JP5919912B2 - Preform sterilization method and apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sterilizing a preform for making a container such as a bottle.

  Conventionally, in order to sterilize a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle with hydrogen peroxide solution, the bottle is introduced into the chamber, the hydrogen peroxide solution is sprayed into the chamber, and an air flow is introduced into the chamber. ing. Thereby, even if it is a bottle which has a complicated shape, the mist of hydrogen peroxide solution adheres to the bottle surface uniformly, and the bottle surface is sterilized uniformly (for example, refer patent document 1). ).

  Attempts have also been made to sterilize at the preform stage prior to bottle molding. That is, the mouth of the preform is directly opposed to a nozzle opened vertically downward, and a chemical such as hydrogen peroxide is injected from the nozzle, and then the preform is introduced into a heating furnace, and the preform is brought to a blow molding temperature. While being heated, the sterilizing effect is enhanced, and thereafter, it is sandwiched with a molding die and blow-molded into a bottle (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

  Also, when sterilizing at the preform stage, a large number of preforms each dropped with an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution are sealed in a container, and the hydrogen peroxide vaporized in the container is transported and stored when the container is transported and stored. Attempts have been made to sterilize the inner and outer surfaces of the preform with steam. The preform taken out from the container at the container delivery destination is molded into a sterile bottle by the destination molding machine (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 5-65148 Special table 2001-510104 gazette JP 2000-326935 A

  The conventional method of sterilizing bottles using hydrogen peroxide solution mist requires the use of an expensive mist generator because the mist of hydrogen peroxide solution needs to be refined. There is a problem of inviting up.

  In addition, the method of injecting a medicine such as hydrogen peroxide to the preform requires the preform to be aligned and run in an upright state, and immediately after the medicine is attached, it is introduced into the heating furnace and sterilized by the germicide. Need to be increased. For this reason, there exists a problem that a sterilization system becomes complicated, enlarges, and causes a cost increase.

  An object of the present invention is to eliminate such problems.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following configuration.

  That is, in the invention according to claim 1, a large number of preforms (1) formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape are put on the conveyor (4) to be in an uneven recumbent state, and these preforms (1) (4) is passed through the chamber (5), and in the chamber (5), the hydrogen peroxide solution (M) is sprayed from both sides of the conveyor (4) in a direction crossing the conveyor (4). Hydrogen water (M) is attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the preform (1) on the conveyor (4). After that, at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth (1a) of the preform (1) is exposed to water. A preform sterilization method in which superheated steam (S) having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C. to 500 ° C. is applied.

  As described in claim 2, in the preform sterilization method according to claim 1, the hydrogen peroxide solution can be misted by a two-fluid spray using pressurized air.

  As described in claim 3, in the preform sterilization method according to claim 1 or 2, the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide solution may be 20% to 35%.

  As described in claim 4, in the preform sterilization method according to claim 2 or claim 3, air heated to 40 ° C. to 150 ° C. may be mixed with hydrogen peroxide mist. .

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the preform sterilization method according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the chamber (5) is preliminarily passed before the sterilization of the preform (1) is started. It may be sterilized by spraying with hydrogen oxide water.

  Moreover, the invention which concerns on Claim 6 was installed in the horizontal running part of this conveyor (4) and the conveyor (4) which carries the preform (1) formed in the bottomed cylindrical shape in a lying state, and conveys it. A hydrogen peroxide solution (M) is sprayed in a direction across the conveyor (4) from both sides of the conveyor (4) in the chamber (5), and the hydrogen peroxide solution (M) is transferred to the conveyor (4). 4) A spray nozzle (10) attached to the inner and outer surfaces of the upper preform (1), and the preform (1) carried out of the chamber (5) by the conveyor (4) are received and erect. The superheated steam (S) having a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C. to 500 ° C. made from water is sprayed on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth portion (1a) of the preform (1) while traveling at Superheated steam supply means To adopt a preform sterilization equipment.

