JP6519607B2 - Method and apparatus for sterilizing filling nozzle - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for sterilizing a filling nozzle in a filler for filling a container such as a PET bottle with a beverage.

  When filling a container such as a bottle with an aseptic filling device, it is necessary to sterilize and keep the beverage itself as well as the inside of a surge tank, a liquid feeding tube, a filler, and a filler in the aseptic filling device. The inside of the beverage supply system piping including the filling nozzle etc. of the above must also be cleaned in advance, sterilized and sterilized.

  Conventionally, with regard to the beverage supply system piping of the aseptic filling device, CIP (Cleaning in Place) processing is performed periodically or when switching the type of beverage, and SIP (Sterilizing in Place) processing is further performed (for example, Patent documents 1, 2, and 3.).

  For example, CIP flows a cleaning solution obtained by adding an alkaline agent such as caustic soda to water, and then flows a cleaning solution obtained by adding an acidic agent to water in the flow path from inside the pipe of the beverage filling path to the filler filling nozzle. It is done by. As a result, the residue and the like of the previous beverage adhering to the inside of the beverage filling passage is removed (see, for example, Patent Documents 1, 2 and 3).

  The SIP is a treatment for sterilizing the inside of the beverage supply system piping before entering a beverage filling operation, for example, by flowing heated steam or hot water into the beverage filling path cleaned with the CIP. It will be. As a result, the inside of the beverage filling path is sterilized and sterilized (see, for example, Patent Document 3 paragraph 0003).

JP 2007-331801 A JP, 2000-153245, A Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-22600

  Conventionally, when performing SIP which is a sterilizing process about the drink supply system piping of an aseptic filling apparatus, it heats for 30 minutes at 130 degreeC, and if it is this sterilization condition, it is empirically considered that there is no problem in the sterilizing effect. Specifically, the temperature is measured by the temperature sensor disposed at each place where the temperature of the beverage supply system piping hardly rises while flowing heated steam or hot water into the beverage supply system piping, and the temperature of all the temperature sensors is 130 ° C. When the timer reaches, the timer is activated, and the heating is ended when the temperature can be maintained for 30 minutes without dropping below 130.degree.

  Also, in general, the beverage supply system piping is branched into a large number in the filler through a manifold, and the end of each branched pipe is connected to the filling nozzle. According to experiments of the present inventor, it was found that there is variation in temperature among a large number of filling nozzles. Therefore, in order to optimize the SIP, it is considered preferable to attach temperature sensors to all the filling nozzles and to measure the F-number for each filling nozzle in order to optimize and speed up the SIP. However, since the temperature sensor is expensive, attaching a temperature sensor to each filling nozzle in a filler having, for example, 100 or more filling nozzles has a problem of considerable cost increase.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for sterilizing a filling nozzle which can solve such problems.

  The present invention adopts the following configuration in order to solve the above problems.

  In addition, in order to make the present invention easy to understand, the reference numerals of the drawings are put in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to this.

That is, the invention according to claim 1 sends hot water or a liquid medicine to the filling nozzle (2a) via a beverage supply system pipe (7) for simultaneously feeding the beverage to several filling nozzles (2a). a the sterilizing method of the filling nozzle (2a) recovering said hot water or the liquid drug, while discharging the hot water or the liquid medicament from all of the filling nozzle (2a), all of the filling nozzle ( While detecting the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid sterilizing agent in 2a), while measuring the representative temperature of the hot water or the liquid medicine on the upstream side or the downstream side of the at least one filling nozzle (2a), perform sterilization of the inner surface of the filling nozzle flow rate and the representative temperatures of all of the filling nozzle (2a) is completed together sterilization was reached the target value (2a), simultaneously hot water or liquid or gaseous Agent by also spraying the outside of all of the filling nozzle (2a), to adopt a method for sterilizing the filling nozzle simultaneously sterilizing the inside and outside of the filling nozzle (2a).
In the invention according to one embodiment, a two-stage rotary joint (21c) including an upper manifold (26a) and a lower manifold (26b) is provided on a pivot of a filler for filling a plurality of bottles with a beverage. Sending hot water or liquid medicine to the upper manifold (26a) through the beverage supply system pipe (7) to simultaneously feed the beverage to the plurality of filling nozzles (2a), and the filling nozzle (2a) from the filling nozzle (2a) A method of sterilizing a filling nozzle (2a) for recovering the hot water or liquid medicine through a lower manifold (26b), wherein all the hot water or liquid medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles (2a). Detecting the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine in the filling nozzle (2a) of the second embodiment, and replacing the hot water or the liquid medicine upstream or downstream of the at least one filling nozzle (2a) The temperature was measured, where the flow rate and the representative temperatures of the filling nozzles (2a) are both reached the target value, employing the method for sterilizing the filling nozzle to end the sterilization process.
Moreover, the invention which concerns on one Embodiment sends hot water or liquid medicine to the drink supply system piping (7) for sending a drink to several filling nozzles (2a) simultaneously, and this hot water or liquid medicine is all While discharging from the filling nozzle (2a), the flow rate of hot water or liquid medicine in all the filling nozzles (2a) is detected, and filling is performed to determine the quality of sterilization in the filling nozzle (2a) based on the detection result Adopt nozzle sterilization method.

