JP6164981B2 - Electron beam monitoring device in electron beam sterilizer - Google Patents

Description

  In the electron beam sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the inner surface of the electron beam irradiation nozzle by inserting the electron beam irradiation nozzle into the irradiated body and sterilizing the inner surface, whether or not the electron beam is normally irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle, The present invention relates to an electron beam monitoring apparatus in an electron beam sterilization apparatus that can be visually monitored.

  Patent Document 1 detects plasma light emission generated by excitation of gas molecules in an irradiation area by radiation irradiated from a radiation irradiation apparatus, and stops the radiation irradiation apparatus according to the amount of plasma light emission. A monitoring system that emits an alarm signal is disclosed.

  Further, Patent Document 2 discloses that a physical property of a container irradiated with an electron beam is detected in an apparatus for sterilizing the container by irradiation with an electron beam. This Patent Document 2 is equipped with a detector that detects changes in physical properties of a container that have been changed by irradiation with an electron beam, such as temperature, ozone gas concentration, withstand voltage, light emission amount, and container color, and is detected by these detectors. The apparatus includes a defective product removing device that excludes a container whose detected value is not within a predetermined range as a defective container.

Japanese Patent No. 4130694 Japanese Patent No. 4848173

  By the way, dry-type and wet-type container sterilizers that do not use an electron beam are used to clean and sterilize containers with cleaning gases such as clean air and inert gas, and liquids such as chemical solutions. For example, it is visually monitored whether or not the cleaning gas or the chemical liquid is ejected normally.

  However, in electron beam irradiation, it is known that plasma light emitted or plasma electrons excited by an electron beam collide with a container to emit light. However, in an electron beam sterilization apparatus, the voltage consumed by the electron beam generator In many cases, the current value is measured and displayed and monitored. In addition, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, there is a proposal that detects a change in physical properties of an irradiated container and determines whether or not an electron beam is normally irradiated, but this sterilization chamber shields X-rays. Although it has a monitoring window using a shielding body such as lead glass, it is difficult to install the monitoring window at a position where the light emission of the container can be directly monitored. As described above, there is a problem in that it is impossible to visually monitor whether the electron beam is normally emitted from the electron beam irradiation nozzle. In this electron beam irradiation nozzle, the intensity of the irradiation electron beam is low, and it is difficult to confirm the irradiation region.

  An object of this invention is to provide the electron beam monitoring apparatus in the electron beam sterilization apparatus which can confirm the irradiation state of the electron beam irradiated from an electron beam irradiation nozzle visually.

The invention described in claim 1
An electron equipped with an electron beam irradiation nozzle that sterilizes the inner surface of the irradiated object by inserting the irradiation port at the front end into the irradiated object while moving along the endless conveyance path together with the irradiated object that is a container or a preform body An electron beam monitoring device in a wire sterilizer,
A light emitting member that emits light by an electron beam irradiated from the irradiation port of the electron beam irradiation nozzle is disposed in an idle path portion where the electron beam irradiation nozzle moves independently in the endless conveyance path,
A light emitting detector for detecting a light emitting state of the light emitting member or a display device for displaying the light emitting state as an electron beam irradiation state based on a signal from an imaging device is provided.

The invention according to claim 2
A plurality of transport holders capable of holding an irradiated body having a hollow portion which is a container or a preform body, a plurality of electron beam irradiation nozzles arranged to face the transport holder, the transport holders and the electron beams A sterilization transfer device for moving the irradiation nozzle along the endless transfer path, and the sterilization transfer device moves the sterilization path part of the endless transfer path while the electron beam irradiation nozzle is moved to the sterilized body holder An electron beam monitoring device in an electron beam sterilization device that sterilizes the inside of the hollow portion of the irradiated object by being inserted into the irradiated body held by
Light emission emitted by electron beam irradiation in an endless transfer path that is arranged in an idle path section that does not hold an object to be irradiated by a transport holder, corresponding to the irradiation port of an electron beam irradiation nozzle that moves along the idle path section Members,
A light emission detector or an imaging device for detecting a light emission state of the light emitting member;
A display device that displays a light emitting state of the light emitting member as an electron beam irradiation state based on a detection signal of the light emission detector or the imaging device, and displays an electron beam irradiation nozzle that emits light from the light emitting member; It is characterized by having.