  According to the present invention, a large number of preforms (1) formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder are put on a conveyor (4) to be in an uneven recumbent state, and these preforms (1) are put together with the conveyor (4). The chamber (5) is passed through, and in the chamber (5), the hydrogen peroxide solution is sprayed in the direction crossing the conveyor (4) from both sides of the conveyor (4), and the sprayed hydrogen peroxide solution is transferred to the conveyor (4). Attach to the inner and outer surfaces of the upper preform (1), and then, at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth portion (1a) of the preform (1) has an atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C. to 500 ° C. made from water. Since the preform sterilization method blows superheated steam (S) at a higher pressure than the preform (1), the preform (1) discharged from the preform molding machine is received by the conveyor (4) and placed on the conveyor (4). Mom conveyor (4) sufficient by introducing into each chamber (5) within. In the chamber (5), since the hydrogen peroxide solution is sprayed from both sides of the conveyor (4) in a direction crossing the conveyor (4), the mist (M) of the hydrogen peroxide solution is a preform on the conveyor (4). It adheres to the outer surface of (1). At that time, since the preform (1) can roll over on the conveyor (4) by vibration or the like, the hydrogen peroxide solution uniformly adheres to the outer surface of the preform (1). At the same time, the mist (M) of the hydrogen peroxide solution also flows into the preform (1) from the mouth portion (1a) of the preform (1) which is turned sideways, and evenly on the inner surface of the preform (1). Adhere to. Thereby, the entire surface of the preform (1) is properly sterilized with hydrogen peroxide. The preform (1) sterilized with hydrogen peroxide is then packed, stored and transported, and then unpacked and sent to a blow molding machine or the like. The superheated steam (S) is sprayed onto the container so that it is further sterilized and then formed into a container by a blow molding machine. When the preform (1) sterilized by hydrogen peroxide is supplied to a blow molding machine or the like as it is, it is further sterilized by superheated steam (S) at the stage of transition from the conveyor (4) to the blow molding machine or the like. Therefore, the preform (1) sterilized reliably is formed in the container (12) by the blow molding machine.

  In addition, as a result of adopting the method of the present invention, a large amount of preforms can be sterilized reliably and inexpensively without the need for a preform aligning apparatus and an expensive hydrogen peroxide solution dispensing apparatus as in the prior art. it can.

An example of the preform which can be sterilized by the sterilization method concerning this invention is shown, (A) is a top view, (B) is a front view. It is a partial notch top view which shows the outline of the apparatus for implementing the method of disinfecting a preform with hydrogen peroxide. It is a vertical sectional view which shows the outline of the said apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the method of disinfecting a preform with superheated steam. It is explanatory drawing from the superheated steam sterilization process of a preform to a blow molding process. It is explanatory drawing after a blow molding to a capping process. It is a schematic plan view of the apparatus which sterilizes the preform sterilized with hydrogen peroxide further with superheated steam and then blow-molds to fill the beverage.

  The form for implementing this invention is demonstrated below.

  A preform to be sterilized by the present invention is formed as a bottomed tubular body having a test tube shape by injection molding of PET. The preform is later formed into a bottle 12 (see FIG. 6D), which is a container of a desired shape, but as shown in FIGS. A mouth 1a similar to that in the bottle 12 is provided at the beginning of the molding. A male screw 2 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the mouth portion 1 a simultaneously with the molding of the preform 1. The male screw 2 can be screwed with a female screw of a cap (not shown) that covers the mouth 1a of the bottle. A support ring 3 used to hold the bottle 12 when a beverage or the like is filled into the bottle 12 later is formed below the male screw 2.

  An apparatus for sterilizing the preform 1 is configured as shown in FIGS.

  2 and 3, reference numeral 4 denotes an endless belt type conveyor. A preform molding machine (not shown) is arranged on the upstream side of the running direction indicated by the arrow of the conveyor 4. The molded preform 1 discharged from the preform molding machine is received at the upstream portion of the conveyor 4 by using a hopper or the like (not shown). As shown in FIG. 2, the molded preform 1 is placed on the conveyor 4 in a lying state in an uneven direction.

  The intermediate portion of the conveyor 4 can run horizontally, and the chamber 5 is covered in a hood shape on the intermediate portion.

  The chamber 5 shields the both side walls 6 disposed so as to sandwich the conveyor 4 from both sides, the front and rear walls 7 and 8 disposed at the front and rear ends of the both side walls 6, and the upper sides of the both side walls 6 and the front and rear walls 7 and 8. And the top wall 9 to be used.

  Spray nozzles 10 for spraying the hydrogen peroxide solution in the direction crossing the conveyor 4 from the side edge side of the conveyor 4 are respectively attached to the side walls 6. The spray nozzles 10 can be attached to the side walls 6 one by one. Preferably, a plurality of spray nozzles 10 are arranged on the side walls 6 in the running direction of the conveyor 4.

  Further, a two-fluid spray nozzle is desirably employed as the spray nozzle 10, and hydrogen peroxide is supplied from one flow path of each nozzle 10, and heated air is supplied from the other flow path. ing.

  When the heated air flows through the two-fluid spray nozzle 10 at a high speed, the hydrogen peroxide solution is taken into the heated air, becomes mist M, and is discharged into the chamber 5 from the tip of each nozzle 10. The mist M generated by spraying the hydrogen peroxide solution adheres to the surface of the preform 1 on the conveyor 4.