In the invention according to one embodiment, the F value may be calculated based on the representative temperature, and it may be determined whether the F value has reached the target value.
In the invention according to one embodiment, the flow rate of the hot water or liquid medicine at each filling nozzle (2a) is measured, and the hot water or liquid upstream or downstream of at least one filling nozzle (2a) The quality of the sterilization process in the filling nozzle may be determined by measuring the representative temperature of the medicine.

  Moreover, in the invention which concerns on one Embodiment, when the flow volume of any one filling nozzle (2a) is smaller than the flow volume required for sterilization, it is also possible to emit an alarm of sterilization treatment failure.

  In the invention according to one embodiment, the hot water or the liquid medicine is also sprayed to the outside of all the filling nozzles (2a) while the hot water or the liquid or gaseous medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles (2a). It is also possible to simultaneously sterilize the inside and the outside of the filling nozzle (2a).

  In the invention according to one embodiment, it is also possible to simultaneously wash the inside and the outside of the filling nozzle (2a) with hot water or a liquid medicine.

Invention, and sends the same time hot water or liquid medication to a plurality of the filling nozzle (2a), a sterilizing apparatus of the filling nozzle for recovering the hot water or the liquid drug, all of the filling according to claim 2 nozzle (2a) is pivotable movement together, the heat during this pivoting movement, the hot water or the liquid medicament while being discharged from all of the filling nozzle (2a), all of the filling nozzle (2a) All the filling nozzles while measuring the representative temperature of the hot water or the liquid medicine upstream or downstream of the at least one filling nozzle (2a) while the flow rate of water or the liquid sterilizing agent is detected (2a) of said perform sterilization of the inner surface of the filling nozzle (2a) in which the flow rate and the representative temperature ends together sterilization was reached the target value, at the same time hot water or liquid or gaseous medicine There by being also blown to the outside of all of the filling nozzle (2a), to adopt the sterilizing device of the filling nozzle and out of the filling nozzle has to be sterilized at the same time.
In addition, the invention according to one embodiment has a two-stage rotary joint (21c) including an upper manifold (26a) and a lower manifold (26b) on a pivot of a filler for filling a plurality of bottles with a beverage. A filling nozzle (2a) for simultaneously sending hot water or liquid medicine to the plurality of filling nozzles (2a) through the upper manifold (26a) and recovering the hot water or liquid medicine from the lower manifold (26b); ), Wherein each of the plurality of filling nozzles (2a) is provided with a flow rate sensor, and the hot water or liquid medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles (2a) while all the filling nozzles ( The flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine in 2a) is detected by each flow rate sensor (10a), either upstream or downstream of the at least one filling nozzle (2a) The representative temperature of the hot water or the liquid medicine is measured by a temperature sensor, and when the flow rate of each filling nozzle (2a) and the representative temperature both reach the target value, the sterilization processing of the filling nozzle configured to end the sterilization process Adopt the device.
In the present invention according to one embodiment, a flow rate sensor (10a) is provided for each of a plurality of filling nozzles (2a), and a beverage supply system pipe (not shown) for simultaneously delivering a beverage to these filling nozzles (2a) 7) While the hot water or liquid medicine is sent and the hot water or liquid medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles (2a), the flow rate of the hot water or liquid medicine in all the filling nozzles (2a) is each flow sensor A sterilizer for the filling nozzle is adopted which is detected by (10a) and the quality of the sterilization process in the filling nozzle (2a) is judged based on the detection result.

In the invention according to one embodiment, a beverage filling amount measuring sensor provided in each filling nozzle (2a) may be used as the flow rate sensor (10a).

  In the invention according to one embodiment, the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine at each filling nozzle is measured, and the representative temperature of the hot water or the liquid medicine on the upstream side or the downstream side of at least one filling nozzle is It is good also as what was comprised so that the quality of the sterilization process in a filling nozzle may be judged by being measured.

  Moreover, in the invention which concerns on one Embodiment, when the flow volume of one of the filling nozzles (2a) is smaller than the flow volume required for sterilization, it can be made to issue a warning of sterilization treatment failure.

  Further, in the invention according to one embodiment, all the filling nozzles (2a) are integrally made to be capable of pivotal movement, and during this pivotal movement, hot water or liquid medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles (2a) at the same time By spraying hot water or liquid or gaseous medicine to the outside of all the filling nozzles (2a), the inside and outside of the filling nozzles (2a) can be sterilized simultaneously.