The invention described in claim 3 is the configuration described in claim 2,
The sterilization transport apparatus includes a turning table in which transport holders are arranged at a constant pitch on the outer periphery,
An idle path section is provided between the irradiated object outlet and the irradiated object inlet for delivering the irradiated object in a circular conveyance path,
The light emission detector is an imaging device, and the display device displays the light emission state of the light emitting member as an image.

The invention according to claim 4 is the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The light-emitting member is formed of a plate material made of a translucent material, and has an arc-shaped or U-shaped groove-shaped cross section having a wall surface corresponding to the outer peripheral edge of the cross section in the electron beam sterilization effective region irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle And having a predetermined length along the idle path portion.

The invention according to claim 5 is the configuration according to claim 4,
The light emitting member has a taper portion or a step portion that gradually expands or contracts in a direction away from the center of the electron beam sterilization effective region along the conveyance direction of the idle path portion.

The invention according to claim 6 is the configuration according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The light emitting member is formed of a plate material made of a substantially flat translucent material,
The sterilization effective region of the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle moved along the idle path portion, and disposed corresponding to at least one of the side edge and the bottom portion on both sides of the idle path portion of the cross section It is characterized by that.

According to the configuration of claim 1, the light emitting member that emits light by receiving the electron beam from the electron beam irradiation nozzle that moves along the transport path is installed in the idle path portion that is not accompanied by the irradiated object, and the light emitting member. The light emission state is detected by a light emission detector or imaged by an imaging device and displayed on a display device, so that an electron beam emitted from an electron beam irradiation nozzle via the display device even during startup or during operation the, through the vision can be confirmed, it is possible to perform a stable container sterilization.

  According to the configuration of the second aspect, the light emitting member is installed in the idle path portion that does not hold the object to be irradiated on the transport holder so as to face the irradiation port of the electron beam irradiation nozzle, and the light emitting state of the light emitting member is emitted. Since it is detected by the detector or picked up by the image pickup device and displayed on the display device, the electron beam emitted from the electron beam irradiation nozzle through the display device can be visually confirmed even during startup or during operation. And stable container sterilization can be performed.

According to the configuration of claim 3, wherein, since the display is installed a light emitting member on the idle path portion between the container removal section and the container receiving portion, the light emitting state of the light emitting member captured by the imaging device in the image, the electron beam The irradiation state of the electron beam from the irradiation nozzle can be visually perceived as a sensory thing.

  According to the configuration of claim 4, the light emitting member is irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle by making the light emitting member into a groove-shaped cross section along the outer peripheral edge in the cross section of the electron beam sterilization effective region irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle. Can be displayed on the left and right sides and the bottom of the cross section of the container required for sterilization of the container, and the defect of the electron beam irradiation state of the electron beam irradiation nozzle can be confirmed well .

According to the configuration of claim 5, the light emitting member is formed with a tapered portion or a stepped portion that gradually expands or contracts in a direction away from the center of the electron beam sterilization effective region, thereby moving the idle path portion . Since the light emission state of the light emitting member becomes gradually stronger, the electron beam intensity of the electron beam irradiation nozzle can be detected.

According to the configuration of the sixth aspect, by arranging the light emitting member as a flat plate material on the left and right side surfaces and the bottom surface of the idle path portion, the electron beam irradiation state is crossed by the container required for sterilization of the container. It is possible to display on the left and right side surfaces and the bottom surface of the surface, and it is possible to satisfactorily confirm defects in the electron beam irradiation state of the electron beam irradiation nozzle.