  The mist may be mixed with warm air of 40 ° C. to 150 ° C. and sprayed onto the preform 1.

  2 and 3, reference numeral 46 indicates a nozzle that injects the heated air. The heated air jetted from this nozzle is mixed with the hydrogen peroxide solution misted by the two-fluid spray nozzle 10 and flows toward the preform while heating the mist. The bactericidal effect is enhanced by heating the mist.

  Further, the mist M of hydrogen peroxide solution is discharged from both sides of the conveyor 4 in the chamber 5 in a direction crossing the conveyor 4, and the preform 1 can roll over on the conveyor 4 due to vibration or the like. It adheres evenly to the outer surface of 1. At the same time, the mist M of the hydrogen peroxide solution also flows into the preform 1 from the mouth portion 1 a of the preform 1 which is turned sideways and adheres uniformly to the inner surface of the preform 1. Further, since the mist M of the hydrogen peroxide solution discharged from the two-fluid spray nozzle 10 fills and circulates in the chamber 5, the mist M in this flow also uniformly adheres to the surface of the preform 1. Thereby, the whole surface of the preform 1 is appropriately sterilized with hydrogen peroxide.

  The concentration of hydrogen peroxide used for sterilization of the preform 1 is preferably 20% to 35%. If the concentration is less than 20%, sterilization defects such as survival of spore bacteria are likely to occur, and if it is more than 35%, a large amount of hydrogen peroxide tends to remain in the preform.

  Further, it is desirable to mix warm air of 40 ° C. to 150 ° C. with the mist. If the temperature of the mist is lower than 40 ° C., sterilization defects are likely to occur, and if it is higher than 150 ° C., there is a problem that deformation of the preform is likely to occur.

  Openings 7 a and 8 a are formed in the front and rear walls 7 and 8 of the chamber 5 so that the conveyor 4 and the preform 1 riding on the conveyor 4 can pass therethrough. An exhaust duct 11 is connected to the top wall 9. The mist M of the hydrogen peroxide solution discharged into the chamber 5 is sucked into the exhaust duct 11 by driving a blower (not shown) and flows to the recovery device. Thereby, the mist M of the hydrogen peroxide solution is prevented from flowing out of the chamber 5 through the openings 7a and 8a of the front and rear walls 7 and 8.

  The downstream side of the conveyor 4 from the chamber 5 extends toward a large container such as a container (not shown). The preform 1 to which the mist M of hydrogen peroxide water adheres in the chamber 5 is carried to a large container by the conveyor 4 and is put into the large container. The large container is sealed after a predetermined amount of the preform 1 is placed, stored, and transported to a factory for forming into a bottle. The preform 1 is sterilized by hydrogen peroxide confined in the large container together with the preform 1 during storage and transportation.

  The large container is transported to another factory, unpacked, and the preform 1 taken out from the large container is subjected to a process as described below, and is then a sterile package (see FIG. 6F). .

  Next, this processing procedure will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 4, further sterilization of the preform 1 already sterilized with hydrogen peroxide is performed at 200 ° C. to 500 ° C. made from water on the inner and outer surfaces of the entire preform including the mouth portion 1 a of the preform 1. This is performed by blowing superheated steam S at approximately atmospheric pressure.

  The temperature of the superheated steam sprayed on the preform is desirably 200 ° C to 500 ° C, and more desirably 250 ° C to 400 ° C. If it is the temperature range of 200 degreeC-500 degreeC, the microbe adhering to the surface of a preform can be disinfected in a short time by exposing only the surface of a preform to high temperature. When the temperature of the superheated steam S is less than 200 ° C., it is necessary to spray for a long time for sterilization, the PET itself constituting the preform becomes high temperature, and the deformation of the preform increases. Moreover, when it exceeds 500 degreeC, the temperature of PET itself which comprises a preform will rise even for a short time, and it will become easy to produce a deformation | transformation in a preform.

  The pressure of the superheated steam sprayed on the preform is higher than atmospheric pressure, desirably higher than 0.1 MPa and lower than 0.3 MPa. If it is in the vicinity of 0.1 MPa, even if the superheated steam comes into contact with the preform and the temperature drops, the possibility of dew condensation is low. If the pressure is higher than 0.3 MPa, the heated steam is sprayed on the preform. There is a possibility of condensation on the surface of the preform. When dew condensation occurs, there is a possibility that whitening or the like may occur on the surface of the bottle when blow molding is performed later on the bottle or the like.

  The sterilization of the preform is indispensable for the inner surface of the preform, but the outer surface can be performed by heating for blow molding described later, or a desired sterilization process is added after the blow molding. Can also be performed.