  In the invention according to one embodiment, the inside and the outside of the filling nozzle may be simultaneously cleaned by the hot water or the liquid medicine.

  According to the present invention, the hot water or liquid medicine is fed to the beverage supply system piping for simultaneously feeding the beverage to the plurality of filling nozzles, and the hot water or liquid medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles, and all the filling nozzles Since it is a sterilization method of the filling nozzle which sterilizes the inside of the filling nozzle (2a) while detecting the flow rate of hot water or liquid medicine in (2a), the flow rate sensor (10a) is used to monitor the sterilization process of the filling nozzle (2a) Can be used, and therefore, the SIP of filler (2) can be managed relatively inexpensively.

  It is also possible to use a beverage filling amount measuring sensor provided in each filling nozzle (2a) as the flow rate sensor (10a), in which case the manufacturing cost of the filler (2) is not only reduced but also It is possible to prevent the structure of the filler (2) from being complicated.

It is the schematic of the filler provided with the sterilizer of the filling nozzle which concerns on this invention, right half shows the state in implementation of SIP, and the left half shows the state currently filled with the drink. It is the schematic which shows other embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. It is the graph which showed the heating method of the filler with the relation of temperature and time.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1
In the aseptic filling apparatus, as shown in FIG. 1, fillers 2 are provided, and in the fillers 2, a large number of filling nozzles 2a are provided in a predetermined horizontal plane at a predetermined angular pitch.

  The aseptic filling device comprises a beverage preparation device (not shown) from which beverage can be delivered to the filler 2 via the manifold valve 8.

  The preparation device is for preparing beverages such as, for example, tea beverages, fruit beverages and the like in desired blending proportions, and is a known device, so the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

  The beverage supply system piping 7 connects between the blending device and the filling nozzle 2 a in the filler 2. A manifold valve 8 and a head tank 11 are provided in the beverage supply system piping 7 in order from the upstream side to the downstream side of the flow of the beverage in the flow path from the blending device to the filler 2. The beverage supplied to the filler 2 through the beverage supply system piping 7 is quantitatively filled into the bottle b which is a container from each filling nozzle 2a.

  Further, the aseptic filling apparatus is provided with a bottle conveyance path for conveying the bottle b to the filler 2 and conveying the bottle b filled with the beverage by the filler 2 to a capper (not shown). The bottle transport path is generally constituted by a number of wheel rows, grippers 4 etc. arranged around each wheel.

  The filler 2 is a filling machine for filling a large number of bottles b with a beverage at a high speed, and as shown in FIG. 1, includes a wheel 5 which constitutes a part of the transport path of the bottles b. The wheel 5 is attached to a portion of the support shaft 21 which stands vertically from the floor surface of the aseptic filling apparatus as a pivot shaft 21a. Around the wheel 5, grippers 4 for gripping the neck of the bottle b are arranged at a constant pitch. The gripper 4 can pivot in one direction integrally with the wheel 5. Also, around the wheel 5, a number of filling nozzles 2 a are attached at the same pitch as the grippers 4.

  The upper portion of the support shaft 21 which is stopped from rotating is fixed to the machine frame of the filler 2. A rotary joint 21b is provided on the upper part of the pivot shaft 21a at the fixed position. Further, an upper manifold 22 is provided below the rotary joint 21b in the pivot shaft 21a. The portion from the upper portion of the support shaft 21 to the upper manifold 22 is hollow, and the beverage supply system piping 7 is connected to the upper portion of the support shaft 21 in the hollow. The beverage supply system piping 7 extends from the upper manifold 22 to each filling nozzle 2a as a branch pipe 7b.

  When the wheel 5 is pivoted at high speed by the operation of the filler 2 and the bottle b gripped by the gripper 4 is transported at high speed in synchronization with this motion while coming under the nozzle opening at the lower end of the filling nozzle 2a while being transported at high speed Each bottle b is filled with a certain amount of beverage one after another. Since each filling nozzle 2a is provided with a beverage filling amount measuring sensor (not shown), the beverage is filled in each bottle b while being metered by the beverage filling amount measuring sensor.

  The filler 2 is entirely stored in the sterile chamber 3 as shown in FIG. 1 in order to fill the aseptically processed beverage into the aseptically processed bottle b so that foreign substances such as microorganisms do not enter. In the aseptic chamber 3, the inlet and the outlet of the bottle b are provided on the upstream side and the downstream side of the transport path of the bottle b, but these are not shown.

  Prior to supplying the beverage into the beverage supply system piping 7, the inside of the filler, including the inside of the filling nozzle, is subjected to SIP which is a sterilization process by supplying hot water or liquid medicine.

  As the drug, a single agent such as hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, acetic acid, ozone water, sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, acidic water, chlorine dioxide, or a mixture thereof can be used. . It is possible to use all the liquids which can inactivate microorganisms also except these.

  In order to perform this SIP properly, the filler is provided with a sterilizer as follows.