(A)-(c) shows Example 1 of the monitoring apparatus of the electron beam sterilization apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a block diagram, (b) is a perspective view of a light emitting member, (c) is a light emitting member. It is a cross-sectional view. It is a schematic sectional drawing of the planar view of the electron beam sterilizer which has a monitoring apparatus. It is aa sectional drawing shown in FIG. (A), (b) shows the modification 1 of a light emitting member, (a) is a top view, (b) is a side fragmentary sectional view. (A), (b) shows the modification 2 of a light emitting member, (a) is a top view, (b) is sectional drawing of a side view. (A)-(e) shows the modification 3 of a light emitting member, (a) is a top view which shows the whole arrangement, (b) is a perspective view, (c) is a bb sectional view shown in (a), (D) is cc sectional drawing shown to (a), (e) is dd sectional drawing shown to (a). (A)-(d) shows the modification 4 using the substantially flat or flat light-emitting plate which is a light-emitting member, (a) is a perspective view which shows the arrangement | positioning state of a light-emitting plate, (b) is vertical. FIG. 5C is a front view showing the light emitting plate in a posture, FIG. 5C is a front view showing the bottom light emitting plate in a horizontal posture, and FIG. 6D is a front view showing the inclined light emitting plate in an inclined posture. (A)-(c) shows Example 2 of the electron beam sterilizer which has the monitoring apparatus which concerns on this invention, (a) is a schematic sectional drawing of planar view, (b) shows the container which is a to-be-irradiated body. A front view and (c) are front views which show the preform body which is a to-be-irradiated body.

[Example 1]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.
[Electron beam sterilizer]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the electron beam sterilization apparatus 12 including the electron beam monitoring apparatus 11 sterilizes the outer surface of the container B while the bottle-shaped container B which is an irradiated object before filling is being transported. The outer surface sterilization part 13 and the inner surface sterilization part 21 which sterilizes the inner surface of the container B are provided. The outer surface sterilization unit 13 is installed in the first and second auxiliary shielding chambers 14A and 14B installed in series, and the inner surface sterilization unit 21 is the main shielding chamber connected to the outlet of the second auxiliary shielding chamber 14B. 14C. 14D is an exit-side shielding chamber that is connected to the outlet of the main shielding chamber 14C and prevents leakage of X-rays generated by reflection or diffraction of electron beams or electron beams.

(External sterilization part)
The outer surface sterilization unit 13 is connected to the first and second sub-shielding chambers 14A and 14B in series and is rotated in the periphery of the vertical axis, and the outer peripheral portions of the rotation tables 15A and 15B. Neck handling wheels 17 </ b> A and 17 </ b> B provided with a container holder 16, which is a transport holder capable of gripping the neck portion of the container B, are arranged at a constant pitch. In these first and second sub-shielding chambers 14A and 14B, outer surface electron beam generators 18A and 18B for sterilizing the outer surface of the container B held by the container holder 16 by irradiating the electron beam one by one are respectively provided. ing.

  A neck handling wheel 17D, in which container holders 16 are provided at a constant pitch, is installed in the exit-side shielding chamber 14D on a turning table 15D that is driven to turn around a vertical axis.

(Internal sterilization part)
The inner surface sterilization unit 21 is placed in the main shielding chamber 14 </ b> C on the main turning table 23 that is turned around the main shaft 23 a in the vertical direction by the turning drive device 22 through the intermediate gear mechanism. Are installed at a constant pitch, a main neck handling wheel (sterilization transport device) 24 is installed. The main neck handling wheel 24 is provided with a container lifting mechanism that can lift and lower the container holder 16 within a predetermined range. The main neck handling wheel 24 is connected to a neck handling wheel 17B and a neck handling wheel 17D.

  A swivel plate 25 that is swiveled integrally with the main swivel table 23 is provided above the main swivel table 23, and the inner surface electron beam generator 26 faces the respective container holders 16 on the swivel plate 25. Is installed. Electron beam irradiation nozzles 31 are suspended from the inner surface electron beam generator 26 through the revolving plate 25.