  The superheated steam S can be obtained by using a commercially available superheated steam generator 13. Specifically, a superheated steam generator having a trade name UPSS manufactured by Tokuden Corporation can be used. Although this is not shown in the figure, an induction heating coil is inserted in the center of the spiral of a water passage pipe made of a spirally wound conductor. An alternating voltage is applied. It is also possible to energize the AC voltage by converting the frequency with an inverter. By applying the AC voltage, the induction heating coil generates an alternating magnetic flux, an induction current flows through the water pipe, and the water pipe generates heat. The water flowing inside is heated by this heat generation of the water passage pipe to become saturated steam, further becomes superheated steam S, and is taken out of the water passage pipe.

  In addition, it is also possible to make a heating effect further by making an induction heating coil into a conductive tube and letting water flow through this.

  As the superheated steam S, one having a pressure higher than 0.1 MPa and lower than 0.3 MPa and a temperature of 200 ° C. to 500 ° C. can be obtained. By adopting the dielectric heating method, water can be turned into superheated steam at 200 ° C. or more in a short time from the start of energization.

  In FIG. 4, the code | symbol 14 shows a cylindrical nozzle. The cylindrical nozzle 14 is attached so as to hang down from the end of the conduit 15 connected to the end of the water flow pipe of the superheated steam generator 13, and the opening 14a is directed vertically downward.

  The preform 1 is conveyed in one direction directly below the circular opening 14a in the cylindrical nozzle 14 in an upright state with the mouth 1a facing up. The conveyance method may be a continuous conveyance method in which the preform 1 is continuously run, or an intermittent conveyance method in which the preform 1 is temporarily stopped immediately below the opening 14 a of the cylindrical nozzle 14. The preform 1 can be transported by holding the support ring 3 by a clamper (not shown).

  Moreover, the code | symbol 16 shows a slit-shaped nozzle in FIG. The slit nozzle 16 is connected to the tip of a branch pipe 15 a branched from the conduit 15, and the slit 16 a is disposed so as to face the side surface of the preform 1. Desirably, the slit-shaped nozzles 16 are paired so as to be opposed to each other so as to sandwich the preform 1 from its side surface, and the preform 1 is conveyed while being rotated around its axis. Although it is possible to carry the preform 1 without rotating it, a plurality of pairs of slit-like nozzles 16 are arranged in that case.

  In the illustrated example, the nozzle is a slit-like nozzle, but a circular nozzle such as the above-described cylindrical nozzle may be disposed opposite to the side surface or the bottom surface of the preform 1.

  When the preform 1 is sterilized, the superheated steam S is constantly supplied from the superheated steam generator 13 to the cylindrical nozzle 14 and the slit nozzle 16, and from the circular opening 14 a of the cylindrical nozzle 14 and the slit 16 a of the slit nozzle 16. It spouts toward the preform 1. The nozzle diameter, angle, preform axis, and the like are arbitrary, and are preset so that the jetted superheated steam S contacts the entire inner surface of the preform 1.

  Thereby, the superheated steam S ejected from the opening 14a of the cylindrical nozzle 7 enters the preform 1 from the mouth 1a of the preform 1, contacts the entire inner surface of the preform 1, and adheres to the inner surface of the preform 1. Sterilize general bacteria, molds and yeasts. Moreover, since this sterilization can be achieved by blowing superheated steam S toward the inside of the preform for a short time, excessive heating from the inside of the mouth portion 1a of the preform 1 is prevented. Deformation of the mouth 1a is reliably avoided.

  Further, the superheated steam S ejected from the slit 16a of the slit-like nozzle 16 comes into contact with the entire outer surface including the mouth portion 1a of the preform 1 rotating around the shaft core and is sterilized by heating. Thereby, the general bacteria, molds and yeasts attached to the outer surface of the preform 1 are sterilized. Further, this sterilization can be achieved by spraying the superheated steam S toward the outer surface of the preform 1 for a short time, so that excessive heating from the outside in the mouth portion 1a of the preform 1 is prevented. The deformation of the mouth 1a is reliably avoided.

  The preform sterilization means using the superheated steam S is incorporated in the in-line system shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, and as a result, mass production of aseptic packaging is performed.

  In this in-line system, the preform 1 is continuously conveyed at a desired speed, and is formed into a sterile package through the steps shown in FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIG. 5 (A), the preform 1 passes through the installation location of the cylindrical nozzle 7 and the slit nozzle 9 at a constant speed while being conveyed in an upright state. During this passage, as described above, the superheated steam S is blown into the preform 1 from the mouth portion 1a, and the superheated steam S is blown onto the outer surface of the preform 1, thereby including the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1. The entire inner and outer surfaces of the reform 1 are sterilized within a short time.