  That is, the cups 9 for SIP are disposed so as to be capable of coming into and coming out of contact with the nozzle openings of the filling nozzles 2 a in the filler 2. A drain pipe 20 formed of a flexible pipe is connected to each cup 9. When SIP is performed, the cup 9 is put on the nozzle opening at the tip of the filling nozzle 2a of the filler 2 by an actuator (not shown), whereby the starting end of the drainage pipe 20 is connected to the opening of the filling nozzle 2a.

  In addition, in the beverage supply system piping 7, hot water or a hot water is applied to a predetermined portion of the beverage supply system piping 7 up to the inside of the filler 2 via the head tank 11 when sterilization processing in the beverage supply system piping 7 is performed. A temperature sensor 10 is disposed to detect the temperature when the liquid drug is supplied.

  Information on the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 10 is sent to a controller (not shown), which makes it possible to monitor the representative temperature of the hot water or liquid medicine upstream of the at least one filling nozzle 2a. This monitoring is performed by an F value calculated based on a representative temperature or the like as described later. It is more efficient to save energy by F value, but general temperature monitoring may be used.

  Further, a flow rate sensor 10 a is provided for each of the plurality of filling nozzles 2 a in the filler 2. Hot water or liquid medicine is sent to the beverage supply system piping 7, and this hot water or liquid medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles 2a. At that time, the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine in all the filling nozzles 2a is detected by each flow rate sensor 10a, and each flow rate signal is sent to the controller. These flow rate signals are also used to monitor SIP as described later.

  The flow rate sensor 10a can be replaced by a beverage filling amount measuring sensor provided in each filling nozzle 2a. Each filling nozzle 2a is provided with a beverage filling amount measuring sensor for filling the container with a predetermined amount of beverage to be supplied to the beverage supply system piping 7 after SIP. By substituting the amount measuring sensor, the flow rate of the hot water or liquid medicine flowing in each filling nozzle 2a may be measured by the beverage filling amount measuring sensor, and the measured value may be transmitted to the controller.

  Each of the cups 9 is connected to the lower manifold 24 by a drain 20. The lower manifold 24 is attached to the pivot shaft 21 a of the filler 2 and is capable of pivoting movement integrally with the wheel 5, the filling nozzle 2 a and the like.

  At the point where the drainage pipe 20 extends from the lower manifold 24 to the outside of the sterile chamber 3, an intermittent joint 25 is provided. The joint 25 is connected during the SIP. In that case, the wheel 5, the filling nozzle 2a and the like can not be turned. When the SIP is completed and the joint 25 is disconnected, the wheel 5, the filling nozzle 2a, etc. can be pivoted.

  A temperature sensor 10 b is also provided at a point where the drainage pipe 20 is pulled out of the aseptic chamber 3. Information on the temperature measured by this temperature sensor 10b is sent to the controller, which makes it possible to monitor the representative temperature of the hot water or liquid medicine downstream of the at least one filling nozzle 2a. This monitoring is performed by an F value calculated based on a representative temperature or the like as described later. General temperature monitoring may be performed instead of monitoring by calculation of the F value.

  A return pipe 1 extends to the manifold valve 8 from the side opposite to the drain pipe 20 in the joint 25. At a predetermined position of the return pipe 1, a storage tank 19a of hot water or medicine, a pump 6, a heater 12 and the like are provided. Water, hot water or medicine is supplied from the supply source 19 to the storage tank 19a. The pump 6 and the heater 12 may be provided not only in the return pipe 1 but also in other pipes such as the beverage supply system pipe 7.

  As a result, the hot water or liquid medicine is heated by the heater 12 to a predetermined temperature while being pumped by the pump 6, and circulates in the annular flow path including the beverage supply system piping 7, the drainage pipe 20 and the return pipe 1. Then, the inside of the filling nozzle 2a and hence the inside of the filler 2 are sterilized by the hot water or the liquid medicine.

  The controller calculates the F value using the temperature information from the various temperature sensors 10 and 10b. Further, the representative temperature is compared with the reference temperature to produce a predetermined output. Further, a predetermined output is performed based on flow rate information from the flow rate sensor 10a. In addition to the manifold valve 8 provided in the beverage supply system piping 7 and an actuator (not shown), various switching valves, pumps and the like are controlled by various outputs from the controller.

  Next, a method of sterilizing the filling nozzle 2a to the filler 2 will be described.

(1) When the operation button on the panel of the controller (not shown) is operated, the supply path of the beverage is shut off by the manifold valve 8, and as shown in the right half in FIG. The drain pipe 20 is connected to the filling nozzle 2a. Further, the return pipe 1 is connected to the joint 25.

(2) Subsequently, the hot water or the liquid medicine is introduced into the annular flow path consisting of the beverage supply system piping 7, the drainage pipe 20 and the return pipe 1 by the activation of the pump 6.