  A circular transport path (endless transport path) L formed on the outer periphery of the main turning table 23 is a container outlet Lo connected to the neck handling wheel 17D from a container inlet Li to which the neck handling wheel 17B is connected. And a sterilization path portion Lc provided between the container outlet Lo and the container inlet Li, and an idle path portion Ld provided between the container outlet Lo and the container inlet Li. In the sterilization path portion Lc, the container B held by the container holder 16 is moved up and down, the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is inserted from the mouth portion, and the container B is irradiated by the electron beam irradiated from the irradiation port at the tip of the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31. Sterilize the inside surface. In the idle path portion Ld, the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 and the container holder 16 are moved without holding the container B, and the idle path portion Ld is provided with the electron beam monitoring device 11 according to the present invention. .

The electron beam monitoring device 11 monitors an electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 to sterilize the inner surface of the container B.
The electron beam monitoring device 11 includes a light emitting member 32 made of a translucent material that emits light from an electron beam irradiated from an irradiation port of the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31, an imaging device 33 that captures the light emission state of the light emitting member 32, and an imaging device. And a signal processing device 34 that processes the video signal output from 33 and displays it on a display screen (display device) 35. Further, each electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is assigned a machine number, and in the signal processing device 34, a signal output from a rotary encoder 22a which is a rotation detector provided on the turning drive device 22 or the main shaft 23a. Based on the above, the machine number of the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 of the image taken by the imaging device 33 is taken out and output to the display screen 35 for display. The imaging device 33 is installed in a shielding housing 36 that shields an electron beam (X-ray) while lead glass is fitted on the imaging surface.

  Further, on the signal processing device 34 and the display screen 35, the light emission of the light emitting member 32 by the electron beam from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 that rotates at high speed is converted into a still image based on the signal from the rotary encoder 22a before and after the moving direction. It is also possible to display a plurality of images with the machine number side by side. In addition, the signal processing device 34 divides the light emission state in the light emission image into a plurality of layers and displays it in a colored state on the display screen 35 or displays the history of the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 of the machine number on the display screen 35. You can also. Furthermore, imaging data can be acquired by rotating the main turning table 23 once, and can be displayed on the display screen 35 at such a speed that an operator can visually recognize the display screen 35.

The light emitting member 32 is made of a transparent or translucent resin or glass, which is a translucent material, and emits light using a phenomenon in which plasma in the air excited by irradiation with an electron beam emits light. Since this plasma has a high density on the surface of the container B and the light emitting member 32, light emission can be visually recognized even with an electron beam with a small output. The light emitting member 32 is, for example, a lateral cross section of the electron beam sterilization effective region C in which the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 spreads uniformly from the center Cp in the vicinity of the irradiation port, and left and right side walls along the substantially outer periphery. It includes an electron beam sterilization effective region C that is formed in a U-shaped groove-shaped cross section having portions 32L and 32R and an arc-shaped bottom wall portion 32B, and in which the light emission state is sufficiently visible along the idle path portion Ld. The length La is formed. Furthermore, each of the wall portions 32L, 32R, and 32B has the same center as the idle path portion Ld so that the distance from the irradiation port of the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is constant on the transverse section of the idle path portion Ld in plan view. It is formed and arranged curved in an arc shape .

37 can image the light emitting state of the bottom wall portion 32B of the light emitting member 32 by the reflecting mirror disposed on the bottom side of the light emitting member 32, the reflection mirror 3 7 by one of the imaging apparatus 33. Since the imaging device 33 is arranged on the left side (outer peripheral side) in the moving direction of the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31, the right side wall portion 32 R cannot be directly imaged, but the light emitting member 32 is translucent, emission state can be imaged through the left side wall 32 L. By using the groove-shaped light emitting member 32 in this way, even in a weak light emitting state, the light emitting state can be reliably imaged, and the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is monitored. Can do.