  In the illustrated example, the preform 1 is in an upright state when the superheated steam S is blown, but may be in an inverted state.

  Since the sterilization is performed within a short time, the mouth 1a of the preform 1 is not deformed and the resin of the preform 1 is not excessively heated. Further, since the vapor drain does not condense and remain on the surface of the preform 1, whitening or the like does not occur in the bottle 12 manufactured in the subsequent blow molding.

  Note that the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 can be sterilized by shifting in time by shifting the installation locations of the cylindrical nozzle 14 and the slit nozzle 16 with respect to each other.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, a heater 17 is arranged in a wall shape along the conveyance path of the preform 1, and the preform 1 is heated while traveling by the heater 17. The preform 1 is uniformly heated from about 90 ° C. to about 130 ° C. by this heating, and is brought into a heating state suitable for blow molding.

  At the time of heating, the preform 1 is suspended in an upright state by inserting the spindle 18 into the mouth portion 1 a, and is uniformly heated by the heater 17 by rotating together with the spindle 18.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, the preform 1 that has been brought into a temperature suitable for blow molding by heating is subjected to blow molding and formed into a bottle 12 as a container.

  The mold 19, which is a blow mold, is continuously clamped while traveling continuously at the same speed as that of the preform 1, and after the mold 19 is blow-molded with respect to the preform 1, Opened.

  The preform 1 is heated almost uniformly in the heating step shown in FIG. 5B so that the entire temperature rises to a temperature range suitable for molding. As shown in C), the spindle 18 is mounted in the mold 19 together. Further, the blow nozzle 20 is inserted into the preform 1 through the upper part of the mold 19 and the spindle 18 in the mouth 1 a of the preform 1.

  While the mold 19 is traveling, for example, primary blow air and secondary blow air are sequentially blown into the preform 1 from the blow nozzle 20 so that the preform 1 is finally finished in the cavity C of the mold 19. It expands to the bottle 12 of the molded product.

  When the bottle 12 is molded in the mold 19 as described above, the mold 19 is opened while the mold 19 is running, and the finished product of the bottle 12 is taken out of the mold 19 as shown in FIG. .

  The bottle 12 continuously runs after molding, and as shown in FIG. 6E, the bottle 12 is filled with all beverages a such as mineral water, tea drink, milk drink, carbonated drink, etc. Then, as shown in FIG. 6F, it is sealed with a cap 22 which is a lid.

  In addition, you may make it improve the bactericidal effect by performing external surface sterilization of the bottle 12 by spraying of the vapor | steam containing disinfectants, such as hydrogen peroxide, electron beam irradiation, etc. after the said blow molding. When the inner surface of the bottle is sterilized with a mist of hydrogen peroxide, it is necessary to reduce the concentration of hydrogen peroxide as much as possible to reduce the residual hydrogen peroxide in the bottle.

  Thus, the bottles 12 that are packaged are collected and transported to the market.

  An aseptic filling apparatus for implementing the above inline system is configured as shown in FIG. 7, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 7, this aseptic filling apparatus is a preform feeder 23 that sequentially feeds a bottomed cylindrical preform 1 (see FIGS. 4 and 5A) having a mouth portion 1a at a predetermined interval. And a blow molding machine 24 and a filling machine 25 that fills and seals the molded bottle 12 with the beverage a.

  The preform feeder 23 takes out the preforms one by one from the packed large container in which the preforms 1 are stored, and sends them out to the first conveyance path described below. When the conveyor 4 is installed in the same factory as the aseptic filling device, the conveyor 4 can be directly connected to the preform feeder 23.

  Between the preform feeder 23 and the filling machine 25, a mold 19 having a preform conveying means for conveying the preform 1 on the first conveying path and a cavity C of the finished product shape of the bottle 12 (FIG. 5 (C)) is connected to the second conveying path, and the mold conveying means for conveying the second conveying path on the second conveying path connected to the first conveying path and the bottle 12 formed by the mold 19 are connected to the second conveying path. And a bottle transport means for transporting on the third transport path.

  The first conveying path of the preform conveying means, the second conveying path of the mold conveying means, and the third conveying path of the bottle conveying means communicate with each other, and the preform 1 is placed on these conveying paths. And a gripper (not shown) that conveys the bottle 12 while holding it.

  The preform conveying means includes a preform conveyor 26 that sequentially supplies the preform 1 at a predetermined interval on the first conveying path. Further, a row of wheels 27, 28, 29, and 30 for receiving and conveying the preform 1 from the end of the preform conveyor 26, and a conveyor 31 for receiving and running the preform 1 from the wheel 30 are provided.