(3) When hot water or liquid medicine flows in the annular flow channel, temperature information is sent to the controller from the temperature sensors 10, 10b arranged at various places at constant time intervals.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the temperature of each portion of the drainage pipe 20 etc. raised by heating with hot water or liquid drug reaches 121.1 ° C., the F value of each portion from that point is calculated by the controller using the following equation Calculated by

  The controller determines whether the minimum F value among the calculated F values has reached the target value.

  The target value of the F value corresponds to the area of the hatched portion in FIG.

  In this embodiment, since the pH of the beverage which is the product liquid to be filled in the bottle b is 4.6 or more, the reference temperature Tr is 121.1 ° C., and the Z value is 10 ° C.

  In the equation for calculating the F value, the reference temperature Tr and the Z value can be changed according to the type of the beverage which is the product liquid.

  For example, when the pH of the product liquid is less than 4 to 4.6, the reference temperature Tr can be 85 ° C., the Z value can be 7.8 ° C., and when the pH of the product liquid is less than 4, the reference temperature Tr = 60 ° C., Z value = 5 ° C.

  Further, it is also possible to appropriately change the values to be substituted into the above-mentioned arithmetic expression in accordance with the microorganism growth characteristics of product liquid such as a hot pack product such as green tea beverage, mineral water, chilled beverage, etc.

(4) Further, flow rate information is sent from the flow rate sensor 10a attached to each filling nozzle 2a to the controller at constant time intervals.

  The relationship between the flow rate of the hot water or liquid medicine passing through each filling nozzle 2a and the bactericidal effect of each filling nozzle 2a is experimentally determined in advance. Based on this experimental result, the controller determines whether the minimum flow rate among the flow rates of all the filling nozzles 2a has reached the target value. In general, if the flow velocity is 1.5 m / sec or more per filling nozzle, sufficient bactericidal effect can be secured regardless of whether it is hot water or medicine, but there may be no problem even if it is less than this according to experimental data .

(5) The controller monitors the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine at each filling nozzle 2a by the flow rate information from each flow rate sensor 10a, and the hot water or the hot water at the upstream side or the downstream side of at least one filling nozzle 2a The representative temperature of the liquid medicine is monitored by the temperature information from the temperature sensors 10 and 10b, and when both the flow rate and the representative temperature reach the target values, a signal indicating that the sterilization process is ended is output.

  That is, when the minimum value among the F values based on the temperature information from each temperature sensor 10, 10b reaches the target value and the minimum value among the flow rates detected by each flow sensor 10a reaches the target value, the controller A signal indicating that the sterilization process in the filler 2 has been completed is issued.

  Thereby, the pump 6 is stopped, and the cup 9 is removed from the nozzle opening of the filling nozzle 2a by an actuator (not shown). The joint 25 is also cut off.

  In addition, when the flow rate of any one of the filling nozzles 2a is smaller than the flow rate necessary for sterilization, an alarm may be issued from the controller that the sterilization process is defective. Based on this alarm, it is possible to perform adjustment such that the flow rate of hot water or the like increases for the filling nozzle 2a to which the operator corresponds.

(6) If sterilization with a liquid chemical is the last, after the inside of the filler 2 etc. is rinsed with washing water, the pump 6 etc. is stopped. Then, aseptic air is supplied into the head tank 11, and the whole of the beverage supply system piping 7 is held under positive pressure.

(7) Thereafter, the filling operation of the beverage into the bottle b is started, and the beverage prepared by the dispensing device reaches the inside of the filler 2 from the beverage supply system piping 7 and is a container from the filling nozzle 2a of the filler 2 The bottle b is filled.

  After the bottle b filled with the beverage is delivered out of the filler 2, it is capped and sealed by a capper (not shown).

Second Embodiment
As shown in FIG. 2, in the second embodiment, a two-stage rotary joint 21c is provided on the pivot shaft 21a.

  Further, a two-stage manifold 26 is provided below the rotary joint 21b in the pivot shaft 21a.

  The portion from the upper portion of the support shaft 21 to the upper stage manifold 26 a is hollow, and the beverage supply system piping 7 is connected to the upper portion of the support shaft 21. Further, branch pipes 7b coming from the beverage supply system piping 7 radially extend from the upper manifold 26a to the respective filling nozzles 2a.

  When the wheel 5 is pivoted at high speed by the operation of the filler 2 and the bottle b gripped by the gripper 4 is transported at high speed in synchronization with this motion while coming under the nozzle opening at the lower end of the filling nozzle 2a while being transported at high speed Each bottle b is filled with a certain amount of beverage one after another.

  Prior to supplying the beverage into the beverage supply system pipe 7, the inside of the filler 2 including the inside of the filling nozzle 2a is subjected to SIP which is a sterilization process by supplying hot water or a liquid medicine.

  In order to perform this SIP properly, the filler 2 is provided with a sterilizer as follows.