Further, in order to amplify the light emission state of the light emitting member 32, it is possible to form a knitted glass-like sand surface with a large number of knurled grooves or sandblasting on the front and back surfaces thereof.
(Operation of electron beam sterilizer)
In the above structure, an electron beam sterilization apparatus 1 2, neck handling wheel 17A, the container B held in 17B, is conveyed from the first sub shield chamber 14A to the second sub shield chamber 14B, the outer surface electron beam generating apparatus 18A, The outer surface of the container B is sterilized by the electron beam irradiated from 18B. Furthermore passed from the vessel inlet Li in container holder 16 of the main neck hand-ring wheel 24, it is conveyed along the sterile pathway portion Lc. In the sterilization path portion Lc, the container B is lifted by a predetermined distance via the container holder 16 by the container lifting mechanism during transport, and the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is inserted into the container B from the mouth and irradiated from the irradiation port. The inner surface of the container B is sterilized by the electron beam. After the further container B has the container B is extracted from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is lowered, it is transferred from the container outlet Lo the container holder 16 of the neck hand-ring wheel 17D on the exit side shielding chamber 14D.

(Electron beam monitoring device)
When the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is moved along the idle path portion Ld, the irradiation port passes through the light emitting member 32, and the light emitting member 32 emits light by the electron beam irradiated from the irradiation port. After this is imaged by the imaging device 33 and processed by the signal processing device 34, the light emission state of the light emitting member 32 is displayed as an image on the display screen 35. The machine number of the irradiated electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is displayed on the display screen 35.

In the above procedure, the operation of the electron beam monitoring device 11 has been described for the electron beam sterilization device 12 in operation. However, the electron beam monitoring device 11 is operated before or after the transfer of the container B after starting or after stopping. The electron beam irradiation state by each electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 may be monitored.

(Effect of Example 1)
According to the electron beam monitoring apparatus 11, when the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is moved along the idle path portion Ld that does not hold the container B on the container holder 16, the left and right sides of the irradiation port of the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 are moved. Since the light emitting member 32 is installed facing the lower side and the light emitting state of the light emitting member 32 is imaged by the imaging device 33 and displayed on the display screen 35, the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 can be used during startup or during operation. an electron beam to be irradiated, can be confirmed through visual by looking at the display screen 35, it is possible to perform the sterilizing stable container B.

[Modifications 1 and 2 of light emitting member]
FIG. 4 shows a first modification of the light emitting member. Note that the same members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

The light emitting member 42 is made of a translucent material, and each wall portion formed in a U-shaped groove-shaped cross section is separated from the center Cp of the electron beam sterilization effective region C so as to be gradually separated from the right wall portion 42 R. The wall portion 42 L and the bottom wall portion 42B are respectively arranged.

  That is, in the light emitting member 42 of the first modified example, the wall portions 42L, 42R, and 42B gradually move from the inlet 42i to the outlet 42o of the idle path portion Ld and to the center Cp of the electron beam sterilization effective region C along the idle path portion Ld. It is formed in a tapered shape that approaches, and a gradient is formed so as to approach along the moving direction of the idle path portion Ld. And each wall part 42L, 42R, 42B of the light emission member 42 is arrange | positioned in the position which follows the substantially outer periphery in the cross section of the electron beam sterilization effective area | region C. As shown in FIG.

  Therefore, when the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is moved along the idle path portion Ld, the light emitting member 42 gradually emits light from the entrance 42i by the electron beam irradiated from the irradiation port, and the intermediate portion 42m is sufficient. The brightness is increased to the exit 42o. As described above, the intensity of the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 can be determined at a position where the light emission of the light emitting member 42 has sufficiently high luminance. For example, when the maximum luminance is obtained at the entrance 42i, it can be seen that the intensity of the electron beam from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is large and the electron beam sterilization effective region C is wide. On the contrary, when the maximum brightness is obtained at the outlet 42o, it can be seen that the intensity of the electron beam from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is small and the electron beam sterilization effective region C is narrow and not within the correction range.

  FIG. 5 shows a second modification. In Modification 2, the tapered light emitting member 52 is formed with three first to third parallel portions 52W, 52M, and 52N in which the walls 52L, 52R, and 52B of the light emitting member 52 are parallel to each other via the stepped portion. The first to third parallel parts 52W, 52M, and 52N are integrally molded (or connected) in series.