  A cylindrical nozzle 14 and a slit nozzle 16 for injecting superheated steam S toward the preform 1 are provided slightly upstream of the preform conveyor 26 connected to the wheel 27 in the preform feeder 23. . Superheated steam S is sprayed from these nozzles 14 and 16 toward the preform 1 before heating (see FIGS. 4 and 5A). Thereby, the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 are uniformly heat sterilized.

  These nozzles 14 and 16 can also be installed at a fixed position on the outer periphery of the wheel 30 before the preform 1 reaches the conveyor 31, for example.

  The conveyor 31 has an endless transport chain extending in the horizontal direction, and a heating unit 31a is provided along the endless transport chain. Many spindles 18 shown in FIG. 5B are attached to the endless transport chain at a constant pitch. Each spindle 18 can rotate while traveling along with the traveling of the endless conveyance chain. As shown in FIG. 5 (B), the spindle 18 is inserted into the preform 1 sent from the wheel 30 side to the conveyor 31 through its mouth 1a, and is held on the spindle 18 in an upright state.

  The preform 1 is received by the conveyor 31 through the preform conveyor 26 and the rows of wheels 27, 28, 29, and 30, and reciprocates by the conveyor 31 in the heating unit 31 a. A heater 17 (see FIG. 5B) is stretched around the inner wall surface of the heating unit 31 a, and the preform 1 conveyed by the conveyor 31 is heated by the heater 17. The preform 1 rotates with the rotation of the spindle 18 while traveling on the conveyor 31, and is uniformly heated by the heater 17.

  The blow molding machine 24 receives a plurality of the molds 19 and the blow nozzles 20 (see FIG. 5C) that receive the preform 1 heated by the heating unit 31a of the preform supply machine 23 and heat-mold it into the bottle 12. Prepare.

  In the blow molding machine 24, the second conveying path of the mold conveying means passes. This second transport path is constituted by a row of wheels 32, 33, 34, 29, 35. The wheel 29 is shared between the row of wheels 32, 33, 34, 29 and 35 and the row of wheels 27, 28, 29 and 30 of the preform conveying means.

  A plurality of molds 19 and blow nozzles 20 are arranged around the wheel 33 and rotate around the wheel 33 at a constant speed as the wheel 33 rotates.

  When the gripper (not shown) of the wheel 32 receives the preform 1 heated by the heating unit 31a of the preform feeder 23 together with the spindle 18, and passes it to the mold 19 around the wheel 33, the split mold 19 is closed. The preform 1 is gripped as shown in FIG. The preform 1 in the mold 19 is molded into a finished product of the bottle 12 by being blown with the high pressure air for blow molding from the blow nozzle 20 while turning around the wheel 33 together with the mold 19 and the blow nozzle 20. The As shown in FIG. 5 (B), the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a predetermined temperature by the heater 17, so that it is smoothly blow-molded.

  When the preform 1 comes into close contact with the cavity C of the mold 19 and the bottle 12 is formed, the mold 19 is opened when it comes into contact with the wheel 34, and the bottle 12 and the spindle 18 are released. Then, the bottle 12 is received from the spindle 18 by a gripper (not shown) of the wheel 34.

  On the other hand, the spindle 18 that has released the bottle 12 returns to the conveyor 31 via the wheel 32 and continues to hold and carry another preform 1.

  The bottle 12 exiting the blow molding machine 24 and reaching the wheel 34 is inspected for molding defects and the like by an inspection device 36 disposed on the outer periphery of the wheel 34.

  Although not shown, the inspection device 36 includes bottle body inspection means for determining the quality of the body of the bottle 12, support ring inspection means for determining the quality of the support ring 3 (see FIG. 1) of the bottle 12, and the bottle 12. Bottle neck top surface inspection means for determining the quality of the neck top surface of the bottle, and bottle bottom portion inspection means for determining the quality of the bottom portion of the bottle 12.

  The bottle body inspection means, the support ring inspection means, and the bottle neck top surface inspection means are arranged along the outer periphery of the wheel 34.

  Although the bottle body part inspection means, the support ring inspection means, and the bottle neck top surface inspection means are not shown in the figure, each of the bottle 12 is imaged with a lamp and a camera and processed by an image processing device, and the shape, scratches, foreign matter, It is determined whether there is an abnormality in discoloration or the like.

  The inspection device 36 is installed as necessary. The bottle body inspection means, the support ring inspection means, and the bottle neck top surface inspection means are selected as necessary.

  If the bottle 12 has been rejected, it is removed from the transport path by a rejecting device (not shown), and only the acceptable product is transported from the wheel 34 to the wheel 35 via the wheel 29.