  That is, the cups 9 for SIP are disposed so as to be capable of coming into and coming out of contact with the nozzle openings of the filling nozzles 2 a in the filler 2. A drain pipe 20 formed of a flexible pipe is connected to each cup 9. When SIP is performed, the cup 9 is put on the nozzle opening at the tip of the filling nozzle 2a of the filler 2 by an actuator (not shown), so that the beginning of the drainage pipe 20 can be connected to the opening of the filling nozzle 2a.

  Further, in the portion of the beverage supply system piping 7 up to the inside of the filler 2 via the head tank 11 when the SIP which is the sterilization process in the beverage supply system piping 7 is performed when hot water or A temperature sensor 10 is disposed to detect the temperature when the liquid drug is supplied.

  Since the rotary joint 21b is provided on the pivot shaft 21a as described above, the filling nozzle 2a and the like can rotate together with the pivot shaft 21a while hot water or liquid medicine flows in the annular channel. . For this reason, as shown in FIG. 2, at the same time as performing SIP to the filling nozzle 2a, water, detergent, hot water, liquid or gaseous sterilizing agent, etc. are supplied from the spray nozzles 27 installed everywhere in the chamber 3. By spraying, the inside of the chamber 3 including the outside of the filler 2 and the like can be efficiently cleaned by COP (cleaning out of place) or SOP (sterilizing out of place). As the germicide, it is preferable to use one containing a liquid or gaseous hydrogen peroxide component, but in addition, acetic acid, peracetic acid, ozone, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide It may contain the components of

  The information of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 10 is transmitted to the controller, whereby the representative temperature of the hot water or the liquid medicine upstream of the at least one filling nozzle 2a can be monitored and monitored by calculating the F value. Alternatively, general temperature monitoring may be performed.

  Further, a flow rate sensor 10 a is provided for each of the plurality of filling nozzles 2 a in the filler 2. Hot water or liquid medicine is sent to the beverage supply system piping 7, and this hot water or liquid medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles 2a. At that time, the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine in all the filling nozzles 2a is detected by each flow rate sensor 10a, and each flow rate signal is sent to the controller. These flow rate signals are also used to monitor SIP as described later.

  The flow rate sensor 10a can be replaced by a non-illustrated beverage filling amount measuring sensor provided on each filling nozzle 2a. Each filling nozzle 2a is provided with a beverage filling amount measuring sensor for filling a predetermined amount of the beverage to be supplied to the beverage supply system piping 7 after SIP into a bottle b which is a container. Alternatively, the beverage filling amount measuring sensor may be used to measure the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine flowing in each filling nozzle 2a with the beverage filling amount measuring sensor and transmit the measured value to the controller.

  Each of the cups 9 is connected to the lower manifold 26 b by a drainage pipe 20. The second manifold 26b is also attached to the pivot shaft 21a of the filler 2, and is capable of pivoting movement integrally with the wheel 5, the filling nozzle 2a and the like.

  A hollow portion is also formed in the portion extending from the upper portion to the lower manifold 26b in the support shaft 21, and the return pipe 1 is connected to the hollow portion at the upper portion of the support shaft 21.

  A temperature sensor 10 b is also provided at a point where the return pipe 1 is pulled out of the support shaft 21. Information on the temperature measured by this temperature sensor 10b is sent to the controller, which makes it possible to monitor the representative temperature of the hot water or liquid medicine downstream of the at least one filling nozzle 2a. This monitoring is performed by an F value calculated based on a representative temperature or the like as described later. General temperature monitoring may be performed instead of monitoring by calculation of the F value.

  The return pipe 1 extends to the manifold valve 8. At a predetermined position of the return pipe 1, a storage tank 19a of water or medicine, a pump 6, a heater 12 and the like are provided. The storage tank 19a is supplied with water or medicine from a water or medicine supply source 19. The pump 6 and the heater 12 may be provided not only in the return pipe 1 but also in other pipes such as the beverage supply system pipe 7.

  Thereby, the water or liquid medicine is pressure-fed by the pump 6 while being heated by the heater 12, and the beverage supply system piping 7, the upper manifold 26a, the branch pipe 7b, the filling nozzle 2a, the drainage pipe 20, the lower manifold 26b and the return The temperature is raised while circulating in the annular flow path consisting of the pipe 1. Then, the inside of the filling nozzle 2a and hence the inside of the filler 2 are sterilized by the hot water or the liquid medicine.

  The controller calculates an F value based on temperature information from the various temperature sensors 10 and 10b. Further, the representative temperature is compared with the reference temperature to produce a predetermined output. Further, a predetermined output is performed based on flow rate information from the flow rate sensor 10a. In addition to the manifold valve 8 provided in the beverage supply system piping 7 and an actuator (not shown), various switching valves, pumps and the like are controlled by various outputs from the controller.

  Next, a method of sterilizing the filling nozzle 2a to the filler 2 will be described.