  That is, along the moving direction of the idle path portion Ld, from the first parallel portion 52W farthest from the center Cp of the electron beam sterilization effective region C to the electron beam sterilization effective region C via the intermediate second parallel portion 52M. The third parallel parts 52N approaching the center Cp are arranged in this order.

  Therefore, when the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is moved along the idle path portion Ld, the light emitting member 52 is weak in the light emission and low in luminance at the first parallel portion 52W by the electron beam irradiated from the irradiation port. In the second parallel portion 52M, the light emission is sufficiently strong, and the luminance can be sufficiently confirmed. Further, in the third parallel portion 52N, the luminance is further increased and becomes the maximum luminance.

  As described above, the intensity of the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 can be determined by the first to third parallel portions 52W, 52M, and 52N where the light emission of the light emitting member 52 is sufficiently increased. For example, when the first parallel portion 52W has a luminance equal to or higher than the threshold, it can be seen that the electron beam intensity from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is large and the electron beam sterilization effective region C is wide. On the other hand, when the brightness is equal to or lower than the threshold value at the third parallel portion 52N, it can be seen that the intensity of the electron beam from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is small and the electron beam sterilization effective region C is narrow and not within the set range. As described above, the second modification can achieve the same effects as the first modification.

[Modification 3 of Light Emitting Member]
In FIG. 6, a light emitting member 62 made of a translucent material is formed in a substantially U shape in front view along a substantially transverse section of a container B that is an object to be irradiated, and the left and right sides of the electron beam from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31. The irradiation state to the side and downward can be monitored.

That is, the light emitting member 62 is integrated by sequentially connecting the right wall portion 62R, the bottom wall portion 62B, and the left wall portion 62L along the moving direction of the idle path portion Ld, and the wall portions 62R, 62B, The length LR, LB, LL of 62L is preferably greater than or equal to the outer diameter of the electron beam sterilization effective region C, for example. And the imaging device 33 which can image each wall part 62R, 62B, 62L is each arrange | positioned.

Therefore, when the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is moved along the idle path portion Ld, the light emitting member 62 first emits light from the right side wall portion 62R and shines by the electron beam irradiated from the irradiation port, and then the bottom wall. The portion 62B emits light and shines, and the left wall portion 62L emits light and shines. It can be seen that the inner surface of the container B is uniformly sterilized if the wall portions 62R, 62B, 62L at this time emit light with uniform luminance. If any or all of the walls 62R, 62B, and 62L have low brightness, there is a possibility that a defect has occurred in the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 or the inner surface electron beam generator 26.

[Modification 4 of Light-Emitting Member]
In Example 1 and Modifications 1 to 3, the light emitting members 32, 42, 52, and 62 are formed in a groove shape when viewed from the front. However, the light emitting member 72 in Modification 4 shown in FIG. It is formed by the board | plate material which consists of a property material.

  The light emitting member 72 is a plane having left and right side wall portions 72L, 72R and a bottom wall portion 72B having the same center as the idle path portion Ld along the electron beam sterilization effective region C having a U-shaped groove-shaped cross section in the first embodiment. It is formed and arranged independently in a substantially arc shape (substantially flat shape) or flat shape.

  That is, as shown in FIGS. 7A to 7C, the three light emitting members 72 are formed in a substantially arc shape in plan view having the same center as the idle path portion Ld, and are moved along the idle path portion Ld. A left-side light emitting plate 72L arranged in a vertical position on the left side toward the front in the moving direction of the idle path portion Ld, and a transverse section of the electron beam sterilization effective region C. The right light emitting plate 72R arranged in the vertical posture and the vertical light emitting plate 72V arranged in the vertical posture along the perpendicular direction of the idle path portion Ld below the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31. In addition, there is a bottom light emitting plate 72B that faces the lower side of the irradiation port of the flat electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 and is disposed in a horizontal posture along the idle path portion Ld, and these light emitting plates 72L, 72R, 72V, At least one of 72B and its imaging device 33 are selected and installed.