  The bottle 12 after blow molding is sprayed with steam containing a sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide, irradiated with an electron beam, etc. to add sterilization on the outer surface of the bottle, or to enhance the sterilizing effect on the inner surface of the bottle. May be. For example, the wheel 29 or 35 may be provided with a sterilizing means such as a sterilizing agent-containing vapor spray device or an electron beam irradiation device.

  The filling machine 25 has a third conveyance path of the bottle conveyance means inside. This third transport path has a row of wheels 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42.

  In the filling machine 25, a filler 43 for filling the bottle 12 with the beverage a is provided, and a cap for attaching and sealing the cap 22 (see FIG. 6F) to the bottle 12 filled with the beverage a. 44 is provided.

  In addition, since the filler 43 and the capper 44 may be the same as a well-known apparatus, description is abbreviate | omitted.

  This filling device is surrounded by a chamber 45, and the inside of the chamber 45 is partitioned into a sterilization zone and a gray zone. The preform feeder 23 and the blow molding machine 24 are arranged in the gray zone, and the filling machine 25 is arranged in the aseptic zone.

  Air sterilized with HEPA is constantly blown into the gray zone, whereby the bottle 12 sterilized at the time of molding is conveyed to the aseptic zone without being contaminated with microorganisms.

  When the downstream side of the conveyor 4 from the chamber 5 is connected to the preform feeder 23, the preform 1 sterilized with hydrogen peroxide is further sterilized with superheated steam S and then subjected to blow molding. And formed into a container such as a bottle 12. Furthermore, when the blow molding machine 24 is connected to a filling machine 25 such as a beverage, the bottle 12 is filled with the beverage a, sealed, and discharged as an aseptic filling package.

  Next, the operation of the preform sterilization apparatus shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the aseptic filling apparatus shown in FIG. 7 will be described together with the preform sterilization method.

  Before the sterilization treatment of the preform 1 is started, hydrogen peroxide solution is sprayed into the chamber 5 from the spray nozzle 10 in advance, and the inside of the chamber 5 is sterilized.

  Further, the inside of the chamber 37 of the aseptic filling apparatus is similarly sterilized.

  By the operation of the preform molding machine, the molded preform 1 is loaded on the upstream side of the conveyor 4 on which the preform 1 runs. The preform 1 discharged from the preform molding machine is received at the upstream portion of the conveyor 4 and is in an uneven lying state on the conveyor 4 as shown in FIG.

  The preform 1 on the conveyor 4 enters the chamber 5 together with the conveyor 4 and is sprayed with hydrogen peroxide solution by the spray nozzle 10.

  The mist of hydrogen peroxide solution is discharged from both sides of the conveyor 4 in the chamber 5 in a direction crossing the conveyor 4, and the preform 1 can roll over due to vibration or the like on the conveyor 4, so that the outer surface of the preform 1 is overoxidized. Hydrogen adheres uniformly.

  The mist of the hydrogen peroxide solution also flows into the preform 1 from the mouth portion 1a of the preform 1 which is turned sideways and adheres uniformly to the inner surface of the preform 1.

  Since the mist of the hydrogen peroxide solution discharged from the spray nozzle 10 fills the inside of the chamber 5 and circulates, the mist also adheres uniformly to the surface of the preform 1 while flowing. Thereby, the entire surface of the preform 1 is uniformly sterilized with hydrogen peroxide.

  The preform 1 passes through the chamber 5 together with the conveyor 4 while being sprayed with a mist of hydrogen peroxide, and is put into a large container such as a container.

  The large container is transported to a factory where an aseptic filling apparatus is installed, opened, and the contents of the preform are transferred to the preform feeder 23.

  Then, the preform 1 is sent to the preform conveyor 26 in an aligned state by the preform feeder 23, and further conveyed to the heating unit 31 a by the rows of wheels 27, 28, 29, 30.

  Before entering the heating unit 31a, superheated steam S is blown from the nozzles 14 and 16 shown in FIG. 4 toward the inner and outer surfaces of the preform 1 (see FIG. 5A). Thereby, the entire surface of the preform 1 is sterilized.

  In the heating unit 31a, the preform 1 is uniformly heated to a temperature range suitable for molding while being conveyed by the conveyor 31 (see FIG. 5B).

  The preform 1 heated by the heating unit 31 a is held by the mold 19 when passing through the outer periphery of the wheel 33, and is expanded to the finished product of the bottle 12 in the cavity C by blowing high-pressure air from the blow nozzle 20. (See FIG. 5C).

  The molded bottle 12 (see FIG. 6D) is taken out of the mold 19 by the gripper of the wheel 34 after the mold 19 is opened, and is inspected for the presence of molding defects by the inspection device 36.

  Thereafter, the bottle 12 travels in the filling machine 25 while being transferred to a row of wheels 38, 39, 40, 41, 42.