  (1) When the operation button on the panel of the controller (not shown) is operated, the supply path of the beverage is shut off by the manifold valve 8, and as shown in the right half in FIG. The drain pipe 20 is connected to the filling nozzle 2a.

  (2) Subsequently, water or liquid medicine is introduced into the annular flow channel by activation of the pump 6.

  (3) When water or a liquid medicine flows in the annular flow channel, temperature information is sent to the controller from the temperature sensors 10, 10b arranged at various places at constant time intervals.

  The calculation of the F value at each location where the temperature sensors 10 and 10b are arranged is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

  (4) Further, flow rate information is sent from the flow rate sensor 10a attached to each filling nozzle 2a to the controller at constant time intervals.

  The relationship between the flow rate of the hot water or liquid medicine passing through each filling nozzle 2a and the bactericidal effect of each filling nozzle 2a is experimentally determined in advance. Based on this experimental result, the controller determines whether the minimum flow rate among the flow rates of all the filling nozzles 2a has reached the target value.

  (5) The controller monitors the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine at each filling nozzle 2a by the flow rate information from each flow rate sensor 10a, and the hot water or the hot water at the upstream side or the downstream side of at least one filling nozzle 2a The representative temperature of the liquid medicine is monitored by the temperature information from the temperature sensors 10 and 10b, and when both the flow rate and the representative temperature reach the target values, a signal indicating that the sterilization process is ended is output.

  That is, when the minimum value among the F values based on the temperature information from each temperature sensor 10, 10b reaches the target value and the minimum value among the flow rates detected by each flow sensor 10a reaches the target value, the controller A signal indicating that the sterilization process in the filler 2 has been completed is issued.

  Thereby, the pump 6 is stopped, and the cup 9 is removed from the nozzle opening of the filling nozzle 2a by an actuator (not shown).

  In addition, when the flow rate of any one of the filling nozzles 2a is smaller than the flow rate necessary for sterilization, an alarm may be issued from the controller that the sterilization process is defective. Based on this alarm, it is possible to perform adjustment such that the flow rate of hot water or the like increases for the filling nozzle 2a to which the operator corresponds.

  At the same time as SIP for the filling nozzle 2a is performed, water, detergent, hot water, liquid or gaseous sterilizing agent and the like are sprayed from the spray nozzles 27 installed everywhere in the chamber 3, thereby the filler 2 etc. The chamber 3 including the outside of the chamber is subjected to COP (cleaning out of place) which is a cleaning treatment or SOP (serializing out of place) which is a sterilization treatment.

  (6) If sterilization with a liquid chemical is finally performed, the inside of the filler 2 etc. is rinsed with the disinfected washing water and the pump 6 etc. is stopped. Then, aseptic air is supplied into the head tank 11, and all of the beverage supply system piping 7 is maintained under positive pressure.

  (7) Thereafter, the filling operation of the beverage into the bottle b is started, and the beverage prepared by the dispensing device reaches the inside of the filler 2 from the beverage supply system piping 7 and is a container from the filling nozzle 2a of the filler 2 The bottle b is filled. In the filler 2, the beverage flows through the upper manifold 26a and into the filling nozzle 2a.

  After the bottle b filled with the beverage is delivered out of the filler 2, it is capped and sealed by a capper (not shown).

Embodiment 3
In the third embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the upper rotary joint 21b is provided on the upper portion of the pivot shaft 21a, but unlike the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the upper rotary joint 21b is also provided on the lower portion of the pivot shaft 21a. A lower rotary joint 21c is provided.

  The lower manifold 24 has a structure similar to that of the upper manifold 22, and the lower manifold 24 is electrically connected to the return pipe 1 through the lower rotary joint 21c.

  Further, a hot water or medicine supply source 19 is connected to the beverage supply system piping 7 via a manifold valve 8.

  Next, a method of sterilizing the filling nozzle 2a to the filler 2 will be described.

  (1) When the operation button on the panel of the controller (not shown) is operated, the supply path of the beverage is shut off by the manifold valve 8, and as shown in the right half in FIG. The drain pipe 20 is connected to the filling nozzle 2a.

  (2) Subsequently, the flow path from the hot water or liquid medicine supply source 19 is opened by the manifold valve 8, and the hot water or liquid medicine is discharged by the activation of the pump 6, the beverage supply system piping 7, the drain pipe 20 and the return It is introduced into an annular channel consisting of a tube 1.