The vertical light emitting plate 72V is arranged with the upper side facing the lower side of the irradiation port, and the intensity of the electron beam can be monitored from the vertical width of the light emitting surface according to its transmission state. Further, as indicated by the vertical light emitting plate 72Vs in phantom lines, it may be translated from the lower side of the irradiation port to the right side or the left side. In addition, as shown in FIG.7 (d), the inclination light emission board 7 2 Vt of the inclination attitude | position inclined by predetermined angle (theta) with respect to the perpendicular of the idle path | route part Ld can also be arrange | positioned. By using this inclined light emitting plate 7 2 Vt, it is possible to visually recognize the spread of the electron beam below and in the front-rear direction in the light emitting state.

According to the fourth modification, the right and left light emitting plates 7 2 R and 7 2 L and the bottom light emitting plate 7 2 B are used to image the irradiation state of the electron beams on the left and right side surfaces and the bottom surface of the electron beam sterilization effective region C. Can be visually recognized.

  In the above modification 4, the light emitting plates 72L, 72R, 72V, 72Vs, 72Vt are substantially arcuate in plan view, but the radius of the idle path portion Ld is sufficiently long and the length along the idle path portion Ld is short. For the sake of convenience, a flat one can be used.

[Example 2]
A second embodiment of aseptic filling equipment having an electron beam sterilization apparatus 81 having an electron beam monitoring apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

  This electron beam sterilization apparatus 81 has a preform body sterilization path Pc for sterilizing the preform body P, which is an irradiated body shown in FIG. And a sterilization path Lc for sterilizing the molded container B which is the irradiated body shown in FIG. 8 (b) obtained by preheating and blow-molding the preform body P after sterilization. Sterilize at the same time. The preform body P and the molded container B are formed with neck portions having the same shape and can be held by the container holding device 16 having the same structure.

  The electron beam monitoring apparatus 11 according to the present invention is a first idle path portion Ld1 between the preform body inlet Pi and the container outlet Bo or a second space between the preform body outlet Po and the container inlet Bi at the inner surface sterilization unit 81b. It is installed in at least one of the idle path portions Ld2, and is configured in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

An outline of the aseptic filling equipment will be briefly described with reference to FIG. The preform body P is carried from the supply device 82 and the cleaning / alignment device 83 into the first outer surface sterilization unit 81a of the electron beam sterilization device 81, and is sent out from the preform body inlet Pi to the first inner surface sterilization unit 81b after the outer surface sterilization. . In the 1st inner surface sterilization part 81b, while being conveyed along the preform body sterilization path | route Pc, the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is inserted in the preform body P through a mouth part, and an inner surface is sterilized. The preform body P is sent from the preform body outlet Po to the preheating device 84 and preheated, and then sent to the blow molding device 85 to form the molding container B. Further, the molded container B is carried into the second outer surface sterilization unit 81c of the electron beam sterilizer 81, and is sent out to the second inner surface sterilization unit 81d after the outer surface sterilization. In the second inner surface sterilization unit 81d, the inner surface is sterilized by being transported along the container sterilization path Lc and the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 being inserted into the molded container B through the mouth. The molded container B is sent to the air rinser 86 from the container outlet Bo and washed, and then sent to the filling device 87 to be aseptically filled into the molded container B. Further, it is sent to the capper 88 where it is capped and discharged.

According to the second embodiment, even in the electron beam sterilization apparatus 81 that sterilizes the preform body P and the molding container B at the same time, the first idle path portion Ld1 between the preform body inlet Pi and the container outlet Bo Using the second idle path portion Ld2 between the preform body outlet Po and the container inlet Bi, the electron beam from the electron beam irradiation nozzle 31 is inserted into the preform body P or the molding container B from the mouth and sterilized. The irradiation state can be accurately monitored.

In the electron beam monitoring apparatus 11 of the first and second embodiments, the imaging device 33 is used to detect the light emission state. However, the light emitting members 32, 42, and the like are detected by one or a plurality of optical sensors that are light emission detectors. 52, 62, and 72 can be sensed to detect the light emission state, and the signal processing device 34 can process the detection signal and display it on the display screen 35 as a visible image.