  In the filling machine 25, the bottle 12 is filled with the beverage a sterilized as shown in FIG. The bottle 12 filled with the beverage a is sealed by the cap 22 having the sterilized cap 22 put on the mouth 1a by the capper 44 (see FIG. 6F) and discharged from the outlet of the chamber 45.

  As described above, since the filler 43 and the capper 44 are known devices, description of a method for filling the bottle 12 with a beverage and a method for sealing the bottle 12 is omitted.

  35% hydrogen peroxide solution and pressurized air were supplied to the two-fluid spray, and heated air at 60 ° C. was mixed with the generated mist, and mist composed of hydrogen peroxide solution was sprayed into the chamber from the nozzle. The chamber was 1.5 m in length with a conveyor having a width of 600 mm. The preform for a bottle with a capacity of 500 mm was supplied to the conveyor at 860 pieces / minute, and the conveyor was operated at a speed of 0.2 m / second. At this time, the attached amount of hydrogen peroxide solution per preform was about 50 mg. Further, 250 preforms for 2L bottle / min were supplied and the same operation was performed. At this time, the hydrogen peroxide adhesion amount per preform was about 150 mg. This preform was further subjected to the following operations.

  A superheated steam with a flow rate of 0.7 g / second generated by heating water with a superheated steam generator using a dielectric heating method is blown out from a nozzle with an inner diameter of 8 mmφ at a blowing temperature of 300 ° C. for 5 seconds toward each inner surface of the preform. Jetted.

  This bactericidal effect was as shown in Table 1 when evaluated with the indicator fungus inoculated on the inner surface of the first preform, and it was confirmed that it could be applied to all beverages.

In Table 1, “B.sub.” Is an abbreviation for Bacillus subtilis , and “A.nig.” Is an abbreviation for Aspergillus niger . “D” is a D value indicating a bactericidal effect.

  Moreover, although the deformation amount of the inner diameter of the mouth portion of the preform was measured, as shown in Table 2, there was no problem in maintaining the sealing performance by the cap.

  In the same manner as in Example 1, hydrogen peroxide water was attached to a 500 ml bottle preform, and superheated steam with a flow rate of 0.7 g / second generated by heating water with a superheated steam generator using a dielectric heating method was added. At various blowing temperatures in the range of 550 ° C. to 550 ° C., jetting was performed for 10 seconds to 3 seconds from the nozzle with an inner diameter of 8 mmφ toward the inner surface of the preform.

  Table 3 shows the sterilization effect and deformation of the preform inner diameter due to the injection of superheated steam.

However, in Table 3, regarding the bactericidal effect, when the D value for Bacillus subtilis is 6 or more and the D value for Aspergillus niger is also 6 or more, “◯” (possible), otherwise “×” (impossible) It was. Regarding the deformation, the case where the change in the inner diameter of the preform was less than 0.05 mm was “◯” (allowed), and the case other than that was “×” (impossible).

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Preform 1a ... Mouth part of preform 4 ... Conveyor 5 ... Chamber 10 ... Spray nozzle M ... Mist of hydrogen peroxide S ... Superheated steam

Claims (6)

  A large number of preforms formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder are put on the conveyor to make an uneven lie down, and these preforms are passed through the chamber together with the conveyor, and in the chamber in a direction crossing the conveyor from both sides of the conveyor. The sprayed hydrogen peroxide solution was sprayed, and the sprayed hydrogen peroxide solution was adhered to the inner and outer surfaces of the preform on the conveyor. After that, at least the inner surface including the mouth portion of the preform was made from water. A preform sterilization method characterized by spraying superheated steam having a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C to 500 ° C.   2. The preform sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the hydrogen peroxide solution is misted by a two-fluid spray using pressurized air.   The preform sterilization method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the concentration of the hydrogen peroxide solution is 20% to 35%.   The preform sterilization method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein warm air of 40 ° C to 150 ° C is mixed with the mist.   5. The preform sterilization method according to claim 1, wherein the chamber is sterilized by spraying hydrogen peroxide water in advance before starting the sterilization of the preform. Reform sterilization method.   A conveyor that transports a preform formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape while lying on its side, a chamber installed in the horizontal running section of this conveyor, and a peroxide in the direction across the conveyor from both sides of the conveyor in this chamber While spraying hydrogen water and spraying hydrogen peroxide water on the inner and outer surfaces of the preform on the conveyor, and receiving the preform carried out of the chamber by the conveyor and running in an upright state, A superheated steam supply means for blowing superheated steam having a pressure higher than an atmospheric pressure of 200 ° C. to 500 ° C. made from water on at least the inner surface of the entire surface including the mouth portion of the preform is provided. Reform sterilizer.

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