EB is reduced by being reflected by the reflecting plate 80, whereby the electron beam EB can be efficiently deflected, and the above effect is more remarkable. It has become.

[Fourth embodiment]
In this embodiment, it has the structure which combined said 2nd embodiment and 3rd embodiment.
That is, as shown in FIG. 11 (a), the electromagnets 75N and 75S are provided in the gripper claws 72 and 72 of the grippers 12A and 12B of the sterilizers 10A and 10B, and the portions that grip the container 100 are provided. Further, the electromagnets 76N and 76S are provided on the base member 70 side. Here, it is preferable that the electromagnets 75N and 75S and the electromagnets 76N and 76S are arranged so that the directions of the magnetic lines of force M1 and M2 are opposite to each other.

According to such a configuration, by deflecting the electron beam EB by the magnetic field generated by the electromagnets 75N and 75S, the electron beam EB can easily hit the inner peripheral surface of the mouth portion 100a of the container 100, and this portion can be sterilized. It can be done reliably. In addition, the electromagnets 76N and 76S make it easier for the electron beam EB passing around the mouth 100a of the container 100 to hit the outer peripheral surface of the mouth 100a of the container 100. Accordingly, it is possible to surely sterilize a portion where the electron beam EB is difficult to hit between the gripper claws 72 and 72 of the gripper 12. In this manner, the inner peripheral surface and outer peripheral surface of the container 100 can be reliably sterilized.
Also in this case, the speed of the electron beam EB is reduced by being reflected by the reflecting plate 80, whereby the electron beam EB can be efficiently deflected, and the above effect is more remarkable. It has become.

  Here, the electromagnets 75N, 75S, 76N, and 76S may be configured to include C-shaped yokes 78 and 79 as shown in FIG. These yokes 78 and 79 form a closed loop of magnetic field lines, so that the loss of the magnetic field is reduced, and the magnetic field inside and outside the container 100 can be efficiently applied.

In addition, in each said embodiment, although the structure of each part of the drink filling equipment and the sterilizer 10 was shown, as long as it is in the range of the main point of this invention, it is good also as a thing of any structure.
Further, the configurations of the electrode 13 and the reflecting plate 80 are not limited to the configurations described above, and may be any configurations within the scope of the gist of the present invention.
In the present invention, the reflector 80 is not essential, and the present invention can also be applied to the case where the electron beam EB is irradiated in the axial direction of the container 100 from the mouth 100a side of the container 100 without providing the reflector 80. .
For example, in FIG. 2, the container 100 is in an upright state, and in the example of FIG. 6, the container 100 is in an inverted state.
In the example of FIG. 1, two sterilization apparatuses 10 are provided and the container 100 is sterilized from one side and the other side. However, the configuration is not limited thereto.
In addition to this, as long as the gist of the present invention is not deviated, the configurations described in the above embodiments can be selected, appropriately combined, or appropriately changed to other configurations.

10, 10A, 10B Sterilizer 11 Rotating body 12, 12A, 12B Gripper (container holder)
13 Electrode 20 Electron beam irradiation device (electron beam sterilization unit)
21 Electron beam generation source 22 Horn 30 Filling device 40 Capper 50 Star wheel 60 Conveyor 70 Base member 71 Axis 72 Gripper claw 73N, 73S Permanent magnet (magnet part)
75N, 75S electromagnet (magnet part)
76N, 76S electromagnet (magnet part)
78 Yoke 80 Reflecting plate 100 Container 100a Mouth part 100b Bottom part 100c Neck part M1, M2 Magnetic field lines

Claims (9)

A container holder for holding the mouth of the container;
An electron beam sterilization unit that sterilizes the container by irradiating the container held by the container holder with an electron beam;
A magnetic field in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the container is applied to the mouth of the container, and the electron beam irradiated from the mouth side of the container toward the axial direction of the container by the electron beam sterilization unit A magnet portion deflected by a magnetic field,
The container holder has the magnet unit,
The magnet portion is disposed at a position of the mouth portion in the axial direction of the container held by the container holder.
An electron beam sterilizer characterized by that.   The electron beam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the magnet unit is made of a permanent magnet.   The electron beam sterilizer according to claim 1, wherein the magnet unit is an electromagnet.   While the electron beam sterilization unit irradiates the container with the electron beam, the current supplied to the coil constituting the electromagnet is ON / OFF or the magnitude of the current is controlled to increase or decrease. The electron beam sterilizer according to claim 3.   The electron beam sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a magnetic field generated by the magnet unit is applied across the mouth of the container.   The electron beam sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a magnetic field generated by the magnet unit is applied so that a magnetic line of force is positioned on an outer peripheral side of the mouth of the container.   A reflection member disposed near the mouth of the container and further reflecting the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam sterilization unit located on the side of the container and irradiating the inside of the container from the mouth; The electron beam sterilizer according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein   The electron beam sterilization apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a rod-shaped electrode that is inserted and disposed in the container from the mouth portion of the container and is made of a conductive material.   The electron beam sterilizer includes a first electron beam sterilizer that irradiates the electron beam from one side of the container, and a second electron beam sterilizer that irradiates the electron beam from the other side of the container. The electron beam sterilizer according to claim 1, comprising:

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