Li container inlet Lo container outlet Lc sterilization path part Ld idle path part B container / molded container C electron beam sterilization effective area 11 electron beam monitoring apparatus 12 electron beam sterilization apparatus 16 container holder (transport holder)
21 inner surface sterilization unit 22 turning drive unit 22a rotary encoder 23 main turntable 23a spindle 24 main neck Hand-ring wheel 26 inner surface electron beam generating device 31 electron beam irradiation nozzle 32 emitting member 32L left side wall portion 32R right side wall portion 32B bottom wall portion 33 Imaging device 34 Signal processing device 35 Display screen (display device)
42 light emitting member 42L left side wall 42R right side wall 42B bottom wall 42i inlet 42o outlet 52 light emitting member 62 light emitting member 72 light emitting member P preform body 81 electron beam sterilizer

Claims (6)

An electron equipped with an electron beam irradiation nozzle that sterilizes the inner surface of the irradiated object by inserting the irradiation port at the front end into the irradiated object while moving along the endless conveyance path together with the irradiated object that is a container or a preform body An electron beam monitoring device in a wire sterilizer,
A light emitting member that emits light by an electron beam irradiated from the irradiation port of the electron beam irradiation nozzle is disposed in an idle path portion where the electron beam irradiation nozzle moves independently in the endless conveyance path,
Electron beam monitoring in an electron beam sterilization apparatus, comprising: a light emission detector that detects a light emission state of the light emitting member; or a display device that displays the light emission state as an electron beam irradiation state based on a signal from an imaging device. apparatus. A plurality of transport holders capable of holding an irradiated body having a hollow portion which is a container or a preform body, a plurality of electron beam irradiation nozzles arranged to face the transport holder, the transport holders and the electron beams A sterilization transfer device for moving the irradiation nozzle along the endless transfer path, and the sterilization transfer device moves the sterilization path part of the endless transfer path while the electron beam irradiation nozzle is moved to the sterilized body holder An electron beam monitoring device in an electron beam sterilization device that sterilizes the inside of the hollow portion of the irradiated object by being inserted into the irradiated body held by
Light emission emitted by electron beam irradiation in an endless transfer path that is arranged in an idle path section that does not hold an object to be irradiated by a transport holder, corresponding to the irradiation port of an electron beam irradiation nozzle that moves along the idle path section Members,
A light emission detector or an imaging device for detecting a light emission state of the light emitting member;
A display device that displays a light emitting state of the light emitting member as an electron beam irradiation state based on a detection signal of the light emission detector or the imaging device, and displays an electron beam irradiation nozzle that emits light from the light emitting member; An electron beam monitoring apparatus in an electron beam sterilization apparatus. The sterilization transport apparatus includes a turning table in which transport holders are arranged at a constant pitch on the outer periphery,
An idle path is provided between the container outlet and the container inlet for delivering the container through the circular transport path,
The electron beam monitoring device in the electron beam sterilization device according to claim 2, wherein the light emission detector is an imaging device, and the display device displays the light emission state of the light emitting member as an image. The light-emitting member is formed of a plate material made of a translucent material, and has an arc-shaped or U-shaped groove-shaped cross section having a wall surface corresponding to the outer peripheral edge of the cross section in the electron beam sterilization effective region irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle The electron beam monitoring device in the electron beam sterilization device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the electron beam monitoring device has a predetermined length along the idle path portion. The light emitting member has a taper portion or a step portion that gradually expands or contracts in a direction away from the center of the electron beam sterilization effective region along the conveyance direction of the idle path portion. Electron beam monitoring device in an electron beam sterilization apparatus. The light emitting member is formed of a plate material made of a substantially flat translucent material,
The sterilization effective region of the electron beam irradiated from the electron beam irradiation nozzle moved along the idle path portion, and disposed corresponding to at least one of the side edge and the bottom portion on both sides of the idle path portion of the cross section The electron beam monitoring apparatus in the electron beam sterilization apparatus in any one of Claims 1 thru | or 3 characterized by the above-mentioned.

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