  Since the upper rotary joint 21b and the lower rotary joint 21c are respectively provided at the upper and lower portions of the pivot shaft 21a, the filling nozzle 2a and the like are together with the pivot shaft 21a while hot water or liquid medicine flows in the annular channel. Rotational movement is possible. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 3, at the same time as performing SIP to the filling nozzle 2a, water, detergent, hot water, liquid or gaseous sterilizing agent, etc. are supplied from the spray nozzles 27 installed everywhere in the chamber 3. By spraying, COP or SOP can be performed on the inside of the chamber 3 including the outside of the filler 2 and the like. As the germicide, it is preferable to use one containing a liquid or gaseous hydrogen peroxide component, but in addition, acetic acid, peracetic acid, ozone, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide It may contain the components of

  (3) When hot water or liquid medicine flows in the annular flow channel, temperature information is sent to the controller from the temperature sensors 10, 10b arranged at various places at constant time intervals.

  (4) Further, flow rate information is sent from the flow rate sensor 10a attached to each filling nozzle 2a to the controller at constant time intervals.

  The relationship between the flow rate of the hot water or liquid medicine passing through each filling nozzle 2a and the bactericidal effect of each filling nozzle 2a is experimentally determined in advance. Based on this experimental result, the controller determines whether the minimum flow rate among the flow rates of all the filling nozzles 2a has reached the target value.

  (5) The controller monitors the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid medicine at each filling nozzle 2a by the flow rate information from each flow rate sensor 10a, and the hot water or the hot water at the upstream side or the downstream side of at least one filling nozzle 2a The representative temperature of the liquid medicine is monitored by the temperature information from the temperature sensors 10 and 10b, and when both the flow rate and the representative temperature reach the target values, a signal indicating that the sterilization process is ended is output.

  That is, when the minimum value among the F values based on the temperature information from each temperature sensor 10, 10b reaches the target value and the minimum value among the flow rates detected by each flow sensor 10a reaches the target value, the controller A signal indicating that the sterilization process in the filler 2 has been completed is issued.

  As a result, the pump 6 is stopped, the pipeline between the hot water or liquid medicine supply source 19 is shut off by the manifold valve 8, and the cup 9 is removed from the nozzle opening of the filling nozzle 2a by an actuator not shown.

  In addition, when the flow rate of any one of the filling nozzles 2a is smaller than the flow rate necessary for sterilization, an alarm may be issued from the controller that the sterilization process is defective. Based on this alarm, it is possible to perform adjustment such that the flow rate of hot water or the like increases for the filling nozzle 2a to which the operator corresponds.

  At the same time as SIP for the filling nozzle 2a is performed, water, detergent, hot water, liquid or gaseous sterilizing agent and the like are sprayed from the spray nozzles 27 installed everywhere in the chamber 3, thereby the filler 2 etc. COP which is a washing process or SOP which is a sterilizing process is performed in the chamber 3 including the exterior of

  (6) When sterilization with a liquid chemical is the last, after the inside of the filler 2 etc. is rinsed with the disinfected washing water, the pump 6 etc. is stopped. Then, aseptic air is supplied into the head tank 11, and the whole of the beverage supply system piping 7 is held under positive pressure.

  (7) Thereafter, the filling operation of the beverage into the bottle b is started, and the beverage prepared by the dispensing device reaches the inside of the filler 2 from the beverage supply system piping 7 and is a container from the filling nozzle 2a of the filler 2 The bottle b is filled.

  After the bottle b filled with the beverage is delivered out of the filler 2, it is capped and sealed by a capper (not shown).

  Although the present invention is configured as described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention.

2 ... filler 2 a ... filling nozzle 7 ... beverage supply system piping 10 a ... flow sensor

Claims (2)

A method of sterilizing a filling nozzle, which sends hot water or a liquid medicine to the filling nozzle through a beverage supply system pipe for simultaneously feeding a beverage to a plurality of filling nozzles, and recovers the hot water or the liquid medicine,
While discharging the hot water or the liquid chemical from all the filling nozzles, detecting the flow rate of the hot water or the liquid sterilizing agent in all the filling nozzles, at the upstream side or downstream side of at least one of the filling nozzles While measuring the representative temperature of the hot water or the liquid drug, while the flow rate of all the filling nozzles and the A method of sterilizing a filling nozzle, which simultaneously sterilizes the inside and the outside of the filling nozzle by spraying hot water or a liquid or gaseous medicine to the outside of all the filling nozzles. A sterilizing apparatus for the filling nozzle for simultaneously sending hot water or a liquid medicine to a plurality of filling nozzles and recovering the hot water or the liquid medicine,
All the filling nozzles can be integrally pivoted, and during this pivoting movement, the hot water or the liquid medicine is discharged from all the filling nozzles while the hot water or the liquid sterilization in all the filling nozzles is performed. While the flow rate of the agent is detected, the representative temperature of the hot water or the liquid medicine on the upstream side or the downstream side of the at least one filling nozzle is measured, and the flow rates of all the filling nozzles and the representative temperature are both When the target value is reached , sterilization is performed on the inner surface of the filling nozzle which terminates sterilization, and at the same time, hot water or liquid or gaseous medicine is also sprayed to the outside of all the filling nozzles. A sterilizer for a filling nozzle characterized in that inside and outside are sterilized simultaneously.

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